ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 29: JR Ritchie #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Truist Park on April 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a sweep on the road and clinching their eight-straight series win, the Atlanta Braves continue to lead the MLB with the best record, and make it their best start to the season since 1892.
This series against the Seattle Mariners shouldn’t warrant any different results.
2026 is the year of the Rookies, and JR Ritchie is no exception. Boasting a 2.92 ERA with the team across his two starts so far, he’s constantly developing his six-pitch arsenal, and will look for a strong start playing against the team he’s followed from a young age, just outside his hometown backyard of Bainbridge Island, Washington.
This will be a sort of homecoming for Ritchie, as he looks to pitch it like any game, but with the support of familiar fans and friendly surrounding the stadium to witness his start.
Ritchie told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chad Bishop that he’s planning to stick to his routine and keep the goal in mind of putting the team in the best position to win.
Logan Gilbert is set to take the mound in Seattle. Holding a 4.03 ERA across 38 innings and seven games so far, he’s hoping to increase his win average and get past this rough patch starting the season, especially with a quality contact team like the Braves facing him at the plate.
Gilbert has a solid seven-pitch arsenal, with his 95.4 mph four-seamer leading the way, but he will have to find a way to utilize his breaking balls to their fullest. He pitches deep into games, but the longer he stays, the more opposing batters get used to his mix.
Getting out early and collecting as many strikes as possible will be the key to staying ahead of the game for Gilbert as he looks for a successful outing to bounce back.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Bogoljub Markovic #23 and Markquis Nowell #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks high five during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 13, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks will play three games in the four-team California Classic Summer League, the NBA announced last Wednesday. The Bucks will face the Golden State Warriors on July 4, the Brooklyn Nets on July 5, and the Sacramento Kings on July 6 in the Golden 1 Center. This is Milwaukee’s first year participating in the California Classic. Broadcast information and specific team rosters will be released closer to July.
The other version of the expanded Classic will feature the Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs, hosted at San Francisco’s Chase Center.
Their two games in Sacramento will be followed by at least five games of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Last year, the Bucks, led by Pete Nance and 2025 second-rounder Bogoljub Markovic, went 1-4.
The additional two games will allow more of Milwaukee’s developing prospects to get crucial minutes before the NBA Summer League. Markovic, who has been one of the top players in Serbia’s ABA League, figures to join the team. So could Milwaukee’s two-way players in 27-year-old Cormac Ryan and Alex Antetokounmpo, or Wisconsin Herd standouts Mark Sears and Johnny Davis. The Bucks’ 2026 lottery pick will also see heavy game time.
Jason Love and Spencer Rivers, son of Doc, coached the Bucks’ 2025 Summer League squad. However, it’s unclear if the two will keep their assistant coaching spots with the arrival of new head coach Taylor Jenkins.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at T-Mobile Arena.
In Game 3 of the Ducks’ first round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, Jeff Viel took a cross checking penalty 200 feet from his own net, sending the Oilers to the power play. Connor McDavid would score on the ensuing power play, cutting the Ducks’ lead to one.
“Bad penalty,” Viel said after the game. “Cant take a penalty in the o-zone. I kind of felt bad, especially since they score on (the power play). Huge goal they get back after.”
But Viel would atone for his error, depositing a backhand past Connor Ingram—after some terrific work from Jackson LaCombe—to give Anaheim a much-needed insurance goal with just over three minutes left to play in the third period.
Apr 24, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram (39) defends the goal against Anaheim Ducks left wing Jeffrey Viel (28) during the second period of game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
In Game 4, Mason McTavish also took an offensive zone penalty, with the Oilers scoring just four seconds into that power play. Viel would score in his second consecutive game 10 minutes later, setting the series up for its first overtime game. Again, a Ducks player would atone for his earlier error, with McTavish proving vital on Ryan Poehling’s overtime winner.
As Oilers forward Trent Frederic attempted to skate the puck out of the defensive zone, McTavish stripped him and sent the puck up to Poehling all in one motion. Poehling’s centering pass to Chris Kreider caromed off Darnell Nurse’s skate and slipped through goaltender Tristan Jarry, barely crossing the goal line. That play gave the Ducks a 3-1 series lead, a momentum swing that put them in the driver’s seat.
“I think that we have ways of whether you get scored on or you make mistakes, we expect it,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “I think sometimes, you might miss a little of time, you might miss a shift here or there, but you're gonna be out there. You're gonna be right back out there. Sometimes, (there) might be some longer absences in that, whether it’s missing a part of a period and after that, you might not play games. But, for the most part, (they should) expect to be out there.
“The guys know that we're going to make mistakes, especially defensively. We’ve been trying to improve that area because we know that we battle back and we have fine ways of putting ourselves back in the game. It’s basically been the way the season has gone all year long. That’s been proven that, hey, we're not out of anything.”
Apr 30, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks players celebrate after game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“It was pretty stressful in the penalty box,” Viel said. “The confidence from Q for putting me back out there after a tough penalty was a good vote of confidence. Awesome to get rewarded.”
“We’re just gonna make mistakes,” defenseman Jacob Trouba said. “We’re still gonna continue to make mistakes. We’re learning on the fly here, but there’s no quit in the group. There’s no letdown. We believe we can score goals, we believe we can defend well enough, we believe we can win hockey games. I think that’s what it’s all about right now.”
The words ‘believe’ and ‘belief’ have been used heavily by the Ducks throughout this playoff run. Troy Terry stated how proud he was of the team after Game 1 of their series against the Oilers.
“It’s unfortunate, the result of that game, and it's going to be tough to swallow, but we got to put it behind us.” Terry said. “But I I we kind of got our feet under us. We’re into this thing now.”
“We believe in ourselves,” Captain Radko Gudas said. “We’ve been down so many times this year and we keep coming back, so there's a big belief in this group.”
“We just believe in ourselves,” Poehling echoed after his overtime winner in Game 4. “I thought we played great, honestly. The whole game just got off to a start where they got a few bounces, but that's the thing about our team. We've done it all year and I think it just teaches you throughout a season that, hey, you're never out of it. And the belief on the bench is something that you truly feel and you go out there with confidence and play. It’s a great way to play hockey.”
Apr 30, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (25) and Edmonton Oilers center Colton Dach (34) battle for the puck in the first period of game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Ducks’ self-belief, coupled with a short memory, will aid them well in a matchup against another team with plenty of playoff experience in Vegas. While the Ducks may have swept the season series, a new face is behind the bench for Vegas after Bruce Cassidy was fired with eight games remaining in the regular season. John Tortorella has the reins for the rest of the season and holds a record of 11-2-1 since becoming the new bench boss.
“Short memory, forget about it,” Cutter Gauthier said of the team’s reaction to their Game 5 loss in Edmonton.” The longer we let it linger, the longer it's going to affect our game. It’s a new day. We have a 3-2 series lead right now, and we have an opportunity to win the series tonight. So we're going to do everything we can to try and get that done.”
The best players at keeping a short memory are the goaltenders. Lukáš Dostál’s performances in the first round were quite up to standard, but he saved his best performance for the closeout game, stopping 25 of 27 shots and making plenty of key saves to prevent the Oilers from sending the series to seven games.
“He’s a special goalie,” defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “He's been huge for us all year, and I think, honestly, that (the goals against) starts on us as players. I think we’ve got to be better. We knew they were gonna have a push when their backs against the wall. He’s been great for us all year, and I think those goals are on us.”
“I can turn the page right away because I don't wanna really dig too much into the past,” Dostál said. “I'm trying to take the positives, trying to take the negatives, always, from the game and just move on.”
The idea of self-belief being the driving factor for top-notch playoff performances may feel a bit whimsical, but the Ducks have shown that they can turn up another gear. Their 2-6-2 stretch to close out the regular season was nowhere to be found in the playoffs as they dispatched the Oilers in six games. They’ll need some of the same self-belief and short memory if they hope to beat the Golden Knights.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson will return for Game 1 of the team's second-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks after missing nearly six months with a lower-body injury.
Karlsson had four goals and three assists early in the season before the injury. He had back-to-back 50-point seasons, but finished with only 29 in 53 games last season, when he was sidelined twice because of injuries.
Champions League semi-final delicately poised at 1-1
‘We are so hungry to get the game we want tomorrow’
Mikel Arteta promised that Arsenal’s players will turn into “beasts” as they attempt to reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
Arsenal drew 1-1 in the first leg of their semi-final against Atlético Madrid last week and will be confident of overcoming Diego Simeone’s side after winning five of their six matches in this competition at the Emirates Stadium so far this season, conceding only three goals. Viktor Gyökeres scored twice in a 4-0 win over Atlético during the group stage, although Arsenal will be wary of underestimating the team that knocked out Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
In preparation for tonight’s Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, we sat down with JR Wilco at our sister site Pounding the Rock to discuss what we’re looking out for from our respective opponents. If you want to engage in some light-hearted and kind (stressing this, don’t be obnoxious like Denver Nuggets fans were/are), you can do so at their site here.
J.R. Wilco
I think you’d agree that to say that you were down on Minnesota’s chances entering Game 6 would be a pretty serious understatement. Your piece on Denver’s win over the Wolves in Game 5 was about as serious an indictment of your team’s performance as the government’s charges against Harish Chidambaran.
And yet you guys made Nikola Jokić look ordinary and Jamal Murray look putrid. Minny too the “next man up” mantra to another level. See, that cliche is supposed to mean that when a guy goes down, his replacement is ready to play in his place. It’s not supposed to mean that the replacement suddenly auditions to be a starter on the all star team! I went from being ecstatic that the Spurs wouldn’t play Denver to being afraid that they’ve be hard pressed to take down a team that’s currently under attack from the injury bug.
So tell me, a) how did you guys take down Denver while so shorthanded, b) what should I be most concerned about in Game 1, and what are you most afraid of, besides Wemby?
Thilo
Beating Denver in Game 6 came down to a few factors: paint touches, paint deterrence, and sheer, unadulterated hatred.
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
Before Ayo Dosumnu went down with a calf injury, his shot diet in his 43 point masterclass in Game 4 was functionally all layups outside of his 5/5 three point shooting. The rest of the Wolves team existed in a similarly slash-friendly environment.
There was, and this is no exaggeration, no rim protection whatsoever on the Nuggets roster to the point that Spencer Jones was the primary paint presence for Games 3-6. This enabled a TJ Shannon sighting (his only above-average skill at the NBA level is finding his way to the rim) and allowed the Timberwolves, one of the league’s most inconsistent offensive teams, to score over 110 in all but one game.
On the other side of things, Denver could not find a way to score at their normal level when run off the three point line. As much as we can point at Jamal Murray (and laugh), Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr turning back into pumpkins hurt just as much.
Funnily enough, Jaden McDaniels’ best defensive role is not as a perimeter stopper. While he’s more than capable there, he is arguably better suited as a help side defender (we’ll get to that later). To that point, I doubt we see a remotely similar strategy for San Antonio as we saw against Denver.
I’d say that role change for McDaniels is the biggest thing to be worried about. Outside of the obvious “we get to match your top-five player with our returning top-seven guy”, that’s the thing I hope would change.
A defensive matchup of Ayo on Fox, TJ on Vassell, and Gobert on Wemby, with Jaden roaming off of whoever of Castle or Champagnie is less intimidating could be incredibly fun, incredibly destructive, and disastrously low scoring.
As far as what’s the scariest in facing the Spurs, you guys just simply have more things you can count on than we do. While we have flexibility and house money, you have a winning formula that has been shaped by your whole season and has little to no restructuring needed.
For more concrete answers, the Wolves are already down a ton of initiators, and the defensive pressure the Spurs can put on guys who are already more used to and more prepared for facing third and fourth defensive options could instantly collapse the whole cobbled together formula the Wolves built so quickly.
That formula included a Game 6 lineup that was supersized, with Jaden McDaniels at the two, Naz Reid at the three, and both Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert filling out the space alongside TJ Shannon’s “go straight through them” play at point. The Spurs size comes primarily in the form of Wemby, how do the rest of the Spurs deal with that lineup and the size it brings?
J.R.
You say unadulterated hatred. I hear properly channeled distaste, because in my experience playing angry might work in spurts, but will wear you out over a full 48 minutes. Shoot, even half a basketball game would probably be too much. That said, the way your crew was able to stick around with a dwindling roster until the clock struck midnight on Denver was one of the more impressive things I’ve seen in the NBA this year. Watching those Nuggets turning into pumpkins and mice was as enjoyable as it was unexpected.
You say that McDaniels’ defense isn’t best suited for being a perimeter stopper, but I’m going to expect Fox and Castle and Harper to put enough pressure on the Wolves that he’s going to need to spend time out there on the regular, regardless of how much he would prefer to play weak side help.
SACRAMENTO, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Naz Reid #11 and Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 24, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As for the lineup you asked about, my primary concern with this series is Randle and Reid wrecking San Antonio from deep when they have the ball, and causing Wemby all kinds of problems as they defend. Honestly, besides Aaron Gordon, Julius probably played the best defense I saw on Victor all season. As for how San Antonio will deal with all that size, that’s the $64,000 question, and I’m so glad it’s being asked.
For so much of the season, Mitch Johnson has allowed the Spurs to play pretty ordinary sets without much imagination or complexity. Or to be more blunt, San Antonio’s offense has often been very straightforward and bordering on elementary. In defense of this strategy, it’s been effective. Why push the team to do more when a basic offense is enough to win? Well, the answer is: the playoffs. They’re here now and Minnesota’s defense and size might be exactly what forces the Spurs to pull out all the stops.
Now I’m not expecting them to start whizzing the ball around the court like the 2014 Spurs, but I wouldn’t complain if they did. Lacking that, I think San Antonio’s offense is at its best when Wemby is off the ball and the team takes advantage of the gravity his vertical threat creates. When teams are terrified of him getting downhill without the ball, or receiving passes anywhere close to the paint without a man bodying him, it opens up space for guys to shoot open threes and gash defenses with aggressive drives and timely cuts. That’s when defenses react to the pressure from the rest of the team such that Wemby gets single-teamed or even forgotten – which is obviously a death sentence.
Which brings me back to Wemby, and this time I won’t ask you to not use him as an answer to your question. With so much of your success against Denver being to attack the rim, and with Wemby being elite at protecting the paint and guarding multiple guys simultaneously, what do you see as the best chance that Minny has to produce points and make San Antonio’s defense uncomfortable?
Thilo
I could take this answer in so many different directions. The answer I want to give, or rather the thing that I think people can’t read about elsewhere, is Rudy Gobert’s impact as a passer on the short roll.
We often think of scoring in the paint as the only way to maximize drives. Either you lay it up or you don’t. Either you dunk it or you’re blocked, and so on.
Gobert has never been one to lay it up confidently, or even dunk it safely. Describing his offensive game as invisible was doing him a kindness for many, many years. When a player’s primary offensive impact is screen assists, you need to be a real basketball degenerate to give him some credit for that side of the ball.
However, a compliment that was once hard to give has now found itself to a more obvious, highlight-worthy place.
Taking a page from his mortal enemy, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert has evolved not as a play finisher but as a play extender. There was a single play in Game 6 that led to a TJ Shannon three pointer in the right corner that comes to mind.
I think kind of lost in last night's game was the fact that Rudy Gobert had 8 assists.
Gobert was great on the short roll the whole series, which was critical for him to be in this series, given how Denver likes to play Nikola Jokic up the floor, at the level of the screen.… pic.twitter.com/i6eCAxoblY
Pointing out just one play implies that this was a special occurrence, but this happened throughout the series. The worry with Wemby is always as much about rim deterrence as it is actual block numbers. A past version of Gobert would’ve been more willing to flail wildly at the rim in an attempt to draw a foul or do anything once the original plan of “finish the pick and roll” was flushed.
Today’s version of Gobert can rethink and create a new plan.
What does this mean on a larger scale? Improvisation is alive and well in Minnesota. Each player that should be getting rotation minutes for the Wolves has some way to deal with the court ending eight or so feet further from the rim than they are used to.
Jaden McDaniels’ mid range was fantastic in Game 6. TJ Shannon is a blur in transition. Julius Randle has his elbow touches. The list goes on. The playoffs are often about good players losing their favorite options and having to make due with their third or fourth choice.
This is no different.
The “motion offense” has been a bit of a running joke in Wolves circles ever since Chris Finch arrived in Minnesota. As much as higher management has approached roster building, Finch individually has valued one skill above all else: consistency.
Whoever is guarded by Wemby will be responsible for pulling him from the rim. Even moreso, I assume that whoever the Wolves will want to attack on switches will be the target for four of five players on the court. For the Suns in 2024, that player was Devin Booker. Last series, it was Jamal Murray. Against the Spurs? My guess would be DeAaron Fox.
There are so many more questions I’d have, but I’m sure Mitch Johnson reads this, and I don’t want to give away too many answers! We will see how this game turns out!
Viva Las Vegas, baby. The Ducks have made it to the second round, winning their first playoff series in nine years in their first playoff berth in eight years against the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.
They find themselves against the Vegas Golden Knights, the first time that these two teams are facing each other in the playoffs. It’s the first time since the Golden Knights’ inaugural season that both teams are in the playoffs.
“They're a good hockey team,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. “They’ve got balance, they skate, they're big, they go to the net, they defend pretty well, they play as a group of five in all zones, they seem to be connected. Not a lot of holes. I think that we’ve got to be at our best. We're gonna have to make sure that we start the series (hard). Every game's going to be important that we play consistently, we can't give up leads. When I say leads, we can't give up basically chasing a game—like we saw most of the year and in that last round as well—to have success. So, let's make sure our starts are going to be better.”
Feb 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) defends the goal as Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) screens him during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
“Everybody’s really excited,” Mason McTavish said. “We’ve got a great Vegas team we’re gonna be playing, so I'm just excited for that challenge. They’ve got a lot of great players and so do we, so it should be a great series and we're looking forward to it.”
Troy Terry has regularly missed morning skates over the past month or so, but will play in Game 1, per Quenneville. Radko Gudas (lower-body) participated in Monday’s morning skate and could be an option going forward. He has not played since Game 1 of the Oilers series.
Former Duck William Karlsson will return to the lineup for the Golden Knights in Game 1. He had been out since November with a lower-body injury. His re-insertion into the lineup gives the Golden Knights four steady cogs down the middle in Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Karlsson and Nic Dowd.
Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba speaks to the media after their morning skate at T-Mobile Arena.
Tennessee basketball keeps adding to its star-studded transfer portal haul, adding Wake Forest guard Juke Harris on Monday, May 4.
Harris, the No. 2-ranked overall player in the transfer portal in USA TODAY's rankings, averaged 21.4 points with 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season on 44.4% shooting. He chose the Vols over Michigan, which he visited, and North Carolina, among others.
Harris is Tennessee's third transfer portal addition inside USA TODAY's top-50 rankings, along with former VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr. (No. 17) and former Notre Dame forward Jalen Haralson (No. 33). The Vols will likely be one of the best offensive teams in the country next season, as they also added Cal transfer Dai Dai Ames (16.9 points per game in 2025-26) and sharpshooter Tyler Lundblade from Belmont (15.6 points per game).
The All-ACC second-team selection was the conference's Most Improved Player last season, and has the longest streak of games (over 35) with 10 or more points in Wake Forest history. His 730 points in 2025-26 were also the second-most in program history.
The Salisbury, North Carolina, native was a four-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, tabbed as the No. 88-ranked player and No. 15 shooting guard in the class, per 247Sports' Composite rankings. He visited Tennessee as a high school recruit before choosing Wake Forest.
Harris scored 30 or more points in three games last season, two of which resulted in losses against NC State and Boston College. He scored 38 points in Wake Forest's 68-67 loss to Boston College in February, scoring more than half of the Demon Deacons' points.
Coach Rick Barnes should have his best roster on paper at Tennessee next season, with Harris assuredly being the Vols' go-to scorer.
"Flopping has ruined our game. Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f****** basketball history... [he] flops. He know it. This ain't breaking news."
Playing in four games in the series, Embiid had 37 free throw attempts, a little more than nine a game. He had more total attempts from the stripe than any other 76ers player and everyone on Boston except Brown, who played in all seven games. That alone is not evidence of flopping, it's evidence of Embiid playing a physical style in the paint and attacking the rim with the ball, which leads to drawing fouls.
Brown called out the referees, too, particularly about the offensive foul calls against him, usually for using his off arm to create space (which he did pretty blatantly at times). Brown said on the Twitch stream that he was doing what every other player in the league does.
"That is such the common basketball play, every player does it. So why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke, you know I was critical other refs in the regular season... And I've actually spoke to some refs, and they said it was, it was an agenda going into each game, that anytime Jaylen brings his arm up, just from reputation, just call it like But Paul George does the same thing. Jalen Brunson does the same thing. S***, I can go down the list. It's a basketball play."
Brown can expect a fine from the league for that. I would also argue that while a lot of drivers do use their off arm at times, Brown uses his off arm more forcefully — and often — than others to create space.
Yet another push-off that Jaylen Brown got away with & this one directly impacts Joel Embiid…
He was able to luckily stay in the game & seems to be fine, but my hell… Tatum & Brown truly get away with more push-offs than any other players in the entire NBA. Clear as day. pic.twitter.com/YNdfWsmNxL
Ultimately, none of this changes the fact that Brown had an All-NBA season, his best as a pro, nor does it change the fact that his Celtics got bounced from the playoffs much earlier than expected.
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Timberwolves Game 1 computer picks
Rudy Gobert Over 8.5 points (+100)
Projection: 10.81 points
This number is plus money because of Victor Wembanyama, and he's also the reason this is a five-star play with a 26.57% EV edge. Rudy Gobert will see plenty of minutes in this series to try to contain Wemby, and that time on the floor will naturally result in more shots.
Nine points is not asking a lot, as Gobert cleared this line three times vs. Denver.
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Naz Reid Over 12.5 points (-110)
Projection: 12.58 points
Naz Reid is one of the best bench players in the NBA, and he'll be able to go to work against the San Antonio Spurs' bench unit. Reid is fresh off a 15-point performance in Game 7, and he'll carry that shooting stroke into Game 1.
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Julius Randle Over 18.5 points (-120)
Projection: 19.50 points
Julius Randle's Game 1 points total is right around what he averaged against the Nuggets in Round 1. Anthony Edwards' status remains questionable, meaning several shots are still up for grabs.
Randle will get more than enough shots to reach 19 points.
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Spurs Game 1 computer picks
Dylan Harper Over 9.5 points (-120)
Projection: 11.70 points
Dylan Harper balled out against Portland, averaging 12.6 points per game on 56% shooting. It's no surprise this prop is showing a 23.76% EV edge. Harper is trusted to lead the Spurs' bench unit, and our model suggests he'll do that to perfection again tonight.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-112)
Projection: 20.26 points
De'Aaron Fox has awakened. The point guard cleared this line in three of the five outings against the Blazers, finishing with 17 in the other two.
Fox should put up plenty more points tonight, which is why this is the third five-star play according to our model.
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Julian Champagnie Over 8.5 points (-112)
Projection: 10.34 points
Julian Champagnie's job gets a whole lot easier when Wemby is on the floor. The wing just needs to knock down his catch-and-shoot threes, and he'll clear this line with little resistance.
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How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Monday, May 4, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
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UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
The Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers struggled in their own ways to advance, but here we are, with Game 1 set for May 5.
My Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks expect Jarrett Allen to struggle to grab rebounds in the series opener.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1 prediction
Who will win Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1?
Pistons: You cannot cite the wear-and-tear of a seven-game series for any edge when both teams played a Game 7 on Sunday. But one does wonder if Detroit’s three straight wins to prevail in the first round were a reflection of something greater, of a better understanding of the postseason.
Trust the momentum when combined with home court on short notice.
Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds (+100)
Jarrett Allen’s Round 1 numbers were inflated by two astounding performances. In the other five games, he failed to clear this very modest rebounding prop.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked only No. 11 in the NBA following the All-Star Break in defensive rebounding percentage, very notable against the Detroit Pistons, the No. 3 offensive rebounding team in that time. Detroit is led by Jalen Duren’s relentlessness on the offensive glass.
A few extra Duren offensive boards should cut directly into Allen’s total, particularly since Allen managed only five total offensive rebounds in the five games last round, he fell short of this conservative number.
COVERS INTEL: Allen fell short of this prop in two of his three games against the Pistons this season, grabbing as few as three rebounds in their most recent matchup.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1 same-game parlay
Allen’s and Cleveland’s overall struggle on the defensive glass should come specifically to Duren’s benefit. He lived on the offensive glass against the Magic, grabbing at least four offensive boards in five of those seven games and at least five in the last three games, all Pistons wins.
When finding five offensive rebounds, double-digit boards becomes exceedingly likely.
And combining a rebounding edge with homecourt advantage should assure Detroit of a Game 1 win.
Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP
Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
Jalen Duren Over 9.5 rebounds
Pistons moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Duren's dichotomy
Perhaps it should be considered impressive. Despite grabbing at least four offensive rebounds in five of the seven games in the first round, Duren scored more than 12 points just once, when he topped out at 15 points in Game 7. He is not turning those boards into points, thus creating value in a rather counterintuitive same-game parlay.
Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP
Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
Jalen Duren Over 9.5 rebounds
Jalen Duren Under 15.5 points
Pistons -3
Cavaliers vs Pistons odds for Game 1
Spread: Cavaliers +3 | Pistons -3
Moneyline: Cavaliers +130 | Pistons -155
Over/Under: Over 215.5 | Under 215.5
Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know
Five of Cleveland’s seven first-round games went Over their totals, including the last three. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSN/Peacock
Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries
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May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers players on the bench react after a basket by Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23, not shown) against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
As normal, it’s been a while since we’ve had a mailbag. And I won’t make any promises of it returning with any regularity, particularly with the chaotic schedule coming up for the Lakers this series, but let’s have some fun and ask some questions!
We’re going to have a quick turnaround on this one with the answers coming on Tuesday afternoon prior to Game 1. So, if you have any questions about the upcoming Lakers-Thunder series, fire away.
Similarly, if you have any thoughts or questions about the rest of the NBA playoffs so far — of which the Nuggets and Celtics are no longer part of, notably — then send those, too. And lastly, the WNBA season is set to kick off this weekend, so fire those in as well if you have them.
Is the tanking man a sucker? We’ll know in about a week. The NBA lottery is just a few days away, and we’re nervous as ever in Brooklyn. At the same time, a few ex-Nets are making noise in the NBA playoffs while the Liberty are gearing up for a title run of their own. Lucas Kaplan rejoins the show to talk us through it all!
In this episode of The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin, we touch on:
How a handful of ex-Nets are looking in the playoffs
The importance of landing a top pick (duh, right?)
What to expect from the New York Liberty this year
The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to embark on their climb over Mount Wembanyama. Before things tip off, let’s take a look at the 56 voters and their predictions on the series in…
(Note: Canis Pulsus Vol. 49 data was collected through 5/4)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Victor Wembanyama #1 of World Team and Anthony Edwards #5 of the USA Stars Team go up for the opening tip off during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome 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 Atiba Jefferson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What will be the result of round two vs San Antonio Spurs matchup?
Wolves in 6 (28.6%)
About 20% of voters went with Wolves in seven so I think it’s safe to say that you all know ball. No one picked Wolves in a sweep against the Spurs, but over 63% of you were Raised by Wolves. Anthony Edwards’ return will have a huge impact on how this series goes, but it’ll be intriguing either way.
Full voting results:
The key for the Timberwolves to defeat the Spurs is…
Physical defense and Julius Randle
The main two themes from the various answers to this question were playing hardnosed, physical defense, as the play of Julius Randle. If there’s one word to describe Randle as a basketball player, it’s physical. Now is Julius going to be the head of the snake on the defensive end? Certainly not. But many Wolves talking heads have zeroed in on his opportunity on both ends of the court.
Other answers here include perimeter shooting, Ant’s return to form, and “stopping guard penetration.” (SMUT)
My hot take from the Wolves-Spurs series is…
Julius is going to steal Wemby’s underpants
You might have missed it, but “someone” allegedly jacked the ol’ undergarments of Nikola Jokić after their dramatic game four loss. It must’ve worked because the Wolves won the series. Can they pull off the same miracle for a very different size and shaped underwear?
There were certainly some fun ones in the answer pool here too:
Sorry, I don’t really know ball
Beringer will get meaningful minutes in 1 game
Alien crashes
Conley, TJ, Julius and Jaden will each win the Wolves a game
This is the last time we see Julius in a Wolves uniform
Wolves will avoid meltdowns
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 30: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 and Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves are interviewed after defeating the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Timberwolves season will be a success if…
It’s already a success (40%)
Almost half of our voters felt that this season was already a success, and it’s hard to disagree with that considering the barrel they were staring down in the first round. Underdogs, homecourt disadvantage, injuries out the ying yang, the list goes on. The best part of this mindset is that no matter what the Wolves do now, they can only go up! Right?
Full voting results:
With the regular season over, my feelings on the direction of the Timberwolves are…
I was surprised to see optimism wan just a little bit after Minnesota eliminated Denver. That said, overly 80% of voters were optimistic which is much higher than the nice 69% of voters heading into the post season. To the moon!
Full voting results:
We’ll see if Wolves fans overestimated their playoff opponent against this round. Regardless, the receipts are in and the check will come due soon enough. I think I’m doing that analogy wrong, but whatever. Wolves in 4.
The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is complete, and although the Florida Panthers did not participate, several former Panthers players have moved on.
The first round featured several thrilling series, as well as sweeps.
Today, we’ll look at how each former Panthers player fared in the first round and what comes next for them in the second round.
Owen Tippett and Noah Juulsen, Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a slight upset over the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the series in six games. The Flyers made a late run into the playoffs and carried that momentum into the playoffs.
Former first-round pick of the Panthers, Owen Tippett, was a force for the Flyers. The 27-year-old only scored one goal and two points, but his speed was a handful for the Penguins to deal with. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury against the Penguins and was held out of the lineup for Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Noah Juulsen played just four games with the Panthers, but he’s become a serviceable third-pairing defender. Juulsen played in four games against the Penguins, failing to record a point and averaging 10:51 of ice time.
Brandon Bussi and Mike Reilly, Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are rolling. They swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round and started their series against the Flyers with a dominant 3-0 win.
While Brandon Bussi hasn’t played, Frederik Andersen has been the starting netminder for the Hurricanes. He was great for the Hurricanes during the regular season. Bussi was signed to a two-way deal by the Panthers in the off-season, but was claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes in pre-season.
As for Mike Reilly, he played just two games with the Panthers, but he has been an effective defenseman throughout his career. Reilly did not play in the first round, but the 32-year-old notched two assists in Game 1 against the Flyers.
Samuel Montembeault and Mike Matheson, Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round in Game 7 just last night. Montembeault didn’t dress for any game, as he has been demoted to the third-string netminder.
The 29-year-old was a third-round pick of the Panthers in 2015, but played just 25 games with the organization.
Mike Matheson played 299 games with the Panthers, the most of any team in his career, although it will be the Canadiens with whom he’s played the most soon. The 32-year-old has posted some strong offensive seasons in his career, but now he’s used more as a solid second-pairing two-way defender.
The Canadiens are set for a challenging second-round matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.
Alex Lyon has posted a .955 save percentage and 1.14 goals-against average in the playoffs so far. (Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)
Alex Lyon, Buffalo Sabres
Alex Lyon is a Panthers hero, and now he’s becoming a Sabres icon. Lyon helped the Panthers make a late push to the playoffs in 2023, and now he’s stepped into the crease in place of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and has dominated.
The 33-year-old guided the Sabres to three wins, allowing just one goal in each win. He allowed just two goals in his only loss in the playoffs so far.
Frank Vatrano and Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks
Radko Gudas and Frank Vatrano haven’t been a factor in the Anaheim Ducks’ success. If anything, Gudas did the opposite.
In Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, Gudas fell over his feet while Mattias Ekholm skated towards him, allowing a clean shot on goal before the Oilers scored on the rebound. Gudas then exited the lineup with an injury and has not returned. The Ducks went on to win four of the next five games.
As for Vatrano, he’s been a healthy scratch for the Ducks. He played five seasons in Florida, but the same issues that plagued him before continue: inconsistency.
The Minnesota Wild may have been handed the toughest hand in the first round, but they didn’t complain. Rather, they defeated the Dallas Stars in six games and looked more in control than the Stars did.
Vladimir Tarasenko was a bit quiet, but he remains a solid offensive player now in his mid-thirties. Tarasenko wasn’t an incredible producer for the Panthers when they won the Stanley Cup in 2024, but he pitched in when needed.
As for Petry, he was an off-season signing whom the Panthers traded away at the deadline. The veteran has skated in just one playoff game for the Wild so far.
The Wild will be in tough against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, as Game 1 finished 9-6 in a loss for the Wild.
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Timberwolves
Spurs
COVERS INTEL: Allen fell short of this prop in 
