Like so many deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic, the Mets roster carousel continued Tuesday.
Lefty A.J. Minter and Jared Young returned from IL stints, and Eric Wagaman was called up from Triple-A Syracuse.
Gone are outfielders Tyrone Taylor (placed on the 10-day IL with a right hip flexor strain) and Nick Morabito (optioned to Syracuse) and right-hander Jonathan Pintaro (also optioned to Syracuse).
The Mets activated left-handed reliever A.J. Minter off the injured list on Tuesday. Bill Kostroun/New York PostTyrone Taylor has been sidelined. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Mets will need to make a 40-man roster move to add Wagaman, whose contract was selected from Syracuse.
Young — out since last month with a torn meniscus — had provided a solid left-handed bat off the bench prior to the injury, while Morabito, ranked the organization’s 11th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, was 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 16: The Nike batting gloves of Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves are seen during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 16, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The stage is set for both teams in game one.
The Atlanta Braves, who’ve struggled on offense during their last series against the Washington Nationals and dropped the series, are looking to have a full turnaround in their matchup against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. Spencer Strider will be taking the mound in hopes of topping his season-high strikeout rate (nine) from his last outing against the Miami Marlins across his sixth innings on May 21st.
Notice anyone at the DH spot? That’s right, Manager Walt Weiss has placed Eli White in the spot, shifting from the outfield and making hitting his main focus of the night.
All of the Redsox hitters have less than four at-bats against Strider, but the only numbers marked for production were from Wilson Contreras, who recorded two RBIs with a .500 OPS. Their experience is pretty limited with a healthy Strider on the mound, but with his high number of walks (12) he’s recorded since his return this month, that could be their main opening if their offensive woes continue to last.
Against Boston’s Ranger Suarez, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley have seen their on-base production fare well above .900. They will need to keep that stature and get the remainder of the offense to produce behind Strider if they want to set the tone for the series.
Tarik Skubal took another significant step toward his return Tuesday, throwing live batting practice at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 26. Skubal simulated 2 2/3 innings by throwing 39 pitches, according to reports. He struck out three and gave up a home run.
That was a welcome sight for a Tigers team that is struggling without their ace.
It's been just three weeks since the two-time Cy Young Award winner had elbow surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow. His recovery and rehab have moved at an unprecedented pace, thanks in part to a new NanoNeedle technology.
Tuesday was Skubal’s scheduled “start day” in his five-day progression back to the mound. His last outing was a bullpen session, during which he threw his full repertoire, A.J. Hinch told reporters.
The Tigers manager said that Skubal was ready to throw to hitters Tuesday morning on his weekly SiriusXM spot. He said that it could be a short sim game.
Skubal has been careful not to get ahead of himself. “I don’t know in the history of the game if there’s been a surgery 15 days ago and I’m throwing a one-inning hypothetical start,” Skubal said last week. “I want to be back as fast as possible. I also want to be healthy.”
While Skubal will need more time before he can rejoin the Tigers’ rotation, Hinch sidestepped a question about a traditional minor league rehab when asked on SiriusXM. He just indicated that Skubal will need "a rehab" to be built up enough to give the Tigers volume when he returns.
Hinch also emphasized that no step will be skipped and Skubal will not be rushed.
The Tigers, however, desperately need him back.
Skubal is one of three sidelined Detroit starters, along with Casey Mize and Justin Verlander. The Tigers are 20-31, 9.5 games behind the Central Division-leading Cleveland Guardians and the owner of baseball’s worst record in May.
Before surgery, Skubal had been pitching like himself. He had a 2.70 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and a 45-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 43 1/3 innings in seven starts.
If you want to go deep in the NBA Playoffs, you'd better bring some quality contributors off the pine.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship blueprint contains plenty of points from the bench, and prediction markets like Kalshi are offering markets on whether OKC’s bench will outscore the San Antonio Spurs' reserves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
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Pick: Thunder bench to outscore Spurs bench — Yes
-245 at Kalshi
San Antonio bench
Key Reserves
Dylan Harper (13.3 ppg in postseason)
Keldon Johnson (8.1)
Luke Kornet (5.1)
The San Antonio Spurs are much more dependent on their starting lineup, especially so in the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs bench was logging more than 17 minutes per game for an average of 35.1 points in the first three rounds, but that has tightened to 13.3 minutes/23.5 points in the past four games.
De’Aaron Fox’s absence in the first two games of the series had San Antonio leaning hard into the starting five, but blowouts the past two games have left head coach Mitch Johnson to give his reserves more run. Game 4 finished with 30 points from the bench — a team-high for the series.
Game script for tonight calls for a closer contest, which means San Antonio leans on its starters.
Guard Dylan Harper is the only reserve averaging more than 20 minutes per game in the postseason (25.7). He’s logged less floor time in the past two outings with Fox back while lumbering through an adductor injury.
The Spurs’ starters have outscored the Thunder’s starting five by almost 32 points over the first four games, and we do see a decrease in minutes and a near five-point dip from the reserves when the team hits the road in the tournament.
Oklahoma City bench
Key Reserves
Alex Caruso (10.3 ppg in postseason)
Jared McCain (8.8)
Jaylin Williams (4.7)
The X-factor for this prediction market could be Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams. He’s sat out the past two games after reaggravating a hamstring injury early in Game 2, and is listed as questionable for Game 5.
Should Williams sit out, an already thin bench for the Thunder gets thinner due to Ajay Mitchell’s absence (out with calf injury). Cason Wallace has moved into the starting lineup in place of Williams, leaving Alex Caruso, Jaylen Williams, and Jared McCain as the biggest contributors off the bench.
The support staff slumped last time out, shooting a collective 25.5% for a combined 34 points in Game 4. The bench took 27 of 47 shots from beyond the arc with OKC trailing big on Sunday, making only five of those long-range attempts.
However, Oklahoma City’s reserves have been awesome overall, and topped the postseason with 42.9 average points in 20.2 minutes per game off the pine before Game 4.
I expect them to tighten up with a return home, where the reserves connect at a 44.6% clip during the playoffs. Even with Williams likely out, which depletes the bench, OKC’s “other guys” will continue to contribute.
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 Carolina Hurricanes have a chance to grab full control of the series tonight, while the Montreal Canadiens look to avoid falling into a nearly impossible 3-1 hole at the Bell Centre.
My Hurricanes vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks expect another wide-open, offense-driven matchup, with the total pushing Over 5.5 goals on Wednesday, May 27.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 4 prediction
Who will win Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 4?
Hurricanes: Carolina has generated 67.8% of the expected goals and 67.3% of the shot attempts since the first period of Game 1, and if Montreal begins to sell out to create more chances, the Habs will be all the more susceptible defensively to the Hurricanes’ counterattack.
Montreal netminder Jakub Dobes can only shelter the Carolina storm for so long.
A more aggressive Montreal attack leaves the Habs defensively vulnerable, which will also position Jakub Dobes to be all the more susceptible to the pending statistical correction to his unsustainable 3.63 goals saved above expected during the series.
So, with Carolina starter Frederik Andersen allowing -2.65 GSAx with a confidence-shattering .804 save percentage, I’m anticipating the total soaring Over the number in Game 4 and would bet it to -125.
As a result, I’m targeting Caufield to snap out of a mini-scoring funk consisting of just a single goal across the past five games despite recording a team-high eight high-danger scoring chances.
Additionally, while Suzuki has put up a solid 1.9 assists per 60 minutes in the playoffs, he’s still lagging below his elite 2.53 mark during the regular season.
Hurricanes vs Canadiens SGP
Over 5.5
Cole Caufield anytime goal
Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists
Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 4 goal scorer pick
Andrei Svechnikov (+210)
Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov scored in Game 3 and still has statistical correction coming in the goals department with his 5.6 shooting percentage during the playoffs lagging well behind his 11.1 career mark during the regular season. He continues to see go-to offensive minutes on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit, and Svechnikov has recorded an impressive 5.08 individual expected goals and 16 high-danger scoring chances through 11 games. I’d back the Russian to score down to a +200 price.
Hurricanes vs Canadiens odds for Game 4
Moneyline: Carolina -155 | Montreal +130
Puck Line: Carolina -1.5 (+170) | Montreal +1.5 (-210)
Over/Under: Over 5.05 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)
Hurricanes vs Canadiens trend
The Carolina Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 25 games (+13.50 Units / 33% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 4
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QUE
Date
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, CBC
Hurricanes vs Canadiens latest injuries
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The Knicks' road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been quite the journey.
The Knicks’ road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been quite the journey.
They have won 11 straight games — completing series sweeps of the Sixers and Cavaliers, respectively — en route to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
They did it behind the leadership of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, crowned the Eastern Conference finals MVP by a unanimous vote, after some doubted that he could be a No. 1 option on a championship team.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, center, holds the MVP trophy after Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, Monday, May 25, 2026. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs, the Knicks have outscored their opponents — Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — by a total of 262 points, the best point differential across 11 games during any point in NBA history, regular season or playoffs, according to ESPN.
The Knicks has defeated their opponents by 23.8 points per game dating back to Game 4 of their first-round series against the Hawks.
The Knicks’ shooting prowess throughout the playoffs has been a combined effort from their starters — Brunson, wings Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and center Karl-Anthony Towns — and the sharpshooting Landry Shamet off the bench.
All five of the Knicks’ starters scored in double digits in at least three of four games in their conference finals series against Cleveland.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots against Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals playoffs series in Cleveland. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the 76ers during Round Two Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images
Brunson averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game against Cleveland, while shooting 48.7 percent overall in the conference finals.
Shamet has shot 64 percent during New York’s 11-game win streak and a record 92 percent from deep in the conference finals.
The Knicks are also 6-0 on the road in this unbeaten streak.
They now have nine days off before the NBA Finals begin June 3, and will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Western Conference finals is tied at 2-2 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5.
After cashing my first profitable MLB player props piece here, I'll look to keep the momentum rolling as a few familiar faces grab my attention tonight.
Byron Buxton, Munetaka Murakami, and Kyle Schwarber all find themselves in prime spots to do damage at the dish, so let’s dive into why each of them could be in for big evenings on Tuesday, May 26.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Byron Buxton
Over 1.5 total bases
-110
Kyle Schwarber
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-107
Munetaka Murakami
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-109
Byron Buxton Over 1.5 total bases (-110)
Boots will be grounded for me this evening and I need some action while I suck down a few polish dogs with extra onions.
Twins star Byron Buxton may be the best bat to back on the Southside tonight, as he takes on right hander Sean Burke, who has been getting crushed by right-handed hitters over his last few outings.
The last 30 right-handed hitters Burke has faced own a 14.3% barrel rate with just a 4.8% ground ball rate, while opposing hitters are elevating the ball 95.2% of the time. Those hitters also sport a .387 xBA, .726 xSLG, and .424 xwOBA during that span.
Buxton owns 85.5% arsenal coverage against Burke, while also elevating the ball well over his last 10 games. During that stretch, he owns a 55.2% hard-hit rate and 20.7% barrel rate.
This marks the Twins outfielder’s 36th elite rating on the road. In the previous 35, he has cleared this prop 51.43% of the time and homered 25.71% of the time as well. Of course, I sprinkled on his home run prop.
Overall, Buxton has recorded 2+ bases in six of his last 10 elite-rated spots.
As always, I’m looking out for the “I do not pay juice” crowd. If you are not a fan of laying the -110 here, sprinkle on Buxton’s double and home run props instead. The only way you are losing those is if he triples or strings together multiple singles, plus you are getting a far better number.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, CHSN
Munetaka Murakami Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-109)
Double dipping tonight as I enjoy two props from the nosebleeds.
The second play in a matchup I am all over features the most exciting player in the city of Chicago, Munetaka Murakami. Give me the Over on his hits, runs, and RBI prop set at 1.5.
The White Sox slugger enters tonight with an elite rating on Batters-Box. In 27 elite ratings this season, he has surpassed this prop 55.56% of the time. If you are looking to pair his hit with Byron Buxton’s, Murakami has also recorded a hit in 70.37% of those elite-rated matchups.
Murakami draws Twins right hander Joe Ryan this evening, giving him a great opportunity to take advantage of Ryan’s struggles against left handed hitters. The slugger owns a 1.141 OPS and .481 wOBA over his last 30 plate appearances against right handed pitching.
Ryan enters today with poorly rated matchup numbers in ISO and ground ball rate, giving one of the most dangerous hitters in the White Sox lineup a chance to elevate and drive the ball tonight.
Sprinkle the home run for some extra fun!
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, CHSN
Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-107)
Kyle Schwarber enters today with the highest rating in this matchup, marking his 241st elite rating over the last three years. During that span, he has cleared this prop in 54.17% of those elite ratings.
No different on the road, where he has gone over this number 52.83% of the time across 106 elite ratings.
Despite the slight cold streak following an illness, Schwarber is still making 58.3% hard contact with a 25% barrel rate and just a 16.7% ground ball rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
The slugger draws Padres right hander Randy Vasquez, against whom he owns 57.7% arsenal coverage.
The 27-year-old starter has been giving up plenty of hard contact lately and allowing left-handed hitters to elevate the ball at a high clip. During that stretch, he owns just a 36% ground ball rate allowed, while lefties are making 46% hard contact with a 10% barrel rate against him.
If you are willing to lay roughly -160, you can take Schwarber’s hit prop. But from a value standpoint, I think this is the better play.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, Padres.TV
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 158-276-24, +2.7 units
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.
Tickpick announced in the immediate aftermath of the Knicks' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers that Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden are "the most expensive NBA Finals tickets on record." The secondary ticket marketplace app said get-in prices at that point were $3,745 for Game 3 and $3,464 for Game 4.
Those price ranges are holding and even increasing into Tuesday, with the cheapest Game 3 ticket on Stubhub as of 2 p.m. ET set at $4,273. And that's just to sit in the upper deck. It'll cost more to sit in the lower bowl, and a small fortune to be really close to the action.
On Tuesday, there were two courtside tickets on Stubhub listed at $107,103 and $101,748. There was no seat listed in the 100 level of Madison Square Garden for less than $6,000. Sports business reporter Darren Rovell reported the first two courtside seats for the NBA Finals were actually sold on Stubhub on Sunday – before the Knicks clinched the Eastern Conference finals – for $279,804.
The good news for Knicks fan is there is still an opportunity to buy face value tickets to the NBA Finals through the franchise's Knicks Fan First program. Fans who register by Tuesday, May 26 at 11 p.m. ET will have the opportunity to purchase Knicks' NBA Finals tickets before the general public.
The Knicks haven't won an NBA championship since 1973, and their postseason run this year has been punctuated by raucous watch parties around the city and famous fans like Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, Tracy Morgan and Jimmy Fallon joining the ever-present Spike Lee courtside at many playoff games.
The NBA Finals will begin on Wednesday, June 3 with the Thunder or Spurs hosting the first two games of the series by virtue of having home-court advantage. The Knicks host Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on June 8 and then play Game 4 inside the World's Most Famous Arena on June 10.
Game 6 of the NBA Finals would also be held in New York on June 16 if the best-of-seven series were to reach that point. The get-in price as of Tuesday was also more than $4,200.
Feb 12, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the second half at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
When the offseason rolls around, the internet starts doing some wild things. People get bored. They spend a little too much time in the trade machine. The results can be nothing short of horrifying. Practical thought leaves the body like a soul departing, and what we’re left with are some truly ridiculous trades.
That’s part of the offseason’s oversaturation. Podcasts need topics, national outlets need content, and fans want something to debate. Everybody starts trying to justify bad ideas in the name of conversation.
Mission accomplished, I guess. Because I’m here to take a look at a cpuple of the absolutely absurd trade proposals floating around recently. And these aren’t coming from your local podcast. This isn’t me hopping on Suns JAM Session and tossing out a random hypothetical. No, these are from major national media outlets, and some of them are downright comical.
So let’s go ahead and take a look at a few of the more ridiculous trade ideas making the rounds.
ESPN: Suns trade for Ja Morant
This one comes to us from ESPN, who put together six trades exploring where Ja Morant could ultimately land.
Phoenix Suns get:
Memphis Grizzlies get:
Ja Morant
Grayson Allen
Royce O’Neale
Haywood Highsmith
Jamaree Bouyea
2029 second-round pick
2032 second-round pick
This is a beautifully ridiculous trade.
The Suns would give up four players and two picks for Morant, and I’ve already expressed numerous times how I feel about him as a potential member of the Phoenix Suns. His addition goes against everything Phoenix tried to build this past season, and once you factor in the availability concerns and missed games, it becomes even harder to justify.
What might be the most absurd part of the entire thing, though, is what Bobby Marks notes:
The Suns overachieved last season, and they now are faced with the choice of relying on the same roster or making an aggressive trade for a player such as Morant. Because the Suns would be taking back more salary in the trade, it would hard cap them at the first apron. The restriction could put them in a position to lose free agents Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin.
So by this logic, the Suns would add Ja Morant to pair in the backcourt with Devin Booker. Jalen Green would still be on the roster, too, meaning three-guard lineups become the norm. Yay!
And that’s where this thing really starts to fall apart. Phoenix would not only be hard-capping itself, but they’d also be knee-capping themselves when it comes to depth. They wouldn’t be able to go over the first apron at $209 million, so once again you’re piecing together the bench with a collection of veteran minimum players and hoping it works.
The viability of bringing back Gillespie, Goodwin, and/or Williams is practically out the window. Booker, Green, and Morant would account for $125.6 million of your cap, which is 76% of it. Oh, and you’re still giving up draft capital to make it happen, which chips away at your future flexibility too.
I’m sorry, this trade is completely unrealistic. It feels like an NBA 2K trade, where you jam assets together until it works for one side and completely ignore what it does to the other.
Vecenie: Malauch to the Hornets
A lot less inflammatory, still not rooted in reality, comes a suggestion from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, in which the Phoenix Suns would send out Grayson Allen and Khaman Maluach for Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner, or the 18th overall pick.
In the Phoenix Suns offseason preview on the Game Theory podcast, @Sam_Vecenie proposed a trade to acquire Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets:
➡️ HORNETS: Khaman Maluach, Grayson Allen ➡️ SUNS: Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner (or the 18th pick) pic.twitter.com/9J6qAuKO6E
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) May 25, 2026
Phoenix Suns get:
Charolotte Hornets get:
Miles Bridges
Grayson Allen
Ryan Kalkbrenner (or the 18th pick)
Khaman Maluach
My first thought when I see a trade like this is simple. Why would Phoenix want to do it?
This feels like something that benefits the Charlotte Hornets far more than the Suns. Charlotte gets more three-point shooting and, depending on how you view the prospects, arguably gets the better young center than the one they selected 34th overall a season ago.
And to be clear, I’m a fan of Kalkbrenner. I did a ton of research on him as a draft prospect last year when Phoenix owned the 29th pick. I thought he made a lot of sense at the time. He had a solid rookie season on a team that gave real opportunities to its young players.
That still doesn’t answer the bigger question. Why would you give up on Maluach this early in his career? And why bring in Bridges, another undersized power forward, on a roster that already needs to prioritize minutes for sophomore Rasheer Fleming?
Then there’s the pick. If the return is No. 18 overall, that’s not much of a trade-off. You’re essentially flipping Maluach, who was taken 10th overall a year ago, for the 18th pick. That’s hard to justify.
This one feels like creating a trade for the sake of creating a trade, then working backwards trying to make it sound reasonable.
I’m still waiting for one of the national pundits to cook up something that feels relevant, realistic, or at the very least includes Jalen Green. Because, quite honestly, he’s the biggest trade chip the Phoenix Suns possess right now. If Phoenix can somehow flip him into something that genuinely helps move the organization forward, whether that’s players, picks, or some combination of both, that’s the route I’d explore. At least from my perspective.
Until then, we watch and wait. That’s the offseason. Everybody starts throwing ideas at the wall, hoping one sticks. National outlets keep the content machine moving. Fans debate every hypothetical like it’s already on the transaction wire.
My guess? None of these mock trades happen. Phoenix has been pretty transparent about wanting to stay measured this summer, and the organization doesn’t feel like a team gearing up for a splashy offseason. Sometimes, the loudest part of the offseason is the internet. The actual moves tend to be a lot quieter.
The margin for error is extremely slim with the Western Conference Finals down to a best-of-three series heading into Game 5.
That pressure, however, produces a big fat-ass barrel of NBA betting fun when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.
My Spurs vs. Thunder same-game parlay for Game 5 adds that enjoyment, at least if you're siding with San Antonio. I’m taking the visitor to cover the spread while getting long-range love from its long and lanky center.
The injury report is not looking good for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re potentially down two key guards, which has forced star scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to carry more of a facilitator role instead of playing off the ball.
The San Antonio Spurs have done a great job keeping SGA out of rhythm on offense and OKC’s role players in check. This one comes down to the wire with San Antonio covering as a road dog: a role that’s produced an 11-6 ATS record this season.
SGP leg #2: Stephon Castle Over 4.5 rebounds
Stephon Castle sits second on the Spurs with 50 rebounding chances in the WCF, which have translated into 19 total boards. He’s snatched five or more rebounds in each of the first three games and while he had just three boards in Game 4, he was in position for 12 rebounding chances.
Projections sit as high as six rebounds tonight.
SGP leg #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes
Victor Wembanyama was more aggressive in his shot selection in Game 4, shouldering the scoring load inside and out. He attempted seven 3-pointers — making three — and has hit two or more triples in three of the four conference finals games.
San Antonio is being protective of his energy on defense, as it tries to save his legs for the offensive end. Wemby is forecasted for at least two 3-pointers in Game 5.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs. Thunder predictions for Game 5.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been in the crossfire of many commentators after this playoff run. His comments about analytics didn’t sit well with many, and the team also underperformed in several key moments — including during the Game 1 collapse against the New York Knicks. The coach is going to bear part of the blame when things go sideways like that.
Yet, his players haven’t lost faith in him. At least not publicly. So much so that their star player thinks it’s “hilarious” that Atkinson is receiving criticism for how things ended.
“We’ve done something that we haven’t done since 2018,” Mitchell said. “I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny, and ultimately that’s all that matters. I know he’s from Long Island, he don’t give a damn. … We’re in it together.”
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Mitchell wasn’t alone in this sentiment.
“He’s the ultimate player’s coach, he gets it, he understands his team,” James Harden said. “I think he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible.”
This was a tumultuous regular season for the Cavs. It could’ve gone sideways at many points, but it didn’t. Atkinson deserves some of the credit there. And he does deserve praise for helping the team win two playoff rounds.
At the same time, when things go as poorly as they did against the Knicks, there’s going to be criticism thrown his way. That just comes with the business. That, however, doesn’t mean he deserves the most blame.
“It’s on us,” Mitchell said. “It’s definitely on us. It’s not on Kenny.”
After a dominant victory, sometimes you need a little something to wine-d down.
Josh Hart celebrated the Knicks’ sweep of the Cavaliers via a blowout 130-93 Game 4 victory by sipping on a glass of wine at his postgame press conference.
The Knicks’ do-it-all wing, donning a Knicks NBA Finals hat and an elegant outfit, took the podium to celebrate alongside his former Villanova teammates Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, as the triumvirate prepare for the Thunder or Spurs next week.
Josh Hart had a little something to take the edge off on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“I don’t think a switch flipped per se,” Hart said when asked about the 11-game win streak and turnaround after going down 2-1 to the Hawks in Round 1. “This is a selfless team.”
Hart joked when talking to the reporter that the person wasn’t allowed to ask questions because he was eating wings during the press conference.
“I see it, don’t say anything,” Brunson said when they both noticed the reporter eating wings.
“I know you don’t come in sucking your fingers,” Hart added as laughter erupted in the media room. “You got chicken wings. You supposed to be asking questions and you went and got chicken wings. Hell no. You don’t get nothing. Then wings are hitting though.”
Hart was benched during the Knicks 22-point comeback in Game 1, where the Cavaliers blew a massive fourth-quarter lead and eventually lost in overtime.
Josh Hart wears his NBA Finals hat with a wine glass. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Cleveland had no chance after that staggering collapse, as the Cavaliers struggled in the remaining three games and were eventually swept.
Game 2 was the Hart show, as he went 10-for-21 from the field and scored 26 points after being benched in favor of Landry Shamet the game prior.
Shamet shot an obscene 11-for-12 from 3-point range in the Conference finals, showing that this Knicks team doesn’t need any one person to carry them.
The Knicks will have to wait to learn their Finals foe, as the Thunder and Spurs have their heels dug into the sand in a 2-2 series.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles up the court against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the postseason draws closer to an end, the attention shifts toward the NBA Draft less than a month away. The Golden State Warriors, armed with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft, have multiple needs to address on their roster. With that in mind, here is a roundup of projected picks for Golden State from draft experts across the web:
One of the newer names linked to the Warriors is Arizona’s Brayden Burries. The 20-year-old guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a freshman while shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. He played in 39 games during his lone college season, helping lead the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance. Here is what ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel had to say about his fit with the Warriors:
If the Dubs do keep this pick, sources said the franchise will be prioritizing talents ready to play immediately during their rookie season. The Warriors do not want to run into another James Wiseman or Jonathan Kuminga situation with this draft pick. Brayden Burries is among several prospects the Warriors have been scouting and gathering more information on since the start of 2026, along with Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Karim Lopez, Nate Ament, Darius Acuff Jr., Hannes Steinbach, and Cameron Carr.
Burries has taken a major step up a lot of teams’ draft boards lately due to his high IQ, versatility on defense, and ability to wear multiple hats alongside star players. Golden State will still look to make a major upgrade this offseason, but sources say the team is comfortable with the idea of keeping this pick and setting up its future. If any player fits this description, it’s Burries, and coming from Arizona would make Steve Kerr happy.
Burries would be an intriguing addition to a Warriors team searching for a guard with reliable scoring and defense alongside Stephen Curry. He would also bring solid size and athleticism to their backcourt while helping Golden State get younger around its veteran core.
Arizona's Brayden Burries measured 6'3.75 barefoot and 215 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'6 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/6SV3jKaUQJ
54. Golden State Warriors – SG Emanuel Sharp – Houston, Senior
Emanuel Sharp was one of a handful of players the Warriors recently got a look at in a pre-draft workout featuring several second-round-rated prospects. At Houston, Sharp knocked down 309 threes in his career. The Warriors have always had a lot of luck drafting experienced collegiate shooters late in the second round, and Sharp could be yet another. Aaron Nkrumah, who was a standout at the NBA Draft Combine, is another player worth keeping an eye on for the Warriors in the second round of this year’s draft.
There’s no more appropriate place to start than with point guards Jalen Brunson and Stephen Curry, the latter of whom has been a mainstay in Tier 1 — until now.
Curry posted one of the worst assist-to-turnover ratios among starting point guards (1.68), his team has missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons and Golden State has been a top-five seed in the Western Conference only once since Kevin Durant left in 2019. Much of that has to do with the quality of Curry’s teammates. He is still a top-tier scorer, bending defenses with his movement and shooting threat. He still gets to the free-throw line like a star, averaging 5.1 attempts per game, and he continues to hold up defensively, averaging 1.1 steals per game. But his 3.6 rebounds per game were a 14-year low. If Curry played enough games to qualify, he would have led the NBA in made 3s at 4.4 per game. But he is 38 years old and missed nearly half of this season with a knee issue after suffering a hamstring strain in the 2025 playoffs.
Not even those 1972-73 Knicks can boast they were on the type of roll these Knicks are on. In the midst of an 11-game winning streak, they’ve outscored their opponents — Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — by a total of 262 points, the best point differential across 11 games during any point in NBA history, regular season or playoffs.
It’s easy to see how either Simons or Sexton would fit with the Warriors. Both players are excellent scorers who can also space the floor as shooters. They could lead Golden State’s offensive attack when Curry is out and seemingly fit in well alongside him as well. It’s a role that Jordan Poole excelled in with the team, especially in the 2022 championship run, and one that the team has been unable to fill since.
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Last week’s edition of Rangers Reacts asked folks about whether the 2026 Texas Rangers are meeting your expectations.
They are not:
I whopping 0% of you said the Texas Rangers are exceeding your expectations for 2026.
And perhaps most remarkably, this poll went up before the team was swept in Anaheim, and then no-hit by a collection of Bumpus Joneses in Astros uniforms.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: A detailed view of the court before the game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers aren’t wasting any time building out their front office.
During his exit interview, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said the franchise would hire two assistant general managers, and they have moved quickly to do so. On Monday, the franchise announced the hiring of an assistant general manager, naming former Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas to the position.
Now, it sounds like they’re quickly moving onto the other assistant GM spot and are targeting Philadelphia 76ers vice president of player personnel, Prosper Karangwa.
League sources also say that the Sixers remain hopeful that they can retain vice president of player personnel Prosper Karangwa as part of their revamped front office even though Karangwa has also drawn interest from the Los Angeles Lakers as well as Dallas.
League sources say that the Lakers has officially secured permission to speak with Karangwa while Dallas has not yet formally lodged that request, but Ujiri’s interest in bringing both Karangwa and Raptors executive Patrick Englebrecht is certainly anticipated. The Lakers have stated that they plan to hire two assistant general managers this offseason and already secured one of them by striking a deal with New Orleans Pelicans analytics ace Rohan Ramadas.
Dan Woike of The Athletic backed up that reporting later in the day on Monday as well.
Another name that I’ve heard connected with the Lakers over the last few days is Philadelphia 76ers player personal exec Prosper Karangwa.
It’s no surprise that Karangwa is a popular figure with plenty of teams wanting him in their front offices. He has plenty of basketball experience. He played professional basketball in France and after his playing days were done, he rose through the ranks with the Orlando Magic. He started as a scout back in 2012 and was promoted to the Director of College Scouting in 2016.
Karangwa’s been with the Sixers since 2020, when he was hired in his current role. Since 2021, he has also been the General Manager of the Sixers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. They won the G League championship under his leadership in 2023.
The Lakers getting permission to speak with him is a good sign that they are in the running for another quality hire from a basketball mind that’s well-regarded around the league and not already associated with LA.
This is in stark contrast to how the team was run under Jeanie Buss, where many hires had some connection to the franchise.
Lakers fans should be excited that the Lakers are overhauling their front office and infusing it with more brainpower from outside the purple and gold family tree.
If all goes well, perhaps Karangwa can join the Lakers, and they can have their two assistant general managers hired before the offseason fully kicks off with the NBA Draft and free agency.
Byron Buxton
Kyle Schwarber
Munetaka Murakami
