Posts

Posted on

5 RFA Forwards The Penguins Should Pursue This Summer

Mar 14, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque (22) waits for the faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period at Canada Life Centre. (Terrence Lee-Imagn Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins will certainly be busy this summer, as they are in the market for a new head coach and have 11 picks in the upcoming NHL Draft.

But there is another area they may find themselves quite active in as well.

Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas mentioned some potential interest in the restricted free agent market this summer, specifically for younger players in their earlier 20s who may not be brought back by their current teams for one reason or another. He also mentioned that the Penguins are prepared to move some assets for such players.

Given the Penguins' overflowing draft cupboard - and their abundance of higher-value picks - who are some bigger names on the forward front that they can target? 

Here are five RFA forwards for the Penguins to call about, should they be available.

Marco Rossi - Center, Minnesota Wild

Jan 29, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (23) pursues the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

We've already covered the situation with Rossi, and for good reason.

The 23-year-old center put up 24 goals and 60 points in his second full NHL season, and he only seems to be getting better and better. Yet the Minnesota Wild don't seem to be interested in keeping him around long-term.

Although Rossi may be undersized at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, it seems odd that he is, apparently, losing favor with his team because he has two-way, top-six talent. But, if he is available, it's fair to assume that pretty much every team will be interested to a degree.

If Rossi Is Available, Penguins Should Be CallingIf Rossi Is Available, Penguins Should Be CallingIt's safe to say that it will be a very interesting summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It's hard to say whether or not the Penguins have the right assets to be able to give perceived fair value in return. The Wild are in desperate need of center depth, and - beyond center prospect Tristan Broz - the Penguins don't have much promising center depth in their system.

Then again, if Minnesota needs a center that badly, it's hard to imagine why they don't value Rossi as a center. So, it's possible that the Penguins might be able to put together a package that doesn't have a high-end center or center prospect as the main piece in a package.

Mavrik Bourque - Center, Dallas Stars

Apr 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque (22) shoots the puck in the Winnipeg Jets zone during the second period at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Bourque - a first-round pick (30th overall) for the Dallas Stars in 2020 - is certainly one of the more interesting names out there, as the Stars' young forward has yet to really hit his stride at the NHL level.

But the young center is the exact type of the player that the Penguins need.

In 2023-24, Bourque - then 22 years old - registered 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games for the Texas Stars, Dallas's AHL affiliate. He was also a 20-goal scorer in his rookie AHL season in 2022-23. In his rookie season with Dallas this year, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound forward put up 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games in a somewhat limited role.

 

Exclusive: For Mavrik Bourque, Patience Is a Necessary VirtueExclusive: For Mavrik Bourque, Patience Is a Necessary VirtueThe Stars 30th overall draft pick in 2020 discusses his early AHL struggles, Logan Stankoven's NHL success, and how he's preparing for his own call-up.

The Stars are an example of a team that will be very limited by the salary cap this summer, and they have a lot of tough decisions to make. Only projected at $5.87 million in cap space right now, they have pending-UFAs in forwards Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn, Evgenii Dadonov, Colin Blackwell. and Mikael Granlund as well as defensemen Cody Ceci, Nils Lundqvist, and Brendan Smith.

Although most of those players are likely to walk, they don't have much wiggle room to keep some of the veterans they would probably like to stick around. Bourque has also been a healthy scratch for most of the playoffs, so if Dallas feels like the "now" is more important for their chances at a Cup, they may elect to keep one of the veterans over him. 

If that's the case, the Penguins should be all over that opportunity, as Bourque's finishing ability and high-IQ should translate well to the style the Penguins play.

Will Cuylle - Right Wing, New York Rangers

Mar 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) attempts a pass against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Madison Square Garden. (Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)

If the New York Rangers are smart, Will Cuylle, 23, should be their number one priority this summer. In just his second full NHL season, he registered 20 goals and 45 points.

But, like the Stars, it's a bit more complicated than that.

The Blueshirts aren't quite as cap-strapped as the Stars are, but they still have a few tough decisions to make - particularly on their blue line. Left defenseman K'Andre Miller is a pending-RFA - as is Zac Jones and several bottom-six forwards - and if the team is to return to playoff contention next season, they need to make some big changes on that front.

4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This Summer4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This SummerDuring his postseason press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas provided a glimpse into what the summer could look like for the organization.

If they choose to retain Miller, he is due for a raise on his $3.87 cap hit, and they'll still be best-served to target a legitimate top-four defenseman. If they do, well, they'll only have $8.4 million to work with, per Puckpedia. 

Cuylle - currently suiting up for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship - should be part of the Rangers' plan going forward. But if they decide to prioritize reshaping their blue line, don't be surprised if the former second-round pick becomes a cap casualty.

In that case, Pittsburgh should sniff around for a trade-then-sign, as the winger has all the tools to stick in the top-six.

Mason McTavish - Center, Anaheim Ducks

Apr 7, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) celebrates his goal scored against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period at Honda Center. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

McTavish's name was thrown around a bit a few months ago in trade talks, and there seemed to be some friction between him and former Anaheim Ducks coach Greg Cronin.

With Cronin out of the picture, there's not as much noise around McTavish potentially wanting a change of scenery. In fact, he has expressed his desire to remain with the Ducks, and if the Ducks are smart, he should be the top priority this summer.

But if he is available for one reason or another - especially if he wants a longer-term deal or an AAV figure that Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek isn't willing to meet, as he has mentioned his preference for bridge deals - the Penguins would be wise to consider giving up some high value for him in a trade.

How Coronato's Contract Extension Impacts McTavish's Negotiations with the DucksHow Coronato's Contract Extension Impacts McTavish's Negotiations with the DucksMason McTavish enters the 2025 offseason as one of two (Lukas Dostal) high-profile restricted free agents (RFAs) on the Anaheim Ducks’ roster.

McTavish - the 22-year-old, 3rd overall pick of the Ducks in 2021 - is already a legitimate second-line center option. He's dangerous on the power play, he's got a heavy shot, he doesn't shy from physicality, he's a menace on the forecheck, and his production is rising year-by-year, as he recorded 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games this season.

The Ducks should - and probably will - keep him around, as they don't have too many promising center prospects on the way. But if contract issues arise, this may be a situation where the Penguins could offer a top forward prospect and the New York Rangers' conditional first and get a very good player in return.

More realistically, however, the Penguins will probably be more interested in one of the Ducks' young defensemen. 

Luke Evangelista - Right Wing, Nashville Predators

Apr 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista warms up before a game against the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center. (Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Although the Nashville Predators are not cap-strapped heading into next season - and retaining Evangelista should be no problem cap-wise - they're in a very compromising place.

It's safe to say that no one could have predicted just how poorly the Nashville Predators' season was going to go. They finished third from the bottom of the league standings with just 68 points, and this was despite a huge 2024 offseason that saw them acquire the likes of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei. 

On paper, this season shouldn't have happened. But it did, and with all of those guys - plus a few others - locked up long-term, they almost need to completely retool their roster on-the-fly to have any chance at contending in the near-term. 

Five Quick Questions with Luke EvangelistaFive Quick Questions with Luke EvangelistaLuke Evangelista sums up his season so far, knows exactly what he'd change about overtime, and is a creature of habit on game days.

Goaltender Juuse Saros had a rough season, but the defense in front of him didn't do any favors. They need a little bit of everything position-wise, and with a lot of high-value draft capital for the next three years - including three first-round picks this year - they should be wheeling and dealing for high-end talent.

This could make Evangelista, 23, a casualty of priorities. He recorded 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games this season - his second full one - which isn't quite enough to warrant anything but a bridge contract but is enough to suggest he could continue to improve. But, given their situation as an organization, they might choose to shoot higher in the trade market.

The former second-round pick wouldn't cost as much as the other options on this list, but he might be a worthwhile gamble as a complementary young piece for the Penguins should he become available.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

Posted on

The Breakdown | Rugby union’s bonus points barely change the Premiership table. Should we scrap them?

Research shows they make a major difference to 2.28% of positions, while play-off semi-finals also look redundant

The business end of the domestic season has arrived and the Premiership and United Rugby Championship tables, as ever, are being carefully scrutinised. Two from Bristol, Sale and Saracens are now vying to make the Premiership playoffs with two games left while the race for the URC top eight will boil down to the final weekend.

At which point some know-all will intone the well-worn mantra: bonus points will be crucial. And we’ll all nod solemnly and start contemplating how Team X or Team Y can best set about scoring either four tries or losing by seven points or fewer. Without necessarily stopping to think whether the cold, hard mathematics support that supposition – or indeed ever have done.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Why Melvin felt it was necessary to shake up Giants lineup

Why Melvin felt it was necessary to shake up Giants lineup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — During his first season as a Giant, Matt Chapman started games everywhere from the second spot in the order through the seventh. Heliot Ramos went even further in his breakout season, hitting in every spot except for ninth.

That was normal for the Giants in 2024 and the previous five seasons. Under the last regime, it seemed the lineup underwent big changes every day, and players got used to not knowing where they would hit the next game. The first six weeks of 2025 have been dramatically different, with continuity being put above all else, but on Monday, there were finally some notable changes.

Coming off a three-game sweep in Minnesota that included a couple of ugly offensive performances, Bob Melvin shook things up. Chapman was moved to second in the order and Willy Adames, who has hit there all year, was bumped down to sixth. Ramos was the hottest hitter on the road trip and moved up to third, with Jung Loo Lee sliding down to the cleanup spot. 

The biggest difference was lower in the lineup, though. Melvin has kept Wilmer Flores in the DH spot all year, but LaMonte Wade Jr. was out of the lineup against a right-hander on Monday, with Flores at first and Luis Matos at DH. 

“We’ve been pretty structured in the lineup to this point and we’ve been a little bit down offensively, so it’s a little change of scenery,” Melvin said before the game. “I think guys tend to like that sometimes.”

There was no spark on the first night with a new look, although it probably wasn’t a great idea to try it against Merrill Kelly, who has so thoroughly dominated the Giants in recent years that at times they have joked of pulling a lineup out of a hat. For the third time in four games, the Giants scored just one run.

The drought has dropped the Giants to 20th in team wRC+, but really, there were issues long before they arrived in Minnesota to face a good pitching staff over the weekend. The Giants have struggled to reach base all season long, and their lineup has been carried by just two or three guys at a time. For most of the year, it has been Mike Yastrzemski and Lee; over the last week, it has basically just been the Ramos Show.

Adames has yet to join the party in the first year of the largest contract in franchise history. He hit second — where teams often put their best hitter — in his first 41 appearances as a Giant, but Melvin said he wanted to change the shortstop’s focus. Adames drove in 112 runs last year and the hope is that moving him down can get him back in that mode, and bring his old swing back in general. Adames has looked better in recent weeks after an extremely slow start, but he was batting just .217 with a .632 OPS at the time of the switch.

That would be the lowest OPS of his career by nearly 100 points, but it’s not even close to being the roughest start among the regulars. Patrick Bailey is at .477, although there’s not really much the Giants can do there. Bailey has been working to find his way out of a slump that goes back to the second half of last season, but he’s so valuable defensively that he’ll continue to be in the lineup as often as possible.

The same can’t be said at first base, where the Giants opted to stand pat in the offseason and let Wade be the bridge to the eventual start of the Bryce Eldridge era. There were high hopes this spring when Wade stayed healthy, but he is hitting .145 with a .491 OPS and just one home run.

Wade went 0-for-9 during the Twins series and Melvin identified the start of this homestand as the right time to give his first baseman a physical and mental breather. The struggles have come in part because of a .185 batting average on balls in play, a sign of some bad luck early on this season. Melvin said Wade would start Tuesday, but the Giants face a lefty on Wednesday and are off Thursday, so he’ll get three light days out of four at the start of this week. 

“It’s just getting him a little bit of distance right now,” Melvin said. “The work he’s putting in is pretty extreme. It’s not like he’s sitting around pouting — he’s working like crazy, and for a guy that has had as much success as he has, this is really hard. The longer it goes on the harder it is, so I’m just trying to give him a little bit of a mental break.”

Melvin was adamant Monday that Wade will continue to be the primary first baseman, but the Giants could soon have some other options. The staff doesn’t want Flores to play the field too often because there’s a fear that it will lead to injuries, so he will continue to be the everyday DH for the most part. But Jerar Encarnacion has started a rehab assignment and Casey Schmitt isn’t far behind. Encarnacion, in particular, could wind up being the answer if Wade continues to struggle. 

The power-hitting outfielder has missed all year with a left-hand fracture, but when he returns, it will be as a first baseman. Melvin said Encarnacion, who has some experience at first in the minors but just one big league start there, will “play quite a bit” of first base when he returns. Initially, it will be against lefties, but there certainly is an opening for that to change.

Encarnacion isn’t eligible to be activated until May 26. In the meantime, Melvin is hoping that changes to his lineup lead to better days for the entire group, and the impacted players feel the same way. 

“Maybe some guys will take some more pressure off themselves,” Chapman said. “Sometimes that’s what happens. If you’re at the top of the lineup and it’s not going great, you go down a little bit — it’s happened to me a million times. You go down, you take a little bit of pressure off yourself, you get rolling, and then you’re right back up there. I think that’s kind of the idea, to shake it up a little bit and see if we can get a few more runs.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Pacers vs. Cavaliers Game 5 Predictions: Odds, expert picks recent stats, trends and best bets for May 13

It's Tuesday, May 13, and the Indiana Pacers (50-32) and Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) are all set to square off from Rocket Arena in Cleveland for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Indiana is up 3-1 in the series after winning Game 4, 129-109. The Pacers were up by an NBA playoff record 41 points at halftime (80-39) before sitting the starters for most of the second half. Three different Pacers scored 20-plus points and seven different players scored double-figures.

The good news for the Cavaliers is that the series is back in Cleveland, but the bad news is they could be without their star and leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is questionable for Game 5 after injuring his ankle and missing the second half. Darius Garland led the way with 21 points for Cleveland as no starter played more than 27 minutes.

The Pacers are currently 20-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Cavaliers have a 7-3 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 Pacers vs. Cavaliers live today

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM EST
  • Site: Rocket Arena
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / TruTV / Max

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 Pacers vs. Cavaliers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Pacers (+246), Cavaliers (-306)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -7.5
  • Over/Under: 229 points

That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 112.92, and the Cavaliers 116.83.

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 Tuesday’s Pacers vs. Cavaliers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Tyrese Haliburton Over 17.5 Points, plus leans the Game Under and the Pacers spread:

"After two straight Unders on his points prop. this may be a good spot to back the Over for Tyrese Haliburton. In Games 3 and 4, Haliburton scored 4 and 11 points compared to 22 and 19 in Games 1 and 2, so this is a buy-low spot as the Pacers head to Cleveland for a close-out. Haliburton has been clutch this series and postseason, so I expect a higher usage rate in a competitive game, leading to a good bet for the Over 17.5 points.

Games 5, 6, and 7 Game Total Unders in the second round and on are normally the best bets for a side or total and I tend to lean that way here. Indiana has taken advantage of an injured Cavs team all series long and with Mitchell questionable, I don't see why that doesn't happen again. With or without Mirchell, I think the points will be hard to come by tonight for Cleveland, so I lean the Pacers and the game Under."

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 Pacers & Cavaliers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +9.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 231.

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 Pacers vs. Cavaliers on Tuesday

  • The Pacers are on a 4-game win streak at the Cavaliers
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Pacers' last 5 divisional matchups
  • The Cavaliers have covered in 11 of their 19 divisional matchups this season
  • The Pacers have won 4 of 5 games at divisional opponents

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)

Posted on

Kerr confident Butler will be ‘ready to roll' in Game 5 vs. Wolves

Kerr confident Butler will be ‘ready to roll' in Game 5 vs. Wolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Two nights removed from attempting 26 shots in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, Jimmy Butler went just 5 of 9 in the Warriors’ Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at Chase Center.

Butler finished with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and one block, and was a game-low minus-30 in plus/minus rating in 34 minutes as Golden State fell 3-1 in the best-of-seven playoff series.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr anticipates a more aggressive Butler Wednesday night in Minnesota, as the Warriors face elimination in a do-or-die Game 5.

“I don’t have to say a whole lot to Jimmy,” Kerr told reporters Monday night. “We collaborate all the time and we talk about ideas. I always feel like he has a great sense for the game. And he does whatever’s necessary to win. He’s proven that. Not only here since we traded for him, but over the years.

“He knows what’s needed. I’m confident that Game 5 — he’s the ultimate competitor, he’ll be ready to roll.”

The Warriors’ offense took a major hit ever since losing superstar point guard Steph Curry, who sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 1 against the Timberwolves.

Since Curry’s been sidelined, Butler was supposed to be the guy to step up in his absence. He did so in Game 3 alongside Jonathan Kuminga, as the two combined for 63 points in a late loss.

But nine shot attempts just won’t cut it.

Kerr knows it, and he’ll work to make the necessary adjustments for Game 5.

“Well, he wasn’t as aggressive tonight, but I didn’t see a lot of openings either,” Kerr said. “Ideally, we could put more shooting around him to open up the floor a little bit. But with Steph out, we’re not going to be able to do as much of that.

“With that said, we’ll look at the tape and see where we can find some openings for him and I know he’ll be aggressive for Game 5.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Beyond the runs: Virat Kohli’s obsessive intensity left indelible mark on Test cricket | Jonathan Liew

The retiree’s final innings may have been unremarkable but his entire career was a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence which helped redefine Indian cricket

At dawn on a pale pastel morning in late January, thousands of fans started queueing outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Before long the queues turned chaotic. Scuffles broke out. Three people were injured and a police motorcycle was damaged. Armed security personnel were deployed inside and outside the venue, occasionally stepping in front of the sightscreen and causing play to be stopped.

But the consequences of Virat Kohli playing his first domestic red-ball game for Delhi in 12 years are less interesting than why he was there in the first place. Kohli rolled up in his Porsche two days before the game, arriving early to beat the crowds and so he could fit in a full gym session before team fitness drills and net practice. Desperately short of form, and yet a desperate romantic, Kohli had come to worship at the altar. One last crack at Test cricket. One last attempt at rekindling the skill that had long deserted him.

Continue reading...
Posted on

AFL boss defends handling of Willie Rioli case amid call for industry to fight racism

  • Andrew Dillon says ‘we don’t react to media criticism’ after forward’s ban
  • League CEO wants united front of players and clubs in ongoing battle

The AFL is appealing for the entire industry to unite and use the fresh Indigenous round as a landmark in the code’s fight against racism.

But AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says headquarters can’t fix the problem itself as fallout continues from the Willie Rioli case.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Celtics on brink of exit as Brunson shines for Knicks

Jalen Brunson reacts to a shot in Monday's game against the Boston Celticss
Brunson registered 12 assists and five rebounds in the game-four victory [Getty Images]

Jalen Brunson scored 39 points as the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 to leave the reigning NBA champions on the brink of elimination from the play-offs.

The Knicks stormed back from 14 points down in the third quarter to go 3-1 up in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final and are in sight of the finals for the first time since 2000.

The Celtics also lost forward Jayson Tatum, who scored 42 points before being carried off in the fourth quarter with what coach Joe Mazzulla described as a "lower body injury".

The six-time All Star, who was later seen being taken to the Madison Square Garden locker room in a wheelchair, will have a scan on Tuesday to assess the damage.

"He'll get the MRI and we'll see what it is," said Mazzulla.

"Obviously you're always concerned about someone's health. It's two-fold, we're concerned about his health and where's he's at. And then we're concerned what we've got to do better in game five."

The Knicks can clinch the series with a win in Boston on Thursday (00:00 BST).

Boston, who won game three on Saturday, started strongly with Tatum and Payton Pritchard leading the charge.

A Derrick White three-pointer gave the Celtics their biggest lead of the night early in the third quarter (72-58) but from then on the Knicks took over, taking an 88-85 lead into the final quarter.

Brunson controlled matters and when OG Anunoby grabbed a steal off Tatum in the incident that left the Celtics star writhing in pain before making a dunk, the Knicks were 118-106 ahead.

"I was just in a flow and doing whatever. I wasn't really trying to take over. It was just 'whatever we've gotta do'," Brunson said.

"We didn't quit, kept fighting. And that's what's most important. Whenever you get in a hole you can't quit."

Timberwolves edge closer to Western Conference final

The Minnesota Timberwolves went 3-1 up in their Western Conference semi-final series against Golden State Warriors thanks to a 117-110 win on the road.

Anthony Edwards finished with a 30-point tally in the win over the Warriors, who are missing injured star player Stephen Curry.

The Timberwolves hit 17 unanswered points in the the third quarter which helped them build an 85-68 advantage which they never looked like losing.

A win on their home court in game five on Thursday (02:30 BST) will see them advance to the finals.

Edwards revealed a half-time dressing down by Minnesota coach Chris Finch had sparked the second-half revival.

"We came out like we had won the series already, and when we went in at half-time coach said we were playing like losers," he said.

"He told me I wasn't defending at a high level, and needed to do better offensively, so in the second half I tried to do that."

Posted on

Mikal Bridges deserves his 'credit and flowers' after delivering again late in Knicks' Game 4 win

Six months ago, Josh Hart was sitting at his locker after a brutal loss to the Celtics, pushing back against criticism of his friend Mikal Bridges. 

“We don’t care about all that background noise about Mikal, his shot, all that other — we don’t care about it. He puts the work in every day. He’s going to be good. The talk around it is stupid,” Hart said then. 

So what Bridges did on Monday -- scoring 23 points in the Knicks’ Game 4 win over Boston -- meant something to Hart. 

“I’m so proud of him as a teammate, as a friend, going through all the adversity that he’s gone through this season,” Hart said late Monday night. “He’s never complained. He always comes to work happy, smiling. He deserves his credit and his flowers.”

After an uneven regular season, Bridges has come up big night after night in the playoffs for the Knicks. Monday night was just the latest example; Bridges had 10 key points in the fourth quarter to help New York build and maintain a lead against Boston. 

He also had three steals, seven rebounds and three assists in the game while defending Boston’s tough wings/perimeter players. He started the game slowly (5-for-14) but hit seven of his final 10 shots, including five in a row at the beginning of the fourth. 

“That's what I love about him,” Tom Thibodeau said afterward. “He played hard the whole game. I thought he had some good looks that didn't go in, but that didn't sway him at all.”

Bridges wasn’t the only offseason acquisition to deliver on Monday. OG Anunoby defended well for much of the night and hit several big shots on the way to 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting. 

Mitchell Robinson -- whom the Knicks elected not to trade at the deadline -- had five offensive rebounds (eight overall) in 25 minutes. 

Of course, there’s Jalen Brunson -- the most important acquisition of the Leon Rose era. 

Brunson had another masterclass (39 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds). His 18-point third quarter turned the game. 

Add it all up and the Knicks are one win away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years -- they got here with a Game 4 win on the night of the NBA Lottery. 

For a long time, the lottery was the most exciting night of the season for Knicks fans. That still holds true today, but for a much different reason.  

New York took a commanding 3-1 lead against a Celtics team that dominated them in the regular season. 

How is that possible?

“I think just getting better throughout the year…Just takes some time,” Bridges said. “I know everybody wants success early on. But just kept getting better (all season), all of us.”
No one epitomizes that more than Bridges himself. All anyone wanted to talk about this year was the five first-round picks New York used to acquire him.

Now, thanks to Bridges, the Knicks are five wins away from the NBA Finals. 

PRAYERS FOR TATUM

Jayson Tatum was in severe pain on the court late in the fourth quarter with what looked like a lower leg injury. The ESPN telecast showed Tatum in the back of the arena on a wheelchair. 

Obviously, the Celtics are a much different team without Tatum. But no one wanted to talk about that in the immediate aftermath of the injury. The players’ focus was on Tatum’s health and well-being. 

“I just wanted to send prayers out to JT man. First and foremost,” Brunson said at the beginning of his post-game press conference. “Praying for the best.”

Posted on

Edwards, Randle lead the way again as Timberwolves beat Warriors 117-110 for 3-1 playoff series lead

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors

May 12, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after making a three point basket against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 30 points for his second straight 30-point performance, Julius Randle had 31 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 117-110 on Monday night for a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.

Now, it's back home to Minneapolis for the Wolves with a chance to clinch the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Warriors will still be without Stephen Curry, who sat out his third game in a row and is scheduled to have his strained left hamstring re-evaluated that day.

Edwards made consecutive 3-pointers and scored 11 total points in a decisive 17-0 Minnesota run that put the Timberwolves ahead 85-68 late in the third. They led 97-77 going into the fourth and the Warriors couldn't catch up.

Edwards - coming off a 36-point performance in a Game 3 - hit a 30-foot 3 to beat the halftime buzzer and pull Minnesota within 60-58 at the break. And the Wolves delivered in the second half again after also trailing by two points at halftime in a 102-97 victory in Game 3.

Jonathan Kuminga came off the bench to score 23 points and convert 11 of 12 free throws for the Warriors, following up his 30-point performance in Game 3 with another gem.

Jaden McDaniels added 10 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota.

Buddy Hield went down briefly 4:17 before halftime after McDaniels grabbed at the guard's neck and pulled the back of his jersey. The play went to replay review as fans chanted “You can't do that!” but was deemed a common foul rather than a flagrant.

Golden State has now dropped three in a row since Curry hurt his leg early in Game 1 last Tuesday night. If all is healing well, the soonest he might play would be in a possible Game 6 back at Chase Center on Sunday.

The Warriors were slow getting their offense and 3-point shooting going in a 102-97 loss Saturday and it was much of the same this game.

Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green scored 14 points apiece and Hield 13. Kerr stuck with Kuminga coming off the bench and Trayce Jackson-Davis in the starting lineup for his size.

Even without Curry, Minnesota coach Chris Finch's defensive game plan focused on keeping the Warriors from their dangerous 3-point flurries - and Golden State wound up 8 of 27 from deep.

Posted on

Yankees homer four times, open series with 11-5 win over Mariners

The Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 11-5 for their second straight win on Monday night.

Here are some takeaways...

- New York's offense was tremendous during their three-game series in Sacramento, and they carried that momentum over into this one. They accumulated 15 hits and scored 11 times on the night -- giving them a total 40 runs over their last four games.

- Outfielder Trent Grisham continues to be tremendous out of the leadoff spot, launching two of those home runs to give him 12 on the season. He finished the night 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored -- bringing him to a .288 average and a stellar 1.036 OPS.

- Austin Wells had one of the other two homers for the Yanks, lifting a three-run shot to help put this one away in the fifth. The young backstop has been struggling a bit of late, but he's now driven in 10 runs and has a .346 on-base percentage over his last seven games.

- Anthony Volpe had himself a two-hit day, including the fourth and final homer. He gave New York some breathing room in the top of the ninth with a two-run shot to dead-center -- the youngster is now hitting .321 with a .936 OPS over his last 15 games.

- Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger all enjoyed two-hit days as well.

- On the pitching side of things, Clarke Schmidt threw relatively well as he picked up his third win of the season. The right-hander allowed just three runs on three hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out six across six efficient innings of work.

- Tim Hill allowed a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, before Devin Williams came on and got the last out of the inning, picking up his third hold of the season with a much-needed easy outing.

- The lone negative for the Yanks was that third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera left the game in an ambulance during the top of the ninth after suffering a gruesome leg injury scoring on Judge's sacrifice fly.

Game MVP: Trent Grisham

The veteran outfielder continues providing power at the top of New York's lineup.

Highlights

Whats next

Max Fried looks to continue his tremendous start to the season against Bryan Woo on Tuesday at 9:40 p.m.

Posted on

Yankees’ Oswaldo Cabrera taken to hospital after suffering gruesome injury vs. Mariners

Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera left Monday night’s win over the Mariners in an ambulance after suffering a gruesome left injury. 

Cabrera scored New York’s 11th run of the night on an Aaron Judge sacrifice fly in the ninth -- but he had to sidestep the catcher to avoid a tag as he was trying to score, and he appeared to injure himself as he did so.  

He went down in a heap of pain as he reached back to touch home plate, and trainer Tim Lentych immediately raced out of the dugout. 

The T-Mobile Park crowd fell silent as Cabrera remained down for several moments at home plate and an ambulance made it’s way in from center field. 

After being loaded onto a gurney, he was taken in the ambulance to a local hospital. 

“Everyone understands it’s a pretty serious situation,” Aaron Boone said postgame. “We’re just praying for our guy Cabby tonight and hoping for the best and trust that he’s in good hands as he goes through the night here.”

The Yanks went on to close out the victory, beating the Mariners 11-5 for their second straight win.

Posted on

Why a Lottery Decides the Fate of Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA lottery Monday night by securing the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft and the chance to draft Cooper Flagg, the NBA’s most heralded prospect since LeBron James was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Once again, an NBA team’s fortunes for the next decade or so turned on the sequence of ping pong balls generated by a lottery machine. The San Antonio Spurs came close to landing Flagg, securing the second overall pick based on the lottery balls, but will instead have to identify the best of the rest.

It can be rightfully asked why such a franchise-altering event is determined by a lottery. There is no league more fixated on data, analytics and algorithms than the NBA. Teams invest massive resources in hiring talented and data-driven basketball operations staff in hopes of outsmarting each other. Yet the player thought to be “the next great one” is going to a team because it won a lottery, by definition a random process.

There are other ways Flagg could enter the NBA. 

Like in the NFL, the first pick could be awarded to the team with the worst regular season record (the Utah Jazz). From 1966 to 1984, the NBA used a variant of that approach by having the team with the worst record in each conference flip a coin. The league moved away from the use of records because of concerns it incentivized teams to tank. To that point, in 1982, then-Clippers owner Donald Sterling was recorded as saying, “Maybe I have to lose the battle to win the war, we must end last to draw first to get a franchise-maker.”

Although the current lottery is weighted to favor the team with the worst-record and is limited only to the 14 teams that failed to make the playoffs, the lottery’s outcome remains a mystery until it is revealed. In other words, an NBA team losing this past season didn’t guarantee it the chance to draft Flagg. San Antonio and Philadelphia, meanwhile, now hold the numer two and three picks in the upcoming draft, while teams accused of tanking to lower their position fared far worse in the lottery.

A more radical approach would be to eliminate the draft altogether. Flagg could sign with the team with whom he most wishes to sign. He’s from Maine, so maybe he’d want to sign with the Boston Celtics. Or maybe Flagg wants to team up with James and Luka Dončić in Los Angeles. Or if he’s liked living in North Carolina over the last year, the Charlotte Hornets are right there.

That sounds radical from a sports perspective, yet it captures 99.9% of employment in the United States. Employers in other industries don’t “draft” college students, nor are bad employers rewarded with the best college prospects. The valedictorians of MIT, Princeton, Stanford and similarly prestigious schools–including Duke, where Flagg’s freshman classmates will enter the job market in a few years–aren’t assigned to the worst companies in America. That idea sounds nonsensical because it is. If a company is struggling, it goes out of business. It’s not rewarded.

Yet major sports leagues use drafts because they help to ensure that every team has a legitimate chance to succeed. That, in turn, retains and grows fan bases, boosts TV ratings and ultimately generates more revenue for the league. It might not be “fair” to Flagg that he’s denied the chance to pick his employer, but the logic is that the league is healthier if a weaker team’s fortunes are boosted with Flagg and other top prospects. Even when a fan’s team is bad, there is hope that everything will change with the draft. That hope might keep that person a fan of a team and not turn their attention and dollars to some other form of entertainment.

Drafts in the major pro leagues are also legal, even if they’re unabashedly anti-competitive. A draft overtly restrains the labor market by preventing both a player from signing with a preferred employer and getting multiple employers (teams) to bid for him or her. If subject to antitrust scrutiny, a draft would be deeply problematic because it impedes choice and price fixes.

Except it’s not subject to antitrust scrutiny. A league and a players’ association negotiate the draft as a term of employment in a collective bargaining agreement. A draft is thus insulated by the non-statutory labor exemption, which embodies a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that instruct when management and labor collectively bargain pay, wages and other employment conditions, those conditions are exempt from antitrust scrutiny. Federal courts have blessed drafts as a result.

That is true for the NBA, which saw its draft challenged in the early 1980s. Leon Wood, a Philadelphia 76ers first round pick out of Cal-State Fullerton who later became an NBA referee, made the case against the draft. But Wood lost because the NBA and players’ association had negotiated the draft. The same legal point applies to rookie wage scales. Even though those scales adversely impact new players, new players are still subject to the conditions negotiated by their union with the league.

Even players who, by virtue of an eligibility rule, are barred from being part of the union have been held subject to unions’ negotiations with leagues. I know this personally, having served as an attorney for Ohio State star running back Maurice Clarett in his antitrust challenge against the NFL and its eligibility rule requiring that players be three years out of high school. 

So Flagg doesn’t have a say on where he’s picked, and that is legal. It might not be a great system,  but it’s arguably the best for the league as a whole.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.