While Scott only lasted 4.2 innings after throwing a season-high 89 pitches (59 strikes), he limited the damage after the Tigers scored two in the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead.
The right-hander didn’t have his best stuff, allowing seven hits and two walks, but he battled his way through constant traffic and kept New York within striking distance while he was on the mound.
“He just had a hard time putting hitters away,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The times that he got ahead he had a hard time – they fouled off some pitches, three-ball counts, but he fought and I thought he gave us a chance. So yeah, I think it was okay.”
Scott still finished with five strikeouts on the night which puts him at 20 Ks in 15.2 innings this year and he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his four starts this season after holding Detroit to two earned runs. His season ERA is 3.45.
Actually, one could argue those runs should not have been charged to Scott at all after Benge misplayed a routine fly ball in right field which resulted in a double and eventually two runs scoring.
Without that mistake, which is all part of the learning experience for a rookie, it could’ve been an entirely different outing for Scott who is still searching for his first major league win.
“I thought I did a good job of filling it up,” Scott said of his start. “They had a really good game plan against me, didn’t really get a lot of swings at the top of the zone with the four-seam. Made me go deeper in counts, obviously I want to go later in the game, but all the credit goes to the bullpen.
“They did an unbelievable job starting with [Huascar Brazoban] going two-plus there. Really kept us in the game. Obviously made them work a little harder than I wanted to, but overall, pretty gritty outing. A lot of pitches out of the stretch, they had a lot of runners on, but felt like even without my best stuff I was able to get some outs when I needed to.”
After Scott left (and the Mets still down 2-1), Brazoban entered and pitched 2.1 perfect innings with two strikeouts, lowering his sterling ERA to 2.14.
Not only did New York eventually tie it in the seventh, Brazoban’s performance also bridged the gap to the team’s late-inning relievers in Luke Weaver and Devin Williams who both pitched scoreless innings before Brooks Raley also shut the door in the 10th inning, stranding the ghost runner.
“For him to go two-plus [innings] and keep the game there; he was pitch-efficient, he was attacking [the strike zone] and he gave us an opportunity to hand the ball to the guys at the back end of the bullpen. It was huge,” Mendoza said about Brazoban. “All of those guys did their part, but Brazoban, getting two-plus [innings] from him was huge.”
04/30/26: New York Mets Francisco Lindor in the dugout against the Washington Nationals in the 9th inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, USA, Thursday, March 30, 2026. Photo...
Manager Carlos Mendoza anticipates he will have the results by Thursday.
The injury has sidelined the shortstop since April 22. Lindor got hurt scoring from first base during the fourth inning of the 3-2 win over the Twins to end their 12-game skid.
Initially, the Mets did not picture a quick return for the five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. However, Mendoza said Lindor is “feeling better.”
It would be a huge boost for the Mets if they can get Lindor back sooner rather than later. He went down in the same game that featured the return of Juan Soto, who had missed the previous 15 games because of a right calf strain.
The Mets lost Alvarez to the IL on Wednesday, and he will be out six to eight weeks while Soto is day to day. This comes on the heels of the promotion of rookie A.J. Ewing, who powered the Mets to a 10-2 win Tuesday and scored the winning run on Wednesday.
Francisco Lindor in the dugout during a game earlier this season. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Asked if he is worried about his optimal roster not having a shot together to turn things around in Queens, Mendoza explained he couldn’t think about that possibility.
“My job is to get the best out of them today and continue to take it one day at a time,” he said. “If I’m worried about when are these guys going to get back. … that won’t help us. Our job is to go out there and find a way to get the job done.”
Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) threw a bullpen session on the Citi Field mound with hitters standing in ahead of Wednesday’s game. Mendoza said Senga “looked fine” and will see how he responds to determine the next step.
Jared Young (left knee meniscus tear) is set to begin a rehab assignment by the end of this week.
DENVER, CO - MAY 13: Left wing Joel Kiviranta (94) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to a goal by teammate center Parker Kelly (17) of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Timothy Hurst/Denver Post via Getty Images
Brett Kulak scored 3:52 into overtime after Nathan MacKinnon tied it late in regulation and the Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference final with a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Kulak capped a wild comeback for the Avalanche, who trailed 3-0 midway through the second period. Colorado moves on to the conference final for an eighth time since relocating to Denver in 1995-96.
The Avalanche will face the Vegas-Anaheim winner. Vegas leads that series 3-2.
With Minnesota up 3-1, Jack Drury scored with 3:33 remaining to set the stage for MacKinnon’s goal with 1:23 left with the Colorado goal empty. The star forward sent a shot from the left side past Jesper Wallstedt and into a small space in the top left corner.
In overtime, Martin Necas took the puck, glided behind the net and back out front, where he found an open Kulak. Without missing a stride, he lined it past Wallstedt.
Kulak joined the Avalanche on Feb. 24 as part of a deal that Samuel Girard to Pittsburgh. Kulak was the 16th Avalanche player to score in the series.
“You always like to dream about it,” Kulak said. “The player I am, I’m not the guy (they’re) looking down the bench, hollering, ‘Get out there, go win it for us.’”
It was a rare series-ending win at home for Colorado, too. The last time the Avalanche won a series on home ice was 2008 against the Wild, when the team had Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg.
“That was fun,” MacKinnon said. “A lot of fun.”
Marcus Johansson scored 34 seconds into the game and Nick Foligno added two goals to give the Wild a 3-0 after the first period. It led Colorado to take out Mackenzie Blackwood after the first and insert Scott Wedgewood, who made seven saves.
The Avalanche overcame a three-goal deficit to win a playoff game for just the third time in 53 tries since moving to Denver. The Wild had been 21-0 when leading a playoff game by at least three goals before the elimination loss.
Wallstedt stopped 30 shots for the Wild. Matt Boldy and Nico Sturm each had two assists for a banged-up Wild team that was missing center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin all series.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Eric Hartman #64 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Some good stuff has been happening on the farm for this Braves franchise this year, as a number of position-player prospects have been really showing out, including shortstops John Gil and Tate Southesene. Perhaps the most impressive has been 2024 20th round pick, Canadian centerfielder Eric Hartman. Hartman joined Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list and for due reason. He has been absolutely raking, to the tune of a 182 wRC+ and a .695 SLG. Hartman is well known for elite speed, but his power and exit velocities have been arguably most impressive this season and what the Baseball America crew discussed as important to this ranking so early in the season. While I’m not a prospect expert, its really nice to see the Braves with a handful of exciting hitting prospects again after such a pitching dominated system for the last number of years.
The Mets star provided his team with yet another injury scare after fouling a ball off his right foot and leaving Wednesday’s 3-2 win early, but he’s “day to day,” according to Carlos Mendoza in a massive sigh of relief for the organization.
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Soto, who missed about three weeks in April with a right calf strain, hobbled away from the batter’s box and kneeled in pain after the moment occurred against the Tigers in the bottom of the third inning.
Though he managed to finish his at-bat — and returned to the plate once more in the sixth inning — his night was noticeably cut short an inning later as Mets fans held their collective breath.
“I was concerned as soon as he got hit,” Mendoza said. “We went out there, and you could tell that he was in pain. And then just that second at-bat didn’t look right.”
Juan Soto fouls a ball off his right foot during the third inning of the Mets’ 3-2, 10-inning win over the Tigers on May 13, 2026 at Citi Field. He later was forced to exit the game in the seventh inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Soto’s exit took place as he was due to come up with two outs and runners on the corners, with MJ Melendez replacing him. That inning ended soon after when eventual walk-off hero Carson Benge was caught stealing home.
Soto finished the night 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout, though the mood will be positive after his minor prognosis and the Mets’ 3-2 win.
Soto’s injury scare came mere hours after Mendoza announced Francisco Alvarez would be undergoing surgery for a torn right meniscus — and with starters Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. all out injured as well.
Juan Soto later left the game after the foul ball off his right foot. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Mets also lost Ronny Mauricio to a left thumb fracture shortly after calling him up from Triple-A Syracuse, as they’ve been consistently undermined by injuries in their efforts to undo their difficult start to the season.
For now, though, it appears they can exhale when it comes to Soto’s health, with Mendoza even refusing to rule him out of Thursday afternoon’s series finale against Detroit.
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A win in that contest would give the Mets their first series sweep of the season and give them some much-needed momentum heading into the Subway Series.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 13: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 13, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers stole Game 5 from the Detroit Pistons, rallying back behind some timely shots from Evan Mobley.
Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
WINNER – Evan Mobley
This game wasn’t pretty in the beginning for Evan Mobley. In fact, he was working his way towards a LOSER tonight when he failed to post up both Cade Cunningham and Caris LeVert. Those are matchups he needs to win.
But as the game went on, it became impossible to deny Mobley’s impact.
He was making strong reads as a playmaker all night. Mobley has found a niche for creating in the short-roll, diming Jarrett Allen multiple times in this game and bending the help defense to kick out to the perimeter. He ended the night with a playoff career-high 8 assists.
That’s impressive, but not that impressive. Let’s get to the good stuff.
Mobley sprang to life by yamming a driving dunk in the second half. He then showed off his range by banging home a three-pointer on the next play. All of a sudden, the Cavs had momentum.
This continued into the fourth quarter, when Mobley’s clutch shot-making helped the Cavs recover from a nine-point deficit and force overtime. It’s worth noting that Mobley has converted on a number of timely three-pointers this postseason, including the first round against Toronto.
Mobley finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal. The second game in a row that he’s dipped his hand into multiple cookie jars and walked away as a winner.
LOSER – First Half Turnovers
Can I be honest? I’m kinda tired of typing this. It’s almost insulting to the wonderful readers of Fear the Sword that I keep reminding everyone why taking care of the ball is important. We’re all aware.
Yet, it’s important enough to keep hammering home.
The Cavs conceded 27 points off turnovers. 20 of those came in the first half. Coughing it up and allowing the Pistons to score in transition is the primary thing the Cavs should worry about in this series. They lost games 1-2 because of it, and they nearly repeated history tonight.
WINNER – James Harden
James Harden netted his first 30+ point playoff game as a Cavalier. It was his 50th career game of 30+ points in the postseason.
Couldn’t have come at a better time.
Harden, even when he’s turning it over and walking back on defense, has somehow managed to keep the Cavs alive throughout these playoffs. Other than games 1-2, where he actively cost them from winning, Harden has been a lifeline for Cleveland.
Tonight was more of that. Harden took a sputtering Cavalier offense and towed them to the finish line. His isolation scoring ensured that Detroit could never pull too far away, immediately bringing the Cavs back into range after the Pistons went up by 16 points.
There’s a sense of calm that Harden brings to the roster. Again, even when everything is burning down, Harden keeps the same demeanor. That can frustrate you when the team loses. It might seem like he doesn’t have any sense of urgency. But when the Cavs rally back? Harden’s composure is a bright spot. He didn’t allow them to panic, and that resilience won out in the end.
WINNER – Max Strus
In a just world, Max Strus will be remembered as a Cleveland legend. The only thing that’s left is a deep playoff run under his belt. Maybe he gets it this year.
Strus does everything a blue-collar city should love. Grit, tenacity, and nonstop hustle. He’s a streaky shooter, but that motor never shuts off. That’s allowed him to be impactful in games where he doesn’t have his shot rolling. And when his shot is falling like tonight? It’s a cherry on top.
The Cavs fell behind early in this game due to turnovers. It was Strus, alongside Harden, who connected on timely buckets to keep things under control. He continued to nail momentous shots in the second half — on top of hustling for loose balls and second-chance opportunities.
Strus, who came up with a clutch steal in Game 3, did it again tonight when he stole the ball and passed to Mitchell for a layup in overtime.
If that wasn’t enough, he also won over Charles Barkley tonight.
Charles Barkley on Max Strus:
"I'm saying what everyone's thinking, that's a pretty man"
It wasn’t perfect for Max. He had a difficult time keeping Cade Cunningham away from his spots defensively. That resulted in the best game Cade has had all series. But Strus eventually started to win that battle, wearing Cunningham down as the game went on. And, he fueled the Cavaliers with his 20 points, making up for anything he conceded to the opposing team’s All-NBA star.
LOSER [and partial WINNER] – Donovan Mitchell
The highs… and the lows.
Mitchell scored a historic 39 points in the second half of Game 4. It feels like he maybe should have saved some of that for tonight. If Mitchell could have replicated even sixty seconds of that performance, the Cavs would have won comfortably.
The Pistons’ defense had Mitchell totally in a box for most of this game. He began 3-11 from the floor and 0-7 from downtown.
This game was begging for Mitchell to take over. But it wasn’t happening. At one point in the fourth quarter, Mitchell missed a wide-open three-point attempt from the corner that led to a transition three from Detroit. A devastating six-point swing with the game hanging in the balance.
On the final possession, Mitchell had the world in his hands with a chance to win the game. He was absolutely smothered by Ausar Thompson and turned it over without getting a shot up. Rough.
It wasn’t all bad, thankfully. Mitchell sparked just enough fire to help the Cavs get over the hump in overtime. He scored half of Cleveland’s 14 points in the extra frame, drilling his first three-pointer of the night and bursting to the hoop for a pair of buckets.
In the all-important Game 5, the Cavaliers did something they hadn’t done all postseason long: they won away from Cleveland.
The Cavs outlasted the Detroit Pistons Wednesday, May 13 to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, putting them one victory away from a date in the conference finals with the New York Knicks.
And now the series will head back to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers haven’t lost in the playoffs, winning all six games they’ve played at Rocket Arena.
James Harden led all Cavaliers with 30 points on 8-of-21 shooting (38.1%), while Donovan Mitchell added 21 and Evan Mobley chipped in 19.
Here are takeaways from Game 5 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons:
The Cavaliers, frankly, got lucky with all their turnovers
In some ways, this is a game the Cavaliers shouldn’t have won. Their star players, Harden and Mitchell, combined to shoot just 38.5%. They faced a 15-point deficit in the second quarter. But more concerning were 17 turnovers, many of them inexcusable.
The Cavaliers were far too casual with their ball security, floating lazy passes across the court and telegraphing them at times. That allowed Detroit to turn those giveaways into 27 points, and it’s also why the Pistons claimed a 23-7 edge in fast-break points.
The Cavaliers were better in the second half, but that careless offense can completely sabotage a team’s chance of winning. Cleveland should consider itself fortunate, because if the Cavs move on to the conference finals, the Knicks won’t let them off easy.
The Detroit Pistons are far too dependent on Cade Cunningham
It was another banger for Cunningham, Detroit’s unquestioned star. Cunningham scored 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting, adding 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Yet, once again, the Pistons wasted a marvelous game from Cunningham because his supporting cast has not been able to contribute sufficiently.
Daniss Jenkins, making his first career postseason start, did score 19 in a solid 8-of-17 night, even though he struggled from 3-point range (2-of-8). But Tobias Harris (13 points) and Jalen Duren (9 points and 5 rebounds) struggled. This is becoming thematic for the Pistons.
As long as they look to Cunningham to be their savior — particularly in the clutch, when teams can play a little more physically and throw double-teams at him — Detroit will struggle to advance deep into the playoffs.
Cunningham is stellar, one of the top 10 basketball players in the world. But the pressure and responsibility placed on his shoulders is unsustainable, and it also leads to unforced errors; his 6 turnovers Wednesday night — including a debilitating one late in overtime — are an issue he needs to fix.
Donovan Mitchell has had some massive playoff games in his career, but his teams have never broken through the conference semifinal round. James Harden, despite a handful of big postseason performances across his 185 career playoff games, has a reputation — one that’s unfair, frankly — of shrinking when it matters most.
But if Cleveland can defend homecourt Friday, May 15 to get Cleveland through to the Eastern Conference finals, Mitchell and Harden will have the chance to reframe those narratives.
There have been times this series when both have struggled somewhat. Yet, when Cleveland has needed clutch buckets, it has been both Mitchell and Harden to deliver.
The Pistons, who are 1-4 this postseason on the road, will be playing desperate, so the Cavaliers will need to be prepared and ruthless. Look for Mitchell and Harden to try to set the tone.
Probably not. Duren, after all, was a first-time All-Star this season and still does impact the game on the defensive end, which doesn’t always show up in box scores.
But Reed once again outplayed Duren, and it’s clear that Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff is adjusting his rotations because of it. Reed played a series-high 17 minutes Wednesday night, which was just eight fewer than Duren’s 25 minutes.
Reed scored 10 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 2 shots, while Duren scored 9 points, picked up 5 rebounds and didn’t record a block.
Duren’s plus-minus of -16 was the team low Wednesday night and he has now posted a -42 over the last three games of the series.
In the regular season, Duren had developed a steady mid-range jumper that simply is not part of his game right now. It seems the only offense Duren contributes are putbacks or the occasional lob; he took just 5 shots Wednesday, compared to 7 from Reed, who is simply playing with more energy and pace as soon as he steps onto the floor.
It appears to be a confidence issue for Duren, and Detroit needs him to at least work the glass, because his offensive rebounding can give the Pistons second chances and his defensive rebounding can spring transition opportunities.
At times in the playoffs, Mobley has found it difficult to assert himself offensively. The last three games, though, have been steady progress. Mobley scored 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, grabbed 8 rebounds and swatted away 3 blocks. He hit a pair of 3-pointers, the first at the end of the third quarter, and the second with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter to close Detroit’s lead to two points.
Strus was also electric, going 6-of-8 from 3-point range to score 20 points off the bench, adding 8 rebounds. When he ignites, Strus is a key part of Cleveland’s offense and can help launch runs. He scored 64.5% of the team’s bench points Wednesday night. In order to close out Detroit in Game 6, the Cavs will need the same type of production from both.
On Thursday night, it looked like the Minnesota Wild was going to extend their series with the Colorado Avalanche to a sixth game when Nick Foligno's second of the game made it 3-0 in the first period.
The Colorado Avalanche slowly but surely crawled back into the game, however, and Nathan MacKinnon tied it with 1:23 remaining in regulation. In overtime, Brett Kulak scored to send Colorado to the Western Conference Finals.
The Chicago Blackhawks did Nick Foligno a favor when they traded him for "future considerations" on deadline day. He was able to join his brother for a playoff run, but it is over now.
Foligno has been an incredible NHL player over the years. He had a handful of all-star type years, but has mostly been a great role-player and leader. The Chicago Blackhawks and a lot of their players will be impacted by his presence for a long time.
When Foligno first left the Chicago Blackhawks, the coaching staff and players were honest about how much they were going to miss him. They also stressed that they were happy that he got to go be a part of a winning environment.
"He's been awesome for the organization," Jeff Blashill said. "He's an outstanding human being. I'll miss him personally, and we'll miss him as a group."
Now, Foligno is a free agent who will make a decision about his NHL future over the summer. It's hard not to selfishly desire to see him play with his brother in the NHL for an entire season, but he deserves this chance to make his own decision.
The Avalanche is now the last team standing from the Central Division. They will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, who have a 2-2 series tie heading into Thursday night's Game 5.
Colorado ended Foligno's season, but it has been clear from the beginning of the season that they were the best team in the division and in the conversation for the best team in the league. Now, they will represent the Central in the final four as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
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DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons put themselves on the brink of elimination again in the NBA playoffs, blowing a nine-point lead late in regulation of an overtime setback.
The Cleveland Cavaliers came back and beat Detroit 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, winning the first road game of the postseason matchup and earning their first win as visitors this postseason.
Cade Cunningham had 39 points and nine assists and Detroit’s defense turned 17 turnovers in 27 points — and that still wasn’t enough.
James Harden, who scored a team-high 30 points, goes up for a layup during the Cavaliers’ 117-113 Game 5 overtime win over the Pistons on May 13, 2026 in Detroit. Getty Images
Game 6 is Friday night in Cleveland, where the fourth-seeded Cavs will get the first of two chances to advance to face the Knicks in the East finals.
“You’re going to have to choke the life out of this team,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’re not going to go down without a fight. They’re not going down without fighting. They’re not going to go down without kicking, punching, grabbing, clawing. That’s just who we are.
“We’ve been in this position before.”
The first-seeded Pistons were down 3-1 against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic and won three straight to advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
If Detroit can win in Cleveland, Game 7 will be back in the Motor City on Sunday.
Cade Cunningham, who scored a game-high 39 points, shoots over James Harden during the Pistons’ Game 5 overtime loss to the Cavaliers. AP
“If anybody can do it, I think we can do it,” Pistons center Jalen Duren said.
The Pistons looked like they were going to take control of the series, leading by 15 points in the second quarter and 103-94 with two-plus minutes left, but they blew it.
Cleveland successfully got the ball out of Cunningham’s hands down the stretch and none of his teammates could take advantage by making shots.
Donovan Mitchell drives on Daniss Jenkins during the Cavaliers’ Game 5 overtime win over the Pistons. Getty Images
Tobias Harris missed 13 of 19 shots and scored 13 points. Duren was limited to nine points and five rebounds in another lackluster performance this postseason by the All-Star.
Duren said Cunningham needs some help, especially on the offensive end.
“He’s going to do his thing every night, but as a team, as a group, we’ve got to be better,” Duren said.
Well, the stage was set for the Colorado Avalanche to seal the series in front of fans on home ice tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Doing so would mark the first time they’ve achieved that since 2008.
It seems the Wild had other plans as they scored 3o seconds into the game, cashed in on two more first-period tallies.
MacKenzie Blackwood got the start but didn’t make it to the second period, with Scott Wedgewood not allowing a goal once he did enter the game.
It was a tough start, but the Avalanche decided they didn’t want to write the same old story and flipped the script, roaring back in the second and third period and inevitably sealing the series and game in overtime on Brett Kulak’s game-winner!
When I say things couldn’t have started worse for the Avalanche, that’s not being dramatic.
There was a drastic contrast between Colorado’s focus and Minnesota’s, with the Wild seemingly coming to play and the Avalanche struggling to wake up.
36 seconds into the game, Brett Kulak and Brent Burns marked the same player, and Ross Colton got caught watching as Marcus Johansson was left alone in the high slot and beat Blackwood glove side.
Just like that, it was 1-0 Wild, but the disaster wasn’t done unfolding.
Next, it would be Nick Foligno who first tipped one in and on through Blackwood as Brett Kulak was unable to cover a breaking Foligno, and the puck trickled through Blackwood’s five-hole.
It would be Nick Foligno yet again, just about four minutes later, this time on a play where Nico Sturm broke in, cleared a shot that likely should have been iced by Blackwood.
Instead, a rebound popped right back to Sturm, who beat Ahcan to the loose puck, found Foligno, who tucked it in. We would end the first frame 3-0 Minnesota Wild.
The Avalanche would dominate possession and chances in the second frame, showing some life.
The puck was pinned in the corner, but finally squeaked clear of the scrum. Kulak retrieved and sent a cross-ice pass over to Burns, who put it on net. Parker would cash in via the re-direct, bringing the score to 3-1 Wild.
The tide had shifted by the time the third period rolled around, but without another goal until well into the period, this one felt pretty much over.
That is, until Jack Drury scored on the re-direct with 3 and a half minutes left, re-igniting Ball Arena and Colorado’s chances at walking away victorious.
Ball Arena erupted, and we’d head to overtime in game five.
The Wild had a couple of grade-A looks that didn’t materialize, and it was clear that the Wild were gassed early in the extra frame.
Parker Kelly would send a beautiful stretch pass that found Martin Necas cruising into the zone. He wrapped around the net, looked in a dangerous shooting position, but instead passed to Brent Kulak, who had nothing but net in front of him.
He absolutely buried it, and the crowd once again went, dare I say… Wild.
Takeaways
Cale Makar was noticeably hobbled throughout the game, clutching at his right arm and shying away from shots and contact. The Avalanche did well to close out this series tonight so that Makar and others can begin healing in anticipation of the conference final.
Let the story of Brett Kulak inside this game be a lesson to all of us. You might start with some absolute duds, but if you stick to it and do the right things afterward, the puck might find your stick for the game-winner in overtime.
Before the season started, most Avs fans had said cup or bust, but reaching the conference final and getting beyond the second round has been difficult. Another dragon slayed.
One last takeaway: the sort of win that lives on forever if the Avalanche can continue their successful pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Upcoming
We await the winner of the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights, who are set to play game six tomorrow at 7:30 MT, with Vegas leading the series 3-2.
Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!
After the Rangers unlikely victory tying the 1928 Cup Final with manager Lester Patrick in goal, they still needed a netminder.
The best-of-five series was tied at 1-1 and it was a tossup whether the Rangers could survive.
Patrick's ultimate goalie choice was as unlikely as Lester playing goal – and winning – to tie the series. I kid you not; the man he finally selected to save the New Yorkers happened to be one of Canada's all-time great FOOTBALL players.
The Grey Cup was Canada's version of what American's Super Bowl is now and Lester's choice, Joe Miller, was a two-time Grey Cup-winner. The only trouble here was that the Stanley Cup was played on ice not on the gridiron.
"That didn't bother me," said Patrick, "Miller was a great athlete and I had seen him play goal for the New York Americans. Hey, we had no choice; we had to gamble and we gambled on Joe Miller."
It wasn't that Miller was a complete unknown. In addition to starring at football, Joe had been a minor league hockey goalie for several years. But, then again, this wasn't the minors; these were the games that would decide the Stanley Cup.
Patrick: "Since my Rangers shared Madison Square Garden ice with the Amerks, I had seen enough of Joe Miller. Even though his record wasn't impressive, I figured he just might come up big in the final games."
Other Rangers endorsed the move and Frank Boucher was one of them. "Joe was playing for a bad Americans team and that's why his numbers were not that good."
The NHL records revealed that Miller played 28 NHL games for the Americans and finished with a 8-16-4 record and a decent 2.68 goals against average. However, that was not the playoffs.
With the series knotted at one win apiece, Miller lost Game Three 2-0, but with The Cup within the Maroons' grasp, Joltin' Joe blanked Montreal, 2-0, and what had become a monumental playoff now was tied with the finale coming up at Montreal's Forum.
As it happened, on the night of April 14, 1928, Joseph Anthony Miller of Morrisburg, Ontario – Ottawa football ace – would record his finest hour as a hockey goalkeeper.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 13: James Harden #1 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on against the Detroit Pistons during overtime in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers clawed back for their first away victory of the playoffs, beating the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime of Game 5.
There’s been a theme in this series. Win the possession battle, win the game. That’s true in most cases, but especially in this matchup — where the Pistons are forced to rely on an elite defense to narrow the gap between their limited offense and the dynamic Cavaliers.
Cleveland will win any fair fight against Detroit. Fair, in this instance, means an equal amount of possessions. But the Pistons have worked to take that away from the Cavs. Their smothering defense forced 10 turnovers in the first half, scoring 20 points off those turnovers.
Tobias Harris, Cade Cunningham, Dannis Jankins, and Isaiah Stewart all got hot in the first half to give the Pistons an eight-point lead. Truth be told, the Cavs felt lucky to have the deficit under double-digits, all things considered.
I’d say Max Strus and James Harden did most of the work keeping Cleveland in range during the first half. Harden’s shot-making kept the floor from falling out from under them while Strus nailed a pair of three-pointers in the closing minutes of the second quarter to cut into the lead.
The dam finally broke in the third quarter, when Harden and Strus did enough to regain the lead. Evan Mobley contributed, as well, delivering a huge sequence where he dunked all over the Pistons, and then hit a three-pointer on the next play.
Detroit kept fighting, however.
The Pistons’ defense became overwhelming as the game went on. They swarmed the ball, forcing turnovers and generating more opportunities to score in transition. The Cavs offense was thrown totally out of whack, as Donovan Mitchell (who began the game 0-7 from deep) couldn’t crack the code.
All of this led to a nine-point lead for the Pistons with just three minutes remaining. It looked like the Cavs would lose a third game in Detroit in almost identical fashion. An early deficit followed by a second-half rally that runs out of gas.
Then the miraculous happened.
The Cavs somehow rallied back again, led by some gigantic shots from Mobley. A clutch triple put them in reach. Then, a pair of free throws tied the game. It says something about Mobley to struggle shooting the ball all season, only to connect on the three biggest shots of his life.
Cleveland forced Detroit into difficult shots down the stretch. Holding them scoreless for most of the pivotal run to force overtime.
Then in the extra period, Mitchell broke free and found a rhythym, hitting a three-pointer and then getting an open layup off another clutch steal from Max Strus.
Strus added 21 points on 6-8 three-point shooting. Harden finished with a game-high 31 points. Mobley turned his night around for 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks.
By the end, Cleveland had erased a 16-point deficit on the road in their most important game of the 2020s. That’s the type of resilient win this city has been begging for.
The Cavs now lead 3-2 and have a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday.
Sep 5, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Kevin Alcantara (13) singles against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Starter Eli Jerzembeck didn’t make it out of the second inning today as he gave up one run in the first and five more in the second. His final line was six runs on seven hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Jackson Brockett gave the Cubs 3.1 innings of relief while allowing just one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Shortstop Ty Southisene continued to hit, going 3 for 5 with an RBI double in the top of the first inning. He also stole two bases. Southisene scored one run and had three total RBI.
Center fielder Kane Kepley was 1 for 2 with three walks and three steals. He scored twice.
Pierce Coppola started this one and got the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits over 3.2 innings. Coppola struck out six and walked two. He also hit one batter.
Mason McGwire tandem started with Coppola and turned in another great performance for him. McGwire gave up a solo home run in the seventh inning, but that was the only run he allowed on three hits over 4.1 innings. McGwire struck out eight and walked no one. McGwire now has 37 strikeouts in 24.1 innings and a 1.85 ERA.
As good as the pitching was, the Pelicans could only managed two hits and both of them were singles. First baseman Michael Carico had an RBI single in the sixth inning. He was 1 for 4.
A fan fell into one of the bullpens at Rate Field in Chicago.
Wednesday’s MLB slate came with a scary moment outside of the confines of the diamond.
A fan fell from the stands and into the visiting bullpen at Rate Field in Chicago during the White Sox’s 6-5 win over the Royals.
In the top of the frame with runners on first and second, the game was delayed as workers inside the stadium attended to the fan, who had apparently fallen from the outfield bleachers and into Kansas City’s throwing area.
A fan fell into one of the bullpens at Rate Field in Chicago. Getty Images
They were taken out of the bullpen on a stretcher, according to multiple reports.
“Tonight’s game was delayed in the fourth inning to allow White Sox personnel to treat a fan who had fallen in the visiting team’s bullpen,” the White Sox said in a statement. “The fan has been transported to a local hospital for additional treatment.”
It was not clear what kind of condition the fan was in following the incident.
The Kansas City Star reported that none of the Royals relievers were near the spot where the fan landed in the bullpen.
The outlet, in speaking with a Chicago fan, said the fan actually fell into the bullpen during the bottom of the second inning when White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters hit a run-scoring double.
“He jumped up to celebrate on a double and fell over,” White Sox fan Zach Kreigler told the Kansas City Star. “He just got excited and flipped over. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. I just hope he’s OK.”
It was later revealed that the man, Kavan Markwood, had suffered a broken neck, clavicle, and back, and a punctured lung, in the scary fall that was captured on video and shared on social media.
A general view of Rate Field during the White Sox’s 6-5 win over the Royals on May 12, 2026 in Chicago. MLB Photos via Getty Images
“I don’t know how I’m alive,” Markwood told “Inside Edition” last year after he walked around PNC Park for the first time since the incident. “I wake up with pain every day. My arm, I can’t feel my two fingers still. [But] I’m doing better than what I was, that’s for sure.”
And, just last week, a fan was pulled off a ledge by other supporters in one of the upper sections at Busch Stadium during a Brewers-Cardinals game in St. Louis.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks dribbles the ball against the St. John's Red Storm during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA draft lottery has come and gone, and now it is time to think very critically about the potential options for the Jazz at the #2 selection. However, I am going to leave that job for someone smarter than myself – instead, I will view the awe-inspiring Mr. Darryn Peterson through the lens of baseless superstition. Peterson spent his single year collegiate career at Kansas University, where he wowed with his creation abilities and best-in-class shot making. While many articles can and will be written on those talents and how they would potentially fit on the Jazz roster, I will be instead be focusing on the first detail in the preceding sentence; namely, his alma-mater.
Per my exhaustive studies, 9 Jayhawks have played for the Jazz organization since its founding as the New Orleans Jazz in 1974, and that number may increase to 10 if Peterson is the selection for Utah on draft night. In anticipation for that potentially franchise-altering decision, this article will attempt to recount the history of Kansas University alumni on the Jazz by ranking each of those 9 players. This analysis will attempt to place the players in the order of their production and ability while on the Jazz – more emphasis will be placed on peak output than longevity with the organization. Today, the question will be answered; does a Jayhawk pedigree lead to success with the Jazz, or does the trip out to Utah cause these alums to say in despair “I have a feeling we aren’t in Kansas anymore?”
*Writer’s note: I realize this analysis on Peterson lacks some academic rigor, and probably wouldn’t hold up against a peer review. If he is picked at #2, this obviously has no bearing on his future Utah Jazz success, which I hope is plentiful. We’re just having fun here.
9. Brandon Rush
PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 6: Brandon Rush #25 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 6, 2013 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2013 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE/Getty Images
Brandon had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it career with the Utah Jazz – 418 minutes played during the 25 win 2013-2014 campaign. Don’t think that if we were to just have given Rush a few more minutes that this disastrous season could’ve been averted. He averaged a measly 2.1 points per game on a horrid 43% true shooting, and his defense was nothing to write home about either. The fact that 2 years later he started 25 games for the 2015-2016 Warriors (otherwise known as the greatest regular season team of all time) is perhaps the single most impressive testament to the greatness of Stephen Curry.
8. Udoka Azubuike
It was oh-so tempting to place Doke at the bottom of this list, less because of what was and more because of what could have been. The shock of Adam Silver announcing his name as the Jazz’s #27 overall pick in 2020 still lingers inside of me, and is only surpassed by the shock of reading that Dennis Lindsey announcing that the organizations advanced metrics placed Azubuike at #2 in the draft class. The Jazz fandoms disdain for this particular pick is not purely an example of hindsight being 20/20 – even at the time, people tended to understand that (a) Desmond Bane and Jaden McDaniels were cleaner, more useful fits for what the team needed and (b) that using a first round pick on Udoka was a bit of a reach. More than any other instance in my memory, this is a case of the general public being 100% spot-on in their evaluation of late first round prospects; Bane and McDaniels are key starters on playoff teams, and Azubuike is out of the league after an uneventful 4 seasons, and is now playing in the Israeli A-league. While perhaps not the worst Jayhawk in Jazz history, his lack of success was certainly the most influential on the overall strength of the organization – a different pick in 2020, and perhaps the Jazz have a banner in the rafters, and the construction of the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert statues are in early development.
7. Ochai Agbaji
A former teammate of Azubuike both on the Jayhawks and the Jazz, Ochai provided more minutes and less disappointment, but without play that was very conducive to winning basketball games. Ochai was drafted after his All-American senior season and marketed as a high-floor, instant-impact type of player, but failed to make his mark in Utah, even with the constant carousel of new players as Will Hardy looked for anyone that could be a piece on the next iteration of a winning team (23 players took the court in Agbaji’s rookie year, 21 in his sophomore). He was an underwhelming shooter, an unreliable defender, and showcased next-to-no skills with the ball in his hands. Nowadays, he’s struggling to get minutes on the tanking Nets, and unless he turns things around, he will be brought up in draft analyses for years as an example of the perils of drafting supposedly “high-floor” players, who lack an outlier skill to hang their hat on.
6. Jeff Withey
Withey was perfectly serviceable and perfectly unremarkable third string big man. He played in the era of Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, meaning that even on his best days we had little use for him. Was he much of a scorer? No, I wouldn’t say so. Did his feet seem painfully slow at times? Yes, certainly. Was he missed once the Jazz moved on to Tony Bradley and Epke Udoh as the backups in 2018? Not particularly. But, for about 10 minutes a game he brought reliable rim protection and rebounding, and was able to function in the offensive sets Quin had designed for Gobert while Rudy was out with injury. (P.S. – did you know that he got a triple-double with blocks in his senior season Kansas? Because I sure didn’t).
5. Bud Stallworth
Alright, sue me; I have not watched a second of Bud Stallworth’s New Orleans Jazz career, and I’m not sure that any highlights of it exist on the internet. Stallworth was a selection in the 1974 expansion draft, meaning that he played on the first ever roster put forth by the Jazz organization. He put up some points on mediocre teams, and then unfortunately had to end his career after 3 years in New Orleans due to back injuries incurred by an automobile accident. Stallworth maintains some fame for ending his Kansas career with a 50 point game against the rival Missouri Tigers, but was less spectacular during his time in New Orleans.
4. Jacque Vaughn
In terms of role, Vaughn functioned in a similar fashion to Jeff Withey – perfectly dependable, not too memorable third stringer behind a Jazz legend (Gobert with Withey, Stockton with Vaughn). Also, what a testament to the durability of Stockton that Vaughn, his backup, played 224 games in Utah and didn’t start a single one – that’s true iron man stuff. But, back to the Jayhawks, I give Vaughn the edge over Withey primarily because he played on the two most successful Jazz teams in history. Additionally, he could function well in the very reserved backup point guard role that Sloan preferred – run the plays, don’t turn the ball over, be pesky on defense. Not everybody could function in that scheme, but Vaughn was reliable enough to get minutes in the twilight of Stockton and Malone’s careers. Here’s hoping he enjoyed his time in Salt Lake; he was on the Kansas basketball staff this past year, and presumably had plenty of time to hype up the nightlife to Darryn.
3. Svi Mykhailiuk
Is this a bit of recency bias? Most likely, but I have been nothing but impressed by Svi’s time in Utah. While it was an interesting decision to start him over the young bucks at the beginning of the year, I do believe that Mykhailiuk contributed more to winning than any of his potential replacements in the starting lineup. A consistent shooter and high energy defender, Svi knows his job and performs it well. A little too well, in fact – in my opinion, it was the reason Svi was shut down at the end of the year while Konchar continued to receive minutes. Svi may not be around on next years roster, and may not ever taste winning basketball in Utah, but I will stand firm on the idea that despite the fact that the ‘25-’26 Jazz did not do much winning, it was not the fault of Svi Mykhailiuk – the shooting and know-how he displayed would translate to a bench role on a number of winning teams, and I hope he receives the chance to prove that in a Jazz uniform.
2. Danny Manning
Manning’s time on the Jazz was short-lived – he lasted one year, 2000-2001. However, unlike all of his predecessors on this list, Manning was a rotational contributor to a team that won basketball games. While he was long past his Wooden Award days as a Jayhawk, and his all-star days as a Clipper, Manning was still able to provide reliable bucket-getting off the bench for a Jazz team still competing in the rough-and-tumble Western Conference. And even though Utah was eliminated in the first round by an up-and-coming Mavericks team, it was not due to fault of Manning – in those 5 games, he increased his scoring, rebounding, and efficiency as Sloan trusted the playoff-savvy veteran with increased responsibilities. This was no world-beater, to be sure, and he was surely best used in a bench role, but Manning still had some gas in the tank and provided an admirable single season outing in Utah.
1. Greg Ostertag
Was Ostertag the most consistent? No, not even close. Was he ever a poster boy of physical fitness and conditioning? Far from it. But did he block 9 shots to close out the Shaq-led ‘97 Lakers in game 5, and then in the immediately following round play Hakeem Olajuwon to a stalemate in game 6 to beat the Rockets and secure the franchises first trip to the NBA finals? Yes, and no one can ever take that away from him. As a young, late first-rounder, Ostertag was immediately thrown out of the frying pan of Kansas and into the fire of starting on a team with championship aspirations, going against the best big men the league had to offer on a nightly basis, and he did about as well as anyone could’ve reasonably hoped. Heck, if Michael Jordan missed a few more shots in 1997, Ostertag very well could’ve been known to this day as the starting center on a championship team. There’s more to basketball analysis than a series of “what if…”‘s, but Ostertag’s perfectly solid defense and iconic clutch performances are found outside of the realm of the hypothetical. If The Big O is half as good as a mayor as he was as a Shaq defender, the people of Mount Vernon, Texas have chosen one dependable elected official.
Utah’s history with Kansas alumni has often been a bit underwhelming. Missed draft picks, deep bench pieces, and wasted potential define the relationship between a historically successful NBA organization and a historically successful basketball university. Luckily for the Jazz, they may have the golden opportunity on June 23rd to buck the trend and select one of the best prospects KU has ever produced.
Do you have any changes you’d make to this ranking? Any fun memories regarding these players? Comment below!
