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Toronto Maple Leafs Recall 14 Players From Toronto Marlies

© Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have recalled 14 players from the Toronto Marlies following their AHL affiliate's first round playoff loss to the Cleveland Monsters. 

Forwards Alex Steeves, Jacob Quillan, Nicholas Abruzzese, Reese Johnson, Alex Nylander, and Roni Hirvonen were recalled.

Six defensemen including Matt Benning, Cade Webber, Topi Niemela, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen, and Marshall Rifai were recalled. 

Goaltenders Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby will also join the Maple Leafs. Artur Akhtyamov has been serving as the team's third goaltender. 

All 14 players will join the Maple Leafs as 'Black Aces' that will allow them to practice with and be around the team during their playoff run. 

While none of these players are likely to see playoff action Steeves - who finished second in the AHL with 36 goals in 59 games - Quillan, Nylander, Hildeby, and Murray have all played NHL games this season. 

This is a common move for playoff teams as the NHL's roster limits and salary cap do not apply in the playoffs. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. 

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Why Mosley ‘absolutely loves' coaching against Mazzulla

Why Mosley ‘absolutely loves' coaching against Mazzulla originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — The first-round NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic has featured two entirely different coaching philosophies. Despite trailing 3-1 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has enjoyed the “chess match” against Joe Mazzulla.

Mosley was asked before the matchup about taking on the reigning champion Celtics coach.

“I absolutely love it,” Mosley said. “Joe is an incredible coach. He does a great job of putting his guys in the right position, the right spaces after time-outs, finding different situations to put guys in that have you constantly thinking throughout the game.

“This is the part of coaching that you love, that chess match of trying to figure out what you can do without overthinking it, and putting yourself in a situation where you have to worry about not doing what you’re capable of doing because you’re chasing something that they’re doing.”

The Mazzulla-led Celtics are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA. The Magic are the worst from beyond the arc, but no team has been better all season at defending the 3-point shot.

“It is our identity,” Mosley said, noting the importance of Orlando sticking to its game plan even on the brink of elimination.

Although it hasn’t translated to a series lead, the Magic have succeeded in limiting Boston’s 3s. The C’s made only nine 3s in their Game 4 win, nine in their Game 3 defeat, and 12 in their Game 2 victory. They averaged 17.8 3-pointers per game during the regular season.

Mosley’s defensive-minded Magic will have to keep Mazzulla’s high-powered Celtics in check from deep again in Game 5 to bring the series back to Orlando. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

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Canadiens' Farm Team To Start Quest For Calder Cup

Sep 30, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Reinbacher (64) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

After getting a bye for the first round of the AHL playoffs, the Laval Rocket will finally start its quest for the Calder Cup on Wednesday night. At the same time, the Montreal Canadiens will try to avoid elimination against the Washington Capitals in D.C., with Rocket’s number one goaltender, Cayden Primeau, acting as backup for the big club.

Canadiens: Not So Long Ago It Was 3-1…
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Canadiens: About That Devastating Hit

Pascal Vincent’s men will take on the Cleveland Monsters in the best-of-five division semi-final. In four meetings during the regular season, the Rocket had a 2-0-2 record against the Ohio-based franchise. The Rocket was the regular-season champion, while the Monsters finished fifth in the North Division.

The Rocket elected to play the first two games away and the last three in Laval. With Primeau being with the Canadiens, newly signed goaltender Jacob Fowler will be tasked with manning Laval’s net, and he’ll be facing one of the hottest goaltenders down the stretch, Jet Greaves.

The 24-year-old netminder was a big reason the Columbus Blue Jackets almost qualified for the playoffs, winning seven of his last NHL games. In 11 games with the Jackets this season, he posted a 7-2-2 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Rocket can rely on a fully healthy David Reinbacher. The right-shot defenseman had a tough year, sustaining a knee injury that cost him most of his season in a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The young defenseman didn’t lose his season, though. In an interview with RG.org, he explains that he became a student of the game, learning the team’s system and attending meetings usually reserved for players who are in the lineup.

Game one of the series between Laval and Cleveland is set for 7:00 PM on Wednesday night, game two on Friday at 7:00 PM, and game three on Sunday at 3:00 PM. You can catch all the action and a glimpse of the Canadiens’ future on RDS.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. 

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Sabres Have 6.5% Chance At Winning NHL Draft Lottery

The Buffalo Sabres have a 6.5% chance of winning the NHL Draft Lottery to be held next Monday. 

The NHL announced on Tuesday that the league’s Draft Lottery will be held next Monday, May 5th, to determine the order of selection for the NHL Draft in late June. The Buffalo Sabres have a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery, which will be held at the NHL Network’s studios in Secaucus, N.J, and will be broadcast on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

The lottery only allows the top 11 seeds to be eligible to receive the first overall draft pick, and is held in two phases: the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick.

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The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, have the top odds (18,5%) of selecting first overall this year. The Chicago Blackhawks are second at 13.5%, the Nashville Predators third at 11.5%, the Philadelphia Flyers fourth at 9.5%, Boston fifth at 8.5%, Seattle sixth at 7.5%, and Buffalo seventh at 6.5%.

With only a longshot chance of making the postseason after the trade deadline, the primary focus of Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and GM Kevyn Adams down the stretch was to establish a winning culture, but that came at the cost of finishing with a top-five draft pick this June. Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer is projected to be the top overall selection, with Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, and Swedish center Anton Frondell expected to go in the top five.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Rangers Reportedly Won't Let Any Team Outdo Them In Pursuit Of Mike Sullivan

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Since Mike Sullivan parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, rumors have linked him to the New York Rangers. 

With the Rangers looking for a new head coach after firing Peter Laviolette, Sullivan has jumped up as a top-tier candidate to get the job. 

Multiple NHL insiders are getting a sense that Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is intrigued with the chance to bring Sullivan on board. 

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

“In 2021, when Chris Drury was hired as GM, he didn't hire Gallant until he knew Sullivan was staying [in PIT]...Until someone beats the Rangers out for Sullivan's services, that's who I'm picking...He's their #1,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said.

While TSN’s Pierre Lebrun reported that five teams have already inquired about Sullivan, there’s no doubt that the Rangers remain the frontrunners to land the Stanley Cup-winning coach as of right now. 

He has direct ties with Drury from Boston College and USA Hockey. The Rangers’ past interest in Sullivan has also been very well documented. 

NHL general managers have reportedly been wondering if Sullivan could strike a deal with the Rangers over the next 48-72 hours. 

“I cannot imagine [the New York Rangers] allowing anyone to outdo themselves in the pursuit of Sullivan,” Friedman said.

Now, we just have to sit and wait to see how everything unfolds.

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Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year

Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Stephon Castle made no secret about it: He wanted to be rookie of the year.

And he got it done — by a wide margin.

The San Antonio Spurs now have back-to-back winners of the award, with Victor Wembanyama last year and Castle this season. Castle was the fifth rookie in Spurs history to score more than 1,000 points.

It was one-sided in the voting. Castle got 92 first-place votes, easily topping runner-up Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks and third-place finisher Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies. Risacher got five first-place votes, Wells got the other three.

“Coming in with all the confidence that I had in myself as a player, that was definitely a goal of mine from Day 1,” Castle said on TNT, which broadcast the unveiling of the results. “I’m just happy I was able to execute it.”

Castle’s win marked the second time in more than a half-century that one franchise went back-to-back with the top-rookie honor. Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (now of Miami) and Karl-Anthony Towns (now of New York) were voted rookies of the year in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The last instance of a team going back-to-back before that: 1973 and 1974, when Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio pulled it off for the Buffalo Braves.

“I get so excited watching him play,” said Chris Paul, Castle’s backcourt mate this season in San Antonio. “The first thing that I want to see in a teammate or anybody is how competitive they are. That’ll take you further than talent any day. And I saw immediately was that he was competitive. I was like, ‘OK, cool. This is going to be easy.’”

Castle led all rookies this season in points (1,190) and steals (74). Risacher finished strong, winning Eastern Conference rookie of the month for both February and March. Wells led all rookies in games started (74) and 3-pointers made (138, matching the total posted by Washington’s Bub Carrington).

Risacher — who hails from France, like Wembanyama — was looking to give the NBA the first instance of international players winning the award in consecutive years since Australia’s Ben Simmons and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic in 2018 and 2019. Wells was bidding to be Memphis’ first rookie of the year since Ja Morant in 2020.

The rookie of the year award 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: 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.

On Wednesday, the most improved player — Cade Cunningham of Detroit, Dyson Daniels of Atlanta, or Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers — will be announced, also at 7 p.m. EDT on TNT.

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.

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Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year

Spurs' Stephon Castle named NBA Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Stephon Castle made no secret about it: He wanted to be rookie of the year.

And he got it done — by a wide margin.

The San Antonio Spurs now have back-to-back winners of the award, with Victor Wembanyama last year and Castle this season. Castle was the fifth rookie in Spurs history to score more than 1,000 points.

It was one-sided in the voting. Castle got 92 first-place votes, easily topping runner-up Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks and third-place finisher Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies. Risacher got five first-place votes, Wells got the other three.

“Coming in with all the confidence that I had in myself as a player, that was definitely a goal of mine from Day 1,” Castle said on TNT, which broadcast the unveiling of the results. “I’m just happy I was able to execute it.”

Castle’s win marked the second time in more than a half-century that one franchise went back-to-back with the top-rookie honor. Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (now of Miami) and Karl-Anthony Towns (now of New York) were voted rookies of the year in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The last instance of a team going back-to-back before that: 1973 and 1974, when Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio pulled it off for the Buffalo Braves.

“I get so excited watching him play,” said Chris Paul, Castle’s backcourt mate this season in San Antonio. “The first thing that I want to see in a teammate or anybody is how competitive they are. That’ll take you further than talent any day. And I saw immediately was that he was competitive. I was like, ‘OK, cool. This is going to be easy.’”

Castle led all rookies this season in points (1,190) and steals (74). Risacher finished strong, winning Eastern Conference rookie of the month for both February and March. Wells led all rookies in games started (74) and 3-pointers made (138, matching the total posted by Washington’s Bub Carrington).

Risacher — who hails from France, like Wembanyama — was looking to give the NBA the first instance of international players winning the award in consecutive years since Australia’s Ben Simmons and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic in 2018 and 2019. Wells was bidding to be Memphis’ first rookie of the year since Ja Morant in 2020.

The rookie of the year award 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: 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.

On Wednesday, the most improved player — Cade Cunningham of Detroit, Dyson Daniels of Atlanta, or Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers — will be announced, also at 7 p.m. EDT on TNT.

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.

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Wild's Marcus Johansson Returns From Lower-Body Injury Tonight

Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed this morning that forward Marcus Johansson will return to the lineup tonight. He did not play in Game 4 with a lower-body injury but will play tonight. 

Johansson, 34, has one assist in three playoff games so far. He had 11 goals and 34 points in 72 games during the regular season. 

In nine career playoff games for the Wild, Johansson has two goals and one assist. He is a minus-seven in those nine games as well. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

Wild Related News

Wild Expected To Make Some Changes For Game 5Wild Expected To Make Some Changes For Game 5The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before playing Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Based on Monday's practice, we could see a few changes for tonight's game against the Golden Knights.  Former Wild Goaltender Named Vezina Trophy FinalistFormer Wild Goaltender Named Vezina Trophy FinalistThe NHL announced the three finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy today. The trophy is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position. Cassidy Hoping Line Changes Spark Golden Knights In Time For Game 5Cassidy Hoping Line Changes Spark Golden Knights In Time For Game 5LAS VEGAS -- As the second-seeded Golden Knights saw their opening round series with the Minnesota Wild slipping away, and on the brink of becoming out of hand, coach Bruce Cassidy did what he has done countless times: put his forward lines in a blender.
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2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds/Date Set

Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

The NHL has announced that the NHL Draft Lottery will be on May 5th at the NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in unfamiliar territory than they have been in the last few years. That unfamiliar territory would be that they can't win the NHL Draft Lottery. 

Per the NHL: "The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Participants are all teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams)."

"The Lottery will be conducted in two phases, the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick. There is a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can “move up” in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall Draft pick."

So what does this mean for the Blue Jackets? The CBJ have a 2% chance of winning the first draw of the lottery, and a 0% chance of winning the second draw. 

Columbus can only move up as far as #3 in the draft. A far cry from the previous season's drafts, but that's because the Jackets defied all expectations and finished just two points shy of a playoff spot. 

The CBJ will have two first-round picks in this year's draft, and many people expect GM Don Waddell to trade one or both picks for roster help. 

What should Don Waddell do?

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Cleveland Monsters Advance Set To Face Laval Rockets In Second RoundCleveland Monsters Advance Set To Face Laval Rockets In Second RoundThe Columbus Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, have advanced to the second round of the AHL playoffs. Zach Werenski Nominated For Norris TrophyZach Werenski Nominated For Norris TrophyColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski has officially been named a finalist for the 2025 James Norris Memorial Trophy.
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Report: Draft Lottery Set For May 5 — Sharks Eye No. 1 Pick

© Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

The NHL has announced the date for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. It will take place on Monday, May 5th, giving the San Jose Sharks a glimpse into what could be a franchise-altering moment.

As it stands, the Sharks hold the best odds of winning the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. After finishing the season with a 20-50-12 record, they have a 25.5% chance of securing the top selection.

NHL Draft Lottery:

  1. San Jose Sharks: 18.5%
  2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13.5%
  3. Nashville Predators: 11.5%
  4. Philadelphia Flyers: 9.5%
  5. Boston Bruins: 8.5%
  6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
  7. Buffalo Sabres: 6.5%
  8. Anaheim Ducks: 6.0%
  9. Pittsburgh Penguins: 5.0%
  10. New York Islanders: 3.5%
  11. New York Rangers: 3.0%
San Jose Barracuda's Advance To Second Round Of AHL PlayoffsSan Jose Barracuda's Advance To Second Round Of AHL PlayoffsThe San Jose Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, have made it to the second round of the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs.

This year’s draft will also mark a significant change, as it will be the first decentralized NHL Draft in history. It will be held June 27–28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The Sharks picked Macklin Celebrini first overall in 2024. This year, they may have a shot at drafting standout defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters of the OHL.

San Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski Wins AHL MVPSan Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski Wins AHL MVPSan Jose Barracuda's Andrew Poturalski has won the 2024-25 AHL MVP award (Les Cunningham Award). Sharks' Sam Dickinson Wins OHL Defensemen Of The YearSharks' Sam Dickinson Wins OHL Defensemen Of The YearSan Jose Sharks' Sam Dickinson has won the OHL Defenseman of the Year award. 
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Ohio State and 6 other Big Ten teams will carry their quarterback competitions into the fall

Illinois' Luke Altmyer, Michigan State's Aidan Chiles, Nebraska's Dylan Raiola, Penn State's Drew Allar, Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis, Southern California's Jayden Maiava and Washington's Demond Williams Jr. are returning starters. Indiana, Iowa, UCLA and Wisconsin brought in transfers who will go into the fall as No. s — the Hoosiers' Fernando Mendoza (California), the Hawkeyes' Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State), the Bruins' Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee) and the Badgers' Billy Edwards Jr. (Maryland).

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Sharks hold best No. 1 pick odds in 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, scheduled for May 5

Sharks hold best No. 1 pick odds in 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, scheduled for May 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks will know their (2025 NHL Draft) fate next Monday.

The 2025 Draft Lottery will be held on May 5 from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, N.J. The broadcast time is still to be determined on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports.

Because the Sharks had the NHL’s worst record, they will have the best odds to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

Per the NHL press release: “The Lottery will be conducted in two phases, the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick. There is a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can ‘move up’ in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws. Thus, only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall Draft pick.”

The Sharks have a 25.5 percent chance of getting the No. 1 overall selection. They can pick no worse than No. 3 in the 2025 draft.

Read the full story on San Jose Hockey Now

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Clippers vs. Nuggets Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 29

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Preview

It’s Tuesday, April 29, and the Los Angeles Clippers (50-32) and Denver Nuggets (50-32) are all set to square off from Ball Arena in Denver.

The series is tied after Aaron Gordon's putback dunk as time expired.

The Clippers are currently 20-21 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Nuggets have a 4-6 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 the 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 Clippers vs. Nuggets live today

  • Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
  • Time: 10:00PM EST
  • Site: Ball Arena
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: TNT

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 Clippers vs. Nuggets

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Clippers (-129), Nuggets (+108)
  • Spread:  Clippers -1.5
  • Over/Under: 208 points

That gives the Clippers an implied team point total of 104.42, and the Nuggets 103.64.

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 Tuesday’s Clippers vs. Nuggets game

NBC Sports Bet 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.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on Nikola Jokic over 12.5 rebounds...

Thomas: "22 rebound chances per game. He hauled in over 20 last game and 13 in the game prior. The idea that the Clippers' half-court defense is one of the best in the NBA is absolutely true. If Jokic can pull the rebound and move the ball up the court in transition, it makes life easier, hence the max effort on the glass in the last two games."

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 Clippers & Nuggets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Denver Nuggets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over 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 page from 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 Clippers vs. Nuggets on Tuesday

  • The Nuggets finished the regular season with a home record of 26-15
  • Each of the last four matchups between the Clippers and the Nuggets have stayed under the expected total
  • The Clippers have covered in four of their last five games as a road favourite

The Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog

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!

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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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Adam Silver says NBA considering 'international competition' theme for 2026 NBA All-Star Game

During February's NBA All-Star weekend, much of the chatter in league circles centered on how to improve the product. Or, to put it more bluntly, how to get the players to care about the All-Star Game itself again. All this talk was going on while a large number of viewers at home were drawn to the NHL's 4 Nations Face-off, which had star players going all out on the ice — even dropping the gloves at points — to represent their nation.

Add in the fact that NBC will broadcast next year's All-Star Game and falls right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and well, we can all see where this is headed. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that an international format — USA vs. the World (Ryder Cup style) — is being discussed. Here is what Silver told Joe Varden of The Athletic.

"Given the strong interest we've seen in international basketball competitions, most recently in last summer's Olympics in Paris, we're discussing concepts with the players' association that focus on NBA players representing their countries or regions instead of the more traditional formats that we've used in the past."

Speaking earlier in the day to the Associated Press sports editors, Silver said:

"It's not lost on us … we'll be in L.A., the home of the '28 Summer Olympics, and we'll be competing in the arena at Intuit, where the basketball competition will take place in the 2028 Olympics. So I think all of those factors, when they come together, it presents an enormous opportunity for us to do something with an international competition instead of the traditional All-Star formats that we've used."

When asked about this format possibility during this year's NBA All-Star weekend, international players generally seemed more enthusiastic about the idea than their American counterparts.

"I would love that. Oh, I would love that," Giannis Antetokounmpo said. "I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I would love that. For sure, I'd take pride in that. I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete, like having Shai, Jokic, Luka, Wemby, Towns, Sengun. I know those players — obviously I'm missing some guys that I cannot think from the top of my head, going against the best U.S. players. I think it would be fun. I think that would be the best format."

"I would love to. My opinion is that it's more purposeful," Victor Wembanyama said. "There's more pride in it. More stakes."

At the top end, a World team would have as much or more talent than a USA squad — the last six MVPs have been international players, and that will become seven this season, whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) or Nikola Jokic (Serbia) wins it. About a quarter of NBA players are international, and there is concern that at the bottom end of the World roster (spots 10-12) international players could be selected as All-Stars over more deserving American-born players.

While the NBA league office will listen to those concerns, we can all see which way the wind is blowing.

One interesting note, it is possible the 2026 NBA All-Star Game could be an afternoon affair West Coast time, starting earlier than is traditional and becoming part of a massive day of international sports, with the Winter Olympics on the air that evening, something reported by Marc Stein.

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Alex de Minaur turns on the power to reach last 16 of Madrid Open

  • Australian beats Denis Shapovalov after blackout delay
  • Straight sets win sets up clash with Lorenzo Musetti

Alex de Minaur has charged into the fourth round of the Madrid Open with a powerful performance as electricity returned to Spain.

The Australian No 1 took less than 90-minutes to defuse the big-serving Canadian Denis Shapovalov with a straight sets 6-3, 7-6 win on Court Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

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