After surviving a dramatic double-overtime battle in Game 1, the San Antonio Spurs have dropped back-to-back contests and now face a 2-1 series deficit entering Game 4.
Depth and fatigue could prove pivotal in Game 4, and my Thunder vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks expect the visiting team to earn a third straight victory.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Thunder vs Spurs Game 4 prediction
Who will win Thunder vs Spurs Game 4?
Thunder: Through 11 playoff games, the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Association in bench minutes at 101.1, accounting for 41.3% of the team’s playing time. Through 14 games, the San Antonio Spurs’ bench has accounted for just 32.8% of team minutes. The Spurs’ bench simply doesn’t have the depth to compete, and backup big man Luke Kornet has been a dreadful -37 when on the court, leading to advantages for a Thunder rotation that can switch Kornet onto smaller players and take advantage of outside shooting. The Thunder are deeper and well-rested, and the scariest part is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t scored more than 30 points in a game yet this series.
Thunder vs Spurs best bet: Thunder moneyline (+110)
The disparity in bench numbers has been jarring, as the Thunder have gotten 61 points and 121.6 minutes per game from their reserves, compared to just 21.3 points and 60.4 minutes for the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama has averaged 41.7 minutes, and giving him a break isn’t viable. The Spurs are +21 with him on the floor and -38 when he’s on the bench.
With Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox nursing injuries, and Wemby forced into big minutes, fatigue will be critical. I priced this line at -140, so I’m thrilled to get it early at +110.
OKC’s defense forced Wembanyama outside the paint in Games 2 and 3. He attempted 25 shots and two three-pointers in Game 1 but combined for 31 shots and 12 triples over his last two. The Spurs need to adjust and get him more paint touches to utilize his size and create kickout opportunities. This is a strong value play at plus-money.
Part of San Antonio’s adjustment has to be more bench minutes. Keldon Johnson scored 20.4 points per 36 minutes while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc this season. I’ll bet this one up to 9.5.
Thunder vs Spurs SGP
Thunder moneyline
Victor Wembanyama Under 1.5 threes
Keldon Johnson Over 8.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bench mob!
The Spurs have gotten torched from beyond the arc in this series. San Antonio has given up 15.7 triples on 39.5% shooting. Most concerning is that 12.7 of the Thunder’s 15.7 makes have been “wide open,” with defenders more than six feet away.
All of Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace have knocked down 2+ triples in at least two straight games. The trio are already key reserves, but they will benefit further from Jalen Williams’ injury by taking on increased shot volume.
Thunder vs Spurs SGP
Jaylin Williams Over 1.5 threes
Alex Caruso Over 1.5 threes
Cason Wallace 1.5 threes
Thunder vs Spurs odds for Game 4
Spread: Oklahoma City +1.5 (-105) | San Antonio -1.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Oklahoma City +110 | San Antonio -130
Over/Under: Over 218 (-110) | Under 218 (-110)
Thunder vs Spurs betting trend to know
The Thunder have cashed the moneyline in 25 of their last 30 games for +16.40 units and a 8% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Spurs.
How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 4
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Thunder vs Spurs latest injuries
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(Original Caption) Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees is shown in this photograph.
Back in August, I began a series here at Pinstripe Alley where I was going to put together an All-Star Yankee team of players who were born in a given month. Since then, we as a staff have started doing daily posts for the year 2026, highlighting a Yankee from history whose birthday happens to land on that day. As we near the end of this month, what better way to put a cap on a month’s worth of birthday posts then by using the all-month teams as a way to look back on who we covered? And maybe some we didn’t cover who shared a birthday with someone else?
With that in mind, here are my choices for the All-May Birthday Yankee Team.
David Wells could be the #2 starter and Andrew Miller would be a strong option out of the bullpen, but the Hall of Famer Ruffing is the choice as the ace of the May team. Ruffing was a star on the mound for six Yankees’ championship teams and was the result of probably the second best ever Yankees’ trade with the Red Sox.
Considering he’s probably the catcher on the overall all-time Yankees’ team, yes obviously Yogi gets the start for this team too. The man has a World Series ring for all 10 fingers. Sure, the infrastructure of MLB was obviously quite different than it is now, and there’s a chance if Yankees’ teams of that era had to go through the amount of playoff rounds you have to now, they could’ve been upset a couple times. Still, though, 10 rings, just think about that.
Not a ton of obvious candidates for first base for May, so we’ll stick the quintessential utility man Cairo there. He did play 39 games at first across his two stints with the Yankees.
We’re making Billy pull double duty, as he’s going to be player-manager for the May team. Martin said “I may not have been the greatest Yankee to put on the uniform, but I was the proudest.” at his jersey retirement ceremony, which I’ve always found to be a wonderful quote.
Shortstop: Jerry Hairston
Shortstop is another position without a ton of obvious options for May, so we’re putting the 2009 championship bench extraordinaire there.
Third Base: Charlie Hayes
Chase Headley is another option to put at third, but it’s hard to go against the guy who caught the final out of the 1996 World Series. Plus, we can post the video of it!
Cerv is probably best known as being the roommate of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle during the duo’s 1961 home run chase season. Sadly, his body was found in the Baltimore harbor with stab wounds, after which his union reelected him as treasurer despite his death.
PLEASE NOTE: That last sentence very much DID NOT happen, but if you can guess why I made that joke, I’ll give you a metaphorical pat on the back.
Center Field: Felipe Alou
We didn’t give Alou a birthday post, as he shares the day with Yogi, who’s a bit more important in Yankee history. However, the longtime MLB manager and father of current Yankees’ third base coach Luis Rojas did have a stint as a player in the Bronx.
Right Field: Bobby Murcer (May 20th birthday post)
The longtime outfielder and broadcaster is one of the most popular figures in Yankees’ history who never ended up winning a ring.
The flipside of that is Jackson, who didn’t have a long Yankees’ career in the grand scheme of things, but he packed some big moments into it. We just have to worry about the interactions with his May manager/teammate over at second base.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 23: Kai-Wei Teng #17 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 23, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Sage Zipeto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TODAY’S GAME: The Astros and Cubs will play the second game of their three-game series this afternoon at Wrigley Field. Houston will send RHP Kai-Wei Teng (2-3) to the mound against Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-2).
IN THE DAYTIME: Today marks the third of four consecutive scheduled day games for the Astros. Wednesday’s series finale in Minnesota began at 12:40 p.m., and all three games this weekend at Wrigley Field are scheduled for 1:20 p.m. starts. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Astros played four consecutive day games was April 2-6 of last season.
ROADIES: Today is the fourth game of a 10-game, three-city road trip for Houston, with the club currently sitting at 2-2 on the trip. The Astros went 1-2 in Minnesota on the opening leg of the road swing. Following this series in Chicago, Houston will return to Texas for a four-game set against the Rangers at Globe Life Field from Monday through Thursday.
VS. THE CUBBIES: The Astros took two of three games from the Cubs during the clubs’ only meeting last season, which took place June 27-29 at Daikin Park. Prior to this weekend, Houston’s last visit to Wrigley Field came during a three-game series in April 2024, when the Cubs completed a sweep.
Since 2019, the Astros are 8-5 against Chicago. All-time, Houston holds a 386-338 record against the Cubs, marking the second-most wins the franchise has recorded against any opponent. Only Cincinnati has faced Houston more often, with the Astros holding a 404-455 all-time record against the Reds.
The first official game in Houston franchise history also came against the Cubs. On April 10, 1962, the Colt .45s defeated Chicago 11-2 at Colt Stadium behind a complete-game victory from left-hander Bobby Shantz.
RARE VISIT TO WRIGLEY: The current series marks just the Astros’ second visit to Wrigley Field since 2013, the same season Houston transitioned from the National League to the American League.
ON THE KAI-WEI TO SUCCESS: RHP Kai-Wei Teng has found success this season in both starting and relief roles, posting a 2.61 ERA (9 ER, 31.0 IP) across 16 appearances, including three starts.
His most recent outing came on May 16 against the Rangers, when he tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in a 4-1 Astros victory. Teng was acquired by Houston in January through an offseason trade with the Giants.
A native of Taiwan, Teng is just the second Taiwanese-born player in Astros history, joining RHP Chia-Jen Lo, who made 19 relief appearances for Houston during the 2013 season.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP: RHP Spencer Arrighetti delivered 5.0 scoreless innings to help lead the Astros to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs in Friday’s series opener at Wrigley Field.
C Christian Vázquez paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Arrighetti’s final line included 5.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, no runs, four walks, and five strikeouts.
LHP Bryan King recorded the final four outs to secure his fifth save of the season, while Brice Matthews added a pinch-hit RBI single.
LONG TIME COMING: Friday’s win marked the Astros’ first victory at Wrigley Field since a 4-3 win on June 22, 2013.
SPENCER’S GIFTS: Since making his season debut on April 15, RHP Spencer Arrighetti has emerged as one of the top starters in Major League Baseball.
With Friday’s victory, Arrighetti improved to 6-1 in seven starts while posting a dominant 1.32 ERA (6 ER, 41.0 IP). Opponents are batting just .169 against him, with only 24 hits allowed across 41 innings pitched.
Since April 15, Arrighetti’s six wins are the most in the American League.
MODEL OF CONSISTENCY: Arrighetti has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his seven starts this season and has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any outing.
In May, he owns a 3-1 record with a sparkling 0.78 ERA (2 ER, 23.0 IP) across four starts.
RECENT STROS: The Astros are 4-3 over their last seven games and 5-4 across their last nine contests as they continue their road trip through Chicago.
CLOSE CALLS: With Friday’s 4-2 victory over the Cubs, the Astros improved to 9-8 in two-run games this season and 4-2 in one-run contests.
FOR STARTERS: The three Astros starters scheduled for this series have combined for a 2.43 ERA (29 ER, 107.1 IP) with 105 strikeouts across 107.1 innings pitched.
Spencer Arrighetti — 1.32 ERA
Kai-Wei Teng — 2.61 ERA
Colton Lambert — 3.57 ERA
THROWING SOME LEATHER: The Astros’ 19 team errors are tied for the second-fewest in the American League this season. Houston entered Friday with the fewest errors in the AL before committing two miscues in the 4-2 win over Chicago.
THERE IS A SANTA: RHP Alimber Santa, who was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, has been outstanding this season.
In 18 relief appearances, Santa owns a 4-2 record with a 1.42 ERA (3 ER, 19.0 IP), while limiting opponents to just 10 hits and a .159 batting average. He had not allowed a run in his previous six appearances spanning 5.2 innings prior to his promotion.
PEN PALS: The Astros bullpen has quietly put together a strong stretch recently. Since May 8, Houston relievers have combined for a 3.57 ERA (18 ER, 45.1 IP).
Several individual relievers have also been on impressive runs:
RHP Bryan Abreu — 0.00 ERA in his last seven outings (6.2 IP, 0 ER)
RHP AJ Blubaugh — 2.18 ERA in his last eight outings (12.1 IP, 3 ER)
LHP Bryan King — 1.54 ERA in his last 10 outings (11.2 IP, 2 ER)
LHP Steven Okert — Seven strikeouts over his last 3.2 innings (four appearances) with a 3.68 ERA in his last eight outings (7.1 IP, 3 ER)
AIR YORDAN: Yordan Alvarez is batting .303 this season with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a 1.017 OPS (.412 OBP/.605 SLG).
Among American League hitters, Alvarez currently ranks:
1st in total bases (113)
2nd in OPS and slugging percentage
3rd in on-base percentage
5th in batting average and home runs
Tied for 9th in RBIs (31)
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros have been one of the American League’s top offensive teams on the road during the 2026 season.
Entering today’s game, Houston leads the AL in road batting average (.267) and on-base percentage (.336), while also ranking third in slugging percentage (.409) and OPS (.745).
BRYAN’S SONG: After a slow start to the season, RHP Bryan Abreu has been dominant out of the bullpen.
Abreu has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances, covering 6.2 innings while allowing just three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Over his last nine outings, he owns a 1.04 ERA (1 ER, 8.2 IP) with nine strikeouts.
ON THE LEADER BOARD: As a team, the Astros currently rank among the top offensive clubs in the American League.
Houston ranks:
2nd in hits (431)
2nd in total bases (704)
2nd in slugging percentage (.403)
3rd in batting average (.247)
Tied for 3rd in OPS (.724)
4th in home runs (61)
MONSTER SEASON: C/1B Jason Schiavone, who was recently promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi, currently leads all of Minor League Baseball with 18 home runs in just 38 games.
Schiavone opened the season with High-A Asheville before earning his promotion after a scorching start at the plate. Across his time in the minors this season, he has posted 18 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 42 walks while slashing .277/.444/.745 with a remarkable 1.189 OPS.
The Astros selected Schiavone in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Avery Hayes took a nice step in the right direction with his development this season. The 5-foot-10 forward appeared in his first 16 NHL games with Pittsburgh this season, where he recorded five goals, 12 penalty minutes, and 23 hits. This included him scoring two goals in his final NHL game of the season with Pittsburgh.
Hayes earned his first look on Pittsburgh's roster this season, as he was excellent in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 42 games with the AHL club this campaign, he recorded 24 goals, 15 assists, 39 points, and a plus-10 rating. With this, he showed clear signs of improvement and has created more excitement about his future because of it.
Due to how well Hayes played this season, it is clear that he is a breakout candidate to watch on the Penguins next season. The Westland, Michigan native has the tools to emerge as a full-time NHL player, and it would not be surprising if he taps into his offensive potential a bit more next season.
If Hayes can break out next season, it would be big for a Penguins club that is looking to continue to trend in the right direction. It will be fascinating to see if he can do just that from here.
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Chadwick Tromp #38 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a mixture of sunshine and overcast here in Atlanta, and rain is expected to come in later in the evening, but the show must go on…until further notice.
Let’s look at these Saturday lineups.
An impressive walk-off from a line-drive RBI single from Chadwick Tromp ended yesterday’s game one matchup against the Nationals in extras. Now, appearing in the starting lineup for tonight’s matchup, the Braves are looking for him to have another productive outing with Grant Holmes on the mound.
Mike Yastrzemski and Mauricio Dubón are also making a return to join Tromp at the bottom of the batting order.
So far, the only player on the squad to average over a 1.000 OPS against Washington’s pitcher Jake Irvin is Ronald Acuña Jr. However, Michael Harris II, who’s moved back up to the second slot, and Matt Olson, batting behind him, have seen numbers passing a .800 OPS to take their bases comfortably against the righty.
On the Nationals’ side, James Wood is the only player who has produced well against Holmes, averaging a 1.666 OPS against him. Players Daylen Lile and Nasim Nuñez have yet to face Holmes’ sharp arsenal, and through only three at-bats, CJ Abrams hasn’t seen success with a .000 OPS.
It’s going to be a tough matchup with the Nationals’ offense exceeding expectations and the Braves continuing to deliver solid pitching performances. Just a few hours away, first pitch is set for 4:10 p.m.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 22: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs gestures in front of Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 22, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time in the Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs trail the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a wild Game One victory, the Spurs lost two straight, including a 123-108 loss at home in Game Three. It was a game defined by the Thunder’s dominance. San Antonio started the game on a 15-0 run, and managed to lose the game by 15, a 30-point swing for OKC.
If you want a stat that sums up a lot of the game, it’s this one: OKC’s bench outscored San Antonio’s bench by 53 points (76-23). When Victor Wembanyama sat out, the Thunder went on huge runs. Even with him in the game, Oklahoma City’s bench was able to score from outside. Meanwhile, the Spurs couldn’t find any consistent offense as they continue to deal with injuries to key players like De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper.
The Spurs enter Game Four needing to win a game to prevent the Thunder from taking a 3-1 series lead. San Antonio is -126 favorites on FanDuel to defend home court and tie the series at 2-2 in Game Four. They’ll need to find a way to score against Oklahoma City’s swarming defense and get contributions from their bench to stay in the series.
Before looking ahead to Game Four, let’s grade the performances from Game Three. As a quick reminder, player grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
Wembanyama continues to be the Spurs’ most consistent offensive threat in this series. However, since the Thunder decided to guard him with a big man, Wembanyama has struggled to reach the scoring heights we saw in Game One. He’s being forced to hurt the Thunder on the perimeter, where he isn’t nearly as effective. He keeps getting pushed further and further away from the hoop and is stuck taking some tough shots.
Defensively, Wembanyama has to stick to what makes him great. Too many times, he is being pulled onto the perimeter to contest Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s mid-range jumpers. While he’s away from the paint, the Thunder can find lanes for drives or kickout angles for threes. It’s also limiting Wemby’s impact on the boards, as he grabbed just four rebounds in the loss.
You have to hand it to Fox for playing through what appears to be a significant ankle injury. He went down in the third quarter, and it looked like it might be the last time we see him in the game. But he gutted it out and came back into the game, clearly hampered.
Fox is giving them some nice offensive juice off the dribble, getting into the paint with speed and creatively finishing around the Thunder’s defense. The problem is he didn’t make a lot of his outside shots, which OKC dared him to take, and he turned the ball over four times. If he can play smart with the ball, push the pace, and make some outside shots, the Spurs will have a better chance to win Game Four.
It looked like Castle struggled to adjust to Fox returning to the lineup. He corrected his turnover issue, but his offense was way off, making just one shot in the game. Defensively, he looks like he may be letting his emotions get the best of him. He is clearly frustrated with the officiating and is fed up with SGA’s ability to get to the free-throw line. He’s fouling too much and complaining about most of the foul calls. Castle is the Spurs’ most physical player, and he’s paying for it a bit with how he guards. He’ll have to play smarter defense if San Antonio wants a chance to win the series.
Not only was Champagnie struggling to hit threes, but he missed several defensive rotations. Champagnie would often overhelp off a shooter to help Wembanyama in the paint (he’s the Defensive Player of the Year and doesn’t need help) or sell out to stop a Gilgeous-Alexander drive and leave a player wide open for a kickout. The Spurs need him to make open shots, and they can’t afford major defensive mistakes. The margins in this series are razor-thin and those miscues will snowball as they did in Game Three.
Vassell was arguably the most impactful Spur in Game Three. His shooting was always there when the Spurs needed it, and he was excellent defensively. He’s risen to the moment in this series in a way that makes him look like an untouchable part of the Spurs’ core moving forward.
I also appreciated Vassell sticking up for Castle when he got fouled hard in transition two times in a row. San Antonio has to fight back a bit against some of the physicality they are seeing from OKC.
Harper looks like he is really struggling through an injury, even more than Fox. He doesn’t have the same level of explosion that he had in the first game of the series. That led to a pretty meh night from the rookie, who was inefficient scoring the ball, and didn’t make a huge impact defensively. Harper’s strength and athleticism give the Spurs an advantage in the backcourt. If those attributes are severely hampered by his injury, it’s hard to see them winning this series.
Johnson was borderline unplayable in Game Three. He provided no offense, and he continues to be a liability defensively. It feels like we’ve been saying the same things about KJ all playoffs. San Antonio needs his fire and energy to emerge. In a “must-win” Game Four, maybe we see Johnson return to his Sixth Man of the Year form.
Kornet is in a tough position backing up Wembanyama. When he’s in the game without him, the Thunder are attacking the rim every chance they get. It’s not so much that Kornet is a bad rim defender; it’s just that Wembanyama is so good that it’s almost like a lid has been removed from the rim when he exits the game. That said, Kornet has to hold his ground better to give the Spurs a chance. Wembanyama is already playing more minutes in this series than he has in his entire career.
Grade: D
Harrison Barnes
3 minutes, 0-for-1 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +2
Barnes hasn’t gotten much run in this series, but I wonder if he may get an increase in minutes moving forward. The Spurs need another shooter and someone who can create some offense on the wing. Barnes has regressed quickly this season and hasn’t shown the ability to be a strong rotational piece in quite some time. But these are desperate times for San Antonio, and Barnes has shown some of the skill set that they need against OKC.
Bryant isn’t quite ready for a series like this. He can’t put the ball on the deck in a meaningful way, and he fouls way too much to be impactful defensively. All the youthful energy in the world isn’t enough to make up for some of those shortcomings against a great OKC team.
Grade: C-
Jordan McLaughlin
2 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +/- 0
McLaughlin went from being in the rotation in Game Two to playing in garbage time in Game Three.
Grade:Incomplete
Lindy Waters III
2 minutes, +/- 0
Waters got some cardio in for two minutes at the end of the game, but didn’t make an impact.
Grade:Incomplete
Bismack Biyombo
2 minutes, +/- 0
Biyombo touched the floor against his former team, but didn’t do much.
Avalanche: The Colorado Avalanche have won the high-danger chance battle 26-14 through two games. They have a clear edge in quality scoring chances but converted on only 4.41% of their shots, which is a big reason why they trail 2-0. Healthy Cale Makar or not, the Avalanche have too much firepower to continue converting at such a low rate.
Avalanche vs Golden Knights best bet: Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots (-135)
MacKinnon hit the net on 58.66% of his attempts during the regular season and 46% over the first two rounds. He's sitting at 33% against Vegas, a low number that is not going to sustain itself.
MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in offensive zone starts this series, putting him in favorable situations to generate shots.
I like him to fire away in essentially a must-win Game 3, and would play the Over up to -160.
Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3 same-game parlay
The Avalanche hold edges in attempts, shots, chances, and high-danger looks. They've scored on 4% of their shots, Vegas has scored on 13%, and that's the difference.
Cale Makar's injury definitely factors in, but Colorado was the highest-scoring team in the league during the regular season, and both of their goaltenders drastically out-performed Carter Hart.
The tide should turn if the Avalanche continue to generate the bulk of the chances, which is to be expected with their backs up against the wall.
Eight of the last nine Avalanche games have featured 6+ goals, and shooting regression should help push this one Over.
Avalanche vs Golden Knights SGP
Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots
Avalanche moneyline
Over 5.5
Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3 goal scorer pick
Nathan MacKinnon (+105)
I'm backing MacKinnon to have a strong volume game, and his shot outputs correlate heavily with his goal scoring.
MacKinnon found the back of the net in 62% of his games when attempting seven shots or more this season, and he has attempted at least seven shots in five of his last six.
The Avalanche desperately need a win, and will rely heavily on MacKinnon to lead the charge. That means a ton of offensive zone starts, and extra ice time, for the Rocket Richard winner.
Avalanche vs Golden Knights odds for Game 3
Moneyline: Avalanche -135 | Golden Knights +115
Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+180) | Golden Knights +1.5 (-220)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
Avalanche vs Golden Knights trend
Nathan MacKinnon has recorded 4+ shots in 11 of his last 14 games against the Golden Knights. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet
Avalanche vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Buffalo Sabres are entering the off-season with some big decisions to make. One of them is with Alex Tuch, as the 30-year-old forward is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA).
If the Sabres are unable to re-sign Tuch and he tests the free-agent market, the Sabres will undoubtedly need to add another forward to their roster. Due to this, let's look at two pending UFAs the Sabres could pivot to if Tuch does not sign an extension with Buffalo.
Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
Bobby McMann could be an interesting target for the Sabres to pursue if Tuch ends up not re-signing. The 29-year-old just had a strong season split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken. In 78 games, he recorded 29 goals, 46 points, and 165 hits. With numbers like these, he could be a good energy player for the Sabres to add to their top nine.
Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings
Could the Sabres finally bring Patrick Kane home to Buffalo? If the 37-year-old winger ends up not re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings, he could be a player worth bringing in on a one-year deal. His best days are behind him, but he is still an impactful offensive contributor. In 67 games this season with Detroit, he posted 16 goals and 57 points. With numbers like these, the three-time Stanley Cup champion could be a nice pickup for Buffalo.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Gage Jump #79 of the Athletics throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a spring training game at Las Vegas Ballpark on March 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Angels defeated the Athletics 3-0. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season’s first 2 months have always been about treading water. The A’s have a gloriously average squad that has been, well, average : Since April 10th, the A’s have been been between 1 game under .500 and 3 games over .500 each and every day.
The ability to stay neck and neck in the standings with their competitors has been enhanced by Seattle floundering (Mariners like fish, after all) under .500. And so the A’s approach Memorial Day where they would have hoped to be: in or near 1st place with a roster that is poised to improve.
Will Memorial Day bring said improvement in the form of a “high upside” starting pitcher? One can rely only on tea leaves, not on any formal announcements, at this point. Here’s what we know:
– JT Ginn will start tonight against the Padres trying to build on his sensational 8 no-hit innings in Anaheim and hoping to avenge the disappointing final 4 minutes of that start.
– Jacob Lopez is on turn for Sunday afternoon’s game in San Diego. Lopez is fresh off of a shaky start in which he was handed a 6-0 lead and could not complete the 4th inning. His season ERA now stands at 6.14.
– The A’s have been non-committal around Sunday’s SP, offering multiple possible paths and stating that bullpen usage Friday and Saturday could even inform the decision at the 11th hour. Those paths include Lopez taking his normal turn, an “opener” with Lopez to follow, or a “bullpen game”. Really the only option the A’s seem to have ruled out is calling up a new SP — it seems the current group will handle the game in some way.
– Gage Jump pitched on Wednesday, so he is not on turn to pitch until Monday at the earliest. So he has never been an option for the Padres series but would be ready for any of the games with Seattle. Jump’s start Wednesday was his best of the season: 7 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K.
What does this all suggest might be in the cards? Certainly there are very banal outcomes still on the table, such as that Lopez makes the Sunday start as the A’s continue to hope he rediscovers his 2025 form and the rotation stays on turn with Aaron Civale opening the Seattle series on Monday.
Or … are the tea leaves suggesting that Lopez is headed to the bullpen to give the A’s a valuable long relief arm and lefty option, making room for Jump to debut as an electric and unknown arm the Mariners have to face in a big head-to-head showdown? (I say “big,” even though it’s still May, because the path to the AL West crown runs through Seattle and this represents 3 of 13 “two game swing” games.)
The A’s would have to make a corresponding move on the 40 man roster to call up Jump. The obvious casualty would be Jose Suarez, since shifting Lopez to the bullpen would give the A’s a second lefty. Also, Suarez just isn’t anything special and was a stopgap pickup at best — or least that’s how it should be.
Coming into the season the A’s hoped Luis Morales would give them a plus arm at the front of the rotation, allowing Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs to settle into more mid-back of the rotation roles. That just didn’t work out, but without question it would buoy the A’s chances to contend significantly if they could find and insert a plus arm into the rotation.
The best hope for this has always been Jump, a top prospect in MLB and the only top A’s pitching prospect who is a step away from the big leagues. It was has been, since Jump’s solid spring training showing, not a matter of “if” but rather “when” he would join the 2026 rotation.
Is that time now? If so, Happy Memorial Day indeed.
With 8:01 left in Game 6 and the Timberwolves trailing the Spurs by 33, Minnesota coach Chris Finch threw in the towel and pulled his starters. When that happened, Anthony Edwards did something in-game usually reserved for postgame: he walked over and dapped up the Spurs players, congratulating them on their win.
That drew an instant backlash from former players and fans who didn't like the fact he did that during the game, including Dirk Nowitzki and Udonis Haslem on the NBA on Prime postgame show.
"As a leader I would not have walked down there and shook their hands ... with 8 mins left."
UD on Anthony Edwards shaking the Spurs' hands in the middle of the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/1BjxFjmqUx
"Yes, eight minutes in the game, but we're not going back in the game," Edwards said. "When you win a playoff series, everybody's celebrating at the end of the game, so they're gonna be smiling while I'm pissed off, and we just lost. "So I was just like, 'S***, let me go and congratulate these boys, because I ain't trying to be kiking with you all after you all whooped my a**.'"
Edwards then said his real preference would have been not to congratulate the Spurs (or any team that beats him) at all.
"Then what would they have been saying about me? That would have been a whole other conversation," Edwards said.
Edwards is an intense competitor who had to take away from that series what everyone else watching — including Minnesota management — saw in those six games: San Antonio was a flat-out better roster and team, and the Spurs are still very young and just getting better. That would frustrate anyone.
At the end of the day, if it didn't bother Edwards' current teammates, then it doesn't matter. If it did bother them, a couple of veteran team leaders need to have a conversation with Edwards during the offseason in a calm setting, and then everyone can move on. Ultimately, this is great sports talk show content that will not matter in the Timberwolves locker room next season.
Mercedes pair clashed with both drivers out in front
Toto Wolff tells Italian to ‘stop the radio moaning’
George Russell won the sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix but only after his championship battle with Kimi Antonelli reached an angry flashpoint. The Mercedes pair clashed for the lead on track and the teenage Italian was left demanding the British driver should be penalised.
Such was the febrile atmosphere that their team principal Toto Wolff intervened, telling Antonelli to “stop the radio moaning”.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 19: Drew Rasmussen #57 and Shane McClanahan #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays look on prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on May 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The weekend series between the Cardinals and Reds will finally start with a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, May 23. The foul weather changed the pitching matchup for the nightcap, and injured list moves on both teams have tweaked the rosters.
The results of both lean in Cincinnati’s favor, as my Cardinals vs. Reds predictions and MLB picks for Game 2 explain.
Who will win Cardinals vs Reds tonight: Reds moneyline (-105)
Andre Pallante was initially scheduled to start for the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, but with the rain, the Redbirds flipped the rotation.
The Cincinnati Reds will now face his 95th percentile breaking ball and 89th percentile ground ball rate in Game 1.
The Reds also get Eugenio Suarez back, while the Cardinals placed outfielder Nathan Church on IL.
COVERS INTEL: Opponents have a .584 OPS in their first appearance vs. Leahy, which rises to .821 the next time up, and 1.177 the third time up.
Cardinals vs Reds Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-105)
The Over/Under cutoff is high, but it’s earned in this game. The bullpens will be taxed in the second game of a twin bill, and Leahy will be challenged by a Reds order hitting 25% over league average across the last two weeks.
St. Louis has been struggling on offense, but the Reds will start former top pick Chase Petty, called up for the doubleheader and ready to make just his fourth MLB start.
He’s allowed four home runs and 10 walks in 11 2/3 big-league innings and was struggling at Triple-A Louisville, with a 6.32 ERA and 1.628 WHIP.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 15-19 -3.28 units
Over/Under bets: 19-19 -1.51 units
Cardinals vs Reds odds
Moneyline: Cardinals -110 | Reds -110
Run line: Cardinals +1.5 | Reds -1.5
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Cardinals vs Reds trend
The Reds have hit the Over in 28 of their last 40 games (+14.55 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Reds.
How to watch Cardinals vs Reds and game info
Location
Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
Date
Saturday, May 23, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Cardinals starting pitcher
Kyle Leahy (5-3, 3.94 ERA)
Reds starting pitcher
Chase Petty (0-0, 4.76 ERA)
Cardinals vs Reds latest injuries
Cardinals vs Reds weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Feb 24, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jonathan Pintaro (91) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Ahead of their second game against the Marlins this weekend, the Mets recalled right-handed relief pitcher Jonathan Pintaro. In a corresponding move, the Mets optioned left-handed starter Zach Thornton to Triple-A Syracuse.
Pintaro, in his age 28 season, appeared in one game last season for the Mets, giving up two earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. He’s having a nice season in Triple-A thus far, appearing in 15 games and pitching to a 2.81 ERA with 32 strikeouts to 12 walks and allowing one home run.
Here is how our Steve Sypa described Pintaro’s aresenal of pitches in our season preview:
The right-hander throws fastballs nearly 75% of the time, mixing in a high-spin cutter, a mid-90s fastball, and a low-90s sinker. He supplements those pitches with a mid-to-high-80s changeup that gives him a north-south option and a low-to-mid-80s sweeping slider that gives him a horizontal option.
Thornton, a soft-tosser in his age 24 season, made his major league debut on Wednesday evening against the Nationals. Thornton was stung by a first inning three-run home run off the bat of C.J. Abrams, but he settled in nicely after that, allowing just three more baserunners over the next two and two-thirds innings.
Apr 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The bad news was Friday night’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds was rained out. The good news is that means a doubleheader today. For game 1, it appears that the Cardinals will have Andre Pallante make the start while the Reds will have Friday’s planned starter Chris Paddack on the mound. Note that Bryan Torres is set to start in left field for St. Louis. First pitch for game 1 is scheduled for 12:10pm central time in Great America Ball Park.
COVERS INTEL: The Thunder’s 76 bench points in Game 3 are the most in a Conference Finals or NBA Finals game since 1971. Oklahoma City’s bench outscored San Antonio’s by 53 in the win.
