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NBA play-in tournament games thread

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 06: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets knocks the ball away from Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat in the second half during their game at Spectrum Center on March 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to the 2026 play-in tournament! This is the sixth season of the play-in.

History of the NBA play-in tournament

The play-in tournament technically started in the bubble in the 2019-20 season. It differs from the current form, but the first game was the Grizzlies vs. the Trail Blazers. Portland went on to win and earn the No. 8 seed, facing the Lakers in the first round.

The play-in expanded the following season to its current format, with the 7-10 seeds at the end of the regular season facing off to earn the seven and eight seeds in both conferences.

Who can forget the “I see three baskets” game-winner from LeBron James in the matchup versus the Golden State Warriors?

In 2021, the Grizzlies beat the Warriors in OT. This was the first time the lower seed beat the higher seed. The Grizzlies beat the Warriors, the No. 8 seed, as the No. 9 seed in a 117-112 overtime game.

2022 brought typical results in the matchups with the seedings. In the 2023 play-in, the Lakers beat the Timberwolves in the 7-8 matchup. The Wolves would go on to defeat the Thunder. This is the game where Pat Bev climbed on the announcing desk to celebrate the win.

In 2024, the Lakers beat the Pelicans twice, once at the end of the regular season and then in the play-in. That season, the Lakers lost to the Nuggets in the first round. Finally, last season, the Heat and Hawks matchup to become the No. 8 seed wasn’t exciting.

Here is a more extensive history of the play-in tournament.

Play-In Tournament schedule

This years Tournament schedule is below. All games will be on Prime Video.

Tuesday, April 14

East — No. 10 seed Heat vs. No. 9 seed Hornets at 7:30 p.m. Eastern (Loser goes home)

West — No. 8 seed Trail Blazers vs No. 7 seed Suns at 10:00 p.m. Eastern (Winner earns No. 7 seed)

Wednesday, April 15

East — No. 8 seed Magic vs No. 7 seed 76ers at 7:30 p.m. Eastern (Winner earns No. 7 seed)

West — No. 10 seed Warriors vs No. 9 seed Clippers at 10 p.m. Eastern (loser is eliminated)

Friday, April 17

East — 7/8 loser vs 9/10 winner at 7:30 p.m. Eastern

West — 7/8 loser vs 9/10 winner at 10 p.m. Eastern

  • The first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs will start April 18.
  • Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals will be June 3.

Have at it in the Play-In thread and remember all the typical game thread rules and have fun!

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Rockies recall RHP Tanner Gordon, option Valente Bellozo

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies optioned right-handed long reliever Valente Bellozo to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes on Monday. However, a corresponding roster move was not announced until Tuesday afternoon as right-handed pitcher Tanner Gordon has been recalled from the Isotopes.

Bellozo, pitched 4.1 innings of relief on Sunday against the San Diego Padres when anticipated starter Kyle Freeland was a last-minute scratch due to posterior left shoulder soreness. He gave up five earned runs on eight hits—including three home runs—with four walks and a hit batter. He only tallied one strikeout.

Right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen will make his scheduled start on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros, but the Rockies were in need of reinforcements with a depleted bullpen and down multiple starters due to injuries.

Gordon, 26, made 15 starts for the Rockies in 2025 and has been off to a strong start in 2026 with Triple-A Albuquerque. In his first three Triple-A starts of the season he has a 2.76 ERA with 15 strikeouts to four walks over 16.1 innings of work. He’s also given up just one home run so far in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Gordon can either make a start during this Houston series—his last start was on April 8th so he is well rested—or will be available for bulk work out of the bullpen. His role is likely dependent on the status of veteran starting pitcher José Quintana, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain retroactive to March 30th. Quintana will potentially be activated this week.

It is currently unknown if Kyle Freeland will need to be placed on the injured list.

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Lakers provide update on Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves injuries

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers player Austin Reaves reacting to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Image 2 shows Austin Reaves dribbling the basketball in a game against the Washington Wizards, Image 3 shows A man in a black Lakers sweatshirt with his arms crossed looks forward during a basketball game

The Lakers have been without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for nearly two weeks, and that isn’t changing entering the playoffs.

Coach JJ Redick said after Tuesday’s practice, the first before the Lakers’ first round series against the Rockets, that the team’s star guards remain sidelined and there isn’t an update on their status. 

“They’re out indefinitely,” Redick said. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week. They’re out indefinitely.”

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images

Game 1 of Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Saturday (5:30 p.m. tipoff) at Crypto.com Arena. 

Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) both suffered their regular season-ending injuries during the Lakers’ April 2 road loss to the Thunder.  

Reaves was at the Lakers’ practice facility on Tuesday and was seen shooting on the court during the portion of practice that was open to media members.

While wearing slides, Reaves participated in a free throw shooting contest at the end of practice, missing a trio of free throws to the delight of his teammates. He made a corner 3-pointer before walking off the court.

Doncic, who went to Spain to receive treatment on his injured hamstring, will return to the United States on Friday, sources told the California Post.

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Spencer Strider will join Sean Murphy on rehab assignment in High-A Rome

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves is introduced before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Truist Park on March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As it turns out, Thursday night will be a very good day for local fans in Rome to show up to the ballpark and for Braves fans in general to keep an eye on the Rome Emperors. Walt Weiss spoke with the media before Tuesday’s night middle game between the Braves and the Marlins and revealed that Spencer Strider will be joining Sean Murphy in Rome to begin his rehab assignment as well.

While Murphy is expected to begin his rehab stint tonight, he’ll serve as a battery mate with Spencer Strider on Thursday night since that’s when Strider will make his first start since suffering an oblique injury during the tail end of spring training. According to Weiss, Strider is expected to toss 40-45 pitches before bowing out. I’d imagine that Strider’s timetable for a potential return to the big leagues will come shortly after his performance and the obvious hope is that he’ll look good enough once he’s done on Thursday night.

At the same time, they could really try to let him stretch out as much as possible since he’s dealing with an oblique injury after all. Obliques are notoriously tricky to deal with and the obvious hope is that Strider won’t re-aggravate the injury in any way, shape or form while he’s on rehab assignment with Rome. So this could only be the first start for Strider on rehab for all we know.

We also got a look at what Sean Murphy’s rehab schedule in Rome will look like:

Either way, if you’re a fan in the Rome area then Thursday night seems like the perfect night to mosey on over to the ballpark to catch a game. If you can’t make it to the game, you’ll be able to watch for free on Bally Sports Live and I highly suggest that y’all do so since the Braves will be off on Thursday, anyways. Here’s hoping that the rehab stint is a successful one for both Murphy and Strider and that we’ll see them both at the big league level real soon!

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Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies preview, Tuesday 4/14, 5:40 CT

Today’s roster moves: Here

The Cubs are interested in Lucas Giolito, per The Athletic.

Tuesday notes…

  • DOUBLE DIGITS THE WRONG WAY: Last night’s game was the Cubs’ 106th since 2016 in which they allowed double-digit runs. They played another game after 102 of the previous ones. They won 53 and lost 49, including 1-0 this year, 7-4 last year and 5-4 in 2024. They allowed an average of 4.34 runs in all 102 subsequent games, including five shutouts and 20 games with one run. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • DANSBY, HEATING UP: Dansby Swanson, last three games: 3-for-9 (.333) with two home runs, four walks and six runs scored.
  • KEEPING POSITIVE: The Cubs’ five-run eighth Monday kept their run differential in positive territory at +4, despite their 7-9 record.
  • YOU GO, MO BALLER: Moisés Ballesteros, last six games since April 7: .563/.556/1.000 (9-for-16) with a double, two home runs, five RBI and five runs scored. (The BA/OBP difference is a mathematical oddity due to having one walk and one sacrifice fly.)

Cubs lineup:

Phillies lineup:

Riley Martin, LHP vs. Aaron Nola, RHP

Riley Martin, clearly, is an opener tonight, starting so he can face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, Phillies left-handed batters who will come to the plate in the first inning.

Martin started one game at Triple-A Iowa this year and allowed one run in three innings. He’s never faced the Phillies, obviously, and perhaps he can stop Schwarber and Harper, and then give way, most likely, to Colin Rea, the originally scheduled starter for this game.

Rea stepped in admirably for Matthew Boyd when Boyd hit the injured list — just as he subbed capably for Justin Steele last year. He threw five two-hit innings against the Rays last Wednesday.

Last year, Rea made two starts against the Phillies. One was pretty good, the other not so much. J.T. Realmuto is 5-for-11 with a home run vs. Rea, and Kyle Schwarber has also homered off him.

Aaron Nola is off to a good start this year, with all three of his starts at least decent.

Last year he missed a whole bunch of time due to injuries, but before that he threw seven one-run innings against the Cubs April 27, 2025 at Wrigley Field.

Michael Conforto has homered twice off Nola — but is 10-for-53 overall with 19 strikeouts. Similar for Dansby Swanson: three homers off Nola, but overall 15-for-66 (.227) with 13 strikeouts.

Here is the weather forecast for Philadelphia.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. It’s also on TBS (outside the Cubs and Phillies market territories).

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue. If you do go there to interact with Mets fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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2026 NBA Playoff Bracket: Follow the Western Conference Finals

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We're down to the final four three teams of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, with the Knicks making quick work of the Cavaliers... while the Western Conference Finals will go to a highly-anticipated Game 7.

Track that matchup — and the upcoming NBA Finals — with our live NBA bracket, latest NBA odds to win each series, and more.

2026 NBA playoffs bracket

2026 NBA Playoffs matchups and results

Here are the current series odds for the titanic Western Conference Final between Oklahoma City and San Antonio, plus the series recap for the Eastern Conference Final (New York vs. Cleveland).

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (2) San Antonio Spurs odds and schedule

Tied lead 3-3

TeamTo win
Thunder-160
Spurs+135

Thunder vs Spurs series schedule

  • Game 1: Monday, May 18 (Spurs 122, Thunder 115)
  • Game 2: Wednesday, May 20 (Spurs 113, Thunder 122)
  • Game 3: Friday, May 22 (Thunder 123, Spurs 108)
  • Game 4: Sunday, May 24 (Thunder 82, Spurs 103)
  • Game 5: Tuesday, May 26 (Spurs 114, Thunder 127)
  • Game 6: Thursday, May 28 (Thunder 91, Spurs 118)
  • Game 7: Saturday, May 30

(3) New York Knicks vs (4) Cleveland Cavaliers odds and schedule

Knicks win 4-0

Knicks vs Cavaliers series schedule

  • Game 1: Tuesday, May 19 (Cavaliers 104, Knicks 115)
  • Game 2: Thursday, May 21 (Cavaliers 93, Knicks 109)
  • Game 3: Saturday, May 23 (Knicks 121, Cavaliers 108)
  • Game 4: Monday, May 25 (Knicks 130, Cavaliers 93)

NBA Finals schedule

  • Game 1: Wednesday, June 3
  • Game 2: Friday, June 5
  • Game 3: Monday, June 8
  • Game 4: Wednesday, June 10
  • Game 5: Saturday, June 13
  • Game 6: Monday, June 16
  • Game 7: Thursday, June 19

2026 NBA Playoffs schedule

EventDate
NBA Play-In TournamentApril 14-17
NBA Playoffs beginApril 18
NBA Conference SemifinalsMay 4
NBA Conference FinalsMay 18
NBA Finals Game 1June 3
NBA Finals Game 2June 5
NBA Finals Game 3June 8
NBA Finals Game 4June 10
NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary)June 13
NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary)June 16
NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)June 19

NBA playoff format

The NBA playoffs adopt a format designed to favor successful teams while giving underdogs a shot at the championship. Here's a brief look at the structure:

  • The postseason begins with a Play-In Tournament featuring the 7th through 10th-ranked teams in each conference. This extends from April 14 to 17.
  • The NBA Playoffs kick off with the first round on April 18, where the top one to six teams in each conference join the winners of the Play-In.
  • The matchups are set as No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed, No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed, and No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed.
  • Each playoff round, including the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals, features a seven-game series.
  • In these series, the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary), and 7 (if necessary) following a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
  • The NBA Finals start on June 3.

Looking for more intel? Our NBA Championship odds break down the clubs with the best odds of winning the NBA Finals. And be sure to check out our NBA Finals MVP odds page to see which player is most likely to hoist the Bill Russell Trophy when the dust settles.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Braves lineup ready to redeem themselves in game 2 vs Marlins

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates in the fourth inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A brand new day for another game of baseball. This time, the Atlanta Braves are looking to bounce back from an embarrassing low-run loss in yesterday’s matchup. The rosters have been released.

No changes to today’s lineup, as it’s an exact reflection of yesterday.

You know what this could tell us? The same roster is set for their version of redemption, and chalk yesterday up to an unlucky opener. Reynaldo López will be taking the mound in his return, and if he can keep his steady streak (pre-brawl versus the Angels last week), the defense will be taken care of.

Maximizing runs on the board and applying offensive pressure will be what this competition comes down to. And if they can take advantage of Marlins’ Max Meyer’s weaknesses on the road, they just might accomplish that. When the Braves faced him on the road before, the on-base percentage was pretty high. Let’s see if they can extend that.

The Marlins are also keeping most of their lineup the same, with only one change near the bottom of the order.

Javier Sanoja will be taking over left field in today’s matchup, but the remainder of the roster is staying the same, in hopes of having a repeat of game one.

And get this, no one on the roster has faced López, so we’re in for a treat.

7:15 p.m. EDT is where it all happens tonight. We’ll check in with you after to discuss the results.

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Line Combinations: Jets at Mammoth

The Winnipeg Jets may not have any hope left at a playoff spot, but a spot in the NHL Draft Lottery is now up for grabs for the 2024-25 Presidents' Trophy winners.

On Monday night, the Jets were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but just 20-some-odd hours later they will return to work in Utah for a test against the postseason-bound Mammoth.

Photo by Rob Gray/USA Today 
Photo by Rob Gray/USA Today 

Currently sitting tied for 24th in the league with St. Louis and Florida, the Jets have the eighth best odds of landing the No. 1 overall selection at this year's NHL Draft Lottery set for May 5.

With two games left to play, valuable drafting odds remain up in the air. The Jets can climb as high as 86 points with two more wins, or remain at 82 points, which would effectively be Winnipeg's second-worst season on record since returning to Manitoba.

Being the second half of a back-to-back, the Jets did not skate on Tuesday, so the forward lines and defence groupings will remain a mystery until closer to puck drop.

The goaltender of record for Winnipeg will be Eric Comrie, as Connor Hellebuyck will get his first night off in months. It is expected that the team will ice a similar lineup to that of the group of 18 players that suited up on Monday in Vegas.

Winnipeg Jets expected line combinations for Tuesday, April 14 at Utah:

Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi

Perfetti-Lowry-Lambert

Koepke-Toews-Rosén

Niederreiter-Yager-Chibrikov

Nyquist

Morrissey-DeMelo

Samberg-Miller

Fleury-Bryson

Heinola

Hellebuyck

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Orioles manager Craig Albernaz suffered broken jaw getting hit by foul ball

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz has returned to his post, but did not emerge totally unscathed after taking a line drive off his face during a ballgame.

Albernaz told reporters Tuesday, April 14 that he suffered a broken jaw and at least seven facial fractures when a foul ball off Jeremiah Jackson's bat, clocked at 70.6 mph, struck him in the face during the fifth inning the night before.

The first-year manager was quickly shuttled down the tunnel and into the clubhouse by coaches and ballplayers, but he returned to the dugout a little less than an hour later. Perhaps unrelatedly, the Orioles stormed back from a six-run deficit as Jackson hit a grand slam and solo home run to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-7.

Albernaz did not meet with the news media after the game, farming out those duties to bench coach Donnie Ecker, but he was back for his usual afternoon briefing, and just like his first press conference as manager, evoked the name of his 2-year-old daughter.

"Gigi," Albernaz said after telling reporters he'd be on a diet of soft foods for several weeks, "has a better diet than I do."

The Massachusetts native has a scar on his cheek and a semblance of a shiner on his right eye, but is no worse for wear. Nor are the Orioles - they've now won six of seven games to improve to 9-7 and share the AL East lead with the New York Yankees.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Orioles' Craig Albernaz injury update: Foul ball broke manager's jaw

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Avalanche Continue Defensive Dominance Ahead of Flames Matchup

The Colorado Avalanche wrap up their final road trip of the 2025–26 regular season Tuesday night in Calgary, closing out a season series they’ve controlled from start to finish.

Colorado has taken both previous meetings, including a lopsided 9–2 win on March 30 and a more measured 3–1 result on April 9, and arrives at Scotiabank Saddledome riding a tight, defense-first stretch at the right time of year.

Grinding Out Wins Without Bednar

Their latest outing offered a snapshot of that formula.

Colorado edged the Edmonton Oilers 2–1 in a shootout Monday at Rogers Place, leaning heavily on Scott Wedgewood, who turned aside 30 of 31 shots. Nathan MacKinnon delivered the decisive moment, scoring the shootout winner after Valeri Nichushkin and Martin Nečas also converted.

Wedgewood’s calm presence was the backbone of the win, particularly as Edmonton pushed late and into the shootout.

“He was rock solid all the way through… it’s a continuation of what he’s done throughout the season,” assistant coach Dave Hakstol told The Hockey News postgame, reinforcing just how steady Wedgewood has been during this late push.

The night also carried personal significance for Brock Nelson, who skated in his 1,000th NHL game, marking the milestone in a tightly contested win that reflected the kind of hockey Colorado has leaned on down the stretch.

Sam Malinski accounted for Colorado’s lone regulation goal, finishing a Nicolas Roy feed from the left circle midway through the second period. Edmonton’s only response came off the stick of Connor McDavid later in the frame, but the Avalanche locked things down from there—killing off every Oilers power play and allowing little in the way of second chances.

That defensive commitment has quietly become one of Colorado’s defining traits down the stretch. Since April 4, they’ve allowed just 1.50 goals per game—the best mark in the league over that span—while also owning the NHL’s top penalty kill at 84.3 percent.

Still, the team continues to operate under unusual circumstances behind the bench.

Head coach Jared Bednar remains away from the club as he recovers from facial fractures and a corneal abrasion suffered in a recent game against Vegas. In his absence, Nolan Pratt and Hakstol have taken over bench duties, guiding the Avalanche through this final stretch of the regular season with a steady hand.

MacKinnon Driving The Push

Offensively, the story remains familiar.

MacKinnon continues to drive everything. His 52 goals lead the NHL, and his 126 points place him firmly among the league’s elite. Nečas isn’t far behind in overall production, sitting at 99 points, while contributions from players like Malinski have added unexpected depth—particularly from the blue line, where his recent scoring surge has stood out.

Calgary, meanwhile, enters Tuesday’s matchup coming off a 4–1 win over Utah. Matt Coronato and Connor Zary struck early to set the tone, while Mikael Backlund and Brayden Pachal extended the lead in the third period. The Flames have leaned on a balanced attack at home, with Coronato leading the team in points and Morgan Frost pacing them in goals.

Historically, the matchup has been competitive. In 136 regular-season meetings, Colorado holds a 68-54-8-6 edge, and the two teams last met in the playoffs in 2019, when the Avalanche dispatched Calgary in five games.

But this version of Colorado looks different—tighter defensively, confident in goal, and still powered by one of the most dynamic players in the sport.

With one final road test before the postseason, the Avalanche aren’t just trying to complete a season sweep. They’re sharpening the identity that could carry them into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

Image
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Spartan Hockey Updates

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Cullen Potter poses with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the Calgary Flames with the 32nd overall pick during the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at the Peacock Theater on June 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The disappointment that was the finality of MSU hockey this season has still not taken its root to the depth of where my disappointment lingers. While we are glad we weren’t forced into throwing up again as Ann Arbor celebrated another title, we did get to sit in our misery and watch Porter Martone score goals for the Flyers. With that being said, here’s a quick update on the comings and goings of MSU hockey players and the massive roster overhaul that will be taking place in East Lansing.

First, let us congratulate some award winners. First team All-American nods go to Trey Augustine, Porter Martone and second team, Charlie Stramel. Martone is the first freshman in school history with the honor and Augustine secured his second. Adam Nightingale was also announced as the head coach of the 2027 U.S. National Junior Team for the World Junior Championships. 

Of course we have our outgoing seniors. Tiernan and Travis Shoudy, Dolan Gilbert, Daniel Russell, Charlie Stramel and Matt Basgall. Gilbert has entered the transfer portal and looks to play as a 5th year senior somewhere. Now that the portal is open, let’s see who’s in, who’s out, who’s where in MSU hockey.

DEPARTURES

Tiernan Shoudy

Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2026-2027 and signed with the Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rest of 2025-2026.

Daniel Russell

Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Matt Basgall

Signed with San Diego Gulls, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.

Porter Martone

Signed with the Philadelphia Flyers and is already scoring goals.

Trey Augustine

Signed with Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.

Maxim Strbak

Signed with the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and joins former teammates Red Savage and Jagger Joshua.

Charlie Stramel

Signed with the Minnesota Wild. He is out for the remainder of this season with a broken ankle.

Colin Ralph

Signed with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.

Melvin Strahl

Transfer Portal to Minnesota. This implies that the freshman Joshua Ravensbergen was set to get the majority of playing time in East Lansing.

Austin Baker

Transfer Portal to Miami of Ohio

Nathan Mackie

Entered the Transfer Portal 

ARRIVALS

Cullen Potter

Potter has committed to MSU after two seasons at Arizona State. Potter is a center who is very quick. Here is an in-depth highlight reel prior to the 2025 NHL Draft where he was drafted by Calgary. This past season he had 12 goals and 26 points in 24 games. 

What are your thoughts TOC on the comings and goings? Minnesota has already had a successful portal haul, Michigan seems to be staying strong and Wisconsin has added. What are your wishes for MSU hockey? Are the Spartans keeping up? Let’s discuss in the comments and we’ll continue to update with any new news.

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/14/26

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: The sneakers worn by Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 12, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

HeraldCeltics playoff matchup: Breaking down Boston’s two potential first-round foes

GlobeThe Celtics begin the playoffs on Sunday. If you’re just tuning in, let us catch you up.

CelticsBlog Inside the offseason conversation that changed my view of the Celtics: ‘We are still that team’

CLNS MediaLuka Garza and Nikola Vucevic Bond as Playoff Minutes Battle Looms

Who is Tougher First Round Matchup for Celtics: 76ers or Magic? | Still Poddable

NBC Sports BostonSixers or Magic: Who should Celtics covet in Round 1 of the playoffs?

Celtics superlatives and awards: Most improved, biggest surprise, and more

NESNRanking Celtics’ Playoff Opponents: Pistons, Knicks Among Threats Blocking Path to NBA Finals

Colin Cowherd Takes Well-Deserved Victory Lap After Nailing Bold Celtics Prediction

Mass LiveUtah Jazz sign Maine Celtics guard to 2-year contract

Celtics Wire Should Celtics want Magic or 76ers in first round of NBA Playoffs?

Derrick White makes the case for Celtics teammate Neemias Queta to win MIP

Celtics history: Damon Jones signs; Oliver Lafayette debuts

Celtics star Jaylen Brown wins top honor for his…interviews?

The AthleticThe Bounce: Presenting the NBA’s best awards. It’s the Bouncies!

Five questions that could make (or break) the Celtics’ playoff fate

Nothing matches what Celtics are doing in terms of nonstop surprises (not even the Pats)

Hardwood Houdini LeBron’s storybook Celtics wish will obviously never be granted

Celtics fans just gave the team an unexpected and unforgettable moment

Bill Simmons gives perfect take on Tatum vs. Brown debate on behalf of Celtics Nation

Unbelievable advanced stat shows next level genius of Brad Stevens

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Baylor Scheierman & Ron Harper Jr. showed Celtics everything they needed to see

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Magic vs 76ers Same-Game Parlay for Wednesday's NBA Game

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The Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers fight over the East's No. 7 seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

With Joel Embiid out and Orlando reeling from a bellyflop in the season finale, oddsmakers expect a tight finish in Philly.

I’m leaning toward the home side but giving each team’s respective superstar their due in my NBA same game parlay for Wednesday night.

Here are my best NBA picks and predictions for Magic vs. 76ers on April 15.

Our best Magic vs 76ers SGP for April 15

The Philadelphia 76ers are short chalk for this Play-In tilt, scoring home court thanks to the Orlando Magic missing the mark in the season finale against the Celtics’ skeleton crew. Philadelphia is used to playing without Embiid and owns a 19-8 SU record as home favorites this season.

Paolo Banchero took the blame for the loss to Boston – a game in which he fired up 22 field goal attempts. I see another aggressive attack from Orlando’s standout, with game projections sitting between 23.5 and 25 points Wednesday.

Tyrese Maxey seems to find another gear when Embiid goes down. He’s become a fantastic inside-out scorer with improved shooting from deep. He knocked down three or more triples in two of the three meeting with the Magic and projection call for another 3+ day from 3-point land for Maxey.

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Two Words, Wolves Pod: Timberwolves-Nuggets Round 3 + X-Factors for the Series

On today’s episode, Ryan Eichten and Leo Sun discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves drawing the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs and what the series might look like:

— With the Nuggets’ win as huge underdogs while sitting most of their roster in the final game of the season against the San Antonio Spurs, they secured the third seed and a matchup with the Wolves. It ends up as a huge missed opportunity for the Wolves, who could have instead played an injured Los Angeles Lakers team.

— Can Julius Randle get back to his near All-Star level of play from the first half of the season? If he can, the Wolves will have a much better chance of upsetting the Nuggets in this series.

— Another looming question for this series is whether or not Rudy Gobert can impact the game on the offensive end of the court. Given how good the Nuggets’ offense has been this season, the Wolves will likely need Gobert to play as much as possible and will need to find a way to better incorporate him into the offense to keep him on the court this series.

— The Nuggets do not have a great option to guard Anthony Edwards; instead, they will likely throw double-teams at him whenever they can. How well Edwards can deal with different types of coverage will play a big role in which team advances out of the first round.

— The Nuggets are -350 to win the series over the Wolves (roughly 75 percent implied odds). Is that giving the Wolves enough credit in this matchup?

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2026 NBA Finals: Schedule, Odds, Matchup & Betting Guide

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The NBA Finals are the true show-stopper of the basketball season, where fortunes can change as quickly as a chase-down block, a ruptured Achilles, or an improbable offensive rebound turning into a corner-3.

The New York Knicks have already punched their ticket to the Finals, with the Western Conference representative awaiting a Game 7 between the Spurs and Thunder on May 30.

Once the matchup is set, we'll have you covered for all things Finals, including NBA Finals odds, picks, and predictions for the league's ultimate showdown.

NBA Finals odds

Teambet365
Thunder Thunder+115
Knicks Knicks+210
Spurs Spurs+250

NBA Finals MVP odds

Playerbet365
ThunderShai Gilgeous-Alexander+125
KnicksJalen Brunson+270
SpursVictor Wembanyama+270
KnicksKarl-Anthony Towns+2000
KnicksOG Anunoby+5000

Get more analysis of the Finals MVP field with our full NBA Finals MVP odds.

📅 2026 NBA Finals schedule

GameDate/TimeVenue
Game 1June 3
8:30 p.m. ET		Oklahoma City/San Antonio 
Game 2June 5
8:00 p.m. ET		Oklahoma City/San Antonio
Game 3June 8
8:30 p.m. ET		Madison Square Garden, NY
Game 4June 10
8:30 p.m. ET		Madison Square Garden, NY
Game 5*June 13
8:30 p.m. ET		Oklahoma City/San Antonio
Game 6*June 16
8:30 p.m. ET		Madison Square Garden, NY
Game 7*June 19
8:00 p.m. ET		Oklahoma City/San Antonio

*If necessary

NBA Finals format

The NBA Finals take place between the winners of the Eastern Conference (the New York Knicks) and Western Conference (either San Antonio or Oklahoma City) Finals, following a best-of-seven format. The team with the better regular-season record is awarded homecourt advantage, hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6.

📊 2026 NBA Finals odds over time

Here's a visual representation of how the NBA championship odds have evolved over the course of this season.

📺 Where to watch the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals will air on ABC in the United States. Mike Breen will handle play-by-play duties for the 21st straight year. Those without cable can stream the games live on Fubo and NBA League Pass.

How to bet on the NBA Finals

The NBA Playoffs bring out plenty of new bettors looking to wager on basketball for the first time. If you fit this category, let us teach you how to bet on basketball with some betting basics and tips for tackling the basketball world’s biggest competition.

💵 Where to bet on the NBA Finals

Basketball betting is booming, and the NBA has embraced it with open arms. Basketball’s popularity spawns fun and unique ways to wager on the action almost all year round. Where you bet on basketball is just as important as what you bet, and we review the best basketball betting sites available in your region.

🏆 NBA Finals winners since 2000

YearTeam
2025Celtics Oklahoma City Thunder
2024Celtics Boston Celtics
2023Nuggets Denver Nuggets
2022Warriors Golden State Warriors
2021Bucks Milwaukee Bucks
2020Lakers Los Angeles Lakers
2019Raptors Toronto Raptors
2018Warriors Golden State Warriors
2017Warriors Golden State Warriors
2016Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers
2015Warriors Golden State Warriors
2014Spurs San Antonio Spurs
2013Heat Miami Heat
2012Heat Miami Heat
2011Hoffenheim Dallas Mavericks
2010Lakers Los Angeles Lakers
2009Lakers Los Angeles Lakers
2008Celtics Boston Celtics
2007Spurs San Antonio Spurs
2006Heat Miami Heat
2005Spurs San Antonio Spurs
2004Pistons Detroit Pistons
2003Spurs San Antonio Spurs
2002Lakers Los Angeles Lakers
2001Lakers Los Angeles Lakers
2000Lakers Los Angeles Lakers

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