Let's take a look at what Jaylen Reed will bring to the Houston Texans defense this fall as C.J. Gardner-Johnson's backup
Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Named Lady Byng Finalist
Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel has been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy.
The winner of the award, which is given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be announced at a later date.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a career season, scoring 28 goals and 94 points in 77 games, including a +/- rating of +32. His stellar play at both ends of the ice will likely earn him a top-10 Hart Trophy finish.
The nomination marks the first time Eichel has finished as a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy and the second Golden Knight to do so after William Karlsson won the award in the 2017-18 season.
Despite averaging 20:32 of ice time and killing penalties, Eichel took just eight penalty minutes. He took four minor penalties all season, which was tied for the fewest among players who finished top 20 in the NHL in points.
Competing with Eichel for the Lady Byng Trophy honors are Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point and Los Angeles Kings' veteran center Anze Kopitar. Kopitar is a three-time finalist and previously won the award twice. Point is now a two-time finalist, finishing third when he was first nominated.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Miami Marlins' Matt Mervis painfully takes ball to groin on throw vs. Athletics
Miami Marlins' Matt Mervis painfully takes ball to groin on throw vs. Athletics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As NBC Sports California announcer Dallas Braden eloquently pointed out, Miami Marlins first baseman Matt Mervis failed his cup check Friday night at loanDepot park.
In the top of the fifth inning, Athletics second baseman Luis Urias hit a grounder to Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards, who threw a scud to first base.
Mervis tried to short-hop the throw, but it caught him below the belt, sending him into immediate pain.
Urias reached on the error and Athletics right fielder Seth Brown raced around from second base to give the Green and Gold a 6-0 lead.
Mervis buried his face in his glove as he tried to hide the pain he was experiencing.
Miamiâs trainer came out to check on Mervis, but as Braden noted, thereâs not much that can be done for a player in this situation.
After about a minute, Mervis said he was good to go and the trainer returned to the Marlinsâ dugout.
The good news for Mervis is that he was able to stay in the game. But heâs probably going to be sore for a few days.
Championship relegation lurking for Stoke, Derby, Preston, Luton or Hull
Five teams fight to avoid joining Cardiff and Plymouth in dropping to League One on the seasonâs final day
It is high season for engravers, a fertile few weeks for after-dinner speakers to make hay at elaborate end-of-season dos, but not every Championship team has something worth celebrating. Last Saturday, three hours after Cardiffâs players sank to the turf when the final whistle confirmed their relegation to the third tier, a division the club has not played in for 22 years, the squad slipped into suits for their annual black-tie awards night in a suite overlooking the same surface.
At some point, RubĂ©n SellĂ©s, the Hull head coach, seemingly got wind of the jarring circumstances and cancelled his teamâs bash, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to prevent a similarly tone-deaf evening.
Continue reading...Portland Trail Blazers 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara flourish
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.
In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the 2024-25 season in a similar position to the 2023-24 campaign, with many wondering if the front office would move any of its veterans to continue the rebuild. No one was dealt at or before the February trade deadline, but injuries freed up additional opportunities for younger rotation players, most notably offseason acquisition Deni Avdija.
Portland Trail Blazers 2024-2025 Season Recap
Record: 36-46 (12th, West)
Offensive Rating: 111.0 (22nd)
Defensive Rating: 113.7 (16th)
Net Rating: -2.7 (21st)
Pace: 99.51 (16th)
2025 NBA Draft Picks: 3.7 percent chance of winning draft lottery
Expectations were relatively low for the Trail Blazers this season, especially considering the Western Conference's overall strength. But Chauncey Billups' team got hot in the weeks before the February trade deadline, winning 10 of 11 games to harbor slim hopes of cracking the Play-In tournament spots. Did that run factor into the front office's decision not to make any changes? Possibly. Unfortunately, the Blazers lost four straight after the deadline, ultimately falling off the pace for one of the final play-in spots.
Portland would finish 10 games below .500, and while many of the veterans who appeared to be potential trade targets remained, there were positives. Offseason addition Deni Avdija was outstanding during the stretch run, while an improved offensive skill set matched Toumani Camara's defensive mastery. Add in Donovan Clingan's play once Deandre Ayton was lost to a calf injury, and there were unquestioned signs of progress in Portland this season.
Billups and general manager Joe Cronin remain in their posts for the 2025-26 campaign, but how different will the roster look in the fall? While Jerami Grant's contract may be challenging to move via trade, Ayton and Robert Williams are headed into the final year of their respective deals. Now, or next February, may be the best time to move them to clear the decks for Clingan as Portland continues its rebuild.
Fantasy Standout: Deni Avdija
After spending the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Wizards, Avdija was traded to Portland for Malcolm Brogdon, the draft rights to Bub Carrington, a 2029 first-round pick and second-round picks in 2028 and 2030. While the Trail Blazers received a trade exception in the deal, that was a high price for the versatile wing. Based on his play this season, Avdija was worth the cost. Starting 54 of the 72 games he appeared in, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers in 30.0 minutes.
Avdija, who shot 47.6 percent from the field and 78 percent from the foul line, established new highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. He fits in well with his new team and looks like a player who will be a key figure for Portland in the future. Avdija, who ranked just outside the top-75 in eight-cat formats, began the season as a starter but moved to the bench once Shaedon Sharpe returned from a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Deni would return to the starting lineup for good after Christmas, averaging 19.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.9 three-pointers in his final 42 appearances.
Fantasy Revelation: Toumani Camara
Camara being one of the league's better individual defenders this season was unsurprising, given how he played on that end of the floor as a rookie. However, despite entering the 2024-25 campaign as a starter, the second-year forward was on the radar of few fantasy league competitors. Continuing to make strides offensively, Camara finished the season as a top-100 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. In 78 games (all starts), he averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers in 32.7 minutes, shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the foul line.
After recording no 20-point games as a rookie, Camara had five in 2024-25, recording his career-high tally (24) in a January 26 loss to the Thunder. Camara's three-point percentage increased by nearly four points, as he made 37.5 percent of his attempts. With his averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers all increasing compared to his rookie year numbers, the young Blazer has the potential to be even better moving forward. While Camara may not be a lock to come off the board within the first 100 picks in 12-team drafts, a case can be made in the aftermath of his second NBA season.
Fantasy Disappointment: Jerami Grant
At this stage in Grant's career, most fantasy managers know not to expect too much from the veteran forward. However, after averaging 21.0 points per game in 54 appearances in 2023-24, things got considerably worse this season. Grant appeared in 47 games, averaging 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 32.4 minutes, shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 84.9 percent from the foul line. While his steals, blocks and three-pointers increased compared to 2023-24, Grant's scoring dropped by nearly seven points, and he remained a liability as a rebounder.
Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 109, he finished the season as a 12th-round player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Grant has not appeared in a game on March 15 or later since the 2021-22 campaign, so fantasy managers should know what they're getting into from an availability standpoint. However, this season was far below expectations. For next season, fantasy managers will also have to consider the emergence of Avdija and Camara, not to mention Shaedon Sharpe's presence in the rotation, when assessing whether they should draft Grant.
Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads
Deandre Ayton:
Despite the Trail Blazers using their lottery pick on Donovan Clingan, Ayton remained firmly entrenched as the starting center. Unfortunately, after playing in 55 games during his first season with the team, availability was an even greater issue in 2024-25. Ayton missed seven games in November with a sprained index finger on his right (shooting) hand, but that would not be the most serious issue he would face. A strained left calf suffered just after the trade deadline ended his season on February 10. Ayton would play in 40 games, averaging 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.1 minutes while shooting 56.6 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the foul line.
While Ayton's per-game fantasy value was fine, those in roto formats hoping for season-long value took a significant hit, especially if they could not grab Clingan off the waiver wire. Portland surprised many by not moving Ayton or Williams at the trade deadline, and both would suffer season-ending injuries within two weeks of the February 6 date. If Ayton remains with Portland, he'll likely go into training camp as the starter. However, the recent availability issues would make him a risky choice within the first 75 picks of standard league drafts.
Anfernee Simons:
From an availability standpoint, this season was the best for Simons since 2019-20. The Trail Blazers guard matched his career-high with 70 appearances, and this was also the first time he's played in at least 60 games since 2022-23. In 32.7 minutes, Simons averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 3.1 three-pointers per game, shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 90.2 percent from the foul line. He scored 30 or more points in nine games, two shy of his 2023-24 total, while recording two double-doubles.
Unfortunately, Simons could not match his Yahoo! ADP (78) in eight- or nine-cat formats, proving to be a top-100 player in the former. However, thanks to the improved availability, he came much closer in roto leagues. With one season remaining on his current contract, Simons is extension-eligible this summer. Does Portland view him as a long-term cornerstone? Or will it be Scoot Henderson who's eventually handed the keys. Remaining in Portland would make Simons a worthwhile option to bet on for top-100 value, but the availability has been an issue in recent seasons.
Shaedon Sharpe:
After his 2023-24 season ended in mid-January due to a labral tear in his left shoulder, Sharpe missed the first eight games of 2024-25 as he continued his recovery. Coming off the bench in his first two appearances, the athletic guard would move into the starting lineup on November 10 and stay in that role until mid-January. His demotion was due to a need to tighten up defensively, and Sharpe would continue to come off the bench until late February. With Jerami Grant unavailable, Shaedon remained in the starting lineup for the rest of the season, save the final two games, as he did not play.
Appearing in 72 games, he averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.0 three-pointers in 31.3 minutes, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 78.5 percent from the foul line. Sharpe was more valuable in roto formats than category leagues, finishing the season ranked outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats. However, he did exceed his Yahoo! ADP (142) in eight-cat formats. Given how difficult it's likely to be for Portland to move Grant's contract, Sharpe may be locked into a sixth-man role to begin next season. Camara appears unlikely to be removed from the starting lineup due to what he brings defensively, and Avdija's all-around game makes him challenging to bench. As was the case ahead of this season, Sharpe will likely remain a late-round pick in standard leagues.
Scoot Henderson:
After making 32 starts as a rookie, Henderson only made 10 this season. Part of that was due to Simons staying relatively healthy, while the addition of Avdija and Sharpe's return from injury limited the time Portland had to play two small guards together. The good news is that Henderson's efficiency improved, with the field goal percentage increasing and the turnover average decreasing compared to his rookie year numbers. However, Scoot could not provide consistent fantasy value before a concussion ended his season in late March. In 66 games, Henderson averaged 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 26.7 minutes, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 76.7 percent from the foul line.
Ranked outside the top-150 in eight-cat formats, Scoot failed to crack the top-250 in nine-cat formats. As for roto leagues, he finished the season just outside the top-200. Once again failing to reach his Yahoo! ADP (132), Henderson would need Portland to go all-in on him as their point guard of the future to improve his prospects in 2025-26. However, between his play and that of Anfernee Simons, the front office likely has no reason to make that drastic of a change.
Donovan Clingan:
Clingan was the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft and was the backup center for his first 11 NBA games. Ayton's finger injury would push the 7-foot-2 rookie into the starting lineup in mid-November, and he would average 7.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks during this six-game stretch. A knee injury suffered during a November 23 win over the Rockets would sideline Clingan for seven games. Ayton's return would relegate the rookie to the bench on most nights until February. Clingan took over as the starter after Ayton strained his calf, and he shone in two February losses to the Nuggets.
In those matchups with Denver, Clingan totaled 38 points, 27 rebounds, two assists and four blocked shots, shooting 75 percent from the field. Clingan would have more positive moments the rest of the season, including four straight games with at least 11 rebounds in mid-March. Appearing in 67 games, he finished his rookie campaign with averages of 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.6 blocks in 19.8 minutes. While he finished the season outside the top-150 in eight- and nine-cat formats, Clingan showed signs of progress. His fantasy prospects depend on what Portland does with Ayton. If DA is traded, the Clingan era will begin in earnest, boosting his ADP considerably. However, Ayton's staying would likely relegate Clingan to the backup role to start the season.
Robert Williams:
Few would deny Williams' fantasy upside, considering what he showed at various points during his Celtics career. However, the Time Lord's poor availability has made it difficult to trust him in fantasy leagues. Making his season debut on November 8, he only appeared in 20 games before being shut down due to inflammation in his left knee. Williams' last game was on February 20, and he averaged 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.7 blocks in 17.6 minutes. He was not a player many fantasy managers were willing to gamble on in drafts, and with good reason.
Like Ayton, Williams is entering the final season of his contract. Those two remaining in Portland, along with Clingan, would eliminate the Time Lord as a viable fantasy option, and that doesn't even touch on his injury history. A move elsewhere may be necessary, but that would not change Williams' status as a risky player to select in most drafts. He's surpassed 60 games played once in his seven-year career (2021-22).
Matisse Thybulle:
Due to an ankle injury, Thybulle did not make his 2024-25 debut until March 16. The good news is that he would play in each of Portland's final 15 games, starting the last five. A double-digit scorer in his final three appearances, Thybulle averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers in 20.7 minutes. Matisse would become a worthwhile deep-league streamer, and the improved three-point shooting will be worth tracking into 2025-26.
Thybulle, who has a player option and could be a free agent this summer, made 43.8 percent of his three-point attempts this season. While the defense has always been excellent, he rarely brought the "3" portion of the 3-and-D wing to the table consistently. The defensive production will make him worth a look in deeper leagues regardless of where he lands. Sustained perimeter shooting would give Thybulle the potential to be a steal in deeper fantasy leagues.
Kris Murray:
Murray, the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, has yet to establish himself in Portland. Starting six of the 69 games he played this season, the 6-foot-8 wing averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.4 three-pointers in 15.1 minutes. Murray wasn't on the fantasy radar before the season began, and he did little to change that perception in 2024-25. Given the lack of a consistent rotation role, one would assume that Summer League will be critical for Murray if the Blazers play him and give the former first-round pick a significant role. As for his fantasy prospects in 2025-26, they aren't good, especially considering Portland's wing depth/production.
Restricted Free Agents: Jabari Walker, Bryce McGowens, Justin Minaya
Unrestricted Free Agents: Dalano Banton
Player Option: Matisse Thybulle
Team Option: Rayan Rupert
Twins at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2
It's Friday, May 2 and the Twins (13-19) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (17-16). Joe Ryan is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Brayan Bello for Boston.
Boston has lost the past two games to Toronto after winning three straight before that, which is similar to Minnesota who's dropped three straight after four consecutive wins.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Twins at Red Sox
- Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
- Time: 7:10 PM EST
- Site: Fenway Park
- City: Boston, MA
- Network/Streaming: MNNT, NESN
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 Twins at the Red Sox
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Twins (-106), Red Sox (-113)
- Spread: Red Sox 1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Red Sox
- Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Joe Ryan vs. Brayan Bello
- Twins: Joe Ryan, (2-2, 3.18 ERA)
Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 11 Strikeouts - Red Sox: Brayan Bello, (2-0, 3.27 ERA)
Last outing: 6,0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
- Twins: Joe Ryan, (2-2, 3.18 ERA)
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Twins and the Red Sox
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Twins:
"Bello is making his third start of the season and while Boston has won both of those games, too many people may buy into that during a pick-em. Ryan is coming off an excellent start (11 Ks, 0 ER, 7 IP), while Bello allowed three earned runs and walked three over six innings of work. Neither team has figured it out yet, but I trust Minnesota to figure out Bello, so I'd have to lean toward Minnesota.
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 Fridayâs game between the Twins and the Red Sox:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Red Sox
- The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
- The Under is 4-1 in the Twins' last 5 games
If youâre 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!
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)
Kristian Campbell named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April
Kristian Campbell named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Kristian Campbellâs MLB career couldnât have gotten off to a much better start.
The No. 2 ranked Boston Red Sox prospect cracked the Opening Day roster as the clubâs starting second baseman and has done nothing but rake since his big-league debut. Through 29 games, Campbell is slashing .301/.407/.495 with four home runs and 12 RBI.
On Friday, the league recognized Campbellâs hot start with the American League Rookie of the Month honor for March and April. New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuña earned the award in the National League.
Kristian Campbell: .301 AVG, .902 OPS, 7 HR, 26 RBI
Luisangel Acuña: .288 AVG, 13 R, 7 SBYour AL and NL Rookies of the Month for March/April! pic.twitter.com/NBEcYw7MSB
â MLB (@MLB) May 2, 2025
Campbell is third on the Red Sox in doubles (eight), walks (19), and slugging percentage (.495), second in batting average (.301), and first in on-base percentage (.407). He ranks ninth in MLB in OBP.
If Campbellâs success is an indication of whatâs to come from his fellow top Red Sox prospects, the future is bright for Boston. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, the other members of Bostonâs âBig Three,â have been on fire at Triple-A Worcester to start this season. They could force their way onto the big-league club later this year.
The Red Sox will return to action Friday against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park as they look to bounce back from a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Campbell will miss his second consecutive game with right rib discomfort and is considered day-to-day, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
Kerr shares touching Popovich tribute before Warriors-Rockets game
Kerr shares touching Popovich tribute before Warriors-Rockets game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO â If not for Gregg Popovich, there might not be a Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
The longtime San Antonio Spurs coach, who stepped down from his position on Friday after 29 years, will take on a new role as the teamâs president of basketball operations.
Popovich, 76, missed all but five games during the entire 2024-25 NBA season after suffering a stroke at the teamâs arena on Nov. 2.
Kerr, who played for Popovich for four seasons from 1998-2001 and then again in the 2002-03 season, arrived at his pregame press conference before Game 6 of the first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Friday at Chase Center with a custom-made shirt dedicated to his longtime mentor and friend.
âPopâs going to kill me for wearing this shirt. Heâs going to call me a hapless rube for wearing this shirt,â Kerr joked.
Kerr then began his press conference with a touching tribute to Popovich, someone he believes has had a widespread impact on the NBA and basketball as a whole.
âI just want to say thank you to Pop and to the Spurs organization for everything theyâve meant to me and my career,â Kerr said. âI know this is a pretty emotional day for the Spurs. It is for the entire NBA. The number of people Pop has influenced. The number of coaches in his coaching tree, itâs just incredible. But Pop is one of the most important people in my life for many, many reasons, and most of them go way beyond basketball.
âItâs a sad day and itâs also an encouraging day, I think because this is a natural transition for him organizationally to move in to his next role. I think it also gives him the space and the time he needs to recover from the health issues. So Iâve got a lot of mixed emotions today, mainly just my love for Pop, my empathy for him for what heâs gone through for the Spurs organization. All of the above, and itâs still a very emotional day for everybody involved.â
Kerr, the former Spur and Chicago Bulls point guard, has had the fortune of playing for two of the most iconic coaches in league history in Popovich and Phil Jackson, whom he credits for transforming the role into the all-encompassing mentorship position it is today.
âI think Pop transformed coaching over the last 20 years,â Kerr explained. âI think it went from one era to the next with several coaches leading the way. I think Phil Jackson and Pop, and I know Iâm biased for both of them, but each of them in their own way transformed the coaching profession into more than just Xâs and Oâs authoritarian figure to culture and collaboration and the unique chemistry great teams have. Those two guys, in my mind, helped create the current culture weâre in.â
Kerr has followed in Popovichâs footsteps both on and off the court, and similarly to his outspoken mentor, has not been shy about speaking up about political and societal issues he cares deeply about.
âHe probably was one of the first coaches in the modern generation to really speak out on politics and social injustices,â Kerr added.
âI think Pop is in that Dean Smith mode of seeing the bigger picture beyond sports, and those are the coaches who really stand out to me, the guys who â and Phil, I immediately think of Phil in that regard â who recognize the importance of sports and yet the relative unimportance and find that balance and that perspective and make an impact societally. And thatâs what Pop is.â
Kerr and Popovich have remained very close over the years, despite numerous on-court battles between the Western Conference foes.
The Warriors coach shared that he went to see Popovich three weeks ago before Golden Stateâs matchup against the Spurs on March 30 and the two have stayed in touch consistently since then.
With a win over the Rockets â led by coach Ime Udoka, another Popovich disciple â on Friday, Kerr and the Warriors will advance to the Western Conference semifinal round against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While his focus remains on the task at hand, Kerr undoubtedly will be coaching with Popovich on his mind, and should Golden State advance further and further into the playoffs and potentially chase a fifth championship ring, Kerr could take another step closer to following in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famerâs footsteps.
âSo thank you, Pop. Iâll take the shirt off after,â Kerr joked. âLove you and see you soon.â
Royals at Orioles prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2
It's Friday, May 2 and the Royals (17-15) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (12-18). Michael Wacha is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Dean Kremer for Baltimore.
The Royals won three straight games and nine of the past 10 contests as they are one of the hottest teams in the league. The Orioles are 2-1 over the last three games but 2-4 over the previous six games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Royals at Orioles
- Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
- Time: 7:05 PM EST
- Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- City: Baltimore, MD
- Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, MASN
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 Royals at the Orioles
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Royals (+113), Orioles (-134)
- Spread: Orioles -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for the Royals at Orioles
- Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Michael Wacha vs. Dean Kremer
- Royals: Michael Wacha, (1-3, 3.38 ERA)
Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts - Orioles: Dean Kremer, (2-4, 7.04 ERA)
Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts
- Royals: Michael Wacha, (1-3, 3.38 ERA)
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Royals and the Orioles
Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Royals:
"The Royals are underdogs in the series opener against Baltimore who has gone 5-5 in Game 1's this year. These teams met already and Kansas City won two out of three meetings, including the opener. The Royals are hot right now and I would not be comfortable with fading them at the -130 or a price or anything that isn't +100 or better."
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 Fridayâs game between the Royals and the Orioles:
- 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 Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Orioles
- The Royals are 6-10 on the road this season but have won their last 4 games
- The Under has cashed in 8 of the Orioles' last 10 games with a rest advantage over their opponents
- The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.79 units
If youâre 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!
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)
Diamondbacks at Phillies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for May 2
Its Friday, May 2 and the Diamondbacks (17-14) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (17-14). Merrill Kelly is slated to take the mound for Arizona against JesĂșs Luzardo for Philadelphia.
The Phillies are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Nationals that snapped a four-game winning streak for Philadelphia. The Diamondbacks have won three of the past four games to follow up a four-game losing streak. Both of these teams have been streaky over the past 10 games.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at Phillies
- Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
- Time: 6:45 PM EST
- Site: Citizens Bank Park
- City: Philadelphia, PA
- Network/Streaming: ARID, NBCSP
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 Diamondbacks at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+135), Phillies (-159)
- Spread: Phillies -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Phillies
- Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Merrill Kelly vs. JesĂșs Luzardo
- Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly, (3-1, 4.41 ERA)
Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts - Phillies: JesĂșs Luzardo, (3-0, 1.73 ERA)
Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
- Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly, (3-1, 4.41 ERA)
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Diamondbacks and the Phillies
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Over between Arizona and Philly:
"Naturally, I would be on the Under between these teams because Kelly has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five out of six games and Luzardo the same. However, those types of bets and mindsets are only a small portion of things to consider when betting. There is some regression due for both starting pitchers and neither bullpen has been reliable this season. I lean toward the Over 8.5 to 9.0, which is a higher total for two pitchers coming off impressive outings."
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 Fridayâs game between the Diamondbacks and the Phillies:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Diamondbacks at Phillies
- The Phillies have a winning record (4-1) in their last 5 games
- The Over is 15-5 in the Diamondbacks' last 10 games on the road and the Phillies' last 10 at home combined
- The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight matchups against the Diamondbacks
If youâre 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!
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)
Looking back at Gregg Popovich's key moments with San Antonio Spurs
Looking back at Gregg Popovich's key moments with San Antonio Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Some of the key moments in the career of San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, who stepped down as coach Friday:
Dec. 10, 1996: The beginning
Saying the team needed a change in direction, general manager Gregg Popovich fired coach Bob Hill and named himself coach on the same day that star center David Robinson was returning to the lineup. The Spurs were 3-15 at the time.
June 25, 1997: Tim Duncan gets drafted
After winning the draft lottery, the Spurs get the chance to take Tim Duncan No. 1 overall in the 1997 draft. The team immediately becomes a contender, and Popovich and Duncan become joined at the hip for the better part of the next two decades.
June 25, 1999: Championship No. 1
Two years to the day after Duncan got drafted, the Spurs beat New York 78-77 to win the NBA Finals in five games.
June 15, 2003: Championship No. 2
Popovich wins coach of the year in a season where the Spurs sent David Robinson into retirement as a champion, beating New Jersey in six games for the franchiseâs second title.
June 23, 2005: Championship No. 3
Tied going into the fourth quarter, the Spurs never trail in the final 12 minutes and Popovich wins his third title. San Antonio beats Detroit 81-74 in Game 7.
June 14, 2007: Championship No. 4
Popovich and the Spurs sweep LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning the four games by an average of 6.0 points.
March 16, 2009: Pop reaches 1,000
In a game at Oklahoma City, Popovich becomes the 24th coach in NBA history to reach the 1,000-game milestone. The only coaches with better records after 1,000 games were Phil Jackson and Pat Riley.
April 6, 2011: Pop passes Red
The Spurs beat Sacramento for Popovichâs 797th career win, one that allowed him to pass Bostonâs Red Auerbach for the second-most wins with a single team.
June 15, 2014: Championship No. 5
Popovich becomes the fifth coach in NBA history with five championships, the Spurs beating Miami 104-87 to win that title in five games.
Feb. 4, 2017: The most wins with one team
The Spurs defeat Denver and Popovich gets career win No. 1,128, passing Utahâs Jerry Sloan for the most by a coach with one team.
Aug. 7, 2021: USA Basketball wins Olympic gold
Popovich leads the U.S. to its fourth consecutive gold medal in menâs basketball, with the Americans beating France 87-82 at the Tokyo Olympics. âEvery championship is special, and the group youâre with is special, but I can be honest and say this is the most responsibility Iâve ever felt,â Popovich said.
March 11, 2022: The winningest coach ever
Popovich becomes the NBAâs all-time coaching win leader, with the Spurs beating Utah 104-102 for the 1,336th victory of his career â one more than Don Nelsonâs previous mark.
Aug. 12, 2023: Pop enters the Hall
Popovich, after years of resisting because he wanted more of his former players to be enshrined before him, enters the Basketball Hall of Fame. âItâs unimaginable,â Popovich said.
Nov. 2, 2024: Popovich suffers stroke
Popovich had a stroke at the teamâs arena in San Antonio a couple of hours before the game that night against Minnesota. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson took over as acting head coach that night and wound up coaching the teamâs final 77 games of the season.
Feb. 27, 2025: Popovich updates his status
Popovich released a statement saying Johnson will finish the season. âMitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding,â Popovich said in the statement distributed by the Spurs. âI will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.â
May 2, 2025: Popovich steps down as coach
Popovich stepped down as coach of the Spurs. âWhile my love and passion for the game remain, Iâve decided itâs time to step away as head coach. Iâm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me,â he said. Later that day, the Spurs promoted Johnson to the head coach role.
Jets' Arniel, Capitals' Carbery And Canadiens' St-Louis Are Jack Adams Award Finalists
The NHL announced the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the coach who contributed the most to their team's success.
The Winnipeg Jets' Scott Arniel, Washington Capitals' Spencer Carbery and Montreal Canadiens' Martin St-Louis are all finalists after their teams took a step forward this season.
Arniel took over as Jets coach following Rick Bowness' retirement. The Jets finished fourth in the NHL last season, and in his first season, Arniel took the club to new heights.
Winnipeg won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history, recording a team-high 56 wins and 116 points. The team allowed the fewest goals against in the NHL while scoring the fourth-most. Their 28.9 percent power-play success rate topped the league and is the ninth-best rate since the NHL started tracking it in 1977-78.
While Bowness finished third in Jack Adams voting last season, the Jets' new bench boss is in the running to win the award for the first time in franchise history.
Carbery, meanwhile, could be the fourth coach in Capitals history to win the award. The Capitals barely made the playoffs last year and were swept by the New York Rangers in the first round. This year, they finished second in the NHL standings, improving by 20 points. It was the largest points gain by a team that made the playoffs.
Washington improved to second in the league in goals-for from 29th place last season. They were also tied for eighth for fewest goals against, fifth in the best penalty-kill rate and first in comeback wins.
No bench boss has won coach of the year honors in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. Carbery could be the first.
Great Work, Canadiens. Now, The Real Work BeginsEven though the Montreal Canadiens went down in five games to the best team in the Eastern Conference in the first round of the playoffs, there is every reason to frame the 2024-25 season as a tremendous success.
St-Louis had his first playoff experience coaching the Canadiens this season, and it came after a big late-season push. The Canadiens were tied for second-last in the Eastern Conference at the 4 Nations Face-Off break and were six points out of a playoff spot. The rebuilding squad then went 15-5-6 the rest of the season to grab the second wild-card spot in the East by just a two-point cushion.
Montreal improved by 15 points this season from last year, and its penalty-kill rate shot up to ninth-best from 24th in 2023-24.
St-Louis is the Canadiens' first Jack Adams Award finalist since Guy Carbonneau finished second in 2007-08. Only Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns won the Jack Adams Award while coaching the Habs.
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Oilers Vs. Kings: One Important Moment Changed Everything
EDMONTON â One moment can change everything.
That certainly rings true for Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
They booted the Los Angeles Kings out of the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year. This time around, they eliminated them in six games.
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Adam Henrique, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Trent Frederic, Darnell Nurse, and Connor Brown scored goals for the Oilers in Game 6 to send the Kings packing.
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'No Line That We're Hiding': Kris Knoblauch On Latest Oilers' VictoryEDMONTON â âI think everybody was ready to bring their A-game, and most of them did.â
It was the cherry on top of a rewarding stretch of games for the Oilers. After dropping the first two contests, they came roaring back with four straight victories.
And it all started with one moment.
It was Game 3, and the Oilers were down 4-3 to begin the third period. With around seven minutes left in the period, the Oilers were cooking in the Kings' end with some good zone time. There was chaos around the net. McDavid came around the net and threw the puck toward the crease, and Evander Kane magically deposited it into the net.
The Moment That Changed Everything For The Oilers
After looking at the play, Kingsâ head coach Jim Hiller decides to challenge the goal for goaltender interference. The referees review the sequence and then determine that there was no goalie interference. The Oilers go on the powerplay with the game tied 4-4.
Evan Bouchard tips a Leon Draisaitl shot for a goal, 10 seconds into the man advantage. The Oilers are now up 5-4. They would add two empty-net goals to secure a 7-4 victory.
For the rest of the series, after that moment, the Oilers dominated play for long stretches.
After a review for a kicking motion AND a challenge for goaltender interference, Evander Kane gets his first of the playoffs.
â B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 26, 2025
The official call is that Kane kicked the puck to his stick and was able to shoot it before it went in. pic.twitter.com/Aw0y3ZgMVJ
Many people online wondered if that coachâs challenge would change the series. It looks like every single one of those people was right.
The Kings didnât look the same after that play. After the first three games, Adrian Kempe, their top point producer, only recorded one assist in Games 4, 5, and 6.
The âOilers Killerâ had nine points in the first three games, four of which were goals.
Whether the Oilers played exceptional defense and neutralized the Kings, or the Kings lost steam and motivation against a team that has had their number for a long time (or a combination of the two), the two teams never looked the same.
And now, the Oilers face a new challenge: the Vegas Golden Knights.
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Padres at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2
It's Friday, May 2 and the Padres (19-11) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (12-20). Dylan Cease is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates are 1-5 in the last six games coming off back-to-back lost series against the Cubs and Dodgers. The Padres have won back-to-back games after four consecutive losses, so the two are trending in different directions.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Padres at Pirates
- Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
- Time: 6:40 PM EST
- Site: PNC Park
- City: Pittsburgh, PA
- Network/Streaming: Apple TV+
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 Padres at the Pirates
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Padres (-147), Pirates (+123)
- Spread: Padres -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Padres and the Pirates
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the NRFI between Pittsburgh and San Diego:
"The Pirates and Padres both have two of their better pitchers on the mound tonight and Pittsburgh has a slight advantage with San Diego traveling across the country for this matchup. The Padres did have a day off yesterday, but this being the first of the series and in a different time zone is not a spot where I like San Diego to win or come out swinging. I like the No Runs First Inning and lean the Pirates ML."
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 Fridayâs game between the Padres and the Pirates:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres 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 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Pirates
- The Padres have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
- In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller has an ERA of 5.13
If youâre 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!
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)
Premier League team news: predicted lineups for the weekend action
Chelsea must beat champions Liverpool on Sunday to maintain their top-five push while Aston Villa host Fulham
Friday 8pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Etihad Stadium
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