Warriors entering offseason of uncertainty until Steve Kerr makes decision

An image collage containing 5 images, Image 1 shows Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr giving a thumbs up, Image 2 shows Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors points during the game against the Sacramento Kings, Image 3 shows Quinten Post of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass as Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers defends, Image 4 shows Will Richard of the Golden State Warriors looking on during the game, Image 5 shows Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors shooting a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns

SAN FRANCISCO — The direction of the Warriors’ offseason waits on Steve Kerr, so with the coach still undecided about his future, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. also put his traditional postseason news conference on hold.

With Steph Curry and Draymond Green already addressing their futures following Friday’s play-in loss to the Suns that ended their season, that meant there wasn’t much of any consequence left as the remainder of the roster took the podium one-by-one Monday inside Chase Center.

Still, here’s one thing we learned about each player in the last time we hear from them before they regroup at the end of summer for a training camp that could look different from years past.

Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors three point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Al Horford: Still contemplating future

Horford described his first year with the Warriors as a “positive experience,” despite not getting the chance to chase a championship like he had hoped when he decided to leave the Celtics.

Horford, 39, possesses a player option for next season but said he’s undecided about his future. He did not rule out retirement and said he would talk it over with his wife, Amelia.

“Fortunately for me, I’m healthy. I feel good. I still feel like I can contribute and play at a very high level still. Those are all things that I’m going to look at,” Horford said. “Now that everything kind of gets quiet, you know, it’s something that I’ll reflect on all that.”


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De’Anthony Melton: Open to returning

Horford isn’t the only player with a decision to make, with Melton also holding a $3.45 million player option for next season.

The 27-year-old guard said he would “love to come back,” but he will take time to weigh his options, which should be more lucrative after re-establishing himself in his first year back from knee surgery.

“You’ve got to give yourself time to kind of decompress and see everything that’s going on, kind of let the dust settle,” he said. “I think that type of stuff is what I’m going to worry about next week.”

Brandin Podziemski: Hopes to sign contract extension

Melton’s backcourt partner won’t be a restricted free agent until after next season, but now that he is eligible for an extension to his rookie deal, the 23-year-old hopes it can get done this summer.

Podziemski, who took on more responsibility with Curry sidelined, said he look lessons away from watching the different ways Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody handled their contract situations.

“I want to be here for the long-term,” he said. “I think both seeing (Kuminga) and Moses do two different things for me helped, just seeing the goods and bads to both sides. I don’t think one is better than the other, but seeing that as a teammate and seeing how they handled both situations, I think is going to help me.”

Podziemski also walked back comments from before the season, when he said his goal was to be better than Curry. The brashness earned criticism inside and outside the organization.

“I know I’m not going to be better than Steph. He’s the only person that can be Steph,” Podziemski said. “So for me it’s just having that confidence, but understanding that I’m just trying to be the best version of Brandin Podziemski I can be, and wherever that kind of takes me in this career.”

Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors points during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Quinten Post: Foot injury won’t prevent him from playing with Dutch national team

An injury to his right foot prevented the 26-year-old center from appearing in all but one of the Warriors’ final 13 games, but he said he was gearing up to be ready for a potential first-round series.

“I kept trying to play through it, and I put myself back,” he said.

Post also lost playing time once Horford was healthy and the Warriors had added another big man in Kristaps Porzingis. Post and Porzingis are set to be unrestricted free agents.

In the meantime, Post said he hopes to continue to improve his defense, get leaner and “play a bunch of basketball.” That includes suiting up for the Dutch national team.

“I think I’ll be back in about two weeks and start ramping it up from there,” Post said of his health. As far as his future with the Warriors, he added: “I would love to be here for as long as possible.”

Will Richard of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on April 12, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Will Richard: Plans to play Summer League despite hitting ‘rookie wall’

The Warriors looked like they found a diamond in the rough with Richard, the 56th overall pick in this past draft, but the rookie guard admitted he wasn’t the same player from about the All-Star break onward.

“It’s been a long season just from playing in the (NCAA) National Championship to predraft workouts, Summer League, training camp,” Richard said. “It’s been nonstop.”

Still, Richard said he planned for only a little downtime before getting back to work. He confirmed that he plans to play in the NBA Summer League this July for a second year in a row.

“I know it’s a big summer,” he said.

Mariners place Brendan Donovan on 10-day IL, select INF Will Wilson

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 17: Brendan Donovan #33 of the Seattle Mariners fields the ball against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mariners will be without one of their biggest off-season acquisitions for at least the next week, placing INF Brendan Donovan on the 10-day IL with a groin strain.

Donovan appeared to suffer the injury in Friday’s series opener against the Rangers, a game where he had to make multiple tough plays on bunts.

Will Wilson gets the call up from Tacoma and will take Donovan’s roster spot. Wilson appeared in 34 games with Cleveland last season, slashing .192/.267/.244.

For those wondering why the Mariners didn’t select Colt Emerson after signing him to a then record-breaking extension, Emerson is currently dealing with a wrist injury that will keep him out of Triple-A Tacoma’s next couple of games. Mariners GM Justin Hollander said they will reassess Emerson on Thursday and see how he’s doing.

Here’s to a speedy recovery for Brendan Donovan.

Joseph Savarino, grandson of Mike Krzyzewski, charged with DWI in fatal crash

Joseph Savarino, the grandson of former Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired in a crash that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy in North Carolina.

According to WRAL News — an NBC TV affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina — Savarino is accused of hitting a cyclist riding their electric bike at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18, at the intersection of Cole Mill Road and Wyndham Lane in Durham, North Carolina. WRAL reports that the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to online records from the Durham County Sheriff's Office, Savarino, 26, was booked into jail at 2:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, April 19, before posting out on $100,000 bond on Monday, April 20.

According to a public report of the incident obtained by WRAL News, Savarino told police he had been drinking earlier in the night, and that his blood alcohol content level registered at 0.11 on a breathalyzer test. WRAL also reported that a judge issued an order to revoke Savarino’s driving license.

Savarino is the son of Krzyzewski's daughter, Debbie Savarino, according to a 2024 article from the Raleigh News & Observer.

Krzyzewski has been retired from coaching since the end of the 2021-22 season. He served as the Blue Devils' coach for 42 seasons and posted a career overall record of 1,129-309.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joseph Savarino, grandson of Mike Krzyzewski, charged with DWI

Sixers win Draft Lottery tiebreaker, secure 22nd pick in 2026 NBA Draft

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 12: Dallas Mavericks have officially won the in NBA Draft Lottery with 1.8% pre-lottery chance to win the pick in Chicago, Illinois, United States on May 12, 2025. San Antonio Spurs got the second pick, Philadelphia 76ers got 3rd and Charlotte Hornets got the 4th pick in the lottery. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images

The NBA held its draft tiebreaker drawings on Monday, April 20. It is worth clarifying what this process actually is, as this is not the Draft Lottery itself. Instead, the league uses these drawings to establish the order among tied teams before the lottery takes place, ensuring each team receives the appropriate odds (for lottery bound teams) or settles tiebreakers accordingly (for the 16 teams picking outside the lottery).

The Sixers do have a first-round pick in play, one that was directly affected by Monday’s tiebreaker. Philadelphia holds Houston’s first-round pick, acquired as part of the Jared McCain trade, and the Rockets finished the regular season at 50-32. Houston found themselves in a tiebreaker situation with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished with an identical record. Following a coin flip, the NBA awarded the Rockets the 22nd pick, which belongs to Philadelphia.

While it is only one slot, winning this tiebreaker is a win. Every position matters, especially in this draft. Most talent evaluators consider this class to run particularly deep, with viable prospects expected to be available as far down as picks 20 to 25. With the Sixers slotted at 22, it is a good place to be whether they keep and use the selection or ship it out for immediate help.

As for the Sixers’ own first-round pick, it will be conveying to Oklahoma City as part of the Al Horford deal that sent him to OKC for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson. Philadelphia finished the regular season in a three-way tie with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns, prompting a coin flip to determine picks 16, 17 and 18. While it was always known this pick would head to OKC, Monday’s drawing officially locked in exactly where it will land, slotting in at 17. With that, the long running obligations stemming from the Horford trade are now fully resolved.

Armed with the 22nd pick, the Sixers will have some significant decisions to make in the coming weeks and months. They are right in range to pounce if a coveted name slides down the board, but having a first-round selection also opens the door to moving up or down in ways that simply would not have been realistic without it.

Trading the pick outright remains on the table as well. In the past, I have been bullish on Philadelphia’s ability to move first-round picks mid-draft despite speculation to the contrary. This time around feels different, however. The league has taken notice of this draft class’s talent, and there will be no shortage of teams looking to shuffle their positions and lock up their preferred prospects. The Sixers may find the market for this pick more active than ever.

However it plays out, the 22nd pick gives Philadelphia a legitimate asset and real flexibility heading into one of the more compelling drafts in recent memory. The next few months should be interesting to see play out.

Royals release former first-round pick Asa Lacy

SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Asa Lacy #33 of the Kansas City Royals poses during Photo Day on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The draft can be a bit of a crapshoot. Injuries derail some players, while others have trouble adjusting to the professional level. Asa Lacy experienced both problems. Six years after the Royals made him the fourth overall pick, the team is finally cutting ties, releasing him outright.

Lacy was an absolute stud at Texas A&M University. In 2019, he had a 2.13 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 88 23 innings, and he pitched for the U.S. Collegiate National team that summer. He was a lefty who filled out his 6’4” frame, throwing regularly in the mid-90s with a wipeout slider.

The pandemic halted the 2020 college baseball season just as it was getting started, depriving scouts of an opportunity to see amateur talent. Baseball still held its draft in June, but the information felt incomplete. Teams at the top of the draft elected to go with safer college talent – the first seven picks were all collegiate players. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America ranked Lacy as the #3 prospect, so the Royals appeared to be getting a terrific prospect when they selected him fourth overall, signing him to a $6.67 million bonus.

There was no minor league season in 2020, but the Royals felt so confident in Lacy, they sent him to make his pro debut in High A Quad Cities in 2021. He made 14 starts there and had eye-popping striking out numbers, with 79 punchouts in 52 innings, or one-third of all hitters he faced. But he also struggled with control, walking 41 hitters and putting up a 5.19 ERA. He was shut down in July with a shoulder and lat injury, but returned that fall to pitch in the Arizona Fall League with impressive results.

The Royals promoted him to Double-A in 2022 at the age of 23, but after just two starts he was shut down with a back injury. When he returned, he completely fell apart. Overall, he struck out 35 but walked 42 in just 28 innings – a real-life “Nuke LaLoosh”. After a 10.61 ERA in 15 games, the Royals shut him down. He didn’t pitch the entire 2023 season due to back injuries, and had Tommy John surgery in 2024. He has not pitched in a game since 2022, and was released with a total of 80 minor league innings under his belt.

Looking back, the top of the 2020 draft class looks rather cursed. Top pick Spencer Torkelson has a couple of 30+ home run seasons, but overall has had mixed results. The #2 pick Heston Kjerstad, #3 pick Max Meyer, and #9 pick Zac Veen have been hit by injuries. The #5 pick Austin Martin and #7 pick Nick Gonzales look like utility players. Emerson Hancock, the #6 pick, may finally be coming through at age 27. Meanwhile, the #8 pick Robert Hassell is still in the minors. Still, there were two All-Stars in that draft – #11 pick Garrett Crochet and #19 pick Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Lacy’s release is a reminder that even the most polished amateur arms come with real risk, especially in a draft shaped by uncertainty. The Royals didn’t make an unreasonable bet at the time. Many teams would have done the same. Injuries robbed Lacy of development time, and likely contributed to his command issues. What once looked like a potential cornerstone instead becomes a cautionary tale, another example of how quickly promise can unravel, and how even the “safe” picks are anything but.

Knicks WAG can’t make it to playoff series because of her own sports career

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Alex Jean Glover, fiancée of Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III, explained that she will miss the Knicks-Hawks first-round playoff series due to work, Image 2 shows Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III and his fiancée, Alex Jean Glover, on the court at Madison Square Garden. , Image 3 shows Trey Jemison III #50 of the New York Knicks boxes out during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 12, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III and his fiancée Alex Jean Glover are a sports power couple, which is why she can't support him in person during New York's first-round playoff series against the Hawks.

Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III and his fiancée Alex Jean Glover are a sports power couple.

In a recent TikTok video, Glover, who is a professional volleyball broadcaster for numerous networks, explained that she can’t make it to the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks because “mama’s gotta work” — and she doesn’t want to be a stay-at-home WAG.

“Dont kill me but I’m not gonna be able to make it to those playoff games. Working in sports, I would say, is one of my biggest blessings, but with my fiancé playing in the NBA, I can’t make it to all of the big accomplishments,” Glover, who is a former Division 1 athlete for the SMU women’s volleyball team, said in a “get ready with me” video posted before New York’s 113-102 Game 1 victory at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Glover explained that she scheduled herself to work volleyball games before the Knicks clinched a playoff berth.

“That poses the question of, ‘If you knew it was during playoff time, why would you take it?'” she said. “If I waited for every single time the NBA had something come up… I wouldn’t work at all.”

Alex Jean Glover, fiancée of Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III, explained that she will miss the Knicks-Hawks first-round playoff series due to work. TikTok/ Alex Glover

Glover added that she missed Jemison’s first NBA G-League start with the Westchester Knicks, as well as the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, where the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the championship game in Las Vegas in December.

“Before Trey got with me, he knew he was getting a working baddie,” she said. “But that doesn’t make it any easier.

“That being said, we’re OK with it. I absolutely love my job down. It actually allows me to see him more than I would if I had a normal 9-5 with being I able to do something that I love, being able to travel and see Trey for weeks at a time. I don’t have complaints. I want to be there… But a girl’s gotta work.”

Knicks two-way center Trey Jemison III and his fiancée, Alex Jean Glover, on the court at Madison Square Garden. Instagram/Alex Glover

Glover also explained that she often gets asked why she works so much.

“Because I want to work. It’s OK if you don’t want to work… I will also say this with my full chest: People glamorize the life of a stay-at-home WAG. That is a hard job to have. Basically your whole life is revolving around someone else’s schedule and then you can add another component if you have children.

“It’s not as easy as it looks. Running a household while you’re trying to keep everything together is difficult and it can be so easy to lose yourself in the midst of it all… It’s a lot harder than these women are making it look from the outside.

Trey Jemison III #50 of the New York Knicks boxes out during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 12, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NBAE via Getty Images

“… Props to all the girlfriends and the WAGs and everybody holding it down for these men. Happy playoff season and go Knicks.”

Glover and Jemison got engaged last August

She previously shared that they met when he slid in her DMs in the fall of 2024.

Glover graduated from SMU in 2023. She finished her SMU volleyball career playing 92 sets and recording 80 kills with a .367 hitting percentage and 93 blocks — and finished tied for seventh all-time for most matches played as a Mustang with 126.

Glover added that she’ll be watching the Knicks while on the road at work.

“Mama’s gotta work, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be SAT during the games,” she captioned her post. “As always GO NY GO.”

Game 2 of the Knicks-Hawks best-of-seven first-round series is set for Monday night at MSG.

Knicks win tiebreaker with Lakers, own No. 24 pick in 2026 NBA Draft

With six ties among teams with identical regular season records, the NBA held random drawings on Monday to help determine the order for the 2026 Draft. 

The Knicks were among those teams after finishing with the same record as the Lakers (53-29). 

New York won the tiebreaker over Los Angeles via the drawing, meaning they now own the 24th overall pick. 

That is the first of three selections for the Knicks this year, with the other two being second-rounders, one of which comes via the Washington Wizards. 

New York's last first round selection was Pacome Dadiet at 25th overall in 2024, because they shipped out their first rounder last year as part of the Mikal Bridges trade. 

The NBA Draft takes place on June 23-24 at the Barclays Center. 

West Ham earn point at Crystal Palace to relegate Wolves and widen gap to Spurs

Slowly but surely, West Ham are edging their way to safety. While this battling draw against a Crystal Palace side with their minds elsewhere proved terminal to his former club Wolves as it confirmed their relegation, Nuno Espírito Santo had to be satisfied with a point after Brennan Johnson missed the best chance to boost his former employers Tottenham.

Palace, who have now been involved in eight stalemates this season, were indebted to captain Dean Henderson for producing the save of the night to deny Konstantinos Mavropanos just before half-time, although West Ham struggled to create much else. Nuno will be disappointed not to have stretched their advantage over Tottenham to four points, although their fate remains very much in their hands with David Moyes’s Everton next up on Saturday.

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Mike Dunleavy Jr. will run Warriors regardless of Steve Kerr’s future

With Steve Kerr’s future up in the air, the Warriors are reportedly considering a larger “organizational reset” if their longtime coach opts not to run it back for a 13th season.

While it remains to be seen who will be coaching Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Co. next season and beyond, there is less uncertainty when it comes to Golden State’s front office.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. will be pulling the levers no matter what direction the Warriors go, according to a report from Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne on Monday. Per ESPN, the Golden State general manager quietly signed an extension earlier this season and has multiple years remaining on the deal.

General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. of the Golden State Warriors talks to the media before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Dunleavy, 45, is a former Warriors player who took over the top job in the front office when Bob Myers departed in 2022 following Golden State’s fourth championship in eight seasons.

Myers saw the difficult decisions coming down the road, many of which will come to a head for Dunleavy this offseason. Top of mind is Kerr, whose contract expired after their play-in loss to the Suns and spoke openly about whether returning for a 13th season was the right choice for him.

According to ESPN, citing anonymous team sources, Golden State would like Kerr, 60, to commit to a multiyear extension if he does decide to come back.

If Kerr does walk away, like Green believes he will, that could lead to larger changes for what has been the league’s most stable organization since he teamed up with Curry and Green in 2014.

Not only would the Warriors be expected to include several external coaching candidates in their search, they could also look to the college ranks, according to ESPN. Florida’s national championship-winning coach Todd Golden, who previously led the University of San Francisco, is one potential name.


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Within the league, former Pelicans coach Willie Green was mentioned by ESPN as a possibility to return to the Warriors’ staff, where he was an assistant under Kerr from 2016-19.

If the Warriors opt to move forward with what team sources described to ESPN as a potential “organizational reset,” it could involve further changes to the coaching staff and the roster.

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green gestures to head coach Steve Kerr after being assessed a technical foul in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif., on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) AP

While Steph Curry stopped short of publicly endorsing Kerr after they were eliminated, he said he wanted “Coach to be happy” and that “he knows how I feel about him.” At the same time, Curry acknowledged Golden State needed to change things up after an injury-riddled 37-45 finish.

“I’ve only been in one locker room for the last 17 years,” he said. “Before you win the title, there’s only like those first two years, you’re building the foundation for what a championship team looks like, even though you have no idea what that really meant, then you accomplish it and everything else is based off of that.

“It’s been that way since 2015. … With how the game is played now, with how fast it is, how young and athletic it is, all those things, we kind of have to put everything on the drawing board and get back to just being competitive every single night.”

Kerr acknowledged after the loss that every coaching job has “an expiration date” and that “sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.” Curry agreed but said he believed Kerr was up to the task.

“You have to adapt and evolve, for sure,” he said. “I think Coach is fully capable of doing that and thinking outside the box as we go. But to his point, your spirit has to be in it. Your mind has to be in it. Your coaching staff. Every dynamic has to be on that journey with you.”

Former Blues Draft Pick Tage Thompson Continues To Shine For Sabres

In 2018, the St. Louis Blues made a blockbuster trade to acquire Ryan O’Reilly.

The move paid off greatly for the organization. In his first of five seasons with the Blues, O’Reilly notched career highs in goals (28) and points (77). He also helped the Blues hoist the Stanley Cup, skating as the No. 1 center. 

The Blues should have no regrets about making that deal, but if they did, it’s because of the play of former Blues first-round pick Tage Thompson.  

To acquire O’Reilly, the Blues traded Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and Thompson, as well as a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, to the Buffalo Sabres

Berglund and Sobotka amounted to nothing more than depth players for the Sabres, and the first-round pick the Sabres acquired turned into Ryan Johnson, a defenseman who has spent most of his professional career in the AHL

But Thompson has morphed into a superstar, a true No. 1 center who won gold with Team USA at the Olympics and is centering the top line of a Stanley Cup-contending team. 

Thompson played just 41 games with the Blues, scoring three goals and nine points, and while it did take Thompson a bit of time to get his feet under him at the NHL level, he’s now a consistent 40-goal scorer with a career high of 47 and a point per game player with a career high of 94 points. 

Sabres Managing Excitement After Comeback Win With “One Game At A Time” Approach  Sabres Managing Excitement After Comeback Win With “One Game At A Time” Approach Buffalo scores four goals in the last 10 minutes of the third period to win Game 1 vs. Boston

On Sunday, the Sabres hosted their first playoff game in 14 years, but they found themselves down 2-0 late in the third period. That’s when Thompson introduced himself to the post-season.

The 28-year-old found a loose puck behind the Boston Bruins’ net and scored a wrap-around on his backhand to cut the Bruins’ lead in half. Just over three minutes later, Thompson won another puck battle, made a slick move to create space, and ripped a shot past Jeremy Swayman to tie the game and send the KeyBank Center into a frenzy. 

A minute later, Mattias Samuelsson gave the Sabres the lead before Thompson once again won a key puck battle and sprung Alex Tuch on a breakaway with the Bruins’ net vacant. 

The Sabres pulled off a miraculous comeback in Game 1 to take an early series advantage, which Thompson led.

The Sabres First Home Playoff Game Absolutely Lived Up To The Hype In Win Over BruinsThe Sabres First Home Playoff Game Absolutely Lived Up To The Hype In Win Over BruinsAfter a fifteen-year wait, the Buffalo Sabres made NHL history with a four-goal third-period explosion to stun the Bruins and ignite a city-wide frenzy.

He finished his first career playoff game with two goals, one assist, two penalty minutes, seven shots on goal, and three hits in 20:01 of ice time. He also finished with a Corsi For percentage of 59.38 percent, an expected goals percentage of 61.23 percent, and a high danger chances percentage of 60 percent at 5-on-5. 

Thompson was nothing short of dominant.

Although he was once the 26th overall pick of the Blues in 2016, Thompson was the key part of a deal that helped the Blues hoist the Stanley Cup, and could help the Sabres hoist their own. 


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Bruins vs Sabres Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 2

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The Boston Bruins will try to even their series with the Buffalo Sabres tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Bruins' Charlie McAvoy has been a road warrior in recent months, and my Bruins vs. Sabres predictions for Game 2 see him getting back on track after a quiet Game 1.

Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Tuesday, April 21.

  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 prediction

Who will win Bruins vs Sabres Game 2?

Bruins: The Bruins played the Sabres pretty tightly at 5-on-5, losing the xG battle by 0.6 despite sitting on a lead much of the game. If they can keep that gap close once again, Jeremy Swayman has a real chance to be the difference.

Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points (-105)

Charlie McAvoy played 40.5% of Game 1, leading all skaters. The Boston Bruins didn’t generate many chances during his minutes, but score effects played a big part.

The Bruins led from the 10-minute mark of the opening period until there was less than five minutes to go in the third. Boston was trying to see their lead through, which led to a larger focus on defense.

Even if the Bruins get another lead, I don’t think they’ll be as conservative in Game 2.

McAvoy has hit the scoresheet in 20 of his last 23 games following a day of rest. Look for him to make his mark offensively.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay

Morgan Geekie averaged 2.2 shots on goal and cleared this line in 65% of his games this season. The only extended lull came when Geekie was playing away from David Pastrnak.

Geekie is back on the top line and scored in Game 1, so his role on Pastrnak’s opposite wing should be solidified.

Josh Doan had two shots on goal and five attempts in Game 1, pushing his Over rate to 85% in home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. 

Doan earned a solid 16 minutes of ice in his first playoff game, so head coach Lindy Ruff clearly trusts him.

Bruins vs Sabres SGP

  • Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points
  • Morgan Geekie Over 1.5 shots on goal
  • Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal

Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 goal scorer pick

Josh Doan (+310)

Doan was a threat in the series opener, generating five shot attempts and a couple of scoring chances on the doorstep. His expected goal output of 0.91 was actually second-highest among all skaters. Jeremy Swayman is very tough to beat from range, so it's best to target players who live in high-danger areas.

Bruins vs Sabres odds for Game 2

  • Moneyline: Boston +136 | Buffalo -162
  • Puck line: Boston +1.5 (-178) | Buffalo -1.5 (+142)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+112) | Under 6.5 (-140)

Bruins vs Sabres trend

Charlie McAvoy has six points over his last six games in Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.

How to watch Bruins vs Sabres Game 2

LocationKeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
Puck drop7:30 p.m. ET
TVESPN

Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries

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Sixers work through ‘pretty painful' film session going into Game 2 vs. Celtics

Sixers work through ‘pretty painful' film session going into Game 2 vs. Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers certainly did not breeze through their film session Monday.

In the wake of a 32-point playoff-opening loss to the Celtics, head coach Nick Nurse said the team watched Game 1 “in its entirety.”

“You’ve got to look at what’s there,” Nurse said following his team’s practice at Harvard University. “Obviously, it was pretty painful to watch. There were a lot of things that we didn’t do very well and a lot of things out of character. So it was long. Lots to look at, lots to talk about.”

Entering the playoffs, multiple Sixers had highlighted the importance of “attention to detail.” The team had a rough Sunday in that regard.

The Sixers’ defense was nowhere near its disruptive best and Boston’s star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 51 points before subbing out for the non-competitive fourth quarter. 

“It was more so a lot of miscommunications, not being on the same page altogether,” Quentin Grimes said. “Nothing crazy, but we’ve just got to be on the same page for 48 minutes. … We watched that and we’ve got a good feel for how can play tomorrow.”

The Game 1 film was full of frustrating misses.

The Sixers were 0 for 12 on three-pointers classified by NBA.com as “wide open” (closest defender six or more feet away). And, according to Cleaning the Glass, they shot just 12 for 22 (54.5 percent) at the rim. The Celtics were 16 for 18.

“It’s a make-or-miss league,” Justin Edwards said. “The basketball Gods weren’t on our side. I expect them to be on our side tomorrow.”

While greater precision with Nurse’s schemes and sharper in-game adjustments will be necessary Tuesday, some of the Sixers’ problems in Game 1 were obviously intangible.

Andre Drummond believes the team will have a better, more focused collective mindset in Game 2. 

“Take some pressure off ourselves,” Drummond said. “I think we were so excited to be out there that we made little mistakes we normally wouldn’t make. We were hesitant on shots that we normally aren’t hesitant taking. Not that anybody’s nervous or scared, I think we’re just so excited to have made it this far and be a part of something bigger than ourselves compared to what happened last year. I think just those jitters kind of took over. 

“So I think we’re going to be fine. … A lot of the mistakes we made, we can control. So just be prepared. We watched film for a little while today, so we understand what needs to be changed and we’re ready to go.”

The Sixers’ hope is that their thorough review of Game 1 leads to a much different Game 2 performance.

“We needed that,” Drummond said. “We could’ve just come here, walked through our sets and prepared for tomorrow. But I think physically watching what we did to kind of beat ourselves, things we could’ve done better and could’ve done more … it was very long and very detailed. There’s a lot of things we wrote on the board that we need to do tomorrow.

“I think we’re ready, I think we’re prepared. … Regardless of what the score was, I think we needed to get that game under our belt to kind of feel what the atmosphere is going to be, and I think we’ll be fine.”

The latest on Embiid

On the injury front, Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) was still the one player listed as out for either side going into Game 2. The Celtics listed Ron Harper Jr. as probable with a right ankle sprain.

A Sixers official said Monday that Embiid has started a strength and conditioning program post-surgery in Philadelphia. He had the procedure on April 9 and was back around his teammates for the first time last Wednesday when the Sixers won their play-in tournament game vs. the Magic.

Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett Star In New National Commercial That Debuted During Stanley Cup Playoffs

It wouldn’t be the Stanley Cup Playoffs without the Florida Panthers showing up on TV, right?

That is the reality that we’re living in, and people should just get used to it.

Despite the Panthers missing out on qualifying for the postseason this year due to the injury issue we’ve mentioned once or twice, fans tuning in to the opening weekend of the playoffs were treated to a new commercial featuring two of the most popular Panthers players around!

Mutual life insurance and financial services company MassMutual has done an excellent job in recent years putting out some very entertaining ads starring NHL players.

There was the “and why is he always here for breakfast” spot with Washington Capitals’ Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Ovechkin and his wife, Anastasia, the “no goals” ad with Juuse Saros and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators, or the “Baby Skates” commercial featuring Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman talking about saving for their kids’ college funds.

This year, a couple new spots hit the airwaves.

One of them has Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen and goalie Jake Oettinger playing bubble hockey, and the other…well, that’s why you’re here.

The commercial features Panthers forwards Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, with the two providing some sound investment advice to a young autograph-seeking fan.

You can check out the video below:

For those Cats fans with sharp eyes, they may have noticed the spot took place inside Florida’s new practice facility, the Baptist Health IcePlex, in Fort Lauderdale, where it was filmed earlier this season.

Let us know in the comments what you think of the new spot, which is titled, “It’s Never Too Soon to Think About Your Future,” and where it ranks among the MassMutual hierarchy of ads featuring NHL players.

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Photo caption: Dec 29, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) and center Sam Bennett (9) celebrate his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jeff Romance-Imagn Images)

Jonathan India lands on the Injured List

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 05: Jonathan India #6 of the Kansas City Royals in action during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Kauffman Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, the Royals added injury to insult on Monday. The team announced second baseman Jonathan India has been placed on the Injured List with a left-shoulder subluxation. The team has called up Nick Loftin from Omaha to replace him.

India has continued his struggles from last year, hitting just .167/.310/.313 in 17 games this year. He has just one hit since April 6, going 1-for-20 over that time. He also suffered a left shoulder subluxation last June, and missed a game in the Atlanta series with a shoulder injury.

Loftin was up earlier this year and hit 2-for-9 (.222) with two walks and a double. The 27-year-old utility player hit .303/.385/.455 in nine games with Omaha.