Colson Montgomery delivers his first career walk-off, lifting the Sox to a 3-2 win and a sweep of the Angels. | (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
If this felt like a game the White Sox had no business winning, that’s because for most of the afternoon, they didn’t. And then, in the end, they did anyway.
The Good Guys walked it off in extras, 3-2, completing the sweep of the Angels. Chicago finished the month with 13 wins. That’s not exactly cause for a parade, but it is their best April since 2021.
This afternoon’s victory wasn’t pretty, but it was resilient, and that was enough.
The offensive story for the first nine innings was simple: a lot of traffic, but no destination. The South Siders had no problem getting runners on base with seven hits and seven walks against Angels pitching, especially after Yusei Kikuchi exited early due to injury. They just couldn’t execute in the clutch.
They managed to scratch across their first run in the third. Chase Meidroth doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Miguel Vargas single. That should’ve been the start of something. Instead, it was a one-off. Munetaka Murakami walked, but Austin Hays hit into a double play, and Colson Montgomery lifted a fly ball out — opportunity gone.
The sixth inning was worse. Murakami walked again, Hays singled, then immediately got picked off thanks to a heads-up throw from Jorge Soler. Then, Montgomery hit a grounder that turned into a play at the plate, with Adam Frazier and Travis d’Arnaud combining to cut Murakami down. Will Venable challenged, hoping for a blocking-the-plate call. No luck. Call stands. Inning over.
By the seventh, it felt like the script was written. Walks from Jarred Kelenic and Antonacci went nowhere. Meidroth and Vargas couldn’t move them over. Another inning, another shrug.
Even in the eighth, facing a reliever with a 5.40 ERA, the Sox made Ryan Zeferjahn look like peak Mariano Rivera, striking out the side.
Down to their last outs in the ninth, it looked like more of the same, but the Good Guys had something left in the tank.
Tristan Peters wore a pitch. Kelenic struck out. Antonacci stepped in and ripped a triple down the right field line, scoring Peters and tying the game. Suddenly, life.
They couldn’t finish it there, of course. That would’ve been too easy. So, extras it was, where the Sox had already struggled this year, going 1-3 in bonus baseball.
But the bullpen gave them a chance. Bryan Hudson continued his quietly excellent season with a clean eighth. Tyler Davis helped erase trouble in the ninth, inducing a slick 6-4-3 double play. And Seranthony Domínguez stranded the ghost runner in the 10th without much drama.
That set the stage for the bottom of the 10th with Drew Pomeranz on the mound. The Angels, oddly, chose to load the bases the long way by intentionally walking Vargas, then unintentionally walking Murakami. A grounder from Hays cut down the runner at the plate. It seemed like another chance slipping away.
And up stepped Montgomery.
First pitch. No hesitation. Line drive to center. Ballgame.
First career walk-off for the “Monty Monster,” and honestly, it felt fitting. He’s been flashing power lately, and while this wasn’t a homer, it might’ve been louder.
White Sox starter Erick Fedde definitely did his part. He just didn’t get much help.
After retiring eight straight to open the game, he gave up a Mike Trout homer in the fourth to tie things, then another solo shot in the seventh to Vaughn Grissom that put the Angels ahead 2-1. That was it. The veteran’s final line: seven innings, five hits, two runs, no walks, six strikeouts. He deserved a win, but he still doesn’t have one. Maybe next time out.
Progress isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it looks like stranding runners all afternoon and still finding a way. They’ll take the sweep. They’ll take the momentum. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll take this version of themselves on the road to San Diego and see what sticks.
Apr 29, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (3) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Mariners 5, Twins 3
Checking down to first on a check swing: Cole Young, +0.56 WPA
Not checking down to first on a check swing: Luke Raley, -0.18 WPA
Jul 18, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
As it turns out, we now know exactly when Strider will be back on the mound for the Braves. He’ll be getting the ball for Sunday’s series-closer at Coors Field, where hopefully he’ll be pitching to help the Braves get a series win or even a sweep if all goes really well. Mark Bowman of MLB.com was the first to report the news.
As of right now, the plan is to have Grant Holmes go on Friday, Chris Sale pitch on Saturday and then have Spencer Strider go on Saturday. Walt Weiss has mentioned a few times now that setting the rotation is currently on a series-by-series basis and we now have some information on what Colorado series will look like as far as Atlanta’s starting pitching is concerned.
For Strider, this will be his first start in Colorado since making one of the initial starts of his career at Coors Field back in 2022. He went four innings with just two hits and one walk allowed with five walks but also five strikeouts as well. Strider also has that legendary 16-strikeout game against the Rockies in September 2022 as well. With that being said, there’s a pretty big difference between the 2022 version of Spencer Strider and the 2026 version, so this will certainly be an intriguing test to see how Strider can adjust in what’ll be a pretty solid test in his first start back. We’ll see what happens.
This marks his third stint with Linkopings. Hogberg had played a majority of his two seasons with Bridgeport after serving as Ilya Sorokin's backup in 2024-25 when Semyon Varlamov went down.
Hogberg played 31 regular-season games with BRI (12-13-6, 2.92 GAA, .898 SV%) this past season.
Here's a touching story from last season on why Hogberg left the NHL to begin with:
It was a bit of a shock when the New York Islanders announced on May 7 that they had signed goaltender Marcus Hogberg to a two-year deal.
The Islanders needed goaltending depth, but Hogberg had not played in the NHL since the 2020-21 season.
His stats over a three-year period with Linkopings HC in the Swedish Elite League were solid, but the NHL is a different animal.
What was likely intriguing to the Islanders was that Hogberg did have NHL experience, which does make a difference, playing three seasons with the Ottawa Senators (2018-2021), who drafted him in the third round (No. 78) in the 2013 NHL Draft.
In 42 games and 35 starts for Ottawa, Hogberg owned a 3.39 GAA with an .894 SV%.
Hogberg did not make the Islanders out of camp, and behind a shaky Bridgeport Islanders team, his numbers weren't stellar, posting a 3.26 GAA with an .898 SV% in 11 games.
But at the NHL level this season, Hogberg, the question mark, has turned into Hogberg, the answer, as he's done a magnificent job when called up in the absence of Semyon Varlamov.
Through four appearances this season and two starts, he's turned aside 76 of 80 shots he's faced for a .950 SV% and a 1.56 GAA.
Hogberg has now played 153 minutes for the Isles, allowing 4 goals on 80 shots for a 1.57 GAA & a .950 SV%. Both the GAA and save percentage are the best in Islander history for any goalie who played multiple games.
It makes you wonder. Why did Hogberg, at age 26, decide to return home to Sweden?
“I think it's everything, how I played in Ottawa and everything with my dad," Hogberg told The Hockey News.
Hogberg's father, Peter, had a brain tumor. Despite having surgery to remove it, his father sadly passed away shortly after.
"His surgery was right before COVID hit," Hogberg recalled. "I played a game -- I think it was like Detroit at home -- and then the day after, I flew back to Sweden to see my dad before surgery. And then he said, like, a day or two before surgery, ‘go back and play again. I want that'. So, that was nice that he chose what I should do.
"The surgery went well, but they said that it was like a really, really aggressive brain tumor. After that, we knew that my dad was not gonna live, and then Coronavirus came, and, of course, I got sick, so I didn't have time to go back."
After Hogberg left quarantine, he got on the first flight back to Sweden.
"He passed away the same day I traveled back to Sweden. So, that was tough," Hogberg shared.
As one can expect, losing his father made playing hockey ultra difficult.
"To lose my dad was really, really hard, and I was not myself," Hogberg said. "I didn't really talk about the feelings and how everything went. So, I think that's maybe why I didn't play like myself my last year in Ottawa.
"So we decided as a family to go back home, and I just tried to find myself again, not just on the ice but off the ice. So, I felt like being closer to my friends and my family and building myself up as a goalie again was the right decision. I'm really happy that we made that decision."
One can only imagine how proud his dad would be, seeing him not only get back to the NHL and continue to live his childhood dream but get back in the win column after he turned aside 21 of 22 shots in a spot start against the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night with Ilya Sorokin sick.
"I'm happy that he's always with me," Hogberg said. "I have his name on my helmet."
Hogberg's journey back to the NHL actually wasn't really up to him.
"I'm really happy that the Islanders reached out to me," Hogberg said. "Because it's just a good organization up here and also in Bridgeport. We get treated well and all that stuff. So, I'm really happy to be here.”
Hogberg also shared that the Islanders were the only team that reached out to him.
On Tuesday night, Hogberg will have a full circle moment.
With Sorokin still not feeling 100%, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy is turning to the 30-year-old against the team that drafted him.
"It's fun. I'm just going to try to enjoy the moment, be ready, and just have some fun," Hogberg said. "I was there for a couple of years, and I know some guys on that side still on the team, so it should be fun."
If Nikola Jokic is as tired as he has looked in this series, he should hardly be faulted. How much cardio work could the Denver Nuggets’ superstar really have done while sidelined with a knee injury for almost all of January?
When Jokic returned on Jan. 30, Jokic went on to play 33 of Denver’s final 34 games — and now he’s faced an exhausting defense five times in 10 days. That would wear anyone down.
Whatever the reason, Jokic hasn't scored more than 27 points in a game in this series, and with his 3-pointer looking rather broken at the moment — 6-of-31, 19.4%, in this series — expecting a scoring barrage from the three-time MVP would be misguided.
SGP leg #2: Nikola Jokic Under 9.5 assists (+105)
Usually, that would spark expectations of more playmaking, but that requires the Nuggets’ role players to rise to the occasion — and they’ve only done that twice in this series, both times at home.
The road atmosphere alone should lower hopes of Denver’s role players and thus dampen Jokic’s assist numbers.
See our full Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 6 preview
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Aug 4, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
There haven’t been a whole bunch of health issues with the Yankees this season, but the last few days haven’t been so kind. Jasson Domínguez, playing in just his third game of the season after being recalled to replace the injured Giancarlo Stanton as the team’s primary DH, was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers with a left elbow injury.
The Martian, who was getting a game in left field so that Aaron Judge could get a DH day, was taking his second at-bat in the fourth inning when an 89.1-mph cutter by Nathan Eovaldi ran in and hit him in the left elbow. Head athletic trainer Tim Lentych checked him, and he initially stayed in to take first base, but was immediately removed on defense for Max Schuemann in the bottom half of the inning.
The timing couldn’t be worse, as the Yankees designated Randal Grichuk for assignment this morning to recall rookie Elmer Rodríguez for today’s start. In the case that Domínguez needs to go on the injured list, it is technically possible for Grichuk to be re-added to the roster if he clears waivers, but that’s not guaranteed to be the course of action if needed.
Update
Jasson Dominguez left today’s game with a left elbow contusion. He was examined by Rangers Team Physician Dr. Evan. X-Rays were taken and further imaging is required in New York #yankees
Apr 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) celebrates win against the San Francisco Giants with first baseman Bryce Harper (3) and third baseman Alec Bohm (28) during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
You gotta admit, it’s a pretty impossibly clever design, with the moon “O” and a bit of a nod to silent film Le Voyage dans la Lune. No doubt it will make a snappy addition to your closet.
And remember, anything else you buy with our link, whether a Pirates mug or Yankees sweatshirt, gives South Side Sox a commission and helps us continue to provide the best coverage we can for you.
So go ahead a book your trip to the Mune, from South Side Sox and BreakingT!
(Every purchase you make with our link drops a few pennies in the jar here at South Side Sox, so a list of all our prior BreakingT collaborations follow, below. Yes, some of the designs are now hilariously outdated collector’s items. But most, if not all of these, should still be available, so click a link and see!)
This link takes you to this newest T-shirt, plus our entire line of White Sox wear!
While several members of the Chicago White Sox will need your votes for the July All-Star Game, fans are encouraged to punch the Robert/Jiménez ticket for a dominant South Side outfield all season long!
Whether you’re voting offense (what say, 70 homers among them?) or defense (Luis already has a Gold Glove, Eloy is … still alive), there’s no better campaign to get behind.
With everyone now aware that on his 23rd try, Minnie Miñoso was elected to the Hall of Fame. And Breaking T has commemorated the nickname that manager Paul Richards bestowed on Minnie almost immediately after his arrival on the South Side:
Celebrate the White Sox moments of your life with the entire Chicago W Collection at Breaking T, where you can peruse everything available. Or, if you want to read all my terrific catalog copy for each item, just scroll down and enjoy!
The White Sox indeed did make a free agent acquisition or two before the lockout, so it’s well past time to raise our glasses to the Legend himself: Leury Legend, that is.
He’s the longest-tenured current White Sox player, and when he’s done, he could well crack the list of all-time White Sox. Can you believe it? Welcome back, Leury!
To celebrate the division title for 2021, Breaking T offers two new T-shirt designs commemorating the feat:
Certainly, we hope there will be more than just a division title to enjoy over the next month or so, but we have to start somewhere!
Contrary to the cynics among you, we haven’t featured every Breaking T White Sox design here at South Side Sox, for various reasons. But I’ve never seen one more confounding than the José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez Sugar Skulls designs.
If you scroll down far enough, I think you can see the original Yasmani Grandal Breaking T piece, Yaz We Can, which I think was pretty clever and should have pulled a lot of fans in with purchases. It was definitely different, as far as Breaking T fare.
But I don’t remember it doing all that well, which was a shame. Maybe Yaz isn’t sexy. Walks aren’t, as someone on Twitter wants to tell you every day.
Yasmani really is the bad boy of the White Sox. He’ll snark you. He’ll roll his eyes. He’s not out to please anyone. He’s just gonna be a badass catcher who drops the bat after clocking one a mile, thank you very much.
In just his second game back after a season-long stint on the IL, Eloy Jiménez announced his presence in the White Sox lineup with authority, hitting a home run and providing whirling dervish defense in Tuesday’s win at K.C.
It’s great to have Eloy back with the club in any capacity, and him starring in just his second game back is extra sweet. Now you can wear that sweetness!
It was a quite a moment on Monday, seizing a win from the jaws of a doubleheader sweep. When you’re running away with a division, tension can seem manufactured, but Len Kasper gave us a classic moment that our own Joe Resis likened to A.J. Pierzynski’s walk-off against the Dodgers during the 2005 season. Listen to Len last night:
Here it is! @cleansheets24 hits a walk-off HR and @LenKasper loses his mind!
The White Sox just keep humming along, with great pick-me-ups from the most unlikely of places. Waiver-wire pickup Billy Hamilton has managed to become a core bench and spot-start piece for the club as it ascending in the AL Central, and the veteran made his defensive presence known, with authority, in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win at Minnesota:
You don’t usually expect to have to persuade your manager to defend his own player, but here we are. And in the Tony La Russa-Yermín Mercedes kerfuffle, we (and all of the White Sox players) are Team Yermín.
So is Breaking T, who’s issuing this “I’m Yermín” wear in solidarity with the rookie sensation:
Well, perhaps you’ve been waiting for a more “authentic” Yerminator T-Shirt, something more “as seen on TV.” Well, here you have it!
Terminator vibe? Check. Super cool uniform easter egg in the shades? Check. Money actually going to the players association to benefit minimum-salaried players like Yermín himself? Check.
It’s a sharp piece, with the clever use of accent mark, complete with high socks! (If only it was a warmer night, we’d have Rodón dressed in his full Grant Park 16´´softballer mode … #JulyGoalsForLos.)
As you well know, you don’t have to go 5-for-5 in your first MLB start or start a season 8-for-8 to merit a cool Breaking T shirt. But it doesn’t hurt!
Celebrate our Yermín Spring with The Yerminator, a delightful play off of everyone’s favorite killer robot-turned-sweet hero. Hoodies, Ts, we’ve got the gear.
Perhaps because he was injured for half of his first season, or he doesn’t have a snappy nickname yet, or he’s such a grinder he doesn’t lend himself to chest-emblazoned graphics, Nick Madrigal has to date missed the cut as a T-shirt subject.
To welcome our new, colorful closer, Liam Hendriks, Breaking T has gone positively Greek with the Australian, with Hercu-Liam!
Breaking T put together four great purchase options for Hercu-Liam, from petite to husky, winter bundling to summer sunning.
And click here to view everything in Breaking T’s White Sox collection in one spot.
Individual links below should get you to other White Sox products on site, including the Classic Collection that features the Ed Farmer and Mark Buehrle T-shirts.
To welcome our newest (and top WAR) starter into the rotation, Breaking T has drawn up some Lance Lynn-wear sure to please the bearded fan on your holiday shopping list, with Lynnsanity!
The big man is in town and ready to push the rotation toward a World Series!
I first got word of this shirt just as José Abreu was homering and singling in runs during the 2020 season.
And Breaking T’s hunch became reality, as José Abreu became the first White Sox MVP since Frank Thomas and only the fourth player, after Nellie Fox, Dick Allen and Thomas to win the award.
And peruse the rest of the collection below to add to your order and combine shipping.
Clubbing homers and scoring runs like there’s no tomorrow, the Chicago White Sox Murderer’s Row of Eloy Jiménez, José Abreu, Tim Anderson and Luis Robert is the subject of a new BreakingT shirt:
Some real nice details in this one: Each players’ expression, the gangster pinstripes, and the exotic player numbers among them. Grab one at BreakingT.
With Luis Robert not only staking his claim on AL Rookie of the Year but MVP, it makes sense that BreakingT is working overtime to present the best Panterawear out there.
Dig this supercool 1983 nod, which you can order here.
Looking for Luis Robert to assume his La Pantera form? BreakingT has you covered. Order here and celebrate the future MVP!
I’m digging the silhouette.
The 19th no-hitter in White Sox history is in the books, by none other than ace Lucas Giolito. So it’s time to celebrate the Gio No-No! It’s a quick, and slick, commemoration of an incredible, 101-pitch masterpiece, dated and suitable for a Gio auto!
Snag one here, and take a look at numerous other wonderful Breaking T offerings below.
So, it was bound to happen, but BreakingT is first on the scene to promote the latest dance party sweeping Soxdom: DANCING FOR DUBS
Featuring the boogie-down duo of Zack Collins and Danny Mendick, the T-shirt and/or hoodie is available in all sizes, so take a look now.
Running on speed and power, folded into the Change the Game platform, we’re now making these sweet Ts available so you can elect them to a six-year term lasting until 2026.
He’s only the hottest rookie — nay, the hottest player — in baseball heading into 2020.
So, BreakingT was watching ESPN on Sunday and said, “hey, that’s right, Tim Anderson speaks the truth: the preeminent sports network in America is sleeping on the White Sox again.”
All shapes and sizes are available, in T-shirt or hoodie.
Stay tuned for some excellent new merch dropping on Friday as well.
How about pairing it with the original classic?
Our best seller, the incomparable Tim Anderson neck-bow of STICK TALK!
BreakingT has a bunch of terrific ideas they’ve collaborated with us on for their newest designs in conjunction with the MLB Players Alumni Association. This one is, simply, Mister Perfect, commemorating Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009:
The first White Sox product from BreakingT’s Classic Collection was a beautiful tribute to our Ed Farmer:
Order it here. When you click on our link to buy, we will donate a portion of the proceeds we see from these shirt sales in Farmer’s name to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Foundation (support.pkdcure.org).
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Stephen Curry #30 celebrates with Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors after Curry had an assist to Payton II in the third quarter of their game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a down year for the Golden State Warriors in 2025-26. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody suffered devastating injuries to their knees. The Jonathan Kuminga situation lingered and festered for nearly a year. Brandin Podziemski alienated Warriors fans with his bravado, inconsistency, and lush, flowing locks. The team lost in a play-in game. And Steph Curry lost his title as Teammate of the Year.
New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan has been named the 2025-26 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year.
Presented annually since 2012-13, the award recognizes the player deemed the league’s best teammate, based on selfless play, leadership and commitment to the team. pic.twitter.com/dUi5J6O5Dv
Curry upped his scoring this season to 26.6 PPG but saw declines in rebounds, assists, and teammatery. While he is ineligible for other NBA honors due to the league’s 65-game requirement, that does not extend to the Twyman-Stokes Award. DeAndre Jordan played only 12 games for the New Orleans Pelicans. but he was apparently a great teammate to a 26-56 Pelicans team that relied heavily on two first-round rookies in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Plus, Jordan Poole was on the roster for an entire season and no punches were thrown!
Still, apparently voters don’t take wins and losses into account with the Teammate of the Year award anymore. They could have lost 56 games without DeAndre Jordan! But we guess the Twyan-Stokes Award doubles as a participation trophy now.
Jordan is extremely well-liked among NBA players, so much that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant insisted on bringing Jordan along when they signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. Arguably they should have kept him around, since the Irving-Durant-James Harden partnership imploded the season after Jordan left. The three-time All-NBA center is still in the league at age 37 despite averaging 162 points per season the last five years.
He has a long history of displaying strong teammate skills, dating back to his time as the fictional legal guardian for Rapping Baby Damian Lillard and Uncanny Valley Teenage Kevin Love as matriarch of The Hoopers.
The Twyman-Stokes Award is named after Hall of Famers Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, who were teammates on the Rochester Royals in 1958 when a fall in the final game of the season left Stokes completely paralyzed. Twyman became Stokes’ legal guardian and supported him until his death 12 years later.
Curry won the award last season but wasn’t among the 12 finalists selected by a panel of NBA executives. The players vote on the 12 finalists and Jordan won an incredibly close vote by eight points over three-time teammate of the year Jrue Holiday, who was clearly a victim of voter fatigue. Jeff Green of the Houston Rockets was only 25 points back in third place, probably due to the degree of difficulty he faced in dealing with Durant allegedly trashing his teammates on social media in another burner account scandal.
We’ve seen how much criticism and disrespect motivates Curry. Even now, he’s probably saving critical tweets disparaging his teammating skills and mentally cataloguing all the haters who believe an all-time great player should have more than just one Twyan-Stokes trophy.
He’s going to go back in the lab with a pen and a pad and getting his damn teammate game up. The only question is who those teammates might be.
MINNEAPOLIS , MN - APRIL 25: Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves locks up Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter of the Timberwolves' 112-96 win in game four of their NBA Playoffs series at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Date: April 30th, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: ESPN
Game 5 was the Wolves’ opportunity to end the argument.
They had Denver on the mat. They had won three straight. They had discovered the recipe: suffocating defense, relentless rim pressure, and enough pace to make Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray look for the oxygen masks that drop from airplane ceilings. Even without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, there was a real belief that Minnesota could walk into Ball Arena and finish the Nuggets off.
And then the wounded animal bit back.
That’s the thing about trying to close out a proud, desperate team with the best player on the planet: they don’t just quietly accept their fate, grab a duffel bag, and head to the Serbian horse stables. Denver came out playing like a team that understood its season was on the line. Ball Arena was rabid. Jaden McDaniels was Public Enemy No. 1. The crowd was ready to boo him every time he touched the ball, breathed, blinked, or maybe even thought about scoring again in the final second.
For the first time in a few games, Denver looked like the team throwing the first real punch. The Wolves didn’t roll over. They didn’t no-show. Minnesota came ready to compete, but the problem was simple: they also came ready to hand Denver the ball like it was a promotional giveaway.
Twenty-five turnovers.
Twenty-five.
You can survive a cold shooting night. You can survive foul trouble. You can survive the other team’s role player having the game of his life. But 25 turnovers in a playoff closeout game on the road against Jokic? That’s like walking into a shark tank wearing a meat suit.
The turnovers didn’t just choke off Minnesota’s offense. They gave Denver exactly what the Wolves had spent the previous three games trying to deny them: easy points, early offense, and the ability to attack before Minnesota could get its half-court defense set. When the Wolves are locked in defensively, they have shown they can turn Denver’s offense into a clogged drain. But if you’re throwing live-ball turnovers into the middle of the floor, suddenly Jokic doesn’t have to solve Gobert in the post. Murray doesn’t have to grind through McDaniels for 18 seconds. Denver doesn’t have to earn anything. They just had to run, finish, and let the building explode.
And then came Spencer Jones, who killed the Wolves from deep, giving Denver the exact supporting punch it had been missing. Minnesota spent so much energy trying to contain Jokic and Murray, and rightly so, but when a role player starts cashing threes like he found a cheat code, the math gets ugly fast.
So now here we are.
Wolves 3, Nuggets 2.
Game 6 at Target Center.
The Wolves are still in control, still holding the lead, and still one win away from the second round. But they are also now staring at the most uncomfortable truth: You do not want to go back to Denver for Game 7 without your superstar.
Yes, the Wolves have done the Game 7-in-Denver thing before. Yes, it ended with one of the greatest wins in franchise history. But that version had its full arsenal. This one is trying to close out Jokic with a backcourt being held together by duct tape, prayer candles, and the memory of Ayo Dosunmu’s 43-point fever dream.
Game 6 is not technically win-or-go-home for Minnesota. It just feels like win-or-start-panicking.
And with that, here are the keys.
1. Defense Has to Be the Anchor Again
Everything good in this series has started with Minnesota’s defense. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels have been the two biggest reasons the Wolves are even in position to close this thing out. Gobert has battled Jokic as well as anyone on Earth can reasonably battle him, and McDaniels has made Murray’s life miserable when he’s been able to stay on the floor.
That last part matters.
McDaniels picked up two quick fouls in Game 5, and the whole structure of the game shifted. Suddenly Murray had more room to breathe, and Denver could get into offense without being hounded from baseline to baseline.
That cannot happen Thursday. McDaniels has to be aggressive, but smart. Gobert has to be physical, but disciplined. And the rest of the Wolves have to understand that this cannot be a two-man defensive effort. If Minnesota clamps down on Jokic and Murray but lets Spencer Jones, Tim Hardaway Jr., or some other Nuggets supporting character turn into a folk hero, then what was the point?
The closeouts have to be crisp. The rotations have to be early. The perimeter resistance has to keep Denver from putting Gobert in impossible spots. And most importantly, the Wolves have to protect the rim better than they did in Game 5. Denver got too much in the paint, too many easy chances, too many moments where Minnesota’s defense was reacting instead of dictating.
Without Edwards and DiVincenzo, the Wolves are not built to win a fireworks show. They need to drag Denver back into the mud and make them earn every single point.
2. Stop Punching Yourself in the Face
Twenty-five turnovers is not just bad. It’s disqualifying.
The Wolves could have survived a lot of things in Game 5. They could have survived Denver’s crowd, the officials, even Spencer Jones hitting shots. They could not survive repeatedly handing the Nuggets transition chances like it was a charity event.
The maddening part is that even with all of those self-inflicted wounds, Minnesota was still close enough for long enough to make Denver sweat. The lead ballooned, sure, but there were stretches where you could feel Ball Arena getting nervous. The Wolves cut the margin down. They forced Denver to keep playing. They made the crowd remember that weird things happen when these two teams share a court.
Now imagine if they had just treated the ball like it belonged to them.
That’s the whole Game 6 challenge. Mike Conley, Bones Hyland, Ayo Dosunmu, Julius Randle, and anybody handling the ball has to value possessions. No lazy cross-court passes, dribbling into crowds, casual outlets, or poor decisions that immediately turn into Murray layups or Jokic touchdown passes. This series is hard enough without giving Denver extra possessions.
Minnesota cannot beat itself and beat Denver at the same time.
3. Win the Dirty Work
Denver was the desperate team in Game 5, and it showed. Loose balls found Nuggets hands. Long rebounds bounced Denver’s way. Scrambles tilted toward the team that knew its season was about to end if it didn’t get there first. Those are the plays that don’t always dominate the box score but absolutely shape playoff games.
The Wolves have to match that desperation now. Not because they are facing elimination, but because they should treat Game 6 like they are. That’s the mentality required. Every rebound has to matter. Every deflection has to matter. Every 50-50 ball has to feel like it decides the series.
One offensive rebound can become a Jokic three-point play. One lazy box-out can become a momentum swing. One loose ball can turn into a five-point mini-run.
The Wolves need to be the team that wants those moments more.
4. Keep Your Composure
Let’s be honest: the whistle has been a whole subplot in this series. The Wolves have been battling foul trouble constantly. Reviews have felt like trips through a haunted house where the ending is always somehow worse than expected. Whether it’s the infamous foot-to-knee contact or whatever new interpretation gets invented mid-possession, Minnesota has had to play through more than its share of frustration.
That cannot become the game within the game.
Target Center helps. The crowd will be insane. The energy should tilt Minnesota’s way. But the players still have to stay composed. McDaniels and Gobert especially cannot afford early foul trouble. If either one gets yanked to the bench early, Denver gets breathing room. And giving Denver oxygen right now is how this series gets very uncomfortable very quickly.
The Wolves need to play physical without getting reckless. They need to absorb bad calls without spiraling. They need to make sure frustration doesn’t turn into a technical, a rushed shot, or a defensive lapse.
There is a fine line between intensity and chaos, and Minnesota has to live on the right side of it.
5. Somebody Has to Rise
In Game 4, Ayo Dosunmu answered the bell with one of the great unexpected playoff performances in franchise history. Forty-three points. Five threes.
In Game 5, nobody provided the sequel.
That has to change. Maybe it’s Ayo again. Maybe it’s Jaden McDaniels turning elite defense into aggressive offense and reminding everyone that his mid-range and rim pressure can swing games. Maybe it’s Randle giving Minnesota the full bully-ball, playmaking, glass-crashing version of himself. Maybe it’s Rudy dominating the paint so completely that Denver starts thinking twice about every drive. Maybe it’s Naz finally catching fire and giving the bench the scoring punch it desperately needs. Maybe Bones goes full microwave.
It doesn’t really matter who, but someone has to step forward and say, “Tonight is mine.”
Because without Edwards, this cannot be a passive collective. It has to be a connected team effort with one or two guys willing to seize the night. Denver will bring desperation. Jokic will bring brilliance. Murray will bring shot-making.
The Wolves need an answer.
Finish the Hunt
Nobody in Wolves Nation wants a Game 7.
Nobody wants the plane ride back to Denver. Nobody wants 48 hours of talking themselves into “well, they won there before.” Nobody wants to spend a Saturday night watching Jokic in his building with Minnesota’s season hanging by a thread and Anthony Edwards in street clothes.
The opportunity is right here. Game 6. Target Center. Home crowd. Series lead. A chance to end the Nuggets’ season and advance to the second round for just the fourth time in franchise history. This is the moment the Wolves have to own.
The Wolves have spent this series proving they can beat Denver. They have the blueprint. They have the defensive answers. They have shown they can drag the Nuggets into uncomfortable places and make the best player in the world look mortal enough.
Now they have to complete the mission.
No moral victories. No noble seven-game loss. No “if onlys…”
Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for Game 5 between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, with the model identifying several high-value spots as Houston battles to keep its season alive.
By comparing the data against current market lines, we’ve pinpointed the strongest edges.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Wednesday, April 29.
Rockets vs Lakers computer picks for Game 5
Rockets
Lakers
Thompson o18.5 points -120
James u23.5 points -110
Smith Jr. o6.5 rebounds -141
Ayton u7.5 rebounds -105
Sengun o5.5 assists -125
Hachimura o1.5 3-pointers -105
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Rockets Game 5 computer picks
Amen Thompson Over 18.5 points (-120)
Projection: 19.1 points
Amen Thompson is averaging 24.6 points over his last five games —6.2 above his season average — and with the Houston Rockets in desperation mode, he’s in a strong spot to clear this points prop as he looks to help extend their season.
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Jabari Smith Jr. Over 6.5 rebounds (-141)
Projection: 7.29 rebounds
The Rockets lead the NBA with 15.1 offensive rebounds per game, and in a must-win spot, they’ll need to lean into that strength to generate extra chances.
Jabari Smith Jr. has cleared this line in Games 1 and 4, and Game 5 sets up as another opportunity for him to stay aggressive on the glass.
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Alperen Şengün Over 5.5 assists (-125)
Projection: 5.98 assists
Alperen Şengün is well-positioned to clear 5.5 assists in this elimination Game 5, especially with Houston’s offense expected to run heavily through him.
In win-or-go-home spots, the ball tends to stay in Şengün’s hands as a hub at the elbow and in the post, where he thrives as a facilitator.
His ability to draw double teams from the Lakers creates natural kick-out opportunities, and with Houston likely emphasizing ball movement to generate cleaner looks, the assist chances should be there.
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Lakers Game 5 computer picks
LeBron James Under 23.5 points (-110)
Projection: 22.84 points
The Rockets play at the second-slowest pace in the league, which should limit possessions for the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Austin Reaves expected back, it could ease the offensive burden on LeBron James — something his 41-year-old legs will appreciate.
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Deandre Ayton Under 7.5 rebounds (-105)
Projection: 7.29 rebounds
The Lakers would love to close this series out at home, and that starts with eliminating Houston’s second-chance opportunities; something Deandre Ayton can help control on the glass.
He’s cleared this prop in Games 1 and 4, but with the Rockets having their backs against the wall, expect a stronger push to limit his impact on the boards.
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Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 3-pointers (-120)
Projection: 2.15 3-pointers
The Lakers have been the most efficient three-point shooting team in the league over their last five games, and much of that is thanks to Rui Hachimura’s hot hand this series.
He’s shot 50% or better from deep in every game against Houston — ride the momentum and expect it to continue.
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How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 5
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 18: Jonah Heim #20 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after sliding safely into second after hitting a double against the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Heather Barry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At 21-9, the Atlanta Braves are off to their hottest start to the season since 2000. It seems like we’re hearing a new and fantastical stat about how Good The Vibes Are Right Now at a clip not seen since the history-making offense of 2023.
Here’s some more fun numbers as we go into game 2 tonight: with last night’s win (on Snoopy night!), the Braves have won nine straight games versus Detroit dating back to 2023 and extended the longest active winning streak versus the Tigers in baseball. Even wilder, you have to go back to 2013 for the last time Atlanta has dropped a series to Detroit. Let’s keep a good thing going tonight, shall we?
Drake Baldwin will DH while Jonah Heim is behind the plate as the battery mate for JR Ritchie. As we noted in the preview, Heim has the most ABs against Skubal and is 3-for-16. Maybe he’ll be a difference-maker in the nine hole.
Leadoff man Ronald Acuña Jr. may be heating up… it’d be great if the two XBH from last night got him going. Austin Riley moves up to fifth, followed by Mauricio Dubón. People are being quick to attribute Michael Harris II’s less-hot-than-we’ve-seen-lately night at the plate yesterday to his return to CF, but he was still 1-for-4. He’ll bat seventh tonight. Eli White will bat eighth and hopefully have a completely routine and normal night in left field.
The lineup for Tarik Skubal’s Tigers looks a little different. Rookie Kevin McGonigle will lead off. Gleyber Torres remains in the two hole, but will be followed by 3B Colt Keith. Riley Greene moves up a spot to bat cleanup. Dillon Dingler is still catching and batting fifth. New face Kerry Carpenter enters the lineup to play right field. With the unfortunate injury to Javier Báez, the Tigers will have Wenceel Pérez (of preventing-last-night’s-shutout fame) in center field and batting eighth.
The Buffalo Sabres were all set to win a playoff series for the first time in 19 years, leading 3-1 over the Boston Bruins after a 6-1 thrashing in Game 4, but after taking the lead on a Rasmus Dahlin power play goal, the Sabres were unable to add on and allowed Boston to settle into a more defensive duel that suits their style of play. Elias Lindholm tied the game in the second period, and after a scoreless third with a number of scoring chances thwarted by Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, David Pastrnak scored past Alex Lyon midway through the first overtime period to force Game 6 in Boston on Wednesday.
The win is the fourth of the five games in the series that the visiting team came out on top, and puts the Bruins in position to force a seventh game with a victory on home ice on Friday. The injury bug hit the Sabres up the middle for the second time in the series, as center Noah Ostlund left the game in the first period with a lower body injury. The rookie scored a goal and assist in his playoff debut in Game 3, but according to head coach Lindy Ruff, the injury is expected to keep Ostlund out for the foreseeable future.
"He's gonna miss a period of time," Ruff said to the media on Wednesday. "(The) news wasn't good, don't exactly know how much right now, but he's gonna miss some time."
It is expected that Josh Norris, who sat out the last three games with an undisclosed injury but skated on Tuesday, will be ready to go for Game 6.
Can the Bruins even the series and force a seventh game with the Sabres?
Other questions asked of Ruff:
How do you prepare the club for an elimination game?
The same way we're trying to prepare for for last night's game. We knew there's going to be a desperation level inside the game, and I thought the start to the game,. (with) the power play goal, we got off to a good start. I just sensed the little bit of nerves with our guys. Our puck play wasn't as good as it was in Boston, so just get them to relax, play our game and be ready to go.
What was it about the atmosphere that made the club a bit nervous?
I think you kind of sense we've got this lead, and we, at times, were just a little bit safe with our play, where we needed just to stay on our toes and stay aggressive and (have) more puck pressure that we kind of deferred to playing a safer game in my eyes.
You haven’t had many losing skids since early December, you’ve always bounced back. What do you credit that towards?
Really just focusing on our game. We'll go through parts of the game, and there's two or three areas we can improve for next game that we weren't good enough at. And we'll show two or three areas that we thought we can take advantage of the other team. I just feel now, the pressure kind of reverts back to them, and their building and they haven't played well in their building, and we get to go there and play in a building where we've won two games.
The Sabres were held off the ice on Wednesday, but will practice on Thursday in Buffalo before departing for Boston.
Ryan Rickelton’s maiden IPL century came in vain as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down 244 to beat Mumbai Indians by six wickets in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
“Didn’t improve much after treatment yesterday, so he’s getting an MRI right now to see what we’re dealing with,” said Mendoza.
“We’ve got to wait and see what the MRI says and what’s the plan of attack, if we need to put him on the IL or if he continues to be day-to-day, but that’s why we’re taking a look at it.”
Robert, who has dealt with a handful of other injury issues throughout his career, is hitting .224 this season with two home runs and eight RBI in 24 games.
Mendoza said there is obviously concern for the veteran outfielder, but the team is still in wait-and-see mode.
"Every time you send someone for an MRI, you’re always concerned. … We’re doing everything in our power to keep him on the field, and hopefully this is just a minor thing that we’re just dealing with for a couple of days and he’s back out there soon," Mendoza said.
If Robert does, in fact, land on the IL, the Mets have options to play center field already on the roster, including Carson Benge and Tyrone Taylor.
"I feel comfortable with any of them playing center field," Mendoza said. "Tyrone, we’ve seen over the years, he’s elite there. The way Carson’s been playing everywhere, and not only that, he’s comfortable moving around as well. Left field, some of the plays he’s made, right field, center."
Rockets
Lakers
