NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks are partying like it’s 1999 after reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, but it is coming at a price.
“New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has suffered a broken right pinky finger and there is no timetable on his return, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN insider Shams Charania tweeted.
The news comes three days after the Knicks’ Game 4 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, so it is unclear as to whether Robinson suffered the injury during the contest or whether it happened after the fact.
Robinson has been a key part for the Knicks during their playoff run. He has appeared in 13 of the team’s 14 games, averaging 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as the Knicks’ top frontcourt player off the bench.
The Knicks still have some time before the NBA Finals, so they could work out some kind of solution to try and get Robinson ready to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
If Robinson were to miss out on playing in the Finals, it would likely mean more minutes for Karl-Anthony Towns, while Ariel Hukporti could come off the bench in his place. Whether they play the Thunder or Spurs, they will have to face off against an elite big man in Chet Holmgren or Victor Wembanyama, so not having Robinson would be a massive blow to the Knicks’ chances.
P&T community, what do you make of Robinson’s injury? Chime off in the comments section below.
May 27, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson watches the game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 04: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns falls to the ground after scoring the game winning basket against the LA Clippers at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Flopping and falling. That has somehow become one of the primary conversations around the NBA during this postseason, which in and of itself is pretty embarrassing for the league. Then again, when you’re on the biggest stage and viewers are constantly watching players embellish contact and hit the floor trying to sell a whistle, people are going to notice. They’re going to talk about it. They’re going to analyze it. And now they are.
Tom Haberstroh of Yahoo Sports recently published an article in which he studied five players during this postseason, watching every shot attempt, both fouled and non-fouled, and tracking how often each player ended up on the hardwood.
The goal was simple. Find the data. See how often these guys actually fall. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the pack when it came to ending up on the floor during shot attempts.
The question becomes, how often does this happen with the Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker?
Using the same methodology, and keeping it to this postseason as the sample size (because I definitely didn’t have time to go back through all 1,198 of Booker’s shot attempts this season), I figured it was a worthwhile thought exercise. So I spent a couple of days digging through the footage, watching shot after shot from Booker. All 70 of them in the First Round. That includes 63 official field goal attempts and seven additional shots that don’t count as FGA because they came on fouls and didn’t turn into an and-1.
I’ll start with this. You have to remember the Suns played the Oklahoma City Thunder, and there are only four games of data here. So while Tom Haberstroh had a much larger sample size to work with, going through 1,152 shots from five different players after the Western Conference Finals, Booker gave us 70 total attempts. That means every time he hit the floor, he carried more weight simply because the sample size was smaller.
That said, Phoenix faced Oklahoma City, a team well known at this point for its physicality and constant contact. And before I even get to the results, one quick observation.
Devin Booker has a beautiful jump shot. Sure, from beyond the arc it doesn’t always fall as often as we’d all like. And his 46/25/79 splits this postseason were certainly underwhelming. Still, when you’re sitting there watching shot after shot after shot, you really come to appreciate how clean the mechanics are. It’s smooth. It’s balanced. It’s just a damn pretty jumper.
So what did the numbers say?
Your initial reaction is probably to jump straight to the final number, 10%, and compare it to everyone else. On the surface, that places Devin Booker near the top of the list. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 17.4% and James Harden at 11.9% fell more on total shot attempts. One out of every 10 shots, you’ll Booker on the floor. Dig a little deeper, and the context matters. That number is driven heavily by Booker’s 30% fall rate on shots where he was actually fouled. That inflates the overall percentage. When you isolate non-fouled attempts, his fall rate drops to 6.7%, which is below everyone on Haberstroh’s list not named Wemby.
My biggest takeaway after watching all of Booker’s postseason attempts was how well he stays on his feet through contact. Does he seek contact to draw fouls? Absolutely. Does he try to manipulate officiating the same way plenty of stars around the league do? Of course. Unfortunately, that’s part of the NBA.
What stood out is that he doesn’t take it to a point where he’s constantly ending up on the floor trying to sell every whistle. Those three falls on 10 fouled shot attempts were legitimate. He wasn’t kicking his legs out, he wasn’t collapsing into a heap after release, he wasn’t hunting for dramatic reactions. He got hit. The contact knocked him down.
The more impressive number to me is what happened on the other 60 attempts. That’s the larger sample in this exercise, and based on the data available, Booker did a really strong job staying balanced, absorbing contact, and getting back on defense without falling to the hardwood. There were numerous occasions where, had it been SGA, he would’ve been on the floor. But Booker fought to keep the balance rather than succumb to it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t to say that Devin Booker isn’t an actor at times. He’s not somebody who consistently ends up sprawled on the floor, but you’ll definitely catch him doing his fair share of flailing his arms or looking straight at the officials, wondering why contact on him didn’t get a whistle. Watching the footage, that happened. A lot. Perhaps I should do a flail rate percentage.
A 10% total fall rate, even with the smaller sample size, is still higher on the list than you’d probably want it to be. It also fortifies what our eyes tell us night in and night out. Devin Booker is an elite shot maker (inside the arc). He’ll seek contact and try to sell calls as every star does, but he’s never really been a consistently effective manipulator of officials.
Devin Booker definitely plays the foul-drawing game because every star in the league does at this point. That’s part of the modern NBA ecosystem, whether we love it or roll our eyes at it. The difference is in how often the theatrics become the story. Watching Booker possession after possession, the overwhelming impression wasn’t somebody trying to manufacture contact and live on the floor. It was a player trying to create clean looks, absorb physicality, and keep moving.
He’ll lobby officials. He’ll throw his arms up. He’ll give you the occasional stare that says, “Really?” We’ve all seen it. Still, compared to some of the postseason’s most discussed whistle hunters, Booker’s game still feels rooted far more in shot-making than in selling the performance around it.
Baseball: Scenic view from center field of Seattle Mariners Steve Cishek (31) warming up in bullpen as bullpen coach Mike Hampton (46) looks on during game vs Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Overall view of field and stadium. Baltimore, MD 5/19/2016 CREDIT: Simon Bruty (Photo by Simon Bruty /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: SI389 TK1 )
Game one of four in Baltimore.
There have been moves. McAdoo is up. Sosa is on the Il. I bet you didn’t know that inability to take a walk was something that could land you on the IL.
Seabold is on the roster, Chase Lee is headed to Buffalo.
NHL and Avalanche great Joe Sakic joined the hockey world in mourning the death of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux, who reportedly took his own life on Thursday.
Sakic was teammates with Lemieux for parts of five seasons in Colorado from 1995-96 to early in the 1999-2000 season, when Lemieux was traded to the Devils
The two won a Stanley Cup together in 1996. The Avs legend described Lemieux as a “fierce competitor and a champion.”
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
“We are devastated to learn of Claude’s passing,” Sakic said in a statement released through the Avalanche. “‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on. Most importantly he was a wonderful family man and there is nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with his grandchildren.
“Today is a very sad day for the Avalanche family and Claude will be greatly missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. On behalf of the entire Avalanche organization, we send our love and prayers to Deborah and the Lemieux family. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”
Lemieux played 21 years in the NHL, spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Avalanche, Coyotes, Stars and Sharks.
He won his first of four Cups in 1986 with the Canadiens and helped the Devils win the franchise’s first championship in 1995.
Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche brings the puck all the way down the ice for his first goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in the first period on December 26, 2005 at the Pepsi Center. Getty Images
Lemieux arrived in Colorado before the start of the 1995-96 season via trade and became the 10th player in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups when he lifted hockey’s greatest prize again in 1996.
His fourth came during his second stint with the Devils in 2000.
The hockey agitator recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff games during his memorable career.
Right wing Claude Lemieux, center Joe Sakic, and left wing Valeri Kamensky of the Detroit Red Wings celebrate a goal during a playoff game against the Colorado Avalanche at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
According to multiple reports, Lemieux died by suicide and was discovered in a furniture store that the ex-NHL player and his wife owned in Lake Park, Fla.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the showroom and the business was secured in order for an investigation to be conducted, authorities office told The Athletic.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release any records to the outlet due to a Florida statute that exempts suicide cases from public record requirements.
NHL and Avalanche great Joe Sakic joined the hockey world in mourning the death of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux, who reportedly took his own life on Thursday.
Sakic was teammates with Lemieux for parts of five seasons in Colorado from 1995-96 to early in the 1999-2000 season, when Lemieux was traded to the Devils
The two won a Stanley Cup together in 1996. The Avs legend described Lemieux as a “fierce competitor and a champion.”
Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Calgary Flames at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
“We are devastated to learn of Claude’s passing,” Sakic said in a statement released through the Avalanche. “‘Pepe’ was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on. Most importantly he was a wonderful family man and there is nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with his grandchildren.
“Today is a very sad day for the Avalanche family and Claude will be greatly missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. On behalf of the entire Avalanche organization, we send our love and prayers to Deborah and the Lemieux family. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.”
Lemieux played 21 years in the NHL, spending time with the Canadiens, Devils, Avalanche, Coyotes, Stars and Sharks.
He won his first of four Cups in 1986 with the Canadiens and helped the Devils win the franchise’s first championship in 1995.
Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche brings the puck all the way down the ice for his first goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in the first period on December 26, 2005 at the Pepsi Center. Getty Images
Lemieux arrived in Colorado before the start of the 1995-96 season via trade and became the 10th player in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups when he lifted hockey’s greatest prize again in 1996.
His fourth came during his second stint with the Devils in 2000.
The hockey agitator recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff games during his memorable career.
Right wing Claude Lemieux, center Joe Sakic, and left wing Valeri Kamensky of the Detroit Red Wings celebrate a goal during a playoff game against the Colorado Avalanche at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
According to multiple reports, Lemieux died by suicide and was discovered in a furniture store that the ex-NHL player and his wife owned in Lake Park, Fla.
Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the showroom and the business was secured in order for an investigation to be conducted, authorities office told The Athletic.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office did not release any records to the outlet due to a Florida statute that exempts suicide cases from public record requirements.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Saturday morning for the show where we’ll dive into the Pistons’ offseason. Who’s your dream target? What should a Jalen Duren and/or Ausar Thompson extension look like? And, most importantly, would the Pistons have put up a better fight against the Knicks than the Cavaliers did?
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
Davis Martin apparently trying to nab a free t-shirt fired from one of those little cannons. | (Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
It didn’t look like the feeble-hitting Twins would have much chance against Davis Martin, and that turned out to be right.
And it didn’t look like the Sox would struggle against an emergency starter rushed into action very shortly before game time, and that turned out to be right, too. Especially thanks to the incompetence of Twins manager Derek Shelton.
The Twins offense, which had scored only five runs in regulation in three games against lesser Sox pitching, looked hopeless against Martin, who holds the key to success against Minnesota: complete ownership of Byron Buxton. He did walk Buxton once, but got a K on a pitch around eye-high, running the star’s career against him to 1-for-12 with six strikeouts. He also held the rest of the Twins to two hits, both by Tristan Gray, who drove in the only run on Martin’s tab with a double long after the game was essentially over.
Just to show he’s not just all-throw-and-no-catch, Martin even made a nifty play on Trevor Larnach in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Minnesota had a problem — an even bigger problem than just being the Twins. Shelton, for some reason, decided to give hurler Taj Bradley (5-1) an extra day of rest, even though his last three starts had been excellent, rather than having him face a division rival. Then opener+ Kendry Rojas, ERA 1.26, was pulled due to elbow soreness, and Simeon Woods Richardson was rushed into duty on little warning.
Woods Richardson is mostly a starter, but he’d just pitched two relief innings on Monday and was in no way ready to go. He gave up a run on a Colson Montgomery single after Miguel Vargas walked and stole second in the first. Then Shelton left Woods Richardson in well past his sell-by date in the fourth, even after he’d loaded the bases on two walks and another Montgomery single. To no one’s surprise — except maybe Shelton’s — Tristan Peters then drove in a run on an infield single to give the Sox a 2-0 lead, and Randal Grichuk effectively put the game away with a double to the corner against a Twins offense too lousy to mount a comeback.
That made it 5-0 Sox, and after a Sam Antonacci single and an errant pickoff attempt, a Munetaka Murakami pop-up double stretched the lead to 6-0 after five.
The Twins finally scored on Martin in the sixth on a walk and Gray’s double. Will Venable decided to be kind to them in the seventh and inserted Jordan Leasure, but even he only gave up one run despite being hit hard by four straight batters. Tyler Davis and Grant Taylor each threw a scoreless inning to keep the final 6-2.
The win moves the White Sox to 29-27 and actually gets their run differential back to even for the first time since Opening Day. The Tigers, who haven’t won a game since roughly April Fool’s Day and got clobbered by the Angels today, are headed to town for a three-game series starting with Troy Melton making his second start of the year, going for Detroit vs. Erick Fedde for Chicago tomorrow night.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 10: Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt #40 of the Baltimore Orioles works the second inning against the Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 10, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If I had a dollar for every time someone has brought up the Earl Weaver quote that momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher, I could probably take a nice vacation. It comes up so often it is kind of a joking cliche. Yet the reason it is deployed so often is there is an obvious truth to it. If your starting pitcher gets his butt kicked, then it probably doesn’t matter what you did the last three games. That winning streak is over. If your starting pitcher goes out and throws a gem, you’ve got a pretty good chance to keep the good times rolling.
The Orioles open up a series against the Blue Jays here on Thursday night with Chris Bassitt on the mound. Amazingly, he is kind of a defiance of the Weaver cliche. Bassitt has been pretty much terrible so far, with about three of his ten outings being anything like good. He has thoroughly earned the 5.51 ERA that he currently possesses. He is not on the path to looking like the $18.5 million contract that Mike Elias handed him for 2026 will pay off for the Orioles. He is neither pitching well nor eating innings.
Somehow, the Orioles are 7-3 in games that Bassitt pitches. Bassitt himself has come away with a 4-3 win-loss record, grabbing wins in games where he gave up five runs in 5.1 innings and three runs in 4.1 innings (relief outing). Always remember that pitcher win-loss records are not indicative of all that much.
Maybe Bassitt will surprise me and pitch well. The Blue Jays are not hitting very well over the last two weeks, with a .231/.298/.374 team batting line. Annoyingly, they are 9-5 in this time, because their pitchers are doing even better. In the same time, the Jays have allowed a .599 OPS and 2.65 ERA. Tonight’s Jays pitcher, Patrick Corbin, who has netted -3.4 bWAR since the start of the 2021 season, is worth more than any Orioles starting pitcher! No one would have been happy at the time if Elias had signed this guy. Two months into the season, though, those are the results.
Obligatory Orioles roster move of the day: The team optioned yesterday’s starter, Trey Gibson, back to Norfolk. They selected the contract of Cameron Weston from Norfolk. He has not been pitching well down there, or at least not getting good results. Good luck to him if he debuts. Also today, the Orioles activated Heston Kjerstad from the injured list and optioned him to Norfolk.
Orioles lineup
Taylor Ward – DH
Gunnar Henderson – SS
Adley Rutschman – C
Pete Alonso – 1B
Coby Mayo – 3B
Leody Taveras – CF
Tyler O’Neill – RF
Jackson Holliday – 2B
Blaze Alexander – LF
If the question is “Why is Tyler O’Neill playing?” the answer is probably that the team has zero confidence in Colton Cowser against lefty pitchers, but also I have zero confidence in O’Neill against any pitcher so, you know. Sunk cost time is approaching, if it has not already arrived.
Blue Jays lineup
George Springer – DH
Nathan Lukes – LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
Daulton Varsho – CF
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Jesús Sánchez – RF
Ernie Clement – 2B
Andrés Giménez – SS
Brandon Valenzuela – C
The Jays signed the Japanese infielder Okamoto as a free agent this offseason to hit home runs and he already has 11 home runs. Must be nice.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from the NBA Finals, while the San Antonio Spurs try to keep their season alive in a pivotal Game 6 tonight.
With stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama taking center stage, there’s no shortage of intriguing betting angles to attack.
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Thunder Game 6 computer picks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 7.5 assists (+115)
Projection: 6.58 assists
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still going to have the ball a ton, but this feels more like a scoring game than a playmaking one. The Spurs have done a decent job forcing OKC into isolation offense, and if SGA starts hunting his own shot late, the assists can dry up quickly.
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Jalen Williams Over 12.5 points (-128)
Projection: 15.64 points
Jalen Williams hasn’t played in the last three games, but if he’s back in the lineup, this number still feels short. He’s cleared 12.5 points in five of his last six appearances, and Oklahoma City badly missed his downhill scoring ability. With defenses loading up on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams should find plenty of clean looks if active.
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Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points (-115)
Projection: 14.95 points
Chet Holmgren’s skill set is a nightmare matchup in this series. He can space the floor, attack closeouts, and finish around the rim, which makes him tough to scheme against. If he gets his usual minutes, there are enough scoring paths here to clear this number.
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Spurs Game 6 computer picks
Victor Wembanyama Over 12.5 rebounds (-112)
Projection: 15.49 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama has been vacuuming rebounds lately, and the pace of this matchup only helps. There should be plenty of missed shots on both sides, and his length gives Oklahoma City problems every time the ball goes up. If the Spurs keep this competitive, the rebounds should pile up.
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Dylan Harper Over 9.5 points (-110)
Projection: 10.85 points
Dylan Harper looks more comfortable every game, and San Antonio clearly trusts him offensively right now. He’s getting downhill, attacking the rim, and finding ways to score without needing a ton of touches. Ten points isn’t asking for much if his role stays intact.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 16.44 points
De'Aaron Fox still feels like San Antonio’s biggest pressure point offensively. His speed creates problems even in slower playoff games, and he’s aggressive enough to get to the line when the jumper isn’t falling. In a must-win game, expect the Spurs to lean heavily on him offensively.
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How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 6
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBC
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One of Claude Lemieux’s longtime rivals had touching words for the four-time Stanley Cup winner, who died by suicide at the age of 60.
“This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold,” former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty wrote on X. “My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on.”
McCarty and Lemieux are central figures to the Avalanche-Red Wings rivalry of the late 1990s, with Lemieux infamously injuring Detroit’s Kris Draper with a vicious check from behind in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Final, breaking multiple bones in Draper’s face and requiring reconstructive surgery.
Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Getty Images
McCarty and his teammates watched Lemieux raise the Stanley Cup — the third of his career — that spring. The following season, in their fourth matchup of 1996-97 and what would later become known as “Fight Night at the Joe,” the McCarty cold-cocked Lemieux and proceeded to rain down punches on him as he lay on the ice at Joe Louis Arena, and later dragged him to where Draper stood on the Red Wings bench.
The game — the regular season finale — served as a rallying point for Detroit, which went on to win the first of back-to-back Cups.
Any ill will between the pair dissipated over the years, with McCarty and Lemieux becoming friends and using their feud to fundraise for charity.
“As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it,” McCarty opined on X, “‘If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I’ll turn mine.'”
Lemieux’s death was announced Thursday, with TMZ reporting the Devils icon was found after committing suicide by one of his adult sons in the family’s furniture store in Florida.
Darren McCarty of the Detroit Red Wings moves down the ice during a playoff game against the Colorado Avalanche at Joe Louis Arena. Getty Images
It came days after he returned to Montreal, where he won his first Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Canadiens, to amp up the crowd ahead of the franchise’s Game 3 against the Hurricanes on Monday.
“If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone,” McCarty wrote.
One of Claude Lemieux’s longtime rivals had touching words for the four-time Stanley Cup winner, who died by suicide at the age of 60.
“This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold,” former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty wrote on X. “My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on.”
McCarty and Lemieux are central figures to the Avalanche-Red Wings rivalry of the late 1990s, with Lemieux infamously injuring Detroit’s Kris Draper with a vicious check from behind in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Final, breaking multiple bones in Draper’s face and requiring reconstructive surgery.
Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche in action during a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Getty Images
McCarty and his teammates watched Lemieux raise the Stanley Cup — the third of his career — that spring. The following season, in their fourth matchup of 1996-97 and what would later become known as “Fight Night at the Joe,” the McCarty cold-cocked Lemieux and proceeded to rain down punches on him as he lay on the ice at Joe Louis Arena, and later dragged him to where Draper stood on the Red Wings bench.
The game — the regular season finale — served as a rallying point for Detroit, which went on to win the first of back-to-back Cups.
Any ill will between the pair dissipated over the years, with McCarty and Lemieux becoming friends and using their feud to fundraise for charity.
“As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it,” McCarty opined on X, “‘If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I’ll turn mine.'”
Lemieux’s death was announced Thursday, with TMZ reporting the Devils icon was found after committing suicide by one of his adult sons in the family’s furniture store in Florida.
Darren McCarty of the Detroit Red Wings moves down the ice during a playoff game against the Colorado Avalanche at Joe Louis Arena. Getty Images
It came days after he returned to Montreal, where he won his first Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Canadiens, to amp up the crowd ahead of the franchise’s Game 3 against the Hurricanes on Monday.
“If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone,” McCarty wrote.
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The “Summer of George 3.0” is underway.
For the third straight season, the New York Yankees are giving away “Seinfeld”-inspired George Costanza bobbleheads.
This year, they’ll be handing out 18,000 tiny Jason Alexander statuettes — where he’ll likely be polishing off a calzone — on Thursday, Aug. 27 when Aaron Judge’s Bronx Bombers go toe-to-toe with Yordan Alvarez’s Houston Astros.
As “Seinfeld” fans may recall, George’s infamous run-in with the Italian delicacy comes from the Season 7 episode “The Calzone” where he accidentally gets his boss George Steinbrenner (voiced by Larry David) hooked on the folded pizza.
A minute into the episode, Steinbrenner asks Costanza “what is that you’re eating there? It looks pretty tasty?” before having his underling hand his lunch over.
“Big Stein wants a little taste” he adds before taking a sizable bite of the meal that comes complete with cheese, pepperoni and eggplant.
If you’d like to get a taste of your very own Costanza calzone bobblehead, tickets are available for the late August, dog days of summer contest.
Better yet, they’re surprisingly cheap.
At the time of publication, we found seats going for as low as $41 including fees on SeatGeek.
100-level seats start at $98 including fees.
In the event “Seinfeld” isn’t your thing, the Yankees have a number of other exciting giveaways coming up these next few months.
Personally, we’re most excited about the Aaron Judge MVP bobblehead (June 20), Cody Bellinger bobblehead (Aug. 21) and Josh Hart bobblehead (Sept. 25).
Also, we’d be absolutely remiss if we didn’t mention that other than the Pinstripers playing well this season, fans are lining up for the $10.99 ice cream fried chicken bucket at games.
“…what looks like a pair of fried chicken drumsticks is actually ice cream with a chocolate-covered cookie ‘bone’ center with a coating of white chocolate and candied corn flakes to give it that fried chicken look [and] is served in a souvenir mini ‘chicken’ bucket,” MLB.com reports.
Need a calzone bobblehead…and maybe an ice cream fried chicken bucket too?
We’re here to help.
Our team has everything you need to know and more about getting tickets for the Yankees George Costanza Calzone bobblehead giveaway game below.
Yankees George Costanza bobblehead giveaway day tickets
A complete breakdown of all Yankee Stadium section ticket prices for the Aug. 27 Yankees-Astros game with the George Costanza calzone bobblehead giveaway can be found here:
Yankee Stadium sections
Ticket prices start at
400-level
$41(including fees)
300-level
$65(including fees)
200-level
$84(including fees)
100-level
$99(including fees)
Lower level
$321(including fees)
Yankees 2026 home game tickets
At the moment, Aaron Boone’s Yankees are sitting at 34-22 just behind the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays in the competitive AL East.
And, while that’s certainly exciting, we’re most jazzed about all the amazing giveaways the team has planned for the rest of the year (along with the Costanza bobblehead).
To make sure you’re fully up to speed on which games include special trinkets with your tickets (and Old-Timer’s Day!), here are all the remaining 2026 Yankees giveaways and special dates.
Yankees 2026 giveaways
Guardians vs. YankeesTuesday, June 2 Charles Fazzino’s America250: A New York Yankees Celebration Poster Night
Red Sox vs. YankeesSaturday, June 6 Military Appreciation Night – Red, White & Blue Yankees T-shirt
White Sox vs. YankeesThursday, June 18 Yankees Soccer Jersey Night
Guardians vs. YankeesSaturday, June 20 Aaron Judge MVP Bobblehead Day
Twins vs. YankeesFriday, July 3 Fireworks Night
Twins vs. YankeesSaturday, July 4 Yankees 4th of July Cap Day
Pirates vs. YankeesMonday, July 20 Yankees T-Shirt Night
Braves vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 8 Old-Timers’ Day
Blue Jays vs. YankeesFriday, Aug. 21 Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night
Blue Jays vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 22 Hello Kitty Yankees Bobblehead Day
Orioles vs. YankeesFriday, Sept. 25 Josh Hart Yankees Bobblehead Night
Orioles vs. YankeesSaturday, Sept. 26 CC Sabathia Night
Note: Most freebies will be given to the first 18,000 fans. There are exceptions so make sure to arrive at the ballpark early.
Prefer a home game without giveaways? You can find the Yankees’ complete 2026 schedule here.
Jerry Seinfeld Beacon Theatre residency
Starting Oct. 24, Jerry Seinfeld resumes his ongoing Beacon Theatre residency.
As of now, the funnyman has ten shows booked at the classy Upper West Side performance space. To find the one that makes the most sense for you, you can find all Jerry Beacon dates below.
Jerry Seinfeld Beacon Theatre dates
Friday, Dec. 117 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 125 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 128 p.m.
Want to see Jerry elsewhere? You can find Seinfeld’s complete 2026 tour calendar here.
Stream “The Calzone” “Seinfeld” episode
In the off-chance it’s been a few years since you’ve caught “The Calzone” — which originally aired April 25, 1996 and features subplots where Jerry dates a woman and Elaine goes out with a guy whose found “dating loopholes” — you can stream the fan-favorite episode on Netflix.
Note: “The Calzone” is Season 7 Episode 19.
Huge 2026 concerts
Hoping to catch a concert or three this year, too?
If the answer is a resounding yes, here are just a few you won’t want to miss these next few months.
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.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 17: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on November 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following the emphatic series loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers profile as one of the most interesting teams this offseason. The Cavs are thoroughly in “win-now” mode, and they have linked to a player that fits that timeline in Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the Cavs have had interest for several months now, Antetokounmpo may not be reciprocating those feelings.
According to Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Cleveland is not seen as a preferred destination for Antetokounmpo. “I haven’t heard of Cleveland as a potential team that he’d be interested in,” Haynes said via NBA on Prime. “It has to be the right team that he wants to go to, and the right fit. I just haven’t heard Cleveland.”
Chris Haynes HAS NOT heard of the Cavs as one of Giannis’s preferred destinations:
“I haven’t heard of Cleveland as a potential team that he’d be interested in. One thing about Giannis, he has 1 more year left remaining on his contract for next season. He can tell teams ‘listen,… https://t.co/DzgJBZ6iz2pic.twitter.com/xSFxZvUIWM
Part of what makes a trade for Antetokounmpo tricky, other than what would need to be given up to acquire him, is the fact that he does not have to sign an extension with his new team. His representation could say, similar to Kawhi Leonard in 2018-19, that he will accept a trade to a team but forgo an extension in favor of signing with someone else in free agency.
“One thing about Giannis, he has 1 more year left remaining on his contract for next season,” Haynes continued. “He can tell teams ‘listen, if you trade for me, you only get me for a year cause I’m opting out and going somewhere else.’ That’s going to deter teams from pursuing him.”
For a team like the Cavs, who are desperately trying to keep their faint championship window open, a swing for someone like Antetokounmpo may be too enticing to pass up, even if it means he leaves next summer. The Toronto Raptors certainly do not feel any buyer’s remorse after acquiring Leonard, who led the team to the championship in his lone season in Canada. If the threat of him leaving lessens the price (as unlikely as that may be), the Cavs will understandably be open to talking about a potential trade.
The entire hockey community was stunned at the news of the tragic passing of four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux at the age of 60 on Thursday.
Lemieux, who won the Stanley Cup twice with the New Jersey Devils and once each with the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens, was one of the central figures in the iconic rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Avalanche starting in 1996.
While Lemieux was a fierce rival of the Red Wings during that time, he and Darren McCarty mended fences and routinely held joint autograph sessions with one another.
McCarty himself reacted to the tragic news on Thursday with a touching tribute on social media.
"Just heard the news on Claude Lemieux," McCarty wrote on X. "This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on. As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it 'If your on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT.
But off the ICE I’ll turn mine' And please. If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone
Godspeed my friend."
Just heard the news on #ClaudeLemieux This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on. As I’ve said and will always call it as I…
Amidst an outpouring of tributes from around the NHL as well as Lemieux former teams, the Red Wings posted a memorial tribute for him.
"The Detroit Red Wings extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and former teammates of Claude Lemieux," the club wrote on X. "Claude was a fierce competitor on the ice who, especially in the playoffs, consistently elevated his play during the game's biggest moments. Our thoughts are with his wife, Deborah, and his four children."
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, who faced Lemieux dozens of times in regular season and playoff competition, also released a statement.
"In his post-playing career as an agent, I got to know Claude on a more personal level and quickly grew to respect his professionalism in our interactions," Yzerman's statement read. "Even more fondly, I will remember and miss the deeper conversations we had beyond the game.
After retiring from the game, Lemieux became an NHLPA-certified player agent, and among his clients was Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider.
During his NHL career, Lemieux skated in 1,215 regular season games, scoring 379 goals with 407 assists.
He also contributed 80 goals and 78 assists in 234 career playoff games, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995 after helping the Devils sweep the Red Wings in that year's Stanley Cup Final.
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