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Kasper Enjoying Star Turn as Austria Marches Through Worlds

Apr 17, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) battles for the puck with Detroit Red Wings center Marco Kasper (92) during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images)

Among the pleasures of international hockey is seeing familiar NHL stars adapt to new roles as they represent their countries.  For traditional powers like Canada or the United States, that means star players adapting to depth roles.  For nations without a robust NHL presence, it means NHL role players adapting to starring roles.  So it's gone for Marco Kasper and Austria at 2025 IIHF Worlds, where the 21-year-old has continued his strong rookie season with the Detroit Red Wings on a global stage, helping Austria scrap its way to a place in the tournament's quarterfinals.

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As for Kasper’s Detroit teammates, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, Erik Gustafsson, and Sweden await a quarterfinal with Czechia.  Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Norway have been knocked out.  Moritz Seider and the Germans fell to tournament co-host Denmark. 

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For the tournament, Kasper now has four goals and three assists in seven games played.  It's not as though Kasper was a marginal player for the 2024-25 Red Wings.  Instead, by season's end, he staked a strong claim to the number two center role.  Nonetheless, in bringing his game to an international context for an Austrian team thin on NHL talent, Kasper has to assume more responsibility, especially when it comes to contributing offense.

If 2025 Worlds are any indicator, that's a responsibility Kasper is more than fit to handle, with the young centerman thriving as Austria's leader.  It should come as no surprise really, considering the various ways Kasper embraced added responsibility throughout the year in Detroit—whether in taking over a top line winger spot next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, or moving back down the middle to drive his own line.

The next challenge for Kasper and Austria is a quarterfinal match-up with Switzerland Thursday, where he will look to keep the unlikely run going.  Austria has never finished better than sixth in an Olympics (1948), and it's best Worlds finish is third (achieved twice, in 1931 and 1947).  Kasper will be looking to re-write that history, beginning with this spring's Worlds and continuing on through his fast blossoming career.

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Cousins believes Kerr ‘ruined' Warriors' relationship with Kuminga

Cousins believes Kerr ‘ruined' Warriors' relationship with Kuminga originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins believes the relationship between the Warriors and forward Jonathan Kuminga is at a point of no return. 

But who is at fault? 

The former Golden State big man singled out his former coach Steve Kerr after mismanaging Kuminga’s rotation shifts at the end of the regular season and into the NBA playoffs. 

“I think they lost Kuminga. I think Steve Kerr ruined that relationship with the DNPs,” Cousins told Chandler Parsons on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.”

For Golden State, a significant summer storyline is what to do with the 22-year-old forward, who, despite the DNPs, burst back onto the scene after Steph Curry sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

After failing to agree to a contract extension before the 2024-25 season began, Kuminga is a restricted free agent. He can sign an offer sheet from another team, giving Golden State the right to match, or they can work out a sign-and-trade with another team.

Regardless of how the situation pans out, Cousins doubled down by questioning Kerr’s ability to develop younger talent, pointing to the Warriors’ fallout with first-round draft pick Jordan Poole.

The 34-year-old notices a pattern. 

“We’ve seen this happen time and time again when it comes to him and dealing with young talent,” Cousins added. “He doesn’t handle young talent well. He doesn’t develop young talent. 

“Out of the years he’s been there, we’ve seen one guy develop under Steve Kerr, and they ran him off as well, and that was Jordan Poole, so when it comes to young talent, I just don’t think they handle it well.”

There will be no shortage of commentary on the Kuminga-Warriors saga this summer, and Cousins’ comments are the quintessential example of that. 

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Houston Rockets 2024-25 fantasy basketball season recap: Forever and ever, Amen

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.

Today, we’re looking at a team that overachieved thanks to a deep and talented young roster.

Houston Rockets 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 52-30 (2nd, West)

Offensive Rating: 114.9 (12th)

Defensive Rating: 110.3 (5th)

Net Rating: 4.6 (7th)

Pace: 99.03 (18th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 10th pick, 59th pick

The Rockets exceeded expectations with a 52-win season and the No. 2 seed in a highly competitive Western Conference. Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun continued to play well, while Amen Thompson had a breakout campaign and looks like a franchise cornerstone.

Houston played strong defense thanks to length, speed and athleticism up and down the roster, and the Rockets boasted a top-12 offense led by Thompson and Fred VanVleet as primary facilitators.

Houston’s depth and a top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft point to the team making a bid for a superstar this summer, and the Rockets’ offseason moves could dramatically reshape the roster.

Let’s recap last season’s fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26.

Fantasy Standout: Amen Thompson

Sophomore slump? Never heard of it. The second-year man took a major leap in Year 2, showcasing his ability to operate as a point forward and make a major impact on the defensive end of the floor.

Thompson averaged career highs across the board with 14.1 points, 8.2 boards, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.3 blocks and just 2.0 turnovers while shooting 55.7% from the floor. His 68.4% mark from the charity stripe and just 0.4 triples per game were the only blemishes on an otherwise pristine fantasy season.

As a pass-first forward and elite defender, Thompson has a unique skillset that lends itself well to the world of fantasy hoops. He recorded double-digit assists four times and double-digit boards 24 times. He racked up 20 double-doubles and three triple-doubles along the way.

Thompson set new single-game marks with 33 points against the Celtics on January 27, 16 rebounds (twice) against the Lakers on January 5 and the Cavs on January 22, 11 assists three times, and seven steals against the Heat on March 21.

The athletic young forward finished his second season ranked 55th in per-game fantasy value, tops on his team. He’ll turn 23 next season, and his best basketball is certainly in front of him. If Houston moves on from Fred VanVleet in the offseason, Thompson could see more run as a facilitator, only sweetening his fantasy appeal.

Thompson is an easy mid-round selection in 2025-26 fantasy drafts, and he could easily blow past his ADP and finish inside the top 25.

Fantasy Revelation: Tari Eason

Eason enjoyed the most productive season of his three-year career, averaging 12 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.1 triples and 1.1 turnovers across 24.9 minutes per game. He shot 48.7% from the floor and 76% from the charity stripe.

After appearing in just 22 games a season ago due to injuries, Eason logged 57 games in 2024-25. He started 16 and fared well in those contests, going for 5.1 points, 6.8 boards, 1.9 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 triples.

The LSU product recorded a career-best six swipes on November 20 against the Pacers, and he dropped a career-high 30 points against the Mavericks on March 14.

Eason boasts elite athleticism and defense, and he can score effectively when given the chance. The only thing holding him back from being a regular mid-round fantasy option is playing time. If he can earn more minutes in the Rockets’ rotation in 2025-26, he can be a quality contributor.

Fantasy Disappointment: Fred VanVleet

Though VanVleet finished 67th in per-game fantasy value, it was a disappointing finish considering he finished in the top 25 in five straight seasons and inside the top 20 in four straight.

FVV averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.7 triples while committing just 1.5 turnovers. VanVleet knocked down 37.8% of his shots from the field, 81% of his shots from the charity stripe and 34.5% of his three-point attempts. The field goal percentage was the second-lowest mark of his career, and the free throw percentage was the lowest.

VanVleet appeared in 60 games and logged 35.7 minutes per game. The minutes, points, assists and rebounds were his lowest marks since the 2018-19 season when he was with Toronto.

Set to make $44.89 million in 2025-26, VanVleet could be included in any trade package that Houston sends for a superstar to match contracts.

Bill Simmons floated the idea of Houston trading VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and the No. 10 pick for Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. It’s a wild proposal, but this is just an idea of the type of deal we might see VanVleet included in this summer.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Alperen Sengun:

Sengun continued his run as “Domantas Sabonis Lite,” finishing with averages of 19.1 points, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks, 0.3 triples and a career-high 10.3 boards. The big man shot 49.6% from the floor, 69.2% from the free throw line and 23.3% from downtown.

Houston’s point center logged a career-high 76 games while his playing time slipped from 32.5 minutes last season to 31.5 this season. His fantasy finish of 88th in per-game value was his lowest in three campaigns, though not too far off of his best.

The highlights of his season came on February 4 against Brooklyn when he dropped 24/20 and on December 27 against Minnesota when he finished with 38/12/1/1.

Sengun should continue to thrive as a mid-to-late-round fantasy center with triple-double upside. Target him in that range in 2025-26 drafts.

Jalen Green:

Green finished his fourth NBA season with averages of 21 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.9 triples. His 42.3/81.3/35.4 shooting splits left much to be desired, but his marks from the charity stripe and from distance were the best of his career.

Green finished 135th in per-game fantasy value, the best finish of his career. He showcased his durability with a second straight 82-game campaign.

Despite a strong regular season, Green struggled mightily in the postseason, going for 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 triples while shooting 37.2% from the floor, 66.7% from the charity stripe and 29.5% from beyond the arc.

Green signed a three-year extension with Houston in October, and he’s likely to be back in a similar role in 2025-26 as the Rockets’ starting two guard. He’s worth a look in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, and he’s got room to grow if he can improve his efficiency.

Jabari Smith Jr.:

Last season wasn’t great to Smith Jr., as he saw his minutes fall slightly to start the campaign and then dry up in the playoffs.

The third-year man finished the 2024-25 campaign with averages of 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.7 blocks - all career lows. He shot 43.8% from the floor, 82.5% from the charity stripe and 35.4% from beyond the arc, while knocking down 1.7 triples per game.

Injuries limited JSJ to a career-low 57 games. He started just 39 of those after starting every one of his appearances across the last two seasons.

In the seven-game series against Golden State, he averaged just 20.4 minutes and didn’t start a single game. Heading into the final year of his contract, the 22-year-old could be an attractive trade piece in a deal to secure Giannis Antetokounmpo. A change of scenery could do wonders for Smith Jr.’s fantasy appeal.

Dillon Brooks:

Brooks finished his second season in Houston with averages of 14.1 points, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and career highs in rebounds (3.7) and triples (2.5). He shot 42.9% from the floor (second-best mark of his career), 81.8% from the charity stripe and a career-best 39.7% from beyond the arc.

Brooks operated as a 3-and-D option for the second-place Rockets, attempting a career-high 6.3 triples per game and acting as a nuisance on the defensive end.

He scored 36 points on January 27 against the Celtics, dropping his most points in over three years and finishing just one point shy of his career high. In that game, Brooks stroked a career-high 10 three-pointers.

Brooks finished 170th in per-game fantasy hoops value, as he offers little outside of scoring and triples. Fantasy managers looking at him in 2025-26 drafts can target him with a final pick if production in those categories is needed.

Cam Whitmore:

The second-year man saw his playing time fall from 18.7 minutes as a rookie to 16.2 in 2024-25. He posted 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 triples per game across 51 outings.

Whitmore started three games and averaged a 25/8/2/1 line with four triples. The highlight of his season came on April 11 against the Lakers when he went off for 34/8/1/1/1 with seven triples.

The young forward is set to turn 21 over the summer, and he’s got a bright future if he can carve out a more meaningful role in Houston’s rotation.

Reed Sheppard:

The No. 3 pick out of Kentucky played a muted role in his inaugural campaign, logging 12.6 minutes per game across 52 appearances.

Sheppard averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.9 triples while shooting 35.1% from the floor and 81.3% from the charity stripe.

Sheppard played well in three starts, with averages of 19.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.3 triples. He dropped a career-high 25 points at Oklahoma City on March 3.

Sheppard can be a solid contributor if given significant minutes, but meaningful playing time may be hard to come by in 2025-26 due to Houston’s deep backcourt rotation.

Steven Adams:

Adams saw a dramatic cut in playing time during the 2024-25 campaign, logging just 13.9 minutes per game and averaging 3.9 points and 5.7 boards.

The big man made his presence known with additional minutes in three starts, posting 10 points 9.7 boards, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks across 23.7 minutes.

Adams had a solid postseason, and perhaps he was auditioning for his next team. He’s set to hit the open market this offseason, and he’ll surely have no problem finding a new team should he choose to leave H-Town.

Restricted Free Agents: Jack McVeigh, N’Faly Dante, David Roddy

Unrestricted Free Agents: Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate, Steven Adams

Club Option: Fred VanVleet, Aaron Holiday

Player Option: None

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Flyers Offseason: 3 Canucks Who Could Follow Rick Tocchet to Philadelphia

Canucks center Pius Suter could add depth to a depleted Flyers center group. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers believe that their new head coach, Rick Tocchet, will help them attract key players and free agents in the coming years, but what does that look like in practice? And will any Vancouver Canucks be among them?

The Canucks, after having already lost J.T. Miller and Tocchet this year, are staring down the barrel of a long and grueling rebuild if they cannot rally behind and keep captain Quinn Hughes beyond his contract expiry date of July 1, 2027.

Therefore, we could be seeing a lot of changes in Vancouver over the coming months and years. The Flyers, as an up-and-coming team and one of the NHL's youngest, can take advantage of some of the roster turnover out West.

The Flyers have $2.5 million in cap space at the time of this writing, and while they will have to re-sign integral youngsters like Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, and, potentially, Jakob Pelletier, they will also have Cal Petersen, Tony DeAngelo's buyout, and Andrei Kuzmenko's salary retention coming off their books this summer.

In short, between the cap space and draft capital, the Flyers will have sufficient breathing room to be active in the NHL trade market and in free agency.

Who, or what, can the Flyers get with that? And which connections between Tocchet and the Canucks should be tapped?

No. 1: C Pius Suter, C, UFA 2025

The Flyers' center depth is looking mighty thin these days to say the least. Behind Sean Couturier is a pending RFA in Cates and Ryan Poehling, who was reportedly on the table for a trade with the New Jersey Devils a few months ago.

After them, options include Latvian journeyman Rodrigo Abols, 18 year old prospect Jett Luchanko, and rookie Karsen Dorwart.

That's where the 28-year-old Pius Suter comes into play.

After losing Scott Laughton in the Toronto Maple Leafs trade that ultimately yielded Nikita Grebenkin and a 2027 first-round pick, the Flyers could opt to find another veteran center with tantamount positional versatility in Suter.

Suter scored 39 goals and a total of 75 points in two seasons under Tocchet in Vancouver, and his 25 goals this past season were a career-high by a country mile.

Flyers Offseason: Dream Marco Rossi Trade Scenario Just Became a Real PossibilityFlyers Offseason: Dream Marco Rossi Trade Scenario Just Became a Real PossibilityIf the Philadelphia Flyers are still assessing the trade market for their highly coveted top-six center, they will be privy to the fact that Marco Rossi is increasingly likely to be traded by the Minnesota Wild this summer.

The Swiss forward can play center and wing and filled in as the Canucks' No. 1 center after Miller was traded to New York and Elias Pettersson went down with a season-ending oblique injury.

That's the kind of value the Flyers should be hunting for in free agency, but the center market will invariably heat up as soon as Sam Bennett signs his next contract.

Suter carried a $1.6 million cap hit this season and could potentially triple that on the open market with his career year.

No. 2: Thatcher Demko, G, UFA 2026 or Trade

If nothing else, the Flyers are the one NHL team that constantly strikes out at the goaltender position in the ugliest and most heartbreaking ways possible.

Don't ask us what Sergei Bobrovsky is doing this week.

Sam Ersson has yet to finish a campaign in the big leagues with a save percentage over .900, and newcomers Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov have struggled to adapt to the North American style of play despite showing occasional flashes of brilliance from time to time.

After two seasons, the Flyers still have no idea if Ersson is an NHL starter or if Fedotov or Kolosov can even be serviceable goalies at this level over a full year.

This makes Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, eligible for an extension on July 1 and a 2026 free agent, an attractive trade target or potential future free agency addition.

Yes, Demko did have a career-altering knee injury, and yes, Demko's .889 save percentage this season was objectively awful. 

But, after regaining some of his pre-injury form and finding his game conditioning, the 29-year-old posted a .907 save percentage across his final 10 appearances of the season, allowing just 22 goals and shutting out the visiting Colorado Avalanche at home with a 25-save effort on Feb. 4

Demko has one year remaining on his contract at a $5 million cap hit and could potentially bargain for a raise after July 1, but beggars can't be choosers.

Flyers GM Teases Potential Top Pick Ahead of 2025 NHL DraftFlyers GM Teases Potential Top Pick Ahead of 2025 NHL DraftPhiladelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is not ignoring the possibility of selecting Caleb Desnoyers sixth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in June. In fact, he's embracing it.

If the Flyers are desperate enough for a starting goaltender, Demko is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward option for them in their current situation, especially if a new goalie prospect is to be introduced to the NHL in the coming seasons.

No. 3: Aatu Raty, C 10.2 (c) RFA, Trade

Canucks center prospect Aatu Raty is a 10.2 (c) RFA this summer, meaning he cannot be the recipient of an offer sheet. That doesn't mean Tocchet and the Flyers shouldn't try to acquire him via trade, though.

Let's face it: the Canucks are desperate to remain competitive and need concrete roster players. The Flyers, on the other hand, are more apt to take risks on this kind of player, as they have already with Pelletier, for example.

The Canucks should be open to draft picks and/or roster players to either use or flip as part of a bigger deal for a bigger fish, and the Flyers should be square to the task on the other end of the deal.

Vancouver desperately needs speed in its lineup, which Raty doesn't have a lot of. Would a swap for a player like Poehling or Pelletier do the trick?

Tocchet will have his hands full with the number of wingers the Flyers already have, while Raty could be due for a breakout NHL season in a 3C role out of the gate.

Raty, a big, heavy center with average skating ability, a strong shot, and satisfactory puck skills, could be a nice change-of-pace option for the Flyers down the middle, and it wouldn't hurt for him to spend a few years picking Couturier's brain while playing under a familiar friend in Tocchet.

Raty showed up for the Canucks when they needed it the most this season, and a bigger opportunity with, say, the Flyers, could be all he needs to take the next step in his pro career.

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Premier League race for Europe: who’s in, who needs what and how 10 could qualify

While the top and bottom of the Premier League are resolved, European spots are very much up for grabs

Intrigue on the final day of the Premier League season is concentrated solely on who qualifies for Europe, but there is plenty of it. Seven clubs will enter the last round of matches unsure of which European competition they will be playing in next season, or in some cases whether they will be playing in Europe at all, with half of the division potentially competing in Uefa tournaments in 2025-26. Here is what is at stake on Sunday …

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Former tennis star Jelena Dokic confirms death of estranged father, Damir Dokic

  • Father and coach of former tennis world No 4 died on Friday
  • Player shares ‘conflicting and complex emotions’ after 10-year estrangement

Damir Dokic, the estranged father and coach of former tennis star Jelena Dokic, has died.

Jelena confirmed in a social media post Damir died last Friday, saying she had “conflicting and complex emotions and feelings” about the news.

In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service on 1800 737 732. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

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Murray sure his ‘time is going to come' with Kings after shaky Year 3

Murray sure his ‘time is going to come' with Kings after shaky Year 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Keegan Murray’s NBA experience thus far has been quite the ride.

Selected by the Kings No. 4 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Murray entered a rookie season that set the bar high for what was to come thereafter. In Year 1, he set the NBA 3-point rookie record, was named to the 2023 NBA Jordan Rising Stars team and made the All-Rookie First Team. He also finished fifth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting.

This, on top of averaging 12.2 points on 45.3-percent shooting from the field and 41.1 percent from 3-point range, with 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists through 29.8 minutes in 80 games (78 starts), while helping lead Sacramento to its first playoff appearance in nearly two decades.

He averaged 15.2 points in his sophomore season and 12.4 in Year 3, respectively, but his 3-point shooting has taken a significant dip from his rookie year.

Part of that was due to him taking on a larger defensive role along his path to becoming an effective two-way player in the league. Some of the challenges during the 2024-25 season were due to the organizational inconsistencies the team faced.

The Kings parted ways with the only NBA coach Murray knew, Mike Brown, 31 games into the season. Brown was someone who pushed the young forward as if he were an NBA veteran. After Brown reached his 400th career win, Murray spoke about the impact the coach had on his young career.

“He’s always pushing me,” Murray said on Nov. 13, 2023. “Even last year, he didn’t treat me like a rookie. He treated me like a guy who’s been in the league for five, six years. That’s all I could have really asked for my rookie season.

“So he’s going to be a guy that I’m always going to remember at the start of my career and hopefully through my career as a coach that’s had a big impact on me.”

About one year later, Brown was relieved of his duties, despite signing a multiyear contract extension with the Kings just five months prior.

Two months after Brown’s firing, the Kings traded star point guard De’Aaron Fox, Murray’s best friend on the team, to the San Antonio Spurs in a franchise-altering blockbuster move. Fox took Murray under his wing since the latter entered the league in 2022, and the two formed a wholesome “big bro-little bro” relationship over the years. 

“Uncle Keegz” understood it was the business part of the NBA, but it certainly took some time to adjust to life as a King without Fox – for everyone.

Within three years, Murray went from a magical, storybook 2022-23 rookie season highlighted by a purple beam to experiencing a big wake-up call of the ups and downs in the NBA.

Despite all of that, he still took on the challenge of defending the opposing team’s best player night in and night out while also being scrutinized for not performing well enough on the other end of the floor. It’s something he reflects on with great pride, and something he won’t make excuses for as he continues to put in the work and strive toward two-way stardom.

“No, I’m not disappointed,” Murray said when asked if he was disappointed in his third season during end-of-the-season exit interviews in April. “I think, especially defensively, I took a really big leap. Being able to guard one through five effectively is really hard in this league. There’s not many people that can do it. 

“But obviously offensively, you want to be a little bit better. But there’s not really an excuse or anything. It’s just putting my head down and working harder this summer, just figure out different things.”

Sacramento’s lack of wing depth has taken a toll on Murray. In an ideal world, he said he wouldn’t want to be guarding centers every night, half joking that “it’s not the most fun thing in the world.” But Murray, at 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds, also noted that if he has to do it, he will. 

Murray, taking note of his defensive assignment workload, spent more time in the weight room in Year 3. He also took his recovery more seriously. Aside from the physical aspect of it, he also made it an emphasis to mentally lock in on each player he would be tasked to guard, labeling it as “ a learning curve.”

On the offensive side of the ball, playing without a point guard since Fox’s departure, the Kings were noticeably flawed. Murray, alongside DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, tried their best to figure out a productive offense, but it was a struggle to gel.

Maybe more time together would have helped, but the pieces just didn’t seem to fit together in the same puzzle.

“I think in a way it’s been difficult,” Murray said of adjusting to a new offense with new players. “Just because, especially my first years, we’re just so used to the DHO game, the split action, and just all the guys kind of moving at the same time, and you never know who’s going to get the shot. 

“So yeah, I guess a little bit has been difficult, but at the end of the day, it’s who we have on our roster, and we have to make it work if we want to have success.”

Through the first 32 games of the 2024-25 season, Murray shot just 41.3 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from long range with 11.6 points per game in 35.4 minutes. 

When the calendar year flipped, Murray’s offense became much more efficient, averaging 13 points on 46.7-percent shooting from the field and 38 percent from deep in the remaining 44 games.

“I feel like Keegan came a long way from an aggressive standpoint,” DeRozan said during his exit interview. “I think in the second half of the season, he became more aggressive. We kind of pushed him more. I don’t think he has a ceiling. I think his capability is definitely unlimited.

“I hope I get to spend a lot of time with him this summer, just to really push him to that next level I think he needs. So you can see the Keegan Murray that everybody expects of him come next year. So, I think for me, my main priority is to be able to spend a lot of time with Keegan this summer.”

An offseason with one of the game’s purest scorers certainly could help Murray’s offense. Defending the six-time NBA All-Star all summer also could strengthen him defensively.

“Obviously, since he signed later in the summer, I wasn’t really able to go down with him to LA,” Murray said of DeRozan. “But I’ve already talked to some guys, and we’re going to have a lot of guys down there, just being able to finally, as a team, get together and work out and just try and build chemistry that way. I just think the biggest thing, too, is just having those dinners or doing things outside of basketball, too, and on the court, everything just seems seamless.

“But he’s been in the league for a while, and whatever I can do to learn from him, especially offensively, will just help me with more dimensions in my game.”

Murray is marrying his fiancée, Carly, this summer. He said he’s been a part of the wedding meetings, but is mostly letting Carly take the reins.

Kings coach Doug Christie, who officially got the “interim” label removed from his title, had a perfect way of congratulating Murray on his engagement.

“When I saw the picture, I told him, ‘The fact that you got down on one knee tells me that you can get low on defense,’ so plan on that,” Christie joked with reporters back in February.

The room filled with laughter, but Christie was only half-joking. The new coach will continue to push Murray on both ends of the ball in their first full season together next year.

It will be a summer of change for the soon-to-be 25-year-old, as he embraces what’s to come in Sacramento.

“I’ve had to fill different roles within the team, now that I think about it, every year,” Murray said. “So with me, I think eventually it’ll pay off. I know that eventually good things are going to happen. So I’m not worried about anything.

“I know my time is going to come, and whether it’s next year, or a couple years after, I know eventually it’ll be my time.

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Drop by drop: Carlos Alcaraz leads shift back to the most deft shot in tennis

Roger Federer saw it as a ‘panic shot’ but the drop shot is back in vogue thanks to a greater understanding of its effectiveness

A little more than two years ago, Daniil Medvedev was working his way through the early rounds of the Miami Open when he noticed a distinct shift in his opponents’ tactics. A few days earlier, he had been convincingly beaten in the Indian Wells final by Carlos Alcaraz, who dismantled him with a relentless stream of drop shots. Suddenly, everyone was hitting drop shots against him.

“A lot of guys maybe saw the final, so they started to do only drop shots against me,” says Medvedev, smiling widely. “It’s not the same. It’s like: ‘OK, continue doing it. I’m there.’ Against [Alcaraz], I’m not there.”

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Field Notes: The birth of the playoffs, English football’s biggest weekend

The concept of an end-of-season tournament to determine the final promotions was borne of trial and error

With the Guardian’s unstoppable rise to global dominance** we at Guardian US thought we’d run a series of articles for fans wishing to improve their knowledge of the sport’s history and storylines, hopefully in a way that doesn’t patronise you to within an inch of your life. A warning: If you’re the kind of person that finds The Blizzard too populist this may not be the series for you.

** Actual dominance may not be global. Or dominant

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What are the worst European football finals … based on league position? | The Knowledge

Plus: more strange player-of-the-match awards and shot-shy winners; and did Brian Clough deliberately go down to 10 men?

  • Mail us with your questions and answers

“In terms of aggregate league position, will Tottenham v Manchester United be the worst European final ever?” asks Phil Taylor (and dozens of others).

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, who meet in Bilbao tonight, put all their eggs in the Europa League basket sometime before the clocks went back. They are 17th and 16th in the Premier League respectively, giving them an aggregate position of 33. It is, to take a couple of unashamedly gratuitous examples, equivalent to Oldham Athletic playing Southampton in the Uefa Cup final of 1992, or Sabadell meeting Racing Santander in the same competition in 1987.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts it, Dodgers finish it with walk-off win over Arizona

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers third base Max Muncy (13) points skyward after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly to score Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani giving the Dodger a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th inning at Dodgers Stadium on May 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Max Muncy points skyward after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Tuesday night did not go as the Dodgers drew it up.

But, in the middle of a season-long four-game losing streak, they’ll take a win however they can get it.

Despite getting seven shutout innings from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and being two outs away from a straightforward 1-0 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers took a much more complicated route to an eventual 4-3 walk-off victory in the 10th.

Read more:Reinforcements soon? Injured Dodgers pitchers, including Shohei Ohtani, are finally progressing

Tanner Scott blew his third save in 12 opportunities this year by giving up a home run to Gabriel Moreno with one out in the ninth. The Dodgers’ offense, which had been wasteful with scoring opportunities all night, stranded two more runners in the bottom of the ninth. And in the 10th, Scott returned to the mound and gave up a two-run homer to Corbin Carroll, putting the Dodgers on the doorstep of a five-game losing streak that would have felt even worse.

Instead, the Dodgers rallied in the bottom of the 10th. Tommy Edman led off with an RBI double. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman were both intentionally walked with first base open. Will Smith got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the score. And, finally, Max Muncy walked it off with a sacrifice fly to deep center that easily scored Ohtani from third.

Read more:Why a tight NL West race factored into Dodgers’ decision to cut Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes

Yamamoto’s contributions might have been wasted. The Dodgers’ inconsistencies at the mound and plate remain present. But, a homestand that was barreling toward total disaster might now end on a high note, the Dodgers setting up a series rubber match with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday while maintaining a narrow lead in the National League West at 30-19.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Essendon must stop pining for the past after finding a semblance of stability

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It was all trundling along nicely for Essendon. The club spent the past month gently tempering expectations, reminding everyone that this is a long-term project, that there will be bad losses and barren patches, but to stay the course. On field, they weren’t beating much, but they were winning, they were defending, and they were having a crack. Coach Brad Scott was getting the most out of a limited but willing team.

That all came unglued on Saturday night, when they were trounced by a red-hot Western Bulldogs. Essendon reverted to type and sank back into the pack. Almost immediately, the club was batting away suggestions that Scott’s coaching tenure was under threat, and that Bombers great James Hird was the man to replace him.

This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions

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Yankees’ Will Warren continues to dominate after 10-strikeout performance in win vs. Rangers

A huge development in the 2025 Yankees season so far has been Will Warren.

The young right-hander broke camp with the team largely due to injuries to the likes of Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil. But a couple of months in, and Warren is starting to cement himself as a part of the rotation moving forward, and Tuesday night was the latest example.

Warren pitched 5.2 scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, striking out a career-high 10 batters to help the Yankees win 5-2. 

The Yankees have seen this sort of performance from Warren this season a few times, but the most encouraging part is how consistent he’s been. 

Warren’s last start saw him strike out nine batters against the Mariners, and in the start before that, he struck out seven against the Athletics across a career-high 7.1 innings pitched. 

“Just the next wave of execution,” manager Aaron Boone said of the difference in Warren of late. “Gaining a bit more confidence and knowing his stuff plays. He has different ways to get you out…. He’s putting it together more now. We’ve been seeing this to start the year and parts of last year.”

“[The confidence level] is feeling good,” Warren said of his start. “Just trying to keep it rolling.”

The Yankees skipper said there’s still room for improvement in Warren’s game, even after this dominant stretch. Specifically, he believes Warren can finish off batters better, especially when he’s ahead in the count.

But Boone is happy with how Warren has responded this season. It wasn’t too long ago that Warren had an ERA nearing 6.00 -- after pitching to a 10.32 ERA across six games (five starts) a season ago. But three consecutive dominant starts have lowered his ERA to 4.05, and he's picked up two wins along the way.

When asked if he sees more double-digit strikeout games in Warren's future, the longtime Yankees manager wouldn’t make guarantees, but Tuesday’s performance didn’t take him off guard either.

“I don’t think we’re surprised. His stuff really plays,” he said. “It’s just about that next wave of execution that we’re seeing more and more of…He has the arsenal to do it. Biggest thing is getting outs.”

Warren was asked if there’s a difference between him now and earlier in the season, and the 25-year-old gave a response as confident as the way he pitched on the mound.

"I think I was close this whole time,” he said. “It's just like I talk about, the execution, just sticking with our plan and trusting that I'm here for a reason.”

After Tuesday’s win, Warren now has 60 strikeouts this season, 17 more than any other MLB rookie pitcher. Over his last four starts, Warren has struck out 34 batters across 22.2 innings.

Ben Rice and Aaron Judge, the sluggers whose homers powered the Yankees' win on Tuesday, echoed their manager’s sentiments and knew this was in Warren all along.

"I feel like today and his last few starts, he's just seemed a lot more confident out there, stayed aggressive, and he's just not giving in out there,” Rice said. “It's been fun to watch."

“In spring training, seeing him [I thought], this is going to be something special here when he finally gets the call-up,” Judge said. “And it’s been fun to watch him grow and develop the last couple of seasons, especially this season. Seen him making huge strides over the last couple of starts. He’s going to be a big piece for us down the road, and he’s a big piece for us right now.”

Indeed, Warren has been just that for the Yankees. With Gil still on the IL, and without a fifth starter for the time being, Warren will continue to be asked to help the team win every time he's on the mound. And if the last few weeks are any indication, Warren has the ability to do it.

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Thunder’s defense, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overwhelm Timberwolves in second half to take Game 1 114-88

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder

May 20, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during game one of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

This felt like so many of Oklahoma City's games during the regular season. In particular, the 68 wins.

The Thunder's elite pressure defense forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 31 points. Oklahoma City's defense took away the paint, giving up just 20 points on 43.5% shooting in the key. The Timberwolves tried to shoot over the top of it and that got them an early lead when they shot 8-of-19 to start the game, but the math caught up with them and Minnesota shot 7-of-32 (21.9%) the rest of the way.

Then came the run. Sparked by that defense, the Thunder took the lead with a 10-0 run using their small-ball lineup in the third quarter. That was stretched out to 17-2 with Kenrich Williams hitting some big shots off the bench. By the start of the fourth, Oklahoma City was up by 10, 76-66, and they pulled away late.

Then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, after a rough 2-of-13 first half, found his groove, shot 8-of-14 in the second half, drew fouls, and finished with a game-high 31 points.

The result was a comfortable 114-88 win at home, which has Oklahoma City up 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals. Game 2 is Thursday night in the same building.

This defense is why Oklahoma City is the title favorite, holding Anthony Edwards to zero points in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves team to a 92.6 offensive rating for the game. It's not just that the Thunder have elite defenders like Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, it's their teamwork — they can have two or three players swarming the ball trying to force a turnover, yet still seem not to leave anyone else open. By the end, the swarming defense had the Timberwolves hesitant and second-guessing before making a pass. That defense led to offense.

Also in the second half, the Thunder started to get inside the Timberwolves' stout defense, which led to dunks and open 3-pointers.

It was a rough night for Edwards, who picked up a foolish early technical for tossing the ball at Gilgeous-Alexander.

Later in the first quarter, Edwards went back to the locker room after turning his ankle on a landing. Fortunately, he returned to the floor midway through the second quarter and looked like nothing had happened.

Julius Randle was Minnesota's offense in the first half scoring 20 points and shooting 5-of-6 from 3. Minnesota was an impressive 7-of-17 on above-the-break 3-pointers in the first half, but that dried up after the break. The Timberwolves' defense focused more on Randle, who scored eight points in the second half.

Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren came on in the second half for the Thunder, finishing with 19 and 15 points respectively.

Edwards finished with 18 for Minnesota as only he and Randle scored in double figures.