Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference)
Detroit; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Pistons -3; over/under is 213.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Pistons host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers to begin the Eastern Conference second round. Detroit and Cleveland tied the regular season series 2-2. The Cavaliers won the last regular season matchup 113-109 on Wednesday, March 4 led by 22 points from Jaylon Tyson, while Jalen Duren scored 24 points for the Pistons.
The Pistons are 12-4 against opponents in the Central Division. Detroit is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 57.9 points in the paint led by Duren averaging 14.6.
The Cavaliers are 11-5 against Central Division teams. Cleveland is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 32.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Evan Mobley averaging 6.6.
The Pistons make 48.5% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Cavaliers have allowed to their opponents (46.4%). The Cavaliers score 9.9 more points per game (119.5) than the Pistons allow (109.6).
TOP PERFORMERS: Cade Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris is averaging 19.3 points over the last 10 games.
Donovan Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 110.5 points, 47.2 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 9.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.
Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 113.7 points, 45.3 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.8 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (adductor).
Cavaliers: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -16; over/under is 213.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Thunder host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Lakers to open the Western Conference second round. Oklahoma City went 4-0 against Los Angeles during the regular season. The Thunder won the last regular season matchup 123-87 on Wednesday, April 8 led by 25 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Rui Hachimura scored 15 points for the Lakers.
The Thunder are 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City averages 119.0 points and has outscored opponents by 11.1 points per game.
The Lakers are 33-19 in conference play. Los Angeles ranks sixth in the Western Conference scoring 52.0 points per game in the paint led by LeBron James averaging 11.1.
The Thunder score 119.0 points per game, 4.4 more points than the 114.6 the Lakers allow. The Lakers score 8.4 more points per game (116.3) than the Thunder give up (107.9).
TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is averaging 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over the past 10 games.
Austin Reaves is averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists for the Lakers. James is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 123.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points per game.
Lakers: 7-3, averaging 104.5 points, 40.4 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 9.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Cade Cunningham top-scored for the Pistons with 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris added 30 points.
"We had a great regular season, we built a lot of momentum going into these play-offs," said Cunningham.
"To lose in the first round would have really stung. To come back from 3-1, odds against us, and to come back and win it at home - it feels good."
The Pistons will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semi-finals, another best-of-seven series starting on 5 May.
The Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors to book their place in the second round with a 114-102 victory.
Jarrett Allen starred for the Cavaliers with 22 points and 19 rebounds as they recovered from a 10-point deficit after the first quarter.
The scores were tied 49-49 at the halfway mark but the Cavaliers surged ahead in the third quarter with Allen contributing 14 points and 10 of his rebounds.
"I just wanted to show my team-mates that we can win this game," said Allen.
"Energy and effort, that's what I believe wins games. Every single possession, it means a lot. Every single possession means it could be the end of the season."
Donovan Mitchell added 22 points and James Harden scored 18.
For the Raptors, who were in the play-offs for the first time since 2022, Scottie Barnes had 24 points and nine rebounds while RJ Barrett scored 23.
Brown went on the streaming platform Twitch on Sunday, May 3 to discuss what happened in Game 7 and spoke about the officiating. Brown had been critical of the officiating during the regular season and believes it played a role in how things were called during the postseason.
“They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke so critically of them in the regular season,” Brown said on his stream. “I actually spoke to some refs, and they told me there’s an agenda going on each game, every time Jaylen puts his arm up, just call it.”
Brown explained that it was a simple basketball play that several other players do.
“Philly took advantage of that and the officiating and it cost us to some degree,” he added.
The five-time all-star also shared his displeasure with 76ers star Joel Embiid.
"Flopping has ruined our league,” Brown said. “Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in basketball history. Flops. He knows it.”
Brown also made mention of a back brace he was wearing during the broadcast, saying that he was dealing with back pain after having to guard Embiid and the size difference between the two players.
Brown is listed at 223 pounds. Embiid is listed at 270.
“A (expletive) almost took me out,” Brown said. “I can't even bend down to tie my shoe (after guarding) Embiid.”
Brown showed a clip from Game 7 where he was seen guarding Embiid while saying, “I tried to bump and throw my weight and I felt something in my back give out.”
The former NBA Finals MVP said he wasn’t willing to share some of his grievances until after the series had ended because he didn’t want to be a distraction for his team.
(That is with all due respect to Detroit and Cleveland, but neither of those teams has looked on the level of New York or Philadelphia in the playoffs.)
This is also a showdown between two teams that looked like the best version of themselves in the first round of the playoffs, after leaving us with a lot of questions during the first 82 games. That is especially true of the 76ers — we only saw Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey together for 22 regular-season games, and even in those games, they never clicked as they did in the last three games against Boston.
Now two long-time rivals meet again in the playoffs, and whichever team comes out of this series should be a heavy favorite to make the NBA Finals. Here's what you need to know about New York vs. Philadelphia.
When does the Knicks vs. 76ers begin?
Game 1 between Philadelphia and New York is on Monday night, May 4, at Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan. Games will be played every other day, up until Game 7 when there would be a two-day break.
New York vs. Playoffs Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern (* = if necessary). Game 1: Philadelphia at New York, Monday, May 4 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 2: Philadelphia at New York, Wednesday May 6 (7 ET, ESPN) Game 3: New York at Philadelphia, Friday May 8 (7 ET, Prime Video) Game 4: New York at Philadelphia, May 10 (3:30 ET, ABC) * Game 5: Philadelphia at New York, May 12 (TBD) * Game 6: New York at Philadelphia, May 14 (TBD) * Game 7: Philadelphia at New York, May 17 (TBD)
Starting in Game 4, the Knicks started getting KAT the ball more in the high post, and used him as more of a hub than a scorer. He had two triple-doubles — the first Knick ever to have two in a series — and things started to come together for both him and the Knicks. Towns also had a relatively good defensive series against the Hawks because he could drop back into the paint and not have to chase shooting bigs.
Things are going to be different with Joel Embiid in the paint. He is more physical, can step out and defend a little, and has amazing instincts and timing. KAT isn't going to have the same amount of time or space to operate. That said, the Knicks need him to have another impactful series, or they could be in trouble.
Honorable mention: Mikal Bridges. He is going to be the guy with the Tyrese Maxey assignment on defense, plus the Knicks are going to need some offense out of him as well. If Bridges has a big series, things get a lot easier for the Knicks.
Keys to watch for in Philadelphia vs. New York
Can Embiid, 76ers stay healthy?
From training camp through a week ago, everyone from fans to media to other teams have said, "If the 76ers are healthy, they can beat anyone… but they're not going to stay healthy."
Well, they did get healthy for three games and with that was enough to upset the Celtics. Now, they move on to another physical series, with games every other day — can the Sixers stay healthy through that? If any of the 76ers' big three are out, or even less than their peak, the team is in trouble.
Can the Knicks contain Embiid, Maxey?
New York had a top-10 defense after the All-Star break (sixth in the NBA from Jan. 1). That defense showed up against the Hawks and is a key reason they won the series.
Embiid and Maxey present much more difficult challenges.
New York has not been great at containing quick point guards. He's too quick for Josh Hart. Then they have Mikal Bridges (who likely gets the assignment) and OG Anunoby, but they are not really great at shutting down these kinds of guards (they would have matched up better with the "Jays" if Boston had won Game 7). Maxey is an All-Star (and about to be All-NBA) player who averaged 26.9 points a game against the Celtics and will have the ball in his hands. The Knicks need to find a way to contain him.
Embiid looked as close to his MVP self as we have seen in a long time over the last three games, and if he brings that to the Garden, he will be tough to contain for Mitchell Robinson and Towns. The Knicks in the past have used Anunoby on him as well. Expect them all to get a shot, but New York has work to do because Embiid wasn't just scoring, he was passing well and carving up the Celtics defense. Towns had a pretty good defensive series against the Hawks because they didn't have a big who could really pull him out of drop coverage. Embiid can. This will be different.
Will Knicks fans take over Xfinity Mobile Arena?
Two years ago, when these two teams met in the playoffs, the games in Philadelphia sounded like Madison Square Garden South. It happened in both games in Philadelphia between these teams this year.
"I have a message for our fans," Embiid said after the 76ers advanced. "Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like (Philadelphia) was Madison Square Garden East. We're going to need the support. Don't sell your tickets. This is bigger than you ... If you need money, I got you."
The 76ers have restricted online ticket sales for Games 3 and 4 to residents of the greater Philadelphia area. That sounds great, but there are a lot of Knicks fans with money willing to take over the secondary ticket market. It's something to watch.
Prediction: Knicks in 7
In the end, I just trust them more. This is a team that brought back the core of a gritty, tough team that made the conference finals last year, and they have shown they can dial that up.
James Dolan may just get his "Finals or bust" wish.
Gary Cohen made an incredible catch during the Mets' win against the Angels on Sunday.
Gary Cohen broke out the dictionary to find a way to describe the incredible catch made by Carson Benge in the ninth inning of Sunday’s Mets’ 5-1 win over the Angels.
The SNY broadcaster called the diving catch a “pulchritudinous play” on air as broadcast partner Todd Zeile looked as astonished by the play as he was by Cohen’s choice of words to describe it.
“I’m not going to say it was pulchritudinous, but I’m going to take your word for it,” Zeile said, “That was an amazing play.”
For those that don’t know, pulchritudinous is an adjective that means physically beautiful or attractive, per Dictionary.com.
The play by Benge would certainly fit the bill.
Carson Benge makes a catch during the Mets’ May 2 win. Screengrab via X/@SNYtv
With Angels second baseman Vaughn Grissom up in the ninth, he hit a ball that looked destined to fall in right field.
However, Benge was able to hustle over and reach out and grab the ball as he was diving to make the impressive out.
It was the second out of the inning and third baseman Oswald Peraza struck out to end the game.
Carson Benge reacts after making a catch during the Mets’ May 4 win. Screengrab via X/@SNYtv
“I was kind of surprised to tell you the least,” Benge told reporters after the game about the catch. “If I see a ball that I think I can get to, I’m going to go after it — I’m just glad that I was able to come down with that one there.”
Gary Cohen is pictured during a June 2023 press conference. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza told reporters that if Benge wasn’t able to make the play then “that’s a completely different inning.”
The Mets won two of the three games they played against the Angels this weekend, also defeating Los Angeles 4-3 on Friday night.
The Mets will play six more games on the road, playing a three-game series against the Rockies beginning on Monday and then a weekend series against the Diamondbacks.
Pistons fans got in one final dig at the Magic as their side blew out Orlando in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA playoffs, specifically getting a shot in at Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr.
Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) drives past Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first half in Game 7 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. AP
Angel Reese chants break out as the Detroit Pistons give the Magic the BELT in Game 7 pic.twitter.com/V1HsthWjhS
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) May 3, 2026
Carter is currently dating the WNBA star, and the two were first romantically linked last May.
But before she dated the Magic center, she had been dating Jalen Duren, who plays for the Pistons — adding an extra layer of spice to the first round series between Detroit and Orlando.
As if that wasn’t enough, Reese then got in on the chirping, taking to social media late last month to share a highlight on her Instagram Story of Carter, her current beau, slam dunking on Duren, her ex.
Angel Reese attends the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s clear that Duren and the Pistons got the last laugh in the end, taking the best-of-seven series at home, and Duren finished the game with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Going into Game 7, Duren had averaged 9.8 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and averaging 8.5 rebounds during the postseason.
DENVER — Cale Makar scored twice in the third period after returning from an earlier injury and the Colorado Avalanche overcame blowing a three-goal lead to beat the Minnesota Wild 9-6 on Sunday night in a wacky Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Makar, who left in the first period with an undisclosed ailment, scored his second goal of the game with 2:54 remaining to make it 8-6. Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal with 2:08 remaining to seal it.
This was the 10th playoff game ever with at least 15 combined goals and just the second since 1994. There were five goals in each period.
Who figured this? A high-scoring affair between two of the better defensive teams in the league with two elite goaltenders. There were 14 different players who notched a goal in a game that turned into a track meet. It’s tied for the second-most in a playoff game.
The Avalanche improved to 72-1 since moving to Colorado in 1995-96 when leading a playoff game by three or more goals. The lone loss was Game 5 against St. Louis in a season they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
A well-rested Colorado team led 3-0 just 6:47 into the game. But the Wild steadily climbed back and took a 5-4 lead on a short-handed goal from Marcus Foligno late in the second.
Devon Toews tied at 5-apiece in the second period. It was just the fourth Game 1 in playoff history with both teams scoring five or more goals through two periods.
Both goalies struggled, but made some timely saves, too. Scott Wedgewood, who had the league’s best goals-against average this season, allowed one more goal than he did in the entire sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
He made 30 saves while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 34 shots.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Denver.
Makar took a scary hit along the boards from Foligno early in the first period. The Avalanche defenseman’s right leg flew into the air before falling to the ice. Makar tested out his skating with some twirls at the end of the first and returned for the second. He had an assist on Nick Blankenburg’s goal.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Alex Newhook broke a tie with 8:53 left and the Montreal Canadiens outlasted the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Game 7 on Sunday night to end the thrilling first-round series.
The Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres in the second round after finishing off their first series victory since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Tampa Bay in 2021. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 28 saves and Nick Suzuki got his first goal of the series for Montreal.
Each game of the series was decided by one goal and four went to overtime. The score was tied or within one goal for all but six minutes in the seven games.
The Lightning were eliminated in the first round for the fourth straight season after falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.
Tampa Bay’s tough defense held the Canadiens without a shot for nearly 27 minutes from the first period into the third and just four through two periods. Brandon Hagel made an outstanding, sliding stick save with an open net in the final minute but the Lightning couldn’t get the tying goal during a 6-on-5 and 6-on-4 for the final six seconds.
Montreal got a couple lucky bounces to score twice on its first eight shots on goal and finished with only nine.
After Lane Hutson fired a slap shot that went wide and bounced back out, Newhook skated backhanded the puck out of the air and in off Andrei Vasilevskiy’s pad and his backside.
AVALANCHE 9, WILD 6
DENVER (AP) — Cale Makar scored twice in the third period after returning from an earlier injury and Colorado overcame blowing a three-goal lead to beat Minnesota in a wacky Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Makar, who left in the first period with an undisclosed ailment, scored his second goal of the game with 2:54 remaining to make it 8-6. Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-net goal with 2:08 remaining to seal it.
This was the 10th playoff game ever with at least 15 combined goals and just the second since 1994. There were five goals in each period.
Who figured this? A high-scoring affair between two of the better defensive teams in the league with two elite goaltenders. There were 14 different players who notched a goal in a game that turned into a track meet. It’s tied for the second-most in a playoff game.
The Avalanche improved to 72-1 since moving to Colorado in 1995-96 when leading a playoff game by three or more goals. The lone loss was Game 5 against St. Louis in a season they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
A well-rested Colorado team led 3-0 just 6:47 into the game. But the Wild steadily climbed back and took a 5-4 lead on a short-handed goal from Marcus Foligno late in the second.
Devon Toews tied at 5-apiece in the second period. It was just the fourth Game 1 in playoff history with both teams scoring five or more goals through two periods.
Both goalies struggled, but made some timely saves, too. Scott Wedgewood, who had the league’s best goals-against average this season, allowed one more goal than he did in the entire sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 23: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks shoots a three point basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round One Game Three...
When the Knicks faced the 76ers in the playoffs two years ago, Josh Hart was a pivotal factor in the series.
In large stretches, Philadelphia used Joel Embiid on Hart, daring him to shoot from the perimeter, and Hart shot a robust 43.6 percent from distance on 6.2 attempts per game.
He would welcome that same plan from the 76ers.
“Each series is different. Atlanta, I don’t think there were many catch-and-shoot opportunities,” Hart said Sunday on the eve of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Knicks and 76ers. “Most of my 3s were off the bounce or within the last five seconds of the shot clock. [In this series], it’s going to be a completely opposite story. If it’s similar to what it was in the past, I’ll probably have as many catch-and-shoot opportunities as I want. I got to go out there, shoot the ball with confidence. I’m a good shooter, I know I’m a good shooter. I trust my work.
“Do that, and then when I’m not taking those shots, screening off-ball, screening on-ball, holding my screens, and just being decisive.”
Josh Hart attempts a 3-pointer during the Knicks’ April 23 game. NBAE via Getty Images
The 6-foot-5 Hart shot only 21.7 percent from deep in the Hawks series, although he did make 41.3 percent of his 3s during the regular season on 3.7 attempts per game.
Odds are, the 76ers are going to challenge him to make them pay by playing off him like they did two years ago.
The 76ers feature some local connections.
Reserve guard Quentin Grimes was drafted by the Knicks and played parts of three seasons for them before being dealt to the Pistons in February 2024 for veterans Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe spent two years at Long Island Lutheran before one season at Baylor.
VJ Edgecombe dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2026, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images
In the series win over the Celtics, the 6-4 guard from the Bahamas averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and three assists.
Philadelphia also includes assistant coach Rico Hines, who was a St. John’s assistant under Steve Lavin from 2010 to 2015.
With the offseason officially in full swing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's fair to wonder what this roster is going to look like next season.
Fresh off a season where they defied expectations and made the NHL playoffs, the Penguins will have some big decisions to make this summer regarding some uncertain situations. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has done a masterful job in collecting assets and draft capital, and there's a good chance he will target and favor young talent to help this team take the next step in 2026-27.
So, which pending restricted and unrestricted free agents figure to be part of that focus? There is a pretty long list of them, and not all of them will be wearing black and gold next season.
Here is who the Penguins should lock up - and who they should let go.
Restricted free agents
F Egor Chinakhov: Sign
This is a no-brainer, and it doesn't require too much explanation. Chinakhov said during locker cleanout day that he wanted to sign in Pittsburgh and be "part of the organization for a long time."
Well, his 18 goals and 36 points in 43 regular season games with the Penguins certainly earned him a multi-year deal, even if it is more along the lines of a two- or three-year bridge deal. The Penguins really like Chinakhov and his potential as a star top-six winger, and Chinakhov really likes the Penguins.
I would be shocked if he is not in Pittsburgh next season, and I think three years, $4.5 million per sounds about right given the salary cap spike.
I can't say I've seen a player literally earn a new contract at the last minute before. But Silovs did just that.
His .939 save percentage and otherwordly performance in the playoffs gave the Penguins a chance to come back from down 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and his playoff success is nothing new. He was tournament MVP during the Abbotsford Canucks' AHL Calder Cup run in 2025, and he gave the Vancouver Canucks a chance to win against the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series in 2024 with next to no prior NHL experience.
Finding goaltenders who can turn it up five notches in the playoffs isn't an easy thing. It's a rarity. Even if there are some ups and downs as Silovs searches for regular season consistency, re-signing him as a playoff surety is a worthwhile gamble.
There's a greater than decent chance that he and Sergei Murashov are the Penguins' NHL tandem next season.
Acciari had a nice season for the Penguins, registering 13 goals and 25 points, which were each the second-highest totals of his career. He did that as part of a fourth line that was very formidable for the Penguins, generating momentum from the forecheck, turning in strong defensive plays and physicality, and successfully killing penalties.
But Acciari is 34, and he's the exact kind of player who would block a worthy young player like Avery Hayes or Tristan Broz. Those guys are at a point in their development where NHL playing time is essential if they've earned it, which they largely have.
For that reason, there's no sense in bringing back Acciari in terms of where the Penguins are at.
D Connor Clifton: Walk
Clifton started to come around at the end of the season, and his physicality is a unique aspect of his game and something that the Penguins could definitely use more of.
At the end of the day, he's replaceable - and the Penguins may just add to their blue line this summer, anyway. Even if they don't, Brunicke can effectively replace those minutes on the Penguins' bottom pairing, assuming he has a strong camp.
After putting together a nice season - posting career-highs in goals (14) and points (30) to go along with a plus-16, the highest mark among forwards on the Penguins - there is a chance that another NHL team offers Dewar something above what the Penguins are willing to. And, like Acciari, he's a fourth-line player, and Pittsburgh has plenty of younger players who will be vying for NHL roster spots.
It's also worth noting that Dewar's production dropped off significantly in the second half of the season.
But I think this is a player they bring back. Dewar likes it in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins are very happy with what Dewar has brought to the fourth line alongside Blake Lizotte. He'll be 27 next season, which is still young enough to have around for several more years as a key depth contributor.
F Kevin Hayes: Walk
Hayes is a great locker room presence. The guys love him, and he's a very positive and honest influence in that room.
But he played in only 28 games this season and was healthy-scratched otherwise. He's 33, and he still has a set of hands, but his footspeed is an issue. There's not really much point in keeping him around.
There are a lot of narratives out there about Malkin right now: He's too old, he's too injury-prone, he's too unpredictable, the Penguins need youth, they shouldn't commit to term, etc.
Well, here's the thing. Malkin - who will be 40 next season - was over point-per-game for the first time in three years this season, is willing to play wing, has declared he wants "one more year," probably won't ask for a lot of money based on past comments, and is not currently blocking any "younger player" from top-six minutes because Ben Kindel is going to stay put at center and no one else has pushed.
So, there is no good reason not to bring him back for one year. It's what Malkin wants, and it will have little to no effect on what Dubas is trying to accomplish. Quite frankly, I fail to understand why an extension hasn't happened yet.
That said, I think it will. It may just drag out a bit, whether that's fair to a franchise legend like Malkin or not.
While folks didn't seem to be overly impressed with Mantha's playoff performance - he recorded just one point in six post-season games - this is a guy who still led the Penguins in goals this season with 33 and was a huge reason they ended up making the playoffs, especially during the stretch run of the season.
But, Mantha is going to get paid - and he should get some term, too. Even though the Penguins have a lot of cap space, committing term to a 31-year-old winger coming off a career year and who is prone to injury probably isn't the smartest move.
Had the Penguins not been in playoff contention, flipping Mantha would have been an easy choice. Not flipping him at the deadline isn't going to set back their future, however, so neither will letting him walk and cash in elsewhere.
D Ryan Shea: Sign
Shea - like many - also had a career year for the Penguins. He had six goals and 35 points and was a team-high plus-30, and he helped shore up the Penguins' bottom defensive pairing. The 29-year-old will be due for a relatively significant pay raise from his current $900,000, and he is likely to sign for more than one year.
I do think Shea will sign an extension with the Penguins for two or three years, but I don't necessarily think that means he'll stick around. I believe the Penguins are going to try to upgrade their blue line this summer - particularly, on the left side - and it would be a crowded place with a new face, Parker Wotherspoon, Shea, and Sam Girard.
It's more likely that Girard or Wotherspoon is dealt as part of a package, but there is a chance that Shea could be the odd-man out. The only way I don't see the Penguins signing him in the first place is if a team wants to throw stupid money at a third-pairing defenseman, and I can't entirely rule that out.
Speaking of the left side, Solovyov is another option. While he very well may leave for a better opportunity outside of Pittsburgh, I kind of see him as a Jack St. Ivany replacement of sorts: He'll be young enough at age 26 that there is still more upside potential, he'll come cheap, he can play both sides, and he is a good depth option.
Again, if another team comes knocking and offers Solovyov the chance to get more minutes, he'll probably bite. But I don't necessarily think that's going to happen. If the Penguins can retain him, I think they will.
G Stuart Skinner: Walk
The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh will be sure be an interesting one to watch. Skinner played well in the playoffs and was good enough down the stretch for the Penguins to help them reach the playoffs in the first place. He's also a great locker room presence and has said numerous times that he loves the family environment in Pittsburgh.
However, the play of Silovs during the playoffs may have just pushed Skinner out. Silovs is younger - technically, he was still a rookie this season - and he has a proven track record at this point of being able to perform in the playoffs.
Again, Murashov is pretty likely to be full-time in the NHL next season. I'm sure the Penguins would love to have Skinner back in a veteran mentor capacity to guide their most promising goaltending prospect.
But I'm not sure Skinner would settle for that. Goaltending is always needed across the league, and the 27-year-old can probably find a better opportunity elsewhere. Plus, I think the Penguins would be generally comfortable with a Silovs-Murashov tandem next season, especially with Joel Blomqvist and Taylor Gauthier likely to be waiting in the wings in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 03: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is interviewed after defeating the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m not sure if there was a more encouraging way for the Cavs to exorcise some demons and advance to the second round than Jarrett Allen going full-on beast mode in a Game 7.
Are the lights no longer too bright?
Allen was steady in the first half, immediately making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. But it wasn’t until the third quarter that all hell broke loose. Allen scored 14 points and hauled in 10 rebounds during that period, suddenly appearing anywhere a rebound was available.
This was the total package from Allen. Offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. Rejecting shots at the rim, then securing stops with his defensive rebounding. All the while, Allen rolled hard to the basket and kept applying pressure on Toronto’s undersized frontcourt to stave him off. They weren’t successful, and Allen made sure to take full advantage of it.
The Cavs fired off their fake-snow machine for a ‘Cavalanche’ in the fourth quarter. Moments before, Allen received loud MVP chants at the free-throw line. He finished with 22 points and 19 gigantic rebounds. To say it again, beast mode.
Allen has had some real stinkers in big spots. We’ve seen him look totally invisible in some of the most important games of the season. Tonight couldn’t have been any more different. You couldn’t watch a possession without noticing Allen on the floor. This was the best performance of his career in arguably his biggest game to date.
LOSER – First Half Turnovers
Every second you’re trailing in a Game 7 feels like you’re drowning. The Cavs drowned for nearly the entire first half, only getting a brief gasp of breath when the game was tied in the closing moments of the second quarter.
Turnovers were the primary reason for that struggle.
The Cavs turned it over 13 times in the first half. To his credit, only one of those came from James Harden. The rest of the Cavalier starters coughed it up 10 times. That’s the type of stuff that can end your season.
Cleveland knew this would be an area of concern against the Raptors. This is a team that thrived on generating steals and taking them in transition. Toronto flexed its strengths early in this game by scoring 14 points off turnovers in the first half.
WINNER – The Role Players
As mentioned, the first half of this game wasn’t pretty. The Cavs were flirting with an early deficit that could have closed the door on anything meaningful happening in the second half. There are a lot of reasons they avoided that outcome.
One of them is Merrill.
This wasn’t a super explosive game from Merrill. But his timely shot-making was a life jacket during an otherwise stormy section of the game. Toronto recovers and closes out to shooters as quickly as any defense in the NBA. Merrill is just faster.
Merrill also deserves credit for his defense. The tone of this game shifted when he and Max Strus began pressuring the ball full court. Neither one can be considered a defensive stopper, but hustle and heart go a long way in a win-or-go-home setting.
Next on the list are Max Strus and Jaylon Tyson. Each player came up in crucial moments throughout this game.
Strus did a little bit of everything, scoring 10 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing 5 assists. Oh, he had 2 steals and 1 block, as well. He might have struggled at various points in this series, but Max remains the type of player who you want on the floor in the biggest spots.
Then there’s Tyson, who is quickly proving that even in his sophomore season, no moment is too big.
Tyson changed the dynamic of this game by being able to float around the free-throw line and create from the middle of the floor. His guard-guard screening unlocked so much for the Cavs offense, and his game-tying shot near the end of the first half gave the Cavs their first gasp of breath all night.
“I thought Jaylon was huge,” said Kenny Atkinson. “It was amazing, James and Don just gave him the ball and let him go ahead — we needed that.”
Elmer Rodríguez watched two of his cousins ride in the Kentucky Derby on Sunday.
Rookie right-hander Elmer Rodríguez, just days after making his MLB debut with the Yankees, had another memorable moment Saturday, as two of his cousins rode in the Kentucky Derby and finished first and second.
Elmer Rodríguez throws a pitch during the Yankees’ April 29 game against the Rangers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Rodríguez, who is set to make his second start for the Yankees on Tuesday against the Rangers, said he watched the race alone and was “more nervous watching that race than [in] my debut. I don’t know why. I started crying.”
Rodríguez, a 22-year-old right-hander, said he saw Irad Ortiz ride Renegade on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs.
José Ortiz (l.) and Irad Ortiz Jr. (r.) are pictured during the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Getty Images
Rodríguez, who allowed two runs in four innings in a loss to Texas on Wednesday, likely won’t be with the Yankees for long, as Carlos Rodón is expected to return from elbow surgery after one more rehab start in the minors.
But he expects to have gained something from his first outing.
“You take all the good and bad and learn from it,” the right-hander said. “The first one feels like the toughest one. I’m more comfortable now.”
CLEVELAND — Jarrett Allen tied his playoff career high with 22 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 114-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of their series Sunday night.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 22 points and James Harden added 18 in a series in which the home team won all seven games.
Cleveland, the No. 4 seed, will visit top-seeded Detroit on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the second round. The Central Division rivals split their four regular-season meetings.
“I think we’ve already moved on (to focusing on Detroit),” Mitchell said on the court immediately after the final buzzer. “We understand we won this game, but we play in a couple days.,”
Scottie Barnes had 24 points and nine rebounds and RJ Barrett scored 23 for the Raptors, who were in the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Jarrett Allen attempts a dunk during the Cavaliers’ Game 7 win May 3. AP
All-Star forward Brandon Ingram missed his second straight game with a bruised right heel.
“We gave it all, everything we had today,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “Our guys were awesome. We made it hard on them.”
Allen had 14 points and 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, as Cleveland went on a 49-21 run during a 15-minute span over the second and third quarters where it turned a nine-point deficit into an 19-point advantage.
One of Allen’s baskets during the third quarter was a fast-break dunk after Max Strus stole the ball from Barnes to make it 74-59.
Cleveland was 17 of 33 from the field, including five 3-pointers, during the run while converting seven of Toronto’s turnovers into 14 points. The Raptors shot 6 of 23 and were 1 of 8 behind the arc.
The Cavaliers also had a 25-8 rebounding advantage during the spurt, and converted 10 offensive boards into 14 points.
“They were scoring in transition, getting some offensive rebounds,” Barnes said. “The offensive rebounds were giving them extra possessions. That really hurt us, giving them momentum.”
Donovan Mitchell drives to the basket during the Cavaliers’ May 3 game against the Raptors. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Toronto led for most of the first half and had a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter before Cleveland began its comeback.
The Cavaliers were down 47-38 with 2:58 remaining before going on a 11-2 run to close the half and tie it at 49. The Cavs were 4 of 17 on 3-pointers before Harden, Strus and Jaylon Tyson connected from beyond the arc.
“Sam (Merrill) said this whole series, we haven’t closed out the second quarter. We all took that to heart. We all looked at ourselves and decided that now was the time to do it,” said Allen, who had his 11th double-double in a playoff game. “I think the defensive stops, rebounds and the offense is still shaky in some areas, but I think when we rebound the ball and get stops, that just translates to the offense so much better and transition and open shots for everybody.”
Cleveland took the lead with nine straight points to open the third quarter as Mitchell scored five and Mobley added four.
“In the first half, we were forcing it too much, driving down tunnels and forcing it to the basket,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Sometimes you have to move the defense. We just kept hammering that message.”
The Cavaliers are 6-5 in Game 7s, including unbeaten in five home games. Toronto fell to 3-4 in Game 7 and 0-2 on the road.
When the Senators parted ways with head coach DJ Smith and GM Pierre Dorion during the 2023–24 season, it was fair to wonder if they'd get another opportunity. The two men were at the helm through some pretty dark days for the franchise, including a seemingly never-ending rebuild.
But after a couple of seasons as an assistant coach in L.A., Smith resurfaced this season as the Kings' interim head coach when Jim Hiller was fired, and helped guide them to the post-season.
It was a reminder that everyone is usually better in their second job because of the lessons learned in their first.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk said last week that he's frustrated by the incessant questions about his future.
The Vancouver Canucks, with the worst record in the NHL this season, think there’s a chance that may also be true for Dorion.
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Canucks, after firing Patrik Allvin on April 17, have interviewed Dorion for their GM vacancy.
Former Ottawa Senators GM, Pierre Dorion was in Vancouver last week and has interviewed for the Canucks GM vacancy.
Dorion was fired in 2023 because of the Senators’ botched communications during their 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sens failed to disclose Dadonov’s no-trade list, which derailed the Knights’ later attempt to trade him to Anaheim.
The NHL penalized the Senators by docking them a first-round draft pick, a debt they were scheduled to pay off this year until Gary Bettman recently let them off the hook. The Sens will draft 32nd overall this summer, no matter what.
Dorion certainly had a long list of missteps as GM in Ottawa, but it’s not hard to imagine that, under the late Eugene Melnyk, there was considerable meddling in hockey matters.
Interestingly, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Dorion's former assistant GM may be competing with him for the Canucks job. After Dorion was fired in Ottawa, Ryan Bowness spent another year and a half with the Sens as associate GM under new Sens GM Steve Staios.
Dorion did have some highlights, though, including arguably the most lucrative first round in Sens history. He took Tim Stützle and Jake Sanderson in the 2020 Draft and eventually signed both to team-friendly long-term deals. He also grabbed Ridly Greig in the first round that year.
The 53-year-old Ottawa native made the most of the 2018 Erik Karlsson trade to San Jose, acquiring Josh Norris, Dylan DeMelo, and Chris Tierney, along with a 2020 first-round pick that became Stützle, and a 2019 second that was packaged so they could draft Mads Søgaard.
He also has an ace in the hole.
While the Canucks have interviewed other candidates, no one will be able to match Dorion’s GM experience in navigating the pitfalls of an NHL rebuild while dealing with challenging ownership.
That job experience would almost certainly come in handy in Vancouver.
