Sam Presti knew he shouldn't do it, but he couldn't help himself.
The man in charge of Oklahoma City's basketball operations — the man widely considered the best executive in the league, one who built a young championship roster — said he knew Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would "kill me for talking about this" and then he proceeded to talk about the narrative around SGA's drawing free throws and the backlash to his playing style anyway. For almost seven minutes.
"He's playing against six people, he's got five defenders and the sixth defender is social media," Presti said (credit to Brandon Rahbar of the Daily Thunder for posting the video). "That's a reality, and he's not going to be the last player that the machine decides to target, but no one's going to handle it as gracefully, because when they turn it on somebody else, they're not going to step up there every night and not acknowledge it."
Thing is, it's not just fans on social media who complain about Gilgeous-Alexander's playing style — although there are plenty of those — it's coaches like the Knicks Mike Brown, the Warriors' Steve Kerr and the Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff (among others). It's also players such as the Celtics' Jaylen Brown, or Victor Wembanyama's thinly veiled discussion of "ethical basketball."
Presti defended Gilgeous-Alexander against them, too.
"The postgame press conference has turned into the bully pulpit to create competitive advantage..." Presti said. "It used to be you get up there, you talk about your own team, now everyone gets up there and they talk about the officials and they discredit the other team."
Presti's rant was playing to his core audience — and that likely starts with Gilgeous-Alexander himself. As noted by Presti, SGA brushes questions about his foul-drawing aside during the season, but if the narrative about it really does bother SGA, then Presti went out, made the case that everyone inside the Thunder organization has made for years, and had his star's back. This also will play well with Thunder fans.
Presti continued to defend SGA for drawing fouls, saying all the greats do it, and his total fouls drawn last season were tied with Joel Embiid and comparable to those of Jaylen Brown and Jalen Brunson, guys who don't face the same criticism.
Presti also talked about all the things that Gilgeous-Alexander does right that he feels don't get enough attention.
"[People say] Players don't play defense, Shai is a two-end player," Presti said. "Now, he plays with four or five All-NBA defensive players, so sometimes his defensive ability gets undersold, but he plays two ends. Second, [fans say] all NBA players do is complain, b**** and moan... He's gotten three technical fouls this year, none for complaining, one for waving a towel in support of someone that hit a shot that doesn't play very often...
"The other thing is load management — nobody plays, they take all these games off. Shai plays every night... Next one is all you do is shoot threes. NBA players, all they do is shoot threes. Okay, well, he's brought the mid-range back to an art form."
All that is going to play well with the Thunder and their fans, and be mocked by most outside of OKC. Presti is smart, and he knew all of that before he went off on his rant in the first place.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes the save against Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights on a penalty shot in the third period of Game Three of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by RJ Forbus/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The goalie question is one that’s been lurking under the surface ever since the puck dropped for Round 1, Game 1 on April 18th. In each series it had been expected that the regular season savior Brandon Bussi would make an appearance. Frederik Andersen, however, did what you want a goalie to do and just seized control of the net. You could absolutely argue that Bussi should have had at least one appearance during one of the other series, but as they say in the Hangover, you never walk away from the table when you’re on a heater.
Unfortunately over the first three games, that heater has ended. Bob discussed it yesterday in the post linked above—by the raw numbers Andersen has just not been good and any time six pucks get past you in one period you can make all the excuses in the world, it’s not going to win you games. What is also easy to see with your own eyes is that despite not playing in a real game for over two months, Bussi came in and the team was able to tie the game in the third. He was exactly what that team needed, and honestly the goal to end the game wasn’t a real shot—just a very fluky bounce on a random push back attempt.
Thus we are now at the point of wondering who’ll be manning the crease. Fans thought they may have had a clue when the Canes came out for practice on Monday to this set up:
Of course it turns out that Brind’Amour is just messing with all of us.
Honestly, why not have fun with it? History tells us it’ll be Andersen but with a shorter leash. Then again the man who is supposedly stubborn had lines blended so wildly on Saturday to get the team to storm back, it is possible he recognizes for the team to play better defense, it has to be Bussi in net.
You think Bussi is going to give you any sort of lead? Think again.
Brandon Bussi says he hasn’t been told if he’s starting Game 4 or not.
Seriously, it is nice to see after how intense the first three games have been, there does seem to still be a sense of humor with this team. It’s a good thing because it’s only a 2-1 deficit the Canes are looking at, yet it feels worse in a lot of ways due to the three and four goal deficits that the Canes have had to overcome the last two games. Lost in all of the intensity of this is the fact that the goalie for the Golden Knights hasn’t exactly shone that brightly, either. Three goals in 39 seconds is something no goalie wants on their resume, and giving up significant leads in back-to-back games would normally have a team thinking about their strategy, too. But, because Vegas is up, no one is really talking about pulling him for Aiden Hill.
It does point to the biggest frustration for Carolina and one that should also give fans the most hope—Carolina has yet to play anything close to a complete game this series, and if they are able to the chances they can go on a run are high. The question, of course, is are they having trouble because they just can’t get out of their own heads or is Vegas just responsible for it? It’s probably a little of both, complete with one team reaching this level for the first time as a unit while the other has a lot of folks with recent experience.
The other question going into tonight was on William Carrier, who left early in Game 3. However, as everyone noted Carrier was on the ice and practicing with his usual line mates, and with the way Brind’Amour does things it means he’s playing. Also note K’Andre Miller out on the ice, as Ray Ferraro erroneously reported that he didn’t take a shift during the second overtime. Miller didn’t miss a shift then, but no one ever really corrected Ferraro.
On the Vegas side there’s a little more intrigue as neither Noah Hanifin nor Brayden McNabb took the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights’ public practice yesterday. For McNabb it’s doubtful he’ll miss a game after playing Saturday, so it’s likely it was just a move to try and limit his contact as he has to play with the full face cage. Hanifin is interesting if only because it’s clear he’s hurting, and the need to take a practice off could speak to just the level of injury he’s dealing with even though he’s probably playing.
Someone who is absolutely playing—the current Conn Smythe favorite Mitch Marner. The performance on Saturday may have sealed the award for him whether Vegas wins or loses, and either way the Hurricanes are going to have to try to account for him better. Does Carolina try to clog things defensively a little bit more, or sit back a little bit more to prevent his breakout ability? Does that open up the offense for the rest of Veags?
Perhaps the biggest question—after three ridiculous games do we have yet another classic brewing for tonight? The stakes are tighter as a Carolina win turns this into a best-of-three series with the Canes having home ice, while a Vegas win means the Stanley Cup will be back in Lenovo Thursday Night as the Golden Knights would be one win away.
As for how to watch—if you don’t have a ticket to tonight’s watch party at Lenovo, you’re now out of luck unless someone will transfer a ticket to you. If you have a ticket, a word of advice from someone there on Saturday night who had a blast—have a plan. The folks at the arena are treating this like a game with traffic control, full security, and everything staffed, but getting a seat is basically like an 1800’s land grab. All three levels are open, and every seat is general admission. If your plan is to get there at about 6:30, line up, and easily get your seat you are in for a surprise. People are lining up early to get their first choice, so account for rush hour traffic, and know what direction you’re headed for when you go through the door.
Inside, all the concessions should be open, at regular season prices, and be mindful the line for people to get the Stanley Cup patch on their jersey will be long, wrapping around half of the concourse. The game day staff put on an outstanding show, complete with pregame videos, siren sounders, entertainment during the commercials, and Stormy. During action, peep at the ice and you’re going to notice the live player dots that mirror the action on the screen.
If you aren’t going to be at Lenovo or another watch party, here’s how you can catch the action:
Time: 8 PM Eastern
TV: ABC with Sean McDonough handling play-by-play, Ray Ferraro between the benches for color, Emily Kaplan handling off-ice interviews, and Dave Jackson providing the officiating view. Note that The Point pregame show with Steve Levy, PK Subban, Mark Messier, and Erik Johnson will be on ESPN2 starting at 6 PM as ESPN has WNBA coverage.
Streaming Video: The ESPN App has the main feed, a skycast alt feed, ASL feed, and a Spanish feed.
Radio: Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy call the action. The pregame Storm Watch with Adam Gold on 99.9 The Fan starts at 7 PM and runs for 60 minutes. At 8 PM the Hurricanes Radio Network (consisting of 99.9, 730 The Game in Charlotte, ESPN New Bern 107.5/1490, and ESPN Greenville 107.5/1570). You will also be able stream this call through 99.9 on your smart device, app, or the Carolina Hurricanes app—and it’s not geolocked.
Former Stanley Cup champion Milan Lucic announced his retirement on Sunday, hanging up his skates after 17 seasons. Calgary Flames fans will remember Lucic as one of the few players ever traded from their provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers.
Milan Lucic has announced his retirement from professional hockey.
From Vancouver, British Columbia, Milan played junior hockey with his hometown Vancouver Giants of the WHL beginning in the 2004-05 season. Milan was selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the 2006… pic.twitter.com/4F62rLtPEE
After nine seasons with the Boston Bruins, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2011, Lucic went to Los Angeles for one year before signing a blockbuster deal with the Oilers in 2016. During his first season in the Alberta capital, Lucic scored 23 goals and never duplicated that production again, leading to a trade to Calgary for James Neal on July 19, 2019.
The official trade was Lucic and a conditional third-round pick (Kirill Kirsanov) for Neal.
At 31 when he made his Flames debut, Lucic tallied eight goals and 20 points, finishing with a minus-6 rating, as the team's 11th highest scorer. The following season, Lucic collected 10 goals, finishing 8th in scoring with 23 points in 56 games, with a minus-8 rating.
On a Pacific Division-winning club in 2021-22, Lucic had the second-worst plus/minus rating on the team at minus-9, collecting 10 goals and 21 points in all 82 games. In his final campaign with the Flames, 2022-23, Lucic once again posted the second-worst plus/minus at minus-13 and had only seven goals and 19 points in 77 games.
In 283 games with Calgary, Lucic compiled a stat line that included 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 points and a minus-36 rating, with 227 penalty minutes.
The native of Vancouver, BC, debuted with the Bruins at 19, in 2007-08, and became a one-time 30-goal scorer in 2010-11, the same year he'd win his only Stanley Cup title. Known as a power forward who loved to hit and score big goals, Lucic scored more than 20 goals on five occasions and reached double digits in at least 10 seasons.
Overall, the 38-year-old finished with 1,177 NHL games, 233 goals, 586 points, 1,301 penalty minutes, and 3,275 hits. According to NHL.com statistics, Lucic's 3,275 hits rank fifth among players during his time in the league (2007-2024).
Jun 2, 2026; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) talks to press during the NBA finals media day at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
Ask any athlete, there’s nothing like playing for your hometown. But what is it like when you play in your hometown for the opposing team, and what about when your hometown features one of the largest and most historic organizations in sports? After Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Spurs forward and New York native Julian Champagnie expressed his anticipation for playing in in the NBA Finals in New York City.
“That’s every kids dream, that’s every kid’s dream. I remember my first time actually playing in the Garden. I was at St. John’s and was just like in awe, of just how much greatness has gone through there and what that means for a kid form the city. Being now we get to go play for a championship — that’s personal, that’s personal…being able to go back there and compete for a championship, there’s no better feeling.”
Monday night was his dream come true, when he returned to Madison Square Garden as part of the NBA Finals against his hometown New York Knicks. During the Spurs media availability on Tuesday afternoon, he was asked, “After Game 7 in OKC, you were asked about returning back to New York. Now in the Finals, now that you’ve experienced that, could you share what it was like for you to play last night?”
“Yeah, it was pretty cool. Obviously we had a game to win, and that was the most important thing, especially being down 0-2. The initial reaction of just running out there, seeing all the celebrities, the fans, how loud it was, the music, it was definitely a surreal feeling that I’ll carry for life. But it was pretty cool,” he responded.
Champagnie, who was born in Staten Island and played high school ball in Brooklyn, attended St. John’s University from 2019-2022. In 2020, he made the Big East All-Freshman Team. The following year, he was the Big East Co-Most Improved Player along with Xavier’s Zach Freemantle. In 2021 and 2022, Champagnie made the All-Big East team.
After going undrafted in 2022, Champagnie signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Earlier this season, he shared that sitting through Draft Night without hearing his name upset him.
“I thought it was over, I ain’t going to lie to you. Getting waived with no warning, no explanation or anything, it was tough. It was a hard night. Obviously, I cried a lot, was pissed, but it just fueled the fire.”
He only played 7 minutes in two games for the 76ers before being unceremoniously waived on Valentine’s Day 2023 solely for the 76ers to create a roster spot for Mac McClung to participate in the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest. The Spurs picked up Champagnie two days later off waivers.
Since then, he’s signed a 4-year/$12M contract, a great deal for the Spurs. Over the past three season, he has shown that he has the skills to receive a bigger payday in the future. That said, he appreciates that Spurs role in his development, the trust instilled in him and his fit with the team.
“I want to be here. That’s what I can say. I want to be here. I love it here. Love my teammates, love the coaches, love the front office, love everybody. So I’m going to just keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully that works itself out.”
This season the native New Yorker earned his way into the starting line-up. As a three-point specialist with great rebounding, he has blended well with Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell. And now, he’s setting records as a member of the Silver & Black.
Julian Champagnie with 56 3-point field goals in the most in any Spurs playoff run in team history.
His 56 made three-pointers during this playoff run is the most in Spurs franchise history. He hit 5 of 10 in Game 1 and has since added another five over Games 2 and 3. Him continuing to shine in New York is one key to the Spurs evening up the series on Wednesday before taking the Finals back to San Antonio for Game 5, hopefully tied 2-2. Expect him to come out swinging Wednesday for all of New York to witness — and perhaps to help show what a mistake the 76ers made in never giving him the chance the Spurs did.
Knicks fans have made trolling the Spurs an around the clock job during the 2026 NBA Finals.
Knicks fans have made trolling the Spurs an around the clock job during the 2026 NBA Finals.
After San Antonio’s 115-111 road win over New York in Game 3 on Monday, Spurs players were greeted with boos from a crowd of people waiting outside the Ritz Carlton in New York on Tuesday.
The Spurs were getting on their team bus while surrounded by New Yorkers who were filming with their phones.
Knicks fans were back at it today — booing the Spurs as they left their New York City hotel.
The Spurs exited the Ritz Carlton in New York and were greeted by taunting Knicks fans after a Game 3 win over the in the NBA Finals.
A total of 21 people were taken into custody after an “incredibly reckless” post-game reaction that resulted in multiple injuries and people piled on top of police cars, the NYPD said.
Two people were charged with assault on a police officer, and five cops were hurt.
Knicks fans booed the Spurs as they exited the Ritz Carlton in New York the morning after a Game 3 win over the Knicks in the NBA Finals. XThe Spurs beat the Knicks115-111 in Game 3 on June 8, 2026.
“People climbed on top of scaffolding, light poles, police cars and NYPD trucks, causing significant damage,” an NYPD statement said, adding people refused police orders to clear the area.
“The crowd was throwing glass objects at each other and police officers, and they ripped bus signs and trees out of the ground to throw them.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the Bryant Park watch party earlier in the day after the Madison Square Garden party was cancelled due to President Donald Trump’s attendance and heightened security at Game 3.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Knicks during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison in New York, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
“F–k you Wemby” chants rang through the world’s most famous arena on Monday night as Knicks faithful made Spurs center Victor Wembanyama their latest villain.
The 7-foot-4 French phenom said he wasn’t aware of the fights between fans when asked about it Tuesday.
“My thoughts, of course, is that, I mean, we can’t forget it’s a game,” Wembanyama said. “We’re just playing a game out there. And I am all for passion, but to the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
It's the Stanley Pup that Vancouver managed to secure earlier this week. The puppy-themed tournament pits adorable, adoptable puppies from Brandywine Valley SPCA against one-another in a game of 'who can put the ball in the net first'. NHL stars and celebrities alike come together in support of dog adoption.
Last week, it was revealed that the Canucks' representative at the Stanley Cup would be none-other than Zeev Boop-Em, with the pup taking part as a member of the Pacific Division alongside Macklin Celewienie of the San Jose Sharks, Evan Boucharf of the Edmonton Oilers, and Cutter Go-Fetcher of the Anaheim Ducks.
During the high-stakes competition that aired on June 8, it was the Pacific Division pups that took home the 2026 Stanley Pup. En route to the win, they took down the Central Division by a score of 6-5, as well as the Metropolitan Division by 6-5 in the championship game. The Metropolitan Division advanced to the championship with a 5-4 win against the Atlantic.
Photo Credit: @NHL - X
The Pacific Division managed to erase a 5-3 deficit during their first game of the competition, with Jack Eich-Howl of the Vegas Golden Knights scoring the game-winner with guidance from actor Keenan Thompson.
In the championship game, the Pacific got off to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Jaden Snorts of the Seattle Kraken and Devin Collie of the Calgary Flames. Logan Chompson of the Washington Capitals scored to bring the Metropolitan Division within one goal before Matthew Schae-Furry of the New York Islanders tied it up at two apiece. Bone Jenner of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Artemi Paw-Narin of the Los Angeles Kings brought the score up to three per team. Owen Nip-It of the Philadelphia Flyers scored twice to make it 5-3, but goals from Collie and Eich-Howl (2) put the game back in the Pacific's favour, securing the win.
Nearly every puppy who took part in this week's tournament has since been adopted.
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CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 14: Joel Kuhnel #66 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on August 14, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 8-5. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You may recall Joel Kuhnel from his days with the Cincinnati Reds. Big guy, he is – listed at 6’5” and 290 lbs. He was an 11th round pick out of the University of Texas-Arlington, threw a heavy heater, and made it into 14 games with the Reds in 2019-2020 before injuries shut him down for most of 2021.
He was a big part of the 2022 Reds bullpen most of the entire year, though, getting into 53 games, pitching 58.0 IP, and even logging a save, his 6.36 ERA wholly different than the 3.96 FIP he posted, as he did own a pretty impressive 56/14 K/BB in his time. With similarly frustrating surface stats during the start of the 2023 season and a dwindling ability to be jockeyed back and forth between Cincinnati and AAA Louisville, Kuhnel was designated for assignment and eventually traded to the Houston Astros for cash.
Since then, he has bounced like a basketball that rolled down the driveway. He’s been with Houston, Tampa, and eventually with the Athletics, the latter of whom traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers after the A’s, too, had DFA’d him late last week.
What’s interesting about any of this, you ask? Well, the Brewers – who have a pitching lab that has turned just about anyone into superstars – seem to have known exactly what to do when they got their hands on Kuhnel. Here’s a quick glimpse at what his stuff looked like with the A’s vs. what it looked like in his first appearance on the mound for Milwaukee:
So, in the matter of two days, he went from throwing his fastball at 94 mph to touching a hundred (with a 99.5 mph average overall). That’s even significantly higher than the 96.4 mph he averaged during his first call-up with Cincinnati in 2019 as a young buck.
That a team uncovered something like this is pretty miraculous at the macro level, and insanely frustrating on the micro level for the Reds. Not only is he their former arm, he’s now doing this within the division while their own bullpen is a raging conflagration that has already derailed their entire season.
For the Brewers, though, he’s just their latest success story even if this doesn’t pan out with Kuhnel being a perennial All Star. That they can clearly identify these kinds of inefficiencies right under the noses of the rest of the sport – particularly within the NL Central – is a pretty damning indictment of the clubs trying to chase them down.
The Reds, who are already 10.5 games back of the 41-23 Brewers, will face Milwaukee seven times between now and July 2nd.
Jun 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) hits a solo home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Over the past two weeks the Jays are 7-6. The offense has scored 4.5 runs per game.
Hot
Brandon Valenzuela: Played in 10 games, starting 9. Hit ..290/.361/.677 with 3 double, 3 home run, 6 RBI, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
And he didn’t have a sac bunt over these two weeks. Yay. He’s been amazing. If he walked a bit more I’d say the second coming of Carlos Delgado. It is getting close to the point that they will have to figure a way to keep him in the lineup when Alejandro Kirk comes back. He played a little bit of first base in the minors and of course he could DH. He’s hit lefties and righties about the same this year, .823 OPS vs RHP, .771 vs LHP. Base stealers are 6-0 against him in the past 10 days. On the season he’s thrown out 21% of base stealers, just slightly below league average.
Ernie Clement: Started in all 13 games. Hit .346/.346/.596 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 7 RBI, 0 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Started 11 games at second, 2 at short. I often talk about guys that control the strikezone. Ernie doesn’t have a strikezone. If a pitcher throws it, he’ll swing and it works. There is more than one way to be successful. Baseball Savant has him at 1 percentile for chase rate and 3 percentile in bat speed, which you would generally say ‘this guy can’t be successful’. But he is 95 percentile in ‘squared-up’. He’s also 92 percentile in whiff rate and 98 percentile in strikeout rate. I’d generally think that his not a player that will age well, but he already has a slow bat speed, will it drop that much more as he ages? He’ll be interesting to watch over the next few years.
Jesús Sánchez: Played in 11 games, 9 starts. Hit .323/.344/.516 with 3 doubles, 1 homer, 5 RBI, 0 walks and 8 strikeouts.
The power hasn’t been there the way we expected, but he’s hitting well. He could go on the list of guys who really should DH, but that list is surprisingly long for a team that was building around defense just a few years ago. I don’t know that there has been a shift in philosophy or if this is just the type of player who has been available. The fun part of his defense if that he seems as surprised as the rest of us when he games a catch. Baseball Savant has him at the 5 percentile in range and 23 percentile in arm value with a 67 percentile in arm strength, suggesting he throws the ball well, but perhaps not on target or to the wrong place.
Kazuma Okamoto: Started 13 of the 13 games. Hit .298/.377/.511 with 1 double, 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 3 walks, and 18 strikeouts.
Fairly quietly, he’s been very good lately. I think he’s going to be a streak hitter. Weeks of cold and weeks of hot, but then I think that all of us are streak hitters. His defense looks better than I thought it would, but Baseball Savant suggests it isn’t great, 37th percentile range and 30th percentile arm strength. I would have guessed better. Savant also likes his bat speed (91th percentile), barrel % (89th percentile) and hard hit % (93rd percentile).
Yohendrick Pinango: Played in 11 games, starting 8. Hit .303/.343/.606 with 1 double, 3 homers, 7 RBI, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts.
He’s been great. Like Sanchez, he’s likely better suited to DH, though I hate the idea of something that young DHing. FanGraphs has a him at a -1 Outs Above Average, but that’s in limited innings. I like watching his at bats. He seems to be hitting the ball harder lately, four home runs on the season and three were in the last 11 games. Just 24, I think we are going to enjoy his watching his career.
Nathan Lukes: He’s played in all 12 games, starting 10. Hit .349/.404/465 with 2 doubles, 1 homer, 4 RBI, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts.
He’s picked up right where he left off before the injury. It is too bad that we have so many good left handed hitting outfielders, it is hard to get them all the playing time they need. He’s played all three outfield positions starting 7 games in right, 2 in left and 1 in center. He’s a better player than I tend to give him credit for. Outfielders without a lot of power or speed tend to get less credit than deserved. But he’s getting on base 36% of the time, he makes the plays in the outfield.
Cold
Daulton Varsho: Played in 12 games, starting 9. Hit .200/.286/.333, with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts.
A sore wrist has him out of the starting lineup at the moment. He’s been going in as a defensive sub. The down side of that is that they can’t backdate if they decide to put him on the IL. I don’t know if his wrist is improving. I also don’t know how long his wrist has been bothering him.His defense has been looking better lately.
Vladimir Guerrero: Started 12 of 13. Hit .261/.314/348 with 4 doubles, 3 RBI,4 walks, and 6 strikeouts. And 1 steal.
1 start was as DH. Yeah he’s slumping. I don’t know how to fix it. If I did, I likely wouldn’t be a blogger. He has been getting hard contact in pretty much every game, course not every at bat. He’ll seem to have a good at bat, hit one into a glove and then the next at bat isn’t as good. He’s still 96th percentile expected batting average, 94th percentile bat speed. But chase rate is up, 36th percentile and squared up is 56 percentile. Strikeout rate is still low 96th percentile. Walk rate is still high 77th percentile.
Andrés Giménez: Played in all 13 games, starting 11. Hit .220/.273/.341 with 1 home runs, 2 doubles, with 3 RBI, 1 steal, 2 caught stealing, 2 walk and 10 strikeouts.
His RISP numbers have dropped, .749 OPS now on the season, two weeks ago it was .973 on the season. Still a good number but dropping. I love watching his defense and I like him at short. Baseball Savant says 96th percentile in range. How you value bad bat, great glove is tough. Since I play OOTP, I value offense more. In real life? Baseball Reference has him at a 0.2 WAR, Fangraphs 0.8 WAR. Next year, he’s being paid $23.5 and for the two years after that. I don’t know that I’d want to be paying that to a guy who doesn’t hit.
George Springer: Started 11 games, 10 starts. Hit .214/.298/.286 with 3 doubles, 1 RBI, 4 walks and 8 strikeouts, with 1 steal and 1 caught.
I don’t know….we have half a dozen guys who should DH. But, Springer is popular with his teammates. And he’s making a lot of money. He is hitting lefties (.725 OPS) much better than righties (.590) so you could look to platoon him and see if his bat comes around. We do have a few lefty batters who would be better served as DH. That, of course, might be a hard sell to him and maybe to the clubhouse.
Myles Straw: Played in 11 games, 5 starts. Hit .222/.300/.278 with 1 double, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts..
He’s getting more playing time with Varsho’s injury. I don’t think his defense is quite what it used to be, but it is still good.
Tyler Heineman: Started 4 games. Hit .167/.286/.250 with 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts.
He threw out 5 of 12 basestealers. The Marlins tried to steal 9 times against him, on May 27, but he threw out 4. If he would be hitting like he did last year, Brandon wouldn’t be playing so much. I kind of feel bad that he’s going to be DFAed when Kirk comes back, but he’ll likely land another backup job before long.
IL
Anthony Santander: Might get into a game before the end of the season. Who knows.
Alejandro Kirk: He should be back soon, maybe by the weekend.
Addison Barger: He’s likely a couple of weeks from coming back.
Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) celebrates with teammates after shooting a three point basket to tie the game against the Santa Clara Broncos as time expired in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images | Jeff Le-Imagn Images
With the Kentucky Basketball roster essentially finalized following Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic’s withdrawal from the NBA Draft and commitment to the Wildcats, attention now shifts to where forward Jayden Quaintance and guard Otega Oweh will be selected in the NBA Draft.
Kentucky’s roster currently includes Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, Malachi Moreno, Jerone Morton, Braydon Hawthorne, Kam Williams, Justin McBride, Franck Kepnang, Mason Williams, Trent Noah, Reece Potter, and Zyon Hawthorne, with one roster spot still open heading into the final stretch of the offseason.
Now, let’s take a look at where Quaintance and Oweh could hear their names called during this month’s NBA Draft.
Jayden Quaintance Mock Draft Projections
Ricky O’Donnell (SB Nation) No. 16 – Memphis Grizzlies O’Donnell writes that, “Last time he was right physically, JQ looked like an elite paint protecting prospect as a 17-year-old at Arizona State. The Grizzlies feel like the type of franchise that would take a chance on him.”
Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints) No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs Siegel notes the Spurs would be using a “luxury” pick while pairing a long-term frontcourt piece next to Victor Wembanyama.
Jeremy Woo (ESPN) No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta) Woo describes Quaintance as a “wild-card prospect” with major defensive upside, but one whose draft stock depends heavily on medical evaluations after knee issues limited him to four games at Kentucky.
David Cobb (CBS Sports) No. 17 – Oklahoma City Thunder Cobb highlights Oklahoma City’s ability to take a calculated risk on a player with elite defensive traits and long-term potential.
Sam Vecenie (The Athletic) No. 19 – Toronto Raptors Vecenie emphasizes that Quaintance’s projection remains volatile until full medical clarity is available, calling him a potential top-10 talent if fully healthy.
Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report) No. 23 – Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers) Wasserman points to Quaintance’s 7-foot-5 wingspan and defensive instincts while noting uncertainty tied to his injury recovery and development.
Otega Oweh Mock Draft Projections
Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints) No. 57 – Atlanta Hawks Siegel notes Oweh’s slashing ability and transition scoring but projects him as a developmental wing.
Kevin O’Connor (Yahoo Sports) No. 53 – Houston Rockets O’Connor highlights Oweh’s breakout scoring moments, including a 35-point NCAA Tournament performance, while noting limitations as a primary creator.
Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report) No. 43 – Brooklyn Nets Wasserman praises Oweh’s athleticism, cutting, and defensive versatility, projecting him as a role-player fit in a spacing-heavy system.
Jeremy Woo (ESPN) Undrafted Woo lists Oweh outside the draft board, citing questions about offensive creation and consistency.
It will be interesting to see if Oweh is drafted, but Kentucky will at least have one player selected in Quaintance, which is always a strong recruiting point, even though he only played in four games. The schedule for the two-night event breaks down as follows:
First Round: Tuesday, June 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ABC, ESPN) Second Round: Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET (Broadcast: ESPN)
The Los Angeles Kings didn’t just hire another head coach—they doubled down on a philosophy that has repeatedly failed to deliver lasting success.
A Familiar Gamble
Peter Laviolette was hired as the franchise’s next head coach on Monday, replacing interim coach D.J. Smith after Jim Hiller was dismissed in March.
On paper, it’s an impressive résumé. Laviolette enters Los Angeles as a Stanley Cup champion with 846 career victories, ranking seventh in NHL history, and more than two decades of NHL coaching experience.
But résumés don’t win future playoff series.
Since Darryl Sutter departed the organization in 2017, the Kings have now cycled through five different head coaches. Laviolette becomes the seventh man to occupy the position during that stretch, a revolving door that raises an obvious question: Is this another solution, or simply another reset?
More than anything, this hire feels less like a calculated move and more like a franchise hoping history suddenly changes.
Success And Inconsistency
To Laviolette’s credit, there is legitimate hardware on his résumé.
He guided the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006, delivering the organization’s first championship. Yet the celebration didn’t translate into sustained success. Carolina missed the playoffs in each of the following three seasons, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
A similar pattern followed in Philadelphia.
After replacing John Stevens during the 2009-10 season, Laviolette immediately sparked the Flyers, leading them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before losing in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks. The momentum gradually faded as Philadelphia suffered additional early playoff exits before eventually missing the postseason entirely, resulting in another coaching change.
His tenure in Nashville was arguably his most stable. The Predators reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, only to lose in six games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Less than three seasons later, Laviolette was fired midway through the 2019-20 campaign.
The trend continued in Washington. The Capitals exited in the first round in consecutive years before missing the playoffs altogether in 2022-23.
Then came New York.
In his first season with the Rangers, Laviolette guided the club to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Florida Panthers. One year later, the Rangers missed the playoffs entirely, ending his tenure after just two seasons.
The common thread isn’t that Laviolette never wins.
It’s that the success almost always arrives quickly before disappearing just as fast.
Was D.J. Smith That Bad?
That’s what makes this decision so puzzling.
What exactly was wrong with D.J. Smith?
The Kings may have been swept by the Colorado Avalanche, but the series was far more competitive than the final result suggests. Los Angeles battled in every game, and Anton Forsberg delivered everything he had between the pipes.
D.J Smith didn’t do a bad job filling in. Credit: Brad Penner
Smith also brought an identity that seemed to resonate throughout the locker room.
His message was straightforward: show up every day, compete relentlessly, and embrace the physical side of hockey.
Even away from games, Smith practiced what he preached. Behind the scenes, he could regularly be seen jumping on the stationary bike and completing workouts alongside his players. It wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—he led by example.
Players respect coaches who demand accountability while holding themselves to the same standard, and Smith embodied that philosophy.
For a franchise searching for consistency, that seemed like a foundation worth building upon rather than abandoning.
Chasing The Past Instead Of Building The Future
Nobody should question Laviolette’s accomplishments.
He’s a Stanley Cup champion. He’s reached three Stanley Cup Finals. He’s compiled one of the most successful regular-season coaching records in modern NHL history.
But in 2026, this feels like a significant gamble.
Los Angeles isn’t hiring the version of Peter Laviolette that lifted the Stanley Cup in 2006 or took Nashville to the Final in 2017. They’re betting that a coach whose recent stops have ended with declining results can suddenly reverse a trend that has followed him for nearly two decades.
And what is the ultimate objective?
Is it simply making it out of the first round every once in a while?
For a franchise that has spent years searching for stability behind the bench, this feels like another roll of the dice rather than a long-term vision.
Laviolette absolutely has the experience to prove critics wrong, and if he succeeds, the Kings will look brilliant.
But recent history suggests something else.
Lately, when the Kings gamble, they lose.
And betting on Peter Laviolette in 2026 might be their biggest wager yet.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Wilder Dalis #3 of the Colorado Rockies runs to third base to score on a two-run double hit by Ethan Holliday during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Original poto by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images 3/21/2026
Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) was signed by the Colorado Rockies in May 2023, well after the big signing period that usually happens in January, and has been an under-the-radar prospect since.
Baseball America described him as a “late bloomer” who “turned in an inauspicious pro debut,” but Dalis turned things on in 2025 when he made his stateside debut – slashing .352/.440/.525 in 56 games in the Arizona Complex League followed by .241/.333/.379 in 31 games in Low-A Fresno.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Brendan Gawlowski of FangGraphs wrote, “Dalis stood out in a positive way. He’s a good athlete with a chance to stick at short… it’s early, but the arrow looks up here.”
Wilder Dalis may not get as much fanfare as his Rockies org-mate Roldy Brito.
Dalis grew up in Maracay, Venezuela, as an only child where he lived with his mother and aunt. He started playing baseball when he was two years old and was a shortstop and right-handed batter.
When he was 12, he picked up switch hitting.
“I’ve got a very good swing from the left,” he said. “My tío said ‘You’ve got a good swing. You’re gonna try to be a switch hitter,’ and I switch hit the whole way.”
Despite growing up hitting righty, Dalis now prefers hitting left-handed.
“It’s more comfortable,” he said. “It’s more free, so it’s good, and my right hand has more power.”
In 2025, Dalis batted left-handed much more than right-handed and found success. In 309 plate appearances as a left-handed batter (87 games), Dalis slashed .319/.410/.480 with 26 extra-base hits. By comparison, in 46 plate appearances as a right-handed batter (30 games), he slashed .250/.333/.400 with four extra-base hits.
Through May 3 with the Fresno Grizzlies, Dalis has batted left-handed nearly twice as often as right-handed in 2026, but has also struggled a bit more. In 76 plate appearances as a left-handed batter, Dalis has hit .161/.316/.339 with two doubles and three home runs. In 25 plate appearances as a right-handed batter, Dalis has hit .261/.280/.435 with one double and one home run.
Off the field, Dalis prides himself on having a good relationship with his teammates and with fellow Venezuelan shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who is also from Maracay.
“He’s talked to me offensively about how to use my hands and how to stay back,” Dalis said of Tovar through interpreter Fred Ocasio, “and defensively just always try to create that good hop and use my hand out in front to create that good hop to field the ball.”
Tovar had good things to say about Dalis, as well.
“He has all the talent in the world,” Tovar said through interpreter Edwin Perez. “I think once he puts it all together and gets that maturity that all of us professional baseball players do. I think he’s going to show a lot of people that talent because he’s a very, very talented guy.
Dalis also works really well with fellow switch-hitter Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP).
“He gives me a lot of advice and a lot of energy. He’s a really good player,” Dalis said. “The mental aspect of the game is where we help each other out (most). We talk a lot about having confidence and playing the game with confidence.”
It helps that all of the players move as a cohort from the Dominical Summer League to the Arizona Complex League, and then on to Fresno and beyond.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with my teammates,” Dalis said. “I don’t think there’s any difference (between the ACL and Fresno) because I’ve played with all the guys here, and there’s no difference. We all came together from the Dominican to Arizona.
“But there was one thing: When I left for Fresno, I was playing with more Americans,” he continued. “I liked listening to them and learning about them as well, because they know different things.”
Dalis is currently ranked 18th in the system according to MLB.com and Baseball America. But he’s not worried about rankings. He’s looking towards the future and what he can bring to the Rockies when the time comes.
“Obviously, I know I’m talented,” he said, “but I’m not thinking about ‘Hey, I’m a prospect in the Top 100’ or whatever. I know what I have and my abilities, and that’s it. I don’t worry about the other stuff.
“Hopefully in the near future, I’ll be there (in the majors) and can help the team win and make an impact with the team in Denver.”
The Isotopes dropped four games in their series against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels), including an odd and rare 1-0 loss in a pitching duel. When the Isotopes won, their bats were firing on all cylinders and the pitching was able to stave off the Bees, but the two sides rarely worked in tandem during this series. The Isotopes are sitting at 34-29, 4.0 games back of the PCL lead.
⬆️ Stock Up:No deep drive into left from this Castellano
Signed this off-season to a minor league contract, 25-year-old right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano made his Triple-A debut against Salt Lake and turned in quite the gem. Castellano was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for his six scoreless innings of work, giving up just one hit while tallying seven strikeouts and two walks.
What a Triple-A debut! Eiberson Castellano tossed 6.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts at Salt Lake on Saturday night, earning the win in his first outing as an Isotope.
Zac Veen (no. 9 PuRP) continues to push for a fresh chance at playing in the big leagues with yet another strong week. Veen went 11-for-28 with a home run, three doubles, two triples, four RBIs, and two stolen bases. Veen has been playing very well for the Isotopes this season, hitting .317/.417/.525 with eight home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, 40 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
Helped by a series split against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox), the Hartford Yard Goats sit atop their division in the Eastern League. The series got off to a rough start as the Yard Goats were blown out and shut out. The next day the pitching staff gave up ten runs in another loss. However, Hartford then rattled off three strong wins to seal a series split.
⬆️ Stock Up:Running Up That Hill
GJ Hill had his best series of the season after largely struggling this year with Double-A Hartford. Hill went 9-for-21 at the plate with a double, a triple, four home runs, and ten RBIs. With this series, he boosted his OPS from .643 all the way to .794 on the season.
GJ Hill cannot be stopped! 😤
He homered YET AGAIN tonight, his 7th HR in his last 14 games 🎥 ⬇️
He launched it over the Maine Monster, which is comparable in height and distance to the Green Monster 🚀
Left-handed pitcher Griffin Herring (no. 10 PuRP) made just one appearance out of the Yard Goats’ bullpen this series and it was a rough one. Herring went just 0.2 innings and gave up seven earned runs on three walks and four hits—including a home run—without recording a strikeout.
Upcoming
The Yard Goats will host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) in a seven game series that includes a double-header on Wednesday.
High-A: Spokane Indians (2-4, 23-34 Overall)
After losing the first two games of the series against the Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks) it looked like the Spokane Indians could regain their footing. They won two in a row including a 12-5 blowout. Unfortunately, they then lost their final two games of the series including a thud of a series finale via a 14-0 beatdown.
⬆️ Stock Up:Continued rehab progress
Right-handed pitcher Gabriel Hughes (no. 12 PuRP) made his second rehab start with the Indians and looks ready to return to action. Hughes struck out six over three shutout innings while giving up two hits and a walk. A return to the active roster in Albuquerque would mean a lot to both the Isotopes and the big league squad, who are both in desperate need of pitching reinforcements.
⬆️ Stock Up:
Outfielder Robert Calaz (no. 6 PuRP) still hasn’t quite found his power swing in Spokane, but he had a very solid week at the plate. Calaz went 9-for-18 with a double, a triple, a home run, and seven RBIs with two walks and only three strikeouts.
Now tied for last in the Northwest League, the Indians are off to Eugene to play the league-leading Emeralds (San Francisco Giants).
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 30-27 Overall)
Plenty of runs were scored in a series split against the California League South-leading Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres). The Fresno Grizzlies are still two games back in their own division behind the San Jose Giants, but they still have one of the better records in the league.
⬆️ Stock Up:Never in a pickle
2025 draft pick and right-handed closer Seth Clausen continues to quietly be an underrated gem for the Grizzlies pitching staff. The 16th round pick pitched a combined 3.1 innings of scoreless, hitless late innings work against the Storm with a strikeout and a walk. Opposing batters are hitting just .122 against Clausen and he currently has a 1.61 ERA over 28 innings this season.
⬇️ Stock Down:Missing the Marcos
Right-handed pitcher Marcos Herrera was a fairly reliable starting pitcher for the Grizzlies last season. In 21 appearances—19 of which were starts—he posted a 3.93 ERA. Unfortunately, this season has been a rough one. Herrera has a 9.28 ERA in 12 starts so far. This week he struggled again. In 4.2 innings he gave up nine earned runs on 11 hits—two of which were home runs—and four walks while striking out four.
Upcoming
The Grizzlies have six game series ahead of them against the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks).
After a 5-0 week, the ACL Rockies find themselves sitting atop the Arizona Complex League with the best record in the desert. They even had two games in which they scored 14 or more runs.
⬆️ Stock Up:Ugarte A La Carte
First baseman Ronny Ugarte went 10-for-18 at the plate this week with his best game coming against the ACL Giants where he went 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
⬇️ Stock Down:More of a concept than a Concepcion
18-year-old righty Kevin Concepcion (no, not the wide receiver drafted by the Cleveland Browns this year) made his first start since joining the Complex League after two solid relief appearances. The start went poorly, with Concepcion giving up six earned runs on seven hits and a walk over just 2.2 innings of work.
The Colorado Avalanche offseason has been a roller coaster of emotions, and free agency hasn't even started yet. Chris MacFarland is leaving for the Nashville Predators on a reported massive offer, which forces Joe Sakic to take the mantle of General Manager back and adds even more pressure on this front office to make changes to a team many thought could/was better than the 2022 Stanley Cup team.
One contract that will need to be tackled this summer is that of forward Jack Drury, who is a restricted free agent. With the team having just under $3 million in cap space, he is a key depth piece to keep, given his on-ice work, and he's only 26 years old. The question is: what does he want, and what are the Avalanche willing to pay? Well, one major factor just got resolved that could play into their negotiations over how much Drury could be paid.
Minnesota Wild Already Making Moves
Earlier today, the Minnesota Wild announced they have re-signed pending unrestricted free agent Michael McCarron to a six-year, $20 million extension, with a $3.33 million cap hit. The contract includes a no-movement clause for the first three seasons, then a modified 15-team no-movement clause for the final three seasons.
McCarron started the season with the Predators and, in 59 games, scored five goals and seven assists for 12 points before being traded to the Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. In 20 games with the Wild, he scored three goals and two assists for five points, following that up with two goals and two assists for four points in 11 playoff games.
While his point production might not stand out, it needed to be evaluated given the Wild's lack of center depth. This is a signing that if the Wild can secure another bona fide top-six center, McCarron as a bottom-six center is tremendous value, considering his lineup with Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko was great for them in the playoffs.
The Avalanche Could Use The Wild As Leverage
If you're Sakic and start talks with Drury, this is the exact number range you want to sign Drury for, and it comes with greater benefits than the McCarron signing. While the size differential is noticeable, and how that was a major topic when the Avalanche lost to the Golden Knights, and how the team needed to get “tougher, bigger, grittier”. Drury plays like he's 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds.
He's not afraid to throw the body or get infront of the puck to block a shot, and is a great addition to the penalty kill. He's also great at the faceoff; he finished the regular season with a 58.1% win rate, which is the third-highest on the team. He's a pivotal guy you want on the penalty kill or for a defensive zone draw. Better than Nicolas Roy, Nazem Kadri, or Ross Colton. In the playoffs, he remained excellent, going 76-48 for a 61.3% win rate.
The biggest factor in getting an extension, and in the Avalanche being more open-minded about a longer-term contract, is his age. McCarron is currently 31 and will turn 32 on March 7, 2027. While yes, the Wild are in win-now mode, and the cap hit of $3.33 million over the next six years isn't awful with the cap going up, it's the no-movement clause that could be a factor if the Wild need to make drastic changes.
Drury is 26 years old and turns 27 on February 3, 2027, so even if the Avalanche match with the same contract and similar numbers, it helps lock in Drury, who can get better with time. When his contract is over, it opens up more possibilities for signing him when he's 32, by which time the team will ultimately be completely different, with a completely different cap situation.
Sakic and the Avalanche have some moves to make this summer. No doubt we will see some names start popping up around the NHL Entry Draft as the Avalanche look to free up some cap space. However, keeping Drury with the team for the long term should be a priority for the team if/when they open up some cap space this summer.
The Mets are getting a huge piece back in their lineup, with the club activating catcher Francisco Alvarez off of the IL.
In a corresponding move, catcher Hayden Senger was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Alvarez suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee while swinging a bat against the Tigers on May 12. And while the initial diagnosis had Alvarez likely to miss 6-8 weeks, he has been activated in just four weeks, including a brief rehab stint.
The young catcher is hitting .241 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 37 games this season, but he was heating up prior to his injury. In his last seven games played, Alvarez is hitting .292 with a ,375 slugging percentage.
The hope for the Mets was that Alvarez would be able to be activated at some point during their current six-game home stand against the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, which begins on Tuesday night, and it turns out that he'll now be availability for the entire homestand.
After tearing through the playoffs, Karl-Anthony Towns completely went cold during the Knicks' Game 3 loss to San Antonio.
Don't expect that slump to carry over, though.
Our Spurs vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for tonight's Game 4 action are banking on Towns to assert his dominance and turn the tide for New York.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +775 SGP!
Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 prediction today
Who will win Spurs vs Knicks Game 4?
Knicks: You can view the Knicks’ Game 3 loss two ways. First, after winning 13 straight postseason games New York is ripe for regression and this is a sign of things to come. Or, finally losing a game – especially in the extreme setting of Game 3 – takes the pressure off the Knicks to be perfect.
I’m subscribing to the latter, considering a lot of New York’s Game 3 wounds were self-inflicted. Turnover troubles and cold 3-point shooting are like a Mentos and Coca-Cola for transition attacks like the Spurs.
The Knicks will tighten the bolts, control tempo, and get back in the win column at home on Wednesday.
Spurs vs Knicks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)
The San Antonio Spurs mixed up their defense, sending guard Stephon Castle at the 7-footer. While that threw off Towns, he was also passive cutting, posting, and attacking (when he wasn’t passed up in pick-and-pop spots).
Even so I recall a couple of possessions where the veer-back switch was either nonexistent or late, windows the Knicks missed on KAT PnPs. Part of why KAT wasnt in rhythm tonight is because the team didn't particularly focus on getting him into a rhythm.
Coach Mike Brown singled out his lack of activity, and I expect the Knicks to get KAT early touches in Game 4.
He’s thrived as a passer against smaller defenders, and my projections call for 19+ points, 12+ rebounds, and 3+ assists, with a higher ceiling on dimes. That should have Over 32.5 PAR priced around -130.
COVERS INTEL: Towns’ usage sunk to 14% in Game 3 — a dip from his 19.9% rate in the opening two games of the finals and his 20.3% usage in the playoffs. The last time his usage dropped this low, KAT came back the following contest with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists over just 26 minutes in Game 4 of the ECF.
Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 same-game parlay
The Knicks may not get to use the brooms in the NBA Finals, but they can get out the mops and clean up their messy play after a turnover-plagued Game 3 loss.
New York will settle down after an emotionally charged night in MSG, not throwing gas on the Spurs’ transition fires with giveaways and long misses.
I also see the officials trying to balance out some of the foul shooting discrepancies from Game 3 (a squeaky coach gets the grease), which can mean more trips to the stripe for New York or the refs swallowing their whistles.
Unders have been the right side of most NBA Finals games in recent years, cashing in at better than 60% since 2005-06. Game 3 finished Over the total, thanks in part to San Antonio scoring 25 points from the foul line with the clock stopped.
New York cleans up the turnovers and brings this series back to the half-court style we saw in the opening two games, keeping this final score short of the 216.5 O/U.
Karl-Anthony Towns seemed to have left his groove in Texas. He was flat in Game 3, lacking aggression in the offense — with or without the basketball.
The Spurs are sending 6-foot-6 Stephon Castle at the big man, and we saw KAT exploit smaller defenders throughout the playoffs, especially with his passing from the top of the key. My projections call for 35 PRA for Game 4, with some models calling for as many as 41+ combined stats.
Spurs vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Under 216.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 PRA
Our "from downtown" SGP: The KAT Came Back
San Antonio’s defensive switches may have caught Towns off guard in Game 3 but opportunities will be abundant with New York looking to jumpstart KAT early on in Game 4. His passing and rebounding stats should surge against small defenders and his scoring projections all sit north of 17 points, with a ceiling of 22+ points on Wednesday.
Spurs vs Knicks SGP
Knicks -1.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 16.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds
Spurs vs Knicks odds for Game 4 today
Spread: Spurs +1.5 | Knicks -1.5
Moneyline: Spurs +105 | Knicks -125
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Spurs vs Knicks betting trend to know
Karl-Anthony Towns has averaged 20.14 points when failing to score 15 or more points in the previous game this season, including the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Knicks.
How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 4
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC, ESPN
Spurs vs Knicks latest injuries
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 14: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a three point basket during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on February 14, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Rui Hachimura.
Three years ago, the Lakers made a bet on Rui Hachimura, acquiring the free-agent-to-be on the hopes they could unlock his potential after an underwhelming run in Washington.
Fast forward to present day and Rui has developed into one of the league’s very best 3-point shooters, making good on their gamble. When the Lakers have needed him over the years in the postseason, he’s repeatedly stepped up.
In the playoffs this year, he elevated his game once again, punctuated by one of the best games of his career in the team’s Game 4 loss to OKC. Now, he’s set for free agency once more with the Lakers facing another decision about whether he’s part of the future.
How did he play?
In the season as a whole, it was a mixed bag. If you look at his raw numbers, his numbers were down effectively across the board this season. He averaged his fewest points (11.5), rebounds (3.3) and assists (0.8) per game across a full season since he joined the Lakers, a byproduct of both fewer minutes than last year while also having his role streamlined.
His 3-point attempt rate was at a career high, as was his effective field goal percentage. While he still took a fair amount of long twos this year (13.6% of his field goal attempts), his shots inside 10 feet were dramatically down. The average distance of his shot was 16.5 feet, marking the first time in his career that number has eclipsed even 15 feet.
In short, the Lakers and head coach JJ Redick pushed his shot attempts more and more to the perimeter with positive results as he shot 44.3% from range.
While Rui’s production fluctuated throughout the year, his shooting remained constant. Rui began the season in the starting lineup, but eventually moved to the bench as part of the logical swap with Marcus Smart. It didn’t pay off immediately for Rui, as he struggled in his new role.
Eventually, though, he found a groove and, over a 29-game span from late January up to the season-changing loss in Oklahoma City, Rui averaged 10.2 points per game on 52.2% shooting from the field and 45.7% from range.
That eventually set the table for his playoffs, which were much-discussed. He averaged 17.5 points per game on an absurd 56.9% shooting from three. He was huge in a postseason run where the Lakers needed players to step up.
Even if it came in a role he isn’t likely to play if he returns to the Lakers, there’s certainly something to be said about Rui’s ability to step up in the playoffs time and time again.
His performance left things on a high heading into the offseason and could have made him some money along the way, too.
The price point will be the key here, but that would apply to most of the team’s free agents. At the end of the day, it would be hard to replace what Rui does.
There’s plenty of discussion about what he doesn’t do well, like rebound and defend, and the Lakers need more of that either from Rui or, more likely, other wing players acquired this summer.
But there is also something to be said about a sharpshooting wing who has years of chemistry with Austin Reaves, LeBron James and, at least since he’s been here, Luka Dončić. That is also valuable.
Losing Rui for nothing would both be a tough pill to swallow from an asset management standpoint as well as create a big hole that would need filled.
COVERS INTEL: Towns’ 