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NBA Draft Lottery 2025: Schedule, history, best odds, lottery explained

The NBA Draft Lottery is a major step for rebuilding teams. Here's everything you need to know:

How does the NBA Draft Lottery work?

The lottery system is how the NBA determines the draft order for the teams that don’t make the playoffs. It only determines the first 14 picks of the draft and has no impact on the second round. The first four picks are determined by the lottery, and picks 5-14 are determined by the reverse standings of whoever is left.

Each lottery team is assigned a certain number of ping-pong balls, which is determined by the regular season standings. Four ping-pong balls will be randomly selected, and the combination will determine the first four picks.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum will then reveal the picks in reverse order. As he shares the picks, it will be easy to determine who has leaped into the top four, since he should say the teams in reverse lottery order.

Last season, the Hawks only had a three percent chance of getting the first pick, but they leaped up and selected Zaccharie Risacher. In 2016, the lottery didn’t change the order of the draft at all, which is the first and only time that has happened. It is entirely random from year to year.

How to watch the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery

The lottery will take place on May 12 at 7pm ET and will be available to watch on ESPN.

Which team has the best odds to get the first pick?

The Jazz, Wizards and Hornets all have a 14 percent chance to get the first pick, though the Jazz have a slight advantage over the other two. Utah had the worst record in the league at 17-65, so the worst they can pick is fifth.

2025 NBA Draft Lottery odds

The following odds are each team’s chances of receiving the first overall pick.

14%: Jazz

14%: Wizards

14%: Hornets

12.5%: Pelicans

10.5%: 76ers (top-six protected)

9%: Nets

7.5%: Raptors

6%: Spurs

3.8%: Rockets (via Suns)

3.7%: Trail Blazers

1.8%: Mavericks

1.7%: Bulls

0.8%: Kings (top-12 protected)

0.7%: Spurs (via Hawks)

How have trades altered this year’s lottery?

Over half of the picks in the lottery were involved in some sort of trade, though not every pick will convey to a different team.

  • The Jazz and Wizards picks are both top-10 protected, meaning if it landed outside the top 10 picks, it would have conveyed to a different team. That isn’t possible in this draft, but it could come into play in the future.
  • The Hornets and Trail Blazers picks are top-14 protected, which also won’t matter for this draft.
  • The Suns and Hawks picks were both traded with no restrictions. No matter where the pick lands, they won’t make their pick.
  • The 76ers pick is top-six protected, and they are currently projected to pick fifth. They will have a 64 percent chance of retaining their pick, but if it falls outside the first six picks, it will be conveyed to the Thunder.
  • The Kings pick is top-12 protected, and their pick is currently projected to be 13th. There is a 3.8 chance it leaps into the first four picks, in which case they would make their own pick. The most likely scenario is that the Hawks make this pick at 13, which has a 92.9 percent chance of happening. 

Which team has won the NBA Draft Lottery the most times?

The Cavaliers, Clippers and Magic have each won the draft lottery four times. Cleveland traded one of those picks (Andrew Wiggins) before he suited up for them. When Cleveland won the top pick in 2011, it came after they acquired the Clippers’ pick in a trade earlier in the season. Had the Clippers held onto their pick, they could’ve won it a fifth time. In 1986, the Clippers won the lottery and traded the pick to the Cavaliers, so Cleveland has made the first pick in the draft five times.

All three teams made the playoffs this season, so none of them will be winning the lottery again this season.

Top expected players available

These are some of the players that teams will be hoping to get in the draft on June 25 at 8pm ET.

  • Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
  • Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
  • Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
  • VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor
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Red Sox at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 12

Its Monday, May 12 and the Red Sox (22-20) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (26-15).

Tanner Houck is slated to take the mound for Boston against Jackson Jobe for Detroit.

The Tigers lost two of three to the Texas Rangers over the weekend including a 6-1 loss yesterday. Detroit managed just four hits in the loss Sunday against Nathan Eovaldi and three Rangers' relievers.

Boston enters the series having won four of their last five games including two of three over the weekend in Kansas City. Rafael Devers' seventh home run of the season was the difference yesterday in a 3-1 win.

Lets dive into today's matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the 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.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Tigers

  • Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: NESN, FDSNDT, MLBN

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 MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Red Sox at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (-104), Tigers (-116)
  • Spread:  Tigers 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Tanner Houck vs. Jackson Jobe
    • Red Sox: Tanner Houck (0-2, 6.10 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/7 vs. Texas - 4.2IP, 2ER, 6H, 2BB, 2Ks
    • Tigers: Jackson Jobe (2-0, 4.88 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/7 at Colorado - 3.2IP, 6ER, 8H, 1BB, 2Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Tigers

  • Despite losing their last 2 games, the Tigers have still won 7 of their last 10 games
  • The Under is 11-5-3 in the Tigers' home games this season
  • The Red Sox have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.84 units
  • Alex Bregman is 3-17 (.176) over his last 4 games
  • Riley Greene is 2-17 (.118) over his last 5 games

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 MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Tigers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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 MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection 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 Monday's game between the Red Sox and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Boston Red Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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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These Celtics stats at MSG should make fans confident entering Game 4

These Celtics stats at MSG should make fans confident entering Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have played pretty well at TD Garden over the last 25 years, both in the regular season and playoffs. In fact, they’ve closed out two championships (2008, 2024) on the parquet floor during that span.

But they’ve actually performed even better, based on win percentage, at a different Garden over that stretch.

The C’s resume their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks with Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

The Celtics trail 2-1 in the series, but Boston fans should feel pretty confident entering this pivotal matchup because the C’s have played fantastic at MSG — not only this season but since the turn of the century.

The Celtics have a better winning percentage at MSG than they do at TD Garden over the last 25 years.

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The Celtics are 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 17 points at MSG this season, including Saturday’s 115-93 win in Game 3.

Boston has won five straight games at MSG overall, with its last loss in that building coming on Feb. 27, 2023.

The Celtics aren’t just a good team at MSG, they have dominated almost everywhere away from home lately. Boston’s 33-8 road record this season was tied for the second-best in league history.

Road teams are 10-4 in the conference semifinals so far this year. Can the Celtics make it 11-4 on Monday night? There are many stats and trends that would suggest their chances are pretty good.

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David Beckham tells Minnesota to ‘show a little respect’ after Pink Phony Club jibe

  • Loons claim 4-1 victory and refer to Chappell Roan hit
  • Minnesota coach Eric Ramsay linked to Southampton job

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham told Minnesota United to “show a little respect” after the Loons celebrated victory by poking fun at the team they called the “Pink Phony Club” on social media.

Saturday saw Lionel Messi suffer his heaviest defeat since moving Stateside two years ago as Eric Ramsay’s Loons ran out 4-1 victors at a packed Allianz Field.

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Foakes hits unbeaten century while Sussex see off Worcestershire

His first of the season, and as elegant and composed as ever, but the only centurion in Surrey’s innings, whereas Warwickshire had three. Surrey 399-9, trail by 266. I wonder if Warwickshire will risk their bowlers again and ask Surrey to follow-on.

An early wicket at Hove, where the nightwatchman Ben Allison is gobbled up by Hudson-Prentice. Worcs 120-4, need another 231. The smart money with Sussex.

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Ranking Cooper Flagg’s best, most interesting fits in NBA Draft Lottery

Only one thing is certain heading into Monday night's 2025 NBA Draft Lottery: Whichever team lands the No. 1 pick will select Cooper Flagg. Following a standout season at Duke, Flagg is unquestionably on his own tier and on top of every team's draft board.

But which NBA landing spot would be the best fit? What are the most interesting landing spots for Cooper Flagg? Let's break down the top landing spots (with their odds of landing the No. 1 pick).

San Antonio Spurs ( 6% chance)

This is the best basketball fit, probably what's best for Flagg in terms of his career — and would be totally unfair for the rest of the NBA.

Put Flagg next to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs would have the best defensive front line in the league starting next season (sorry Cleveland), plus two bigs who are gifted passers as well as scorers. Add in De'Aaron Fox at the point, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, plus solid role players and this team is on a path to championships. Plural. It's easy to envision the Spurs as contenders within a couple of years.

It also seems fitting to place Flagg with the franchise that had the most success with a Twin Towers lineup in NBA history (David Robinson and Tim Duncan).

It would just suck for the 29 other teams.

Philadelphia 76ers (10.5% chance)

Philadelphia winning this lottery feels like the basketball gods letting the Sixers off the hook for the questionable decisions (and bad injury luck) that have them in the lottery in the first place.

However, pairing Flagg with Tyrese Maxey — especially with a healthy Jared McCain at shooting guard — would be dynamic. Just that young core could have the Sixers contending in a few years down the line, if the roster is built out right around them.

For the first couple of years, the 76ers would have Paul George and Joel Embiid on the roster, too, and if the stars align and everyone is healthy, that team could chase a ring. However, landing Flagg would give Daryl Morey a clear path to he future of the franchise and the ability to pivot away from Embiid and George if it comes to that.

Brooklyn Nets (9% chance)

How badly does the NBA want Flagg in the league's largest market?

It would also be a quality basketball fit because Brooklyn is well positioned to build a contender around Flagg: They have two other first-round picks in this draft alone, a number of future ones, and just four players under contract for next season. With that flexibility, the Nets could build quickly around Flagg with free agents and young players. Plus, if Giannis Antetokounmpo asks out of Milwaukee, and Brooklyn has Flagg, suddenly that looks like a much more desirable location for the Greek Freak.

Brooklyn also has a good coach in Jordi Fernandez, who kept getting the most out of players and winning despite management's best efforts to tear everything down around him. There are a lot of reasons to think Flagg would thrive in Brooklyn.

Houston Rockets (3.8%)

Houston winning would set the Phoenix Suns fanbase on fire — this is the Suns' pick, traded first to Brooklyn, then sent on to Houston (it is technically a swap, with the Rockets moving up to the lottery and the Nets getting the Rockets' No. 27 pick). After the season the Suns just had, to watch their pick go first to another team would be cruel.

Houston is a team stacked with athletic young talent: Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason and more. Flagg would fit right in with his defense.

The playoffs showed Houston lacked an elite bucket getter in the half court and the clutch. Could Flagg be that guy? Maybe. Most importantly, this is a stacked roster with a lot of draft picks in the coming years, they are well positioned to build out a championship team around Flagg and their existing young core.

Portland Trail Blazers (3.7% chance)

As it showed in the final months of last season, Portland has some impressive young talent on the roster already: Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan, to name a few. Flagg would fit right in with this core — Camara and Flagg playing defense with Clingan as a backstop would be fearsome — and he could help spark their offense.

Portland also is a fan base that knows how to embrace their stars and make them at home, just ask Damian Lillard.

5. Utah Jazz (14% chance)

Of the three teams with a 14% chance at winning the lottery — the three worst teams in the league last season — this is the best landing spot for Flagg. That's because among the teams at the bottom of the league the Jazz have the best organizational foundation: Danny Ainge is an experienced head of basketball operations who knows how to build a winner, and they have a coach in Will Hardy who, even with the losses this season, drew the attention and respect of other teams for his player development and schemes.

Utah has the organizational foundation to build something impressive, they just need some luck to jump start the process. Like winning the NBA Draft Lottery.

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Pirates at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 12

Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates (14-27) are in Queens to take on the Mets (26-15) as the two sides open a three-game series. Last year's Rookie of the Year in the National League will be opposed by David Peterson.

In a matchup of division leaders over the weekend, the Mets took two of three from the Chicago Cubs. Yesterday, New York got home runs from Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo in a 6-2 win.

Pittsburgh's ace takes the hill tonight looking to snap the Bucs' five-game road losing streak. Skenes and the Pirates do come to the Big Apple with some momentum, though, having taken two of three over the weekend over Atlanta. Sunday, Joey Bart drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Pittsburgh won 4-3.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the 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.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Mets

  • Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, SNY

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 MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Pirates at the Mets

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+114), Mets (-136)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Paul Skenes vs. David Peterson
    • Pirates: Paul Skenes (3-4, 2.77 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/6 at St. Louis - 6IP, 2ER, 3H, 4BB, 6Ks
    • Mets: David Peterson (2-2, 3.05 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/6 at Arizona - 6IP, 2ER, 4H, 4BB, 6Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Mets

  • The Mets have won 10 of their last 13 home games
  • The Under is 17-10-2 in Pirates' games against National League teams this season
  • The Pirates have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games
  • Veteran Andrew McCutcheon is off to a slow start in May hitting just .188 (6-32)
  • Juan Soto is 11-39 (.282) in May with 5 HRs and 7 RBIs
  • Paul Skenes has struck out 7 or more opposing hitters in 3 of his 8 starts this season

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 MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Pirates and the Mets

Rotoworld Best Bet

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 MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection 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 Monday's game between the Pirates and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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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Sens Prospect, Ex-Hawk Returns Home To Sweden

Filip Roos playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022-23 season. © Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Swedish defenseman Filip Roos, 26, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Sunday. This comes two days after Färjestad signed Czech forward Radim Zohorna to a two-year deal.

“It’s gonna be fun,” said Roos. “I don’t know much about Karlstad, but I lived up in Karlskoga for two years, which is not very far away. The times I’ve played here, you can feel the energy from the fans in the arena. It will be really fun.”

“We’ve had our eyes on Filip for a long time and we believe that he, with his abilities, will strengthen our defense in a good way, said Färjestad sports director Rickard Wallin. “Of course, we’re looking to strengthen all parts of the team to the best of our ability, and even though we thought the defense had the qualities that we wanted in advance of last year, we didn’t really get it together as a whole. We think the qualities that Filip Roos has match very well with what we want to add.”

Wallin described Roos as “a really good two-way defenseman at the SHL level. He skates well, has good size and can play in all zones. We think the ceiling is high and we know that he is eager to come here so it feels great.”

Roos, who describes himself as “a skilled defenseman who likes to drive the puck and hopefully can use it even more at home on bigger ice,” is originally from Gothenberg and played one SHL game with Frölunda in 2017-18 and 56 with Skelleftea AIK in 2021-22, recording seven points in the regular season and playoffs.

Roos was never drafted by an NHL team but spent the last three seasons in North America. The first two seasons he spent in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, recording three points and four penalty minutes in 21 NHL games, spending the rest of the time with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. He spent last season in the Ottawa Senators organization, recording 17 points – all assists – in 68 AHL games with the Belleville Senators.

Last season, Färjestad finished fourth in the SHL regular season and was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The team also reached the final of the Champions Hockey League, losing to the ZSC Lions in Zurich.

In addition to Zohorna and Roos, Färjestad has under contract for next season ex-NHLers Oskar Steen and Marián Studenič, and NHL prospects Lucas Forsell (Vancouver Canucks), Jack Berglund (Philadelphia Flyers), Noel Fransén (Carolina Hurricanes) and goaltender Melker Thelin (Utah Mammoth).

Radim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubRadim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubCzech forward Radim Zohorna, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Friday.
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Napoli fail to make ‘bonus’ game pay as uncertainty swirls at top of Serie A | Nicky Bandini

An astonishing array of outcomes remain possible with two games left in tantalisingly unpredictable end to season

Antonio Conte characterised it as Napoli’s “bonus” game, a free swing, the mistake they could yet afford. A 2-2 draw at home to Genoa left a bitter taste, after having taken the lead in both halves, but this was no time to panic. “Before this we needed seven points to win the Scudetto,” said Conte. “We took one, so now we must win our last two games.”

It sounded so simple, put like that, but we had just been reminded of why it will not be. Genoa at home was supposed to be the most straightforward of Napoli’s remaining fixtures, against opponents with no objectives left to play for.

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Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor

Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA’s GOAT is coming to NBC.

Michael Jordan will join NBA on NBC coverage for next season as a special contributor, the company announced Monday.

Jordan starred for the Chicago Bulls throughout the 1990s, when NBC aired NBA games. NBC was the home of the NBA Finals from 1991 to 2002, with Jordan’s Bulls winning six titles over that span.

The announcement came at NBCU’s Upfront presentation Monday. Composer John Tesh took the stage for a live performance of his iconic “Roundball Rock” jingle before a video message came in from Jordan.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”

NBA coverage will return to NBC next season as part of a new media rights deal, with games and telecasts also available to stream on Peacock. It will be the first time since 2002 that the league will be on NBC.

NBC has made several announcements for its coverage next season, including Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller joining the network. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle have been revealed as play-by-play announcers, and more hires are expected to be shared in the coming months.

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Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor

Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The NBA’s GOAT is coming to NBC.

Michael Jordan will join NBA on NBC coverage for next season as a special contributor, the company announced Monday.

Jordan starred for the Chicago Bulls throughout the 1990s, when NBC aired NBA games. NBC was the home of the NBA Finals from 1991 to 2002, with Jordan’s Bulls winning six titles over that span.

The announcement came at NBCU’s Upfront presentation Monday. Composer John Tesh took the stage for a live performance of his iconic “Roundball Rock” jingle before a video message came in from Jordan.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”

NBA coverage will return to NBC next season as part of a new media rights deal, with games and telecasts also available to stream on Peacock. It will be the first time since 2002 that the league will be on NBC.

NBC has made several announcements for its coverage next season, including Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller joining the network. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle have been revealed as play-by-play announcers, and more hires are expected to be shared in the coming months.

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'Just Talking. That's What He Does': William Nylander And Matthew Tkachuk Chirp After Panthers' Game 4 Win Over Maple Leafs

May 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skate to control the puck during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Chaos erupted as the final buzzer went in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday in Game 4 of the series.

In the corner, all five players from each team were involved in a scrum after Max Domi checked Aleksander Barkov from behind into the boards. After the hit, several Panthers played dogpiled Domi, while Brad Marchand and Bobby McMann traded shots.

Domi was called for boarding. McMann, Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad received misconducts.

As that happened, Matthew Tkachuk and William Nylander were jawing back and forth on the bench.

On TNT's broadcast, you can hear what appears to be Tkachuk saying to Nylander that he will go after him in Game 5. Tkachuk also winked towards Toronto's bench as the scrum in the corner was still happening.

Maple Leafs Shut Out By Panthers In Game 4, Head Back To Toronto With Series TiedMaple Leafs Shut Out By Panthers In Game 4, Head Back To Toronto With Series TiedThe Toronto Maple Leafs dropped their second straight game at Amerant Bank Arena, falling 2-0 to the Florida Panthers on Sunday. With the loss, the series is tied 2-2, heading back to Toronto for Game 5.

What did Nylander make of the Florida forward getting in his ear?

"Just talking. That's what he does," Nylander said.

"He'll probably do whatever he can to get a player off their game, but yeah, the next game's going to be a fun one."

The series is beginning to heat up as the Panthers have won back-to-back games at home. Both teams will head to Toronto, and whoever wins there will have a chance to advance to the third round on Friday in Florida.

‘He’s Progressing’: Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Trending In Right Direction, But Yet To Resume Skating‘He’s Progressing’: Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Trending In Right Direction, But Yet To Resume SkatingThe Toronto Maple Leafs are still without starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz as they prepare for Game 4 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers. 

It's the Maple Leafs' second shutout loss of the playoffs, with the first being in Game 5 against Ottawa, where Toronto lost 4-0. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 37 shots on Sunday night, and although his save percentage in the series (.890) doesn't say it, it feels like the goaltender is finding his form.

Toronto had its chances despite the loss. John Tavares led the Maple Leafs with five shots in the game, Nylander was right behind him with four, and Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies had three.

Why Auston Matthews Missed Maple Leafs Morning Skate Before Game 4 Against PanthersWhy Auston Matthews Missed Maple Leafs Morning Skate Before Game 4 Against PanthersWhen the Toronto Maple Leafs filed onto the ice for their morning skate before Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, one player was missing: Auston Matthews.

"I think they did a good job keeping us on the outside and hard getting to the inside, letting their goalie see the puck," Nylander said. "Yeah, they did a great job. The series, it's a tough battle."

However, it shouldn't feel like the sky is falling for the Maple Leafs. They handled Florida well in the first two games, showing what their high-powered offense can do. Even in the early goings of Game 3, Toronto was playing sound hockey.

Either Game 4 was an anomaly, which it likely was, or we're witnessing the Panthers' Stanley Cup-winning pedigree come to life. Either way, the Maple Leafs will keep battling back, as they have under head coach Craig Berube throughout the year.

'Guys In This Room Recognize That': How Maple Leafs’ Elite Defense Is Powering Their 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Run'Guys In This Room Recognize That': How Maple Leafs’ Elite Defense Is Powering Their 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff RunJake McCabe did everything possible to get the puck away from their net when it rolled into the Toronto Maple Leafs' crease with just over five-and-a-half minutes left in the third period.

And Nylander, he doesn't believe this series is close to being over.

"Yeah, I mean, 2-2," he said. "It's going to be a long series. That's our mindset."

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Giannis Antetokounmpo open to leaving Bucks and exploring potential fits: Report

Giannis Antetokounmpo open to leaving Bucks and exploring potential fits: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

For the first time in his career, Giannis Antetokounmpo is exploring his options.

The Greek Freak reportedly is open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks after a third straight first-round playoff exit, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Charania added that the two-time league MVP has not made any firm decisions about his future just yet. But, after 12 seasons in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo’s open-minded to figuring out where his best long-term fit is.

Antetokounmpo, 30, is coming off perhaps the best statistical season of his decorated career. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists over 67 games, which is likely to earn him a seventh straight All-NBA First Team nod.

The Bucks, though, fell to the Indiana Pacers in five games for another early playoff exit. With Damian Lillard expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles, Milwaukee’s expectations for next year won’t be much higher.

Charania said that discussions about Antetokounmpo’s future are expected to ramp up during the NBA draft combine in Chicago this week. Teams have often approached the Bucks about his availability, but the Bucks wouldn’t trade the 2021 Finals MVP unless he asked out.

If bidding for Antetokounmpo does begin, expect plenty of franchises to be interested in his services. He has two years remaining on his contract before a player option in the summer of 2027.

While the second round of the playoffs roll on, this is a storyline worth monitoring across the league.

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Steph Curry hamstring injury progression, next step outlined by Shams Charania

Steph Curry hamstring injury progression, next step outlined by Shams Charania originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will provide an official re-evaluation of Steph Curry on Wednesday, but per ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, the 37-year-old superstar is taking steps toward returning.

“I’m told his progression going into [Monday] was really like jogging, some movement into his jump shooting over the weekend,” Charania said on “The Pat McAfee Show” roughly nine hours before the Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series. “I think the next step is trying to get him to the point where he can run fully, sprint fully, cut fully, take contact fully. Until you get to that point, there’s not like a safe way to bring him back from a hamstring injury, and that organization is obviously, I think, been very measured and careful bringing back players from these significant, soft tissue muscle injuries.

“And Stephen Curry said the other day, this is the first muscle strain of this kind that he’s ever dealt with in his 16-year NBA career. So I think they’re going to take a careful approach the next two days, I think it’s to see, can you ramp him up into running and cutting and sprinting, but they got to win tonight.”

Curry sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain early in Game 1 against the Timberwolves on May 6.

The Warriors won Game 1 even without Curry for most of the contest, but they were blown out in Game 2 and coughed up a fourth-quarter lead in Game 3 at Chase Center on Saturday.

Charania previously reported that the earliest Curry could return is Game 6, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 18.

But the Warriors must win Monday or Wednesday night before they can even start thinking about a potential Game 6.

The good news for the Warriors and Dub Nation is that Curry is making progress, even if it’s slow.

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Former Hurricanes Forward Is Red-Hot Right Now

Nino Niederreiter (© Tim Fuller-Imagn Images)

The Winnipeg Jets fell to the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their second matchup by a 5-2 final score. With this, the Jets are now down 2-1 in the series and will aim to tie it back up on the road in Game 4. While the Jets lost, former Carolina Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter did his part to try to get them a victory. 

At the 10:07 mark of the second period, Niederreiter scored to tie the contest up at 2-2. The former Hurricanes forward's goal was a nice one, too, as he received a great feed from Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey before beating Stars goalie Jake Oettinger with an excellent snap shot.

With this goal, Niederreiter has extended his point streak to three games, where he has two goals and an assist over the span. In addition, he now has four goals and six points in his last six contests. Thus, the former Hurricane is certainly hot right now for the Jets.

During his tenure with the Hurricanes, Niederreiter was impactful because of his secondary scoring ability and tenacity. He is providing just that for the Jets this post-season, and now ranks second on Winnipeg with four goals and fourth on the team with six points in 10 playoff games. 

In 234 games with the Hurricanes over four seasons from 2018-19 to 2021-22, Niederreiter posted 69 goals, 137 points, 287 hits, and a plus-53 rating. His time with the Canes ended when he signed with the Nashville Predators during the 2022 NHL off-season. 

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