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The Breakdown | Trash-talk and rough sleeping: following the 2001 Lions’ tour of Australia

After a taste of the atmosphere during a post-university year travelling I was hooked and the memories will last a lifetime

June 2001. I’m on an overnight Greyhound bus from Cairns to Townsville. A typical post-university year travelling in Australia and New Zealand has taken an unwelcome turn after an equally typical relationship breakup.

Initially there had been no plans to follow that year’s British & Irish Lions tour, even though I had been enthralled by the classic encounter against the Springboks four years earlier. With my newfound freedom it seemed logical to head south, a couple of hundred miles down the coast, to see the legendary tourists in action.

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The Path, Part I: How Celtics can ‘thread the needle' with tweaks to core

The Path, Part I: How Celtics can ‘thread the needle' with tweaks to core originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Editor’s Note: As the Celtics enter a critically important offseason, Chris Forsberg is exploring three different paths Boston can take this summer, each with their own pros and cons for the short- and long-term future of the franchise. The first path: threading the needle.

Welcome to the Summer of Brad Stevens. All eyes turn to Boston’s president of basketball operations to steer a teetering Celtics ship, with 18 banners as its mast, through some suddenly murky waters.

Stevens must choose a path to charter after a disappointing end to the 2024-25 season that included superstar Jayson Tatum rupturing his Achilles as part of Boston’s second-round exit. 

Should the Celtics attempt to thread the needle with their current core? Should they slam the reboot button? Or can Stevens overhaul the core on the fly despite the financial limitations as the rent comes due for Boston’s splurge that delivered Banner 18?

In the first installment of our three-part series ahead of a potentially volatile offseason, we ponder the case for Boston threading the needle.

Objectives of this path:

  • Get below the second apron by trimming $20-plus million in salary.
  • Remain a tax-paying team, but limit the total spend.
  • Keep much of the core intact … for now.
  • Remain competitive in the East, even with Tatum out indefinitely.
  • Identify and develop young, low-cost talent for rotation roles.

The road map:

  • Trade Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser with limited financial return.
  • Build a frontcourt with limited funds.
  • Use draft assets to acquire young, low-cost talent.

Why this path makes sense:

Boston’s brass hasn’t been bashful in acknowledging this approaching reckoning. Changes were coming regardless of whether the Celtics repeated as champs. A new collective bargaining agreement, with its punitive second-apron penalties, will prevent teams from building sustainably expensive rosters.

In a twisted way, the Celtics have to cut costs in order to ensure they can remain competitive deeper into the future.

There’s a line of thinking that suggests Boston ought to try to trim payroll below the luxury tax line with a goal of eliminating long-term repeater penalties. But we suspect that, with a new, energy-filled owner in Bill Chisholm, the Celtics will stomach a more manageable tax bill with hopes of getting out of the tax further down the road. 

Why this path might not make sense:

Trading soon-to-be 35-year-old Holiday with $100-plus million remaining on his contract may not yield the best return among Boston’s roster players. Even moving his salary for limited financial return won’t be enough to ensure the team gets below the second apron. 

What’s more, if Tatum is going to miss some or all of the 2025-26 season, then it might make more sense for the Celtics to endure a more robust overhaul of the roster with the goal of getting all their finances in order.

What this path looks like:

We’ve previously laid out the financial constraints facing the Celtics this offseason. Boston is committed to roughly $228 million in salary for the 2025-26 season, and that’s before pondering the future of free agents Al Horford and Luke Kornet. The Celtics must trim roughly $20 million after roster construction in order to get below the second apron. 

Every member of the Celtics’ championship starting five is under contract for next season, and at monster money. The quintet of Tatum ($54.1 million), Jaylen Brown ($53.1), Holiday ($32.4), Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7), and Derrick White ($28.1) accounts for $198.4 million. The second apron starts at $207.8 million.

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We all knew these tough decisions were coming. The Celtics got ahead of the CBA curve by trading for Holiday and Porzingis in the summer of 2023 and then extended both of them, while knowing the rent would come due in July 2025. Banner 18 made it a worthwhile dice roll. 

Now something has to give. The development of Payton Pritchard, who is playing on an uber-thrifty four-year, $30 million extension that will pay him $7.2 million in the 2025-26 season, makes it slightly easier to move a guard. 

Holiday’s trade value is hazy given his age and big money remaining on the deal. But he can absolutely help a playoff team, and there should be suitors. Holiday is a proven winner who will be desirable for any contender looking to inject some defensive DNA. 

But even in moving Holiday with limited return, the Celtics almost certainly will have to trim even more money, and that’s where it gets tough to retain Hauser. 

This summer, Hauser’s four-year, $45 million extension hits the books. His $10 million salary next season isn’t prohibitive, but it is for a Boston team that, even if it dips below the second apron this summer, still would have to pay roughly $5.5 for every dollar spent at its repeater rate. So, Hauser’s price tag effectively becomes $55 million for the 2025-26 season.

Hauser is a desirable shooter on a reasonable deal, which could leave a low-spending team willing to use its non-taxpayer midlevel exception to absorb him in exchange for draft assets. The Celtics would shuffle second-year swingman Baylor Scheierman into Hauser’s role and hope his shooting blossoms the way Hauser’s did over time in Boston.

With enough maneuvering, the Celtics can examine the possibility of bringing back Al Horford or Luke Kornet. Is the soon-to-be 39-year-old Horford willing to play on cheap money when Boston isn’t as much of a surefire contender without Tatum? Can the Celtics outbid any suitors to keep Kornet, who already took a discount to return to Boston on a minimum deal last summer?

Let’s make some deals:

A trade that seemingly makes sense for both sides — and was being theorized even before Boston’s season ended — would see Holiday land in Dallas in exchange for some combination of expiring deals, including Daniel Gafford ($14.4 million) and P.J. Washington ($14.2 million). A third team would be involved in order to absorb money in the deal. 

Boston could retain Gafford to stabilize an uncertain frontcourt, while a team with options to absorb salary (perhaps Brooklyn with its cap space or Atlanta with its large trade exceptions) might take on Washington and other filler in exchange for draft assets from both Dallas and Boston. The savings in money from Holiday to Gafford is roughly $18 million next season.

Moving Hauser to a team with the non-taxpayer midlevel in exchange for draft assets would save Boston another $10 million next season. It would be difficult to move a homegrown asset who was key to a title run, but a Hauser trade would be one of the least painful ways for the Celtics to trim salary. 

The top of Boston’s 2025-26 depth chart, under this path, looks something like this:

  • Ball-handlers: White, Pritchard
  • Wings: Brown, Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Tatum*
  • Bigs: Porzingis, Gafford, Queta

*Injured

Boston could examine what it has for room below the second apron to fill out the roster. Maybe there’s space to squeeze in Horford or Kornet on limited funds. But the rest of the roster almost certainly would be minimum-salary players. 

The bottom line:

Threading the needle allows Boston to tread cautiously into a new season. A roster topped by Brown, White, and a healthier Porzingis still has potential to compete in the East.

If the Celtics got to the trade deadline and felt that 1) Tatum’s return would wait for the 2026-27 season and 2) Their team wasn’t a true contender without him, then they could take further steps to shed money by moving players on expiring deals like Gafford and Porzingis (ideally, when the latter’s trade value has been reestablished).

This path avoids a more immediate overhaul and gives the remaining core of this team a chance to show it can stay afloat without Tatum. The Celtics can also prioritize playing time for younger players while evaluating the pieces that will remain whenever Tatum is back on the floor.

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Knicks-Pacers Game 4 tonight: Timing, channel, Haliburton's dad, injury report

Knicks-Pacers Game 4 tonight: Timing, channel, Haliburton's dad, injury report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The New York Knicks are set to take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night in a crucial matchup for the Knicks.

The Knicks visit the Pacers in Indianapolis trailing 1-2 in the series after a shocking loss in overtime in Game 1, and then dropping Game 2 114-109 on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks won the last meeting 106-100 on Monday, led by 24 points from Karl-Anthony Towns. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20.

Haliburton’s father, John, will be watching from a Gainbridge Fieldhouse suite — the first game he has attended in person since being banned following his run onto the court after Indiana closed out the first-round series against Milwaukee. And, of course, he has something to prove again as the Pacers try to position themselves for a second straight series-clinching victory at Madison Square Garden.

The Pacers are shooting 48.8% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 115.8 points per game, 0.7 more than the 115.1 the Pacers allow.

It’s the Knicks first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years, but if they want to avoid a 1-3 deficit, Game 4 proves pivotal. The winner of the Eastern Conference finals will play the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Here’s what to know about tonight’s game:

What time do the Knicks play tonight?

Game 4 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers is set for 8 p.m. Eastern.

What channel is the Knicks game on tonight?

The Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference finals will be available on TNT.

How do I stream the Knicks game tonight?

The Eastern Conference finals will be streaming on MAX from Warner Bros. Discovery with a subscription.

Where is Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals being held?

Game 4 will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

Who is on the injury report for Game 4?

The Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith (ankle) will be listed as questionable for Game 4 against the Knicks on Tuesday, according to WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis.

Indiana’s Isaiah Jackson is out with a torn right Achilles tendon. He has been out since Nov. 1, 2024.

No one on the Knicks is listed on the injury report.

What is the remaining Eastern Conference finals schedule?

*If necessary. The Pacers hold a 2-1 lead ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup.

  • Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, @ Indianapolis
  • *Game 5: Thursday, May 29 8 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden
  • *Game 6: Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, @ Indianapolis
  • * Game 7: Monday, June 2, 8 p.m., ET, Madison Square Garden
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Jimmy Anderson: ‘I know my body has got a certain amount of deliveries left in it’

The Lancashire bowler, 43 in July, talks about life on and off the pitch, and why cricket was never about money for him

Sir Jimmy Anderson is running late, five, then 10 minutes past 10 before he arrives in front of his computer. He is dishevelled, like he is just up and into his T-shirt and jeans. He finished his first match since July the previous evening, Lancashire against Derbyshire in the County Championship, on a flat pitch at Old Trafford, and is still feeling it.

The fourth day had been hard going: 16 overs, eight maidens, two for 25, in a thwarted attempt to force victory against a Derbyshire team hell-bent on securing a draw. Lancashire finished two wickets short. “I’ve woken up feeling like absolute death,” Anderson says. “It was a bit of a wake-up call.”

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Gilgeous-Alexander puts Thunder on brink of NBA Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks on
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made six free throws in the final 15 seconds [Getty Images]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a stunning performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves to move within one win of the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma led 65-57 at the break and 90-85 at the end of the third quarter, but had to survive a late Minnesota fightback to take a 3-1 lead in the seven-game series.

Gilgeous-Alexander - who scored 40 points, grabbed nine rebounds and provided 10 assists - made five of six free throw attempts in the final 15 seconds to seal a 128-126 victory.

Jalen Williams added 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting, while Chet Holmgren finished with 21 points on nine-for-14 shooting.

The performance of Mark Daigneault's side was an impressive response to the 143-101 thrashing they suffered in game three.

"We did a good job of staying in the moment tonight," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"We obviously had a bad taste in our mouth from the last game, and we just wanted to control the things that we could control tonight. I think staying in the moment was the best way to do so.

"We could have been better tonight for sure. Tonight wasn't perfect, but we gave ourselves a chance... and we got a W."

The Timberwolves pushed Oklahoma City all the way, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 23 points off the bench, Jaden McDaniels contributing 22 points, and Donte DiVincenzo finishing with 21.

"Everything is out there," Alexander-Walker said.

"There's no secrets. They know how to beat us. We know how to beat them. It's just about going out there and doing it and who wants it more [and who is] trying to execute it more.

"We showed that at times throughout this game, but consistency, that's all it has to be."

Victory in game five in Oklahoma on Wednesday (01:30 BST on Thursday) will secure the Thunder a place in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, where they would face either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks.

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Three takeaways: Panthers stymied in own zone, power play struggles continue

The Florida Panthers are heading back on the road again.

Florida had an opportunity to knock out the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night, but the Cats couldn’t get the job done.

Credit to the Hurricanes, who played their best game of the series while holding the potent Panthers scoreless, winning 3-0 after a couple empty-net goals.

It’s a step in the right direction for Carolina, who still have quite a bit of work to do if they’re going to climb back into this series.

The last time Florida held a 3-0 series lead, they were playing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final a couple weeks later. We’ll see how much they learned from that experience in the coming days.

Let’s get to the Game 4 takeaways:

PANTHERS TRIED TO BE PERFECT

During many of Florida’s offensive zone opportunities, the Panthers were unable to complete some pretty tough cross-zone passes and came up with nothing to show for them.

That was a recurring theme throughout the game, with Carolina doing an excellent job of clogging up the passing lanes while also blocking 15 shots.

When the Panthers try to do too much and come out of their usual fluid game, things can look a little deliberate and disjointed, and that’s what happened at times on Monday.

“We were looking for something, or looking for something better, and you will always play a slow game when you do that,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice.

MUCH TO TAKE FROM LOSS

One thing Maurice has said often during his tenure behind Florida’s bench is that you learn far more from a loss than you do from a win.

Well, based off the Panthers performance in Game 4, the team’s collective IQ should be going up by a couple of points.

The night absolutely belonged to Carolina.

They imposed their will, their pace and their style of play on the Panthers during much of the night, and it showed in how ineffective Florida was compared to the rest of the series.

“I am exceptionally happy with the learning opportunity,” said Maurice. “I'm not screwing around with you. I believe there's consistent things in games that we don't love, and you cannot eradicate those. Give Carolina credit, they were quick, they closed the gap, blocked some shots, hustled real hard. They played a great game for them in terms of style, and when I say for them, I mean in terms of the style that they play, I thought they were very consistent with their game plan.”

POWER PLAY STRUGGLES

During the first two games of the series, Florida was lights out when on the man advantage.

The Panthers went 4-for-5 on the power play to start the series, and that’s saying something.

Carolina had the league’s best penalty kill during the regular season, and they kept for the first two rounds of the playoffs, killing off 28 of the 30 power plays they faced.

Well, it appears that the Canes have snapped back into form.

During the two games in Florida, the Panthers were a paltry 0-for-8 on the power play, generating a total of seven shots on goal during those opportunities.

“Our power play right now is slightly disjointed,” said Maurice. “When you lose Sam Reinhart, he’s a really big piece to that, but it has still found a way to get some action and score some goals. We still put good players out there. I also don't think against their kill, that formula of a power play is as important, because their kill is like ours. There's so much pressure there, it's broken play, you might as well just play like it's five on five and see what you come up with.”

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Photo caption: May 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) reaches for the puck during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Jack Kochanowicz shows potential, but gets little support in Angels' loss to Yankees

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws against the New York Yankees.
Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz delivers in the second inning of a 5-1 loss to the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium on Monday night. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

Jack Kochanowicz mowed through his first three innings against the Yankees on Monday night.

The 6-foot-7 sinkerballer was doing all of what manager Ron Washington asked of him before the game: pitch to contact and let his defense do the work.

"Just be Jack,” Washington said. ‘Throw his sinker, change, eye-level, put the ball in play early — which is when he's at his best. That's what he does. So that's all. I'm not looking for him to be nothing more than that, and if he's that, it'll be good enough."

Nine up, and nine down on 28 pitches — Kochanowicz looked “good enough.” He was hurling just as efficiently as he did against the Dodgers on May 16 when he limited the Angels’ crosstown foes to just one run across 6 ⅔ innings. As he jaunted to the mound for the fourth, the crowd woke up, rising in volume; but not for Kochanowicz.

Read more:Chris Taylor is staying in SoCal. Angels sign former Dodgers utilityman

“Let’s go, Yankees,” the fans in the right-field seats of Angel Stadium bellowed, much like the “Bleacher Creatures” would back in the Bronx. First baseman Ben Rice singled, and then center fielder Trent Grisham did too. Following a rousing ovation, designated hitter Aaron Judge — who upped his batting average to a league-high .398 — loaded the bases on an infield single.

As Yankees fans roared louder, Kochanowicz hiccuped. The sophomore starting pitcher walked Cody Bellinger on four pitches to bring in a run, and two batters later, Anthony Volpe hit a bases-clearing double off the center-field wall to power the Yankees (33-20) to a three-run lead. It was more than enough to take down the Angels (25-28), who struggled to string together hits for the third consecutive game in a 5-1 loss to open the series.

“Always just comes down to pitch calling,” Kochanowicz said. “It's very easy to ask yourself a million questions about every pitch you throw, but I think I just — I came at them hard that inning. I didn't start anyone off with the breaking ball. So that was probably it.”

Shortstop Zach Neto led off the bottom of the first with a 440-foot solo home run to center field — the longest of his career — but it was all the Angels had to offer at the plate. Before the game, Washington called his offense young and inconsistent.

The Angels offered more of those characteristics against the Yankees and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.

Outside of a fluke infield single from Jo Adell, Neto's home run was all the Angels mustered against the funky, sidearm delivery of the New York southpaw through six innings.

“The way we were swinging the bat, I did think that we would have at least three or four guys in that line of constantly clicking,” Washington said after the Angels were limited to five hits. “Miami come up in here and put us away, and then now we fight to try to find it back again.”

Yarbrough easily dispatched Chris Taylor — who started in center field and went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his Angels debut — for a flyout and second baseman Kevin Newman for a strikeout to end the fifth.

“Yarbrough did a good job,” Taylor said. “Shut us down for the most part.”

The sixth inning was no better as the top of the Angels' lineup went down 1-2-3 and Yarbrough exited with his longest and arguably best start of the season, striking out seven. The Angels struck out 11 times in the game.

“Sustaining that offense that we had,” Washington said when asked before the game about matching the offensive rhythm of the Angels’ eight-game winning streak, “it’s impossible.”

Read more:Angels upbeat about their future despite dropping back-to-back games

Outside of his four-run, fourth inning, Kochanowicz was in the “midseason form” he described himself in on Sunday. The right-hander pumped his fastball as high as 97.3 mph and averaged 95 on his sinker, both a tick below his season averages. Four of his 6 ⅔ innings concluded in 1-2-3 fashion.

“I thought he was good, really,” Washington said. “Those first three innings, he was dominating. … If we could just take [the fourth inning] back it’d be a different ballgame.”

Kochanowicz struck out five and walked two, giving up just five hits. But the Angels' offense didn’t back up their pitchers, sending them to a three-game losing streak.

Note: Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe was removed from the game in the eighth inning after being hit in the head on a backswing from Yankees second baseman Jorbit Vivas. O’Hoppe was removed as a precaution, Washington said, and was unavailable for comment after the game. “[O’Hoppe is] telling me he can play [tomorrow], but we’re going to wait and see,” Washington said.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Ryan Yarbrough's best start as a Yankee highlights Monday's series-opening win at Angels

Left-handerRyan Yarbrough's impressive May as a starting pitcher in the Yankees' injury-bitten rotation featured his best outing yet Monday at the Los Angeles Angels. He shoved for a season-high six innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out seven and walking two in New York's 5-1 win to open a series with the Angels.

Takeaways

  1. The Yankees made a late offseason move by signing Yarbrough to a reported one-year contract worth $2 million and an additional $500,000 in incentives, and the move is aging well. Yarbrough, 33, is 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 35.1 IP over 12 games (four starts). He entered the rotation in May and has been more than what New York could have hoped for, following his season-high eight strikeouts in last Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers with Monday's gem. Yarbrough allowed a leadoff home run against Zach Neto on a 2-2 changeup at 78 mph in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Angels a 1-0 lead, but shoved from there. In a season where the Yankees are without ace Gerrit Cole for the year and started with 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil on the 60-day injured list, production such as this one from Yarbrough is invaluable.
  2. Anthony Volpe's bases-clearing double over center fielder Chris Taylor's head in the fourth inning gave the Yankees the lead at 4-1 and Yarbrough and New York's bullpen enough room to work with. Volpe, who picked up Jasson Domínguez's strikeout swinging in the previous at-bat, now has five RBI in his past three games after he scratched two across during this past Saturday's 13-1 win at the Colorado Rockies. Through 52 games, Volpe is slashing .244/.323/.440 with six home runs and 31 RBI.
  3. Cody Bellinger bounced back from an 0-for-4 game in Sunday's 5-4 win at the Rockies and was the only Yankee with two hits Monday. Bellinger's four-pitch walk with the bases loaded and none out in the fourth inning set the table for Volpe's game-changing knock. On the season, Bellinger has a .268/.337/.475 slash line with eight home runs and 32 RBI through 48 games.
  4. The Yankees (33-20) are winners in seven of their past eight games. They have three straight victories and lead the American League East Division by 5.5 games.

Who's the MVP?

Yarbrough, who needed little run support and passed the baton to the bullpen's 7-8-9 shutdown.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Angels (25-28) continue their three-game set at Angel Park in Anaheim, Calif., with Tuesday's 9:38 p.m. start. New York is set to go for the series win with left-hander Carlos Rodón (6-3, 2.88 ERA) on the mound while Los Angeles starts fellow southpaw Tyler Anderson (2-1, 3.60 ERA).

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40, Thunder defense forcing 23 turnovers has OKC one win from NBA Finals

It was the two words in all caps and red ink at the top of the scouting report for Minnesota going into the Western Conference Finals:

Limit turnovers.

The Timberwolves had to break even in the possession game to upset the Thunder in this series. They failed at that in the biggest moment of their season Monday night — Minnesota turned the ball over 23 times and allowed 19 Oklahoma City offensive rebounds in Game 4. The result was the Thunder getting up 11 more shots in the game.

That was the difference in what an epic, high-level playoff game, one of the best of the postseason. Well, turnovers and a career playoff high 40 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City hung on at the end for a 128-126 Game 4 win that puts them up 3-1 in the series. The Thunder can close the series out Wednesday night at home.

This is a gut-punch loss for the Timberwolves because they played well enough to win:

• Minnesota created better looks most of the night.

• Minnesota shot better, including 18-of-41 (43.9%) from 3.

• Minnesota grabbed 19 offensive rebounds themselves.

• Minnesota got 64 points from their bench behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, Donte DiVincenzo scoring 21, including five 3-pointers, and 11 points from Naz Reid.

“Definitely sucks being that close…” Alexander-Walker said postgame. “Everything is out there, there are no secrets — they know how to beat us and we know how to beat them.”

What hurt the Thunder was a slow start and rough night from Anthony Edwards, who scored 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Which was better than Julius Randle, who struggled again with five points on 1-of-7 shooting (but nine rebounds).

Not only did SGA step up for the Thunder, but so did their next stars: Jalen Williams had 34 points, including six 3-pointers, while Chet Holmgren had 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, including a critical one late.

After coming out flat and getting blown out in Game 3, the Thunder came out Monday with increased defensive ball pressure and activity — looking like themselves again — except it didn’t work. For example, the Thunder defense forced the ball to Jaden McDaniels, but he responded with 10 early points. Minnesota shot 63.2% in the first quarter but trailed 37-30 after one because of their seven turnovers in the frame. That was the theme of the night.

So was Oklahoma City taking a small lead (never more than 11) and then Minnesota walking them down. It was a physical, intense, high-level game of basketball played well by both teams.

The last time the Thunder got one of those small leads they held on, and now they have a commanding lead in the series.

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Opinion: Mitch Love Is The Right Choice To Lead The Penguins

Credit: Candice Ward - Calgary Wranglers

With the IIHF Men's World Championship wrapped up - and Canada, shockingly, having lost Thursday to Team Denmark - Pittsburgh Penguins GM and POHO Kyle Dubas can shift his focus from managing Team Canada fully to the coaching search for his NHL club.

With a round of interviews already in the rearview, it's about time for a choice to be made. Dubas said upon Mike Sullivan's departure that a new coach would likely be named in early June.

And, on May 26, a clear frontrunner is seemingly emerging.

Mitch Love - assistant coach for the Washington Capitals - has already spoken with the Penguins and the Seattle Kraken about their head coaching vacancies. Dubas and company seemed to be impressed by Love in his first interview, which means he is likely headed for the next phase.

If the Penguins have the option to hire Love as their head coach - and he's willing to take the job - he's absolutely the right choice.

Love began his coaching career in 2011, when he helmed the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was with the Silvertips until 2018, when he became the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades and led the team to a playoff berth in his first season there. 

Two Names Emerge In Penguins' Head Coaching SearchTwo Names Emerge In Penguins' Head Coaching SearchThe NHL head coaching carousel is beginning to pick up some steam across the league, as the Vancouver Canucks hired Adam Foote, the Anaheim Ducks brought on Joel Quenneville, and the Philadelphia Flyers landed on Rick Tocchet.

He was in Saskatoon for three seasons - compiling a .667 win percentage - before he moved on to the Stockton Heat, who are now the Calgary Wranglers. Leading the Flames' AHL affiliate, this is when Love's coaching resume really solidified itself, as he won Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 and led the team to the ninth-best finish in AHL history in that first season.

His success in Calgary led to him landing a gig with the Capitals as their defensive coach in 2024-25, where he helped maximize the potential of blueliners like Jakob Chychrun, who had a career year with 20 goals and 47 points in 74 games. 

Love seems to check all the boxes. He has experience working with defensemen, and the Penguins' blue line is in dire need of some TLC. His resume spans more than a decade. He's a younger, fresh face at just 40 years old.

Coaching Conclaves: Who Should Be Annointed Next Penguins' Head Coach?Coaching Conclaves: Who Should Be Annointed Next Penguins' Head Coach?The Vatican conclave to elect a new Pope has officially concluded, but there are other conclaves generating buzz around the National Hockey League.

And, perhaps, most importantly, he has a track record of success in developmental leagues, which is something Dubas has specified they would be looking for in a head coach.

“We'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally,” Dubas said after Sullivan's departure. "Sully had that. Sully was in player development with Chicago, he coached in the American League, an [NHL] assistant coach...that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to be developing your own guys."

There is a pretty good chance that Pittsburgh will hire the 23rd head coach in franchise history sometime within the next week. If that happens, don't be surprised if Love's name is the one announced.

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike Sullivan'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

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