Knicks fans don’t have Trae Young to vilify anymore, but a new person will be getting the ire of the Madison Square Garden faithful on Saturday night when they host the Atlanta Hawks for Game 1 of the playoffs.
The Post has learned that there will be a stunt set up outside MSG where a comedian will be enclosed in a plexiglass case decked out in Hawks gear with a microphone to needle Knicks fans as they enter and leave the arena, beginning pregame at 5 p.m. ET and could last into the wee hours of the night
The stunt, put on by sports and prediction company Underdog, will include employees handing fans eggs and other projectiles to throw at comedian Andrew Weiss.
New York Knicks fans protest against the NYPD as they set up barricades to the Subway entrance after the Knicks’ win against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of Round 3, the Eastern Conference Finals. Angelina Katsanis
The Garden had not been notified of the upcoming stunt and is not involved. Parts of the sidewalks are public property, though they are maintained in part by Vornado Property Management.
A source told The Post that the Knicks had “no involvement” in this stunt.
NYC’s Street Activity Permit Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether one was needed for such a stunt.
Win or lose, the comedian is slated to be there both pre- and postgame.
Knicks fans won’t need to target Trae Young any further. Angelina KatsanisOutside of MSG will be some wild Knicks fans looking to settle scores with a Hawks fan. NBAE via Getty Images
Knicks fans are typically rather rambunctious outside the arena after playoff games, and their “F–k Trae Young” chants from the 2021 NBA Playoffs and beyond are part of Garden lore.
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals and took the Pacers to six games last season, falling just short of making the NBA Finals.
Fans will be on pins and needles as they head into the arena, and perhaps will have some scores to settle after the game as well. Weiss will need to be in top form either way.
The club's offense has been stuck in a rut, as they’ve found themselves quickly falling to five games under the .500 mark in the midst of their eight-game losing streak.
New York has been shut out three times, and they’ve scored just 12 runs over that span.
“We haven’t played good baseball for the last week,” David Stearns said Friday in Chicago. “We’ve had a tough time scoring runs -- it’s a combination of we’re not hitting great and we also ran into some good pitching, and we need to play better.”
While the Mets have looked lifeless at times during this tough stretch, Stearns emphasized that urgency is not the problem.
The inability to generate scoring chances has often led to them trying to do too much at the plate, which has led to them sitting among the league's worst in chase rate.
“We’re trying to score runs,” Stearns said. “Sometimes you have to let the pitcher come to you, and that’s really easy for me to say and it’s really easy for me to watch a game and think that -- it’s a heck of a lot tougher when you’re in the box and want to make something happen.
“You guys have asked about urgency -- there’s plenty of urgency, there’s plenty of want -- sometimes that can lead to things like chase rate, unfortunately, but I think that ends with just one bases-clearing double. We’ve all seen that throughout our careers in baseball, and I think once we get that it’ll normalize.”
Even while they wait for that one big knock, Stearns feels good about the team he assembled.
“We believe in our players,” he said. “Fundamentally, we believe that we have good players who are preparing in the best way possible, who are working hard, and in my experience when you have players who care about the right things -- which our players do -- it leads to good results.
“Certainly over the seven-to-10 days we haven’t seen that, but we still have a long season to go and I’m confident that we will see it.”
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a chip on their shoulders. Before they can prove anything of substance and go the distance, they need to take care of business as the heavy favorites in their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors.
Here are three keys to making sure that happens. All stats are via Cleaning the Glass.
1. Control the Pace
The Cavs have a talent advantage in this series. But talent can only get you so far. Winning on the margins is often what determines outcomes. If you lose the mini-battles, you lose the series.
For Cleveland, losing control of the pace would be the quickest path to destruction.
Toronto finished the regular season 3rd in transition frequency. They scored over 20 points per game off fastbreaks. They also generated the fourth most turnovers in the league. These transition opportunities are huge for a team that finished 13th in offensive efficiency.
In short, this series favors the Cavs if they can keep this game in the halfcourt. How do you achieve that?
Taking care of the ball is the first step. Cleveland finished the season 8th in turnover percentage and was even better (6th) in the two months after acquiring James Harden. This will be key as the Cavs ranked 11th in transition defense post All-Star break, but struggled heavily in scenarios created off turnovers, finishing 20th off steals.
Then there’s the double-edged sword of attacking the offensive glass. On one hand, offensive rebounds can wear a team down and slow things significantly. On the other hand, coming up short on an offensive board will leave your transition defense more vulnerable. The Cavs have to play this carefully.
Either way, a slower pace benefits Cleveland. Expect the Cavs to make this their top priority in round one.
2. Trust the Math
There isn’t much in the world that everyone can agree on. We can, however, agree that three is greater than two, right?
If my math is correct, then the Cavs once again have an advantage.
The Raptors finished 25th in three-point frequency and 18th in accuracy this season. They are… not a great perimeter team. Aside from scoring in transition, the Raps primarily made up for their lack of shooting by attacking the paint (9th in rim frequency) and mid-range (6th in mid-range frequency).
This is exactly the type of style that Cleveland’s defense prefers to go against.
The Cavs have always worked to run opponents off the line and force them to score from the middle of the floor. Difficult, inefficient two-pointers are preferable to three-point jumpers. This has been the basis of Cleveland being an elite defense in years past. It will be their blueprint for round one, too.
Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes will try their best to beat Cleveland from the mid-range. They’ll likely even have a game or two where they are red-hot from that zone. But this is a gamble the Cavs are willing to accept. The math says that Toronto will have a hard time winning four out of seven games by scoring in the mid-range.
The Cavs will trust that even the most prolific scoring performance from the mid-range will be something they can overcome with their own three-point shooting. Let’s talk more about that in our next section.
3. Score, Score, Score
I can’t blame anyone who might feel hesitant to trust Cleveland’s defense. After all, we spent most of the regular season watching them either be banged up or struggling to play with consistent effort. I’ll grant you that concern.
But this team should pack a strong enough punch offensively to make everything else in this series moot.
Lineups featuring James Harden had an offensive rating of 120.9 (87th percentile). Add Donovan Mitchell next to him, and those lineups had a scorching 125.7 offensive rating (98th percentile). You’re banking on that being enough to overcome anything in this first round, even a top-10 defense.
The problem-solving capabilities of Harden and Mitchell make this possible. They can punish you in isolation, through their pick-and-roll dynamism with Allen and Mobley, or by spraying the ball to any of Cleveland’s various three-point specialists. They have a solution to anything a defense can throw at them.
And while we know that the guards can fill it up, the potential for either Mobley or Allen to control the paint is just as dangerous. These two hit their stride in the back half of the season and will put a heavy strain on Toronto’s frontcourt to keep them from racking up dunks.
Finally, X-Factors like Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Keon Ellis, and Max Strus can swing the entire series with their three-point shooting. Either one of them can heat up in a hurry and deliver a game-ending run.
All in all, the Cavalier offense has all of the tools needed to be an extinction-level threat to the Raptors. This is their greatest advantage in round one.
Colorado's performance this season was certainly not lost in this NHL 26 simulation.
In the first round of the playoffs, the video game predicted the Kings to get swept by the Avalanche in a 4-0 series defeat.
It may not be completely unrealistic for Colorado to sweep Los Angeles, considering the Avs finished the season with 31 more points than the Kings and are 19 positions apart in the NHL standings.
However, it's worth mentioning that Colorado has had a couple of first-round series in the last five campaigns where they swept their opponent as the top seed of their division.
It happened in the 2022 playoffs when the Avs swept the Nashville Predators, and in the 2021 playoffs when the St. Louis Blues were the victim of Colorado's dominance.
Whether it's looking back at history, the course of this past regular season, or the simulation of NHL 26, it's clear that the Kings are the biggest underdog in this year's playoff campaign.
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Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Going on his third season as a Dodger in 2026, Tyler Glasnow still has a lot of firsts left to accomplish, and one of them will be done this weekend—would you believe that this will be the first time Glasnow starts a game in Coors Field in his career? Scheduling and injuries have prevented the tall right-hander from taking the mound in Colorado before—that’ll change as the Dodgers and Rockies meet for the first time in 2026, both already exactly where they’re expected to be at season’s end, on opposite ends of the NL West standings, Los Angeles in first and Colorado in last place, tied with the Giants.
Early results for Glasnow in 2026 are about as Glasnow-esque as it gets, with his ERA (4.00) not matching the level of dominance he has displayed on the mound, striking out 22 hitters in 18 frames with a sub-1.00 WHP—one couldn’t even tie a home run problem to his high ERA. A three-start sample is just that, but it’s also very like him to deliver these types of numbers.
In a timely fashion, the Dodgers starters kicked things up a notch in the last series against the Mets, which means the bullpen will come in fresh for this series against the Rockies. Relievers only had to cover 6.1 of the 27 innings against the Mets, with Blake Treinen as the only pitcher who appeared twice.
While we’re on the subject of good pitching, the veteran Tomoyuki Suagno, who’ll oppose Glasnow in this Friday’s matchup, is off to quite the start, including six innings of one-run ball against the Phillies in his last home outing. Sugano has had a home run problem, but all four homers he allowed were solo shots, maintaining a low ERA thanks to it. Generating traffic isn’t the biggest of challenges in Coors—if they do it, the home runs have been there against Sugano.
The Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic are in a battle for their NBA playoff lives.
Tonight’s NBA Play-In finale should be absolutely riveting, and my Hornets vs. Magic predictions and NBA props projections have found three potential mismatches to take advantage of.
As the Orlando Magic's starting center, Wendell Carter Jr.regularly serves as the offensive hub, with Orlando guards and wings cutting to the cup off his passes.
Our Covers prop projections have Carter dropping at least two dimes tonight, which is something he has done in three of his previous seven games.
The Charlotte Hornets rank among the league's worst at defending big man playmakers, making this a prime opportunity for Carter to rack up the dimes.
Prop #2: Miles Bridges Over 1.5 threes
+100 at bet365
Miles Bridges has quietly become one of Charlotte’s most reliable 3-point threats.
With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller drawing constant defensive attention and creating open looks on the perimeter, Bridges benefits from some of the best kick-out opportunities on the team.
He’s knocked down at least four threes in four of his previous seven games and should get there again against Orlando.
Prop #3: Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes
-130 at bet365
Kon Knueppel has been one of the more impressive shooting revelations for Charlotte this season. He’s drained the fourth-most threes in the NBA this season and is coming off a 0-for-6 stinker against Miami.
Our model expects a bounce-back shooting night, and Knueppel has made at least three threes in four of his previous seven games.
I expect Orlando's defense to prioritize stopping Ball first, so I’ll back the rookie sharpshooter against the Magic.
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The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns collide in a win-or-go-home showdown tonight, with the winner punching a ticket to the playoffs and the loser sent packing.
The Suns may be priced as favorites, but that number carries less weight in a win-or-go-home spot, where rotations shrink, stars take over, and variance swings harder than the market accounts for.
With prediction markets like Kalshi offering a sharper, real-time read on sentiment, we’re breaking down the latest Warriors vs. Suns predictions and best NBA picks for this high-stakes clash.
The Phoenix Suns come in as slight favorites at 59% (-144), while the Golden State Warriors sit at 43% (+133), setting up a tight game that will likely come down to which superstar — Devin Booker or Stephen Curry — takes over when it matters most.
Our prediction:Suns to win
Covers NBA expert Jason Logan says "The Suns are being discounted after running into a hot Portland squad on Tuesday, and the Golden State Warriors will show their age in a tough travel spot Friday."
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Warriors/Suns!
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More Warriors vs Suns prediction markets
You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Warriors vs. Suns at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.
You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Suns -2.5 spread means the Suns will cover, while "No" means the Warriors will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter).
Warriors vs Suns spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Suns -2.5
53¢ (-113)
48¢ (+108)
Over 218.5 points
53¢ (-113)
48¢ (+108)
Our predictions:Suns -2.5— Yes and Over 218.5 points — No
That potential for a faceplant isn’t the only reason I’m fading Golden State. The Warriors will now hit the road for the fourth time in eight days, which is a lot of wear and tear on the aging legs of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis.
The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, get to stay home and enjoy an added day of rest and prep. Phoenix is being discounted after running into a red-hot Portland squad in the Play-In and has shown an ability to bounce back from poor performances, going 22-15 SU and 21-16 ATS when coming off a loss.
Other Warriors vs Suns prediction markets available
Devin Booker 25+ points (Yes: 64¢)
Steph Curry 25% points (Yes: 70¢)
Draymond Green double-double (Yes: 17¢)
What is Kalshi and how does it work?
Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Suns win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?
In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.
Why should I wager on Warriors vs Suns at Kalshi?
Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:
Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.
For the other half of the NHL, teams will look forward to seeing where they will draft in June. The annual draft lottery is scheduled to be held after the first round of the playoffs and will determine the order of the non-playoff teams in the first round.
The last-place Vancouver Canucks will have the best odds at 18.5% to win outright and 25.5% if a team in the 12 to 16 range wins and moves up the maximum 10 spots.
Here are the odds for the draft lottery, per Tankathon, based on their final finish in the 2025-26 standings:
NHL draft lottery odds
Teams in the 12 to the 16 range can't win the No. 1 overall pick. They would move up 10 spots.
1. Vancouver Canucks: 18.5% (25.5% overall)
2. Chicago Blackhawks: 13:5%
3. New York Rangers: 11.5%
4. Calgary Flames: 9.5%
5. Toronto Maple Leafs: 8.5% (pick traded to Boston but is top 5 protected)
6. Seattle Kraken: 7.5%
7. Winnipeg Jets: 6.5%
8. Florida Panthers: 6.0% (pick traded to Chicago but is top 10 protected)
9. San Jose Sharks: 5.0%
10. Nashville Predators: 3.5%
11. St. Louis Blues: 3.0%
12. New Jersey Devis: 2.5%
13. New York Islanders: 2.0%
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: 1.5%
15. Detroit Red Wings: 1.0% (pick traded to St. Louis)
16. Washington Capitals: 0.5%
Top North American skaters
LW Gavin McKenna, Penn State
D Reid Chase, Sault Ste. Marie
D Carson Carels, Prince George
D Keaton Verhoeff, North Dakota
D Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert
Top international skaters
LW Ivan Stenberg, Sweden
D Alberts Smits, Latvia
C Oliver Suvanto, Finland
C Viggo Bjorck, Sweden
RW Elton Hermansson, Sweden
How does the draft lottery work?
There are two drawings, first for a chance at the top pick and then for a chance at the second pick. Winning teams can move up only 10 spots. The last-place team can draft no lower than third overall. Beginning with the 2022 lottery, a team cannot win more than twice in a five-year period. There are 14 ping-pong balls in the machine and each team is assigned a series of four numbers. The lower a team is in the standings, the more series of numbers it gets.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Play-In Tournament finale between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
These Hornets vs. Magic predictions aren’t guesswork — they’re driven by the numbers.
For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 17.
Hornets vs Magic computer picks for April 17
Hornets
Magic
Ball o23.5 points -120
Banchero u22.5 points -105
Knueppel o2.5 threes -130
Carter Jr. u7.5 rebounds -135
Ball o7.5 assists +100
Suggs u5.5 assists -125
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Hornets computer picks
LaMelo Ball Over 23.5 points (-120)
Projection: 23.6 points
LaMelo Ball has been on a scoring tear lately, putting up 29.4 points per game over his last five outings — a sharp jump of 9.2 points above his season average.
The matchup also works in his favor. When on the road, opposing starting point guards have shot 42.3% from beyond the arc against the Orlando Magic — the sixth-highest mark allowed in the league. That vulnerability from deep sets the stage for Ball to surpass his points prop once again tonight.
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Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes (-130)
Projection: 3.1 threes
The Magic have pushed the pace at the third-fastest rate in the league over their last 10 games, creating a boost in possessions for the Charlotte Hornets.
That uptick in tempo opens the door for Kon Knueppel to bounce back from a quiet postseason debut and make his mark from deep, giving Charlotte a much-needed spark as they look to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
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LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists (+100)
Projection: 7.9 assists
Ball has cleared the 7.5 assist line in 6 of his last 10 games, and the recent trend points to a player fully in command of his team’s offense at the right time of year.
Orlando’s defensive identity is built on length and help-side pressure, which often forces the ball out of a lead guard’s hands, but that’s exactly where Ball thrives.
If Orlando commits extra attention to slowing his scoring, Ball’s assist upside only grows. With shooters spacing the floor and transition chances likely to increase, the path to 8+ assists is firmly in play once again.
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Magic computer picks
Paolo Banchero Under 22.5 points (-105)
Projection: 21.9 points
The Charlotte Hornets have operated at the slowest pace in the league over their last 10 road games, a trend that should naturally limit possessions for the Orlando Magic.
That kind of environment doesn’t set up well for Paolo Banchero, who has already fallen short of the 22.5-point mark in 6 of his last 10 outings.
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Wendell Carter Jr. Under 7.5 rebounds (-135)
Projection: 7.2 rebounds
The Magic rank as the fourth-worst offensive rebounding team in the league at home over their last 20 games, limiting second-chance opportunities.
That trend hasn’t helped Wendell Carter Jr., who has fallen short of the 7.5 rebound line in 7 of his last 10 outings.
Facing a locked-in Hornets squad, expect them to control the glass and further cap Carter Jr.’s rebounding chances tonight.
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Jalen Suggs Under 5.5 assists (-125)
Projection: 5.4 assists
Fewer trips up the floor means fewer chances for Jalen Suggs to rack up dimes, especially if Orlando prioritizes efficient scoring over ball movement.
There’s also a usage component to consider. In a win-or-go-home setting, the Magic are more likely to lean heavily on their primary creators, leaving Suggs to focus on defense, spot-up shooting, and secondary actions rather than orchestrating the offense.
If his touches remain in that complementary role, reaching 6+ assists becomes a tough ask once again.
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How to watch Hornets vs Magic tonight
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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It would be a bit much to call Garret Anderson the last of his kind. That would draw too much attention to a guy who ducked the spotlight at every turn.
Anderson’s 17-year career is an almost perfect statement of both his greatness and his ability to deflect any attention toward his simple and highly trained focuses: His family, his commitment to play every single day, his ability to rake better than almost any other player in one of the game’s most potent offensive eras.
Looking for a guy who broke open Game 7 of the World Series with a bases-clearing double? That would be Anderson, whose rope into the right field corner off Livan Hernández launched the Anaheim Angels to their only World Series title in 2002, over Barry Bonds’ San Francisco Giants.
How about a player whose metronomic production churned out 1,146 hits between 1998 and 2003, trailing only Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Todd Helton?
A Home Run Derby champion? An All-Star MVP? That was Anderson in 2003, where he outdueled Albert Pujols in the Derby finals.
Anderson, who died stunningly at 53, was a doubles hitter in an era defined by the long ball. He hit 261 of them in that glorious peak from 1998 to ’03, second in that span and again sandwiched by Hall of Famers in Helton and Jeff Kent.
Of course, all the while Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and eventually Bonds were re-defining the home run record books, shrinking ballparks and commanding attention in a manner that didn’t seem real. (It mostly was not).
Garret Anderson stats only tell part of the story
Which made it all the easier for Anderson to avoid the radar like he avoided the injured list for so long. He ranks 50th all-time in two-baggers, accounting for 522 of his 2,529 hits – a highly impressive hit total yet also just shy of serious Hall of Fame consideration.
Kids, you want a modern comp? GA had some Freddie Freeman in him, albeit with a bit less power.
Yet getting past Anderson’s defenses was a challenge for news media. And if today's era is defined by drip checks and social media activations, Anderson might have been the king of anti-engagement back in the day.
Anderson was the son of a single mother who grew up in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, moving frequently yet excelling athletically all the while. Anderson might have loved hoops even more than baseball, yet it was clear once the Angels drafted him in the fourth round in 1990 which route he would go.
He got his feet on the big league ground in 1995, part of a machinelike Angels offense that blew a 13-game lead to Ken Griffey Jr.’s Seattle Mariners. Not until their World Series year would the Angels get that close again, and more dynamic figures emerged around him.
Jim Edmonds was the slugging center fielder with a penchant for highlight-reel catches. Darin Erstad was the gritty hit machine, Mo Vaughn the huge free agent get and eventual disappointment.
Anderson was very quickly the old reliable, playing in 150 to 161 games from 1996 to 2003. As his track record solidified, there became a certain duality to GA: Avoiding the spotlight yet also fiercely proud of his accomplishments.
He took some heat for his self-preservation in the outfield, rarely leaving his feet and creating the impression he simply had a slower motor than the hyper-aggressive Erstad and, before him, Edmonds.
Then came Game 3 of the 2002 ALCS, when Anderson ended a 2-1 victory with a sliding catch in left field. Observers were stunned. Anderson was reticent, noting that yeah, that one mattered a bit more, even as his body language consistently belied his effort.
“If he was on a basketball court,” teammate Tim Salmon once said, “he’d be called smooth.”
Nope, the pride was always there. Anderson was never adversarial with the media but got cross with a reporter when a play he failed to make inspired the thought that Anderson was “disinterested.”
It wasn’t exactly a multi-day ripple, but GA was not pleased. And then, several weeks, maybe months later, baseball highlights were on in the clubhouse and an outfielder failed to make a play.
Anderson did not miss a beat from his corner of the room.
“Disinterested!” he said, displaying the memory of an elephant and the stubbornness required to survive in the big leagues.
So consistent was he that a slow start one year earned him the “What’s wrong with GA?” treatment from curious reporters. Anderson needed just five words to lay out the next several months.
“Talk to me in September,” he said.
Sure enough, the numbers were always there, and Anderson’s name always in the lineup, at least until April 2004. Shortly after signing a $48 million contract extension (Anderson seemed to take as much glee in keeping that under the radar as he did his lifetime security), he went on the injured list, a lack of strength befalling him.
He was eventually diagnosed with undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis. Of course, he still batted .301 but over just 112 games. He’d muster his third and final All-Star nod in 2005 and participated in four more playoff runs.
He’d play until he was 38, finishing with stints with Atlanta and the Dodgers. His greater lasting legacy might be his children, daughters Brianne and Bailey and son Trey.
His work on the field needs no apologies, not for a World Series champion, an elite professional hitter, a guy whose durability and production never gleaned headlines nor broke records, yet provided the foundation for a championship.
So take a moment to remember GA. Even if he might feel a little sheepish about it.
The St. Louis Blues have started the process of reshaping their coaching staff.
On Friday, they announced that assistants Claude Julien and Mike Weber will not be brought back.
“I would like to thank Claude and Mike for their contributions during their time with the organization,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a statement. “With their contracts set to expire this summer, we wanted to give them the opportunity to move on to the next chapter of their coaching careers while we work to building a coaching staff that is best suited to lead our team moving forward.”
Julien, 65, joined the Blues as an assistant coach in the summer of 2024. The Blind River, Ontario, native helped guide the Blues to an 81-63-20 regular-season record during his tenure, along with a postseason appearance in 2025. Julien has more than 20 years of coaching experience, including NHL head coaching stints with the Montreal Canadiens from 2002-06 and 2016-21, New Jersey Devils in 2006-07 and Boston Bruins from 2008-17, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Weber, 38, joined the Blues as an assistant coach in the summer of 2023. During his tenure, the Blues posted a 124-96-26 regular-season record and made a postseason appearance in 2025. The Pittsburgh native previously served as an assistant coach with the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans from 2020-23 and the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires from 2018-20.
When Blues coach Jim Montgomery was brought in to replace Drew Bannister in November of 2024, he kept the assistants in place until now and will have the opportunity to bring in someone that he's had previous experience with, perhaps, or someone new that he hasn't worked with before but has some sort of experience with.
There will be more on these moves on Saturday when Armstrong, Montgomery and players address things at locker room cleanout for the and the start of the off-season.
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Draymond Green has built a career on intensity, edge and embracing the spotlight — but he revealed why recent praise from Kawhi Leonard carried deeper meaning than most compliments ever could.
Speaking on “The Draymond Green Show,” Green said Leonard’s postgame comments resonated because they came from someone he deeply respects after years of competing at the highest level.
“I was flattered,” Green said. “Ultimately, what matters to you the most is the respect from your peers. And not just any peer, the respect from the peers that you respect.”
Green made clear his admiration for Leonard extends well beyond one game.
“I got so much respect for Kawhi,” Green added. “Every time I play against Kawhi Leonard, I get better. And I’m so grateful for him as a competitor, because he brings the best out of me.”
Green explained that while NBA players often are viewed through the lens of fame and money, life in the league can be mentally draining under constant public scrutiny.
“Man, it’s hard,” Green noted. “You have a bad game, and people say you’re trash, you suck. They dissect your personal life. It’s hard.”
That is why Leonard’s praise stood out. Green and Leonard have battled for championships, Defensive Player of the Year honors and postseason success over the years, making the Clippers star’s words especially meaningful.
“To hear him say that about me — me and Kawhi battled for Defensive Player of the Year awards and championship rings,” Green explained. “And for him to say, ‘He’s a Hall of Fame defender’; that’s one of the greatest defenders ever saying I’m a Hall of Fame defender. Man, it meant so much to me.”
Green added that mutual respect is what allows competitors to acknowledge greatness in one another openly.
At the same time, Green emphasized slowing Leonard down was far from an individual accomplishment, crediting the Warriors’ team defense and coaching staff for making life difficult on one of the NBA’s elite scorers.
“You don’t lock down great players,” Green said. “Kawhi still had 21 points. You don’t shut them down. But what you do is you just try to make it hard.”
For Green, Leonard’s words served as a reminder that some of the most meaningful recognition comes from the opponents who know exactly how hard the battle is.
The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder enter this weekend’s playoffs as the clear betting favorites to go back to back, while the Los Angeles Lakers are dominating first-round series action.
Key Takeaways
OKC is the best-case scenario for BetMGM in the futures market.
The Lakers are the most-bet team to win a first-round series.
Bettors are split on three Game 1 spreads this weekend.
Western Conference top seed Oklahoma City opened as a +240 favorite in BetMGM’s NBA champion market, and the Thunder have shortened to +140. Because of the low NBA title odds and bettors taking chances on long shots like the Lakers, the sportsbook will be in a good spot if the favorite holds serve.
“The Thunder are clear favorites to win the NBA Championship heading into the playoffs,” Anthony Parenti, BetMGM sports trader, said. “Among the true contenders, OKC is the best result on the futures market. The sportsbook is in the enviable position of getting to cheer for the favorite to win it all.”
BetMGM took more money on the San Antonio Spurs (+450) and more tickets on the Denver Nuggets (+1,000) than OKC, which is getting 10.9% of the bets and 15.5% of the handle. theScore Bet reported that the Thunder are leading the NBA champion market with 15.7% of the wagers and 15.8% of the money.
Sportsbooks will be sweating the Lakers in many ways. Not only are the LeBron James-led West 4-seed BetMGM’s biggest liability in the futures market, but they’re also the most-bet team to win their first-round series with odds of +425.
The fifth-seeded Houston Rockets are -550 favorites that are only getting 8% of the tickets and 7% of the handle at BetMGM. The Lakers have taken 60% of the wagers and 80% of the money at theScore Bet, where L.A. is the only underdog with the majority of both categories.
However, the most-bet correct score market by handle is the Rockets in seven games at +825.
Heading into Saturday’s prime-time Game 1, the Lakers are 5.5-point underdogs and getting 68% of the bets at DraftKings. The Rockets have seen 54% of the handle in the series opener.
Series upsets?
Among the first-round matchups set before the play-in concluded, another BetMGM underdog drawing heavy action is the Portland Trail Blazers, who have attracted more than 80% of both tickets and handle at +1,000 to upset the Spurs in a best-of-seven series.
At theScore Bet, No.2 San Antonio has seen over 90% of the tickets and handle to take out No. 7 Portland. The closest first-round series by tickets at the operator is Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors, which is nearly an even split. However, 90% of the money is backing No. 4 Cleveland.
The Cavs winning the series 4-0 with odds of +425 is the operator’s most-bet correct score for the market.
Bettors have taken a clear stance on the No. 2 Boston Celtics, hefty -900 favorites to get past the Philadelphia 76ers, who are getting less than 7% of the series handle at theScore Bet. The No. 3 New York Knicks (-270) are getting close to 90% of the money to eliminate the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, while the No. 3 Nuggets (-340) have taken over 80% of the money to beat the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves.
Game 1 splits
Aside from Lakers-Rockets, DraftKings bettors are currently split on two other Saturday Game 1 spreads. The Cavs (-8.5) are getting 69% of the handle, but 51% of the tickets have come in on the underdog Raptors.
The Nuggets have taken 54% of the wagers as 5.5-point favorites, but the T-Wolves are getting 60% of the spread handle in the series opener.
The Knicks are getting nearly 60% of the tickets and a dominating 84% of the handle as 5.5-point favorites over the Hawks. For Sunday’s games, the Celtics’ -12.5 and the Spurs’ -10.5 aren’t scaring off the majority of bets and money at DraftKings.
The Eastern Conference 1-seed Detroit Pistons await the winner of Friday’s Hornets-Magic play-in game, while the Thunder get either the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns.
The Edmonton Oilers didn’t dominate the regular season, but they may have landed one of the most favorable first-round matchups in the bracket. Against a young and inconsistent Anaheim Ducks team, Edmonton enters the series with clear advantages in firepower, experience, and special teams.
While nothing is guaranteed in the playoffs, there are several reasons why the Oilers are widely viewed as the favorites heading into Round 1. This draw against the Ducks could be just what the team needed.
Ducks’ Defensive Issues Play Directly Into Oilers’ Strengths
The Edmonton Oilers couldn’t have asked for a better stylistic matchup to open the playoffs. Simply put, the Ducks are terrible defensively. They ranked fourth-worst in the NHL in goals against and are the worst of the playoff teams. So too, their penalty kill ranked near the bottom among playoff teams — second only to the Ottawa Senators.
You can't be that bad in those areas and expect not to get scored on, and lots, by a dangerous team like Edmonton.
With Connor McDavid leading the league in points (winning the Art Ross Trophy for the sixth time) and Leon Draisaitl expected to return, the Oilers boast the NHL’s most dangerous power play. They were top five in goals for, goals for on the power play, and exceled in several offensive categories. Anaheim’s inability to suppress chances or stay out of the box could make this a short series.
Edmonton Is Peaking at the Right Time
The Oilers enter the postseason trending upward, having found another gear late in the season. While they struggled early by their own Cup-or-bust standards, the team came alive when things got serious. After the Olympic break, the team looked different. They weren't perfect, but the group that leaked chances and goals against, or got blown out by top-tier teams, disappeared.
McDavid is back to doing McDavid things, scoring at an almost unbelievable rate. Matt Savoie looks like a 20-goal guy, Zach Hyman is back and healthy, Connor Ingram has set a new baseline in goal, and the defense is suppressing chances against and keeping goals down. Add in the contributions of Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the depth on this team, and Edmonton suddenly looks like a team capable of overwhelming opponents in waves.
Experience Gap Favors a Battle-Tested Oilers Team
While Anaheim’s young core brings energy and unpredictability, playoff hockey is often about experience — and that’s where Edmonton holds a clear edge. "Playoff hockey is unique," said McDavid. "It's a skill to win in the playoffs, and we feel pretty good about that, having that skill, having been there and won a lot of playoff games."
The Oilers have built a reputation for elevating their game in the postseason, finding ways to win. The Ducks, meanwhile, will have to learn how to win at this level. Despite intriguing pieces like Jackson LaCombe and a promising young roster, they limped into the playoffs without much momentum. There are questions about their readiness, especially as the physicality and intensity ramp up over the course of a seven-game series.
Edmonton understands what it takes this time of year, and that maturity could prove decisive. If the Oilers handle business as expected, this series could serve as a launching pad — not just to advance, but to build momentum for tougher matchups ahead against teams like the Vegas Golden Knights or Colorado Avalanche.
