NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Aroldis Chapman #44 of the Boston Red Sox leaves the field during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
ESPN | Enrique Rojas: The Red Sox sit in last place in the division, and even though the last Wild Card slot is currently held by the .500 Texas Rangers, there isn’t much faith in Fenway making a push to contend this year. Plenty of people expect Boston to be sellers, and they have a few short-term rentals that could entice some good returns including their closer, Aroldis Chapman, who is miraculously in the best form of his career despite now being 38 years old.
Chapman knows he’s on the trading block, and could expect to be in a different uniform by the deadline, but there’s one particular jersey he wouldn’t want to put on again unless his conditions were met. He said he would want an apology from the team, more specifically Brian Cashman, for how his Yankees tenure ended before he could feel comfortable playing for them again. This may come as a surprise to anyone who was following the team when he last played here, because that 2022 season burned every ounce of remaining goodwill the closer had with the fanbase — after years of underperformance in the playoffs and routine stretches of blowing games by not coming close to finding the strike zone, Chapman went and got a tattoo midseason that got infected forcing the team to sit him on the IL and all but handed the closer gig over to Clay Holmes. Then at the end of the year, Chapman got left off the postseason roster when he missed a mandatory practice before the ALDS.
Frankly, the Sox would never trade Chapman over to their archrivals in the first place so this is a moot point, but I also wouldn’t want him to ever come back even if he is pitching lights out nowadays and I certainly don’t think Cashman owes Chapman any sort of apology. I hardly think I’d be alone in that belief.
NY Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees are heading north of the border to Toronto for the first time this season, and thus also returning for the first time since their brutal ALDS games last year. The team may be without Aaron Judge in the lineup for the foreseeable future, but their rotation looks to be significantly better than when they traveled up and got shelled for 23 runs in two games. They’re also facing a Blue Jays team that is much further out of the race than the last time they made their initial trip up, as last year’s first meeting was the turning point that gave Toronto a division lead that wouldn’t get relinquished following a four-game sweep.
NY Daily News | Gary Phillips: There was some friendly tomfoolery at the ballpark on Wednesday, as Cody Bellinger was subjected to a professional heckler. The content creator Trevor Gilmore has a dedicated page to heckling the road team’s left fielder with some ultimately harmless jokes alongside playfully calling them a bum, and he gets invited by several MLB teams to come and run his schtick for them with Cleveland happening to be his latest appearance. Bellinger said that he heard the chants loud and clear, but had fun with it and noted that he had some good lines.
MLB.com | Henry Palattella: Paul Goldschmidt entered this season expecting a part-time role for the first time in his lengthy career, and he openly embraced the role of the veteran backup. He kept himself productive enough in the first month and change of the season, but once injuries began to mount in the lineup and his name started appearing regularly in the lineup again he showed that there was no rust on the seven-time All-Star’s bat. He’s had a hot May and carried it over into June, hitting for a .924 OPS with seven homers and 23 RBI in 31 games played, and even though some of the regulars are set to return soon having a productive Goldy who can stay ready whether he’s sitting for days on end or has to play a week straight will be vital to this team staying in a rhythm offensively.
Erling Haaland swapped the football pitch for the ice rink as he and his Norway team-mates took in a Stanley Cup match.
The Norway contingent provided lively support for the Carolina Hurricanes in game five of the NHL play-off series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
The Manchester City forward, who will make his long-awaited World Cup debut against Iraq on 16 June (23:00 BST), cut a relaxed figure at the Lenovo Centre in Raleigh, waving to the crowd when the Norway team appeared on the scoreboard screen and swinging a Hurricanes rally towel around his head.
Arriving at the game in a grey polo shirt, he was later filmed beaming in a white and red Hurricanes jersey emblazoned with the number nine – the same number he wears for both club and country.
The Hurricanes, targeting their first Stanley Cup crown for 20 years, lead the Golden Knights 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, completing a 4-2 regulation win in game five.
Norway are playing at their first World Cup since 1998 – and their first major tournament since Euro 2000 – and have already made a mark despite not starting their campaign until next Tuesday.
The squad donned authentic Viking dress for an epic send-off photograph by acclaimed British photographer David Yarrow, titled The Vikings Are Coming, and have also paid tribute to their players' roots with a team photo featuring the shirts of their first clubs.
Norway are based in Greensboro, North Carolina – about 80 miles from the Hurricanes' Raleigh home – for the duration of the tournament, with the opportunity to watch the blue riband event of the NHL season coming less than a fortnight after the men's national ice hockey team shocked Canada in overtime to clinch the bronze medal at the World Championships.
After facing Iraq in their World Cup opener in Boston, Norway travel to New Jersey to play Senegal (23 June, 01:00 BST) before returning to Boston for a meeting with France (26 June, 20:00 BST).
And just like that, the 2026 NBA Draft is right around the corner.
Yes, the Finals still are underway. Everybody has been locked in watching the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, and they should be. But for the other 28 teams, their eyes are on the draft.
Can the Kings find a franchise savior with the No. 7 pick? Will the Warriors add a rookie who can help Steph Curry right away with the 11th pick?
The draft now is less than two weeks away, so it’s time for another guessing game. Dalton Johnson and Tristi Rodriguez predict all 30 first-round picks with plenty of changes in our mock draft 3.0.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
Dybantsa makes it through three rounds as the first pick in our mock drafts. From high school to his one season at BYU, Dybantsa has shown he has the makings to be a star. We’ll see if he keeps the top spot. –Dalton Johnson
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
A superstar will soon be born again in Utah since Donovan Mitchell’s departure. Peterson’s services will give the Jazz a nightmare backcourt duo alongside Keyonte George. –Tristi Rodriguez
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer, PF, Duke
In the end, Boozer might be the most ready-now prospect, and the best in the long run. The Grizzlies still are big winners with the third pick. –DJ
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina
Wilson’s infectious smile will soon grace Chi-Town, and so will his athletic, 6-foot-10 two-way abilities. –TR
5. LA Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
The Clippers get their pick of point guards as the draft starts to really get interesting. They could also go super-sized and take Michigan center Adaya Mara. Instead, they land on Keaton Wagler, at 6-foot-6 with an exceptional feel for the game, to pair next to Darius Garland. –DJ
6. Brooklyn Nets: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
It was revealed earlier this week that Ament and fellow draft prospect Karim Lopez were going head-to-head in a workout with the Nets. Ament has been heavily linked to Brooklyn in recent weeks, and it appears they could roll the dice on him. –TR
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
The Kings have had their eye on Acuff Jr., but there is concern that he won’t still be on the board by the seventh selection. Some reports have even indicated that Scott Perry could opt to trade up just to secure Acuff Jr., but with this route, that wouldn’t be necessary.
The connections between Acuff Jr. and the Kings date back to when Perry coached his dad, Darius Acuff Sr., at Eastern Kentucky in 1997.
The two are both Detroit natives.
In one season at Arkansas, Acuff Jr. averaged 23.5 points on 48.4-percent shooting, with 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.2 turnovers in 35.1 minutes through 36 games. He also shot an impressive 44.0 percent from beyond the arc on 5.8 3-point attempts per game.
It is no secret that the Kings need a starting point guard. Not only does Acuff Jr. fill that void, but he also checks several boxes Sacramento needs as a pure three-level scorer who can get a bucket when he needs to.
And perhaps most importantly, the star potential is there, something needed for a team like the Kings, who finished 22-60 last season. –TR
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO): Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
CJ McCollum did what he needed to do to lead the Hawks to a first-round playoff appearance, but his lack of consistent help is why the Hawks got the first-round boot. Brown Jr. gives Atlanta at least another consistent shot creator to pair with McCollum. –TR
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
When there’s smoke, there’s fire, and these two sides keep getting connected to one another. Burries does a bit of everything well and is a strong 6-foot-4 combo guard at 215 pounds who can get downhill and can help on both sides of the ball. –DJ
The Bucks can go a number of ways. They also might be operating under the assumption they’ll have another first-round pick from a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Here, the Bucks bring in a point guard who can guide them into the future and has star potential. –DJ
11. Golden State Warriors: Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan
What order Michigan’s Big Three goes will be as interesting as who the Warriors wind up selecting here. The Warriors have multiple areas to address, and Johnson’s athleticism and defensive versatility would be an instant spark for a team looking to get back on the right path.
Johnson already impressed as Mr. Dirty Work in his two years at Michigan and now has been rising up boards throughout the pre-draft process. He came in at 6-foot-9 barefoot and an extremely strong 251 pounds at the combine as a tweener who can play the 4 and the 5 with an elite profile of a 7-foot-3 wingspan and 8-foot-11 standing reach before owning athletic drills. Johnson can guard out on the wings and be an absolute two-way difference-maker down low.
Though his shot is questioned, he has shown feel and touch, shooting 78.2 percent from the free-throw line last season. In Big Ten play, Johnson went 10 of 25 from 3-point range (40 percent). The Warriors will be working Johnson out, per sources, and he could solidify himself as a true option here for them. –DJ
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
OKC’s offseason began slightly earlier than anticipated after falling just short of defending its 2024-25 NBA title, which means Isaiah Hartenstein could enter unrestricted free agency. Mara would be the best option to back up Chet Holmgren. –TR
13. Miami Heat: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
A team like the Heat feels like they’d love to see the Warriors and Thunder pass on Lendeborg. He’s a plug-and-play pick who can play the 3, 4 and even small-ball 5 with his 7-foot-3 wingspan. The Heat don’t waste time here. –DJ
14. Charlotte Hornets: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
Lopez’s draft value has gone up and down over the weeks, but his physique at 19 years old has been enticing for NBA owners and front offices. –TR
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
Adding Wilson and Carr in the first round gives the Bulls a nightmare in transition for opposing defenses. Carr is a long athlete who has a smooth shot from deep. He won the combine, and the Bulls could win the first round with these two picks. –DJ
Ja Morant’s time in Memphis appears to be nearing an end, so the focus is on the future. Philon Jr. is a shifty combo guard who can both handle the ball but also get a bucket when he needs to as a creative three-level scorer. –TR
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
If the Thunder do keep this pick, Cenac is worth the swing. He’ll need time to develop and the Thunder might be the perfect home for him. –DJ
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
The Hornets need to bolster their frontcourt, and through the combine, Steinbach climbed the rankings and solidified his status as a first-round draft prospect. –TR
19. Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
Look past Anderson’s height at just under 6-foot-1 barefoot and put on the tape. Anderson can put the ball on a string and be lights out from three. In an early-season win against Duke, Anderson scored 27 points and had five assists and made five 3-pointers. –DJ
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
Despite showcasing one of the most embarrassing defeats in NBA history in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, it’s no secret that the young Spurs will be a problem in the West for a while. Quintance could be a welcome addition to something special brewing in San Antonio. –TR
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Bennett Stirt, PG, Iowa
The new-age Grit and Grind Pistons need to get Cade Cunningham some more help in the backcourt. Stirtz checks the boxes as a playmaker and deep threat who can help get Cunningham off the ball more. He’s not an overwhelming athlete, but he is a highly skilled player. –DJ
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Koa Peat, F, Arizona
Philly needs reliable frontcourt depth – emphasis on reliable. Peat is a well-rounded player who’s capable of doing a little bit of everything on the floor. –TR
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
After taking Brown with their first pick, the Hawks bring in frontcourt help with their second. Veesaar is a 7-foot senior who also shot 42.7 percent beyond the arc. He can be a great complement for Onyeka Okongwu. –DJ
24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
The Knicks are one win away from their first NBA championship in five long decades. Graves could be an intriguing option for Mike Brown and the Knicks. –TR
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
With Doncic leading the Lakers, they need more talent at center. In comes Reed, who does not miss around the rim, is a lob threat and averaged 19.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in the NCAA tournament. –DJ
26. Denver Nuggets: Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound athletic forward/wing will offer frontcourt support to complement Nikola Jokíc and Jamal Murray. –TR
27. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke
Given a bigger role as a sophomore, Evans was a major reason for Duke’s success. He can space the floor and instantly take part in the Celtics’ 3-point contest. –DJ
Okorie is a lightning-quick point guard who emerged as a standout freshman at Stanford. His presence would allow Anthony Edwards to play more off the ball and more to his original position as a true shooting guard. –TR
Instant offense. That’s what Meleek Thomas brings and who he can be right away in the NBA. Thomas shared a backcourt with Acuff and averaged 15.6 points per game while shooting 41.6 percent beyond the arc in his one season at Arkansas. –DJ
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Jefferson’s draft stock has increased in recent weeks. He’s a highly versatile, playmaking forward, often referred to as a “point-forward.” –TR
Jun 1973; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis in action during the 1973 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images
Introduction
Fifty Six years ago on this day Dock Ellis, a 25 year old right handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, tossed a no hitter against the San Diego Padres. This wouldn’t normally warrant a full article, especially a no hitter where said pitcher walked eight batters and hit one, but you’ve already read the title, so I’ll just let Dock tell the story in his own words first, since he was a far better story teller than I ever will be.
The Doubters
Apparently there are people out there who don’t think this story happened, among them Pirates beat reporter Les Biederman who was AT the game. Biederman pokes holes in Dock’s story, noting that Ellis arrived on time, and didn’t look like he was under the influence. None of his teammates in that game have corroborated the story either, most notably Willie Stargill, the offensive hero of the game. To put it politely, Dock Ellis was quite the storyteller and some have suggested it is just that, a story. I however am not swayed by most of the arguments that have been made suggesting that this outright didn’t happen.
Context is Important and Addicts Are Unreliable Narrators
First off, I think it’s important to point out the context of when this happened, and when this story became public, which was long after the fact. Dock Ellis was a 25 year old in active addiction when this happened. He told this story decades later after sobering up, and later admitted that his biggest regret in life was not being able to remember his greatest personal achievement in pro sports. Having had my own struggled well over a decade ago, I know the struggles of addiction and the pain in Ellis’ voice when discussing it is very real and relatable, and it’s enough for me to believe that some version of his story happened. As far as Ellis not being late for the game, I am sure in his mind Ellis though he was super late, you have to remember that this is someone under the effects of multiple drugs. LSD messes with your perception of time, it can make you very paranoid, but most importantly it makes you a very, very unreliable narrator.
“But Wesley! That still sounds like lying to me!”
The only lying going so far are the lies by omission, that only someone who is familiar enough with the substances mentioned could catch.
Ellis, D wasn’t on just LSD
This is a bit of a side point, but as someone with ADHD, I would be shocked if Dock Ellis wasn’t self medicating for ADHD, considering all the stimulants he used, and the fact that he struggled to pitch without them. getting back to the main point though, Ellis wasn’t just on LSD, he was on a bunch of stimulants as well as a barbituate. Dexamyl was a combination of the active ingredient in the ADHD medication Dexidrine, and a barbituate tranquilizer, which later was taken off the market due to abuse, and being phased out by more effective Benzodiazapines. The other stimulant medication mentioned is literally just amphetamine, which is also a component of the ADHD medication Adderall. Having friends in both the EDM and the Jam Band/wook scene, I have been told that mixing ADHD meds won’t affect the intensity of a trip or its duration, but what will affect the intensity and effect of an LSD trip is repeatedly dosing yourself for multiple days in a row, which usually just results in a higher tolerance and bum vibes on the last day of EDC. Ellis described using LSD throughout his days off. So Doc’s trip is not off to a great start just from those f.actors. Having taken his dosage at noon, he’d be feeling the affects by one, and by first pitch he would be on the back end of the peak effects, considering LSD lasts roughly 10-12 hours. Even if we account for this being 1970 LSD, which by all consensus was way way too strong, Doc wouldn’t have been tripping his balls off by the end of the game. Regardless of how strong any visual effects were, his performance would still likely have been affected due to one common physiological side affect of LSD though, excessive sweating from the palms. There’s no reason to believe that it would actually interfere enough with his in game performance to actually be all that noticeable, or for it to prevent him from playing, especially a starting pitcher.
Ellis wasn’t himself in that game
Dock Ellis threw multiple complete games in his 1970 season, and in none of those games did he struggle with his control like he did in his no hitter. This is a guy who had BB/9 of 3,9 that season and that includes his eight walks in that game. Take the walks from that game out of his stats and I’d imagine his BB/9 drops down to close to 3 walks per nine innings. So here’s a starting pitcher with otherwise decent control, suddenly walking batters at twice his normal rate. Dock would hit batters on occasion, but usually it was on purpose. Ellis was also usually a fairly good hitter; that season he had 10 hits, including a double, a walk, and a stolen base. Keyword usually, as Ellis was hitless, striking out twice. Having worse control as a pitcher, a bad day at the plate, yet somehow still throwing a no hitter is actually exactly how I’d expect LSD to affect an athlete.
Final points
As far as the lack of corroboration from teammates goes, specifically Willie Stargill, I understand completely why he would remain silent. Willie Stargill was involved in the cocaine scandals of the 1980s, I doubt he would want to comment on it for that reason alone. The beat reporter not noticing ‘Ellis being on something’ means very little when this was an addict in active addiction, and when said beat reporter likely had very little familiarity with the substance in question. Unless you know what you’re looking for, you’re not going to notice. (for a great example, look at the creators of South Park when they went to the Oscars on LSD. None of the media noticed or said anything, but in hindsight it is also VERY obvious) Sadly, we don’t have the full game footage, only the final inning, so we can’t examine the game itself for further evidence.
Conclusion
Dock Ellis was a great pitcher, and he deserves to be remembered for more than just his famous feat. He was one of the first athlete activists. He was a great motivational speaker after he got sober, and he used his stories both to help people in recovery, and to hopefully help others avoid making the same mistakes he made. I highly recommend finding ‘No No: A Dockumentary’ which is a fantastic full length documentary exploring more than just Ellis’ no hitter, but his entire life. I think most importantly, it goes over the things Dock was famous for prior to this story taking a life of its own, like in the scene I’ve included below.
So just to conclude things, maybe in reality, this didn’t happen exactly as Dock Ellis described it, but in my heart, I’ll always believe it did.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 11: Keider Montero #54 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good
🚨 BREAKING: FIFA has decided that release clauses will now be MANDATORY in ALL CONTRACTS.
Both players and clubs will be required to include a figure in their contracts.
Now, as the 27-year-old forward powers New York’s championship chase, Hoosier alumni say they’re watching one of their own become a Knicks legend.
To Indiana University grads living in the city, he’s still the soft-spoken but hilarious, Young Thug-loving student who hung out at tailgates long before he became one of the NBA’s premier two-way players.
Anunoby, who starred under then-coach Tom Crean at Indiana from 2015-17 before launching an NBA career, has become an unlikely crossover hero for New Yorkers with Hoosier roots. For alumni who also happen to be lifelong Knicks fans, watching a Bloomington favorite thrive at Madison Square Garden feels almost too perfect.
“OG was one of the first people I ever met on the Bloomington campus in 2015,” said Jason Morrin, a 28-year-old former student who recalls meeting the basketball star during orientation, saying he was extremely friendly.
Morrin told The Post that at the time, Anunoby was close with current Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant.
“The two of them together made for quite the party. TB really brought OG out of his shell,” Morrin said.
Even as a freshman playing in Assembly Hall, his potential was evident to students who regarded him as one of the most athletically gifted players on the hardwood.
“It is surreal to watch him put everything together now for my beloved Knicks,” the New Yorker said. “He is forever a New York and Bloomington legend.”
OG Anunoby starred under then-coach Tom Crean at Indiana from 2015-17 before launching an NBA career. Getty Images
Josh Lomita remembers Anunoby from the freshman dorms and says he was always a fan favorite.
The 29-year-old New Yorker, who got to watch him play for a year in Bloomington, said his trade to the Knicks was “the best reunion.”
“It’s a full-circle storybook moment,” Lomita told The Post. “We are Knicks season ticket holders for 14 years, but lifelong fans. We lived through the darkest days of sports fandom.
“To have a player as special on both sides of the floor as OG is indescribable. Watching his tip shot fall produced an out-of-body experience. Whatever he wants in this city is his for life. Quite frankly, we should give him the key to the city and make him mayor.”
Off the court, Anunoby had a reputation for being just as approachable as he was talented, especially when he showed up at Zeta Beta Tau fraternity parties — and never turned down a photo with anyone who asked.
“Watching him party at the frat and seeing the other side of him was amazing,” said Dylan Leist. “He used to put girls on his shoulders in the middle of the mosh pits during tailgates.”
There is something special about being both a Hoosier basketball fan and a Knicks fan, two teams that experienced historic greatness followed by a long period of struggle, only to find greatness again in recent years.
For Leist, 29, Anunoby’s rise has linked two fan bases that know plenty about long waits for championships.
“Watching OG from college to the pros has been nothing short of incredible. From the Tom Crean days to now, his special talent has transformed the Knicks in a way that I have never seen,” said former Hoosier Leist. “OG’s journey as a fan of both the Hoosiers and the Knicks has been an honor to witness.”
Even after reaching the NBA, former classmates say Anunoby never changed.
Morrin said the pair stayed in touch after graduation and even reunited after a 2017 Knicks-Raptors game.
“OG always had the ability to make everyone feel special,” Lomita said.
“He never thought he was better than anyone else. He was just OG.”
New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -5.5; over/under is 216.5
NBA FINALS: Knicks lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks look to clinch the series over the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the NBA Finals. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106 in the last matchup on Thursday. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, and Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 24.
The Spurs have gone 32-8 in home games. San Antonio ranks ninth in the league with 28.1 assists per game. Stephon Castle leads the Spurs averaging 7.4.
The Knicks are 23-19 on the road. New York is eighth in the Eastern Conference with 27.4 assists per game led by Brunson averaging 6.8.
The Spurs make 48.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.3 percentage points higher than the Knicks have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Knicks average 5.0 more points per game (116.5) than the Spurs give up (111.5).
TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is shooting 51.2% and averaging 25.0 points for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 53.3% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 4-6, averaging 108.7 points, 44.2 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points per game.
Knicks: 9-1, averaging 115.5 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.6 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
Knicks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
RALEIGH, N.C.– The Vegas Golden Knights entered the third period of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in a familiar position: trailing their opponent by multiple goals. But on Thursday, for the first time in a long time, they weren’t able to come back from that multi-goal deficit.
The Golden Knights spent most of the regular season playing from behind. They finished the regular season with 1,965 minutes spent trailing their opponents– second only to the 32nd-place Vancouver Canucks– and still won the Pacific Division.
This is a veteran team that doesn’t panic and never says die. This is a team that has been able to erase multi-goal deficits at will and emerge triumphant on the other side. But they’ve been playing with fire all year, and they finally got burned.
Now, their season is on the line.
“We’re just gonna get ready for our next game,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella following the 4-2 loss.
Game 6 against the Carolina Hurricanes is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. PST on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.
1. Lost in the Wilderness
The Golden Knights losing Game 5 to fall behind 3-2 in the series isn’t great for their hopes of winning the Stanley Cup. However, it’s possible that the final score wasn’t the worst loss the Golden Knights suffered in Game 5.
At 8:19 in the second period, William Karlsson took a hit from Sean Walker along the boards. It was a seemingly harmless play, a typical, run-of-the-mill check. But Karlsson went to the bench cradling his left arm, spent a few moments talking with the trainers, and headed down the tunnel. He did not return to the game, and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Karlsson left the arena to seek further medical attention.
Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella indirectly provided an update on Karlsson postgame– and it doesn’t sound good.
“He’s an important piece to us,” said Tortorella following the 4-2 loss. “Up the middle of the ice, penalty killer, power play guy. He’s a winner. But having said that– it’s all good stuff– he’s not gonna be with us, probably. We gotta find a way to fill that void, not with just one guy, but as a team.”
2. Shame, Shame, Shame!
Game 5 was a strange game. The Golden Knights fought until the final horn and threatened until the last second. But in many ways, they lost the game nine minutes into the second period.
At 8:56 in the second, Jeremy Lauzon took a dumb penalty. As Logan Stankoven sped towards the corners to try and win a footrace to a loose puck, Lauzon caught him in the stomach with a cross-check and flipped the smaller winger like a sack of baby potatoes.
The Golden Knights killed it off. But as Lauzon stepped out of the box, Brayden McNabb boarded Jackson Blake and took another penalty. The Hurricanes took the lead a minute into the ensuing power play.
The Hurricanes, who were so sound when playing with the lead before this series, took off and never looked back. They tacked on another before the period ended and extended their lead on the power play halfway through the third.
“We had a really good start,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella following the loss. “We lost momentum when we took back-to-back penalties.”
3. GUA-RAN-TEE!
For the first time in 48 days, the Vegas Golden Knights look vulnerable. For the first time in 48 days, they lost two games in a row. For the first time in 48 days, they are trailing in a series.
John Tortorella isn’t worried.
Following the 4-2 loss, Tortorella sat at the podium and said that his team would be back at the Lenovo Center for Game 7. In fact, he guaranteed it.
“We’ll be back here,” he said. “We’re just gonna do it in a different order.”
Less than a minute later, he doubled down on his promise.
“I’m gonna leave my clothes here,” Tortorella swore. “That’s for sure. They’ll be in the hotel.”
The Golden Knights have a steep hill to climb, and without William Karlsson in the lineup, that hill becomes even steeper.
But there was a time when they looked like a one-and-done team. It’s been a while, but the Golden Knights have been down in a series before– and they were without Karlsson’s services then, too. And they certainly weren’t supposed to get past Colorado.
Yes, it’s a steep hill to climb. But they’ve spent two months proving everyone wrong. What’s one more time?
But coach John Tortorella was in form afterward, essentially guaranteeing the Stanley Cup Final would return to Raleigh, North Carolina, for Game 7 and ripping a reporter's question about the goaltending.
"We're going to find a way," he said. "I'm going to leave my clothes here, that's for sure. They'll be in the hotel."
The Carolina Hurricanes won 4-2 as Jordan Staal scored for the fifth game in a row and first-line players Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho broke through with three goals. Brandon Bussi made 23 saves in his second consecutive start since replacing Frederik Andersen at the start of the third period of Game 3.
Tortorella took exception when a reporter asked if he considered replacing Carter Hart with Adin Hill for the start of the third period on Thursday. Hart has given up four goals in every game of the series.
"Oh for Christ - that could be the stupidest question I've heard," he said.
The Golden Knights had some positives with Pavel Dorofeyev scoring twice to end a drought. Jack Eichel had two assists.
But Hart will need to outplay Bussi in Game 6 and the Golden Knights will need to solve the Hurricanes' power play without penalty killer Karlsson for Tortorella's vow to come true.
Jordan Staal ties NHL record with Game 5 goal
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal's five-game streak in the Stanley Cup Final tied an NHL record and put him in elite company.
He joined Hall of Famers Yvan Cournoyer (1973), Jean Beliveau (1956), Maurice Richard (1951) and Fred "Cyclone" Taylor (1918) with the streak. Staal would pass them if he scores in Game 6 on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Hurricanes coach glad for two-day break
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said he's grateful that there are two days off before Game 6 in order to tamp down the excitement about winning the franchise's first Stanley Cup title since 2006.
"I don't think it will be too hard to focus this group," he said.
The Golden Knights are on the brink of elimination from the Stanley Cup Final after losing Game 5 to the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, on Thursday.
The teams return to Vegas for Game 6 on Sunday, as the Golden Knights look to stave off elimination and force a Game 7, which would be in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday.
Though Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring 6:52 into the game with a power-play goal to give Vegas a 1-0 lead, the Hurricanes answered shortly thereafter to thwart the Knights' energy, as Jordan Staal scored his sixth goal of the series.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 12, 2026
After being outscored 9-1 in the second period through the first four games, the Hurricanes outscored the Knights 2-0 on Thursday to secure a 3-1 lead after two periods, getting goals from Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho.
Svechnikov added a power-play goal in the third, to push Carolina's lead to 4-1 before Dorofeyev scored his second goal a little more than two minutes later to cut the lead in half.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 12, 2026
Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi was in lockdown mode, however, as he stopped 23 shots on the night.
Vegas netminder Carter Hart, who made 20 saves, allowed four goals for the fifth straight game.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) scores against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) and defenseman K'andre Miller (19) during the third period in game five of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center.
Golden Knights forward William Karlsson left the Thursday, June 11 game in the second period after absorbing a check from Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker along the boards.
A trainer looked at Karlsson's arm on the bench and Karlsson skated to the dressing room. He didn't return and ABC reported that Karlsson left Lenovo Center to undergo further examination.
Golden Knights coach John Tortorella looked discouraged when the trainer came out to talk to him. He gave a discouraging postgame report on Karlsson's status for the rest of the series.
Tortorella said he had no update on Karlsson but didn't sound positive about the player's status.
"He's not going to be with us probably," he said. "We've got to find a way to fill that void, not with just one guy but as a team."
Karlsson had two goals and two assists in the Final. He was limited to 14 games in the regular season, but his return late in the regular season was one of several factors that helped the Golden Knights clinch a playoff berth.
"He's an important piece for us," Tortorella said. "Penalty killer. Power play guy. He's a winner."
The Hurricanes lead the series 3-2 after the 4-2 victory and can clinch their first Stanley Cup title since 2006 on Sunday, June 14 in Game 6 at Las Vegas.
SAN ANTONIO — OG Anunoby was the star, his flying tip-in of a Jalen Brunson missed 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left capping a comeback for the ages. But there were so many pivotal moments and unsung stars in the Knicks rally from 29 points down in their pulsating Game 4 victory.
The Post takes a look back at how it all went down:
KAT’s timely deflection
The Garden was abuzz, thinking Anunoby had just brought the Knicks to within one win of their first championship in 53 years. But the Spurs still had a chance, inbounding the ball with 1.2 seconds to go. Stephon Castle shook free for a potential alley-oop, but Dylan Harper’s inbounds pass was deflected by Towns, and Castle couldn’t get off a shot. After being limited by foul trouble in the first half, Towns was solid over the final 24 minutes, producing seven points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns played a crucial role late in the Knicks’ historic 107-106 win over the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2026 at the Garden. Getty Images
MSG Rims
The Garden rims were kind to the Knicks on two specific occasions. The first instance involved Anunoby. His stepback 3 hit off the front rim, the backboard and dropped, cutting the deficit to 15 with just under a minute left in the third quarter. The second one came with 9:15 to go and the Knicks down 20. Jose Alvarado’s left corner 3 rolled around the rim, off the glass and fell.
Backup’s star turn
Knicks coach Mike Brown closed with Alvarado, and the reserve point guard excelled. He scored five consecutive Knicks points in the fourth quarter — a driving layup and a 3-pointer — that made it a four-point game with 3:07 remaining. Both baskets followed field goals by the Spurs, which kept momentum on the Knicks’ side.
Jose Alvarado came through for the Knicks in Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Fox’s blunder
De’Aaron Fox’s decision to attack the basket rather than eat up precious seconds of the clock and wait to be fouled was a boneheaded mistake. After a Brunson miss with the Spurs up one point, there was a scramble for the rebound. Fox got to it first in the backcourt with roughly 12 seconds left. He went in for the layup, but was rejected by Anunoby. Fox had a terrible second half, shooting 2-for-8 from the field and committing four turnovers.
Johnson’s costly decisions
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson made two moves he likely regrets. The first one was playing Victor Wembanyama all but 50 seconds of the second half. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman was clearly fatigued late and not only missed 11 of 14 shots over the final two quarters, but also missed two critical free throws with 1:47 remaining. The second was not guarding the inbounder on the Knicks’ final possession. Anunoby threw the ball in to Brunson, and nobody was there to block him out on the game-winning tip-in.
A key successful challenge
Early in the fourth quarter, the Spurs inbounded the ball to Wembanyama. He was stripped, and the initial ruling gave San Antonio possession. Coach Mike Brown, advised by assistant coach Jordan Brink, challenged the call and won.
In a split second, De’Aaron Fox became the basketball world’s object of consternation. The foil. The antihero.
It happened with less than 15 seconds left and the Spurs up 106-105. Victor Wembanyama got a defensive stop against Jalen Brunson, and Fox tipped the rebound to himself.
After chasing the ball downcourt, Fox had a decision to make. Use the clock. Or go for a layup.
He’s fast. He believed in himself. He decided to go for what he thought would be a sure-fire way to give the Spurs a three-point lead. A layup is easier to make than two free throws, after all.
Except he miscalculated things.
OG Anunoby met him in the paint. As Fox elevated with 11 seconds left, Anunoby made the block of his life.
The Knicks found themselves with possession of the ball. They had a relative eternity on the clock. They had a chance to clinch the game.
OG Anunoby blocks De’Aaron Fox’s shot in the closing seconds of the Knicks’ historic 107-106 win over the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA on June 10, 2026 at the Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Brunson attempted a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left that rimmed out. Fox, who had left Anunoby to double-team the Knicks star, then watched his man cut through the lane, elevate and tip in the ball with 1.2 seconds remaining.
So many things went wrong for the Spurs in a hellish fourth quarter. It takes all five guys on the court to blow a 29-point lead, as well as the guy at the helm. But in a collapse so big, on this stage, the world needs to blame someone.
If Fox had made the layup, he would’ve been the hero.
But the gamble didn’t go his way.
So instead, that play has landed him in the eye of the storm. He’s now the face of a collapse so large that it will be talked about for generations. It might not be fair. But that’s basketball. Just ask JR Smith.
The 28-year-old Fox is a veteran point guard. The Spurs traded for him in February 2025 because they trusted him to shepherd the team in clutch moments. He signed a four-year, $229 million extension with the team in August.
Fox had a fraction of a second to make a decision. In this case, with the world watching, he happened to make the wrong one.
“I just thought I’d be able to outrun him,” Fox said of Anunoby. “That’s it.”
For the Spurs, this series has been defined by a series of little mistakes that have had monumental consequences.
In Game 2, Wembanyama was the fall guy after he committed a turnover with 12.7 seconds left in the Spurs’ 105-104 loss.
Karl-Anthony Towns fouls De’aaron Fox during the first quarter of the Knicks’ historic Game 4 win over the Spurs. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
On Wednesday, it was Fox’s turn to have the world point its finger at him, ring bells and chant “shame.”
Sure, Wembanyama missed two free throws with 1:47 left and the Spurs up 104-103. Sure, the Spurs went cold in the second half, shooting just 20.5 percent from the field. Fox was just a piece of the puzzle.
But his mistake was the most memorable. It was the most egregious.
The funny thing is, Fox was a hero of sorts in Game 3 after he made a jumper with 12 seconds left to help lift the Spurs to a 115-111 win. He came through when it mattered most.
But two days later, the opposite was true.
De’Aaron Fox (4) of the San Antonio Spurs in action on June 10, 2026. Anadolu via Getty Images
Overall, Fox has had a rough series. The two-time All-Star is averaging just 14.3 points over the last four games, less than half as much as his Knicks counterpart Brunson, who’s averaging 29.5 points.
In Game 4, Fox had 18 points (but it took him 16 shots to get them), seven assists and five rebounds. He also had four turnovers, including a glaring one with two minutes left and the Spurs up 104-103 when he essentially threw the ball to Josh Hart.
You want to root for Fox. It was tough to watch. He’s sacrificing his own stats while playing alongside Wembanyama. He’s a guy who truly cares about winning above all else.
But Fox is now firmly in the bullseye of a catastrophe that has transfixed the sports world. This game will be talked about forever. It instantly became a classic.
The Knicks are now one win away from their first championship since 1973. Meanwhile, the Spurs have squandered two games by final-second errors, most recently at the hands of their point guard who was supposed to steady them in these moments.
Fox isn’t the reason the Spurs lost Game 4. This collapse was so much bigger than him. San Antonio was outscored in the fourth quarter, 32-16. Everyone is at fault for this disaster.
But Fox’s blunder was the most stunning.
It’s universally accepted that with such little time on the clock and such a paper-thin lead, the best thing to do is dribble. Let time pass. Incite panic. Draw the foul. Steal time from the opponent. Close their window to score.
But Fox took a risk on the league’s biggest stage.
New York's new hero sat at his locker, alone, icing both knees, looking through his phone as if the day had just begun, as if he didn't just create one of the most iconic moments in the history of the most iconic arena, as if he didn't yet realize his name will be lifted to the rafters with one more win.
There were roughly 19,812 screaming as one — “O-G! O-G! O-G!” — family, friends and strangers who made no distinction, processing the unimaginable, releasing avalanches, tidal waves and mountains of emotions, inspired by 53 years of close calls and bad calls, of decades as a punchline and a punching bag, of a love that was rarely reciprocated and a hope that was never rewarded.
They stayed in their seats long after the final buzzer screamed victory, unwilling to leave the dream. They continued chanting through the concourses, down the escalators and outside nearby bars — “O-G! O-G! O-G!” — sporting jerseys that span the eras, smoking blue and orange vapes in a semicircle of ecstasy, making out as if V-J Day was just declared.
Inside the Knicks locker room, there was quiet.
OG Anunoby slams home a dunk during the Knicks’ historic 107-106 win over the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at the Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
Roughly 20 minutes had passed since OG Anunoby followed a game-saving block by sprinting to the rim and soaring through the lane for the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, capping a record-setting 29-point comeback and putting the Knicks one win from their first title since 1973.
Anunoby had delivered the most important shot in Knicks history, overcome the constant injuries that capped his potential and rewarded the team that saw a soft-spoken role player in Canada as someone built for Broadway.
New York’s new hero sat at his locker, alone, icing both knees, looking through his phone as if the day had just begun, as if he didn’t just create one of the most iconic moments in the history of the most iconic arena, as if he didn’t yet realize his name will be lifted to the rafters with one more win.
Even in triumph, even on the receiving end of unending adulation, Anunoby stayed on-brand, displaying an expression that won’t reveal if he has a royal flush or a busted straight, speaking as if he’s charged by the word, more focused on the next play than the one that changed his life.
But he doesn’t have a say in what comes next. The spotlight he never sought has found a new home, stitched now and forever to the owner of two letters they’ll be chanting for years to come.
“OG is just, he’s unique,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said during this postseason run. “He’s special.”
Ogugua Anunoby was born in London on July 17, 1997, to parents of Nigerian descent. His mother, Grace, was a track and field star in her homeland, who died of cancer before Anunoby turned 1. His father, Ogugua Sr., raised seven children — including Anunoby’s older brother, Chigbo, who was a defensive lineman in the NFL — teaching at universities in Nigeria and England before moving the family to Missouri when Anunoby was 4 to become a professor of business and finance at Lincoln University.
“I do not intend to be immodest, but we tried to raise a proper family,” Ogugua Sr. told Sportsnet in 2017. “And when I say proper, what I mean is we are people who do things well. We value hard work, order and success. You don’t talk unless you have to talk. And if you have to talk, you should say something that doesn’t take away from the conversation, but enriches it.”
OG Anunoby’s father, Ogugua Sr., passed away at age 66. Provided by Trimble Funerals
During Anunoby’s rookie season in Toronto in 2018, his father died in his sleep, at 66.
“It was tough not having a mother, but my dad did a really good job raising us,” Anunoby told Sportsnet at the 2017 NBA Draft.
Anunoby excelled in baseball — and was a big fan of the Carlos Delgado-era Mets — football and track, but was drawn to basketball, begging his father to buy a high-priced hoop for their Jefferson City home when he was 8.
Dr. Anunoby — who demanded his children read for at least one hour every night — complied, as long as it was put to good use.
OG Anunoby is all smiles as he talks to the media after the Knicks’ historic Game 4 win over the Spurs. NBAE via Getty Images
“My dad always taught me discipline and to do everything with my best effort, to always do things on time and be respectful in everything I do,” Anunoby told the London Evening Standard in 2017. “My whole family is big on that so it’s very important to me and I try to do it in everything.”
Anunoby was a relatively unknown star at Jefferson City High School, outside the top 250 players in national recruiting rankings. He was a three-star, 6-foot-8 prospect who played in the shadow of AAU teammate Jayson Tatum and was left off the program of a tournament attended by Tom Crean, leaving Indiana’s coaching staff scrambling to learn the identity of the physical and explosive wing with an invisible ceiling.
“[He is] a quiet killer,” Crean, his former college coach, told The Post after Anunoby joined the Knicks. “He’s an old soul in a lot of ways, a very caring person, but he has got an incredible drive. I’d almost say it’s an insatiable drive to be great and to win.”
Anunoby spent two years with the Hoosiers, but saw his final season cut short after he suffered a torn ACL, resulting in the potential lottery selection falling to the Raptors with the 23rd overall pick.
Tom Crean, who was OG Anunoby’s head coach at Indiana, said the Knicks star has an “insatiable drive to be great and to win.” Anthony J. Causi
In his second pro season, Anunoby earned a championship ring in Toronto, but missed the entire postseason run after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
“I believe that created an incredible hunger for him because he wasn’t on the court for it,” Crean said. “It’s almost like, yeah, he got the ring and was a big part of it all season, but in his own mind, he didn’t feel the level of winning it.
“He was around the team and he’d been instrumental in getting to that point, but he wasn’t out there on the court at the end, and I think that’s what he truly wants more than anything else. That’s where that drive is for him.”
OG Anunoby played two seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers. Getty Images
Anunoby’s 240-pound frame seemed chiseled from concrete, but it was constantly crumbling. Injuries limited him to an average of less than 53 games in the three seasons before the Raptors sent him to New York for former No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett, Knicks fan favorite Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick.
The Knicks were 17-15 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference when Anunoby debuted with the Knicks on Jan. 1, 2024. They went 12-2 in his first 14 games in the lineup before an elbow injury sidelined him for nearly two months.
Anunoby returned in time to help the Knicks take a 2-0 second-round series lead against the Pacers, but he suffered a hamstring injury that sparked a Knicks tailspin, keeping him sidelined until he hobbled through five minutes of an excruciating Game 7 loss at the Garden.
OG Anunoby shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected by the Raptors with the No. 23 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Jason Szenes for New York Post
The Knicks locked up Anunoby that offseason to a five-year, $212.5 million deal (the largest in team history), tying their title hopes to an injury-prone wing who had never been an All-Star.
Anunoby matched a career high by playing 74 games last season and set a personal best with 18 points per game, helping the Knicks make the conference finals for the first time in a quarter century. This season, Anunoby hit nearly 39 percent of his 3-pointers, while being selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team.
“OG is someone who brings it every night, does what’s asked of him, plus more,” Jalen Brunson said after the Game 4 win. “His work ethic, since the moment I’ve been teammates with him and seen him, has grown. His confidence has grown just because of his work ethic, everything that I’ve seen, he’s got exponentially better at.
“So regardless of what the outside world thinks of him, we know what we have in our locker room. And we have a superstar in that locker room.”
Anunoby’s importance has long been understood at the Garden, where fans emphatically assist PA announcer Mike Walczewski’s booming introduction of a player whose numbers will never convey the value of someone whose 7-foot-2 wingspan and basketball IQ impact every possession.
“He does everything,” Landry Shamet said in the locker room. “He’s a virtuoso.”
Anunoby was the Knicks’ best player during their first-round comeback against the Hawks, but he suffered a hamstring injury in Game 2 of the second-round series against the 76ers, threatening to derail another deep run. But the 28-year-old was back for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, contributing nine points, three rebounds and a steal in the overtime of what was then the biggest playoff comeback in team history.
Entering Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, Anunoby ranks second on the Knicks in scoring (20.7), third in rebounds (6.2), second in steals (1.4) and second in blocks (1.1) in the postseason, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field and a team-best 50.6 percent on 3-pointers.
He is forever different, forever elevated, forever linked to Willis Reed and Larry Johnson. He is the one who made Manhattan shake, the author of the improbable, who took a sledgehammer to Charles Smith’s layups and Patrick Ewing’s finger roll, who called for the ball, then backed up Captain Clutch, flying through the air and parting the clouds to grab a rebound that’s been out of reach for 53 years and put it home.
The legend has spoken — two letters to stand the test of time.
“Every time I talk to him, I say, I already know what OG Anunoby is going to do in the fourth quarter, and he did exactly what I thought he would do,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you could ask for from the best two-way player in the NBA.”
