North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick released a statement on Tuesday regarding his recent interview on CBS's "Sunday Morning." Here's what he said.
What we learned as Warriors blown out by Rockets in Game 5, forcing Game 6
What we learned as Warriors blown out by Rockets in Game 5, forcing Game 6 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
HOUSTON – Exactly two years ago to the date, Steph Curry scored 50 points in Game 7 of the Warriors’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, lifting Golden State to the second round.
Wednesday night in Houston was nothing like that. Instead, it resembled a night to forget on May 11, 2022, when the Warriors were waxed by the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of their second-round series, trailing by 55 points and ultimately losing by 39.
Holding a three-games-to-one series lead, as they did in that Memphis series, the Warriors were mostly dominated by the Rockets, losing 131-116 in Game 5 at the Toyota Center on Wednesday. They were down by as much as 31 points before the bench battled back in the second half.
After leading 8-7 two minutes into the game, the Warriors never led the rest of the way. The Rockets played like a team with their backs against the wall, and the Warriors couldn’t match their energy. Early foul trouble hurt the Warriors mightily, helping put them in a hole far too wide to climb out of.
Steph Curry (13 points) and Jimmy Butler (eight points) combined to score a lowly 21 points. Curry was 4 of 12 from the field and 3 of 9 on threes. Butler went 2 of 10 overall and missed all three of his 3-point attempts. Yet through the first three quarters, Curry still was the Warriors’ leading scorer.
This always felt like a series bound to go at least six games, and now the Warriors will look to close the door Friday night at Chase Center in Game 6.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ Game 5 loss.
Offense Goes Awry
No Batman, no Robin and no Alfred either. It was that kind of night for the Warriors’ offense.
Curry didn’t score his first points until he made a three halfway through the second quarter. Those three points cut the Warriors’ deficit to 23 points, 55-32. Butler’s first points came from a free throw with four and a half minutes left in the first half, making it a 22-point game. He missed his first six shots, finally getting a layup to fall on a three-point play late in the second quarter.
The only Warriors starters to even score in the first quarter were Draymond Green with five points and Brandin Podziemski with three. Buddy Hield remained scoreless on three shot attempts going into halftime.
For the second straight game, the Warriors struggled to find any offensive flow against the Rockets’ two-big lineup when they went to a zone defense. Their lack of players who can dribble through it was clear, as was Butler being hampered by his pelvic injury. It’s a problem the Warriors will have to fix in a hurry.
Flipping The Free-Throw Line
Within the first four-plus minutes of the game, the Warriors already were whistled for five fouls, including two on Curry, putting the Rockets in the bonus and at the free-throw line. Through the first four games, the charity stripe was a nightmare for Houston. Not Wednesday night back on its homecourt, though.
The Warriors found themselves in a 16-point hole after the first quarter, largely because of the difference in fouls and free throws. While the Rockets were only called for three fouls and went a perfect 13 of 13 on free throws in the first quarter, the Warriors were called for nine fouls and didn’t attempt a single free throw. Steve Kerr used eight players in the first quarter, and Podziemski was the only one who didn’t have a foul to his name.
At halftime, with the Warriors down 76-49, the Rockets had twice as many free throw attempts and had scored 10 more points at the line. But Golden State at that point also only had two more fouls than Houston – 14 to 12. The Rockets in the first four games of the series were shooting 63.2 percent (60 of 95) on free throws, and shot 84.2 percent (32 of 38) in Game 5.
Blaming the referees is a waste. The Rockets came out as the more desperate team, and simply made their free throws this time.
Silver Linings
Were there any? Let’s take a look.
As the starting five couldn’t buy a bucket, the Warriors’ bench in the first quarter outscored the Rockets 16-0. Quinten Post came in and immediately made a three. Same with Gui Santos.
Halfway through the third quarter, Kerr waved the white flag for the Warriors, bringing in Pat Spencer, Moses Moody, Kevin Knox, Santos and Post. That certainly isn’t a silver lining, but there quickly were positives to the matter.
Moody wound up as the Warriors’ leading scorer with 25 points off the bench. The Warriors’ reserves absolutely played their tails off, forcing Rockets coach Ime Udoka to bring his starters back in when it was a 17-point game with a little under eight minutes remaining in the game. They showed a resilient amount of effort and fight, literally — as Spencer was ejected for headbutting center Alperen Şengün — finishing with 76 bench points – the Warriors’ most ever in a playoff game since 1970-71.
In that 2022 Game 5 loss to the Grizzlies, Curry played 25 minutes and Green played 23. In Wednesday’s Game 5 blowout loss, Curry only played 23 minutes and Green played 18. Butler’s night was done after 25 minutes.
The Warriors three years ago regrouped, came home and beat the Grizzlies by 14 points. They’ll have to hope that rest for their Big Three is exactly what’s needed for history to repeat itself in a positive way.
Hawks guard Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award
Hawks guard Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels has been voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
The 22-year-old Daniels beat out fellow finalists Cade Cunningham of Detroit and Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Daniels’ first season in Atlanta was nothing like either of his first two NBA seasons with New Orleans. His numbers soared with career-bests in points (14.1, more than double his 5.8 average last season), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.4), steals (a league-leading 3.0) and his field-goal shooting went from 43.5% in his first two seasons to 49.3% this year. The Hawks made him a full-time starter, something Daniels hadn’t been with the Pelicans.
The Most Improved Player award, like several other NBA honors, was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots shortly after the end of the regular season.
The other awards that were part of that voting process and have already had their results unveiled: San Antonio’s Stephon Castle winning Rookie of the Year, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley winning Defensive Player of the Year, New York’s Jalen Brunson winning Clutch Player of the Year, and Boston’s Payton Pritchard winning Sixth Man of the Year.
Other awards announced by the league since the end of the regular season: Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award and Warriors teammate Draymond Green won the Hustle Award.
Awards that will be announced later in the playoffs include MVP (either Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic or Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo), Coach of the Year (either Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson or Houston’s Ime Udoka), plus the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams.
Giants hope key regulars break out in May after sweep at Petco Park
Giants hope key regulars break out in May after sweep at Petco Park originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN DIEGO — The signs are there, particularly with Mike Yastrzemski, who played the two games at Petco Park with stubble on his chin. The next time Yastrzemski and the Giants take the field, it will be Mustache May, and some in the lineup are desperate for the calendar to turn.
April was a good month for the Giants, a surprise contender early on, but it wasn’t kind to everyone.
The Giants essentially have nine regulars in their lineup, and they all have been healthy. But not many of them can say they’re happy about where they’re currently at. Jung Hoo Lee is turning into a star and Yastrzemski has turned back the clock. But as the Giants head home after a two-game sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, they’re the only starters with an OPS over .800
At times, manager Bob Melvin has seen a third or fourth join the party, and that was the case in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss, but too often, the load is not evenly distributed.
Heliot Ramos hit a loud homer Wednesday, but it was his first in 26 games. Three of the other four hits came from Lee and Yastrzemski, who hit his fifth bomb of the season. The Giants can’t match the star power of a Tatis, Machado, Merrill trio, but they anticipated having a strong one-through-nine attack this season. It hasn’t shown up often, though.
Willy Adames looked like his old self in San Diego, but finished April with a .592 OPS. That still puts him well clear of LaMonte Wade Jr. and Patrick Bailey, who are under .500.
“It is what it is. I think the at-bats are better [lately] with some of the guys, certainly LaMonte,” Melvin said. “We have faith that they’re going to get going.”
Wade has been moved down in the order and now is seventh, one spot ahead of Bailey. But on Wednesday it was the heart of the order that faltered. Matt Chapman twice came up as the tying run in the late innings and struck out twice on elevated fastballs. He’s among the league leaders in walks but is 5-for-39 over his past dozen games.
“They were probably both not strikes and [he’s] maybe trying to do a little bit too much,” Melvin said of the strikeouts. “I think both of those were up out of the zone. He’s obviously trying to get something up and drive one, but maybe too far out of the zone.”
For the last three weeks, the key right-handed hitter who had been expanding was Ramos. He said he was over-thinking, but some loud contact Tuesday snapped him back into place.
“It can take one hit, one pitch,” he said. “Even if it’s an out.”
The hope is that others soon experience that, and it’s not like the sweep was entirely or even mostly on the lineup. Logan Webb gave up five runs Tuesday, and Landen Roupp was charged with four earned Wednesday. That meant the Giants were always playing from behind, and while they have plenty of comebacks this season, the sledding was much more difficult against a good Padres pitching staff.
Melvin is hopeful that some regulars break out in May. Perhaps a few mustaches will help, or perhaps they’ll just find a fix during BP one day and take off from there. It’ll need to happen, because there’s no margin for error in this division.
The Giants were in first place when they flew to San Diego. After 18 disappointing innings, they dropped to third.
“It was basically kind of the same game, where we didn’t do enough early in the game to put some pressure on their starter and [the Padres] did,” Melvin said. “We had to do our work against their relievers — which we did, we had the tying run up a couple times late in the game. It’s tough to do it off those guys but it’s early in the game that we didn’t put enough pressure, and we gave up too many runs in the first half of the game, as well.”
Warriors guard Pat Spencer ejected for headbutting Alperen Sengun in Game 5 loss
Warriors guard Pat Spencer ejected for headbutting Alperen Sengun in Game 5 loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Houston Rockets were cruising to an easy 131-116 Game 5 win over the Warriors at Toyota Center when all hell broke loose.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Dillon Brooks was fouled by Moses Moody on a defensive rebound. As Pat Spencer walked away, he was bumped by Alperen Şengün.
Before Trayce Jackson-Davis could shove Şengün away, Spencer levied a headbutt on the Rockets’ NBA All-Star.
The referees reviewed the play and assessed offsetting technical fouls to Jackson-Davis and Şengün.
Spencer received a technical foul and was ejected for an “illegal headbutt” on Şengün.
The Rockets had built a massive lead and coach Steve Kerr pulled his starters midway through the third quarter. The Warriors’ reserves, led by Spencer, made the score closer than the game indicated.
The Warriors and Rockets aren’t done battling, though, as they will travel back to the Bay Area for Game 6 on Friday night at Chase Center.
Expect tensions to remain high until this first-round NBA playoff series is over.
Former Oilers Forward Sticks Around New Team
EDMONTON – When there is a fit, you stick with it.
The Edmonton Oilers know that feeling.
The team has certainly felt like the match of Mattias Ekholm and the organization is the work of divine intervention. However, they aren’t the only team that feels similarly about a new addition to the roster.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Mikko Rantanen didn’t stick around, but the other major player who came over to the Carolina Hurricanes in the blockbuster deal with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks looks to have found a place to roost.
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Earlier Wednesday morning, Taylor Hall signed a three-year extension with the Hurricanes. The team was fresh off a series-winning game against the New Jersey Devils. They eliminated their opponents in five games.
Hall has been rock solid this playoff, recording three points in five games. His one goal kickstarted the Hurricanes offense on Tuesday night. They were down 2-0 going into the second period, but Hall’s goal brought them to life.
The #Canes have signed forward Taylor Hall to a three-year contract extension ✍️
— x - Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 30, 2025
Details » https://t.co/TOm9Vn8ruHpic.twitter.com/NjdBnk0yGj
He is currently in the final year of a four-year contract paying him $6 million. Hall and the Hurricanes agreed to a contract paying him $3.116 million.
In 31 regular season games, Hall recorded 18 points while playing 15:27 a game. The Hurricanes will play against the winner of the Montreal Canadiens-Washington Capitals series.
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'We Can Have That Mentality More': Maple Leafs Want To Instill Fourth Line's Forechecking On Rest Of Group Ahead Of Game 6 Against Senators
Scott Laughton hopes his line, alongside Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz, can find a goal sooner rather than later.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' fourth line has been a mainstay for head coach Craig Berube throughout their series against the Ottawa Senators. They've been Toronto's most consistent forechecking line, outchancing and outworking their opposition on a nightly basis.
Berube started the trio, whose minutes suggest they're more of a third line than fourth, in the first and third periods of Toronto's 4-0 loss to Ottawa in Game 5, which he's done with past groups.
In 2019, Berube started his fourth line in three of the seven games during the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. For this Maple Leafs team, though, their fourth line has helped set the tone for the game. They'll need that again entering Game 6.
"I think we can have that mentality more as a team for sure," Berube said Wednesday before heading to Ottawa.
'All I Hear Around Here Is Core, Core Core': Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Wants Whole-Team Contribution Ahead of Game 6 Against SenatorsThe Toronto Maple Leafs core players may be feeling a bit of pressure after the Ottawa Senators kept the entire club off the scoresheet in a 4-0 win in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series.
The Lorentz, Laughton, and Jarnkrok line has combined for 36 hits in this series, the most of Toronto's four lines, and that's why they've had so much success against the Senators.
"You have to have that work mentality and that checking mentality," added Berube. "Checking’s not just playing defense. Checking is offense. You check for your chances. You get on the inside. You work and hound.
"It creates turnovers from the other team. It creates chaos for the other team. We can do a better job of that as a team."
‘We’ve Got To Be More Direct’: Maple Leafs’ Power Play Stalls, Surrender Another Short-Handed Goal As Special Teams Struggle In Game 5 LossThe Toronto Maple Leafs’ special teams were a struggle in their Game 5 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
One area that hasn't come from the fourth line, however, is goals. Laughton and Jarnkrok were a part of Toronto's first tally of the series from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, but have since gone cold.
It's not from a lack of trying, that's for certain.
The line understands they haven't produced offensively and are hoping that with how they're playing, a bounce will eventually go their way.
Why The Maple Leafs' Confidence In Anthony Stolarz Hasn't Faltered After Back-To-Back Losses To SenatorsAs Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot fired a shot from the point in the second period of Game 5, Anthony Stolarz did his best to track the puck. But he couldn't see anything until it was too late.
"I think we can provide a little bit more offense for us, but at the same time, still do our job and make it hard for them," Laughton said, as he revered his linemates.
"I thought both those guys were really good last night. Just trying to help them out where I can and be good on the forecheck and create some momentum for our team to the shifts we get."
Laughton had 24 playoff games under his belt before arriving in Toronto in March. He enjoys this time of year. The 30-year-old didn't have to say it, given that you can see it through his play in this series.
It only gets tougher from here on out, though. The Senators have played well throughout the last two games of the series, which they've won to force a Game 6 back in the Nation's capital.
‘No One Expected It To Be Easy’: Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs Focused On Regrouping After Back-To-Back Missed Opportunities To Close Out SenatorsWith the Battle of Ontario tightening up, Morgan Rielly and the Toronto Maple Leafs are doing their best to remain composed following consecutive missed opportunities to eliminate the Ottawa Senators in their first-round playoff series.
Aside from eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023, the Maple Leafs haven't capitalized on ending their opponents' season. However, with another elimination game on Thursday, will it be different?
Laughton says, "Embrace [the pressure]," so we'll see.
"It’s the best time of year, up 3-2 in the series in a good spot here. Going on the road, these guys have been good on the road all year and ever since I came here," he added.
"Every bounce counts. Every inch on the ice. We’re going to have to fight for it, we know it. But it’s going to be a lot of fun and I think we’re all excited for it."
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Should The NHL Allow Video Review For Uncalled Headshots During A Game?
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended for elbowing Brandon Hagel in the head, but he wasn't penalized when he did it.
Now, Hagelwon't play for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the Battle of Florida, while Ekblad scored the tying goal in Game 4's comeback win for the Panthers.
There were only four people in the world who had the power to do anything about it during the game. And in the NHL, infractions that are called can be reviewed but not ones that aren't.
That should change. We're not lobbying for a review of every infraction, but if the NHL wants to further prevent and punish head contact, it has to get this right. Whether that's having an eye-in-the-sky official who has the power to call headshots or giving the control room in Toronto the power to intervene and have the officials review them, something has to be done.
Today's video column has more.
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Jannik Sinner considered quitting tennis during fallout from doping case
- World No 1 is set for Rome return after three-month ban
- ‘For a moment, I thought about giving up everything’
Jannik Sinner had admitted he considered giving up on tennis earlier this year in the aftermath of his anti-doping case as he struggled to handle the criticism and doubts from his colleagues on the ATP tour.
“When I arrived in Australia in January I was uncomfortable, also because it seemed to me that the other players looked at me differently. For a moment, I even thought about giving up everything,” Sinner told the Italian TV station RA.
Continue reading...Cubs-Pirates game delayed after fan falls onto field from bleachers
Cubs-Pirates game delayed after fan falls onto field from bleachers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates was temporarily halted after a fan fell 21 feet to the field from the bleachers.
In the moments after Andrew McCutchen put the Pirates ahead on an RBI double in the seventh inning, play was halted and trainers from both teams rushed onto the field after a fan fell from the top of the wall and landed on the warning track of the stadium.
The incident occurred in the right field bleachers at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, with those seats perched on a 21-foot-high wall over the playing surface.
Video of the horrifying fall quickly began circulating on social media, with the broadcasts for the game declining to show the medical response to the incident.
After a short time, the fan was immobilized on a bodyboard and was carted off the field, and players from both teams knelt in stunned silence.
The Pirates released a statement after the incident:
“Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
A statement from Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed the city’s Violent Crimes Unit was investigating the incident, adding that the man was hospitalized in critical condition.
Pittsburgh Police VCU detectives are investigating after a male fell ~20 feet from the bleachers at PNC Park onto the field of play during the @Pirates game.
Pittsburgh EMS field medics treated him on scene until he could be transported to the hospital in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/fjDHHrfTHy
— Pittsburgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) May 1, 2025
Play was ultimately resumed, with the Pirates holding on for a 4-3 victory.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he and the team are thinking about the man’s family, calling the incident “obviously scary.” He was seen on the broadcast pointing out the man to umpires, who immediately halted the game, but Counsell told media he did not see the fan fall.
“We didn’t know what we saw,” he said after the game. “All we saw was somebody laying on the warning track, and you know that’s not good. I hope the gentleman’s OK. Thinking about his family and him right now.”
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson reacted to the incident after the game.
“I didn’t see anything happen, but I saw (Counsell’s) face when he came out on the field, and I could tell that it was a very scary moment,” Swanson said. “All we could do was just pray for a good, strong recovery for him and his family. I have never been part of something like that before and I hope I am never part of something like that again.
“It’s a humble reminder of the gratitude we should all have to play this game. Folks obviously come out to support us, and they are a big reason why we are able to do what we do. It’s obviously tough. At a time like that, you want (the fans) to know you love them.”
We will update this story with details as they become available.
Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. to make long-awaited return to the mound
HOUSTON — Lance McCullers Jr is to start for the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox in his first major league appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series in Philadelphia.
“I’m really excited to have him on the mound on Sunday,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point, and this whole entire team and this city should be excited to get Lance back.”
An All-Star in 2018, McCullers had surgery on June 13, 2023, to repair his right flexor tendon and to remove a bone spur. The 31-year-old right-hander threw a bullpen session last June but had a setback and was shut down for the year. He has made four minor league rehab starts this year, allowing four runs and 10 hits over 12 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and six walks.
In his last appearance, he struck out seven in five shutout innings for Double-A Corpus Christi.
“My last two outings I’ve felt really good, my stuff has been pretty crisp,” McCullers said.
He is 49-32 with a 3.48 ERA in seven seasons, all with Houston. McCullers first injured his flexor tendon while pitching on short rest during the 2021 AL Division Series. He missed the first four months of the 2022 season.
“Been waiting for it for a long time,” McCullers said. “Almost feel like I’m making my debut in some aspects, but it’s been a really long road for me.”
McCullers has missed three full seasons since making his major league debut in 2015.
“It would’ve been a pretty sad ending to my story,” McCullers said.
Toronto Raptors 2024-25 fantasy basketball season recap: Injuries limit Raptors stars
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.
Next up in the series are the Toronto Raptors. With this being the first full season of the "Scottie Barnes era," few expected Darko Rajakovic's team to be in the conversation for a postseason berth. Unfortunately, injuries once again were a factor in the team's lack of success, with Barnes and Jamal Shead being the only players to make at least 65 appearances. A significant move was made at the trade deadline, with the Raptors acquiring Brandon Ingram and signing him to a three-year contract.
Toronto Raptors 2024-2025 Season Recap
Record: 30-52 (11th, East)
Offensive Rating: 109.6 (26th)
Defensive Rating: 113.6 (15th)
Net Rating: -4.1 (24th)
Pace: 100.62 (9th)
2025 NBA Draft Picks: 7.5 percent chance of winning draft lottery, 39
After winning 25 games in the first season of Darko Rajakovic's tenure as head coach, the Raptors improved their win total by five games in 2024-25. However, the team was no closer to securing a spot in the postseason. Among the six players who made at least 30 starts, only Barnes and Ochai Agbaji did not miss at least 20 games. The injuries caused instability within the Raptors' rotation, which did the team no favors in terms of winning games.
Toronto lost 12 of its first 14 games and went 2-11 in December. When the calendar flipped to 2025, only Washington and Charlotte would have fewer wins among Eastern Conference teams. A significant change would be made at the February trade deadline, with the Raptors acquiring Brandon Ingram from the Pelicans in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and a trade exception. Despite being sidelined by a left ankle injury, Ingram would be signed to a three-year extension by the Raptors less than a week after being acquired from New Orleans.
With the addition of Ingram, he, Barnes and Immanuel Quickley will be the key building blocks for the Raptors moving forward. However, the change raises questions regarding RJ Barrett's future in Toronto, as he has two seasons remaining on his current contract. Can the three wings (Barrett, Barnes and Ingram) coexist as starters? And if not, would the Raptors consider trading Barrett or use him as a sixth man? Toronto has some significant questions to answer this offseason.
Fantasy Standout: Scottie Barnes
While Barnes' per-game and total fantasy value did not match his Yahoo! ADP, he was a top-50 player in eight-cat formats. Making 65 appearances, the Raptors wing averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in 32.8 minutes, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the foul line. Barnes' averages were down slightly compared to the 2023-24 campaign, when he earned his first All-Star selection. But he played 65 games, with the lone extended absence occurring due to an inadvertent Nikola Jokic elbow to the face that left Barnes with a fractured orbital bone.
Barnes would miss three weeks of action, returning on November 21. He only missed six games the rest of the season. While there were frustrating moments for fantasy managers regarding Barnes' playing time, he was generally on the court long enough to provide solid value during the fantasy playoffs. Will Barnes' ADP next fall match his number from this season (19)? Probably not, but he's a player who will likely come off the board in the third round of many standard league drafts. While there are questions about Toronto's wing rotation, Barnes will be a prominent figure in the team's lineup.
Career-high 35 PTS for Scottie Barnes along with 6 REB and 9 AST for his third highest FPTs total this season ➡ 54.7 pic.twitter.com/KUfHJhc1qO
— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) December 4, 2024
Fantasy Revelation: Jakob Poeltl
A veteran center who has provided reliable middle-round value in recent seasons, Poeltl was even better in 2024-25. After four consecutive top-100 seasons, the 7-footer was a top-50 player in nine-cat formats this season. Making 57 appearances, Poeltl averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes, shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 67.4 percent from the foul line. The improved foul shooting had a significant impact on his fantasy value, as Poeltl is a career 55.1 percent shooter.
This was his first season making at least 60 percent of his attempts, and he also averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Availability is a question for Poeltl, having failed to crack 60 games in either of the last two seasons. Add in the spike in free-throw percentage, and it's fair to question whether or not he can sustain those numbers in 2025-26, especially on a roster that will have another perimeter scorer in Brandon Ingram. However, there's no denying the strides made by Poeltl in 2024-25, leading to him offering greater value than most fantasy managers expected (Yahoo! ADP: 93).
Fantasy Disappointment: Brandon Ingram
Most of the players on Toronto's season-ending roster played to expectation regarding their ADPs, and even those who did not weren't far off the mark. Ingram's issue, as has been the case for most of his career, was availability. Boasting a Yahoo! ADP of 67, he was limited to 18 games by an ankle injury suffered in early December. The slender forward would not play again during the 2024-25 campaign, but the injury did not dissuade the Raptors from acquiring Ingram from the Pelicans at the February trade deadline.
Toronto did sign Ingram to a three-year extension shortly after the trade, so his immediate future is secure. But the unknown has to be considered, even for a player who's averaged at least 20 points in six consecutive seasons. How will he fit alongside Barnes and Quickley? How does Ingram's arrival impact RJ Barrett? Also, can Ingram play at least 65 games in a season for the first time since his rookie campaign (2016-17)? While being a middle-round pick does not mean managers who drafted Ingram lost value on par with those who drafted a Joel Embiid, that's still a significant price to pay. Don't be surprised if many managers either push Ingram down their boards or refuse to draft him at all next fall.
Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads
Immanuel Quickley:
After making at least 64 appearances in each of his first four NBA seasons, Quickley's availability was a problem in 2024-25. He suffered a pelvic injury during the season opener on October 23 and a partially torn UCL in his elbow in mid-November, playing a total of three games before the end of December. There would be another extended absence in mid-January, with Quickley missing eight games with a sprained groin. IQ would play in 24 of Toronto's last 35 games, but, like other established rotation players, his minutes would fluctuate down the stretch.
Quickley finished the season with averages of 17.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.6 three-pointers in 27.8 minutes, shooting 42 percent from the field and 86.7 percent from the foul line. He finished the season ranked just outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats, failing to match his Yahoo! ADP. While that was disappointing, Quickley finished with career-high averages in points, assists and three-pointers. Fantasy managers are unlikely to consider using a top-50 pick on Quickley, given how this season went, but he'll be worth a top-100 selection in most leagues.
RJ Barrett:
Barrett was never much of a fantasy asset while a member of the New York Knicks, but there was hope that the move to Toronto would raise his value. The averages did increase in his first full season with the franchise, averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in 32.2 minutes. Shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 63.0 percent from the foul line, Barrett was a 12th-round player in eight-cat formats. The nine-cat value suffered due to an average of 2.8 turnovers per game, while the points league value was hindered by Barrett playing only 58 games.
Most concerning for Barrett heading into the 2025-26 season was the Raptors' decision to acquire Ingram at the trade deadline in February. Can he, Ingram, and Scottie Barnes start alongside each other? Doing so would require significant improvement from at least one of those three as a perimeter shooter; Ingram is the best of the bunch, as he's made 36.3 percent of his three-point attempts as a pro. If they can't coexist, what happens with RJ, given the money committed to Barnes and Ingram? Barrett's status in Toronto may not be one of the league's major storylines this summer, but it is something to keep an eye on.
Gradey Dick:
After making 17 starts in 60 appearances as a rookie, Dick moved into the starting lineup for the 2024-25 campaign. He started all 54 games he played, averaging 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers in 29.4 minutes, shooting 41 percent from the field and 85.8 percent from the foul line. Due to the lackuster field-goal percentage and production outside of points and three-pointers, Dick finished the season ranked outside the top-175 in eight- and nine-cat formats.
Gradey Dick showing some more fantasy consistency as of late
— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) February 12, 2025
31.8 FPTs last night ➡️ 17 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL
22.6 FPPG over his last 6 games
69% available @YahooFantasypic.twitter.com/lnZfIjeqeR
However, before his season ended in early March due to a hyperextended right knee and bone bruises, the second-year wing had three 30-point games and another seven with at least 20. All three 30-point performances occurred within the season's first month, including a 31-point effort in a November 1 loss to the Lakers. Based on the numbers, Gradey appears likely to be a fantasy specialist until he can boost the production outside of points and three-pointers. But that may not be easy to do next season due to Ingram's addition. There's a high likelihood that Dick will be used in a reserve role, which limits his fantasy ceiling.
Ochai Agbaji:
The 2024-25 season was the most productive of Agbaji's three-year NBA career. Starting 45 of the 64 games he appeared in, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 27.2 minutes. Shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 70.8 percent from the foul line, Agbaji finished with career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers, shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc. He scored in double figures in four straight and five of his last six appearances, including a 24-point effort in an April 11 loss to the Mavericks.
Agbaji finished the season just outside the top-150 in nine-cat formats, and outside the top-175 in eight-cat formats. He wasn't a player to target in drafts before the season began, but injuries to other Raptors gave him value as a streamer throughout the year. That will likely be the case for Agbaji in 2025-26 as well, especially with the addition of Brandon Ingram. Given the injury history of multiple Raptors ahead of him in the pecking order, there's likely to be times when Agbaji is recommended as a "waiver wire" add.
Chris Boucher:
While he had his moments during his time with the Raptors, Boucher struggled to regain his footing over the last two seasons. Once again limited to 50 appearances off the bench, the slender forward averaged 10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 three-pointers in 17.2 minutes. Boucher shot 49.2 percent from the field and 78.2 percent from the foul line, but he offered little as a defender. Adding the Raptors' desire to work in some of the team's younger players, most notably Jonathan Mogbo, left little room for Boucher within the rotation as the season progressed.
His last action would come on February 26, when Boucher played 19 minutes in a loss to the Pacers. For a player entering free agency this summer, effectively being put on ice had to be frustrating. Boucher was not a player many fantasy managers selected in the fall, but he is someone who could have had some value during the "silly season" had he been allowed to play. Boucher is unlikely to be a player worth targeting in fantasy drafts next fall, regardless of where he lands in free agency.
Ja'Kobe Walter:
Walter was Toronto's first-round pick last summer, with the Raptors selecting the former Baylor standout with the 19th overall pick. Unfortunately, he sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on two separate occasions, once during the offseason and again in early November. Walter would only appear in six games before the end of November. There was another extended absence in March, as he missed seven games with a right hip flexor strain and a right quad strain.
In total, Walter would play 52 games, finishing with averages of 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 21.2 minutes. Shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 79.5 percent from the foul line, the rookie guard was barely a top-300 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Walter is another player whose fantasy prospects for 2025-26 have been impacted by the addition of Ingram, as it creates a bit of a logjam on the wings. While there may be moments when Walter is worth streaming, he is not someone who needs to be selected in most redraft leagues.
Jonathan Mogbo:
The 31st overall pick in last summer's NBA Draft, Mogbo played in 63 games as a rookie, seeing time at the power forward and center positions. An occasional fill-in for Jakob Poeltl when the Raptors were without their starting center, Mogbo averaged 6.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 20.4 minutes. The rookie shot 43.8 percent from the field and 73.2 percent from the free throw line, finishing the season ranked outside the top-250 in eight- and nine-cat formats. In addition to 13 games in which he scored in double figures, Mogbo recorded three double-doubles and one triple-double in his debut campaign.
The question for the Raptors is whether they view Mogbo as a power forward only moving forward, or someone who can be used at the four and the five positions. Based on his role as a rookie, the latter appears to be the kind of player the franchise wants Mogbo to be. His fantasy value will be limited next season with everyone healthy, but there will be times when Mogbo is worth streaming.
Jamal Shead:
Shead was Toronto's other second-round pick last summer after a storied career at the University of Houston. The point guard played in 75 games, making 11 starts, and averaged 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in 19.6 minutes. Slotting in primarily as Immanuel Quickley's backup, Shead did start four of his last five appearances of the 2024-25 season. Among the highlights were the double-double he recorded in a December 22 loss to the Rockets and the career-high 12 assists Shead recorded in an April 6 win over the Nets.
While there were those willing to stream Shead for his assists during the "silly season," the year-long value was not sufficient to get him on the radar before that point. With Quickley locked into the starting point guard role for the foreseeable future, there isn't much to gain from selecting Shead in drafts ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Restricted Free Agents: None
Unrestricted Free Agents: Chris Boucher, Garrett Temple
Antetokounmpo, Bucks brass to sit down discuss future of team. Is it time he asks for a trade?
"I'm not going to do this... I know how it's going to translate," Giannis Antetokounmpo said when asked about his future with the franchise after the Bucks’ first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Pacers.
Antetokounmpo may not want to discuss it, but in league circles it is all anyone else wants to talk about: Will Giannis Antetokounmpo ask for a trade, or return to the Bucks next season? Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee's just-extended GM Jon Horst, as well as other organizational decision-makers, soon will sit down and discuss the future, reports Shams Charania at ESPN. This is an annual meeting, but this year's takes on added weight after the Bucks were bounced from the playoffs in the first round for the third straight season.
There's a lot to pack here, let's break it all down.
Antetokounmpo’s Decision
• The Milwaukee Bucks are not going to trade Antetokounmpo unless he asks for a trade (even if it's a savvy basketball decision). He is worth too much to the franchise financially to do so — he is the reason people buy season seats, and sponsors want to be associated with the team. They don't build the relatively new Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee without him on the roster. Who knows how long it will be before the Bucks can land another Hall of Famer and MVP player once he leaves, so the organization isn't about to push him out the door.
• Antetokounmpo has not asked for a trade. If anything, the vibe has been the opposite of that this past season. Every report out of Milwaukee this year talks about how he has been happy with the organization and their willingness to do what it takes to compete, including trading for Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo thought he and Lillard made progress this season.
• With his torn Achilles suffered in the playoffs, Lillard will be out for most, if not all, of next season.
• The Bucks do not have a clear path to retooling this roster around Antetokounmpo. In an effort to contend now, the team has given up long-term assets for short-term gains, so it does not control its own first-round draft pick until next decade and is already well into the second luxury tax apron for next season, limiting team building. Two of its top rotation players, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, are free agents this summer and will be expensive to retain. How much can trading Pat Connaughton ($9.5 million contract next season) and a 2031 first-round pick really get this team?
• The Bucks we saw this season and playoffs are pretty much the Bucks we will see for the next few years — Antetokounmpo was the third-best player in the league, had an MVP-conversation level season, and this team was the No. 5 seed and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
• Antetokounmpo must decide what matters most to him: Being a one-team player his entire career, being loyal to the Bucks and living with that outcome, or contending for another ring? If another title is what matters most to him and his legacy, he has to ask for a trade.
Potential Antetokounmpo landing spots
• Other teams around the league have been keeping an eye on the Antetokounmpo situation for a couple of years, and think that watched pot may finally boil over.
• What teams are interested in an Antetokounmpo trade? All 29 of them. It's malpractice not to at least call and kick the tires on a deal — MVP-level players in their prime don't become available for trades often. However, only a handful of teams make real sense.
• Houston is the most obvious, because these playoffs have shown its need for an elite bucket getter, and the Rockets have a lot of young players and picks to build that trade around. How aggressively the Rockets might pursue Antetokounmpo is the question — Houston likes its young core and isn't looking to blow it up.
Amen Thompson is reportedly off the table, but there has been some buzz that the Rockets would be open to trading Alperen Sengun in the right deal. Houston can throw multiple first-round draft picks — a 2025 lottery pick from the Suns, unprotected Phoenix firsts in 2027 and 2029, plus some of the Rockets' own picks — as well as other players such as Jalen Green or Reed Sheppard in the mix.
• Brooklyn has said its “plan A” is to chase and land Antetokounmpo, giving them the biggest hoops star in New York. They have draft picks and the cap space to take on some contracts that the Bucks will want to dump if they are rebuilding, so this could be the best offer Milwaukee sees.
• Miami will be in the discussion, but lacks the draft picks to really get in the game at the highest levels. How much does a Tyler Herro/Jaime Jaquez Jr./Duncan Robinson return thrill the Bucks anyway?
• San Antonio would be interesting — a Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Antetokounmpo big three would win a lot of games — and they have the draft picks to entice the Bucks. An offer centered around Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and two lottery picks this year (the Spurs and Hawks) would have to make the Bucks at least think about it.
• Oklahoma City has the players and draft picks to not only get in this race but win it, but don't expect them to break up a young core they are already contending with.
• There will be a lot of noise about the Knicks, who could offer something along the lines of Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and first-round picks in 2026 and 2030, but that bid would fall short.
• The NBA is poised for this to be the Summer of Antetokounmpo, but it's going to be his decision. Does he want to stay loyal and in Milwaukee, or chase a ring elsewhere?
Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Marlins are a defensive disaster, Pete Crow-Armstrong is on fire
As stolen bases continue to rise league wide, I will be here every Wednesday to help you track important stolen base trends so you can find more speed for your fantasy teams.
Stealing a base is as much about the opposing pitcher and catcher as it is the actual base runner themself. So, being able to spot which teams and pitchers specifically are being run on most frequently will help you to figure out who can swipe some bags over the next week.
Last week, I highlighted Jeffrey Springs and Edward Cabrera as pitchers who’ve struggled to hold runners on and five total bases were stolen in their starts last week.
A couple of overlooked prospects are proving their worth in fantasy leagues.
Before we get to this week’s important trends, here is the stolen base leaderboard over the past seven days.
For someone barely reaching base, Luis Robert Jr., has been stealing plenty of bases and it’s saving his fantasy value at the moment.
Otherwise, Pete Crow-Armstrong is doing whatever he wants and looks like a rising star. Also, it’s encouraging to see Zach Neto be so aggressive after returning from his shoulder injury.
Now, here is the overall stolen base leaderboard on the season.
Oneil Cruz becoming an elite base stealer is the biggest story of the fantasy season so far. Also, Kyle Tucker seems to be following the trend of stealing more bases during a contract year.
Next, here are some players with one of fewer stolen bases that we’d hoped would be more aggressive.
Now, let’s go over the most important stolen base trends over the past week.
Fantasy Baseball Stolen Base Targets
A continuation of a season-long trend to this point, the Miami Marlins remain the best team to target when streaming stolen bases. Their 53 steals allowed is 17 more than the next closest team.
For context, that’s the same difference between the Braves, who’ve allowed the second-most steals, and the Twins, who’ve allowed the 21st-most. Teams are running successfully on the Marlins at a borderline laughable pace.
Somehow, this trend has become more extreme over the past week with the promotion of Augustín Ramírez. While he’s been a revelation on offense, other teams are clearly targeting him when he’s behind the plate.
In just five starts at catcher so far, there’ve been 13 stolen base attempts against him and he hasn’t caught a single would-be base stealer yet. He’s been splitting time back there with Liam Hendricks, who himself has only thrown out only two of 20 base stealers this season.
Of course, stolen bases can often be traced back to pitchers as much or more so than catchers and the Marlins’ have some easy culprits there too.
Amidst the rest of his struggles, Sandy Alcantara has allowed the most stolen bases of any pitcher in the league this season with 11. The Dodgers stole five against him and Ramírez on Tuesday in fewer than three innings.
Additionally, Edward Cabrera has allowed the second-most stolen bases this season with 10 despite only making four starts so far. The Dodgers stole three more bags off him on Monday in just three innings of work and he’s ranked dead-last in Baseball Savant’s Net Bases Prevented.
The Braves are not off the hook here either. I mentioned them as a target a few weeks ago with rookie catcher Drake Baldwin’s defensive struggles. They have not gotten better as he’s allowed 16 stolen bases in 11 starts and only caught one would-be base stealer.
I thought their situation would improve with Sean Murphy’s return. However teams have attempted 20 stolen bases in just 14 starts behind the plate and he’s caught four runners.
A few of their pitchers like Chris Sale, Pierce Johnson, and Dylan Lee have struggled to hold runners on, but not to the degree of Cabrera nor Alcantara.
Regardless, these are the two best two teams to stream stolen bases against right now.
Cubs Running Wild
The Cubs just had an active and impressive past week on the base paths.
First, they stole nine bags over two games against the Dodgers. Will Smith has a great defensive reputation and as a team, the Dodgers were one of the best teams at throwing out runners last season.
Next, Chicago swiped four more bases in a single game against the Phillies started by Taijuan Walker with J.T. Realmuto behind the plate.
Walker is known for his incredible pick-off move and is one of nine pitchers who have successfully picked off multiple base runners this season. Plus, Realmuto is still a stud behind the plate. Neither are easy to run against, but the Cubs did so with ease.
Besides the aforementioned Crow-Armstrong, Jon Berti has taken over the Cubs’ third base job since Matt Shaw’s demotion and has stolen seven bases this season. Dansby Swanson and Tucker have been pushing the envelope as well.
No-Run Zone
The Mets and Brewers are the only teams who have caught at least 45% of would-be base stealers this season.
I talked about Luis Torrens’ prowess a few weeks ago and the Mets incredible turnaround against the running game over the past year. Overall, they’ve caught nine of 19 base-stealers so far.
As far as the Brewers go, William Contreras’ development as a defensive star isn't talked about enough.
He was considered more of a designated hitter than could also catch a few years ago when Milwaukee acquired him from the Braves. Now, he’s one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. He’s already thrown out nine base stealers – most in the league – and has become an adept pitch framer.
Avoid streaming stolen bases against these two teams.
Former Wisconsin forward Serah Williams transferring to UConn
Serah Williams transferring to UConn.