Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners
Sunday, April 19, 2026, 3:10 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)
T-Mobile Park
LHP MacKenzie Gore vs. RHP Bryan Woo
Go Rangers!
Game 22 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners
Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels
San Diego Padres (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11), April 19, 2026, 1:07 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
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‘I Don’t Think You Can Ever Be Fast Enough’: Three Things Canucks Forward Max Sasson Plans To Work On During The Off-Season
When it comes to their trajectory, the Vancouver Canucks are in an interesting situation. On one hand, their potential is bolstered by a crop of talented young players all in their early 20s. On the flip side, their supposed ‘veterans’ are, for the most part, still slightly under 30, though the younger ‘veterans’ all have a good chunk of NHL games under their belt.
Max Sasson is one of a couple players who don’t quite fit into either of the two categories. While the 25-year-old did play in 29 games with the Canucks last year, he spent the majority of his time with the Abbotsford Canucks and played a key role in the team’s Calder Cup run back in June. The 2025–26 season was his first full stint in the NHL, during which he put up 13 goals — tied for sixth-most on the team — and six assists in 66 games. Having said that, since the start of the 2024–25 season, Sasson has played in some of the most games of all current Canucks; 162 in both the NHL and AHL.
A full off-season to properly rest and train will go a long way for him personally, Sasson explained during Friday’s end-of-season media availability.
“Last summer, I got home on July 1, and I was back here like August 20-something. So using this full off-season to obviously, you hear the answers that train and which obviously, 100%, I’m going to use this to be more mobile. I think there’s areas of my game that I can clean up with my wall play, my puck touches. I also think I can transform myself with this long off-season into more of a, I say NHL third-line body, where you’re not getting pushed off the puck as easy.”
One distinct characteristic of Sasson’s game through his first two NHL seasons has been the speed he can exhibit while cutting into the O-zone. It’s something that, despite being so noticeable, the forward believes he can still work on for the coming season.
“I want to continue to work on my speed. I don’t think you can ever be fast enough.”
Sasson’s speed went on full-display towards the back-end of the season, when he was moved to wing after playing mostly at centre. This slight shift in position is something that the forward isn’t entirely opposed to as his career progresses — if anything, he’s intrigued by it.
“I played a little bit of it last year here, but for the majority of my three seasons, I’ve been a centre, but yeah, I think I have embraced it. And I think there are chances for me to use more of my speed, especially maybe not having to work as hard in the D-zone, and maybe using my energy to push the pace up-ice and getting more foot races. Do I see that as a path forward? Honestly, I feel comfortable with both. However, I think in the second half, the majority of games were at the wing, and I think I proved that I probably can be a pretty good winger in this league.”
The mental side of the game is another part that Sasson is planning on working on during the off-season. Keeping focus on what’s going on internally is something that, he admitted, he has noticed more at the NHL level.
“I feel a lot of times that when guys are thinking a lot, and they have a lot going through their mind, you can see it on the ice. And when a guy’s playing free and playing with confidence, it’s very noticeable.”
Despite picking out a few things he’s hoping to work on this off-season, Sasson acknowledges that everyone on the team needs to put in the work in order for the team to keep themselves on the path to future success. Sure, Vancouver may be in the rebuilding stage of their process, but as Sasson said, that shouldn’t stop them from coming into training camp with a healthy level of compete.
“No player in here is thinking rebuild. We’re all going to train our butts off this summer and come into camp and try to compete for a playoff spot. But when you hear rebuild, I think you can think of some excitement and look around the league at some of the teams that have done it. And you know, you see Willy (Willander), you see Zeev, you see Öhgy (Öhgren), you see all these really young players. That should be exciting for fans to see, because the potential is endless with these guys. I think when, if [a rebuild]’s done right, you can be one of the best teams in the league.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Rob Thomson lays out Taijuan Walker plan as Zack Wheeler nears return
Rob Thomson lays out Taijuan Walker plan as Zack Wheeler nears return originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
To begin the season, every five days, Taijuan Walker has toed the slab for the Phillies.
With Zack Wheeler on the shelf to open the year, the club needed its tall right-hander to eat innings, keep the Phillies in games and bridge the gap until the ace’s return.
Walker, though, has not done that consistently. And his biggest issue has come right away — in the first inning — when he has dug the Phillies into early holes at a time when the offense has struggled to score.
Through four starts, Walker owns a league-worst 24.75 ERA in the opening frame, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits, three homers and five walks. Opponents are slashing .500/.567/.917 against him in the first inning, good for a 1.483 OPS.
The next-highest first-inning ERAs belong to Washington’s Jake Irvin and Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen at 15.75.
With the same qualifier, Walker’s mark would be the highest in the National League since Eric Nolte posted a 23.63 first-inning ERA for San Diego in 1991.
This is nothing new for Walker, either. Since signing with the Phillies in 2023, he leads the Majors in first-inning ERA at 8.41 among pitchers with at least 70 starts in that span.
Because of that, the Phillies changed Walker’s pregame routine before his last outing, trying to build more intensity at the end of his bullpen session so he would be in more of a game rhythm by first pitch. It did not solve the issue. Walker still gave up two runs in the first against the Braves.
So with Wheeler nearing a return after his fifth minor league rehab start, the natural question started to loom:
What is the plan for Walker now?
The right-hander had been lined up to start Wednesday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but Rob Thomson announced Sunday that the Phillies will use an opener, with Walker still in line to follow.
“No,” Thomson said when asked if Walker would start. “We’re gonna open it.”
Whether entering in the second or third inning helps him is still to be seen. But the Phillies are clearly willing to try something different. As Thomson put it, “It’s just kind of trialing.”
The thought process is simple enough. Walker has to be more aggressive early in outings and avoid falling behind.
“He’s just got to attack, not get behind,” Thomson said.
Walker’s role beyond this week still appears to depend in large part on how Wheeler feels, even once he returns.
Wheeler pitched Sunday for Double-A Reading in Bridgewater, N.J., and allowed four earned runs — including two home runs — on six hits while striking out four in four innings. He threw 77 pitches, short of the 90-pitch goal, and the chilly weather did him no favors.
Thomson said the curveball looked good and thought the outing was fine considering the conditions.
“The curveball was good. Very cold,” Thomson said. “48 strikes, so considering how cold it was, I thought that was pretty good. The velocity was down a little bit, but I think that’s understandable.”
The pitch count plan was adjusted because of pitches inning-by-inning.
“We wanted to get him up to 90, but there were a lot of long innings in between,” Thomson said. “I just decided to get him out.”
That leaves Wheeler’s return date a little less clear than it looked a few days ago. When asked whether Wheeler will rejoin the rotation this coming weekend, Thomson did not commit.
“We’ve got to get him back here and talk to him, figure out where we’re going,” he said.
When Wheeler does come back, though, Thomson did not dismiss Walker still having a place on the Major League staff.
“Yeah,” he said when asked if Walker still has a rotation role. “Well, we think he’s gonna get better.”
That could mean a move into a long relief role, which is where Walker finished last year. But Thomson also did not rule out a six-man rotation, something they considered last September when Aaron Nola was returning from injury and the club signed Walker Buehler.
“If there was a long stretch of games without a day off, sure,” he said.
That possibility would make some sense. It could help manage Andrew Painter’s innings later in the season, ease some stress off Wheeler’s arm and give the Phillies’ left-handed starters an extra day when needed.
The Phillies at least have reason to think creatively about the staff beyond the top five. The rotation has gotten off to a slow start, particularly Jesús Luzardo, whose 7.94 ERA is the worst among qualifiers. Walker, who does not qualify because of innings, is at 9.16.
They have gotten solid outings from Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Painter, but the offense has not done the rotation many favors.
If the Phillies were hitting to their standards, the spotlight on the final rotation spot — or a possible sixth — might not feel so magnified. But that is where things stand for a team that opened 8-12.
UPDATE ON REALMUTO AND MILLER
Thomson also provided an update on catcher J.T. Realmuto and top prospect Aidan Miller.
Realmuto, who exited Saturday’s game, was still sore Sunday and only available in an emergency role.
“He’s still a little sore,” Thomson said. “He’s available on emergency tonight.”
Thomson said he did not expect it to be a long-term issue, but the Phillies were still checking on him.
There was more news on Miller. The Phillies’ top-ranked prospect still has not resumed swinging a bat, but he is moving closer.
“He’s now taking ground balls,” Thomson said. “He’s doing everything except for swing. We’re hoping to get him going this week if everything goes well enough.”
An encouraging update on that front.
Dodgers vs. Rockies game III chat
The Dodgers look to bounce back after a tough defeat as they take on the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Sunday. Roki Sasaki makes his fourth start of the season against right-hander Michael Lorenzen.
SUNDAY GAME INFO
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Rockies
- Stadium: Coors Field, Denver, CO
- Time: 12:10 p.m. PT
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)
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How Luke Kennard exploded for a career night in Game 1
LOS ANGELES – Saturday’s Game 1 between the Lakers and Rockets saw the Crypto.com Arena crowd will the purple and gold to victory behind the unlikeliest of leading men.
Midway through the fourth with LA leading by 12, the Lakers ran an action to get their lead guard his fifth three of the night and put the nail in Houston’s coffin.
No, it wasn’t Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves, the high-scoring duo originally expected to lead LA in postseason scoring. With both stars still out, Luke Kennard stepped up huge, putting up a playoff career high of 27 points on 5-5 shooting from the 3-point line.
It started early for the Duke product playing in the 29th playoff game of his career. A sign of utmost respect, the Rockets attached arguably their best perimeter defender, Amen Thompson, to Kennard.
LA used multiple screens and actions to shake him free from the first-team All-Defense opponent. Watch below as he comes off an ATO, curling around a Deandre Ayton screen with Thompson in chase mode.
Known for his 3-point shooting, the 59% mid range shooter collects his first two points. A couple possessions later, he curls off another screen in the middle of the floor and drives with a pretty off-hand hook shot that softly banks in. He finished the first quarter with 12 points on 5-6 shooting.
A major question entering the series was how the Lakers’ guards would handle the on-ball pressure Houston presents, especially in lineups without LeBron James.
Even while committing three turnovers, Kennard provided much-needed shot creation and showed off his underrated handle. Watch below as he snake dribbles off the screen and hits a pull-up over Alperen Şengün in drop coverage.
He stayed aggressive, not only taking threes but seeking them, including one over Thompson’s contest shown below.
“I just liked that he was aggressive shooting threes,” head coach J.J. Redick said postgame. “He played a fantastic basketball game…he just played really aggressive tonight.”
While the Lakers can’t expect 27 points every night, they will need this level of assertiveness every game of the series to contend. He’s become a primary option and the gravity of his movement is a vital cog in the Lakers’ opening up shots for others.
It’s not a large sample size, but once Luka and Reaves went down, LA quickly moved Kennard up the hierarchy. The two-man game with LeBron has blossomed all season and continued Saturday as they surgically hunted mismatches of big man Şengün and young guard Reed Shepherd.
Kennard’s usage on the Lakers before the injuries was just 12.8%. In the final five games of the season, it jumped to 19%. On Saturday, it was a steady 20.2% as one of the main go-to scorers and facilitators.
The Rockets will likely make adjustments going forward, adding more aggressive coverages and mixing up defensive rotations. The Lakers reps have been building towards this moment, and he took full advantage of the opportunity, looking prepared to continue doing so.
“Honestly, I feel like those games leading up to right now, I developed a rhythm kind of playing in that role,” Kennard said post-game. “It gave me confidence going into the playoffs of doing more and being controlled, poised, and looking for my shot when I can. So tonight, there was no difference. Shots went in.
“Again, it’s just having that mentality of getting everybody organized when I can and then looking for the best shot available and just being aggressive.”
You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu
Steph Curry tells touching story of surprising Jimmy Butler by wearing his shoes
Steph Curry tells touching story of surprising Jimmy Butler by wearing his shoes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Jimmy Butler usually is the one doing the surprising.
Remember when the six-time NBA All-Star broke out “Emo Jimmy” for the Miami Heat’s Media Day in 2023 or launched his own coffee brand in the “bubble” in 2020?
Well, it was his Warriors teammate, the one and only Steph Curry, who got Butler this time. Back when the sharpshooter entered his own sneaker free agency and had the entire league wondering what kicks he’d be rocking on any given night, Curry stunned Butler when wearing a pair from his signature line with Li-Ning during a game.
“I think the first time I wore, you know, a shoe other than my own in an actual game, which was the [Li-Ning Jimmy Butler JB4 “Dark Knight”],” Curry said on his YouTube channel when asked about which pair of sneakers he wore that surprised people the most. “Those, even my own teammates, nobody knew I was actually going to wear another shoe outside of mine until literally right when we went to the starting lineups, and we were in the circle.”
“We do like this little dance, and everybody’s getting hype, and then (ex-Golden State fan favorite Buddy Hield) pointed down and is like, ‘Oh, look at–,’ and then Jimmy looked down; he lost his mind because he didn’t even know, because everybody’s kind of in their own mode, getting ready for the game. I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life, just because it was kind of from a teammate-to-teammate perspective of being able to show love.
Butler had no idea that Curry was rocking his very own kicks during an actual 2025-26 NBA regular-season game for the world to see.
And, while Curry might be partnering with Sotheby’s to admirably auction off his sneaker free agency collection for his own EAT. LEARN. PLAY. Foundation, the four-time NBA champion will be able to cherish the memories from his past season’s shoe game for the rest of time.
“The fact that I made it all the way to tip off and he had no clue I was rocking his shoes,” Curry said, “those types of moments are always fun because you create a memory out of nothing.”
Jimmy Buckets truly had no clue — and Curry will keep the moment with him forever.
Game Thread: The NBA Playoffs are here. Suns vs. Thunder, Game 1
Game 1.
LIVE GAME BLOG: Los Angeles Kings v. Colorado Avalanche, Game 1
Get ready to rumble!!
First Period
Josh Manson wasted no time setting the tone, flipping the switch on his physical game early and delivering a crushing reverse hit on Scott Laughton that sent the longtime Flyer sprawling to the ice in a heap. It was the kind of jolt that instantly raised the temperature inside the building.
Momentum briefly tilted Colorado’s way midway through the period when Los Angeles forward Jared Wright was whistled for slashing Gabriel Landeskog at 10:54, handing the Avalanche their first power play of both the afternoon and the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite a few controlled entries and some perimeter movement, Colorado couldn’t crack through, and the Kings’ penalty kill held firm.
13 minutes in, the game remained locked in a tight, scoreless battle, with the Avalanche holding a slight 5–3 edge in shots. By the end of the opening frame, nothing had changed on the scoreboard—still 0–0—but Colorado carried a bit more of the play, outshooting Los Angeles 9–5 while establishing an early physical and technical edge.
Second Period
The second period opened with an unintentional bit of comedy. Kings defenseman Brian Dumoulin was still jawing at the officials after a whistle, clearly frustrated as he picked himself up off the ice. But when the replay hit the jumbotron, the crowd got the punchline—Dumoulin hadn’t been taken down by an Avalanche player at all. It was his own teammate who sent him tumbling, taking the edge off his argument in a hurry.
Colorado got another opportunity to seize momentum at 3:05 when Mathieu Joseph was called for interference on Jack Drury, handing the Avalanche their second power play. There was a little more bite this time—some net-front hacks, a couple of dangerous looks—but the finish still wasn’t there. The Avs slipped to 0-for-2, and you could feel a bit of frustration starting to creep in.
For Dumoulin, the period only got worse. Just over six minutes in, he went down awkwardly and stayed there, clearly in discomfort. After a pause, he needed help getting off the ice, favoring his lower body. It looked serious in the moment, though he would later return—an early scare in what had already been a rough stretch for him.
Then came the kind of sequence that leaves everyone shaking their heads.
In what felt like the latest installment of “What Exactly Is Goaltender Interference?”, Drury was tripped by Drew Doughty and sent crashing into Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg just as Logan O’Connor fired the puck into the net. The Avalanche celebrated what looked like a 1–0 lead—but the officials immediately waved it off. No goal. Interference.
Colorado challenged, hoping for a different outcome, but the ruling stood after review. Instead of a lead, the Avalanche found themselves shorthanded with a delay-of-game penalty. Confusion turned into frustration in a matter of seconds.
The chaos didn’t stop there. With 9:36 remaining, Artemi Panarin found himself staring at a wide-open net at the top of the crease, but in a split-second defensive play, Sam Malinski lifted his stick just enough to throw off the shot, sending it wide at the last possible moment.
Ten seconds later, the Avalanche were right back on the power play after Quinton Byfield tripped Nathan MacKinnon. It felt like another chance to finally break through—but it evaporated almost instantly. Just 41 seconds in, Martin Nečas was whistled for holding, and the ice tilted back to even strength.
Finally, the breakthrough came—and this one left no doubt.
With 4:31 to go in the period, MacKinnon threaded a slick pass to Artturi Lehkonen, who drove into space and snapped a shot past the outstretched right leg of Forsberg. Clean. Clinical. No debate this time.
After all the chaos, controversy, and missed chances, Colorado had its lead—1–0, and one that actually stuck.
At the end of 40 minutes of play, the Avalanche held a 1-0 lead with a 22-17 advantage in shots on goal.
Third Period
This time, it counted for Logan O'Connor. After taking a pass from Jack Drury, the hard-charging Av skated hard down the right wing, skated past a defender, and ripped a top shelf wrister that beat Forsberg and gave Colorado a 2-0 lead.
2025-26 NBA award finalists: See the full list of MVP, DPOY, more
2025-26 NBA award finalists: See the full list of MVP, DPOY, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
With the NBA playoffs in full swing, next up is who will win the key awards for the season.
For Defensive Player of the Year, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is viewed as the favorite, while Most Improved Player, among other awards, are tougher to call.
Wembanyama will also be in the running for MVP, alongside previous winners in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
Rookie of the Year involves No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, but there’s another strong candidate who may rival him for it.
Here’s the full list of each performance award and the respective finalists, which were revealed on NBC and Peacock:
CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Atlanta Hawks
- Deni Avdija, F, Portland Trail Blazers
- Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Ausar Thompson, G/F, Detroit Pistons
- Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
SIXTHMAN OF THE YEAR
- Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Denver Nuggets
- Keldon Johnson, G/F, San Antonio Spurs
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., G/F, Miami Heat
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
- Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- VJ Edgecombe, G, Philadelphia 76ers
- Cooper Flagg, F, Dallas Mavericks
- Kon Knueppel, F, Charlotte Hornets
COACH OF THE YEAR
- J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
- Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
- Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
2025-26 NBA award finalists: See the full list of MVP, DPOY, more
2025-26 NBA award finalists: See the full list of MVP, DPOY, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
With the NBA playoffs in full swing, next up is who will win the key awards for the season.
For Defensive Player of the Year, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is viewed as the favorite, while Most Improved Player, among other awards, are tougher to call.
Wembanyama will also be in the running for MVP, alongside previous winners in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
Rookie of the Year involves No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, but there’s another strong candidate who may rival him for it.
Here’s the full list of each performance award and the respective finalists, which were revealed on NBC and Peacock:
CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Atlanta Hawks
- Deni Avdija, F, Portland Trail Blazers
- Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Ausar Thompson, G/F, Detroit Pistons
- Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
SIXTHMAN OF THE YEAR
- Tim Hardaway Jr., G, Denver Nuggets
- Keldon Johnson, G/F, San Antonio Spurs
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., G/F, Miami Heat
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
- Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- VJ Edgecombe, G, Philadelphia 76ers
- Cooper Flagg, F, Dallas Mavericks
- Kon Knueppel, F, Charlotte Hornets
COACH OF THE YEAR
- J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pistons
- Mitch Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
- Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Texas Rangers lineup for April 18, 2026
Texas Rangers lineup for April 18, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Bryan Woo for the Mariners.
This is the final game of a long, grueling, ten game road trip.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Smith — 2B
Jansen — C
3:10 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +120 underdogs.
Best NBA Player Props Today for April 19: Wembymania Runs Wild
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Sunday brings another slate of playoff openers in the NBA, with some of the biggest young stars in the league seeing action tonight.
That includes both Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama, both of whom I’m picking to have big games for their teams in my NBA player prop picks for tonight.
Keep reading to see my favorite NBA picks from Sunday, April 19.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Paolo Banchero | Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists | -115 |
 Victor Wembanyama | Over 11.5 rebounds | -130 |
| De'Aaron Fox | Over 1.5 made threes | -120 |
Prop #1: Paolo Banchero Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists
-115 at bet365
The Orlando Magic needed to win on Friday to finally clinch their playoff spot, doing so in style with a 121-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Paolo Banchero was at the heart of that victory, scoring 25 points and putting up 36 total PRA.
That’s nothing unusual for the Magic star, who averaged 35.8 PRA for the season and surpassed his total for tonight’s game in four of his last five regular-season games, including a 31-point, 37 PRA performance against the Detroit Pistons earlier this month.
Orlando will need more performances like that to have a chance in this series. I expect the Magic to lean heavily on Banchero, making him an excellent choice to hit his PRA total tonight and throughout the series.
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBC
Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
-130 at bet365
Victor Wembanyama put together perhaps his most complete season this year, playing 71 games and continuing to dominate defensively. Wembanyama averaged career highs of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, all while the San Antonio Spurs have carefully limited his minutes, letting him play just under 30 per night.
We won’t see those kinds of restrictions or careful usage in the playoffs. Wemby finished the regular season strong on the boards, collecting 13+ rebounds in seven of his last eight.
There’s no reason to expect anything less from the 22-year-old now that the Spurs are pushing to make a deep playoff run, and I love Wembanyama’s rebounding Over tonight.
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBC
Prop #3: De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 made threes
-120 at bet365
De’Aaron Fox has been an important complementary piece for the Spurs this year, averaging 18.6 PPG on 48.6% shooting. That includes solid shooting from deep, hitting 33.2% of his threes for the season.
We saw Fox shoot more freely from deep in the final few games of the season, hitting 2+ from beyond the arc in each of his last three games.
And with the Portland Trail Blazers certain to focus on preventing Wembanyama from singlehandedly beating them, that should make it easier for Fox to get open and to fire away from deep. With his made threes total at a modest 1.5, I like the Over.
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBC
These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.
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Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight
Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
It’s the best time of the NBA season.
After 82 long games, it’s time for the even more grueling grind of the postseason. Sixteen more wins are required to hoist the championship.
The cream will rise to the top, while others may get exposed in a setting where every weakness and every margin matter.
So, which of the eight battles in the first round will be the one to relish the most? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:
8. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Oklahoma City is the No. 1 seed after winning the championship last season. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder should easily handle a Phoenix team with Devin Booker running the show. Booker’s main supporting cast is Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Not good enough. They could steal one game with hot shooting, but the Thunder should cruise to the second round, health willing.
7. New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
This postseason is a significant part of the Knicks‘ current timeline. Jalen Brunson needs to lead the team to at least the conference finals, but Karl-Anthony Towns has to quell his previous defensive miscues if New York is to take the next step. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart will need to have the odd hot game every now and then, too. Combine all of that and they should also get past Atlanta with little worries, as the Hawks really only have Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum as their main on-the-ball threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is also facing a defining run amid a career year, while Jonathan Kuminga will need to offer more consistency if an unlikely upset transpires.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
Neither of these teams are expected to win the championship, but it’ll be interesting to see if James Harden can add more that Darius Garland couldn’t, especially if the top ranking on the list spices things up. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been here before, but the latter two and their relatively inexperienced supporting cast will need to step up. Toronto is led by the trio of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes, but that’s not the right balance to move the needle in the postseason.
5. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
This matchup and Cleveland-Toronto could be swapped, but ultimately the star quality of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards provided the edge. Jokic and Jamal Murray have to do a lot of heavy lifting to win the championship, but they should be enough to take down Edwards, who likely will struggle alongside Julius Randle as his main scoring threat.
4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Here it gets a little more intriguing. San Antonio is back in the playoff setting where it thrived under Gregg Popovich, and this time Victor Wembanyama is involved. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and more balanced profiles, the Spurs are rightfully in the contending mix. The playoff inexperience might be a hurdle, but the conference finals should be the minimum. If they get OKC, anything can happen. Portland is also new blood after a while, with Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday the key figures. The Blazers need this experience for their trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Injuries are the main concern in this matchup, but if players come back in time then the intensity and quality will increase. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 for Houston in its loss to Los Angeles, while LeBron James turned back the clock without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whoever triumphs may just come down to health, but Houston looked rough on offense without Durant. That bodes well for point guard LeBron, who received major help from Luke Kennard. Regardless, Durant vs. LeBron in 2026 can still attract hype.
2. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid has previously said this matchup isn’t a rivalry. To paraphrase safely, the Celtics tend to rout the 76ers. That was the case in Game 1, but adding Embiid back into the frame could swing a few games for Philly. Boston will still be favored overall given Jayson Tatum’s return and the Eastern Conference being weaker, but Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George can supply key help that Embiid hasn’t always had. Plus, who doesn’t love when these two cities face off?
1. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
But the top spot goes to Detroit and Orlando. In a matchup that should be a throwback to the league’s past, the Pistons have soared to the top seed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. However, with Tobias and Duncan Robinson being the next two key scorers, there is a risk of Detroit being upset here. Orlando will need to be at its best, which hasn’t always been the case as it hung on to the No. 8 seed. Still, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black and Co. won’t get a better chance to raise their trajectory than here. Let the battle commence.
Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight
Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
It’s the best time of the NBA season.
After 82 long games, it’s time for the even more grueling grind of the postseason. Sixteen more wins are required to hoist the championship.
The cream will rise to the top, while others may get exposed in a setting where every weakness and every margin matter.
So, which of the eight battles in the first round will be the one to relish the most? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:
8. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Oklahoma City is the No. 1 seed after winning the championship last season. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder should easily handle a Phoenix team with Devin Booker running the show. Booker’s main supporting cast is Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Not good enough. They could steal one game with hot shooting, but the Thunder should cruise to the second round, health willing.
7. New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
This postseason is a significant part of the Knicks‘ current timeline. Jalen Brunson needs to lead the team to at least the conference finals, but Karl-Anthony Towns has to quell his previous defensive miscues if New York is to take the next step. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart will need to have the odd hot game every now and then, too. Combine all of that and they should also get past Atlanta with little worries, as the Hawks really only have Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum as their main on-the-ball threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is also facing a defining run amid a career year, while Jonathan Kuminga will need to offer more consistency if an unlikely upset transpires.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
Neither of these teams are expected to win the championship, but it’ll be interesting to see if James Harden can add more that Darius Garland couldn’t, especially if the top ranking on the list spices things up. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been here before, but the latter two and their relatively inexperienced supporting cast will need to step up. Toronto is led by the trio of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes, but that’s not the right balance to move the needle in the postseason.
5. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
This matchup and Cleveland-Toronto could be swapped, but ultimately the star quality of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards provided the edge. Jokic and Jamal Murray have to do a lot of heavy lifting to win the championship, but they should be enough to take down Edwards, who likely will struggle alongside Julius Randle as his main scoring threat.
4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Here it gets a little more intriguing. San Antonio is back in the playoff setting where it thrived under Gregg Popovich, and this time Victor Wembanyama is involved. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and more balanced profiles, the Spurs are rightfully in the contending mix. The playoff inexperience might be a hurdle, but the conference finals should be the minimum. If they get OKC, anything can happen. Portland is also new blood after a while, with Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday the key figures. The Blazers need this experience for their trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Injuries are the main concern in this matchup, but if players come back in time then the intensity and quality will increase. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 for Houston in its loss to Los Angeles, while LeBron James turned back the clock without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whoever triumphs may just come down to health, but Houston looked rough on offense without Durant. That bodes well for point guard LeBron, who received major help from Luke Kennard. Regardless, Durant vs. LeBron in 2026 can still attract hype.
2. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid has previously said this matchup isn’t a rivalry. To paraphrase safely, the Celtics tend to rout the 76ers. That was the case in Game 1, but adding Embiid back into the frame could swing a few games for Philly. Boston will still be favored overall given Jayson Tatum’s return and the Eastern Conference being weaker, but Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George can supply key help that Embiid hasn’t always had. Plus, who doesn’t love when these two cities face off?
1. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
But the top spot goes to Detroit and Orlando. In a matchup that should be a throwback to the league’s past, the Pistons have soared to the top seed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. However, with Tobias and Duncan Robinson being the next two key scorers, there is a risk of Detroit being upset here. Orlando will need to be at its best, which hasn’t always been the case as it hung on to the No. 8 seed. Still, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black and Co. won’t get a better chance to raise their trajectory than here. Let the battle commence.