Minor League Baseball: View of starting lineups for San Jose Giants and Fresno Grizzlies before game at Excite Ballpark. San Jose, CA 5/7/2021 CREDIT: Brad Mangin (Photo by Brad Mangin/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163609 TK1)
It’s been a tough go for the Colorado Rockies, who have lost their last four games, including the series opener with the New York Mets. However, the Rockies will have to wait for Game 2 since snowstorms across the Front Range led to postponing today’s game.
So we interrupt our regularly scheduled MLB game thread and instead will focus on the Rockies minor league affiliates today.
(We’ll add more game details as they become available.)
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (18-15) @ Sugar land Space Cowboys (17-16)
The Isotopes and Space Cowboys meet for the first of four series on the year, including two in Sugar Land (other: July 7-12). The Isotopes will look to extend their winning streak to four and hope to see as much success this week as they did last when they went on a hitting frenzy. The last time Albuquerque has been over .500 in May was May 20, 2019 (23-22).
Starters: RHP Velente Bellozo (0-1, 6.87) vs. RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 5.79) on a rehab start.
Game 1 First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
For the visiting Isotopes:
We open a six-game series on the road at Sugar Land tonight!
— Binghamton Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) May 5, 2026
High-A: Spokane Indians (9-18) vs. Tri-City Dust Devils (16-11)
The Spokane Indians host the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) this morning for the opener of a six-game series. The Indians are optimistic that being back home gets them back on track after finishing their road trip through Everett and Eugene with a 3-9 record. Spokane continues to struggle offensively, scoring just 41 runs in their 12 games on the road (3.41/game) while allowing 67.
They’ll have their work cut out for them today though, with Angels No. 1 prospect and last year’s No. 2 overall pick Tyler Bremner on the mound for the Dust Devils in the series opener.
STARTERS: Tri-City Dust Devils RHP Tyler Bremner (0-0, 1.08) vs. Spokane Indians RHP Jackson Cox (0-1, 5.16)
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (15-2) @ San Jose Giants (17-10)
It’s a big week for the Grizzlies as the take on the California League-leading Giants. Fresno opens the set against a San Jose club that leads the California League in runs (198), average (.292), OBP (.387), slugging (.467) and OPS (.854). The Grizzlies counter with 33 home runs, 147 walks and an .801 OPS, giving this series plenty of offensive punch on both sides.
The Grizzlies bring one of the league’s most disciplined approaches into San Jose, ranking second in the California League with 147 walks and posting a .367 on-base percentage (4th). Cameron Nelson (24 BB, 2nd in CAL) and Ethan Holliday (17 BB, T-8th) continue to set the tone, helping Fresno grind out at-bats against a Giants staff that has issued just 113 walks — fewest in the league — setting up a strength-on-strength battle at the plate.
Starters: Fresno Grizzleys LHP Ethan Cole (2-1, 4.58) vs. San Jose Giants RHP Keyner Martinez (1-1, 5.17)
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick's first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).
The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 6: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs off the field with teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 after their team defeated Toronto Blue Jays in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on April 6, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani has allowed only four runs to date this season, two of them unearned, which has aided his ability to complete six innings in all five of his starts. Completing at least six innings has been the norm this season for the Dodgers rotation, whose 5.83 innings on average are tops in the majors.
Dodgers starters have completed six innings in 23 of their 35 games thus far in 2026, three more than the next-most in the majors. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings in Monday night’s win in Houston, and has lasted at least six innings in six of his seven starts. Tyler Glasnow lasted at least six innings in his first five starts before 5 2/3 last Wednesday at home against the Miami Marlins.
Who will win Braves vs Mariners today: Mariners (-125)
George Kirby threw just 43 changeups in 2025, with a 5% whiff rate.
This year, he’s already thrown 58 of them with a 30.7% whiff rate. That has helped him generate a career-high 56.5% ground-ball rate, well above his 44.2% lifetime metric.
The Atlanta Braves had just nine hits last night, and four of them were solo bombs. Without Ronald Acuna Jr. or Michael Harris II in the lineup, they simply aren’t creating enough runs.
Bryce Elder will give them a solid start, but his inability to generate strikeouts or limit contact will lead to the Seattle Mariners scoring enough to win.
Braves vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (+100)
Kirby’s changeup is a tremendous complement to his sinker and sweeper. Opponents have posted an xSLG of .189 and xBA of .161 against the pitch.
It’s helped him post career lows so far in ERA, xERA, xwOBA, and xwOBAcon.
Elder’s allowed just two homers in 37 IP, despite a career-low ground-ball rate. A key reason has been an improvement in limiting pull rate, thanks to adding a cutter to his arsenal.
Both starters should limit runs and eat innings in a ballpark that doesn’t give much to hitters. With Acuna, Harris, and Raleigh all on the shelf, this has all the makings of a lower-scoring affair.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-5, -1.42 units
Over/Under bets: 6-3, +2.91 units
Braves vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Braves +117 | Mariners -122
Run line: Braves +1.5 (-186) | Mariners -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)
Braves vs Mariners trend
The Seattle Mariners have hit the moneyline in 32 of their last 50 games at home (+7.10 Units / 9% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Mariners.
How to watch Braves vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, Mariners.TV
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.88 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby (4-2, 3.00 ERA)
Braves vs Mariners latest injuries
Braves vs Mariners 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.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 17: The snow is plowed at Coors Field prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Friday, April 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight’s game between the Mets and the Rockies at Coors Field has been postponed due to inclement weather. Freezing rain and snow, as well as cold temperatures, is forecasted for the Denver area, which resulted in the need for the changes to the schedule.
Tomorrow’s game, which was originally scheduled for a 3:10pm EDT first pitch, will now be moved to 9:20pm EDT. Today’s game will then be made up on Thursday afternoon at 3:10pm EDT. Thursday was originally a scheduled travel day for both clubs, with the Mets heading to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks and the Rockies heading to the East Coast to play the Phillies.
The Mets have gotten off to a strong start on their nine-game road trip, winning three of the first four games against the Angels and the Rockies following their 3-6 homestand. The Mets won their series opener 4-2 against Colorado yesterday thanks to a four-run sixth inning, including a Carson Benge home run, and a strong performance from their pitching staff.
Freddy Peralta and Christian Scott were slated to pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Presumably, the team will push them both back a day and keep them on the same schedule.
The New York Yankees begin a new series with the Texas Rangers after a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. New York is one of the hottest teams in baseball with eight wins in their last ten but tonight, they are favored when they simply shouldn’t be. I’m taking the Hall of Fame pitcher here at plus money.
Read all about it in my Rangers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, May 5.
Who will win Rangers vs Yankees today: Rangers moneyline (+111)
These two teams faced off in Texas a week ago, with Jacob deGrom going head-to-head with New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler in a 3-2 loss. Not much has changed in a week, deGrom is still poised to slow the Yankees' bats, but he’s facing a much different pitcher in Elmer Rodriguez.
deGrom will be deGrom in this matchup. His uniqueness as a pitcher plays directly against some of the things New York struggles with. deGrom is getting strikeouts out and in the zone.
Unlike many pitchers, he’s not reliant on chase, which has hurt many opponents facing the Yankees, as New York has the lowest chase rate in baseball. deGrom doesn’t have to worry about that low chase rate and can still exploit the five Yankees hitters with an above-average strikeout rate.
On the other end, I’ll simply fade an arm in Elmer Rodriguez, who is making his second career MLB start with an expected ERA that exceeds 6. His strikeout stuff will keep the Texas Rangers hitters honest, but I worry about his struggles with the hard-hit ball against a lineup with plenty of power.
COVERS INTEL:Jacob deGrom has one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball at 32% which sets in the top 7% of baseball.
Rangers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+105)
I projected this total right at 8, so I was fairly surprised to see this number.
deGrom should be able to suppress a good part of this Yankees lineup for a variety of reasons. Even though they haven’t chased pitches outside the zone, this is still a Yankees lineup that ranks 7th in whiff rate.
deGrom has faced a few other teams outside of New York that rank among the top ten in whiff rate in the sport and held them to one earned run over double-digit innings (Seattle Mariners).
On the other side, it’s still hard to know what to make of Rodriguez going forward. However, he’s demonstrating enough swing-and-miss stuff that makes you think he can work through the less formidable parts of the Rangers lineup. That may be all it takes to keep this under.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:13-10, +3.62 units
Over/Under bets:16-9, +7.72 units
Rangers vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Texas +113 | New York -117
Run line: Texas +1.5 (-178) | New York -1.5 (+180)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-104) | Under 8.5 (+100)
Rangers vs Yankees trend
The Texas Rangers have hit the Moneyline in 9 of their last 18 away games (+0.50 Units / 3% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Yankees.
How to watch Rangers vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
RSN, YES
Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
Rangers vs Yankees latest injuries
Rangers vs Yankees 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.
Lakers reserve Jared Vanderbilt's secret instagram account '
There are two versions of Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt on Instagram.
There’s the one you know. The verified, polished account with a half-a-million followers.
Like most NBA players on social media, it features highlights of dunks, tunnel fits, and postgame smiles with teammates. It’s the one the public expects to see.
Lakers reserve Jared Vanderbilt’s secret instagram account ‘vando_vault’ is filled with hilarious memes, funny videos, and locker room moments featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and teammates.
And then there’s the other one.
The one that feels like you just got added to the team group chat.
Lurking beneath the algorithm’s surface lives “vando_vault.” Vanderbilt’s not-so-secret second account that’s an unfiltered scrapbook of locker room life, memes, hilarious videos, and screenshots that tell the story within the story.
Scroll through the photos in each of the posts below long enough and you’ll find a version of Luka Doncic you’ve never seen before. The one that lives up to the nickname “The Don.”
There’s Deandre Ayton’s hilarious expressions. Austin Reaves in cornrows and his budding bromance with Doncic. There’s trolling of Kevin Durant and Stephen A. Smith. Even Luke Kennard isn’t safe from the occasional internet meme.
Look deeper and you’ll find handwritten motivation notes. AI videos of Doncic dancing, and even funny screenshots of LeBron James. It’s weird. It’s lighthearted. It’s perfect.
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Anthony Edwards’ improbable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup for the team's shocking Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs caused a seismic change in NBA betting odds.
Key Takeaways
Edwards was expected to be out for part or all of the series.
The Spurs are still a comfortable second place in odds to win the NBA Finals.
Teams that go up 1-0 in a playoff series end up winning more than 77% of the time.
FanDuel sportsbook opened with the Spurs, the West's second-place finishers, at -3,000 amid uncertainty over Edwards' future. The Timberwolves' star guard sustained a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets and was given a two-to-six-week return timeline.
Rumors swirled that there was a chance Edwards could be ready for Game 1, so FanDuel dropped San Antonio to -2,200 on Sunday, a day before the series opener. Oddsmakers pivoted again when it was announced Monday that Edwards was likely to play in Game 1. The Spurs were knocked down to -600, while Minnesota shortened to +450.
The T-Wolves still had a ton of work to do in Game 1. They entered as 9.5-point underdogs without Donte DiVinceno and Ayo Dosunmu against a Spurs team that had enjoyed several extra days of rest and was at home, where it went 32-8 in the regular season.
Despite the Spurs’ advantages, the T-Wolves emerged with a two-point victory as Julian Champagnie’s would-be game-winning 3-pointer clanked off the rim at the buzzer. Julius Randle led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Edwards had 18 points (11 in the fourth quarter) in 25 minutes off the bench.
Victor Wembanyama set an all-time playoff record with 12 blocks to go with his 15 rebounds, but he only scored 11 points on 29.4% shooting.
FanDuel now has the Spurs at -186 (65% implied chance) and the Timberwolves at +156 (39% chance) to win the series. The Spurs are -9.5 favorites again for Game 2.
NBA Finals odds picture
The Timberwolves’ early advantage hasn’t caused a massive change in the championship picture.
The Spurs still find themselves second in NBA championship odds at +470, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (-170). However, they are down from about +340, where they were before their Game 1 loss.
On the flip side, the Timberwolves are sixth of the eight remaining teams in title odds at +3,000. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (+3,500) and Philadelphia 76ers (+7,000) have longer odds.
BetMGM insights shared with Covers on Monday revealed that the Spurs led all remaining teams in tickets (10.9%) and were second in money wagered (16.8%) in the NBA Finals futures market. The Timberwolves were sixth in tickets (5.5%) and handle (5.2%).
Bettors also loved the Spurs to win the Western Conference. They drew 21.3% of bets and 23.3% of the pot, which ranked first and second, repectively, in the West.
The Timberwolves were fourth in wagers (12.6%) and handle (9.5%) of the eight remaining teams.
History favors underdogs
While the Spurs are still favored to win their second-round series, they will have to overcome a strong historical precedent.
Teams that take a 1-0 series lead have won 700 of 901 series (77.1%), according to Land of Basketball. Stripping away all other data points, that would suggest the Timberwolves have -337 odds to win the series, and the Spurs should be +337 (assuming no vig).
Minneosta now has a combined regular-season and playoff record of 3-1 against San Antonio. The teams will meet for Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
UPDATE: Added a +800 SGP + who will win prediction.
The Philadelphia 76ers are down 1-0 to the New York Knicks and now must try to even the series without Joel Embiid.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with five boards in the blowout defeat, and my 76ers vs. Knicks predictions expect him to attack the glass for the undersized Sixers.
Knicks: The Game 1 result was a perfect storm for Philadelphia. The 76ers were still sweating from a Game 7 in Boston a day prior while the Knicks just couldn’t miss. New York won’t shoot as well in Game 2 but is still in control as long as Joel Embiid is dragging himself around on defense. The Knicks have too many offensive options and this spread says the Knicks take a 2-0 lead to Philly.
76ers vs Knicks best bet: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 5.5 rebounds (+100)
The New York Knicks’ high-action drags Philly's centers away from the paint on defense, and all of them lack mobility, preventing them from crashing the glass.
Oubre will often be the closest defender to the rim, and he’s active enough to contest for rebounds. He hauled in five boards on eight potential chances in just 27 minutes in Game 1.
So far in the postseason, Oubre is averaging 5.9 rebounds on 10.0 chances. New York’s shooting will regress in Game 2, leaving more rebounding opportunities, and Oubre’s projections sit at 6+ boards.
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
76ers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay
The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t pick up the pace in Game 1. The Knicks’ hot shooting forced them to start too many possessions from the inbounds.
Philadelphia’s best plan of attack is to avoid the half-court defense by fueling fastbreaks and transition. New York won’t shoot as well as it did in the opener, but its offense is a tough solve for Philly.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been more of a playmaker for the Knicks in the playoffs. But with the 76ers missing Embiid, KAT could see smaller checks and more space from the top of the key.
He’ll either attack inside or let it fly from mid-range. Projections are as high as 22 points for Game 2.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Over 215
Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big man about Towns
Towns has been awesome for New York so far in the postseason, and with Embiid a no-go tonight, KAT has an edge. He’s been a catalyst for playmaking (averaging six assists), and Game 2 projections call for as many as 22 points with a lean toward two triples.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Over 215
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes
76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 2
Spread: 76ers +7 | Knicks -7
Moneyline: 76ers +225 | Knicks -275
Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215
76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Knicks make good on big spreads at home. New York is 24-4 SU and 21-7 ATS (75%) when laying more than five points at Madison Square Garden, including 3-1 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.
How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off
7 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
76ers vs Knicks latest injuries
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.
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn again goes into the offseason with a decision to make about whether to come back for another NHL season.
His coach wants him to keep playing, and so does longtime teammate Tyler Seguin. Benn, who will turn 37 on July 18, sounds as though he will take some time to ponder an 18th season — all in Dallas — and another shot at a Stanley Cup title.
“Right now I’m just hanging out, being a dad, and figure it out later,” Benn said.
During the Stars’ season-ending availability, after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Benn was asked if he knew exactly when or how he would make the decision.
“Probably just wake up one day (and know), to be honest,” he said.
After fielding the same questions about his future last summer, Benn played this season on a one-year, $1 million contract and earned an additional $2 million in bonuses. General manager Jim Nill said last offseason, after the expiration of an eight-year, $76 million deal, that Benn had earned the right to continue to be part of the Stars as long as he wants. There have been no indications since of any changes to that thought.
“For me, it’s a slam dunk. He needs to come back,” coach Glen Gulutzan said of the only Stars player he also coached during his first tenure behind the Dallas bench (2011-13).
Seguin, who is 34 and has one year left on his contract after being limited to 47 games the past two seasons because of hip and knee injuries, said he certainly hopes they get another season together. Seguin and Benn have been teammates since 2013-14, after Seguin was traded from Boston and the same season Benn became the Stars captain.
“I don’t think anyone knows what Jaime is going to do until Jamie does it,” Seguin said. “I’ll stay out of his way, let him come to his own decisions, but I’d obviously love to have him for one more shot.”
Only Modano better than Benn in many key categories
Hall of Fame center Mike Modano is the only player in franchise history with more than Benn’s 1,252 regular-season games, 414 goals and 992 points. Benn has played in 126 postseason games, but the only time he has been to the Stanley Cup Final was when the Stars lost in six games to Tampa Bay during the 2020 postseason played in a bubble in Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Stars had made the Western Conference finals three seasons in a row before falling in six games to Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs this year.
“The goal is to win the Stanley Cup, and when you don’t do that, there’s an empty space, a little pit in your stomach where you have some fire to change things up for next year,” Benn said.
After missing this season’s first 19 games because of a punctured lung, Benn was out another three games in January with a broken nose. While 60 games were his fewest in a full 82-game regular season, he finished with 15 goals and 21 assists while playing just more than 13 minutes a game, a career low.
Robo will get a new contract
Leading scorer Jason Robertson can become a restricted free agent this offseason after the completion of the four-year, $31 million contract he got following a training camp holdout in 2022. The Stars and the forward who turns 27 on July 22 had said they would play out this season before negotiations on a new deal.
“I understand it’s a business on both sides, right? I’m optimistic, I hope,” Robertson said. “It’s not like what it was when I was 10 years old, getting to the NHL, anymore. It’s a business. I learned that four years ago.”
The Stars will retain negotiation rights for Robertson, and could match any offer he gets from another team, if they make a $9.3 million qualifying offer by June 29. He could become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Robertson was coming off a 41-goal season when he got his last contract. He has since played all 328 regular-season games, with 365 points in that span (155 goals and 210 assists). He and Wyatt Johnston each had 45 goals this season, and Robertson had a goal in each of the first five playoff games.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Tobias Harris #12, Jalen Duren #0 and Duncan Robinson #55 help up Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 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
If you love rock-em-sock-em wars, the last Detroit Pistons series was for you. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not as physical as the Orlando Magic. We may not get a Hagler-Hearns collision in Round 2, but Cleveland presents other challenges.
Cade Cunningham had his playoff coming-out party against the Magic. He will be the best player in this series too, and if his jumper continues to fall, he could play even better. There’s no doubt Jalen Duren wants to have a bounce-back series, and there are signs that he could.
JB Bickerstaff goes head-to-head with his former team. Of course, Cleveland has different schemes and players, but Bickerstaff should know Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley’s tendencies like the back of his hand.
Game vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: Peacock/NBC
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)
Analysis
The Cavaliers are coming off a grueling 7-game series with the Toronto Raptors. Toronto had the fifth-ranked defense in the regular season. They and Detroit play a similar brand of fly-around defense.
Detroit is the superior rim-protecting team and has better perimeter defenders. We saw how much trouble Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead gave the Cavs backcourt.
It’s not far-fetched to assume Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham, and the other stout perimeter defenders can make it tough for James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Detroit can make it tough, but that is still a lot of firepower. Harden or Mitchell are capable of getting it going after slow starts, so the attention on them cannot waver.
Mitchell in particular is due for a good series. He’s risen in the playoffs historically (27.8 PPG, 7th all-time), but he also has some stinkers. He’s a lot to handle when the shotmaking gets going, but if anybody can make him struggle in back-to-back series, it is Ausar.
Continuing to stay out of foul trouble will be major for the future Defensive Player of the Year. Ausar only had a 2.3 foul percentage (91 percentile) against Orlando compared to 7.4 (3rd percentile) against the Knicks last year. He is the defense-to-offense king, and staying out of foul trouble keeps him on the floor. They’ll need him for closer to 35 minutes per game. He may take some Harden minutes, and Harden is a historic foul drawer.
Harden will always have a dogged defender on his bumper. He may not have the burst he once had, but he is still a PnR maestro and a laser shooter. Harden makes the game easier for their bigs and role players. He can make every pass in the book, and the Cavalier shooters relish sharing the floor with him. Detroit cannot sag off this point guard as they did with Jalen Suggs.
Cleveland’s bigs were a bit more impressive than the guards in some pockets of the last series. Jarrett Allen had a double-double in the third quarter alone in Game 7. Mobley approached the series with more scoring aggression, and his long-range shot was falling (39% on 3.3 3PA).
It’s on Isaiah Stewart and Duren to take away their basketball spirit. We have seen Allen say the playoff lights were too bright. Mobley has disappeared in a series before. Granted Mobley was younger, but these Pistons are certainly the best paint-defense Allen and Mobley have seen on this stage. Take them away and force the guards to create vs a set defense.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland’s frontcourt is lengthier than Orlando’s, but they don’t play with the same physicality. Cleveland has not shown that they have crisp enough rotations to tag and grab Duren on every roll as Orlando did.
Duren may or may not be his regular-season self in this matchup, but Cleveland is more favorable than Orlando. There are two 7-footers in Cleveland, but maybe physicality can mitigate the height difference a bit. The PnR with Cade may be there a bit more since there is no Suggs flying around causing chaos.
Cade was the big man on campus last series. Orlando has more premier perimeter defenders than Cleveland. The Cavs’ go-to stoppers are Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson. Two very good defenders, but Cade has seen every type of coverage at this point and is a man on a mission. He is going to get his and be him in this matchup.
Role players
Daniss Jenkins found some much-needed rhythm in Game 7. Carry some of that over because Detroit’s offense is more lethal when he makes open shots. Duncan Robinson had highs and lows, but his shooting will be needed as Cleveland has snipers.
Sam Merrill is one of the best pure shooters in the series. He is a mover that the Pistons chasers cannot leave. Tyson only shot 35 percent from 3 vs Toronto, but he is not a role player who you dare to shoot either.
Cleveland has the shooting advantage all around. 42 percent of their playoff shots have been 3s compared to 33 percent for Detroit. Cleveland’s backcourt has off-the-bounce juice, and other role players like Max Strus hit shots. Detroit has a bit more self-creation from its role players.
Tobias Harris was cooking the Magic. He made pivotal shots and was a safety blanket for Detroit’s offense. Can he average over 20 points again? That is asking a lot, but if Duren and Jenkins are better, Detroit won’t be so dependent on its 15-year veteran. Harris will still be a bailout option and may have a favorable matchup if Cleveland elects to stick Mobley on Ausar so Mobley can roam.
Dennis Schröder is one of Cleveland’s self-creating role players Pistons fans know very well. He can be impactful if Kenny Atkinson presses that button. He only played about 14 minutes a game against Toronto, so it will be interesting to see how much run he gets against a team he helped in the offs last year.
Cleveland has the better offense, more star power, but questionable basketball character. Detroit has the defensive infrastructure to do even better than Toronto and an MVP-caliber first option (Barnes was amazing, but Cade is a different animal).
Detroit should view the Cavs as punkable. Bickerstaff had a front row seat to those Cavs postseason flameouts. He knows how and why his former players shrank.
The game plan devised will note every single micro detail on guys like Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen. Film already shows you players’ tendencies, but being with players for over two years reveals tendencies that film can’t show.
The Magic started strong, punching Detroit in the nose in Game 1. The Pistons cannot let that happen again against a team with more firepower. Set the tone early and hold down homecourt. You won 60 games for a reason.
As much as a wake-up call, Cade Cunningham needed to get his lungs back. A collapsed lung is obviously nothing to take lightly, and missing three weeks at the end of the regular season certainly cost Cunningham some cardiovascular health.
But as any endurance athlete would tell you, their lungs can get back into shape after only a week or two of work following some inactivity. It is the blessing of all the preceding training.
Cunningham opened the series against the Magic shooting an ugly 42.4% from the field and 28.6% from deep through four games. No wonder the Detroit Pistons trailed 3-1 in that series.
Cunningham closed the series shooting 54.1% from the field and 11-for-18 (61.1%) from deep in the final three games. No wonder the Pistons swept those games. Cunningham averaged 36.3 points in those three games, desperation the mother of innovation, but also boosted by sheer health.
With his lungs back, don’t bet against Cunningham anytime soon.
Game 1 Prop #2: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
+105 at bet365
For a veteran who averaged 8.5 rebounds this season and 9.2 across his career, this is a modest rebounding prop, right? Yet, Jarrett Allen fell short of this number in five of the seven games the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to get by the Raptors.
And now Allen faces a superior rebounding team, one that emphasizes the offensive glass, one that is significantly bigger than Toronto.
Jalen Duren should make Allen’s life miserable in this series, a harsh truth for Cleveland’s future beyond this month.
Game 1 Prop #3: Tobias Harris Over 17.5 points
+102 at bet365
Not to try to give the Magic more credit than they are due, but their injured roster most of the season obscured their defensive possibilities. It was clear once it was healthy in April, that was a defense to worry about.
Cleveland’s defense is not. From the All-Star Break to the end of the regular season, the Cavaliers’ defensive rating sat at No. 18 in the NBA. None of the 12 teams behind the Cavs made the playoffs proper.
Even the shorthanded Magic sat at No. 12 in that stretch.
Tobias Harris cleared this prop in the last five games of the series against Orlando. Even in the first two, he scored 17 and 16 points. He should, quite frankly, feast against a lackluster defense like Cleveland’s.
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RALEIGH, N.C. — Rick Tocchet got the response he wanted from his Philadelphia Flyers. Rod Brind’Amour had reason to be frustrated with his Carolina Hurricanes taking too many penalties, disrupting their preferred 5-on-5 rhythm.
And yet, the Hurricanes still are unbeaten in the NHL playoffs, thanks to a comeback from their first deficit of the postseason and a gritty-effort overtime winner from Taylor Hall.
Carolina’s 3-2 win gave the Eastern Conference’s top seed a 2-0 lead in the second-round series, coming after an uphill climb with the Flyers getting to their game much more effectively than in the series opener to build some confidence as the series shifts to Philadelphia.
“We don’t quit. I think we’ve shown that all year,” said Carolina winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who had a goal and assisted on the tying score in the third period. “If we keep playing the right way and keep putting a lot of pressure on their players, every single shift, we will get back to playing some pretty good hockey and creating a lot of turnovers, a lot of good chances.
“You want adversity. We had that in the Ottawa series as well, because it’s going to happen again. And now we know what we need to do for the next time it happens.”
Carolina swept that first-round series against the Senators and never trailed. That series started with a home shutout and then a 3-2 double-overtime win in Game 2. The Hurricanes started this series in similar fashion, first with a Game 1 shutout and then another 3-2 win in extra time on Hall’s score at 18:54 of OT.
The Flyers host the next two games in the best-of-seven series.
The Hurricanes had at least one clear area to clean up: penalties. Carolina committed eight — two for delay of game for putting pucks over the glass, one for too many men on the ice — and had a steady line of players heading to the penalty box.
The penalty kill was good enough to hold Philadelphia to a 1-for-7 showing, pushing Carolina to 30 for 32 (.938) this postseason. Brind’Amour, however, said the rash of penalties “kills your team, kills your momentum, kills everything.”
“We’re taking too many,” the coach said. “The ones that are self-inflicted for me — the over the glass, little tic-tac ones — you’ve got to avoid these. Too many men. We’ve had too many of those here. We’ve gotten away with it, because we’ve been able to kill it. But it’s not how you draw it up.”
As for Tocchet, the latest loss offered a welcome sign of pushback after Game 1, which left the Flyers coach talking about the need for his players to react quicker against Carolina’s aggression and speed, as well as to carry the puck more into the tough areas of the ice.
“Mentally and physically I just thought we had more energy, and I think we believed that we can compete with this team,” Tocchet said.
Philadelphia did that early, with Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scoring in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers. And they outshot Carolina 15-8 in overtime to carry that competitiveness to the end despite playing again without injured regular-season goals leader Owen Tippett.
Yet this one ended with Hall hopping to his feet after being knocked to the ice by Denver Barkey as Hall charged toward the crease, then grabbing a loose puck kept alive by Jackson Blake to slip it past Dan Vladar’s left skate for the winner.
That pushed Carolina to a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series for the 10th time in the Hurricanes’ eight-year playoff run under Brind’Amour. Carolina has won eight of the previous nine, the outlier being a seven-game loss to the New York Rangers in the 2022 second round.
Then again, the Flyers became the first NHL team to make the playoffs after being 10 points out with 22 or fewer games remaining, securing Philadelphia’s first postseason appearance since 2020. Then the Flyers beat Pittsburgh in six games in the first round.
“Just the belief in the room, I think that really helps,” Tocchet said. “The belief in the room of just staying with it. And we’ve been dead before, and we’ve climbed out of the grave. We keep hearing we’re dead and dead, but the guys won’t give up. So that’s why I’m proud of them.”
Listen to Orlando front office president Jeff Weltman and it sounds like the Magic are going to run it back with the same core — including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — next season and bet on better coaching and better health to get them to the top of the East.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Magic's head coaching search. Who is going to step into Jamahl Mosley's shoes and get this team both out of the play-in and the first round? What are the Magic looking for in their next coach? A creative offensive mind? Playoff experience? Weltman wouldn't be pinned down when talking to reporters (quote via Jason Beede at the Orlando Sentinel).
"I don't think we look for a particular trait or a quality. Coaches come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Someone that kind of looks at our team in the way that we feel can help move us forward. Obviously someone who understands where we are on our timeline, that we've kind of tried to get past the growth stages of the rebuild. … I don't have a box to say that we want the next coach to come out of this sort of box."
A few names have surfaced in league circles, though this is all speculation, as Weltman and company have not formally begun interviews.
Here's a quick look at some of the top candidates.
Billy Donovan
This is the name on everyone's lips in league chatter, the guy who seems the best fit for both sides. Donovan left Chicago looking for something different and a team playing in meaningful games, and the Magic are that (a team that was up 3-1 in the first round on Detroit but could not close the door). Donovan also is well-liked by players (which matters after the issues between Mosley and Paolo Banchero), and he got the most out of limited rosters he was handed in Chicago.
There is a bit of a complicated history between Donovan and the Magic. Back in 2007, Donovan did not have a contract extension at the University of Florida, where he had won two national titles, and he was eyeing the NBA. Donovan agreed to leave and become the Magic's new head coach, and on June 1st he signed his contract and was introduced to the media as the guy about to turn things around in Orlando. Then he got cold feet, or realized this was not a situation he liked, or something happened and he asked out. Six days later, the Magic released Donovan from his contract, and he returned to Florida. That's almost 20 years ago and everything is different now, that incident shouldn't impact this one, but it hangs out there.
Tom Thibodeau
The former Bulls/Timberwolves/Knicks head coach wants back in the game and Orlando may be interested, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
League sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. The Magic's defense fell off sharply last season, Thibodeau would turn that around. He's another coach who tends to get the most out of his teams, although his offense has been best when heavy with isolations/pick-and-rolls for a star guard (Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson). Thibodeau's short rotations and heavy minutes for starters can wear down key players, and the Magic just went through an injury-filled season.
Darvin Ham
The former Lakers' head coach and longtime Bucks assistant has been linked more to New Orleans, but he is a name coming up for every head coaching job now, it seems.
Ham did not do as bad a job as Lakers fans would have you believe. He was 90-74 (.549 winning percentage) in the regular season, and his teams made the playoffs both years, reaching the Western Conference Finals one year, but were always eliminated by Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. That said, Ham the head coach was not very flexible with systems and could get stuck in a rut, trusted certain players even when it was clear it was not working, and his playoff adjustments were lacking and often fell back on "play harder." Is he, like many coaches, better the second time around, having learned some lessons?
Dusty May
You can strike this off the board. Marc Stein at The Stein Line reported that "sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan's Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available."
Except, coming off a national championship with the Wolverines, nobody thinks May is leaving Ann Arbor. If, for some reason he did decide to jump to the NBA now, May would have interest from Portland, Chicago and New Orleans as well, there is no assurance he would head to Orlando. Still, it's just far, far more likely he isn't going anywhere.
Other names to watch
• James Borrego. He was the interim coach in New Orleans much of this past season and has done a good job considering the roster and injuries. However, Pelicans' management is looking more outside the organization. He's a very creative offensive mind.
• Terry Stotts. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers coach got a lot out of the Blazers in the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum era. He's spent the past two seasons on Steve Kerr's bench with the Warriors.
• Sam Cassell. The popular former player has been an assistant coach for years around the league and has been at the front of the "he should get a head coaching job" line for years. Could the Magic give him the chance?
LAS VEGAS — Ivan Barbashev and the Golden Knights played on after a disputed no-call, and his goal off a terrific pass from Pavel Dorofeyev with 4:58 left put Vegas ahead for good in its 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of their second-round playoff series.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference series is in Las Vegas.
Barbashev took advantage after officials did not call icing, which didn’t sit well with Ducks coach Joel Quenneville. It was Barbashev’s pass from behind the red line to teammate Jack Eichel, who was battling Anaheim’s Jackson LaCombe for the puck, that linesman Bevan Mills waved off for icing.
Officials declined to comment to a pool reporter.
“Clearly, I disagreed with the call,” said Quenneville, who said he did not receive an explanation from the officials. “Their guy stopped skating, which really made me annoyed.”
Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said he couldn’t see the play from his spot behind the bench. Barbashev kept skating once no call was made as Ducks players appeared to slow up.
“I tried to put the puck deep and I thought I saw Jack on the far side going deep and I thought for a second he (beat LaCombe) and that’s why they waved it off,” Barbashev said. “Jack put pressure on him, they turned it over and Pav made a great play.”
Vegas’ Brett Howden extended his goal streak to a career-best four games, his fifth during that span. Mitch Marner, who assisted on Howden’s goal early in the second period, added a 162-foot empty-net goal with 6 seconds left, and Carter Hart stopped 33 shots for the Golden Knights.
Mikael Granlund scored for Anaheim, and Lukas Dostal made 19 saves.
The Golden Knights prevailed despite being outshot 34-22.
“They were the better team tonight,” Tortorella said. “I thought as the game went on, we started finding our game, but we couldn’t find it completely. ... It’s a find-a-way league. We found a way to win, and I’m certainly not going to apologize for the win.”
Vegas’ penalty kill continued to shine, extending its stretch to 14 straight without giving up a goal by keeping the Ducks off the scoreboard on four chances. Anaheim converted 8 of 16 power plays in the first round against Edmonton. The Golden Knights are 19 of 20 on penalty kills.
Golden Knights center William Karlsson, out since sustaining a lower-body injury Nov. 8 against the Ducks, returned to the lineup. The crowd roared when Karlsson was shown on the video board after taking the ice less than three minutes into the game.
The Ducks dominated the early action, outshooting Vegas 11-6 in the first period and then controlling the puck to open the second. But the Golden Knights scored first with their first shot on goal in the second when Marner made a pinpoint pass from the right circle to Howden, who scored easily from the left side of the net.
It didn’t appear the lead would last long when Ducks top-line center Leo Carlsson made a dazzling spin move to set up LaCombe with an an open net. LaCombe, however, inexplicably passed up the shot for a pass, and the Golden Knights avoided what appeared would be a sure Ducks goal.
Just as time was starting to run out on the Ducks in the third, they didn’t waste their next opportunity. LaCombe made up for his previous gaffe by walking in on Hart before delivering a pass to Granlund, who was open in the right circle and scored at 13:57.
The tie didn’t last long, with Dorofeyev passing to Barbashev to put the Golden Knights ahead 2-1 just 65 seconds later.
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: The Braves 
Cade Cunningham
Jarrett Allen