PHILADELPHIA — Chase Burns’ backside absorbed the brunt of a 108.8 mph — ouch! — scorching liner off the bat of Bryce Harper that nearly caught the Cincinnati Reds’ ace in a more precarious position.
Burns kept his poise, recovered the ball just off the mound, and flipped it to first to retire Harper and end the sixth inning.
Burns felt the, well, burn, and hightailed it to the clubhouse for treatment on a smash hit near the upper groin area that will leave nothing more than a bruise.
“I’ll tell you what,” Reds manager Terry Francona said, “that was scary. The way he ran off the mound, I thought he was OK. Then he got in the dugout, and it looked like he was dead. I asked him, please tell me you have a cup on. He said, no. I was like, Chase, I don’t even watch a game on TV without wearing a cup.”
Burns did at least protect the lead against the streaking Phillies.
The 23-year-old Burns, the second overall pick in the 2024 amateur draft, was terrific again in the latest start in his first full major league season.
Burns used a filthy slider to set up the 99 mph heaters upstairs and struck out nine over six innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.83 in the Reds 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Oh, and one assist on Harper’s comebacker.
“It hurt, for sure,” Burns said. “Just trying to get the out and come in as fast as possible. It’ll be good.”
Each time Burns walked to the mound, it was impossible to miss that oversized All-Star game logo that looms large in the Ashburn Alley concourse.
With the way he’s pitching this season, Burns’ next appearance in Philadelphia could come in the Midsummer Classic.
“It might be in the back of my mind somewhere,” Burns said.
Burns (6-1) allowed only Trea Turner’s solo shot in the third as he helped the Reds end a three-game losing streak and move back above .500 (25-24).
Burns allowed three hits, walked none and drew 18 swings and misses. The right-hander has allowed two or fewer runs in nine of 10 starts this season and one or fewer runs in seven of 10 starts.
He was at his best against the Phillies in the fourth and fifth innings. He got the first batters in the fourth on strikeouts and then struck out the side — Bryson Stott on a slider, Edmundo Sosa on a fastball and Justin Crawford on a nasty slider.
“Feels like if you miss that mistake, then the at-bat gets a lot tougher,” Turner said. “Great arm and seems to be a good competitor.”
His 121 strikeouts — on the strength of that slider — in his first 18 career starts rank third in Reds history (since 1900) behind Gary Nolan (134) and Nick Lodolo (126).
“It’s a pretty devasting pitch,” Francona said.
With a 4-1 lead, there was no sense in putting Burns back on the mound for the seventh.
“I mean, my goodness, the ball almost killed him,” Francona said.
Burns has turned into a bit of a stopper for the Reds. He is 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA and has three of the Reds’ five wins in May.
“There’s been some days where we we’ve kind been up against it and he’s given us what we needed,” Francona said.
Burns went 0-3 with a 4.57 ERA in eight starts over 13 appearances for the Reds last season.
“I’m just taking everything I learned from last year and putting it into this year,” Burns said. “Learning about routines and how to stay healthy during the week. Midweek bullpens and stuff like. Just executing pitches, really.”
Burns is the first Reds starter to throw at least six innings while allowing two runs or fewer in five straight games since Hunter Greene in 2024. The last Reds starter to do so before Burns age 23 or younger was Jay Tibbs in 1984.
“I think he’s special now,” Francona said. “What he grows into will be what he grows into.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 30-19 record, face the San Diego Padres, who are second in the NL West with a 29-19 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -190 moneyline compared to the San Diego Padres' +154. Starting pitchers are Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers, with a 0.82 ERA, and Randy Vásquez for the Padres, with a 2.68 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres
Date: Wednesday, May 20
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET / 5:40 p.m. PT
Where: PETCO Park, San Diego, CA
TV Channels: Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health, SportsNet LA
Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi will be a trade candidate to watch this off-season. The young goalie was in the rumor mill leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline, and with the Sabres having three other goalies ahead of him on their depth chart, he could use a fresh start.
One of their Sabres' top division rivals are believed to have Levi on their radar.
During a recent appearance on the Coming In Hot podcast, Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek shared that he believes that the Ottawa Senators have kicked tires on Levi.
"I'm pretty sure that Ottawa has checked in with Buffalo on Devon Levi," Marek said. "It's over with Levi and the Buffalo Sabres."
When noting that the Senators desperately need to improve their backup goalie position, it is understandable that they would have a goalie like Levi on their radar. He would have the potential to be a nice upgrade over goalies like Leevi Merilainen and James Reimer for Ottawa's backup role.
However, the Sabres dealing a young goalie like Levi to a division rival like the Senators would come with some real risk. It would sting if Levi got his development back on track and become a high-impact goalie for the Senators. As a result, it might be smarter for the Sabres to deal Levi out of the division if possible.
Levi appeared in 52 games this season with the Rochester Americans, where he posted a 23-20-9 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, and a .904 save percentage. This is after he had a 25-13-4 record, a 2.20 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage in 42 games with Rochester in 2024-25.
Levi did not make an appearance at the NHL level this season with the Sabres. In 39 career NHL games over three seasons, he has a 17-17-2 record, a 3.29 goals-against average, and an .894 save percentage.
There's no way Game 2 can live up to Game 1…. Can it? Could our hearts and minds even take it?
Game 1 will be remembered for Victor Wembanyama's dominance — and his ridiculous 3-pointer from Stephen Curry range to force double-overtime. However, Game 1 was really a master class in defense from both teams. The Spurs won but had an offensive rating of 108, which would have been the league's worst this season, and was 12.3 per 100 possessions worse than their regular-season average. OKC's offensive rating of 102.7 was 16.5 points below its season average (stats via Cleaning the Glass).
Both teams struggled to score or get to their pet plays, resulting in fewer buckets. How they adapt in Game 2 will be one of the most interesting things to watch on Wednesday night.
Here are three things to keep an eye on in Game 2, where the Spurs are looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
You can watch Game 2 from OKC starting at 8:30 ET on NBC, or stream it on Peacock.
What do Thunder do about Wembanyama?
Maybe the better question would be: "Is there anything the Thunder can do about Wembanyama?"
"Everything's on the table," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said on Tuesday. "In these series, you can't just throw one pitch throughout the whole series…
"But in these series, one of the things you got to do is you got to figure out what the problems are, and you got to put the fires out pretty quickly. And so that's our challenge and we got to work on that with the team."
For all the focus on Wembanyama's 41 points and offensive production, it was his defense that really changed the game — he forced the Thunder to reconsider every drive into the paint. Chet Holmgren would grab an offensive rebound and hesitate to go back up, such is Wemby's presence.
There is no simple answer to this, but the one adjustment ties into our next topic — the Thunder need shooters all over the floor when Wembanyama is on the court to force him out to the arc, and then those shooters have to actually hit shots. Sounds much more simple than it is.
On the other end of the court, Alex Caruso spent the most time guarding Wembanyama in Game 1, according to NBA tracking data, and at least limited his shots. Jalen Williams particularly struggled with the matchup, with Wembanyama only missing one shot while Williams covered him. Chet Holmgren has moments, but can't slow him consistently. Isaiah Hartenstein can't be on the floor with Wemby (because he's a non-shooter, which allows Wembanyama to hang out around the rim on defense without consequence, which is why Hartenstein was subbed out two minutes into Game 1 and likely doesn't start Game 2).
Expect Daigneault to throw a variety of looks at Wembanyama, but the real key may be this: Oklahoma City needs to win the non-Wembanyama minutes by more than the nine they did in Game 1.
Can either team find an offensive groove?
With two of the top three defenses in the league facing off, we knew this would be a low-scoring series, but Game 1 was a defensive masterclass from both teams. Points were at a premium and will be all series — neither of these teams rolls to an easy target to exploit (like the Knicks did to James Harden and the Cavaliers).
For Oklahoma City, they need better performances from Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell, flat out. Same with the streaky Lu Dort. Those guys combined for 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting. They may not get the clean looks they're accustomed to, but they need to knock down the shots they get.
Expect the Thunder also to try to get the ball to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more on the move or in more favorable matchups, not that there are great ones against a deep San Antonio lineup of defenders.
Daigneault has to play shooters every second Wembanyama is on the court and ruthlessly sit anyone cold. This is where the Thunder's depth comes into play. Not everyone is going to have an Alex Caruso night, but the Thunder need more players closer to that than we saw in Game 1.
The Spurs will keep trying to run everything through Wembanyama, but they need just more efficient shooting as well: Julian Champagnie was 3-of-11 from deep, Devin Vassell was 5-of-12 overall and even Stephon Castle, who had a good game, shot 5-of-14 overall and 1-of-6 from 3. They need more ball movement and to finish their contested shots better. One thing that may help with that is…
How does De’Aaron Fox’s return spark Spurs?
After missing Game 1 with ankle soreness, starting point guard De'Aaron Fox is set to return in Game 2. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said this is just something that will linger through the playoffs, and Fox will play through it as best he can.
One area where Fox's return matters: The Spurs had 23 turnovers in Game 1, resulting in 28 Thunder points. Fox, a veteran point guard and floor general, will help cut down that number and the easy buckets the Thunder get in transition off them. That alone will help boost the Spurs' offense.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 10: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on May 10, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In taking Tuesday night’s game over the Philadelphia Phillies in 4-1 fashion, the Cincinnati Reds have set themselves up for a chance to win a road series for the first time in a month. The last time they accomplished such a feat came on April 21st when they wrapped up a victory in the second game of a three-game set in Tampa, having won the opener the night before.
Since then, though, it’s been a bit of a horror show for the Reds outside of Great American Ball Park. So, a victory today would go a long way towards reestablishing some sense of ability to put up Ws in their road grays, and would do so as they head into a two-week stretch where they’ll be home almost exclusively.
Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber for today’s rubber match, and he’ll do so opposite veteran righty Aaron Nola. Cincinnati has made a number of lineup alterations on the day, including Spencer Steer getting a start at 2B, Matt McLain playing SS, Elly De La Cruz getting a day at DH, and an outfield of JJ Bleday in LF, Will Benson in RF, and Blake Dunn in CF as TJ Friedl sits again.
Ke’Bryan Hayes, mercifully, is out of the starting lineup, too.
First pitch is set for 1:05 PM ET. Here’s how both clubs will line up to start, with Philadelphia once again without Kyle Schwarber (illness):
NEW YORK — The long wait nearly is over for Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees.
Cole is scheduled to return from Tommy John surgery and make his season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, his first big league outing almost in 19 months.
A six-time All-Star and the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, Cole hasn’t pitched in the majors since October 2024 in Game 5 of the World Series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It’s been tough. I mean, I’ve missed it quite a bit,” he said at Yankee Stadium. “There’s been some blessings along the way as well. I talked about my family, and spending time with my boys. But largely I’m just looking forward to being really tired and having that exhaustion, like, mean something.”
Cole was set to throw a bullpen and will be on a pitch count during his first start back, manager Aaron Boone said.
“He hasn’t been in that flow of competition for 17 months. That being said, it is Gerrit Cole,” Boone said. “He looks great to me. So, my expectation is that he’s going to be really good.”
Even after fellow Yankees ace Max Fried landed on the injured list with a left elbow bone bruise, Boone said the team still intended to have Cole make a seventh minor league rehabilitation start before rejoining a big league rotation that includes Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodón, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.
But after the 35-year-old right-hander threw 86 pitches over 5 1/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against the Syracuse Mets, Cole and the Yankees changed course.
“We just kind of continued to work through that. Didn’t want to make any rash decisions just because Max was out. This isn’t about that spot. It’s like, we were going to play the long game with this,” Boone said.
“But in just like, all the talks with the trainers, pitching group, Gerrit, his support group and all that, we just felt like he has done everything he needs to be ready to compete now at this level. So, I’m really excited to get him back and excited for him because, again, knowing the long road that it’s been and the blood, sweat and tears he put in the rehab process.”
In his most recent minor league outing, Cole averaged 97 mph with his four-seam fastball and reached 99.6 mph.
“When we all looked at it and just considered all the variables, it checked all the boxes,” he said.
Cole will start the series opener at Yankee Stadium against the AL East rival Rays, who swept three games from New York last month in Florida and currently have with the top record in the majors at 31-15.
“I expect it to be intense. Tough matchup. Lot of balls in play. Control the running game,” Cole said. “Lot of pressure from the other team.
“I’m most looking forward to just competing at the highest stage,” he added. “Pretty high stakes Friday night for May, and I mean, it’s just a blessing to play the game. You get a better sense of that once you’re removed from it.”
Cole was pleased with his progression throughout the long rehab process.
“I felt like any return around this point, even with a few weeks ahead of time, would be generally viewed as a good return-to-play plan and a good level of execution. I mean, I expected to do well. I didn’t really hit any significant snags. And so, you put a lot of hard work in and execute along the way and this is where it takes you,” he said.
“It didn’t feel very quick, yet it’s been very efficient and optimal.”
Cole is 153-80 with a 3.18 ERA in 12 major league seasons with the Pirates, Astros and Yankees. He’s won a pair of ERA titles, and his return to an already-strong rotation figures to provide a significant boost for second-place New York, who are three games behind Tampa Bay at 29-19.
“This is a good measuring stick. So you get a good litmus test of where you are,” Cole said. “I’m confident. I’m optimistic. But I definitely know there’s some work in front of us. It’s just the right time to take the next step.
“I’m as prepared as possible to do the best I can, whatever challenges come our way on Friday.”
Cole went for tests in 2025 after allowing two home runs in his second spring training start, against Minnesota on March 6 that year, and had reconstructive elbow surgery five days later.
He made a pair of one-inning spring training starts this year on March 18 and 24, then began minor league rehab outings on April 17. He compiled a 4.71 ERA in 28 2/3 innings, giving up 28 hits while striking out 28 and walking three.
“We’re all excited for him and know the long road that it’s been to get back to this point,” Boone said. “I’m sure there’s been some trying moments for him, but I also feel like he’s handled it all really well, and there’s been a discipline to what he’s done.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 18: Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks look on during the first quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at Chase Center on May 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA coaching carousel is spinning today, and Dub Nation needs to take a second to look at the full picture.
Jason Kidd is out in Dallas after five seasons, and before we say anything else, let’s give J-Kidd his flowers. He’s a Bay Area legend and Hall of Famer. He’s absolutely one of the greatest point guards to ever lace them up. He took the Mavs to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and the 2024 NBA Finals. That’s generational work for a franchise that hasn’t sniffed success since Dirk Nowitzki and Kidd won a title 15 years ago as players.
But this just shows exactly how cold this business is. New president Masai Ujiri got full authorization to determine his future per ESPN, and after taking your franchise to the Finals two years prior Coach Kidd is out of the picture. And with that, Kidd, Jalen Brunson, and of course Luka Doncic are now gone from a team that the Warriors knocked out of the Western Conference Finals in 2022, at a time when the Mavs looked like a team that was up next.
EXCLUSIVE: Jason Kidd didn't just part ways with the Mavs—a league source tells me simply:
“He wanted out.”
So what’s next? Think a J-Kidd & Giannis reunion in Minnesota?
“Not out of the question,” says a trusted league fixture.
Now look across the league at what’s happening in San Francisco.
In the final moments of the Warriors’ season, Steve Kerr quietly told Steph Curry and Draymond Green that he loved them both, then sat in a hotel lobby bar in Phoenix with his coaching staff counting the years they’d all spent in the game together. And after a month of genuine internal conflict, walks with Lulu through the Presidio, sandwiches at Golden Gate Deli, and real conversations with Steph, Dray, Joe Lacob, and his own family, he said yes to coming back.
That contrast should hit different right now.
Kerr’s loyalty isn’t blind sentimentality. It’s earned, deliberate, and mutual. Lacob and Dunleavy sat with him and asked one shared question: what honored the Warriors’ past while setting the franchise up for the best future? The four Larry O’Brien Trophies in Lacob’s office are standing monuments to what this relationship is about. That’s a front office that treats its coach like a partner, not an employee with an expiration date.
Dallas handed J-Kidd a 26-56 season after trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, a deal that Kidd insisted he wasn’t aware of until the eleventh hour, then showed him the door when a new regime walked in. Ujiri will build something in Dallas eventually. He always does. But don’t let the business language of “new direction” fool you into thinking a Finals trip two years ago didn’t happen. I’ll be interested to check out the opinions of those who watched his coaching tenure; will Coach Kidd get another landing spot soon?
I covered Jason Kidd when he played for the Nets. I know one of his childhood friends. I've been to his house, met his kids, then-wife, and Pilates Instructor. And I have insight from many people who worked with him in his coaching years. This is a great firing.
Meanwhile, Steve Kerr is coaching Steph Curry hopefully until the end of both of their careers.
Kerr himself said he was the luckiest coach in NBA history because he lucked into over a decade of Steph. I’m definitely gonna believe J-Kidd deserves better than what Dallas gave him. LET HIM COOK, DAMN!
DENVER — The NHL Coaches’ Association said it is closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights have denied multiple teams permission to speak with him about working for them.
Cassidy was fired in late March and still is under contract through next season, so anyone wishing to interview him must get permission from the Golden Knights, according to league rules.
“It is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities,” the Coaches’ Association said in a statement. “It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.”
Vegas reportedly has not allowed Pacific Division rivals Edmonton and Los Angeles to talk to Cassidy when asked since their seasons ended. Word of the Oilers’ interest in Cassidy leaked before they fired Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit.
It was not clear if teams in the Eastern Conference or elsewhere in the West sought or received permission to interview him. General manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed teams have asked for permission to talk to Cassidy.
“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said at a news conference ahead of Game 1 of the West final at the Avalanche. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this, as well.”
Cassidy, who just turned 61, guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, helped Boston reach the final in 2019 and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the pandemic shortened ’19-20 season. He was an assistant on Canada’s staff at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
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The Garden is in full bloom.
Following their nine-day (!) hiatus from playoff basketball, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks miraculously triumphed over Donovan Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers in a comeback victory for the ages at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Find a way,” Brunson said after scoring 38, including a heroic layup to send the game into overtime. “We got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing. We just kept chipping away.”
Next up, Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart and KAT will start from scratch and attempt to do it all over again in Game 2 at MSG on Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m. EST.
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are still available for the sure-to-be electric contest at the Garden the House that Brunson Built.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for Game 2 was $715 including fees on SeatGeek.
Potential home Games 5 and 7 back in NYC — if the series goes that far — are quite a bit pricier starting at $878 including fees.
While prohibitively expensive, it’s hard to put a price on playoff basketball- especially when it’s this good.
Case in point, Yahoo! Sports described witnessing the Knicks’ already historic fourth-quarter rally where Jalen Brunson led the team on an improbable 44-11 run as “something akin to a full-scale collective out-of-body experience.”
“I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game,” Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown said afterwards. “I don’t know if I’ve been a part of it.”
“What did I just see? Let’s gooooo,” Oscar nominee and Knicks diehard Timothée Chalamet shared in an Instagram Story.
Kicking yourself for missing Game 1?
No need to worry, Knicks fans.
Our team has everything you need to know about Game 2 of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals series at Madison Square Garden below.
New York Knicks playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks Eastern Conference Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets, can be found here:
New York Knicks home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 2 Thursday, May 21
$715(including fees)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 27 (if necessary)
$878(including fees)
Game 7 Sunday, May 31 (if necessary)
$1,124(including fees)
Cleveland Cavaliers playoff home game tickets
All Cavs Rocket Arena playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Cleveland Cavaliers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 23
$257 (including fees)
Game 4 Monday, May 25
$160 (including fees)
Game 6 Friday, May 29(if necessary)
$233 (including fees)
How to watch the Knicks and Cavs on TV
Fans hoping to catch Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on MSG, ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC, and NBA TV.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
2026 NBA playoff schedule
Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Sep 29, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly speaks to the media during media day at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
It was the third straight season in which the Wolves got demolished in their final game of the season. In 2024, it was the Dallas Mavericks, and last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to the championship, both in the Western Conference Finals.
This time, against the Spurs, the end of the season came a round earlier, and against a seven-foot-six Frenchman who seems primed to dominate the league, with a cast of 26-and-under players who are all years away from their primes.
Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly spoke to the media Tuesday to put a bow on the Timberwolves’ 2025-26 season and discuss where the franchise is heading moving forward.
“Our goal to start the season was to be a home playoff team. We weren’t,” Connelly said. “Our goal was to get further than we did last year. We didn’t. So those things kind of demand action, and we’ll see how those things take shape. We want to win more than we won this year.”
Connelly made it clear that the Timberwolves need to get better, saying, “We finished sixth in the West again, and it didn’t end the way we wanted, so I think everything is on the table.” Connelly continued, “We have to be realistic about what we have, which is way more good than bad, but know that we’re not good enough right now.”
Tim Connelly on the Timberwolves moving forward: “It would be disingenuous for me to be sitting here in front of this crew and say, 'Hey we're happy with the sixth seed. We're happy with not be a home court playoff team. We're happy that our last three closeout games have been… pic.twitter.com/A2yuas5Iem
With the last two teams to eliminate the Timberwolves, the Spurs and Thunder, currently battling it out in this year’s West Finals, the goal is clear. Minnesota needs to make moves to improve the roster, or else be destined to be taken out by one of the same two teams every year.
“I think the equation changes when you see the two teams playing in the Western Conference [Finals] right now,” Connelly explained. “We got smacked by Oklahoma City last year, we got smacked by San Antonio…We know our competition is not gonna sit still, and nor will we.”
While the Spurs and Thunder are certainly the measuring stick in terms of quality, the Timberwolves president pushed back on the idea that the Wolves need to build their team with the sole focus of taking down one or both of those teams.
“I think it’s dangerous because if they were specific solely to the San Antonio matchup, you take your ball and go home a little bit right now,” Connelly stated. “We’re not going to sit here for the next two months and solely focus on our ability to match up with the Spurs.”
“I think on the most simplistic level, if you have enough good players, and we have a great, great one in Anthony, you’re going to be a good team. So I don’t think you want to lose sight of that.”
Connelly has made his opinion clear; it is more important to stack as much talent as possible than to chase certain players that might have an advantage in a certain matchup. In Connelly’s eyes, it makes more sense to acquire the best players possible and retrofit the team’s identity around who is on the roster.
The Timberwolves President didn’t get into specifics about how he would improve the roster or what players may be a target for the team this offseason, but did give an insight into his philosophy around putting together a championship team.
“The risk is all self-induced pressure,” Connelly said. “I’d rather get fired for trying than just sit here and be in job survival mode.” He continued, “We’re not going to have a blind appetite for risk just because. But until you win it all, I think you’ve got to just keep playing hands.”
Two years ago, on the night of the NBA Draft, the Timberwolves took a risk and traded their 2031 first-round pick unprotected, along with a first-round pick swap in 2030, for the draft rights to Rob Dillingham. That risk did not pay off, as at the recent trade deadline, the Wolves traded Dillingham to the Chicago Bulls for Ayo Dosunmu.
Dosunmu has shined in his brief stint in Minnesota, including a 43-point performance in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets after both Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards went down with injuries.
With Dosunmu’s contract expiring this offseason, Connelly made it clear that retaining Dosunmu was one of his priorities heading into the summer, stating, “Ayo’s our most important free agent.” Connelly finished his answer about Dosunmu, saying, “We’re pretty optimistic that we’ll get something done there. He’s everything we thought and more.”
The other piece of the organization that Connelly is intent on keeping is Head Coach Chris Finch. While many fans online may want a new look in that position, Connelly and the Timberwolves organization have total confidence in Finch.
“I think Finch is great. I think we have a fantastic coaching staff.” Connelly said. “It’s not an easy job. He was masterful, I think, in the Denver series. We’re not here without Finchy. The playoff success we’ve had. I’m just thankful that he’s a partner and thankful that he’s our head coach.”
It is unclear exactly which direction the Timberwolves will take. Will they trade one or both of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, who have been key players during their time in Minnesota? Will they be able to make a big swing for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, which would be sure to make waves both in Minnesota and across the NBA?
What is clear is that Connelly and the Timberwolves know they cannot just stand pat. They have to improve the team and cannot let continuity further devolve into complacency. While Minnesota is expereinceing it’s golden age in the franchise’s history, one thing was made apparent by Connelly at Tuesday’s press conference at the Wolves’ practice facility: the team needs to get better.
“We’ve had success the last couple years, and we have to take that next step.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Jeremy Sochan #20 of the New York Knicks smiles after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What. A. Game.
The Knicks were down 93-71 with 7:40 left in Tuesday’s series opener at Madison Square Garden. No matter how optimistic you are, this game was over.
At that moment in time, I was just trying to mentally move on to Game 2, the same way I did after that stunning loss to Indiana last year in Game 1. Splitting at home is not the end of the world, and regardless of how this game went, I knew that the Knicks were capable of picking themselves up and making the adjustments they needed to come out firing on Thursday.
Well, I was right in my belief; it just happened two days sooner. It was the most unbelievable stretch of basketball I’ve ever watched in my entire life.
Jalen Brunson outscored an entire team by himself over the last 14 minutes of the game.
The Knicks, who have had some incredible runs and quarters in this playoff run, somehow topped themselves with a 44-11 run to end the game.
I don’t care if the average NBA fan might prefer the true avalanche of triples that willed the Pacers to a win in Game 1 last year. This game completely erased the stench of one of the most mortifying losses I’ve experienced as a sports fan. Regardless of what happens in this series and beyond, the Knicks got their getback from the utter humilation they experienced at the hands of Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton.
But how did they do this? Was it as simple as finally making their threes and Cleveland cooling off? While, of course, a comeback of that caliber is impossible without certain things that don’t necessarily require schematic shifts, there were several things that the Knicks managed to pick up on during the game that helped them rally.
Even if they hadn’t come all the way back. Even if Sam Merrill’s in-and-out shot in the final seconds of regulation went in to let Cleveland escape with a win, these changes are something that they’ll absolutely be able to apply moving forward and do to prevent themselves from falling into such a large deficit in the first place.
No Longer Doubling The Ball
The adjustment that the Knicks made after falling behind 1-2 to the Atlanta Hawks four weeks ago was pretty straightforward.
We’re not going to let CJ McCollum beat us. Blitz every screen, show every action, make him make a play.
It worked to a tremendous degree, so they applied it again to Tyrese Maxey in the next series.
It worked again, so they decided to stick with it against a turnover-prone James Harden to start this series.
In the first half, it did work. Harden was making bad decisions and the Cavs were missing the good looks they were getting when good ball movement left the Knicks helpless on a 4-on-3, but when Cleveland drained six of their last seven threes to end the half, the warts really started to show.
Out of the locker room, the Knicks kept at it, and the Cavs continued to beat it with excellent precision. You could tell it was their emphasis coming out of the locker room. If the Knicks’ offense didn’t heat up and Cleveland was able to abuse this defensive coverage, they had Game 1 in the bag.
Look at how Harden finds Jarrett Allen in the center of the court and collapses the defense. On every one of these possessions, there’s a shooter open. Dennis Schroder, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill, it didn’t matter. You had to choose one of them to leave open because of the 4-on-3 and they kept making you pay.
If it wasn’t an open three, it was an open layup. Hard closeouts on shooters led to driving lanes and cuts to the rim by Allen and Evan Mobley that the Knicks couldn’t stop. There were also times where Donovan Mitchell was just able to drive straight to the rim with ease.
No timeout effectively stopped the double-teaming, but after Merrill’s three-pointer with 3:05 left in the third quarter, the Knicks primarily switched their coverage to straight-up. The rest of the way, Cleveland scored just a grand total of 27 points in 20 minutes.
The only times I noticed the Knicks doubling the ball after that were on sporadic possessions, but also during Cleveland’s collapse. The blitzing worked in the first half when their offense was out of sorts, so returning to it when the sky is falling on them can work.
Ultimately, the Knicks cannot enter Game 2 thinking that Cleveland won’t abuse this coverage if attempted. I know it’s a scary proposition to deal with Harden or Mitchell 1-on-1, but it’s as rare as a blue moon when both of them are on their game at the same time, and we saw that again today. It’s enticing to try to force turnovers at half-court, but they have too much shooting to let them continue to exploit it.
Attacking James Harden
Through three quarters, I was pretty impressed watching how Harden was holding up defensively. After all, his reputation is certainly not the best on that end.
But a nearly 37-year-old man did not suddenly wake up and become good defensively, no matter if he has three inches and 30 pounds on Brunson. The final eight minutes of the first half were a schematic masterpiece for a Knicks offense that was abysmal in the first 40. The Cavs were voluntarily giving up a switch between Dean Wade and Harden and allowing Brunson to get to his spot repeatedly against the former MVP. Just watch this masterpiece.
— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) May 20, 2026
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges repeatedly drew Wade away from the action to leave Harden on an island, and it wasn’t until the Knicks had come all the way back that they finally sent a double team with Merrill. By that time, Brunson was willing to give the ball up to OG Anunoby, who further opened up the offense with hard drives to the rim that opened up three-point looks for Landry Shamet and Mikal Bridges.
Give the Knicks enough time, and they’ll find your defensive weakness. They did it with Joel Embiid; they figured out how to do it with Harden. The Cavs will certainly adjust one way or another, but the game plan into Game 2 is clear: Let Jalen Brunson go to work against single coverage all day, every day.
I love Josh Hart. He’s an extremely important part of this team, both on and off the court. If the Knicks are going to end a 53-year long championship drought, their glue guy is going to be a massive part of it.
But sometimes, it’s not your series. It’s really early, but all of the data suggests that Hart might be out of place here. After all, if he’s not a willing shooter who’s able to somewhat consistently make shots, it freezes up the Knicks’ offense with the ghost coverage that opponents are able to play.
Hart was minus-23 in 31 minutes. The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers by 34 points in 22 minutes with him on the bench. That entire run in the fourth quarter and overtime was with him on the bench. He wasn’t providing enough defensively to make up for what he was doing to the offense.
There’s value to Hart in this series, but he needs to be used differently. The starting lineup has now been absolutely decimated in three combined matchups against the Cavs this year, putting up a net rating worse than -30 in 43 combined minutes, getting the team off to a slow start on Christmas, and struggling in February and last night.
I believed that Mitchell Robinson was the answer if the Knicks ever needed to change the starting five in this series, but the answer might be the likes of Deuce McBride or Landry Shamet after what we just witnessed.
Granted, it’s one game. It’s statistical noise. The Knicks didn’t just find a lineup that turns the Cavs into goop on both ends of the floor, but there are stylistic reasons why a change there could be beneficial.
For one, Shamet did a great job on Mitchell when he defended him, and it allowed Bridges to frustrate Harden with his length, while Anunoby did what he does best off the ball. If you go to Mitch, you match up with the Cavs’ double big lineup and take away any rebounding disadvantage that the Knicks seemed to have early in this game.
There are multiple factors that Mike Brown is going to need to consider over the next two days heading into Game 2, but you have to hope that a guy who was hired to be innovative with the lineups won’t revert to something that doesn’t work for extended stretches.
The two NBA teams will first face one another on Jan. 14, 2027 at Accor Arena in Paris and then play again on Jan. 17 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. This will be the sixth time the NBA has contested a regular-season game in Paris and it will be the first regular-season game in Manchester.
The Spurs also played two regular-season games in Paris against the Indiana Pacers during Wembanyama's second season in January 2025. The 7-foot-4 French superstar was born and raised in the city's suburbs and began his professional career playing for clubs in the area before debuting in the NBA. Next year's trip will represent the first time the Spurs have appeared in a game in England.
The NBA has been playing games abroad since 1978 and ramped up its presence internationally more than 30 years ago. But it is seeking greater influence in European basketball at the moment, with plans on starting an NBA Europe league also backed by FIBA that could could begin play as soon as October 2027. The NBA is also scheduled to play regular-season games in Berlin and Paris in 2028.
The Pelicans finished with a 26-56 record and traded away their 2026 first-round pick to move up in last year's draft and select promising rookie Derik Queen. They also have veterans Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and guard Dejounte Murray, but could see the roster change this offseason under new coach Jamahl Mosley and lead executive Joe Dumars.
This will be the first time the franchise plays games in France and England.
"These games provide a unique platform to showcase our team, our culture and our community to global audiences while building meaningful relationships with fans, partners and communities abroad," Dumars said in a statement. "We are grateful to be part of the NBA’s continued international growth efforts, and we are excited to help grow the game globally and connect with new generations of basketball fans."
The Montreal Canadiens are one of the four teams still playing hockey as the calendar inches closer to June. While that is quite a surprise for a team that nobody saw as a contender yet, it’s even more surprising when you factor in the fact that their top line has been neutralized throughout the first two rounds.
In 14 games, Nick Suzuki has a total of 13 points, but eight were scored on the power play, while both Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield have nine points, but only one at even strength for the captain’s wingers. What’s even more worrying is that the three first-line forwards are part of a select club of only five players on the Canadiens’ roster who have a negative differential alongside Noah Dobson and Joe Veleno. Not only are they not producing at even strength, but they are getting scored on.
Despite having four power-play goals in 14 games, Slafkovsky’s performance has been largely underwhelming. In fact, since the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the power forward has not really looked like himself. The punch he took from Brandon Hagel or the hit that obliterated him from Max Crozier might have something to do with it. It looks like he’s playing injured, and as the Canadiens get ready to take on the well-oiled scoring machine that is the Carolina Hurricanes, they need to find a way to get their top players going.
Throughout the second round, one player looked like he was slowly finding his footing in the playoffs: Ivan Demidov. The Russian rookie has seven points in 14 games, but he has looked increasingly threatening of late; five of his points came in the last five games. He might not have gotten an assist on Alex Newhook’s series-winning goal in overtime. Still, it was his forecheck and active stick that helped the Canadiens regain puck possession and allowed Alexandre Carrier to send Newhook on his way to score the most important goal of his career thus far.
The 20-year-old rookie is also quite the playmaker and having him on Caufield’s opposite wing might be a good way to get the sniper the puck in dangerous areas more often. That could allow Caufield to finally get going at even strength in these playoffs. Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Demidov all had five points in three games against the Canes this season, but based on recent performance and the fact that the top line has been ineffective in these playoffs, it could be time for St-Louis to give a boost to his top line.
The first game of this third-round series will be a pivotal one. The Canes have been off for 11 days, while the Habs are just coming off an intense series against the Buffalo Sabres in which they had to dig deep. In the long run, the rest could come in handy for the Canes, but early in the series, they might need to get rid of some rust, and Montreal needs to take advantage of that.
HAGEL AND SLAFKOVSKY DROP THE GLOVES AND HAGEL DROPS SLAF WITH A SINGLE RIGHT 😱👊 pic.twitter.com/fuTEJTspLb
Jan 21, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The NBA Draft Combine is now over, and there are three Tar Heels that could have their name called on draft night should nobody withdraw their name. Two of those Tar Heels have already fully committed, but Matt Able is the guy that may or may not decide to return to college and play under Michael Malone. There is also the Seth Trimble situation, but that situation is somewhat complicated.
But now that we’re done with the combine, ESPN released their latest NBA Mock Draft yesterday, and there was some movement that UNC fans may be interested in. That said, let’s take a look at where ESPN has each player landing in the draft.
Caleb Wilson —1st Round, 4th overall pick to the Chicago Bulls
There was a lot of speculation before the combine that Caleb Wilson could potentially move into the top three of the NBA Draft, but that possibility has disappeared according to most outlets. While NBA scouts have stated there’s no real order when it comes to the top four players of the draft, it is feeling more and more like Wilson is destined to become a Chicago Bull.
The Bulls have finally decided to tear everything down to the studs and are officially in rebuild mode. With a new front office, a new head coach that hasn’t been named yet, loads of cap space, and two first-round picks, the Bulls are in an ideal situation to build their team around Wilson. He could end up being their best draftee since Derek Rose, so he’ll have big shoes to fill in the Windy City.
Henri Veesaar — 1st Round, 25th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Estonian center could find himself in an interesting situation to start his NBA career should things play out the way that ESPN is projecting. Henri Veesaar could potentially get drafted by the Lakers, a team that seemingly will be without LeBron James for the first time in years. Of course they still have Luka Doncic, but what they don’t have is depth at center, which is where Veesaar comes in.
What’s worth noting is that media outlets do not seem to agree when it comes to their projections for Veesaar. For instance, Yahoo Sports has Veesaar going 20th overall to the San Antonio Spurs, which is a pretty big jump up the boards compared to ESPN. As long as he lands somewhere within the 20-30th pick range, he’ll likely be satisfied with his decision to stay in the draft. The excitement may wear off if he is picked up by the Dallas Mavericks, though. If you know you know.
Matt Able — 2nd Round, 33rd overall to the Brooklyn Nets
Here is the projection everyone has been waiting for. Former NC State guard Matt Able is currently projected by ESPN go very early in the second round should he stay in the NBA Draft. Much like the Veesaar situation, though, this one isn’t easy to figure out — Yahoo Sports has Able as the 42nd pick to the San Antonio Spurs, which is significantly lower than ESPN is predicting.
While I would love to say that Matt Able returning to UNC feels likely, the truth is that we just don’t know. Taking second round money in the NIL era is really hard, but also some players are more than willing to take the risk if they’re just done with the school aspect of their careers. Able would have a chance to develop and get drafted higher should he stay in college, but let’s be honest: he’d develop in the league too. There’s no wrong decision for Able, but it would be awesome if Michael Malone didn’t have to go back into the portal to get someone that is inevitably less talented than Able to fill out his roster.
What do you think of ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft? How are you feeling about Matt Able’s impending decision to leave or stay in the draft? Let us know in the comments below.
It's time to start handing out hardware in the NHL as the playoffs have reached the conference finals.
The Prince of Wales Trophy and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl — and more important a spot in the Stanley Cup Final — are on the line as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals while the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche battle in the Western Conference finals.
The Canadiens and Hurricanes have taken just about opposite paths to the East finals. Carolina has played just eight games this postseason, becoming the first team to sweep its first two series since the first round went to best-of-seven in 1987. The Habs enter having played the most possible games (14), fresh off a second consecutive Game 7 win (this time in OT).
Out West it's a battle of heavyweights, with the 2022 champions (Avalanche) and 2023 champions (Golden Knights) squaring off. Will the Avalanche, the NHL's best team in 2025-26, continue their march?
USA TODAY Sports' NHL experts make their predictions for the conference finals:
Eastern Conference finals predictions: Hurricanes vs. Canadiens
Kevin Skiver: Hurricanes in 5. The Habs deserve a ton of credit for what they've done. Montreal brings its 14 playoff games so far up against Carolina's eight, with the Hurricanes having swept their first two series. It's a question of rest vs. rust, one as old as time. But the 'Canes benefit from their extended break and take down the team that has proved to be the most fun to watch this postseason.
Jace Evans: Canadiens in 6. It is perhaps ill-advised to pick against a team that has literally not lost a game yet in the playoffs, but I picked the Canadiens to reach the Stanley Cup Final before the playoffs began and I'm staying on this magic ride. They are young, but they have the skill to hang with the Hurricanes. And they appear to have the goaltending.
Mike Brehm: Hurricanes in 6. The Canadiens will be a lot tougher opponent for the Hurricanes than the Senators and Flyers, but Carolina's sweeps gave the team a chance to rest up any injuries. Montreal has played two seven-game series. A rested Hurricanes team will prevail because it will be able to continue its high-energy game.
Western Conference finals predictions: Avalanche vs. Golden Knights
Kevin Skiver: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights took down a few upstart teams in Utah and Anaheim, but now they run into a team that is shaping up to be as much a force of nature as its namesake. Colorado is back in the conference finals for the first time since 2022, and has cruised past the Kings and Wild. Jared Bednar's Avs get past the Golden Knights, and Vegas enters the offseason with a choice to make on John Tortorella.
Jace Evans: Avalanche in 6. When they're not preventing their former coach from interviewing with other teams or skirting league media rules, the Golden Knights are pretty good at hockey! I think the Avs are just a cut above, though. Colorado is 8-1 these playoffs and what's been most impressive is it's not just the big guns getting it done; 17 different Avalanche players have scored in their nine playoff games.
Mike Brehm: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights have the playoffs' leading scorer (Mitch Marner) and goal scorer (Pavel Dorofeyev), but the Avalanche have the best remaining player in Nathan MacKinnon and scoring depth throughout the lineup. Colorado has won eight of nine games with a seemingly banged-up Cale Makar limited to five points.
