Cam Schlittler vs. Boston is a beef that just won't die. And the New York Yankees right-hander from Walpole, Massachusetts is ready to steer into it when he makes his first career start at Fenway Park.
Schlittler, the Yankees' 25-year-old fireballer who emerged as a playoff hero last season and a rotation mainstay this year, told news media that he and his family have received death threats prior to his scheduled start on Thursday, April 23.
Schlittler, who attended Northeastern and has a 1.95 ERA in five starts this season, is expecting a very rude welcome at Fenway Park, the latest twist in a saga of Area Man Gets Drafted By Hated Rival.
"Most normal fans could care less, right?," Schlittler told the New York Post. "It’s just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them."
The Schlittler-Boston feud jumped off in earnest in October, when he dominated the Red Sox in a winner-take-all Game 3 in the AL wild-card series at Yankee Stadium, striking out 12 over eight shutout innings. As the champagne flew in the Yankees' clubhouse, Schlittler revealed the extent he'd been beefing with Red Sox fans leading up to the start.
"I didn’t like some of the things they said today," Schlittler said after Game 3. "I'm not going to get into it, but there’s a line I think they crossed a little bit. Again, I’m a competitor and I’m going to go out there and make sure I shut them down.
"We’re aggressive back home and we’re going to try to get under people’s skins. They just picked the wrong guy to do it to. And the wrong team to do it to."
Schlittler later tweeted, "Drinkin' dat dirty water," a reference to the Red Sox's victory song. A month later, he peacefully attended a Boston Bruins game at TD Garden, showing he still has some allegiance toward New England.
Come Thursday, though, it's business as usual.
"(You’d) think after last time," he told The Athletic, "how much they were talking before, that they might be trying to quiet it down a little bit."
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The Bronx is burning banana-ing.
On April 25-26, the Savannah Bananas are swinging into Yankee Stadium for a pair of a-peel-ing games against their rivals, the Party Animals.
And if you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are available for both games at the House that Jeter Built.
Better yet, they’re reasonably priced considering how much Bananas seats typically retail for.
Based on our findings, the lowest price we could find on tickets for this weekend’s Banana Ball Bronx battles was $91 including fees on StubHub at the time of publication.
100-level seats start at $135 including fees.
As fans may recall, this will be the potassium-friendly club’s second visit to the Big Apple; they previously dropped into Aaron Judge’s home last September.
Per usual, the unconventional club delivered an unforgettable, one-of-a-king experience tailored specifically to hometown fans at those late summer contests.
Just a few of the most notable highlights included their signature choreographed dances, a singalong with “Hamilton” star Miguel Cervantes and appearances by former Yankee Nick Swisher, former World Series-winning Yankees manager Joe Torre and Super Bowl-winning Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who cosplayed as an umpire.
Yes, really.
That’s not to mention the players on stilts, kooky rules (if a fan catches a foul ball, that’s an out!), catchers on bean bag chairs, elaborate walk-ups to the batter’s box and strict two-hour time limit to ensure the game doesn’t go too long.
“It might not look like anything you’ve seen in a baseball game, but it shouldn’t; this is Banana Ball,” Bananas/Firefighters player Noah Bridges told Yankees beat writer Jon Schwartz.
“…I feel pretty confident that we…gave [fans] more than enough to make it one of the most memorable days they’ll ever have at a ballpark.”
What will happen this time? Who will show up?
While we can’t say for certain, we do know the best way to find out is live.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the Savannah Bananas at Yankee Stadium in 2026 below.
A complete breakdown of all the best prices on tickets for both Savannah Bananas 2026 Yankee Stadium games (along with dates and start times) can be found here:
Bananas game date
Ticket prices start at
100-level tickets start at
Saturday, April 25 7 p.m.
$95(including fees)
$135(including fees)
Sunday, April 263 p.m.
$91(including fees)
$152(including fees)
Savannah Bananas 2026 schedule
Once the short stint in the Bronx wraps, the Bananas will hit ballparks all over North America from May through October.
Some of their most notable stops include Atlanta’s Truist Park (May 8-10), Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium (May 30-31), Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark (June 19-21), Chicago’s Wrigley Field (July 24-26) and Minnesota’s Target Field (Aug. 7-8).
They’ll return to the East Coast for two nights at the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29.
To find the game that makes the most sense for you, check out the Savannah Bananas’ complete 2026 schedule here.
Yankees giveaways 2026
Hoping to catch the Bronx Bombers…and maybe score a freebie while you’re at it?
Check this out.
Our team compiled a complete calendar of all Yankees giveaway home games, including dates, opponents, giveaways, special events and links to buy tickets below.
Yankees 2026 giveaway dates
Orioles vs. YankeesSaturday, May 2 Star Wars Day – Max Fried Mandalorian Bobblehead
Blue Jays vs. YankeesThursday, May 21 Cap Night
Rays vs. YankeesFriday, May 22 Giancarlo Stanton Basketball Jersey Night
Guardians vs. YankeesTuesday, June 2 Charles Fazzino’s America250: A New York Yankees Celebration Poster Night
Red Sox vs. YankeesSaturday, June 6 Military Appreciation Night – Red, White & Blue Yankees T-shirt
White Sox vs. YankeesThursday, June 18 Yankees Soccer Jersey Night
Guardians vs. YankeesSaturday, June 20 Aaron Judge MVP Bobblehead Day
Twins vs. YankeesFriday, July 3 Fireworks Night
Twins vs. YankeesSaturday, July 4 Yankees 4th of July Cap Day
Pirates vs. YankeesMonday, July 20 Yankees T-Shirt Night
Braves vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 8 Old-Timers’ Day
Blue Jays vs. YankeesFriday, Aug. 21 Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night
Blue Jays vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 22 Hello Kitty Yankees Bobblehead Day
Astros vs. YankeesThursday, Aug. 27 George Costanza Calzone Bobblehead Night
Orioles vs. YankeesFriday, Sept. 25 Josh Hart Yankees Bobblehead Night
Orioles vs. YankeesSaturday, Sept. 26 CC Sabathia Night
JAY-Z at Yankee Stadium
Savannah’s favorite team isn’t the only exciting guest headlining Yankee Stadium this summer.
JAY-Z is also swooping in for three unique shows celebrating the anniversaries of his classic albums. You can grab tickets for each concert here:
JAŸ-Z Yankee Stadium dates
Friday, July 10performing “Reasonable Doubt”
Saturday, July 11performing “The Blueprint”
Sunday, July 12the “extra innings” show
About the Savannah Bananas
After forming in 2016, the “exhibition barnstorming baseball team” made a name for themselves by embracing “exhibition” and “barnstorming” while halfway ditching “baseball.”
The team now plays Banana Ball which has quirky rules like fan-caught foul balls counting as outs, games not being allowed to exceed two hours in length and batters stealing first base.
Yet, still, that’s barely scratching the surface of the innovative game’s showmanship.
Simply put, we recommend following Savannah’s Instagram to see what hijinx the entertaining team is up to. Be warned though- their clips are so fun you just might end up scrolling for hours.
Savannah Party Animals
The Bananas aren’t the only attraction at Banana Ball games.
Their opponents, the Savannah Party Animals, also bring fun and skill to the field.
“I think there are some guys that are obvious fits for the Bananas, and some guys that are obvious fits for the Party Animals,” coach Nate Fish told Savannah Now following team tryouts.
“We need the games to be really competitive. We can’t load up one team. It’s not like the (Harlem) Globetrotters and the (Washington Generals). The games aren’t scripted. The games are highly competitive. Anyone can win. We have to take a look at balance to do that.”
Savannah Bananas 2026 roster
Who are the stars that make up the Bananas squad? Want to pick a favorite right now?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
CHICAGO — The losses are piling up for the New York Mets, and Francisco Lindor thinks the criticism surrounding the team is about to get very loud.
It already is pretty noisy.
New York dropped its 11th consecutive game when closer Devin Williams blew a ninth-inning lead in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings. It’s the longest slide for the club since it lost 11 in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in 2004.
“We’ve just got to stick together and stay within ourself and fight,” Lindor said. “Fight.”
Led by Lindor and Juan Soto, the Mets began the season with World Series aspirations. They had an opening-day payroll of $352.2 million, tops in the majors.
Soto strained his right calf during a 10-3 victory at San Francisco on April 3 — the beginning of a four-game win streak that lifted New York to a 7-4 record.
That seems like a long time ago.
The Mets have been outscored 62-19 during their losing streak. They are batting .145 with runners in scoring position during the skid after going 0 for 9 in those situations in the series finale against the Cubs.
“We didn’t hit that many balls hard today,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “So yeah, we’ve got to get better at-bats, for sure.”
The Mets became the first team to lose 11 or more games in a row in April since the 2022 Cincinnati Reds. The last 12-game slide for the franchise was in August 2002.
Only four teams have reached the postseason after going through a double-digit losing streak, including the Cleveland Guardians last year and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017.
“I think it does compound as you continue to lose, but that’s for us to stop it and get ourselves going on the right track,” Mets pitcher David Peterson said.
Most of the noise Lindor mentioned likely will focus on Mendoza, who was hired in November 2023. But president of baseball operations David Stearns backed Mendoza, and Lindor offered a strident defense of his manager after the latest loss.
“Mendy’s our guy. He’s our leader,” the All-Star shortstop said. “He’s in control and he’s done a tremendous job. We just haven’t executed. It would be unfair to put everything on him because at the end of the day he has gotten the ship in the right direction. The people that are paddling, we’ve got to paddle and execute.”
Even with the team’s struggles at the plate, New York was in position to salvage the finale of its six-game trip.
The Mets had a 1-0 lead before Williams gave up pinch-hitter Michael Conforto’s tying double in the ninth. Craig Kimbrel was saddled with the loss when Nico Hoerner drove in Pete Crow-Armstrong with a sacrifice fly in the 10th.
The 31-year-old Williams signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets in free agency.
“I’m really, really disappointed,” Williams said. “They gave me a lead. It’s my job to hold it, and I made a mistake. It cost us the game today.”
The Mets are off before beginning a nine-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins. Soto is expected to return at some point during the homestand, but Lindor & Co. know the slugger can only help so much.
“It’s going to lengthen our lineup, but even when he comes, we’ve still got to get it done,” Lindor said. “It would be unfair to just throw everything on him. As a team, we’ve got to come together and execute.”
The Colorado Rockies (9-13) go for the series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers (15-6) at Coors Field. The Dodgers won Game 1, 7-1, but the Rockies took the next two, 4-3 and 9-6.
Colorado was on a 1-6 stretch entering the series with Los Angeles, but certainly stepped up their play. The Rockies won back-to-back games versus the Dodgers for the first time in four years. Entering the final matchup of the four-game set, the Rockies own the MLB's 13th-best batting average (.241) and 19th-ranked ERA (4.14).
Los Angeles was handed its first back-to-back losses this season and despite that, they still have the MLB's best record. The Dodgers offense has been out of this world with a .289 batting average (1st), 37 home runs (1st), and 207 hits (2nd).
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Rockies
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 8:40 PM EST
Site: Coors Field
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Rockies
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-219), Colorado Rockies (+179)
Spread: Rockies +1.5 (+129), Dodgers -1.5 (-156)
Total: 11.5
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Rockies
Monday’s pitching matchup (April 20): Justin Wrobleski vs. Jose Quintana
The Rockies’ Mickey Moniak is hitting .273 with 15 hits and 36 total bases over 55 at-bats
The Rockies’ Jordan Beck is hitting .122 with 5 hits and 9 strikeouts over 41 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .382 with 29 hits and 48 total bases over 76 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Alex Freeland is hitting .218 with 12 hits and 19 strikeouts over 55 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Rockies
The Rockies are 14-8 ATS this season
The Dodgers are 11-10 ATS this season
The Rockies are 14-8 to the Under this season, ranking second-best
The Dodgers are 11-10 to the Under this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Rockies
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Dodgers and the Rockies.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 11.5
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Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets look to take a 2-0 series lead tonight in their first round series against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets took the series opener, 116-105. The Nuggets outscored Minnesota 68-46 over the second and third quarters, building a lead as large as 15 points. The Wolves led by 10 after the first quarter but the game was tied at the half. Edwards and co. cut the Nuggets’ lead down to 97-95 with 6:23 to go, but would never get closer. Jamal Murray (30 points, 16/16 FT) and Jokic (25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists) led the way for Denver. Murray has now scored at least 30 points in 20 career playoff games. Edwards scored 22 points but was just 7-19 from the field.
A deeper dive into the numbers from Game 1 and the difference in the game really came down to free throws. Denver shot 30/33 from the line (90.9%) while Minnesota was 14/19 (73.7%). This matched each team’s reg. season trend as the Nuggets had the fourth-most FTA/gm in the NBA (25.8) and the Timberwolves committed the third-most fouls per game (21.2). Those percentages also fall in line with the teams’ regular season numbers. Denver had the fifth-best FT% in the league (80.8%) while Minnesota had the second worst (75.2%).
The win in Game 1 was Denver’s 13th straight dating back to March 20. The franchise record is 15 straight in 2013.
A couple of additional numbers to note:
The Nuggets have won seven of the last eight series in which they won Game 1.
Denver is 8-0 all-time in a seven-game series in which they win the first two games.
Minnesota is 0-8 all-time in a seven-game series in which they have lost the first two games.
The Timberwolves did rally to win a 2023 first round series against the Nuggets after falling behind 2-0, but it was a five-game series.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 10:30PM EST
Site: Ball Arena
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
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Game Odds: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Nuggets -6.5 with the Game Total set at 230.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
PG Anthony Edwards
SG Donte DiVincenzo
C Rudy Gobert
SF Julius Randle
PF Jaden McDaniels
Denver Nuggets
PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
C Nikola Jokic
SF Cam Johnson
PF Aaron Gordon
Injury Report: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
No Injuries to Report
Denver Nuggets
Peyton Watson (hamstring) has been declared OUT of Monday’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
The Nuggets are 29-13 at home this season
The Timberwolves are 23-19 on the road this season
The Timberwolves are 37-46 ATS this season
Denver is 45-38 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 37 of the Timberwolves’ 83 games this season (37-46)
The OVER has cashed in 52 of the Nuggets’ 83 games this season (52-31)
Bruce Bowen's Game 1 stat line: 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals
Anthony Edwards tied a career-high with 3 blocks in Game 1
Nikola Jokic became the first player since the league began determining league leaders by average in 1969-70 to lead the league in both rebounds (12.9rbg) and assists (10.7apg)
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s Timberwolves and Nuggets’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Timberwolves +7.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 230.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
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The Philadelphia Flyers have made some roster moves ahead of their Game 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers have announced that they have recalled top prospects Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
With the Phantoms' season over, it makes sense that Bonk and Jiricek have been called up to Philadelphia's roster. They will now provide the Flyers with more defensive depth during their playoff run.
Bonk made his NHL debut for the Flyers in their regular-season finale against the Montreal Canadiens and had a big game. The right-shot defenseman scored a goal and had an assist in the contest. He also had six goals, 13 assists, and 19 points in 46 games this season with the Phantoms.
As for Jiricek, he had two goals and 13 points in 15 games this season with the Phantoms after being acquired by the Flyers from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline. He made his Flyers debut in the club's regular-season finale against the Canadiens as well. In 26 NHL games this season split between the Wild and Flyers, he had zero points and 19 blocks.
All eight first-round series are underway, and for the most part, they have gone chalk — the favorites showed why they should be the favorites.
However, there were a couple of exceptions, with the biggest one being in Detroit, where the No. 1 seed Pistons got pushed around by the No. 8 seed Magic. We've got questions in Houston, too. Here are five takeaways from the opening weekend of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Detroit doesn’t need to panic. Yet.
Home teams that lose Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff series tend to bounce back big in Game 2.
That reason alone is why Detroit should not panic. While Game 1 was concerning, there is plenty of time to turn this around — but it has to start with a Game 2 win. The Pistons' success this season was based on Cade Cunningham's shot creation — which they got plenty of with his 39 points, although nobody else stepped up — along with a stout defense and physicality. Those last two things were legit issues on Sunday. Orlando was the more physical team from the opening tip, as evidenced by its winning the points-in-the-paint battle 54-34. Paolo Banchero bullied his way past anyone guarding him. Jalen Suggs was a menace. More concerning for Detroit, Wendell Carter Jr. completely outplayed Jalen Duren, who had eight points on four shot attempts all night.
"I thought we were a little rusty to start," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Giving up a 35-point [first] quarter, that's not typical of us. I felt like we were chasing them all night."
In Game 2, Detroit has to take control again of the pace and the paint — it has to dominate in the half court. For two games in a row now, Orlando has looked like the team we all expected this season. Detroit can right the ship with a Game 2 win, but if not, it will be time to find that panic button.
More than Durant, Rockets need defense in Game 2
First, give credit where credit is due: LeBron James was brilliant in Game 1. The 41-year-old shouldered the Lakers' offensive creation burden and had 19 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard was the primary beneficiary of the Space LeBron created and scored 27. Houston was without Kevin Durant, and the team's offense was certainly worse when he was out this season (3.5 points per 100 possessions), but the issues in Game 1 were bigger than that. Alperen Şengun — 19 points on 19 shot attempts — has to be better, especially going against Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.
More importantly, Houston's defense has to be dominant and it wasn't — the Lakers shot 60.6% for the game. Without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves (who remain out and likely will be for the entire series). Amen Thompson and the Rockets were expected to smother LeBron and the Lakers' offense, and instead, the Lakers largely got whatever they wanted.
Durant may well be back for Game 2 on Tuesday, but Houston needs a lot more than KD if they are going to bounce back in this series.
Knicks defense showed up for the playoffs
The Knicks' offense got the headlines: Jalen Brunson scoring 19 in the first quarter, and Karl-Anthony Towns with 11 in the fourth to seal the win (KAT finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds).
However, it was the Knicks' defense, which slowed the athletic Hawks' offense, that was the real story. Nickeil Alexander-Walker did not look like the guy about to win Most Improved with 17 points on 17 shot attempts. Jalen Johnson scored 23 but was 8-of-19 shooting. CJ McCollum was the highest-scoring Hawk at 26 because that man is a tough shot maker — but all the Hawks' shots seemed tough.
New York had the sixth-best defense in the NBA after the calendar flipped to 2026 and that defense showed up in Game 1. It's that defense that gives them a chance if they face Boston in the next round. Speaking of Boston...
Favorites Thunder, Celtics roll
Boston and Oklahoma City showed exactly why they are the betting favorites to meet in the NBA Finals.
Jaylen Brown scored 26, Jayson Tatum 25, and the Celtics' defense smothered the 76ers, who shot just 38.9% as a team in the game. Tyrese Maxey seemed to find a little space but still needed 20 shots to get to his 21 points. Boston simply looked dominant, winning by 32.
So did Oklahoma City, which ran Phoenix out of the building by 35 points and held the Suns to 34.9% shooting as a team. Dillon Brooks, in particular, could not get going, shooting 6-of-22.
The only real question in Boston and Oklahoma City is whether it's a sweep or a gentleman's sweep (letting their opponent win one).
Don’t sleep on Denver to win it all
Minnesota's Rudy Gobert deserves a lot of credit for Game 1, he did as good a job on Nikola Jokic as could be asked of any human. It was a game where Jokic leveraged his gravity and position more than looking to take over.
Jokic still had a 25-point, 13-rebound and 11-assist triple-double (almost an average day at the office for him), and he shot 5-of-9 with a dozen points while Gobert was on him.
Jokic's casual triple-double isn't what was most impressive from Denver. It was playoff Jamal Murray taking charge in the first half and finishing with 30. It was Aaron Gordon — the glue that holds this team's title hopes together — going for 17 and eight and making plays all over the court. It was Christian Braun knocking down corner 3s. It was Bruce Brown coming in and making plays off the bench.
That Nuggets performance should scare the rest of the league — Denver looked every bit the title contender, and that wasn't even their fastball. Yes, Oklahoma City is still the team to beat and the San Antonio Spurs are everybody's hot new thing, but the Nuggets we saw on Saturday can win it all.
Apr 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrates his goal scored with teammates during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ron Chenoy/Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
DENVER — Logan O’Connor scored for the first time in a year, Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots in his first Stanley Cup playoffs start and the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in Game 1.
O’Connor’s third-period tally was his first since Game 4 of a playoff series against Dallas on April 26. He missed most of this season with a hip injury. Artturi Lehkonen had a second-period goal for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.
“Super happy to get it out of the way,” said O’Connor, who underwent hip surgery in early June. “For us, our game translates well to the playoffs. It’s a lot of simplicity and muck it up and just wear teams down. It was nice to get that one out of the way and finish the job off.”
Wedgewood got the nod in net over Mackenzie Blackwood after leading the league in goals-against average and save percentage. Wedgewood made four career playoff appearances in relief before the start.
At 33 years, 248 days old, Wedgewood became the third-oldest goaltender in league history to pick up a win in his first career playoff start, according to NHL stats.
“Obviously, a long career to get to this point,” Wedgwood cracked.
Game 2 is in Denver.
Artemi Panarin scored a power-play goal with 2:22 left to make it 2-1. Shortly after, forward Joel Armia was called for high-sticking and the Kings were unable to tie it up.
“We were kind of coming there late and couldn’t get enough,” forward Scott Laughton said.
Anton Forsberg stopped 28 shots in his NHL postseason debut.
“We’re comfortable in low-scoring games,” Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “We’ve got to try and keep it tight.”
Nathan MacKinnon had an assist on Lehkonen’s goal to give him 32 career points in Game 1s. He trails only Joe Sakic (42) for the most Game-1 points in franchise history.
The game got chippy in the third period, with Cale Makar taking a shove to the back by Adrian Kempe. Captain Gabriel Landeskog later stood up for Makar and got into it with Kempe. Both drew roughing calls.
There were a combined 84 hits.
“We know teams are going to want to push us out of games,” said O’Connor, whose team was 0 for 4 on the power play. “We feel as though we can push back just as hard. That’s one great thing about our group: the versatility within our locker room. You want to go a 1-0 game? We like to think we can beat you at that. Track meet, if it happens? We’ve got that. Physicality, we have guys who are willing to step up.”
Colorado nearly scored earlier in the second when O’Connor sent a shot past Forsberg. But as the goal horn sounded, the officials signaled no goal. It was ruled Jack Drury made contact with Forsberg following a collision with Drew Doughty. The Avalanche challenged but the call stood.
“I’d like to see it count,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “They saw it different — not losing any sleep over it.”
The Phillies (8-13) and Cubs (12-9) prep for a four-game series at Wrigley Field as both teams are trending in different directions.
Chicago is on a five-game winning streak after sweeping the Mets and winning two of three against Philadelphia last week. The three-game series in Philadelphia between the Cubs and Phillies resulted in 47 combined runs scored. The Cubs scored 28 to the Phillies' 19. Chicago is now 7-5 at home after the sweep of the Mets.
Philadelphia has lost five consecutive games and six of the past seven. The Phillies' offense has struggled on the losing streak with four or less runs in all five games. Philadelphia has combined to score nine total runs in the last five games. This road game for the Phillies follows up nine-straight home games. Philadelphia is 3-3 on the road compared to 5-10 at home.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the information and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest details on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats and of course, our predictions, picks and best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details and how to watch Phillies at Cubs
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team statistics and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for Phillies vs. Cubs
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (-115), Philadelphia Phillies (-105)
Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-183), Phillies -1.5 (+151)
Total: 7.5
Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Cubs
Monday's pitching matchup (April 20): Aaron Nola vs. Colin Rea
The Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto is hitting .280 with 14 hits, 19 total bases and one home run over 50 at-bats
The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .139 with 10 hits, 13 strikeouts and 5 walks over 72 at-bats
The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is hitting .325 with 27 hits, 43 total bases and 21 RBIs over 83 at-bats
The Cubs’ Michael Busch is hitting .164 with 12 hits, 19 strikeouts, and 10 walks over 73 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Cubs
The Cubs are 9-12 ATS this season
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 4-17 ATS this season
The Cubs are 12-8-1 to the Over this season
The Phillies are 10-10-1 to the Over this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks and predictions for tonight’s game between Phillies and Cubs
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Phillies and the Cubs.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.5
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Apr 18, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) talks to defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) during a stoppage of play against the Dallas Stars in the first period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Thomas Shea/Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
DALLAS — The Minnesota Wild have an opportunity to do something they never have done in the NHL playoffs after putting the Dallas Stars in a very familiar postseason position.
Minnesota’s 6-1 thumping of its Central Division rival in Game 1 sets up the possibility to go up 2-0 in a playoff series for the first time in 15 postseason appearances over its 25-season history.
“We won a game, we didn’t win a series. So it’s just moving on to Game 2. ... We’re not satisfied with winning one game,” Wild coach John Hynes said.
“We’re living in the now, the past is the past. Different teams, different identities, different experience levels,” forward Matt Boldy said. “We go into this game with the same mindset we went in going into Game 1. ... Doesn’t matter if you’re up 2-0, up 3-0. It doesn’t matter until you get the fourth (win). So that’s our mindset and we’re not looking too far.”
The Wild haven’t gotten the clinching fourth win of a series since beating St. Louis in the first round of the 2015 playoffs. They have lost their last nine postseason series in the Western Conference playoffs, including losses to Dallas in 2016 and 2023.
For the Stars, it was the ninth time in 11 playoff series since 2022 that they lost Game 1 — 1-7 at home in that span, including a 5-1 loss to Colorado to open last year’s playoffs. They came back from those early deficits to win seven of those nine series, and made it to the West final each of the past three seasons.
“I’m not too worried,” Stars forward Mikko Rantanen said. “This team is really good at resetting and coming back the next night.”
Boldy scored two goals and had an assist in the series opener, including the last of three goals Minnesota had in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second period for a 4-0 lead.
The five-goal victory matched the biggest ever for the Wild in the playoffs, and they had five players with multiple points. Joel Eriksson Ek scored two power-play goals and had an assist, while Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and two assists and Mats Zuccarello had three helpers. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stopped 27 of 28 shots in his postseason debut.
“I liked the performance of everyone that was in the lineup, for sure,” Hynes said.
When asked if Wallstedt would start again over playoff-experienced Filip Gustavsson in Game 2, the coach responded, “I’m just going to go day by day with that.”
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said he would be sticking with goalie Jake Oettinger, who gave up five goals on 28 shots, two on power plays and another on a deflection.
“I saw more of a team-play thing that we can all be a little bit better from every guy,” Gulutzan said. “Some nights you can, any team in the league can, look at their goalie and go, oh man, that was (on the) goalie. But last night wasn’t one of them.”
This is the 11th playoff series for Minnesota native Oettinger, but the second postseason game in a row when things didn’t go as planned. He was pulled from the deciding Game 6 of the West final last year by then-coach Pete DeBoer after giving up two goals on the only shots he faced in the first 7:09 of what turned into a 6-3 win for Edmonton.
The Cavaliers enter Game 2 as heavy 79¢ favorites after cruising to victory over the Raptors (23¢ in Game 2) in Game 1 (126-113).
Our prediction:Cavaliers to win
The Cavaliers have too many options, including a much stronger bench. Cleveland’s reserves made a massive impact in Game 1, contributing 40 points. Tonight’s tilt will be more competitive than the series opener, but the Cavs will take a 2-0 series lead north of the border.
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Raptors vs Cavaliers spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
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Toronto doesn't have a defensive answer for these Cleveland guards, and that will manifest itself again in Game 2.
Other Raptors vs Cavaliers prediction markets available
Donovan Mitchell 30+ points (Yes: 43¢)
Scottie Barnes 20+ points (Yes: 42¢)
Jarrett Allen 10+ rebounds (Yes: 42¢)
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A tripleheader of NBA playoff games on NBC and Peacock wraps up Monday night with the Denver Nuggets playing host to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2.
The Nuggets won 116-105 in Game 1 by outscoring the Timberwolves 68-46 over the 2nd and 3rd quarters and building a lead as large as 15 points. Minnesota had led by 10 after the first quarter, but the teams were tied at halftime.
This series marks the third time in four seasons that Denver and Minnesota are meeting in the playoffs. The teams split their four meetings in the regular season.
See below for additional information on the Timberwolves-Nuggets game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Minnesota T’Wolves vs. Denver Nuggets game preview:
Game 2 looms as pivotal given the history of these teams.
Denver has won seven of the past eight playoff series in which the Nuggets won Game 1, and the team is 8-0 in seires with a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota is 0-8 in series when the Timberwolves fall behind 0-2. In 2023, Denver took a 2-0 lead on Minnesota and won the series in five games.
In Game 1, the Nuggets relied on their 1-2 punch of Jamal Murray (30 points, seven assists, five rebounds, 16 of 16 free throws) and Nikola Jokic (25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists), who starred despite combining to shoot only 2 of 15 on 3-pointers.
Jokic started the postseason with a triple-double after 34 in the regular season, which tied his career high from last season.
The Timberwolves were led by superstar Anthony Edwards with 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three blocks, but he made only 7 of 19 field goals. Minnesota made 14 fewer trips to the free throw line as Denver shot 30 of 33 at the stripe.
During the regular season, Denver had the fourth-most free throw attempts per game (25.8), and Minnesota committed the third-most fouls per game (21.2).
“I thought I got fouled on every single one of them," Murray said of the Game 1 fouls. "I don’t know what everybody is talking about. They were real fouls.”
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock.
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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It was probably Arsenal’s best performance in two months, but that will be scant consolation. Manchester City’s win on Sunday leaves Pep Guardiola’s side in control of the title race; they will go top of the Premier League on goal difference if they beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday. Both sides will then have five games to play.
Sunday’s game was decided by desperately fine margins. What prevented Eberechi Eze’s whipped shot from just outside the box going in? An inch? Half of one? Gabriel also struck the woodwork, while Kai Havertz headed a great chance a fraction over the crossbar in injury time. It was a defeat that has handed City the advantage in the title race, but it could very easily have been a battling draw to preserve Arsenal’s lead and, perhaps more importantly, restore morale.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
‘Safety and fairness remain the FIA’s highest priorities’
The FIA has confirmed rule changes for the ongoing Formula One season as the sport reacts to driver dissatisfaction and safety concerns with the new regulations. The adapted rules address the energy management issues that have proved controversial across the opening three meetings this year.
Technical and sporting considerations had been discussed twice since the last round in Japan and on Monday senior representatives, including the FIA, team principals and their chief executives, the power unit manufacturers and F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, formally agreed the changes. They remain subject to ratification by the world motorsport council, a formality expected to be concluded before the next round in Miami on 3 May.
The Atlanta Hawks (46-37) prep for Game 2 of the first round at Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks (54-29).
New York won Game 1, 113-102, behind 28 points and 7 assists from Jalen Brunson, plus 25 points and 8 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks as a team had 48/48/83 percentage shooting splits with only 11 turnovers.
Atlanta was outscored in three out of four quarters in New York and shot 44/38/63 percentage for shooting splits. The Hawks struggled to shoot efficiently, and a result, five out of the nine Hawks' players scored eight or fewer points. CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 26 points and Dyson Daniels nearly double-doubled with 11 assists and 9 rebounds.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Hawks vs. Knicks
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 8 PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Hawks vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks (+195), New York Knicks (-238)
Spread: Knicks -5.5
Total: 218.5 points
This game opened Knicks -5 with the Total set at 216.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Hawks vs. Knicks
Atlanta Hawks
PG CJ McCollum
SG Nickeil Walker-Alexander
SF Dyson Daniels
PF Jalen Johnson
SF Onyeka Okoungwu (questionable)
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson
SG Josh Hart
SF Mikal Bridges
PF OG Anunoby (probable)
C Karl-Anthony Towns
Injury Report: Hawks vs. Knicks
New York Knicks
OG Anunoby (ankle) is listed as PROBABLE for Game 2
Atlanta Hawks
Onyeka Okoungwu (knee) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 2
Important stats, trends and insights: Hawks vs. Knicks
Atlanta is 44-39 ATS and 23-20 ATS on the road
Atlanta is 41-42 to the Over
Atlanta is 24-18 to the Over as the road team, ranking third-best
New York is 45-39 ATS and an NBA-best 28-13 ATS at home
New York is 45-39 to the Under
New York is 21-20 to the Under as the home team
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Hawks and Knicks’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks -5.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 218.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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Vaughn Dalzell