Roch Cholowsky of the UCLA Bruins reacts during an NCAA baseball game at Bainton Field in Piscataway, United States, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
I’ll be honest. College baseball is decidedly not my thing. The very best college prospects sometimes end up in Double-A, while the vast majority will be sent to A ball or perhaps the complex. If I wanted that I could, you know, go see actual minor leaguers in person. I know “gotta support the school” and all, but I paid tuition to two of them so we’re even. And I find that as a working parent and a guy who watches the Braves intently, I don’t have the bandwidth.
But thankfully, I don’t represent everybody. And some of you really like college baseball. Some of you have played it and others are parents of current players. And I’ve noticed that this place clears out when there’s no Braves game and the NCAA baseball tournament.
This year, the Braves have the eighth highest draft pool. They could end up drafting some of the better prospects. So I’m gonna attempt to follow the college baseball postseason this year. You might get a baseball tournament roundup, or at least an aggregated one from other coverage pretty soon.
So are you going to watch the college baseball tournaments? Are there any players that you’re following? Can you all help me find what to watch for? I know UCLA is good, and there are 8 SEC teams in the top 25. Also, can players jump up the board drastically with a good postseason? I know college football players do all the time. Regardless, you’re going to hear more about it in the coming weeks. The minor league team is already on the hunt, and I’ll be chipping in where I can.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Every single member of the Columbus Clippers lineup had at least one hit on Saturday, with three top prospects all homering.
Cooper Ingle led the way, going 2-for-5 with a three-run home run.
Cooper Ingle 3-run homer.
His OPS is now 1.199 in Triple-A.
The Guardians had Austin Hedges pinch hit for Patrick Bailey last night, which tells you everything about where their catcher production is at. pic.twitter.com/vDEzKmuchR
Angel Genao also blasted his second home run in as many days, also going 2-for-5 and raising his Triple-A OPS to 1.006.
Make that consecutive days with a home run for Angel Genao!
The @CleGuardians No. 2 prospect (MLB No. 47) continues his tear since being promoted to Triple-A last week with 11 hits — 7 for extra bases — in his past 7 games for the @CLBClippers. pic.twitter.com/niN8JmhcGD
Juan Brito reached base safely four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks. Kahlil Watson doubled and had a sacrifice fly while Nolan Jones doubled and walked. Stuart Fairchild doubled and walked and Kody Huff went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Starting pitcher Logan Allen got hammered for six runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.
Jack Leftwich added 2.1 scoreless innings of relief while Daniel Espino added a scoreless inning while striking out the size. Tanner Burns earned the save by getting the final out of the ninth inning.
Luke Hill had a huge game for Lake County, but it wasn’t enough. Hill went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and two walks, raising his season OPS to 1.006.
Johan Rodriguez had the lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
Jose Pirela went 1-for-3 with a walk, while Cannon Peebles went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Robert Arias tripled while Yaikel Mijares walked twice and stole a base. Jhorvic Abreus homered.
Starting pitcher Will McCausland allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings.
Jervis Alfaro allowed four additional runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings.
Luke Fernandez added a scoreless inning of relief.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bringing a bad team to contention typically takes time. It took the Mavericks four years to return to prominence after drafting Luka Doncic. Cooper Flagg’s timeline is setting up to be similar.
A lot has happened in the past year. After the Mavericks punted and traded Anthony Davis, the flagship piece in the Doncic trade (no pun intended), the championship timeline was reset. Here are four characteristics of today’s contenders, and a timeline of when Dallas could get there.
SPOILER ALERT: It could be sooner than you think.
You need a Batman
Well, the good news for Dallas is that this one is taken care of. Finding a true bona fide superstar is the toughest part of a rebuild. Just ask the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, and today’s shining star: the Detroit Pistons. The additional challenge teams face is that not every really good player can be a Batman. Cooper Flagg showcased his superhero abilities this season and proved he can be the next franchise superstar.
Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game this season. The only other rookies to average at least 20-6-4? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Elgin Baylor, and Luka Doncic. That’s pretty good company. Flagg became the first teenager to score 50 points in a game when he did so against the Orlando Magic on April 3. He also set the record for the most 40-point games in a season by a rookie, with four, surpassing LeBron James, who held the previous record of three.
The praise for Flagg could go on and on. The only thing left for the rookie sensation to accomplish is taking home the Rookie of the Year trophy. He’s neck-and-neck with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, who set his own fair share of shooting records this season as a rookie. But no matter who takes home the hardware, you get the picture. Dallas has its new Batman.
You need a Robin
Is Robin somewhere in the 2026 NBA draft? Is he on the team already? This one is hard to answer. After Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in March of 2025, there was optimism in Dallas that he would return before the end of the 2026 season. But with the Mavericks well out of the playoff picture, the organization decided to shut him down for the rest of the season.
Irving could be the Robin Dallas is searching for to fit alongside Cooper Flagg. After some growing pains initially with Luka Doncic, Irving proved he could be a legitimate second threat on a championship contender. The Mavericks were 15-27 in clutch games this season. Playing without a true, seasoned point guard stung them countless times this season. Could a healthy Kyrie Irving flip that to 27-15? There’s an argument for it. Before he went down last season, Irving was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Plug those numbers into this team with his poise and leadership, and Dallas could have been, at the bare minimum, in the playoff hunt
Or maybe the Robin comes from the draft. The Mavericks have to hit again in this lottery since they do not own their own pick again until 2031. With loads of talent at the top of the board and Dallas sitting at 8th in the draft, there’s a real chance the Mavericks strike gold in two consecutive drafts. The depth of the guard class is incredible – Darryn Peterson, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler, Mikal Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., and Labaron Philon are just a few. And again, those are just the guards. There’s plenty of talent to go around this summer.
If you look at recent champions, each had a 1A and a 1B. The Thunder had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The Celtics had Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Nuggets had Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The blueprint of recent contenders says you need two legitimate threats with the proper supporting cast.
You need an identity
Every contending team has an identity. The Thunder play swarming defense. The Nuggets have an elite center with athleticism and snipers. The Celtics have two stars and are lethal from three. When teams prepare for the Mavericks, what do they think? Do the Mavericks have a true identity? Outside of Cooper Flagg, Dallas doesn’t have much to hang its hat on other than playing hard. But playing hard doesn’t mean winning (as we saw). So the Mavericks need to develop a true identity.
When the game slows down, what is the one thing this team can rely on to get them wins? Most might be tempted to say defense, but the Mavericks were 20th in the NBA this season in defensive efficiency, giving up an average of 116.5 points per game. Injuries wrecked this season for Dallas, so we can’t say with true certainty that the Mavericks aren’t a really good defensive team, but the numbers aren’t there yet.
Unless the roster gets a complete 180-degree flip, it’s hard to imagine the strength of Dallas being the offense. The Mavericks were 27th in offensive efficiency this season, scoring only 111.2 points per game. Dallas also ranked 26th in three-point shooting, cashing in on just 34.4% of attempts. There’s no question the Mavericks need more offensive firepower. They first need to develop a league-average offense before making it any part of their identity.
Either way, the Mavs need an identity that the team can buy into that feeds into wins. Until then, they’ll be on the outside looking in. And developing an identity takes time and typically encompasses multiple seasons. But that process needs to start this offseason.
You need health
It is no secret that the Mavericks have been riddled with injuries. Kyrie Irving missed the entire season. Dereck Lively missed 75 games. Daniel Gafford missed 27 games. P.J. Washington missed 26 games. Anthony Davis played less than half of his total possible games as a Maverick. Dante Exum didn’t play a game in a Mavs uniform this year. This season was another grind for Dallas.
You need a certain amount of luck each season to be in the championship conversation, and when it comes to injuries, Dallas has had zero luck. Particularly when it comes to its frontcourt showcased in the 2024 playoff run: Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. These two need to stay on the court for Dallas to have a chance at contending again. Some injuries you can deal with, but with Anthony Davis being gone, the Mavericks are thin at the center position. Unless they re-sign Marvin Bagley III or convert Moussa Cisse’s two-way deal, Dallas lacks size in the middle.
And of course, above all, the Mavericks will need Kyrie Irving. If the Kyrie-Cooper connection is as special as we think it can be, next year will be fun. But Irving is 34, and if he were to miss significant time again, it would be another year wasted. The Mavs need him to have any chance at competing.
The timeline
It’s impossible to put a definite timeline on Dallas in its path to contention, but it may be closer than you think. The hardest part is done, in finding Cooper Flagg, a generational talent. If the Robin is Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks, as currently constructed, are at worst a play-in team. There are still many circling questions around Irving and if he can return to form, but even an 80% Irving makes this team much better. Once the franchise adds another key talent to the roster through the 2026 draft, it will only elevate Dallas.
The rest of the roster still needs work. The Mavericks desperately need to add more shooting and playmaking. Dallas also must prove its big men can stay healthy for a full season, or at least comparable to 2024. Both weaknesses will probably take more than a year to figure out.
The realistic timeline to contention is probably somewhere in the two to three years range. With some experience under his belt, Cooper Flagg will only continue to get better. If you add his current running mate in Kyrie Irving, and a new running mate from the draft, this team gets better quickly but is still lacking experience.
Assuming no major injuries next season, the Mavs should take a big leap in the standings. After a full year of Kyrie Irving back and Flagg paired with his new young talent, the Mavericks should elevate themselves to at least middle-of-the-pack.
PREDICTION: 2028-2029 season is when Dallas officially enters contender conversations.
Putting it all together
If there is one team that feels both so close and far away to being a title threat, it’s the Mavericks. They have the centerpiece but still need to work around the edges with the rest of the roster and have decent health. They are probably two to three years away from contention, but the path is there.
The good news is that for now, we know one thing for sure: it can’t get any worse than these past two seasons, right?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on at the end of the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In retrospect, the Timberwolves were likely dead on arrival coming into the series. The Spurs showed they were the better team. They did so in the regular season when they won 13 more games, and again during this playoff series when Victor Wembanyama proved to be a perfect counter for many of the Timberwolves’ offensive strengths.
The injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo in the previous round made the already tall task of upsetting the Spurs even more unlikely. In some ways, the Timberwolves did well to drag the series to a sixth game despite being outscored by a total of 97 points.
Losing to this Spurs team, by itself, should not be met with ridicule, but regardless of the factors working against them, the Timberwolves’ performance in this series was indicative of a team not well enough equipped to win four straight playoff rounds.
The Spurs are the ultimate bad matchup. That might be true for every team in the NBA, but it is certainly true for the Timberwolves, whose frontcourt lacked the shooting and offensive playmaking to pull Wembanyama away from the rim.
The truth about the NBA Playoffs is that pretty much every team will eventually come up against a team that is a bad matchup for them. Many good and even great teams have been taken out by a team that just had their number (the Denver Nuggets being a good example).
Championship-caliber teams, though, find a solution to every different problem thrown their way. When an opponent pokes at a weakness, they systematically find either a counter to what the other team is doing or a way to mitigate that vulnerability.
The ability to read and react to every different type of situation isn’t something that can be found during the Playoffs; it’s a skill that is cultivated during the regular season so that it becomes ingrained into the DNA of the team.
The Timberwolves never gave themselves the chance to build the necessary habits needed to win four straight playoff series. By their own admission, they did not take the regular season seriously and waited for things to change once the postseason rolled around.
“[Wolves players] kept telling me it would be different when we get [to the playoffs]. Game 1 wasn’t any different, so we jumped their ass. They lied to us. And they responded.”
While the Timberwolves’ season officially ended Friday night at Target Center, their pursuit of a championship in many ways ended months earlier. There were numerous times throughout the regular season that the Timberwolves hit rock bottom and called themselves out, only for the same issues to reappear weeks or months later.
“Do we care?” That was the question Rudy Gobert posed after a 24-point drubbing at the hands of a 16-19 Atlanta Hawks team on New Year’s Eve. That game came just four days after a 16-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets, who finished the season with the third-worst record in the NBA.
“Do we care?” Gobert repeated. “Does something happen when we like we played the first quarter tonight? Or is it just cool? Make a lot of money, we play basketball, do what we do, and go home and be happy. I think that’s the fine line between a team that’s playing for a championship and a team that’s full of talent but doesn’t accomplish shit.”
For most of the regular season, the Timberwolves acted like things were just cool. They had some solid games throughout the season, but they were almost always followed by an equally poor performance. At no point did they look like a championship-caliber team.
The Timberwolves did win six of their next seven games following the loss in Atlanta, but immediately lost five straight after that, including a pair of baffling losses to the tanking Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls. The trend continued after the All-Star Break when the Wolves won five straight games before losing three straight by a combined 66 points in early March.
Following the season-ending loss, Edwards made it clear he understands what will be needed in future seasons: “You’re supposed to build championship habits or playoff habits during the regular season.” When asked if his team did that, Edwards responded, “No, we didn’t build the habits during the regular season.”
Anthony Edwards on building championship habits
"We just gotta listen to the coaches. We had a hard time of processing stuff and going out there and doing it. We try to do stuff on our own. — You're supposed to build championship habits or playoff habits in the regular season." pic.twitter.com/Q4kFljoZfl
Pretty much every member of the Timberwolves roster felt similar to Edwards about the team’s lack of consistency during the regular season.
“The habits that we’ve built throughout a season, they matter so much,” Mike Conley explained. “It shows up when you need it most, when you need to make that extra play with two seconds left in the game or to go crash for the rebound, even when you’re tired, or getting back on defense, spacing the floor for your teammates, sacrifice runs, all that stuff. It’s something that you just don’t flip a switch for. It’s something that you have or want to do from training camp on, and it just becomes a part of you.”
Gobert felt similar to Conley, saying, “I just think that the habits that we build from day one of training camp, we carry over until the last day of the playoffs. I think when we decide who we want to be and we apply that every day, we get rewarded.”
Jaden McDaniels said, “Being consistent in our habits and what we do” was the lesson to be learned from the regular season. Naz Reid echoed that sentiment when asked about the team taking the next step, saying, “Probably consistency, just being able to be that team where you know we made waves, we were dominant.”
One voice that was notably absent was that of Julius Randle, who did not speak to the media following Game 6 and did not participate in exit interviews with the media the next day. Randle was the only member of the Timberwolves’ extended rotation who did not speak to the media after the conclusion of the season.
The Timberwolves as a franchise have accomplished more in the playoffs over the past three seasons than they did in the previous 34 years combined. They have also been a clear step behind the best team or two in the league over those three seasons.
Winning a championship is not the only barometer for success in the NBA, but it has been a stated goal of this Timberwolves franchise. With a player of Edwards’ caliber on the roster, how could it not?
Both the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder both appear primed to dominate the Western Conference for years to come, putting the Timberwolves feel to be on much shakier ground than they have been in recent memory.
Regardless of the offseason moves that are sure to come in the next few months, the journey toward winning a championship for the Timberwolves begins with the start of training camp next fall. They can no longer get bored with the regular by December or rely on “flipping the switch.”
The team and their best players have said all the right things, but their actions during the 2026-27 regular season will tell the real story about whether or not the Timberwolves are actually serious about chasing their ultimate goal.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 16: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals watches his ball as he hits a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning at Nationals Park on May 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats have finally done it! After 15 failed attempts, the Nationals finally got over the hump, beating the Orioles 13-3 to reach .500. It is May 17th, and the Washington Nationals enter play with a 23-23 record. Seeing the instant impact this new regime has made has truly been a joy to watch as someone who covers the team.
Final: Nats 13, Orioles 3. They did it. At 23-23, they won a game to reach the .500 mark. They had been 0-15 over the last two calendar years when a win would've gotten them to .500.
The game yesterday was a close and tense affair until it suddenly was not. While the Nats were always in the driver’s seat, there was a feeling of tension around the game until the bottom of the 7th. The Nats got out to a 4-0 lead, and had chances to blow the game open, but did not take them.
For a minute, it seemed like that lack of a killer instinct would cost the Nats. It was quickly forgotten, but that top of the 7th was a bit of a disaster. After the Nats loaded the bases with nobody out, but did not score in the 5th, it seemed like the momentum shifted. Cade Cavalli pitched brilliantly in the first 6 innings, but ran into a wall in the 7th.
The O’s took advantage of that, hitting back to back jacks off the Nationals right hander to start the inning. The rest of the inning was a long and winding road that included walks, robberies and long at bats. However, the Nats got out of there allowing just one more run to hold onto the lead.
Winding back a bit, the Nats got out to that big lead due to their catcher. With how he is hitting, I don’t think we can call Keibert Ruiz an unlikely hero anymore. He is showing a ton of power right now. For the season, he has 13 extra base hits in 87 AB’s. Last year, he had 14 XBH in 255 AB’s. Sure, Ruiz’s .244 OBP is terrible, but he is making up for it with a .471 slugging percentage. He hit a massive 3-run homer in the second in this contest.
It is very cool to see Ruiz have big games at the plate. I have been critical of Ruiz over the years, but he seems like a good character and a hard worker. Blake Butera said as much when I asked him about Ruiz. Butera called Ruiz, “An incredible person to coach”. He pointed to Ruiz’s willingness to work on things and try new ideas.
At the beginning of the season, Ruiz really struggled at the plate. It felt like Ruiz was so keyed into making defensive improvements that it hurt his offense. To his credit, Ruiz’s defense has gotten way better. He has a +1 fielding run value, which is a huge step forward. Last year, he was at -10, and has consistently been one of the worst defensive catchers in the league. You have to give a ton of credit to new catching coach Bobby Wilson, as well as Ruiz.
Now that the defense is where he wants it to be, it seems like Keibert has been trying to get back to his best as a hitter. Over the last couple weeks, he has really done that. In May, Ruiz is hitting .323 with a 1.097 OPS. Sure, he does not have any walks, but he is showing a better approach at the plate. He is waiting for pitches that he can do damage with and crushing them. Even Jacob Young noted that he thought Ruiz was doing a better job getting his A swing off.
Right now, Ruiz has a 94 wRC+ while being an above average defender behind the plate. That will certainly play, and I think the Nats should be playing Ruiz more. However, they still need to balance that with not overplaying him like they have in the past. While he is clearly the best catching option right now, you want to keep him fresh.
Overall, this was just an outstanding day at the ballpark. That bottom of the 7th inning was electric. This offense just kept attacking the O’s pitchers and never let up. With the way Lile and Ruiz are hitting, this offense is so dangerous to pitch to. It is not just Abrams and Wood anymore, the supporting cast is coming through too.
The Nationals in the 7th inning:
Wood: Walk Mead: Pop out House: RBI-2B Abrams: 1B Lile: RBI-FC Nunez: Walk Ruiz: 2-RBI 1B Wiemer: FC Young: 3-run HR
Jacob Young’s homer was the cherry on top of that inning. He was one of many Nationals to have a big game today. Young hit his 4th homer of the season, which is already a career high. He also made a couple outstanding plays on defense, including one in the top of the 7th. Sure the bat can be frustrating, but there is a reason Young has a role on this team. The extra power is also a fun, new element to his game.
One thing that stood out to me in the press box was how great the crowd was. There were over 40,000 people in the building, and they were engaged. Sure, there were some O’s fans in attendance, and they got loud in that 7th inning. However, it was a pro Nats crowd that was cheering on their squad throughout.
Blake Butera was quick to give the fans credit after the game. Before he took questions, he made a little statement thanking the fans and talking about how much it meant to the team. He talked about how much the players love playing in front of a big crowd and said they were talking about how much Navy Yard was buzzing. To see them make that big crowd happy as well fired me up.
Blake Butera opened his postgame press conference with a message to Nationals fans: pic.twitter.com/THJEtMFcg3
The best way to get people to come to the games is to win, especially on days where there are already big crowds. You have to make the Nationals cool again, and this weekend is a huge step in the right direction. These two games have created a real buzz around this team. Blake Butera may not want to acknowledge it, but getting back to .500 plays a role in creating more buzz going forward.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Talk about a brutal interview! Here’s a question that Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith asked Cameron Boozer: “Carlos (Boozer) could only take us to the Western Conference Finals. What do you think you could do?”
Well damn.
Really, it’s a two-level question, or possibly three.
The first level is psychological. It’s the sort of question that is designed to irritate you and throw you off. So you have to kind of steady yourself emotionally first. That’s very clever, really.
The proper way to answer would be something like this.
Part I. My father taught me to play the game in ways that he could not, so first, he’s a very good teacher. He was primarily a power forward, and his skill set revolved around that. My skills overlap his. I am similarly built, but I also have a perimeter game and I can drain threes. I owe a lot of that to him. He helped Cayden and me to make sure that our fundamentals were impeccable.
Part II. No one player can lead a team to a championship. It’s a team game. I can help make any group better – my resume backs that up pretty solidly – but this is the most competitive league in the world. As long as I am on a team that has talent and plays together, I am totally confident that any team I am on will reach its potential, and I believe we can win championships in Utah.
It occurs to us that this is a unique question that could only be asked of Boozer. You could theoretically ask Cayden, but he’s a point guard, and that’s different. What a remarkable question.
May 16, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres center Konsta Helenius (94) celebrates with his teammates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in game six of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
MONTREAL — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves after starter Alex Lyon stopped only one of the four shots he faced, and the Buffalo Sabres roared back to beat the Montreal Canadiens 8-3 on Saturday night and force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The winner Monday night in Buffalo will face Carolina for the conference title and a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes swept both of their series, last playing May 9.
“I think if you would have asked every guy in here in September if they would have taken being in Game 7 in Round 2, we all would have signed up for that,” Buffalo forward Tage Thompson said. "So, we’re in a great spot. Now it’s just one game. That’s all that matters.”
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and four assists for a team playoff-record five points.
Buffalo came back after trailing 3-1 midway through the first period.
“We believed in it from the beginning and (Luukkonen) came in and gave us a little boost,” Dahlin said. “It was a mix of everything, but I’m super happy with the character from today’s game.”
Jack Quinn scored twice and added an assist, Thompson had three assists and an empty-net goal, and Zach Benson and Jack Quinn each had a goal and an assist. Konsta Helenius and Zach Metsa also scored.
Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans scored for Montreal, which won a Game 7 at Tampa Bay in the first round. Jakub Dobes stopped 27 of 33 shots, and Jacob Fowler made a save and allowed a goal in relief.
“Pretty shocked,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We’re up 3-1 in the first period and we lose 8-3."
After Dahlin opened the scoring 32 seconds in, Montreal chased Lyon with the three-goal burst.
Xhekaj tied it at 1:40, Demidov scored on a power play at 8:12 and Evans made it 3-1 on a short-handed break with 9:46 left. Luukkonen then took over in goal, and Zucker got one back for Buffalo on a power play with 6:04 to go in the period.
Benson tied it a minute into the second, slipping in a short backhander from the left side. Quinn put Buffalo ahead on a power play with 9:06 left in the second, slapping a one-timer from the top of the right circle past Dobes. Helenius made it 5-3 with 7:01 remaining in the period, striking from short range.
“We did have control of it,” Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson said. “They made a push, they made some good plays, and we didn’t really fight back hard enough for whatever reason.
Quinn added his second of the night on a power play midway through the third. Thompson scored into the empty net, and Metsa capped the scoring on a late power play.
Buffalo was 4 for 6 on the power play. Montreal was 1 for 3.
It’s the two most electric words in sports: Game 7 and our NBA player prop projections are locked in for this decisive showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, with the model identifying several high-value betting opportunities to close out the Eastern Conference semifinals.
By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Sunday, May 17.
Cavaliers vs Pistons computer picks for Game 7
Cavaliers
Pistons
Mitchell o25.5 points -105
Cunningham o26.5 points -120
Strus o2.5 3-pointers +135
Duren o8.5 rebounds -135
Harden o6.5 assists +102
Jenkins o3.5 assists -120
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Cavaliers Game 7 computer picks
Donovan Mitchell Over 25.5 points (-105)
Projection: 26.5 points
Donovan Mitchell struggled to find his rhythm in Game 6, finishing with just 18 points on an inefficient 6-for-20 shooting night in what could have punched the Cleveland Cavaliers’ ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. That level of production simply won’t cut it in a win-or-go-home Game 7.
Having come up short of this scoring line in each of the last two games, Mitchell feels due for a bounce-back performance—one more in line with the explosive showing he delivered in Cleveland’s Game 4 victory.
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Max Strus Over 2.5 3-pointers (+135)
Projection: 2.52 3-pointers
Max Strus has elevated his intensity on both ends throughout this series against the Detroit Pistons, and a Game 7 should only amplify that energy.
He’s knocked down multiple threes in back-to-back games, and will once again be counted on to make his mark from deep as the Cavaliers try to get past a scrappy Pistons squad on the road.
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James Harden Over 6.5 assists (+102)
Projection: 7.08 assists
James Harden has gone over this assists line in three of six games in the series against Detroit, and nearly made it four after recording six dimes in the Game 5 overtime win. If Cleveland is going to advance, it’ll need Harden at his playmaking best — this team’s ceiling has always been tied to his performance.
Expect the veteran to step up in a must-win spot, facilitating at a high level and putting himself in position to cash this assists prop as the Cavaliers push for a showdown with the Knicks.
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Pistons Game 7 computer picks
Cade Cunningham Over 26.5 points (-120)
Projection: 26.97 points
Cade Cunningham has been on a scoring tear, averaging 28.8 points over his last 10 games; nearly five points above his season average. The matchup only adds to the appeal, as Cleveland has allowed opposing starting point guards to shoot 41.4% from three this season, the second-highest mark in the league.
With that vulnerability in play, Cunningham is set up nicely to deliver at home — and there’s no bigger stage than a Game 7 in front of the Detroit crowd.
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Jalen Duren Over 8.5 rebounds (-135)
Projection: 10.41 rebounds
Jalen Duren bounced back in a big way in Game 6, reasserting himself on the glass and helping keep the Pistons’ season alive. After a few quieter outings against Cleveland, he responded with a strong 15-point, 11-rebound performance.
Now heading into Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena, expect Duren to carry that momentum with a renewed edge as he looks to clear this rebound line once again.
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Daniss Jenkins Over 3.5 assists (-120)
Projection: 4.02 assists
Daniss Jenkins has consistently stepped up in key moments for Detroit, making his presence felt with hustle plays, timely rebounds, and shot creation. While he’s hovered around this 3.5 assists line for most of the series — only clearing it in Game 2 — he’s been right on the doorstep more often than not.
In a win-or-go-home scenario, expect Jenkins to be heavily involved again, with a strong chance to convert those "almosts" into enough dimes to push this prop over the line.
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How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 7
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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SAN FRANCISCO — The first domino of the Warriors’ offseason fell last week, when Steve Kerr signed to return as their head coach. Now, the real business can begin.
“We have a lot to figure out this summer,” Kerr said.
Steph Curry has expressed a desire to get an extension done. There is mutual interest in locking up Brandin Podziemski long term. Draymond Green must decide whether to exercise his player option or seek a longer-term deal at a lower annual figure.
The Warriors’ Steph Curry has indicated he wants to play “multiple” additional seasons. Lev Radin/Shutterstock
Then there is the prospect of the No. 11 pick, a valuable asset in a loaded lottery that the team can use to inject some youth into an aging roster — or in a potential trade for another superstar to pair with Curry.
“As far as trade acquisition stuff, I mean, we’re probably always in the conversation, frankly, because we have the draft capital to be,” Dunleavy said. “If there’s offers to the pick to move up, move back, trade for a veteran player that could help us, we’ll definitely look at all that stuff.”
It’s no secret the Warriors sought to add Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard during this season’s trade deadline. They’ve also been rumored as a possible landing spot for LeBron James, should his eight-year run with the Lakers end.
However, there is more to consider than simply star power when supplementing a roster built around an age-38 Curry. They will already be “behind the eight ball” to begin the season, Dunleavy acknowledged, while Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody recover from injuries.
“I think we had, like, six guys this year who either couldn’t play back-to-backs or were on minutes restrictions often at the same time,” Kerr said. “We can’t do that again. It’s too hard to build continuity. We need some younger legs, for sure. We know that.”
The draft gives them a chance to do that, and Kerr said with their shortcomings to start the season, particularly on the wing, “that guy has to play” if they hold onto their pick.
The Warriors have an interest in signing Brandin Podziemski to a long-term deal. NBAE via Getty Images
Butler and Moody are two of only five players under contract for next season. Kristaps Porzingis, Gary Payton II and Seth Curry are unrestricted free agents, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford also have player options, and Pat Spencer and Quinten Post will have the opportunity to receive offer sheets from other teams as restricted free agents.
Golden State also has three assistant coaching vacancies to fill, including the top two chairs on the bench following the departures of Chris DeMarco, Jerry Stackhouse and Terry Stotts.
Dunleavy said he is hopeful about reunions with Porzingis and Horford, who “add[ed] an element to our team that we haven’t had in the past.” Horford, 39, must decide if he wants to keep playing, in Golden State or elsewhere, while Porzingis may have to weigh the value of the Warriors’ training staff against more lucrative offers from other teams.
The Warriors said “the ball is in his court” regarding Draymond Green’s return. Getty Images
As for Green, whose player option would pay him $27.7 million, “the ball is in his court,” Dunleavy said. “We have had discussions where we want him to finish his career as a Warrior. He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.”
The Warriors didn’t give Jonathan Kuminga the contract he wanted before restricted free agency, straining a relationship that hit its breaking point at the trade deadline this season.
With Podziemski, Dunleavy indicated the team is targeting a different outcome.
“It’s one of those situations where if you want a player back, it’s got to work for you and him,” the GM said. “Hopefully we can come to a contract agreement before the start of next season.”
Another extension will take priority: One for Curry, who will make $62.6 million this season but doesn’t have a contract beyond that. Curry said he hopes to play for “multiple” more years, and now Kerr’s contract extends a year beyond Curry’s current commitment.
“I’m sure those conversations will happen,” Dunleavy said. “You can predict where they’ll be going. I don’t see any scenario where we don’t want to figure out a way to have him finish here.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 19: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.
Player Snapshot
Position: PG
Age: 26
Contract Status: UFA (Suns have his early bird rights)
SunsRank (Preseason): 8
SunsRank (Postseason): 4
*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.
Season in One Sentence
In his first full year with the Suns, Collin Gillespie proved to be worth the investment by breaking a franchise record and growing into a true offensive piece in this rotation.
By the Numbers
How impressive was he, truly? Well, this illustrates it perfectly.
GP
MIN
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
DEFRTG
OFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
82
28.5
12.7
4.1
4.6
1.2
0.2
41.8%
40.1%
87.4%
110.0
113.7
+3.7
The Expectation
Many fans expected Gillespie to be a solid playmaker and scorer for this bench unit. I wrote last year that he was a better fit next to Devin Booker than Tyus Jones, and people were looking forward to seeing it. You add that with a good three-point shot, and some hustle on defense, and that is someone the fans can buy into.
The Reality
Well, Gillespie shocked the NBA world, putting fans in a head spin trying to learn who he was. He immediately impressed early in the season when Jalen Green was hurt, gifting Gillespie more playing time. He was able to use his playmaking and ability to initiate the offense to work alongside Booker and Brooks. When he was coming off the bench, though, he was able to work with big man Oso Ighodaro to form a solid pick-and-roll connection as well.
This connection continued as he and Mark Williams also got things going and became a solid pair. Suns fans claim this team needs another true point guard, but Gillespie has been filling that role perfectly well.
On the defensive end, he showed his heart and hustled for more minutes, averaging 1.2 steals per game. This fast-paced offensive style, which focuses heavily on the three-assist plays, plays into his strengths. As the season went on, he did start to see a decline in his shooting, but for a guy who was never tasked with this big a role, it can still be something not to fret about.
Oh yeah, and that three-point shooting, man, was that a big success for Gillepsie and the Suns’ structure this year. Gillepsie proved to be one of the better three-point shooters and on such a steal of a contract as well.
What It Means
There is no doubt that the Suns want to bring Gillespie back to this team and re-sign him. Suns insider John Gambadoro stated that this would be one of their main focuses. Gillepsie, who made just over 2M this year, will be looking for a payday that the Suns can give him.
I would expect the Suns top priorities this offseason to be 1. Retaining Collin Gillespie 2. Retaining Jordan Goodwin
Since the Suns have early-bird rights on the contract, they can sign him to the max anyone can in free agency. Therefore, it is expected he will come back on a deal that works for both sides. One that will give him a deserving payday, but one that is worth his value in this league.
Gillespie has also stated that at the end of the year, when the media questions him, he wants to be back in Phoenix. This statement should make the fans feel confident that he will be back next year, and that is a good sign.
"It hasn't changed. I still want to be here. The front office knows that. Everybody knows that in the building. I'm sure we'll figure it out when that time comes." Collin Gillespie.
Gillespie had many great moments this season, so it’s hard to choose one, but I think this is the best. This is obviously where he etched himself into the sun’s history by breaking a franchise record. This was for the most three pointers made in a season, in which he beat Quentin Richardson.
GILLESPIE BREAKS THE FRANCHISE RECORD 👏
Collin Gillespie has broken the Phoenix Suns’ single-season record for three-pointers made, reaching the new franchise mark with his 227th three-pointer! pic.twitter.com/N1MkKeNuL0
This was the true test of winning fans over in such a successful season. Even if they were first-round exits, they exceed the exceptions in the standings and with their own players. Gillepsie is a major contributor to that movement, and his offensive versatility was a huge part of that.
He finished the year with 232 threes, which was a huge milestone for the young guard. This was huge and a turning point for the guard. Throughout the year, he was a fantastic three-point scorer, so to see him do this was amazing, especially in his first full year in the Valley.
Grade: A
Overall, for the season, I think that Gillespie deserves an A for his performance. He came out of nowhere to most and has now made him a household name in Phoenix for the future. Everyone is talking about how great iof a season he had and how they need to resign him. Even if he did start to slow down on his three-point shooting later in the year, that does not completely knock his whole season.
The chemistry he built with guys like Dillon Brooks, Oso Ighodaro, Jordan Goodwin, and so many more will help pave the way for this new identity for the Suns. The man who was deemed Villain Jr. this year definitely showed that he cares and puts his all out there.
He never gives up and is relentless on both ends, making for a perfect match for the franchise. The hope is that he is just brought back and he can continue to grow within this Suns regime to help bring a championship here. This season was just a taste of what he can be, and that leaves me satisfied.
It had been 11 long years since Montreal, the Mecca of hockey, got a real taste of Saturday night playoff hockey, and fans were hungry for an instant classic. Long before puck drop, at quarter past six, fans were chanting “Go Habs Go” in the arena, soaking up the atmosphere and egging each other on. As always, the starting montage only fired up the crowd further, especially when another Stanley Cup winner from the organization’s past, Larry Robinson, walked in with the torch to light up the ice.
Business As Usual
Despite having the best of intentions, the start of the game felt like Groundhog Day, but starring Martin St-Louis instead of Bill Murray. The Montreal Canadiens’ coach could only watch helplessly from the bench as Juraj Slafkovsky committed an unforced turnover and was easily beaten by Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, who walked in with the puck and backhanded it behind Jakub Dobes.
Just like on Thursday, though, the Canadiens roared back into the game, scoring three goals on their first three shots, ending Alex Lyon’s night after just over 10 minutes of action. The Canadiens beat him at even strength through Arber Xhekaj to equalize, on the power play through Ivan Demidov to take the lead and shorthanded when Jake Evans scored on an odd-man rush. Clearly, the Canadiens are no fans of Jean De Lafontaine's fable The Hare and the Tortoise; they may not start on time, but they are confident that they can catch up, perhaps a little too confident.
While Slafkovsky has two three-point games in these playoffs, he has had several ups and downs. When he’s not sending no-look back passes in no-man’s land, he appears unaware of what’s going on around him.
In the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was completely blindsided by a hit, and it happened again on Saturday night. He was rocked by a hit in the middle of the neutral zone; it wasn’t as hard as the one against the Bolts, but it still led to the Canadiens losing puck possession.
Then, on the power play, he was attacking the zone as if he had all the time in the world, unaware that there was a Sabres forward hot on his tail just about to dispossess him. While some of that may be due to just how noisy the Bell Centre is, he still has to be more aware of what’s happening around him. In the third, as the Habs were desperately trying to generate some scoring chances, he almost collided with Nick Suzuki as he had his head down.
Dobes Got The Hook
After resisting the urge to pull his goaltender in Game 5, St-Louis had to pull the trigger in Game 6. The Canadiens had become completely undone, and Dobes had allowed six goals on 33 shots by the time he was called back to the bench to make way for Jacob Fowler.
One would be hard-pressed to blame him for the loss, however. After scoring three quick goals in the first frame, the Habs appeared to forget how to play. Not only could they not generate anything offensively, but they also forgot how to defend, allowing plenty of odd-man rushes.
At one stage, it became pointless to leave Dobes out there in a game the Canadiens were never going to get back into. In the end, the Habs lost 8-3 and will now have to play a do-or-die game in Buffalo on Monday night. While that’s not the result they were hoping for, the Habs can at least find comfort in the fact that they have been playing better on the road than at home in these playoffs and that they are 5-0 after a loss.
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City would not have 'even one beer' to celebrate Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea due to the title race, though the manager was coy regarding his future.
Antoine Semenyo’s 72nd-minute flicked finish gave City a second trophy of the season at Wembley following March’s Carabao Cup win over Arsenal.
'Home [now] – not even one beer,' he said. 'Next Monday after Aston Villa, we’re going to celebrate it with the women’s team. The club said that to me [with] some parade in Manchester because we must celebrate with both teams.
'There is no time [to celebrate]. Chelsea had seven days to prepare for the final, we had three days and yesterday [Friday] was a nightmare. We spent six hours from the city to here. The trains are a little bit of a problem in this country.'
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard will be named NBA MVP for the second straight year on Sunday after another dominant season. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news, with an official announcement coming Sunday night.
The 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander is the 14th player to win consecutive MVP awards, joining recent stars Nikola Jokic (2020-22), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-20) and Stephen Curry (2014-16) to do so over the past decade-plus.
In the 2025-26 season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists over 68 games. He was named Clutch Player of the Year for the first time in his career and made his fourth All-Star Game.
Other finalists for MVP included Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite the other worthy challengers, Gilgeous-Alexander set himself apart to repeat as the award winner. He was the first guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points with over 55% shooting in a season. He also extended his record streak of scoring at least 20 points to 140 games, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62, 1963-64) and Elgin Baylor (1961-62) as the only players to score 20 or more in every game of a season.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to stardom has come as the Thunder have emerged as the league’s most dominant team. He led the franchise to its first title in Oklahoma City last season while being named NBA Finals MVP, and the Thunder are still aiming to repeat this year. The team is a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs so far with Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 29.1 points and 7.1 assists per game.
It’s been an extended break for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder after their second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Western Conference Finals against Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs begins Monday.
When it comes to the backup goalie position, the Philadelphia Flyers will have a lot of deliberating to do this summer.
Whatever they decide to do with Sam Ersson, though, they cannot allow emotion to be a factor.
Ersson, 26, is a pending restricted free agent in need of a new contract this summer, but the problem is that he posted a dismal 3.12 GAA and .870 save percentage this season - the worst overall campaign of his NHL career.
That effort follows one in 2024-25 when he wasn't much better, stumbling to a 3.14 GAA and .883 save percentage.
Through his three seasons as a full-time NHLer, Ersson has not finished one with a save percentage over .890, and his level of play has actually progressively declined each year.
A 2018 fifth-round pick, Ersson has been with the Flyers organization for a total of eight years now.
"First of all, he's a great teammate. The guys love him. He's been here for a while. We've invested a lot of years into him," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said of Ersson at his end-of-season press conference Thursday.
"It was a tough start for Sam, but we also have to give him credit, the way he stuck with it, found a way to bounce back to win some really big games down the road to get into the playoffs. That was impressive. . . We want to sit down and discuss."
It goes without saying that intangibles and the alchemy of the locker room are often-dismissed performance factors in sports, but they aren't the be-all, end-all.
Objectively, we have to look at Dan Vladar and recognize that he took the opportunity the Flyers gave him, ran with it, and made Ersson an afterthought while emerging as Philadelphia's starting goalie.
Ersson has seen his win totals drop from 23 to 22 to 14 and save percentage plummet from .890 to .883 to .870 over the last three years.
According to MoneyPuck, Ersson allowed 4.8 goals more than expected in 2023-24, 19.9 goals above expected (league-worst) in 2024-25, and 16.5 goals above expected this past year.
The Flyers giving the Swede credit for his post-Olympic break performance is fair, but they did the same thing in 2023-24. That's how we got here.
Two seasons ago, Ersson was pushing Carter Hart for starts after an injury to the latter and a strong performance in the fall (that followed an awful start).
Then, Hart had the personal leave and ultimately turned himself in to deal with the sexual assault charge stemming from the 2018 Hockey Canada case, which he was later acquitted of.
Ersson started nearly every game down the road in lieu of the likes of Cal Petersen and Felix Sandstrom and faltered, but the Flyers gave him credit for being burnt out, unprepared, and thrown into a tough situation.
Objectively true, but the Flyers could have made the playoffs that year if they held it together even just a little bit.
Ersson reprised his role as the starter last season, and the platoon of him, Ivan Fedotov, and Aleksei Kolosov was the league's worst.
And then came the run this year, when Ersson won five of his last six starts to help send the Flyers to the postseason.
Can the Flyers evaluate a struggling goalie based on a handful of games from stretches from two different seasons?
They already re-signed Aleksei Kolosov to partner up with Carson Bjarnason on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms again this year, and Keith Petruzzelli re-upped for some organizational depth.
Heading into 2026-27, the Flyers' backup goalie will either be Ersson or someone else, and alternatives like Stuart Skinner, Daniil Tarasov, Eric Comrie, David Rittich, and Sergei Bobrovsky are all more appealing options in free agency.
It would seem that Ersson's best chance of returning to Philadelphia comes from the Flyers striking out on one of the above options on the open market, which is an unlikely but not impossible scenario.
The team's decision to re-sign Kolosov re-emphasizes their patient approach to prospect development; the Flyers clearly have no designs of taking a Bjarnason or Egor Zavragin and throwing them into the NHL ASAP.
Ersson has already had three years of that patience, and regardless of it being him or someone else, anyone who steps in behind Vladar is a placeholder for a young prospect looking to break through in the near future.
The importance of this, though, is a.) having someone reliable to play behind Vladar in the event of injury, and b.) having someone who can perform consistently to help guide the Flyers to the playoffs year over year.
In recent years, the Flyers' pro scouts have nailed their evaluations.
They took Sean Walker on from the L.A. Kings as a throw-in for the Ivan Provorov trade, then turned Walker into a first-round pick at the NHL trade deadline.
That same summer, the Flyers signed Ryan Poehling, and eventually turned him and a second-round pick into Trevor Zegras.
Vladar has been a revelation, and Christian Dvorak had a career year this past season as well.
Amateur scouting is a different story, but precedent tells us we can trust the Flyers' evaluations of current NHLers.
Ersson can very well be, and has the talent to be, a goalie they decide to keep, but the Flyers have to come to that conclusion for the right reasons: watching the tape, believing in the talent, finding the right length and price on a contract.
It just can't be an emotional decision because he's been with the organization for eight years. After making the playoffs this past year, they have too much to lose from making rash decisions in free agency.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Friday night, the Spurs put on a clinic in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals sending the Minnesota Timberwolves into the summer break.
Although the Spurs win was wire to wire, Minnesota made a few pushes throughout the match. However, by the 8-minute mark of the 4th quarter Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch waved the white flag and cleared his bench.
During the timeout, Anthony Edwards sauntered over to the Spurs bench and began congratulating them.
Immediately, Stan Van Gundy said he’d rather wait and see that done post game. Specifically, SVG was curious how Udonis Haslam was going to respond in the postgame analysis to Edwards’ move.
It didn’t take long for Haslam, Dirk Nowitzki, and Blake Griffin to point out the awkwardness of the moment.
Dirk on Ant: "I've watched the NBA & been a part of it for a long long time. I've never seen this. A guy walking into the huddle with 8 minutes to go in the 4th and dapping up the entire team…"
Edwards addressed the decision in his postgame press conference.
To be honest, he doesn’t really explain it. In his mind, he wasn’t going back in, so that was his justification for walking over.
Usually, there is a meeting at center court at the end of a series. The players congratulate one another, show some respect, and wish each other well. Everything else is left on the court.
While Edwards made a strange move, it was done out of respect. But the uncomfortable send off was not the worst in NBA history.
For some reason the hype around the situation stirred up a memory of the Detroit Pistons walking off court without congratulating the Chicago Bulls at the conclusion of the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals.
For what it’s worth, Edwards had good intentions if not the best execution.
Tomorrow, the Spurs continue the Race for Seis in Oklahoma City against the reigning champion Thunder.
Go Spurs Go!
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Cavaliers
Pistons
