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Five Potential Destinations For Canucks' Brock Boeser

Brock Boeser (Danny Wild-Imagn Images)

Brock Boeser has been quoted saying "it's unlikely at this point" that he will be returning to the Vancouver Canucks next season, and the free-agent market for the 28-year-old will be large and competitive.

Boeser recorded 25 goals and 50 points this season in 75 games, following a 2023-24 season where he set a career-high of 40 goals and 73 points. The former 2015 first-round pick is one of the more efficient scorers in the NHL, owning a 17.2 shooting percentage this season – the 41st highest percentage in the league among players with 70 or more games played 

With his impending exit from Vancouver, here are five possible free-agency destinations for Boeser.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs could be entering an offseason where major change is needed if they fall short of their playoff goals. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are pending UFAs, and the team needs to re-sign pending RFA Matthew Knies. If they decide to let Marner walk in free agency or he elects to seek a new opportunity, rumours have already swirled about the possibility of the Maple Leafs using Boeser and the Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers as replacements. 

Boeser is quite different in terms of play style compared to Marner. Marner is a pure playmaker, looking to pass as his first option, while Boeser is known as a shooter. The styles might be different, but the skill the Maple Leafs currently have should allow everyone to gel quite quickly.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild are an obvious choice for the Burnsville, Minn. native. They’ll have over $20 million in cap space this off-season and will be looking to add another scoring winger to complement the likes of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marco Rossi.

With prospects such as Liam Ohgren, Danila Yurov, Zeev Buium, David Jiricek and Jesper Wallstedt all expected to be key contributors sometime soon, Boeser would fit nicely in the Wild's lineup. 

When Boeser is at his best, he’s one of the league's most efficient scorers. Pairing him with a playmaker who generates chances at an extremely high rate, as Kaprizov does, it’s not far-fetched to envision Boeser possibly recording multiple 40-goal seasons. 

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have been attempting to put the final touches on their rebuild for quite some time. In the Atlantic Division, they’ve been compared to the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres. Missing the playoffs this season and watching the Senators and Canadiens make it has upset some of the players.

"It was hard that we didn't do anything, and I felt the group kinda — we didn't gain any momentum from the trade deadline, and guys were kinda down about it," said captain Dylan Larkin during the team's exit interviews.  "So it'd be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice and maybe a morale boost as well."

Although adding Boeser to the fold wouldn’t solve every problem they have or instantly make them into a playoff team, it would be a good start. They’ll also need to sure up their goaltending and continue to integrate more of their top-end prospects to compete with the other wild-card teams. 

Carolina Hurricanes

GM Eric Tulsky showed the NHL world that he’s not afraid to make a big move after he traded for and then traded away Mikko Rantanen. Moving Rantanen and Martin Necas has opened up a lot of cap space for the Hurricanes, and it’s expected that they’ll be pursuing many of the top free agents this summer. 

The Hurricanes will likely prioritize a second-line center before looking for additional help on the wing, but if they do, Boeser could be a great fit. 

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are in a different position than the other four teams mentioned. They are at the peak of their rebuild, beginning to incorporate many of the players they hope to be key contributors in the future.

Making the playoffs seems quite unlikely for Chicago, but they'll be hoping to be in the race by the time the post-season rolls around in 2026. Pairing Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and possibly a top-two pick with a proven scorer such as Boeser would help them accomplish that, similar to what Tyler Toffoli did for Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund and the San Jose Sharks.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Mets at Nationals: How to watch on SNY on April 26, 2025

The Mets continue their four-game series with the Nationals in Washington, D.C. on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • The Mets fell to 6-7 on the road with Friday's loss, but still own the best record in the majors at 18-8 (.692 win percentage)
  • Clay Holmes has allowed only two runs with 14 strikeouts over his last two starts (11.0 IP)
  • Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez both went 1-for-4 in their season debuts
  • McNeil gets the start in CF -- he's played the position three times in his big league career (all in 2023)
  • Mark Vientos has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, including just the second triple of his career on Friday night
METS
NATIONALS

Francisco Lindor, SS

CJ Abrams, SS

Juan Soto, RF

James Wood, LF

Pete Alonso, 1B

Nathaniel Lowe, 1B

Brandon Nimmo, LF

Josh Bell, DH

Mark Vientos, 3B

Luis Garcia Jr., 2B

Jesse Winker, DH

Keibert Ruiz, C

Francisco Alvarez, C

Dylan Crews, RF

Jeff McNeil, CF

Jose Tena, 3B

Luisangel Acuña, 2B

Jacob Young, CF

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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Florida Panthers Assign Jesse Puljujarvi To Charlotte

David Gonzales-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers have assigned forward Jesse Puljujarvi to the Charlotte Checkers, it was announced Friday. 

Puljujarvi, who joined the Panthers organization midway through the season, has seen time in both the NHL and AHL this year. In 31 NHL games with the Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins, he scored four goals and added six assists for 10 points. Across 26 AHL games with Charlotte and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he put up six goals and 16 points. 

Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, Puljujarvi has played in a total of 387 career NHL regular season games with the Panthers, Penguins, Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes. In that span, he has collected 58 goals and 70 assists for 128 points. 

With Puljujarvi being assigned to the AHL, he will have an opportunity to play a big role for the Checkers as they look to make a run to the Calder Cup. Still a capable depth player on an NHL roster, Puljujarvi has not been able to secure a full-time role over the last couple of seasons but could see another team take a swing at him during the offseason. 

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil return, plus Brooks Raley agrees to deal

Here's what happened in Mets land on Friday, in case you missed it...

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Knicks vs. Pistons Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 27

On Sunday, April 27, the New York Knicks (51-31) and Detroit Pistons (44-38) are all set to square off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.

New York stole Game 3 in Detroit, 118-116, behind a combined 61 points from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson and 20 or more points from four starters. Cade Cunningham double-doubled with 24 points and 11 assists for the Pistons, while Malik Beasley dropped 24 points and the bench combined for 40 points.

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Pistons have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Pistons live today

  • Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
  • Time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Site: Little Caesars Arena
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: ABC / ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+109), Pistons (-130)
  • Spread:  Pistons -2
  • Over/Under: 217 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 108.02, and the Pistons 109.07.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Knicks vs. Pistons game

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Jalen Brunson’s point prop and the Knicks +2:

"The Knicks took the pivotal Game 3 that can really swing a series, so the momentum is certainly in their favor. Jalen Brunson, the Clutch Player of the Year, had another heroic effort as Batman (Brunson, 30 points) and Robin (KAT, 31 points) closed the game for New York. I can't expect KAT to have another massive performance, but there's no reason why Brunson can't after 34, 37, and 30 points in the series thus far — Over 29.5 points looks good for Brunson and if the Knicks win here, they can close it out at home in five games, so I lean the Knicks +2 and ML (+110).

If you have the series correct score market — I like the value on the series to end in 5 (+185) more than the Knicks ML here (+110) because they would be laying at least -7.5 at home in Game 5 up 3-1."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Pistons game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 217.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Pistons on Sunday

  • In 3 wins against the Pistons this season the Knicks' average winning margin is +14.3
  • The Over is 29-26 in the Pistons' matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
  • The Pistons have covered in 15 of their 21 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams this season
  • In 3 wins against the Pistons this season the Knicks' average winning margin is +14.3

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Hernández: Can the Lakers overcome their biggest vulnerability exposed during their Game 3 loss?

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dunks over Lakers guard Luka Doncic during Game 3 Friday
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dunks over Lakers guard Luka Doncic during Game 3 Friday at the Target Center in Minneapolis. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Somehow, the Lakers concealed the shortcoming in plain sight for months, enough to where the situation looked manageable.

That was then.

Now, in a postseason series against an athletic team with size, their lack of a big man has become a major problem. Now, as the Lakers find themselves with a two-games-to-one deficit in their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the absence of a reliable center could be why their season comes to a premature end.

Luka Doncic was said to be feeling awful on Friday night, and his play reflected it. However, an equal, if not greater, factor in the Lakers’ 116-104 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 3 was the team’s complete inability to protect the rim.

Timberwolves forward Julius Randle shoots over Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, guard Gabe Vincent and guard Luka Doncic
Timberwolves forward Julius Randle shoots over Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, guard Gabe Vincent and guard Luka Doncic in Game 3 of their series Friday at the Target Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Considering how Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards practically skipped to their basket on Saturday night at Target Center, the Lakers might as well have replaced their free-throw lane with a red carpet.

The Timberwolves knew the Lakers couldn’t stop them, and the numbers reflected their lack of respect. They attempted 45 shots in the paint, compared to 28 for the Lakers. They scored 56 points in the paint, compared to 26 for the Lakers.

McDaniels scored 30 points, including 24 in the paint. Edwards finished with 29 points and a team-high eight assists.

“The fact is we don’t have rim protection,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “So if you give up blow-bys, we’re gonna give up something.”

Read more:With Luka Doncic ailing, LeBron James' historic night can't save Lakers in Game 3 loss

The Lakers technically have a center in seven-footer Jaxson Hayes, but Redick clearly doesn’t want to play him, evidenced by how Hayes has logged nine or fewer minutes in each of the three games of this series. The nine minutes Hayes played on Friday were particularly destructive, as he registered a plus/minus of minus-13.

Hayes was a backup before the Lakers sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the trade for Doncic, and Davis’ departure shouldn’t have changed that. Hayes is who he is.

The Lakers knew this could be a problem, which is why they had a deal in place to acquire center Mark Williams for the Charlotte Hornets before the trade deadline. But Williams underwent a physical examination, the Lakers were concerned with what they saw, and the trade was rescinded.

Perhaps general manager Rob Pelinka should have gambled on the 7-foot Williams, who was healthy for the remainder of the regular season. Or perhaps Pelinka should have lined up contingencies in case the trade for Williams didn’t work out. Or perhaps he should have gathered more accurate information on the injury-prone Williams beforehand, which could have saved the Lakers time and afforded them the luxury of redirecting their efforts elsewhere. Or perhaps there was nothing he could have done, given the shortage of available big men.

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels fight for a loose ball during Game 3
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels fight for a loose ball during Game 3 of their playoff series Friday at the Target Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

None of that matters now. What’s done is done, and the season autopsy can wait until the summer. The Lakers have a series to win.

Figuring out how to do that is the job of Redick, who said he believed his team could overcome its size deficit.

“We’ve done it all year,” he said. “When we’ve been at our best, we’ve been able to be physical on the ball and not allow blow-bys and also have sort of a cover mentality, multiple effort and it was there at times tonight.”

Forward Dorian Finney-Smith shared a similar view.

Read more:'Be a banshee': How the Lakers cultivated a winning spirit

“Just gotta do a better job of standing in front of the ball,” Finney-Smith said. “I feel like we were just giving up too many blow-bys, and it really ain’t had nothing to do with our size. It was just on-base defense and rotations outside of when we gotta scramble. I feel like we didn’t have the sense of urgency the whole game, and they did.”

Redick pointed to some of the other mistakes made by his team.

“I think we had two [plays] where we collected a rebound, we get backtapped, we give up a point,” he said. “Those things really, really accumulate, especially when you’re turning the ball over.”

Provided Doncic recovers from whatever made him vomit over and over in the hours leading up to the Game 3, the Lakers have two of the best players in the league in him and James. They have a dangerous No. 3 option in Austin Reaves. They have solid defenders in Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt. But they don’t have a big man, and at this moment, what they don’t have feels as important as what they do.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Playoffs giving Warriors rookie Post trial-by-fire treatment

Playoffs giving Warriors rookie Post trial-by-fire treatment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The flight on which Quinten Post is among the pilots is revealing and enlightening. It’s satisfying and frustrating, joyful and infuriating. His introduction to the world of Warriors basketball has been quite the ride, and he has embraced knowing that he’ll influence how long it lasts this season.

He has progressed from a second-round pick in the NBA draft last June to a two-way contract in September to his NBA debut in December to becoming a fixture in Golden State’s rotation in January to making 14 starts as a rookie.

If that’s not enough to substantiate his value, he’s now crucial to the team’s attempt to make a deep NBA playoff run.
Forgive Post if his head were spinning atop his 7-foot frame, but it seems solidly in place.

“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Post tells NBC Sports Bay Area. “Biggest difference, I mean, I was in Santa Cruz, and now here. Back then I was just trying to prove anything. That I could fit or belong. And now there’s a real responsibility on my shoulders. I have an impact on winning or losing. And that that comes with the pressure. The pressure is a blessing. That means that people are relying on you. That’s something special.

“It’s a super cool situation to be in. It’s a whole different world, obviously, for me.”

Post was a non-factor in his playoff debut against the Rockets last Sunday in Houston. Played 12 minutes, went 0 of 3 from the field, with one rebound, one assist and two fouls in a 95-85 win in Game 1. He recovered Wednesday in Game 2, playing 25 minutes and totaling 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from distance.

The only Warrior to score more points in Game 2 was franchise icon Stephen Curry, who finished with 20.
Yet Post laments his lack of impact elsewhere in a 109-94 loss. Specifically rebounding. The Warriors were outrebounded by 16 (52-36) in Game 1 and by 14 (47-33) in Game 2. He grabbed two in Game 2.

“I don’t think anybody expects that we’re going to out-reach and out-rebound them,” Post says of the Rockets, who in the regular season led the league rebounding. “We just have to limit that and play to our strengths, which is playing fast, limiting our turnovers and playing to our game plan. I don’t think anybody was expecting us to outrebound them when we’re obviously a smaller team.

“But when I come off the bench, that’s something I need to get better at. I need to be a better rebounder. I need to become more physical, and with time that will definitely come. I can help us with it now, but I need to become better at rebounding. One thousand percent.”

Houston’s rebounding is among the early pivotal themes in the series, and it’s particularly noticeable when Rockets coach Ime Udoka turns to a lineup with 6-foot-11, 265-pound Steven Adams playing alongside 6-foot-11, 235-pound Alperen Şengün. Towering over Warriors not named Post, they combined for 21 rebounds in Game 1 and 19 in Game 2.

“And then they have their big wings in there crashing,” Post says. “We just play a smaller style of basketball. But I need to be better, and as a team we need to do better.”

The possession game likely will tilt the series. Houston’s rebounding has been a major factor in it attempting 17 more field goals through the first two games. The Rockets’ poor shooting in Game 1 rendered that irrelevant, but their recovery in Game 2 resulted in a 15-point win.

Post is correct in that it’s unrealistic for the Warriors to win that battle, but he’s also correct in saying he needs to be better at it. Same applies to Draymond Green, who has 11 rebounds in two games – the same total as Stephen Curry – and Moses Moody, who has two. The availability of Jimmy Butler III, who pulled seven rebounds in Game 1, is in question for Game 3.

The Warriors are emphasizing the need to match Houston’s physicality. It’s visible and consistent. All rookies realize the playoffs are a different game; Post is seeing that it’s even more pronounced among big men.

“It’s very physical, so I do see differences,” he says. “And they’ve got a good crowd there in Houston. But I know that we’ll have a good, maybe better, crowd here in Chase. So you just feel the intensity. They play a very physical game, too. They probably bumped up the physicality in Game 2, with the mentality that the ref can’t call everything.

“Looking back at that game, I didn’t even realize some of the things that were going on the court. Shoving, pushing, pulling. That’s kind of what happened. And now we just have to respond in Game 3.”

Post, 25, was exposed to basketball while growing up in the Netherlands, idolizing Dirk Nowitzki, who was born and raised in neighboring Germany. Post is in the rotation because, at 44.9 percent, he was the team’s most accurate 3-point shooter. He stretches the floor, a key component of the offense built around Curry.

Post could not have known last spring that he would be in the NBA playoffs with such future Hall of Famers as Curry, Green and Butler. Or that he would have a significant role.

Moreover, the Warriors could not have known they would need him as much as they do.

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Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards spark Timberwolves in clutch to beat Lakers, take 2-1 series lead

NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves

Apr 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after making a shoot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

It was tied 103-103 with 4:37 left in Game 3, but the Lakers had two of the best clutch players the league has ever seen on the floor in LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

The Timberwolves had Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid and that was all they needed.

Minnesota closed the game on a 13-1 run behind their clutch trio to get the win.

Minnesota took a 2-1 series lead in front of a raucous crowd in Minnesota Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday in Minnesota.

Edwards is expected to be the engine for the Timberwolves and he lived up to that, scoring or assisting on nine straight points in the clutch. He finished with 29 points, scoring or assisting on 48 points.

McDaniels is the bellwether so far in this series. He had 25 points and nine rebounds while playing elite defense in Game 1 (a Minnesota win), and on Friday night he scored 30.

The other move critical move in the clutch was Minnesota coach Chris Finch subbing out Rudy Gobert for Naz Reid. This wasn’t about Gobert’s defense (the Lakers were 6-of-13 shooting with him as the primary defender on the night) but more about the offense. Having Gobert on the floor gave a place for J.J. Redick to hide a defender and someone to help off of when Edwards drove the lane. With Reid out there, that hiding space went away, and Reid hit a clutch 3-pointer as well. More importantly, the Timberwolves' defense didn’t suffer. It was a real risk by Finch, the lineup he closed the game with (Edwards, McDaniels, Reid, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo) had a -8.9 net rating in the regular season, but the playoffs are all about matchups, and it worked against the Lakers.

Doncic was clearly slowed, playing through a stomach issue that had him vomiting much of the day and had him on the verge of missing the game, but he still finished with 17 points and eight assists.

LeBron picked up the slack with an impressive 38-point outing.

"He was incredible. He did everything he could in his power to try to will them to a win,” Edwards said of LeBron.

“He was shooting it from Yucatan. For sure, he was shooting it crazy... I'm not gonna lie, it was fun to be competing against him today for sure."

Expect an even more energized LeBron on Sunday in what becomes an almost must-win game for Los Angeles, it can’t go down 3-1 and come out of this series.

However, that was a confidence-boosting, “we got this” kind of win for Minnesota. It believes it is the best team in this series, the deeper and better squad. The one that went to the conference finals a year ago. And those Timberwolves are going to believe Game 4 belongs to them.

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Eubank Jr v Benn feels like a mistake – bad TV pretending to be good sport | Barney Ronay

Without their fathers’ surnames there is zero chance the mismatched catchweight contest would take place

Back in his pomp as an era-defining, generational dog-torturer, the great Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov did an interesting experiment with shapes. This involved showing a dog called Vampire a combination of circles and ovals. Circles meant he was about to be fed. Ovals meant no food and possibly, maybe, at a push, being electrocuted.

Before long Vampire was showing the familiar conditioned response, salivating when he saw a circle, shying away from the oval. At which point Pavlov began to show him shapes that were weirdly pitched between the two, not quite an oval, not quite a circle, half a food promise, half something else, until eventually Vampire snapped, yelping and running around in circles, unable to interpret the truth of the thing in front of him. So, top work there everyone. Another dog successfully confused.

Continue reading...
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Wagner, Banchero help Magic beat Celtics 95-93 despite 36 points from Tatum in return

NBA: Playoffs-Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic

Apr 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives around Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the second quarter of game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Mike Watters-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added 29 and the Orlando Magic beat Boston 95-93 on Friday night to cut the Celtics' lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Jayson Tatum had 36 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics in his return to the starting lineup after missing Game 2 with a bruised wrist.

The defending NBA champions were 33-8 on the road this season but are now 0-3 in Orlando in 2024-25. The Magic host Game 4 on Sunday.

The Celtics, who set several NBA records for 3-point shooting during the regular season, shot 9 for 27 in Game 3 and went 17 minutes between 3-pointers in the second half. The game included 43 fouls, a flagrant foul and 35 turnovers, 21 by the Celtics against the physical Magic defense.

“I feel like it suits our team, our playing style,” said Wagner, who had eight assists and seven rebounds. “We’ve played like that all year, and I feel like whoever plays more aggressive is going to win in this series.”

The flagrant foul was called on Orlando's Cole Anthony after a play in which Boston's Jaylen Brown dislocated his left index finger.

“Maybe a fight will break out (in Game 4),” said Brown, who finished with 19 points and five fouls. “If you want to fight, we can do that and see who goes to the second round.”

The Celtics believe the Magic are already getting plenty of shots in.

“Some fouls they call and some they don’t, and that’s how it’s going to be,” said Kristaps Porzingis, who had seven points and four fouls. “We have to accept the reality and also, we can use that. It goes both ways. It’s really a big difference from the regular season.”

Boston rallied after scoring just 11 points in the third quarter to tie it 91 on Derrick White's layup with 2:31 to play. Wagner answered with a layup, and after a miss by Tatum, followed with another basket for a 95-91 lead with 1:26 to play.

White scored, and after Wagner missed a 3-pointer, the Celtics got the ball and inbounded with 0.3 seconds left but White's pass toward the basket was tapped away as time expired.

The Celtics played without Jrue Holiday, who has a strained right hamstring.

Tatum, who was listed as doubtful late Friday afternoon, scored 21 points in the first half, leading the Celtics to a 10-point lead.

Tatum's 3-pointer early in the second half stretched their lead to 11, but the Celtics missed 17 of their next 19 shots and did not hit another 3-point shot until Al Horford connected with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Wagner and Banchero combined for nine points on a 14-0 run that pulled the Magic ahead and they led 86-74 after the third quarter.

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Trent ties Bucks playoff mark with 9 3s, he and Giannis score 37 in 117-101 Game 3 win over Pacers

Indiana Pacers v Milwaukee Bucks - Game Three

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 25: Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks makes a three point shot in the second half over Ben Sheppard #26 of the Indiana Pacers during game three of the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images)

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. got hot from deep, Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint and together they gave the Milwaukee Bucks new life in their first-round playoff series.

Trent tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Antetokounmpo also had 37 and the Bucks used a big second half to beat Indiana 117-101 on Friday night and cut the Pacers' series lead to 2-1.

“My mindset was just to come in and get a win," said Trent, who got a rare start and had his highest playoff scoring output.

Trent also was assigned to cover Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was held in check for most of the game.

“I was trying to be all over him to start the game," Trent said. "Let him know you’re there and try to take him out of his game.”

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Trent's aggressiveness earned him a start.

“There were two reasons. The offensive part because he’s really aggressive and the defensive part because of his hands," Rivers said. “We wanted somebody aggressive to attack Haliburton. I thought he did that."

The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo’s three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter.

The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen's mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 70-44 in the second half.

Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons.

“We have to stay humble,” Antetokounmpo said. “It's just one game.”

Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season.

“We were bad on both sides of the ball,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “They were great, we were bad.”

Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

After trailing throughout Game 2, the Bucks grabbed an early lead. Antetokounmpo and Trent combined to score Milwaukee’s first 21 points. No other Bucks player scored until Green sank a 3-pointer with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.

Milwaukee shot 4 for 23 from 3-point range over the first two quarters but was 11 for 18 after halftime.

Bucks star guard Damian Lillard was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. He made just 1-of-8 3-pointers.