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Pete Rose reinstated by MLB and is eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame

Pete Rose reinstated by MLB and is eligible for Baseball Hall of Fame originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Pete Rose has officially been taken off MLB’s permanently ineligible list, the league announced Tuesday. Baseball’s all-time hits leader was banned in 1989 after an investigation revealed that the longtime Cincinnati Reds star had placed bets while playing for and managing the team.

The decision makes Rose, who died at 83 last September, eligible to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement that permanent ineligibility “ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual.”

“To establish clarity for the administration of the Major League Rules, the decision in this matter shall apply to individuals in the past or future who are posthumously on the permanently ineligible list,” the league said.

There are 17 deceased individuals impacted by the announcement. Eight of those were part of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.

In April, Manfred said he had met with President Donald Trump to discuss topics including how immigration policies could affect international players. Rose also was a point of discussion.

“I met with President Trump two weeks ago … and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I’m not going beyond that,” Manfred said at the time. “He’s said what he said publicly. I’m not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was.”

Trump said on Truth Social in March that he planned on “signing a complete pardon of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on his team winning.

“He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history.”

After denying he bet on baseball for more than a decade, Rose finally admitted it in an interview with ABC in 2007. 

“I bet on baseball in 1987 and 1988,” he said. “That was my mistake, not coming clean a lot earlier.”

In his 2004 book “My Prison Without Bars,” Rose added that he bet on his own team. 

“My actions, which I thought were benign, call the integrity of the game into question,’’ Rose said. “And there’s no excuse for that, but there’s also no reason to punish me forever.’’

Rose played from 1963 to 1986 primarily with the Reds but also the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos. A 17-time MLB All-Star and three-time World Series champion, he has the most hits (4,256), most games (3,562) and most at-bats (14,053) in league history.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

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'He Just Loves The Pressure': Evander Kane Showed The Oilers Exactly What To Do Against Vegas

Evander Kane (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

Edmonton Oilers left winger Evander Kane should give a tutorial on irritating the Vegas Golden Knights.

Facing a team based in a city that’s all about extravagance and swagger, Vegas certainly met its match in the Oilers' Kane on and off the ice.

“Evander, I saw you rolled up in Vegas in a Rolls-Royce – you scored a goal,” longtime NHL veteran Pat Maroon told Kane on NHL on TNT after Game 4 against Vegas Monday night. “And I saw you roll up in a Rolls-Royce tonight. Is that something you thought about going into Game 4? You superstitious?”

Kane responded: “I rolled up in a Ferrari for Game 3, and that didn’t work, so I said I wanted to go back to the Rolls.”

Kane’s impact came in multiple ways in Edmonton’s 3-0 win over the Golden Knights to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Not only did he throw hits all night long, but he drove the net and crashed into Adin Hill after Adam Henrique’s second goal of the game, which sparked a mini-melee. But Kane wasn’t done there.

Kane beat Hill with a wrist shot in the second period that sealed the victory, bringing Kane up to five points in eight playoff games since his return to the lineup. Vegas only held him off the scoresheet in Game 3.

“He loves the big pressure games – when there’s a lot on the line, he just loves the pressure and level of play, and just the amount of physical play and scoring a big goal for us, crashing the net, winning puck battles, he’s contributing a lot to our team,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said post-game.

Kane’s been an important part of the Oilers’ offense from players not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Kane’s 27 individual scoring chances in all situations are the fourth-most on the team, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Not bad from a player who missed the entire regular season due to injury.

Avry Lewis-McDougall goes in deeper on Evander Kane’s impact in Game 4's win and his “muscle car” play this post-season for the Oilers in his latest video column.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Rangers closer Luke Jackson takes comebacker off pitching hand on his only pitch against Rockies

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas closer Luke Jackson took a 111-mph comeback liner off his pitching hand on the only pitch he threw after coming on in the ninth inning of the Rangers’ 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said X-rays were negative, but that the right hand “swelled up pretty good.” He said a stint on the injured list was certainly a possibility.

Ryan McMahon was leading off the ninth when he hit the ball right back at Jackson. The ball struck the pitcher’s hand and popped up in the air before falling to the ground on what became an infield single.

Jackson left the game almost immediately after Bochy and athletic trainer Matt Lucero came out of the dugout to check on the pitcher.

“We’ll see how he responds. But that thing blew up right away, so do have some concern,” Bochy said.

“I mean 60 feet away is not that far, especially when those guys can hit as hard as they can,” said Rangers starter Tyler Mahle, who threw 6 1/3 innings for the win. “He was just out there trying to do what he does, and then something crappy like that happens. It just sucks.”

Texas was again without shortstop Corey Seager, who was out of lineup for the fourth time in five games because of hamstring soreness. He homered twice in the only game he has played in that stretch.

Bochy had said before the game that there could be a pregame move with Seager, but nothing happened then. The two-time World Series MVP missed 10 games when on the IL with a right hamstring strain from April 23 until being reinstated May 3.

Asked after the game if there was any update on Seager, Bochy responded, “No, no. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

The comebacker that struck Jackson came an inning after Brenton Doyle’s hard liner was snagged by Chris Martin, the 6-foot-8 Rangers reliever who was going down to a knee when he made the catch on the ball coming right back at him.

Jacob Webb replaced Jackson, who has eight saves in nine chances, and immediately got a fielder’s choice out. The Rockies then loaded the bases on a single by Michael Toglia and a four-pitch walk to Sean Bouchard.

The game ended and Webb had his first save when Kyle Farmer hit a chopper to third baseman Josh Jung, who stepped on the bag and then threw across to first to complete a double play.

“That walk put him in a jam there,” Bochy said. “He lost it there for four pitches, but then made a pitch when he had to to get the big double play.”

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Steph officially ruled out of Warriors' Game 5 vs. Timberwolves

Steph officially ruled out of Warriors' Game 5 vs. Timberwolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dub Nation didn’t receive the news they wanted to hear ahead of the Warriors’ Game 5 matchup against the Timberwolves on Wednesday in Minnesota, as star point guard Steph Curry will remain sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Golden State officially listed Curry as out for the team’s win-or-go-home game against Minnesota on Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. ET NBA injury report — the fourth consecutive game Curry will miss after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 6.

Curry is set to be re-evaluated Wednesday, and the Warriors, down three games to one in the series, desperately need him back if they manage to defeat the Timberwolves in Game 5 at Target Center. After Golden State’s 117-110 loss in Game 4 on Monday night at Chase Center, coach Steve Kerr offered a vague answer on Curry’s potential return Wednesday when asked if the two-time NBA MVP would be permitted to play if he felt like he could go.

“When are we giving the update?” Kerr asked, looking at Warriors PR personnel. “Wednesday, we’ll have an update.”

Draymond Green appeared to advise his longtime teammate not to return before he’s ready shortly after Kerr’s answer during his own postgame press conference.

“Nah, we’re not going to Superman this thing. If he’s in a place where he can play, I’m sure he will,” Green told reporters. 

“Him and Rick [Celebrini] and everyone else will figure that out, but we don’t need Superman. You got to play the long game, so, if he can, we know he will. But there’s no pressure. We got to find a way to win whether he plays or not.” 

While Curry won’t be on the floor in Game 5 — bad news for Golden State’s struggling offense — there still is hope he could return for Game 6, should the Warriors make it that far.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Yankees 3B Oswaldo Cabrera leaves game vs. Mariners in ambulance following awkward home plate slide

SEATTLE — Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was taken off the field in an ambulance after he injured his left ankle in the ninth inning of New York’s 11-5 victory over Seattle.

Cabrera was hurt on an awkward slide when he reached back for the plate and scored the Yankees’ final run on Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly.

Manager Aaron Boone said Cabrera had a brace put on his left ankle before entering the ambulance on a stretcher. Cabrera was taken to a hospital with team athletic trainer Tim Lentych.

“I think everyone understands it was a pretty serious situation,” Boone said. “So, just praying for our guy (Cabrera) tonight and hoping for the best. Trust that he’s in good hands as he goes through the night here.”

Cabrera, a 26-year-old native of Venezuela, writhed on the ground and stayed down for several minutes while being attended to by various medical personnel.

“Right before he got carted off, he just called me over and said, ‘Hey, did I score?’” Judge said. “So, just kind of shows you what type of guy he is. Something like that happens and the one thing on his mind for all the pain and everything is, ‘Did I score?’”

Cabrera is in his fourth MLB season and has become a regular in the Yankees’ lineup. He is hitting .243 this season with one home run and 12 RBIs.

“He cares for everybody in this room. He loves being a Yankee,” Judge said. “He wears his jersey with pride. This is a tough one, especially a guy that’s grinded his whole life and finally got an opportunity to be our everyday guy and been excelling at it.”

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LeBron James, rest of NBA world — players and fans — react to Jayson Tatum's injury

It was hard to watch. Late in the Knicks' Game 4 win over the Celtics, Boston's all-everything Jayson Tatum took a hard step, then fell to the ground in great pain, grabbing his lower leg. He had to be helped off the court, could not put any weight on it, and could be seen in tears in a wheelchair being pushed down a back hall in Madison Square Garden. Nothing is official yet, but it looked like an Achilles tear.

After the injury, love poured in for Tatum. That started with the Knicks players after the game.

Then there was an outpouring of love from LeBron James and other people in the NBA.

Then there were the NBA fans who chimed in as well.

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NBA mock draft roundup: What will Sixers do with No. 3 pick?

NBA mock draft roundup: What will Sixers do with No. 3 pick?  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers avoided the disappointment of losing their 2025 first-round pick entirely and ended up at No. 3 in Monday night’s NBA draft lottery.

So, now what? 

Here’s a roundup of post-lottery mock drafts: 

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie

Ace Bailey, Rutgers 

Vecenie:“I expect the Sixers to look into scenarios that involve moving this selection, especially now that they’ve moved up without getting inside the top-two picks. …Bailey’s range starts at No. 3 now that the Sixers officially have the pick. They certainly could use a bigger wing to pair with Paul George. However, Bailey’s range extends a bit further down than this into even the middle portion of the lottery. …” 

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo

Ace Bailey, Rutgers 

Woo: “Bailey has been more polarizing for scouts than a typical top-five pick, displaying flashes of scoring upside at Rutgers while still at an early stage of his development in other key areas. Lottery teams are eager to get a feel for him in the pre-draft process, including interviews, to understand how far away he is from contributing positively on an NBA floor.

“Wings with Bailey’s combination of size, physical skill and shooting prowess are rare. That coveted archetype has kept his stock largely steady despite his inconsistencies as a decision-maker, ball handler and defender. Some teams are concerned with the risk attached in those areas, but his scoring talent has tantalizing appeal for front offices in search of star power.” 

To the point on Bailey’s size: He measured at 6-foot-7 and 1/2 inches without shoes and 203 pounds at the NBA draft combine. Bailey’s skilled at squeezing off and making difficult jumpers, but he presumably won’t be able to shoot over anyone he wants in the NBA. 

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann

Ace Bailey, Rutgers 

Mann: “I’ve had Tre Johnson earmarked for Philly for a while because he could be a great plug-and-play fit, but Bailey does a lot of similar things (albeit not quite as efficiently in the movement shooting from 3), while also having more size and defensive upside. Bailey doesn’t have to become a superstar to make an impact in the NBA. His something-from-nothing shotmaking, even without taking a single dribble, will be a helpful option when possessions go south. And once some easy offense comes into his life after he trudged through possessions at Rutgers, it’s highly possible that his strengths will pop even more than they did in college. 

“There will be more hands on the cook line in Philly to throw easy buckets his way, and lord knows he’s hungry for them. Add in some glimpses of big-time help defense, and it’s clear that he can fit into what the Sixers are doing in the short term as his more fantastic, long-term possibilities threaten to materialize.”

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor

Ace Bailey, Rutgers 

O’Connor: “Drafting Bailey would raise serious questions about the direction of the franchise. On one hand, he is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. At his size, he fits next to Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain in the years to come.

“But can the Sixers afford to wait when the clock is ticking on the Joel Embiid era? Bailey’s shooting consistency, plus his raw edges as a shot creator and defender, need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. It would not be a shocker if the Sixers look to trade down (or out) with a team badly hoping to land Bailey.” 

At 18 years old, Bailey is clearly not close to a finished product. He was productive and impressive in his one college season — 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game — but Rutgers went 15-17 even with two marquee prospects in Bailey and Dylan Harper. We’ll see just how much better Bailey can get and how quickly he develops. 

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman

VJ Edgecombe, Baylor 

Wasserman: “Every team’s tier behind (Cooper) Flagg and Harper will include VJ Edgecombe. Front offices that value his 100th percentile explosiveness, shotmaking and defensive quickness could slot him at No. 3, particularly if they question Ace Bailey’s handle and tunnel vision, Tre Johnson’s lack of rim pressure and Jeremiah Fears’ shooting.

“The draft process should only help illuminate his incredible athletic ability and improving shooting stroke.” 

USA Today’s Bryan Kalbrosky

VJ Edgecombe, Baylor 

Kalbrosky: “The Big 12 Freshman of the Year joined Flagg as the only first-year collegiate players with at least 30 dunks and 3-pointers recorded, per Bart Torvik. 

“For a team to draft Edgecombe this high, they will hope that his jumper eventually becomes more consistent once he has found his groove in the NBA.” 

Victor Oladipo is a popular, natural comparison for Edgecombe, who enjoys using his speed and big-time leaping ability on defense. 

Edgecombe averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals for Baylor. He measured at 6-foot-4 without shoes and 193 pounds. 

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell

Kon Knueppel, Duke

O’Donnell: “Knueppel didn’t seem like an obvious one-and-done at first blush with limited length and explosiveness for an NBA wing, but his toughness, shooting, and secondary creation skills started building his top-10 hype from the moment he entered Duke. Knueppel is the type of perimeter player who fills in all the cracks in a lineup construction. 

“He’s arguably the best shooting bet in this class after canning 40.6 percent of his threes on 207 attempts and 91.4 percent of his free throws. Knueppel can also run pick-and-roll in a pinch, and proved he can throw a killer lob to the roll man during his season with (Khaman) Maluach.” 

Could the Sixers draft a Duke shooter two years in a row after going with McCain at No. 16 last year? Like McCain, Knueppel’s jumper is pure and he’s got savvy counters to tight defense. 

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Bruins ‘believed to be among top contenders' for Rick Tocchet: Report

Bruins ‘believed to be among top contenders' for Rick Tocchet: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are in the early stages of a pivotal offseason for the franchise, and part of that process will be finding a new head coach.

B’s general manager Don Sweeney said last week that Joe Sacco, who replaced Jim Montgomery on an interim basis back in November, remains in the mix for the position, as does assistant coach Jay Leach.

Which external candidates might the Bruins be considering?

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken are “believed to be among the top contenders” for Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet, 61, parted ways with the Vancouver Canucks last month. He spent the last three seasons as Canucks head coach and led them to the playoffs only once (2023-24).

Tocchet has nine total seasons of NHL head coaching experience between the Canucks, Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth) and Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in 1,144 games as an NHL player, too, including 10-plus seasons with the Flyers and two with the Bruins.

It would make more sense for the Bruins to hire a head coach who is younger and capable of fixing the team’s lackluster offense, including the power play. Player development needs to be a priority for the Bruins, too. Tocchet probably wouldn’t be the best fit when you consider those factors, but he does have a lot of NHL experience as a player and a coach.

Sweeney also was asked last week if any potential head coach candidates were still in the playoffs, to which he replied, “yes.” There are eight teams remaining in the playoffs, as of Tuesday.

The Bruins, Flyers, Canucks, Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks are among the teams with head coach vacancies.

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Former Canadiens’ Third-Overall Pick Kotkaniemi Still Struggling

Oct 11, 2018; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) plays the puck against Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

Marc Bergevin was criticized for many decisions during his tenure as the Montreal Canadiens' GM. Still, he made an excellent move by deciding not to match the Carolina Hurricanes’ offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

When The Canadiens Draft Twice (Or More) In The First Round…
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Mike Matheson
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Arber Xhekaj

Four seasons later, the Finnish center is still in Raleigh, but he’s currently skating on the Hurricanes’ fourth line. He was on the ice for much longer in the first round, against the New Jersey Devils, skating for over 18 minutes twice.

In the last three games of the Canes’ second-round series with the Washington Capitals, he has spent less than 13 minutes on the ice. He has registered three assists in nine playoff games this postseason, one of which came on the man-advantage.

The Hurricanes poached Kotkaniemi from the Canadiens during the 2021 offseason, signing him to a $6.1 M offer sheet with a $20 signing bonus, a wink to the Canadiens’ failed maneuver to sign Sebastian Aho.

Before that contract expired, Carolina signed him to an eight-year extension with a $4,820,000 cap hit, and the team and player implicitly admitted that the offer sheet was overinflated.

He’s now in the third year of the eight-year pact, and he’s not in Rod Brind’Amour’s good books. Every year, he seems to be in trade rumours, but the length of his contract is somewhat prohibitive for a player who has never put up more than 43 points in a season. This season, in 78 games, he was limited to 33 points.

While not matching the offer sheet was the right call, drafting him in the first place was a mistake. The Canadiens were desperate for a quality center. They decided to draft for need rather than for best player available, picking Kotkaniemi ahead of Brady Tkachuk (who went fourth overall to the Ottawa Senators) and Quinn Hughes (who was picked seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks).

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McDavid's Hockey Card Market Update; Could He Win His First Stanley Cup?

The Edmonton Oilers have the Vegas Golden Knights on the brink of elimination in the second round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Could this be the year Connor McDavid lifts his first Stanley Cup?

Connor McDavid scores the game-winning overtime goal for Team Canada

McDavid scored the game-winning overtime goal for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Faceoff. The 2024 Conn Smythe winner sat quietly in the locker room as the Florida Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup last season. 

There is not much the 2015 No. 1 overall pick has not done, besides lift the Stanley Cup.

Connor McDavid Young Guns PSA 10, 30-day pricing history

Collectors, or flippers, are setting themselves up for a possible investment opportunity. McDavid's Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 dipped to the $2,000 USD range when the Los Angeles Kings took a 2-0 lead over the Oilers in the first round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Connor McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 ALT pricing history

Is There Ever a Bad Time to Invest in an Upper Deck McDavid Young Guns PSA 10?

The only time to avoid investing in an Upper Deck McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 might be the hours after he wins a Stanley Cup, if that happens. Beyond that, there is never a bad time to add an Upper Deck McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 to your collection.

Sharp buyers are who bought during the brief McDavid dip a couple weeks ago can flip his Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 for a reasonable profit. The game within the game is even if McDavid and the Oilers would have been eliminated by the Kings, his Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 rookie cards would have bounced back.

While there may never be a bad time to invest in a McDavid Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10, there are times that are better than others. 

Morale of the story, when McDavid's card prices dip, the play is to buy.

Happy hunting and collecting!

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Knicks vs. Celtics Game 5 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 14

On Wednesday, May 14, the New York Knicks (51-31) and Boston Celtics (61-21) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The New York Knicks rallied in the second half to beat the Celtics in Game 4, 121-113. The series is tied up 2-2 and the bigger news is Jayson Tatum is presumed out for the remainder of the postseason with a lower leg injury. Tatum had a game-high 42 points before exiting with an injury, while Jalen Brunson dropped 39 with four of the Knicks starters scoring at least 20 points.

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Celtics have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Celtics live today

  • Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / TruTV / Max

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+164), Celtics (-196)
  • Spread:  Celtics -4.5
  • Over/Under: 208 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 103.15, and the Celtics 105.49.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Knicks vs. Celtics game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the 1Q Under:

"This game is going to be like chess without Jayson Tatum for the Celtics. Boston will have to get by with hard-fought defense and rely on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White a little more. The Knicks have struggled in the first 12 minutes averaging 21.5 first-quarter points per game in this series, while the Cetlics' 39-point first quarter in the previous game has inflated their average to 31.3 over the past four. Getting to 25 points for both teams should be a struggle and if the Knicks can force the Celtics into late-clock shots and limit the transition three-pointers, then they can win this game. I lean toward the Knicks +4.5, but I like the first quarter Under as my best bet."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Celtics game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +4.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 208.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Celtics on Wednesday

  • The Knicks are 4-1 in their last 5 games
  • The Knicks' last 3 road trips to the Celtics have stayed under the Total
  • The Knicks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog
  • The Knicks have covered in their last 5 road games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Portland Trail Blazers will be sold by Paul Allen's estate, team says

Portland Trail Blazers will be sold by Paul Allen's estate, team says originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Paul Allen’s estate announced Tuesday that it has begun the process of selling the Portland Trail Blazers.

The sale of the team is “consistent with Allen’s directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy,” the Trail Blazers said in a statement.

Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, died in 2018 at age 65 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since then, his sister, Jody Allen, has served as chair of the Trail Blazers and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust.

The estate said it has hired the New York investment firm Allen & Company and the law firm Hogan Lovells to lead the sales process, “which is estimated to continue into the 2025-26 basketball season.”

The team noted in its announcement that the NBA Board of Governors must ratify any final purchase agreement.

In addition to the Trail Blazers and Seahawks, Allen was a co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders. The statement said the announcement does not impact the Seahawks or the estate’s 25% interest in the Sounders. Neither of those teams is for sale.

Allen bought the Trail Blazers in 1988, telling the The Associated Press at the time that “for a true fan of the game, this is a dream come true.”

There has been widespread speculation surrounding the future ownership of both the Seahawks and Trail Blazers since his death. A

llen stipulated in his will the eventual sale of both teams, with the proceeds given to philanthropic endeavors.

Jody Allen reportedly rebuffed an offer to buy the Trail Blazers from Nike co-founder Phil Knight for more than $2 billion in 2022. At that time, there were no ongoing discussions about the sale of the teams, she said in a rare statement.

“A time will come when that changes given Paul’s plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy, but estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down,” she said. “There is no pre-ordained timeline by which the teams must be sold.”

CNBC earlier this year valued the Trail Blazers at $3.65 billion. In March, the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion.

The Trail Blazers finished 36-46 this season and missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year. They have the 11th pick in the next month’s NBA draft, as was decided in Monday night’s draft lottery.

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WNBA Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft: A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark lead the way in Rotoworld mock draft

With the 2025 WNBA regular season beginning on Friday, we felt it would be a good idea to do some drafting. Rotoworld staffers Jackie Powell, Noah Rubin, Cole Huff and Raphielle Johnson went through a nine-round fantasy WNBA snake draft, using ESPN's default scoring for head-to-head points leagues.

While points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers are worth one point apiece in these settings, steals and blocked shots are worth two points.

Below is how the draft played out, followed by some thoughts from each manager on their teams. Of course, with only four people participating in the draft, a lot of talent remained on the board.

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Round 1 Results

Jackie Powell: F A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Noah Rubin: G Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Raphielle Johnson: F Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Cole Huff: F Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Round 2 Results

Huff: G Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings

Johnson: G Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

Rubin: F Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury

Powell: F Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Round 3 Results

Powell: G Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks

Rubin: G Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas Aces

Johnson: F Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks

Huff: F Angel Reese, Chicago Sky

Round 4 Results

Huff: G Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Johnson: F Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm

Rubin: F Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever

Powell: G Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Round 5 Results

Powell: G Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Rubin: F Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury

Johnson: G Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm

Huff: C Ezi Magbegor, Seattle Storm

Round 6 Results

Huff: G Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Johnson: G Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury

Rubin: G Marina Mabrey, Connecticut Sun

Powell: C Brittney Griner, Atlanta Dream

Round 7 Results

Powell: F Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

Rubin: F Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever

Johnson: G Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx

Huff: G Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx

Round 8 Results

Huff: C Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream

Johnson: G Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Rubin: G Ariel Atkins, Chicago Sky

Powell: G Julie Vanloo, Golden State Valkyries

Round 9 Results

Powell: G Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics

Rubin: C Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun

Johnson: F Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm

Huff: F Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Caitlin Clark
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Jackie Powell's thoughts:

With the first pick in our fantasy draft, I chose the reigning MVP A'ja Wilson to build my roster around. Since she didn't play overseas or in Unrivaled, Wilson is bound to be well-rested and ready to play in what will be the WNBA's longest season ever of 44 games. Then, with my second and third players at eighth and ninth, I chose Jonquel Jones, who is one of the best shooting posts and best rebounders in the league, along with Wilson's former teammate Kelsey Plum, who presumably will be the Sparks' No. 1 option this season.

I drafted for the most part with versatility in mind and wanted the players that I selected to be those who could stuff the stat sheet. Both Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard, who I selected at 16th and 17th, are exemplary of that, with both Bueckers and Howard capable of putting up numbers in both offensive and defensive categories as two-way guards/wings.

My mistake in our draft came when I selected both Brittney Griner and Alanna Smith at 24th and 25th, respectively. I didn't need two more centers, so I should have picked one and selected a swing woman like DeWanna Bonner, who wasn't selected in our draft. With my final two picks, I made sure to take two players who will have substantial roles on teams that aren't going to be contending this year. Julie Vanloo has the potential to put up double-digits in assists and points, while Sonia Citron is set to be the Mystics' starting small forward. Citron might not score the most points, but she'll be productive in many other ways, including her efficiency from both the field and the line.

Noah Rubin's thoughts:

Though A'ja Wilson is the top option on the board, getting Caitlin Clark with the second pick is a nice consolation prize for me. I went heavy on Fever players by also adding Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard. Getting Satou Sabally at 18 was my favorite pick of this draft, and I considered taking her a round earlier. Sabally was only available to play 15 games after the Olympic break, but the former No. 2 overall pick should be in for a big year in her first season in Phoenix.

DeWanna Bonner was the top player still available on my board, which holds true according to ESPN's rankings as well. They have her ranked as the 18th-best player this season. I'm not quite that high on her (and it seems like our other writers aren't either), but she would've been my next pick if she were still available.

Cole Huff's thoughts:

Napheesa Collier at No. 4 overall was the clear choice for me, given who was already off the board at the time, and pairing Arike Ogunbowale with her made sense for a team looking to form its identity on scoring, three-point shooting, and stocks, with the latter providing bonus points. Angel Reese in the third round didn't exactly fit the description, but her threat as a double-double machine made it an easy call, while taking Jackie Young in the fourth felt like a perfect do-it-all player for the team.

From there, the goal was to add proven veterans with dual-threat capabilities, and a couple of upside swings that ended up being Ezi Magbegor and Rickea Jackson. DeWanna Bonner would be on this team if I had another spot available.

Raphielle Johnson's thoughts:

While I hoped to be able to select A'ja Wilson or Caitlin Clark with my first pick, that's going to be nearly impossible to pull off in most leagues when you're third in the order. However, Breanna Stewart is anything but a "consolation prize," even with the Liberty boasting a loaded squad and her coming off an offseason knee procedure. She remains a key figure for the reigning champs. I try to avoid using my top two picks on teammates, but that was impossible to avoid in this draft since Sabrina Ionescu was on the board for me in the second round.

Later in the draft, I went with a few players who were not active during the preseason, which may make them more valuable than expected. Hopefully, Kahleah Copper's back issue is not a significant concern, while I believe Kayla McBride and Gabby Williams can be exceptionally valuable in their respective draft slots. As for a player who remained on the board that I wished to have room to draft, it would be Natasha Cloud. While she doesn't play the same position as Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, BLH missing the entire 2025 season with a knee injury raises Cloud's ceiling in her first season with the Liberty.

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Tuesday's Phillies-Cardinals matchup postponed, will play doubleheader tomorrow

Tuesday's Phillies-Cardinals matchup postponed, will play doubleheader tomorrow originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies will have to wait one more day to try and even up their series against the Cardinals.

Tuesday’s 6:45 p.m. matchup at Citizens Bank Park has been postponed due to inclement weather, the team announced.

Wednesday, May 14, will now be split doubleheader. The first game is still slated for a 1:05 p.m. start, with gates opening 11:35 a.m.

Tickets for Tuesday will be valid for the evening slate, with gates opening 5:15 p.m. for the 6:15 p.m. start.

Jesús Luzardo (3-0, 2.11 ERA), originally slated to start Tuesday, will get the afternoon game. Aaron Nola (1-6, 4.89 ERA) will now take the mound in the evening.

Game 1 of the doubleheader will air on both NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC10. The series finale will only be on NBCSP.

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Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Returns To Ice After Injury Scare From Sam Bennett Collision

David Alter - The Hockey News Toronto

Anthony Stolarz is back on the ice, just over a week after he left Game 1 against the Florida Panthers following a Sam Bennett elbow to the head.

The 31-year-old was on the ice before the Toronto Maple Leafs' optional practice on Tuesday morning at Ford Performance Centre. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, this isn't Stolarz's first time on the ice.

"I believe Anthony Stolarz has been on the ice this week," Dreger reported. "Joe Woll was excellent in game 4, so there’s no reason to rush with Stolarz. The fact he’s back on the ice speaks to progress in recovery."

The goaltender was on the ice for at least 20 minutes, working with Maple Leafs goaltending coach Curtis Sanford.  The drills consisted of lateral movements in the butterfly and standing up.

He exited the ice shortly before the Maple Leafs' optional skate began.

Stolarz left midway through Game 1 against the Panthers, a few minutes after Bennett's elbow collided with the goaltender's head. During a TV timeout, Stolarz went over to the bench and threw up before leaving the game.

Report: Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Being Evaluated In Hospital After Leaving Game 1 Vs. PanthersReport: Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Being Evaluated In Hospital After Leaving Game 1 Vs. PanthersThe bad news regarding Anthony Stolarz continues.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the goaltender was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher after leaving the game. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed the day following that Stolarz had gone to the hospital for further evaluation.

Stolarz started in Toronto's first seven playoff games, racking up four wins and a .901 save percentage in that span. After leaving the game, Joseph Woll has come in for the Maple Leafs and put up two wins and a .893 save percentage through four games against Florida.

Toronto won the first two games at home against the Panthers, but lost the next two in Florida. They returned home on Monday with the series tied 2-2.

‘Kept Us In It Until The End’: Maple Leafs’ Joseph Woll Shines With Impressive Start Despite Game 4 Loss To Panthers‘Kept Us In It Until The End’: Maple Leafs’ Joseph Woll Shines With Impressive Start Despite Game 4 Loss To PanthersBy far, the brightest spot in a frustrating night for the Toronto Maple Leafs was the play of goaltender Joseph Woll — the most notable presence on the ice in Game 4 that saw the club shut out 2-0 by the Florida Panthers in Sunrise.

Stolarz was one of the NHL's top goaltenders in the regular season. He had 21 wins through 34 games, with a .926 save percentage, the best in the league for goaltenders who played more than 30 games.

This is the second time Stolarz has dealt with an injury this season. He missed nearly two months of the season, from mid-December to early February, after having surgery to remove a loose body from his knee.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Explains Why Anthony Stolarz Will Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks For A Procedure On His KneeMaple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Explains Why Anthony Stolarz Will Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks For A Procedure On His KneeAn MRI of Stolarz' knee revealed a "loose body" in his knee.

Stolarz joined the Maple Leafs organization on a two-year, $5 million contract after winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers last June.

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