Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -6.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Knicks host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers to start the Eastern Conference finals. New York went 2-1 against Cleveland during the regular season. The Cavaliers won the last regular season matchup 109-94 on Wednesday, Feb. 25 led by 23 points from Donovan Mitchell, while Jalen Brunson scored 20 points for the Knicks.
The Knicks are 35-17 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Cavaliers have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland is second in the Eastern Conference scoring 119.5 points per game and is shooting 48.2%.
The Knicks' 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season are the same per game average that the Cavaliers give up. The Cavaliers are shooting 48.2% from the field, 2.2% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 17.4 points over the last 10 games.
James Harden is averaging 23.6 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 26.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 44.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 8-2, averaging 120.4 points, 44.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 51.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.0 points per game.
Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 42.4 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (hamstring).
Cavaliers: Larry Nance Jr.: out (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Donovan Mitchell also made six rebounds and made eight assists [Getty Images]
The Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed top seeds the Detroit Pistols 125-94 in their series decider to secure a place in the NBA Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen 23 and Evan Mobley 21 for the Cavaliers, while Daniss Jenkins was the Pistons' highest scorer with 17.
Cleveland, who lost the first two games of the series, raced into a 20-point lead in the first half before wrapping up a 4-3 series win at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The fourth seeds will face third seeds the New York Knicks for a place in the NBA Finals, with game one at Madison Square Garden in New York at 01:00 BST on Wednesday.
"This is fantastic. But we've got to be more disciplined," Mitchell said.
"We shouldn't have to wait to get hit, to get punched in the mouth and face a go-home situation."
Detroit, who finished the regular season with a 60-22 record, have not reached the Eastern Conference finals since 2005.
The Cavaliers or Knicks will play the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
The Western Conference finals begin at 01:30 BST on Tuesday in Oklahoma.
Gilgeous-Alexander wins second straight MVP
Oklahoma guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.
The 27-year-old is the first player to do so since Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic in 2021 and 2022, and the first guard since Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry in 2015 and 2016.
"It's special - not really for me personally but more so for the city and organisation," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
He received 83 first-place votes and won with 939 points in a ballot of 100 voters.
Jokic finished second and Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama third.
After signing a four-year contract extension worth a reported $285m (£214m) in the off-season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 68 games as Oklahoma finished the regular season with a 64-18 record.
Bafflement at Old Trafford, Chelsea’s Wembley drought goes on and Leeds give fans cause for optimism
Luke Shaw’s first goal in over three years for Manchester United was a further reminder of the left-back’s capabilities. This has been his best season at Old Trafford having featured in all 37 league games thus far, leaving his injury-prone past forgotten. Considering Shaw’s experience and quality, he should be considered for a spot at the World Cup. Thomas Tuchel does not have a vast array of riches in the position and Shaw’s consistency has been key to Michael Carrick’s turnaround at Old Trafford. “He deserves to go,” said Carrick after the win against Nottingham Forest. “His consistency, his performances, his experience, his qualities. He’s an excellent full-back.” Nico O’Reilly is the current first choice for England and he has a very different profile from Shaw, having converted from playing as a central midfielder under Pep Guardiola. Tuchel may want to take Shaw to provide variety and reliability, which would be a sensible approach. Will Unwin
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after his team defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since 2018, the Cavs are heading to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cavaliers went all-in on this core when they traded Darius Garland — who admitted after the season that his toe still wasn’t right — for a decade-older James Harden. It’s too early to say the gamble has completely paid off. We can at least say they’ve reached the minimum for this season not to be labeled a disaster.
This team took a step forward this postseason.
Going into training camp, head coach Kenny Atkinson wrote 11-15 on a whiteboard. That was the Cavs’ postseason record in the previous three seasons.
The current version that won tonight was comprised mostly of the same players as those previous teams, but this group is different.
They faced adversity and responded in a way that we simply haven’t seen before. After falling behind 0-2 against a 60-win team, they strung together three impressive victories that showcased different skills. And then, after a demoralizing Game 6 loss that was all too reminiscent of previous postseason collapses, they responded with a win that showed that this team is, in fact, not the same.
That difference starts with their star player.
“It’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue,” Donovan Mitchell said after Game 7 when asked what it means to get to the conference finals. Some of those issues were self-inflicted. Some weren’t.
Before the game, Kenny Atkinson said that Mitchell being more of a playmaker has been an emphasis this postseason, even though this hasn’t come to fruition yet. He wanted Mitchell to “hit singles” and make the easy pass.
Mitchell did that. He picked up three helpers in the first three minutes of the game by easily reading where the help defense was coming from and then making the pass to the open man.
When he’s doing that, the game opens up for him and everyone else — especially the bigs.
Atkinson had dinner with Dan Gilbert on Saturday night, and he gave Atkinson some advice: “The spark for this is Jarrett Allen.”
This resulted in Atkinson drawing up the first play for Allen, and the rest is history.
Allen finished off a few easy dump-offs in the paint in the opening three minutes, two of which came from Mitchell.
The more you feed Allen, the more force he plays with. We saw that as he continually attacked the basket in the short roll and around the rim. And when he’s playing with that energy level on offense, he carries it over to the defensive end as well.
“His energy, his effort, rebounding, drawing contact wherever he played like that,” Evan Mobley said. “It’s a whole different team for us.”
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Allen played with an edge that we don’t typically associate with him. He repeatedly took it to Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Paul Reed, pushing them off their spots. Allen was the aggressor until he finished with 23 points and seven rebounds.
After being the star of two straight Game 7’s, maybe it’s time to bury the notion that Allen can’t come up big in the playoffs.
“This is just who he is,” Mitchell said. “He was phenomenal for us, even before I got here. I’m glad people are starting to see how he really is.”
Once one big is attacking inside with that much force, it makes it easier for the other one to get going.
Mobley has consistently elevated his game this postseason. That continued as he was forceful in his attacks on the basket both as a roller and off-the-dribble. He did this while keeping his eyes up and looking for his teammates, which allowed him to finish with six assists.
The Cavs are an inside-out team. If they’re able to get to the basket, the three-ball opens up.
Sam Merrill was the biggest beneficiary of this as he knocked down four triples in the first half when the game was still up for grabs. That took the life out of a building that was already on oxygen at that point in the game.
“He was unbelievable,” Atkinson said. “We weren’t rolling until he came in the game.”
Merrill ended the night with 23 points on 5-8 shooting from three.
This was an all-around impressive team performance that was made possible by Mitchell’s approach.
He didn’t punch the ticket to his first-ever conference finals by dominating the ball scoring at an impressive clip. Instead, it was because he did all the little things he hadn’t done at a high level in any of his previous postseason runs with the team.
This was the most complete game we’ve seen from Mitchell, considering the moment. He was helpful in every facet of the game.
Mitchell’s willingness to move the ball only made it easier for him to score. He had a playoff-high eight assists. The threat to pass to one of the bigs or kick it out to a shooter in the corner forced Detroit’s defenders to stay home, which opened up driving lanes to the basket, as evidenced by his 26 points on 10-22 shooting.
This was paired with Mitchell being a disruptive defender. He was forceful at the point of attack, and he held up well when switched onto Cade Cunningham or one of Detroit’s forwards. This was in addition to being helpful off-ball as he picked up a steal and a block.
This performance was fitting. Mitchell has been the steadying force all year. He’s the reason why the Cavs were in a position to do anything in the first place.
“He kept this thing together,” Atkinson said. “When things weren’t going great, he was the beacon, the light, his leadership carried us on the court. … And when things weren’t going great, he was the person everyone looked to his positivity. I would have said this even if we lost.”
Mitchell has all the talent in the world, which typically only shows through in his incredible scoring. However, games like this show you that he could be the best guard in the league if he consistently made an effort like this on all aspects of the game.
The New York Knicks will be a formidable matchup, but not an impossible one. If you can get this version of Mitchell, the one that’s locked in defensively and trying to find his teammates for open looks, the Cavs have a good chance of winning the conference.
The organization appears to be on the backend of its championship run years, with aging players such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the roster.
The Warriors could either use the pick to address a need or focus on their future.
If the Warriors use the pick, it will be the first time the organization has drafted a player since 2023, when the team picked Brandin Podziemski.
Green and veteran center Al Horford will have player options to return to the team. Forward Kristaps Porzingis and guard Gary Payton II will be among the top unrestricted free agents.
Here are predictions from sports experts in their mock drafts for the Golden State Warriors:
“F–k Stephen A,” Tatum said, according to video clips from the stream. “Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. Like my offer still stands: You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well I want you to be quiet and get off these networks. Because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism.”
Jaylen Brown responded to Stephen A. Smith. Screengrab via X/@ItsKingSlime
The beef between the two high-profile names in sports and sports media dates back to the end of Boston’s season, when Brown — tasked with being the Celtics’ anchor for most of the year until Jayson Tatum returned — called it his “favorite” of his career.
Smith then said Brown “needs to be quiet” and “go on vacation” unless he was trying to get traded, which then prompted Brown to write in an X post that he’ll be quiet when Smith retires.
Warning: Adult Language
Celtics star Jaylen Brown goes OFF on Stephen A Smith for questioning why Jayson Tatum wasn’t on his stream and making his own narratives about why the 2025-2026 Celtics season was JB’s favorite
“What type of journalism is this?… F*CK Stephen A… My offer still wants. You… pic.twitter.com/XAqaJ6YJYZ
Jaylen Brown is pictured during the Celtics’ May 2 playoff game. NBAE via Getty Images
“Tell this motherf–ker to retire because he’s the face of clickbait media at the point,” Brown said Sunday while streaming, “and maybe with his retirement we can spark a movement to get the rest of these motherf–kers out of here — or to also have some type of … forget journalistic integrity, actual integrity in order to hold themselves accountable to the bulls–t takes they put out.”
Stephen A. Smith is pictured April 21. FilmMagic
Brown collected a career-best 28.7 points per game during the regular season and made a fourth consecutive All-Star Game, but the Celtics, even with Tatum back in the lineup, were bounced in the first round by the 76ers.
He was also fined $50,000 for criticizing referees while on his livestream following their season-ending loss to Philadelphia, claiming that the officials have an “agenda.”
So instead of another deep playoff run, and instead of another chance to win another championship with the current core, Brown’s saga with Smith began.
And after the latest exchange Sunday, it doesn’t seem to be something that’ll disappear quickly.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 17: Matt Olson #28 reacts with Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves following the 8-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another good developlment is the production of Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Riley, who both went deep on Sunday. With both Michael Harris and Ozzie Albies running into regression in May, Riley and Yaztrzemski coming alive has allowed the offense to do enough to continue its winnings ways.
The Braves probables for the upcoming series versus the Marlins was released on Sunday. Another big week ahead for the Braves with four versus the Marlins and three versus the Nationals.
MLB News
The NL East as a whole has been better over the past few weeks, with each team .500 or better in over their last 10 games. That includes the Phillies, who are now over .500 with their win on Sunday.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 17: Colt Emerson #4 of the Settle Mariners throws to first base during his MLB Debut during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rod Mar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The term “meteoric rise” is a bit of a misnomer, though most people already know that. Meteors fall (And yet if you point this out, you are a pedant? The world is cruel to those brave enough to obsess over wording tell the truth). However, it is quite the fitting turn of phrase for baseball, prospects in particular.
There’s a lot of similarities between the job of scouting and identifying baseball talent and astronomers responsible for solar system object identification. Both disciplines ask the observer to work with an incredibly limited set of data points. Scouts watch children who are sometimes as young as 13 or 14 years old and based on how well they play against other kids in their general area, their physical development, their attitude, and how their coaches talk about them, they decide if this actual child might have potential to pursue a major league path in the future.
Astronomers take tiny little pinpricks of light, and from a series of still images of these pricks of light, calculate if or how much they’ve moved, and therefore, what kind of object it is, how large is it, what is it composed of, and, crucially for the meteorite/asteroid detection game, mapping the orbit of these objects to see if they are on a course to impact Earth and therefore, does it require advance action to be taken to prevent the loss of human lives.
In both cases, the answer for the vast majority of children and two-pixel lights is: No! But in some very rare cases, the answer is: Maybe! And at that point, the real digging-in commences. Is this kid playing against other talented kids, or just raking in his podunk local travel circuit? Is this asteroid going to get yoinked by another planet’s gravity well before it reaches us? Does the kid have more growth yet in him, or is that celestial body actually just a camera artifact?
And while these jobs are very much trying to read the future based on extremely imperfect information, they both are high-stakes, though on different scales. MLB teams will use this scouting information to pour vast amounts of resources into particular players. Avoiding an extinction-level event is also important.
Sometimes, though, it’s an easy Maybe. Colt Emerson has been one of the easier Maybe’s in recent history for the Mariners. Yet in a sense, Colt Emerson’s meteoric “rise” has just begun. He’s finally made it to the hard part. He’s successfully traversed the frictionless smooth of outer space/high school ball/the minor leagues, and now he begins the relentlessly, violently frictional approach into Earth’s atmosphere, just now transcending from meteoroid to become meteor, hoping to survive the approach and become meteorite.
In fact, his rise from meteoroid to meteor was so fast that he didn’t have anyone for him there at the game – he only found out about two-and-a-half hours before game time that he had to drive up to Seattle, now, for the Major League Baseball game that he would be playing in.
His family and girlfriend will be flying in for the rest of the homestand, but today was just him, 25 teammates and about 45,000 of his new biggest fans.
“I wanted to soak it all in as much as possible, that this is just the first of many days. Coming into the clubhouse, the guys were great to me, this is a really special group here, and I’m just happy to be a part of it,” Emerson said.
His first bit of friction was a subtly tricky pop-up in the top of the second inning. Running over his right shoulder into a spot where there could be competition for the play and there is definitely communication required, while running from the sun into the shade? Tough play for a shortstop playing third base. He took it as cool as you like.
Emerson’s next bit of friction was two at-bats against a very on Lucas Giolito. Emerson said he normally prides himself on keeping his cool and his heart rate down, but the first time around, in the bottom of the third, he was eager, unable to check his swing at the first pitch he saw, a fastball at the letters.
“When I came in, I thought that was the fastest 90 mph fastball I’ve ever seen,” Emerson said.
Giolito threw another heater that Emerson swung at like he wanted to send it into the mesosphere. Finding himself down 0-2, Emerson then showed the plate discipline that got him this far, and worked the count even before making some solid contact right to Ramon Laureano in right field.
Emerson said that the nerves he felt surprised him, but his first at-bat helped him stabilize.
“I thought I was gonna go out there and maybe not even be able to swing a bat, but once I got that first fly ball out of the way, I was like, ‘Okay. This is just baseball. There’s an extra deck.’”
Giolito, like that one friend not letting go of a bit that’s outlived its humor (i’m friend), threw high fastballs to Emerson for the rest of the night, including three straight out of the zone to start his second at-bat. Colt, like a mutual friend with no grace for your first friend, spit on all of them before also ignoring a perfectly-placed changeup for ball 4, his first time getting on base in his young career.
At this point in the game, the score was 7-0.
His walk was a bit of a premonition, as Giolito seemed to lose the handle there in the sixth. Emerson moved to second base on another well-worked walk courtesy of Leo Rivas, and then to third when Giolito walked Julio.
Giolito, walking the bases loaded with no outs, would face some consequences for his actions. Colt Emerson concluded his first circumnavigation of the infield when Matsui walked Naylor, scoring his first career run. A couple of sacrifice flies and a Cole Young strikeout later, the Mariners had their most productive inning yet, without getting a single hit.
At this point in the game, the score was 7-3.
Emerson had his third at-bat in the bottom of the eighth, putting a great, compact swing on a golfy, down and in fastball. It also was, unfortunately, almost straight at Laureano, but he showed excellent bat speed on the swing, hitting 75.4 mph.
In the top of the seventh inning, Emerson almost had his first defensive gem, but the throw was just a hair off and Naylor had to bail off the bag to make the catch.
If you haven’t had the opportunity yet to read one of my favorite Lookout Landing pieces yet, Lou Fish-Sadin’s “We Love a Debut,” I highly recommend it. It captures one of my favorite things about baseball, which is how encapsulatory it is. I don’t know if it’s the sheer volume of games, the relaxed pace that gives so much room for special moments to breathe or some mystical other thing, but baseball has a way of reflecting life’s most frustrating, rewarding, gut-wrenching, joyful experiences. It’s that joie de vivre and ennui that is hard to find anywhere else. Lou’s piece captures that specific magic of baseball and that feeling of simple goodness that baseball is capable of.
Debuts are one of those moments, where you get to share and be a part of the incalculable joy of another human being achieving their life’s worth. Whether it’s a 25-year-old org guy who would only ever see 5 at-bats, or a young prodigy screaming his way into the gravity well of T-Mobile Park, these are moments to be cherished.
“I know I talked about trying not to let the emotions get to me, but [when my family gets here], that’s going to be an emotional one. I can’t say enough nice things about my parents, the amount they sacrificed. My parents would split up – my brother played travel ball and I played travel ball, so my mom would go with my brother to Indiana, and my dad would drive me down eight hours to Georgia, like that was a normal thing. Without that, I’m not here,” Emerson said after the game.
“It was surreal. You dream about stuff like that. You dream about telling your parents that you made it to the big leagues and it finally came. I’ll be remembering this forever.”
After admitting that his team still had a "long way to go" to match the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes - the gold standard in the Metropolitan Division - he explained that they needed difference-makers in that age range to reach that level.
“I think what we really lack are those players in their later 20s that are really true difference makers. Or mid-20s, late 20s, that are true difference makers," Dubas said.
After explaining that Pittsburgh should be a favorable destination for such players - and doubling down on that - he went on to reaffirm that he and the Penguins will “investigate all those [players] as they go into the summer.” While he did mention acquiring players similar to the likes of Egor Chinakhov, who broke out for 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games after being traded from Columbus to Pittsburgh in late-December, there’s also the possibility that he was thinking a bit higher in terms of impact names.
"I think if we're going to take really big steps next year that [are] sustainable, it's going to be by using the cap space that we have, but [also] the assets that we have, the draft picks, the prospects, etc, to go and acquire somebody," Dubas said. "Is that going to be possible? We're sure going to find out. But I'm being open with you because that's the path ahead.”
So, if Dubas is truly considering “big-game hunting” this summer, let’s go big.
As a disclaimer, it typically takes a lot for bigger names to actually be on the market, and it’s also going to take a lot - a whole lot - for the Penguins to be in on those names if they are, especially in a rising-cap environment. Players like Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk - talented but aging players - fetched first-round picks plus roster and prospect talent at the deadline.
But some of the NHL’s most elite players are at that level for a reason, and the cost will be much steeper than that. So, if some of these acquisition costs seem like overpays, well, that’s probably because they are.
With the lack of true blue-chip prospects, the Penguins would have to send a lot the other way in any “big fish” trade scenario. With that, what would it - theoretically - cost to acquire who could be three of the biggest players not named Connor McDavid (at least, not yet) on the market this summer?
Estimated cost: F Bryan Rust, D Harrison Brunicke, F Bill Zonnon, F Rutger McGroarty, G Joel Blomqvist, 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, 2026 second-round pick, 2028 third-round pick
Let's get this one out of the way because Matthews would, most certainly, cost more than any big name potentially on the market this summer - assuming McDavid isn’t on it.
The 28-year-old forward has a resume that speaks for itself, as he has notched two 60-plus goal seasons, has scored 30 or more goals in nine of his 10 NHL seasons, has scored 40 or more six times, and has 428 goals and 780 points in 679 games. He is also currently sixth all-time in goals-per-game at .621, which is outpacing all-time goals leader Alex Ovechkin at .591.
Injuries are the primary reason he’s unlikely to beat Ovechkin’s goal record - whatever it ends up being - and they have been a concern for him throughout his career, as he plays a gritty game despite his high-level skill and he’s only played five seasons of 70 or more games. The other thing that may drive down his value a bit is the fact that his contract - which pays him $13.25 million annually through the end of 2027-28 - has a full no-movement clause, meaning Matthews controls if he goes and where he goes.
That said, we’re talking about someone who is legitimately one of the greatest goal-scorers of all-time.
In order for the Penguins to have any kind of shot at Matthews, they would have to be willing to surrender pretty much anything. Rust seems like a given in this deal, as Toronto could either keep him or flip him again for a first-round pick and more if they choose to tear it down (which is likely if Matthews departs). There could even be a third team involved for the Rust portion of it.
And if the Penguins are married to keeping Kindel, well, they’re going to have to sacrifice at least two of their next-best prospects in Brunicke and Zonnon. Heck, Murashov might even be a requirement over Blomqvist, as Toronto never has any shortage of goaltending needs.
So, acquiring him will cost an arm and a leg - and rightfully so - and even this proposal could fall short. However, that doesn’t mean that the Penguins are primed to even target someone like this quite yet, especially since they’re still in the middle of their rebuild and are banking on some of their current assets to pan out.
Still, if Matthews is available, Dubas - like every other GM - should be picking up the phone to poke around. He and Matthews have a good relationship, and he’s a game-changing superstar worth paying up for.
Estimated cost: F Bryan Rust, D Harrison Brunicke, F Tristan Broz, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 conditional first-round pick, 2027 third-round pick
Thomas may not be quite on the same level as Matthews. But, a few tiers below Matthews is still a pretty darn good player.
It’s not as if first-line centers grow on trees and become available very often. But that’s exactly what was rumored to happen prior to the trade deadline, when the Blues were reportedly engaging on Thomas.
And one of the teams rumored to be in on Thomas was the Penguins, with the apparent asking price involving Kindel, per Elliotte Friedman on his '32 Thoughts' podcast. Of course, Kindel wouldn’t have been the only piece headed the other way, though, as acquiring first-line centers doesn’t come cheap. Plus, Thomas’s team-friendly salary of $8.125 million through 2030-31 is a coveted commodity.
Since the Blues aren’t exactly in teardown mode quite yet, they’ll probably want NHL or near-ready NHL talent in return. Rust fits the bill as a veteran scoring top-line scoring replacement on the cheap, but St. Louis also needs right defensemen and centers, making the ask of Brunicke and someone like Broz reasonable. And if that, plus the picks, can’t get a deal across the finish line, the Penguins could maybe add some salary retention for Rust or an additional pick or NHL roster player with some upside like an Avery Hayes or Elmer Soderblom.
However, Dubas and the Penguins should tread carefully here. Sure, Matthews is a talent worth selling the farm for, but is Thomas? Thomas is a solid first-line center, and he will be for at least another handful of years. But his career production doesn’t necessarily warrant the Penguins giving up more than one of their very best prospects, plus all that draft capital.
The Blues have all the time in the world, too, even if Thomas has a no-trade clause, so they can drive up the price however much they’d like to. Again, the Penguins should absolutely be in on Thomas if he’s still available since he helps a lot in the near-term, but they shouldn’t overpay significantly to win a bidding war here.
Estimated cost: F Rickard Rakell (30 percent retained), F Will Horcoff, F Rutger McGroarty, D Owen Pickering, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick
If you're noticing a pattern here, yes, the Penguins - since they, again, don't have any bona fide "blue chip" prospects - would need to keep tacking on extra players in order to get a deal for a superstar player across the finish line.
First thing’s first: Robertson is probably not going anywhere, as Dallas would, quite frankly, be crazy to let a player of his caliber get away, especially since they’re one of the league’s best teams in win-now mode. Folks are more likely to see names like Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene, Roope Hintz, Mavrik Bourque, and even Esa Lindell get jettisoned before the 26-year-old Robertson would.
But, the reality is that Dallas is cap-strapped, as they are only projected to have $10.99 million in cap this summer, according to PuckPedia. If they sign Robertson, they’d still have to shed some bigger salaries and fill out the rest of their roster, which is easier said than done.
So, if he is, somehow, on the way out, Dubas should be breaking through the door to acquire one of the league’s best wingers.
Rakell, 33, makes sense here. He may not be a three-time 40-goal scorer like Robertson, but he is a three-time 30-goal scorer, and he has scored at a respectable point-per-game rate for the past two seasons and can man the middle. He would be a nice short-term solution in terms of a scoring stopgap for losing Robertson, and he’s on a team-friendly deal at $5 million. If there’s salary retention involved, that helps Dallas even more.
McGroarty and Pickering are also cheap, NHL-ready-as-can-be options with upside that could help them in both the short- and long-term. Plus, a scorer like Horcoff - who would be a little farther off in terms of readiness - is a promising piece for their future, and they’d be fairly compensated in terms of draft capital, too, that they can either flip for more talent or keep to draft talent.
If the price is driven up, the Penguins can offer another mid-late pick. They can offer to take on another salary dump from Dallas to free up even more space, too, which would likely be part of any deal for Robertson. There is flexibility in how they can build a package here, which works to their advantage. Robertson should command a fair bit more than what Jake Guentzel did two years ago, so this seems pretty reasonable as far as acquisition cost, especially since the Penguins will want a sign-then-trade in this case.
Robertson is the one superstar who makes sense for a lot of reasons, and his acquisition cost shouldn’t be quite as high in terms of asset value as the other two, since centers come at a premium and since he is an RFA. It would cost a lot, but he’s probably the most realistic “big fish” on this list, should he hit the market.
Stan Bowman might need to find a starting goaltender this summer, but the UFA market has looked him dead in the eyes and shrugged.
This year's free agent market could've been one for the ages. Stars like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov were all eligible for UFA status. Then they all signed extensions, and what was once a promising class became one of the weakest in years. Nowhere is that more apparent than in net.
Sergei Bobrovsky is the biggest name potentially available, a two-time Vezina winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion who has certainly become one of the more interesting storylines of the summer. But he's 37, the Panthers may still re-sign him, and even if he hits the market, he's not going to be a long-term answer for anyone.
Cam Talbot is also expected to reach free agency, but turns 39 on July 5. Frederik Andersen, who has been in and out of the lineup in Carolina for two seasons, is another name that might surface.
So: a 37-year-old coming off a down year, a 39-year-old, and a 36-year-old whose body has made his retirement decision for him twice already. For a team that needs its goaltender to carry a real workload next October, this is not exactly a buyer's market.
There is, however, one intriguing option. A 27-year-old pending UFA with two Stanley Cup Final appearances on his résumé, a .902 career save percentage, and a cap hit that won't break the bank. A guy who knows Rogers Place, knows the dressing room, knows how to play behind McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
His name is Stuart Skinner. You may have heard of him.
Skinner split his season between Edmonton and Pittsburgh after the mid-December trade, posting an .891 save percentage with the Edmonton Oilers and .885 with the Penguins. Nearly identical numbers on two very different rosters.
Pittsburgh isn't expected to bring him back, with younger options like Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov in the pipeline. He's projected to command somewhere in the $3.8 million range on his next deal.
The circular nature of it all is almost poetic. Bowman traded Skinner away in December to acquire Tristan Jarry, a move that did not go well for anyone involved. Jarry had an .858 save percentage in 19 games with the Oilers and started just once in the playoffs. Now Jarry is still owed $5.375 million a year for two more seasons, Skinner is a free agent, and Edmonton is back at square one.
Could Bowman actually re-sign the goalie he traded away six months ago? Stranger things have happened, though not many. The optics would be awkward. The price would be modest. And in a market this thin, modest and available might be the best offer on the table.
Skinner has always said he has no regrets about his time in Edmonton. Whether he'd want to come back is a separate question. Whether Bowman has the nerve to ask is another one entirely.
With the Mets down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth, Tyrone Taylor crushed a three-run shot off David Bednar to tie the game in dramatic fashion.
Zero
In what was a rough trip for the Yankees bullpen, Bednar was the culprit twice, giving up the homer to Taylor on a first-pitch curveball — the same situation in which Brice Turang hit a walk-off homer against the closer last Sunday in Milwaukee.
The Mets celebrate after defeating the Yankees on May 17. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Unsung hero
Carson Benge hit a game-winning chopper to the perfect spot in the bottom of the 10th, just over the mound in a five-man infield, where Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann collided, wiping out any chance of throwing out the winning run at home.
Stat of the day
91 Consecutive games the Mets had lost when trailing after eight innings, the majors’ longest streak that they finally broke Sunday.
Quote of the day
“Baseball’s hard to explain at times.”
— Carlos Mendoza on the Mets breaking that streak that dated to the 2024 playoffs
On paper, the Cleveland Cavaliers had the most talented roster in the East this season, they just didn't always (or even often) play like it.
They did in Game 7 on Sunday.
Cleveland was in complete control from the start on the Pistons' home court. Donovan Mitchell wasn't settling for 3s, he was driving and touching paint on every drive — and with not nearly enough resistance from Detroit.
Donovan Mitchell goes on the attack and finishes at the rim to put the Cavs up big ️
Mitchell finished with 26 points, outscoring Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris — combined. The Pistons looked like a young team that was not ready for this moment. Also one just having an off night shooting.
The result was a blowout Cavaliers win, 125-94, in which the game felt like a formality for much of the second half. Cleveland took a 10-point lead two minutes into the second quarter, and its lead never dipped into single digits again.
Cleveland now advances to face New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, which will start Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
If the Cavaliers play in that series like they did in Game 7, they can push the Knicks.
Everything started for the Cavaliers with their big men — Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 44 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks. And those numbers do not do justice to their impact in this game. The Pistons want to be physical, win the battle in the paint and play inside-out, but Mobley and Allen completely outplayed Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed.
It also helped that Sam Merrill came in off the bench on fire, finishing with 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
It was Mitchell who set the tone on the night, and in addition to his 26 points he added eight assists and seven rebounds. Cleveland was up 17 at the half, but Mitchell came out in the third quarter, scoring 15 in the frame, and slamming the door on a Detroit comeback.
The entire Detroit roster struggled to score: Cunningham had 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting, Harris was 0-of-6 for five points, and Duren was 3-of-7 for seven points. Daniss Jenkins led the Pistons with 17 points, and Duncan Robinson had a quality game off the bench with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Cleveland was executing its game plan from the start. Not only did they focus on driving into the heart of the Pistons' defense, but they also moved the ball and had 18 assists on 22 shots in the first half, and shot 52.4% in the first half with eight made 3-pointers.
This was not the physical, imposing Pistons that won 60 games, or even the same team from Game 6. In the opening minutes, Detroit generated multiple transition opportunities only to just miss the shot (or throw the pass away). Those came back to bite them as the Cavaliers got hot, shooting 6-of-13 from 3-point range in the first quarter, including this one from Mitchell at the buzzer.
Detroit heads into this offseason with questions about finding a reliable second shot creator and scoring option to put next to their All-Star (and fifth in MVP voting) Cunningham. They also face questions about how much to pay their other All-Star, Jalen Duren, who was brilliant during the season but struggled in key games in this series.
Cleveland now heads to New York for even a bigger task.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) in the first half during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
DETROIT (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Evan Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in team history. It’s their deepest run since LeBron James’ final season with the franchise.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots on Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) in the first half during game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“We didn’t just come here just to win a goal,” Mitchell said about making the conference finals for the first time in his career.
“Even last year. when we lost to Indiana, we had our goals set on getting to the (NBA) Finals. We’re just one step closer. It’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue. … As a team, we can breathe a little bit, but the same token, we can only breathe for about 12 hours, and then get right back to it.”
Daniss Jenkins scored 17 points, and Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson each finished with 13 for the Pistons, who fell one win shy of their first conference finals appearance since 2008 after forcing the deciding game with a Game 6 victory Friday night.
“That game sucked,” said Cunningham, who was held 16 points under his playoff average. “Being back home, wanted to get this win in front of our fans. It reminded me of last year, losing on home court. It’s not a great feeling.”
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus, right, during the first half of Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, May 17, 2026. AP Photo/Duane Burleson
The Cavs dictated the pace from the opening tip and never allowed the Pistons to gain traction, then blew open a convincing Game 7 performance when Mitchell scored 15 in the third quarter.
Detroit was outscored in the paint 58-34 and made only 35.3% of its field goal attempts, compared to Cleveland’s 50.6%
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell hugs head coach Kenny Atkinson as he leaves the game against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter of Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, May 17, 2026 AP Photo/Duane Burleson
“When we play with force, it’s really a key. Like, force on both ends with our talent, we’re really hard to beat,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The question we got to answer, we talked about it a lot, is we can’t have force letdowns like Game 6, where we were not the forceful team. But tonight we were, that was a whole difference, our force on both ends.”
Cleveland capitalized on cold shooting by the Pistons in the opening quarter, turning missed shots into transition baskets while building an early advantage. The Cavs led 31-22 going to the second, and after Detroit had the first two baskets, Cleveland quickly seized control with a 24-9 run. The Pistons’ offensive struggles only deepened and the Cavs continued to shoot efficiently as they built a commanding 64-47 lead into halftime.
The Cavs kept rolling in the second half and led by as much as 35 points. The closest the Pistons were able to get in the half was within 17 in the third quarter.
“We knew that start was monumental, the start that they knew that we were here, and that we were going to give them some problems,” Atkinson said. “The beginning of the game, that was key, and then coming out of halftime was the same message: ‘We got to win this first five minutes to put them on their on their heels.’”
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers watched the Fro dominate another Game 7, beating the Detroit Pistons and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
I said it in my recap. I repeated it in winners and losers. And, I’ll say it one more time.
I think we just watched the best and most mature game of Donovan Mitchell’s playoff career.
He didn’t unload the clip and go down swinging like years past. No, Mitchell started the game with three straight assists, working his way downhill and giving it up to his teammates to set the tone. The Cavs’ offense flowed methodically through Mitchell as he weaved in and out of possessions without ever dominating the ball.
Mitchell was a playmaker, only until the perfect moment for him to seize full control arrived. He scored 15 points in the third quarter, building a huge lead and slamming the door on any realistic chance of a Pistons comeback.
Grade: A+++
James Harden
9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 turnover
This is the first game of the series where I didn’t notice Harden. That’s… actually a good thing.
Harden shot 2-10 from the floor and 0-6 from downtown. That could be frightening in other circumstances. But he only turned it over once, and dished out 6 assists while comfortably playing without the ball. The process was better than the results, and the Cavs finally gave him enough support to where this type of performance can somehow register a plus-30 in the boxscore.
Evan Mobley has grown up quite a bit in this postseason. He gradually found his stride versus Toronto and showed every bit of that growth in Game 7 against the Pistons.
Mobley once again dipped his hands in every cookie jar tonight. He did a little bit of everything, dominating the paint, dishing out assists, and shutting down numerous Detroit possessions with his defensive versatility. The numbers from his last four games of the series say it all.
Grade: A+
Jarrett Allen
23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
What more can I say?
The lights don’t get brighter than Game 7. Allen has seemed totally unbothered by the stakes this postseason, matching or exceeding any physicality that’s thrown at him. He muscled Jalen Duren out of bounds and forced a jumpball at one point in this game — only to later punish the rim with consecutive dunks in the third quarter.
The Cavs play their best basketball when Allen does stuff like this. Let’s keep that going and officially exorcise some demons in Madison Square Garden.
Grade: A+
Dean Wade
5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Wade was moved out of the starting lineup in favor of Max Strus. That worked out well for the Cavs, and Wade himself. He looked more comfortable with less pressure on him coming off the bench. Wade nailed his first three-point attempt and then cut to the rim for a tough finish shortly after.
Grade: B+
Max Strus
9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
This grade is vibes-based. Nothing I tell you about his box score will accurately represent the impact Strus had. I’ll focus on the way he battles for every loose ball, getting his hand on nearly every available rebound, even if he doesn’t secure it himself.
This is the type of game you want from Schroder. Obviously, being part of a 30-point win makes that easy to say. But Schroder was steady through the night, keeping the offense flowing while being a pest defensively. He didn’t step outside of his comfort zone, and that’s worth a lot.
Grade: B
Sam Merrill
23 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
Merrill finally found his groove, burying the Pistons in Game 7 with his three-point shooting. He connected on four triples in the first half and bent Detroit’s defense out of shape the rest of the way. His shooting forced them to stay attached, and that opened the floodgates for everyone else.
He also took a TOUGH charge on Ausar Thompson in the first half. He earns credit just for getting back up after that.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a made basket against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers did it again, capping off a thrilling series by crushing their opponent in Game 7. Credit to the Detroit Pistons — but the Cavs are all winners tonight.
Let’s go over today’s winners.
WINNER – Donovan Mitchell
The best players in the league aren’t immune to criticism — they respond to it.
This game started with a good omen. Donovan Mitchell drove downhill twice in a row, using his gravity to draw multiple defenders before throwing a pair of dimes to Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. In just a handful of minutes, Mitchell exceeded his assist total from the previous game and showed a ‘pass first’ mentality that hasn’t been present throughout the postseason.
Mitchell had 6 assists by halftime, already more than he’d collected in any game this postseason. He’s taken flak for his process in the playoffs. He hasn’t always struck the correct balance between scoring and playmaking. That wasn’t an issue tonight. He set the table throughout Game 7, and his teammates had a feast.
There’s value to hitting singles. Safe plays that get a runner on base and apply pressure on a defense can turn into runs. Mitchell took that approach tonight, giving up the ball early and trusting the offense to flow into a quality shot. That made all the difference.
The Cavs had a comfortable lead going into halftime, but the game was far from over. We’ve seen the Pistons claw back to avoid elimination four times already this postseason. I think Mitchell understood what was at stake — and promptly stepped on their throat to close it out. He erupted for 15 points in the third quarter, getting to the basket and making sure there’d be no more resurrections.
Mitchell entered this game with his legacy on the line, and left it with arguably the most sustainable version of a masterclass that we’ve seen from him in the playoffs. Spida ends with 26 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and 0 turnovers.
The Pistons had managed to avoid a full-on Sam Merrill invasion throughout the previous six games of this series. He’d been kept in a box, unable to break free and do any significant damage from behind the arch. Detroit probably wishes that it could have remained true for one more game.
Merrill started the game by burying his first three-pointer from the corner. A moment later, he drilled another one from the same spot. Add two more three’s, including a four-point play, and Merrill had conjured a game-high 15 points in the first half on 4-6 three-point shooting.
Sammy finished with 23 points.
Take that, Ausar Thompson.
WINNER – The Bigs
Physicality? We got that. Toughness and mental resilience? Check. The Cavs bigs have taken your narratives, crumpled them up, and stuffed them into the trash over Jalen Duren’s head
Allen and Mobley aren’t your typical bruising bigs. But the idea that they can’t handle playoff physicality has been thoroughly debunked in two rounds. They bested an immensely physical Raptors team in the first round, then did it again to a Pistons team that prides itself on toughness.
Cleveland’s bigs set the tone immediately in Game 7, combining for 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the first half. If you remember, Allen had 22 points and 19 rebounds himself in Game 7 versus the Raptors. Dominating multiple games where the lights are brightest should earn Allen (and Mobley) a ton of goodwill moving forward.
Allen finished tonight with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Mobley added 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Mobley racked up 20 stocks in the final four games of the series. Monster.
Of course, all of that charitability can be erased quickly. This is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ type of business. But we’d be mistaken not to congratulate the bigs for stepping up to the challenge multiple rounds in a row. The season would be over if it weren’t for them.
Mitchell Robinson provides the ultimate test on Tuesday.
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