MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the San Antonio Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama’s fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by double digits.
Wembanyama didn’t flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid’s pushed San Antonio’s lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama rebounded.
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.
The Wolves missed their first 12 shots and didn’t get a basket to go down until Rudy Gobert’s putback with 6:52 had elapsed, but unlike in the 133-95 drubbing they took in Game 2 on Wednesday they had the defensive intelligence and tenacity at the ready to make up for the long shooting lulls.
Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first quarter, and McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the first half with a 51-all tie.
McDaniels and Julius Randle were the most affected by Wembanyama’s presence, unable to get their short-range and rim-attacking game going. They shot a combined 8 for 34 from the floor.
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 08: Mark Vientos #27 of the New York Mets reacts during the game between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday, May 8, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 in ten innings in Phoenix, coming out on top of a pitchers’ duel in the desert.
The Mets and Diamondbacks traded solo homers in the second inning and the scoring came to a screeching halt after that. Mark Vientos launched a towering shot to left center in the top of the second off Ryne Nelson and the Diamondbacks responded via a Nolan Arenado blast off a Nolan McLean sinker in the bottom of the frame.
Both starting pitchers settled into a nice rhythm after that. Corbin Carroll made an excellent play up against the wall in right field on a deep Bo Bichette fly ball in the third that kept the Mets from building any momentum. But Nolan McLean put forth an incredibly strong effort, striking out six in six solid innings, yielding just the one run on three hits.
The Diamondbacks’ best chance to pull ahead came in the seventh inning against Luke Weaver, who entered the game in relief of McLean. The Snakes mounted a two-out rally against Weaver that began with a walk to Gabriel Moreno, aided by a smart challenge by Moreno on the second pitch of the plate appearance, which was called a strike, but turned out to be outside by a fairly significant margin. Jose Fernandez singled and then Jorge Barrosa walked to load the bases and put the go-ahead run 90 feet away, but Weaver escaped the jam, inducing an inning-ending ground ball off the bat of Geraldo Perdomo.
The Mets had a crisp defensive game and no play was better than the diving play by Marcus Semien to rob Arenado of his second hit of the night in the eighth. With two outs and the go-ahead run on first base, Semien laid out to quash the rally and help Brooks Raley through a scoreless eighth. Devin Williams followed with an impressive 1-2-3 ninth punctuated by a strikeout to send the game to extra innings. Meanwhile, the Mets’ bats were quiet against the Diamondbacks’ bullpen until the tenth when they finally broke through.
Mark Vientos got things started by ripping the first pitch he saw from Kevin Ginkel into left field to score the ghost runner Brett Baty and give the Mets the lead. Vidal Bruján then came in the game as a pinch runner for Vientos. Carson Benge followed with a ground rule double to left-center to score Bruján and extend the Mets’ lead to two runs. Marcus Semien kept the rally going with a heads up bunt single down the third base line; it was a perfectly executed bunt that caught Nolan Arenado unaware, as he was playing back. Ginkel then finally recorded the first out the inning via a strikeout of MJ Melendez and Jonathan Loáisiga came in the game. The Mets still seemed poised for a huge inning when Semien stole second base to put runners on second and third with still only one out, but then Francisco Alvarez hit a grounder back to the mound and Carson Benge was nabbed at home for the second out. And Luis Torrens grounded out to third to end the inning, but the Mets had their first lead since the second.
Tobias Myers came into the game in the bottom of the tenth tasked with protecting the two-run lead and successfully did so to earn the first save of his major league career. Myers retired the Diamondbacks in order, including two strikeouts to emphatically close the door on the Mets’ fifth victory in the last six games as they attempt to claw their way back to .500. The Mets will try for their third straight series victory tomorrow night with their ace Clay Holmes on the mound, facing off against the struggling Merrill Kelly.
Big Mets winner: Mark Vientos, +44% WPA Big Mets loser: Juan Soto, -14% WPA Mets pitchers: +68% WPA Mets hitters: -18% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Mark Vientos’ RBI double in tenth, +38.3% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Nolan Arenado’s game-tying home run in the second inning, -10.9% WPA
With the Mets and Diamondbacks tied at one apiece in the bottom of the ninth, Devin Williams came on and needed just eight pitches to push the game to extra innings.
New York’s offense had gone quiet since the top of the fourth, but they wasted no time cashing in their ghost runner, as Mark Vientos doubled on the first pitch of the 10th.
Carson Benge then continued his recent hot-stretch at the plate, tacking on a huge insurance run with a ground-rule double into the left-center gap.
With a two-run advantage and a low pitch count there had been some thought that Williams would come back out for the save, however, that wasn’t the case.
Carlos Mendoza instead called upon Tobias Myers.
“We talked about it,” the skipper admitted. “But then at the end with how much we’ve been using these guys so far this year, I just decided to go to Tobias -- but we did discuss it.”
And in the end, the decision paid off, as Myers needed just 10 pitches to set the Diamondbacks down in order in the bottom of the tenth and secure the victory.
It was a much-needed bounceback outing after the righty after he was knocked around by the Rockies for four runs in just 0.2 of an inning his last time out.
This was also Myers’ first career save.
“He showed the ability to bounce back,” Mendoza said. “I like his ability to throw strikes, I like the changeup against lefties, the fastball at the top, and he’s been really solid for us no matter what we’ve asked him to do.
“Whether it’s an opener, as a multi-inning guy, today getting the last three outs -- it was just good to see.”
NRL coach undecided on plan for next season in light of medical condition
Rugby league veteran turns spotlight on return to form in Wests Tigers clash
Craig Bellamy is staying private about his illness, the veteran Melbourne coach wanting the spotlight to remain on the Storm rather than his health.
Bellamy fronted the media at AAMI Park ahead of the Storm’s Sunday afternoon clash with Wests Tigers, with the side looking to stop a record-extending seven-match losing streak.
Smokies catcher Owen Ayers (6) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Birmingham Barons at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tennessee., on May 7, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Right-hander Frankie Scalzo Jr. was promoted to Triple-A Iowa from Double-A Knoxville.
I-Cubs catcher Christian Bethancourt went on the bereavement list.
Starter Doug Nikhazy didn’t fool anyone early, as he gave up two runs in the first on two solo home runs and four more in the second on a grand slam. But he settled down and pitched two more scoreless innings. His final line was six runs on six hits over four innings. Nikhazy walked three and struck out three.
Ryan Jensen threw the fifth inning and got the win. He allowed a two-out walk, but no other baserunners. Jensen struck out two.
Vince Velazquez came out to pitch the next three innings and allowed just one run from the sixth to the eighth innings. But then Velazquez came out to pitch the ninth. Then this happened.
The injuries just keep coming. Vince Velasquez was making his first appearance with the @IowaCubs since his outing at Dodger Stadium on April 25. He just went down in a heap after throwing a pitch in the top of the ninth. Immediately stood up and walked into the dugout.
So Velazquez ended up being charged with four runs on two hits and five walks over 3+ innings. Gabe Klobosits came on to relieve Velazquez and he allowed two inherited runners to score, one batter whose walk was charged to Velazquez to score, and two more runs of his own. But Iowa’s six-run lead in the ninth was enough to withstand a five-run top of the ninth.
Left fielder Owen Miller homered twice tonight. The first one was with two on in the fourth. The second one was a solo home run in the eighth. It was his first two home runs of the year. Miller went 3 for 5.
Center fielder Justin Dean connected for a solo home run in the fifth. Dean was 2 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored. The home run was Dean’s second this season.
Catcher Eric Yang also homered with the bases empty in the sixth, his second on the campaign. Yang went 1 for 5.
Third baseman Pedro Ramírez was 3 for 4 with a double and he was hit by a pitch. Ramírez scored twice and drove home one.
First baseman Jonathon Long went 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored two runs and had two RBI.
Shortstop Scott Kingery was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.
The Knoxville Smokies swept a doubleheader from the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 8-1 and 3-2.
Brooks Caple had a strong Smokies debut, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings. Caple allowed two hits, walked two and struck out six.
Marino Santy took over for Caple in the fourth and got the win. Santy allowed one run on two hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one.
The Smokies scored eight runs in this game on only one hit, thanks to ten walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches. At one point in the fourth inning the Smokies were winning 5-0 and being no-hit. But catcher Owen Ayers cleared the basses with a three-run triple, the only hit of the game for Knoxville. Ayers was 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored once.
In game two, Dawson Netz completely shut down the Barons for five innings. He gave up no runs and no hits. He did walk two while striking out six as he improved his record to 2-0.
Tyler Santana pitched the final two innings and the no-hitter was broken up with a leadoff single in the seventh. Santana ended up giving up two runs on three hits over two innings as he picked up the save. Santana walked one and struck out one.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu had an RBI single in the third inning (where a second run scored on an error) and an RBI single in the fifth. Nwogu was 2 for 3.
Starter Kevin Valdez gave up two solo home runs to Bobby Boser. Otherwise, his final line was three runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Valdez walked two and struck out one.
The win went to Kenyi Perez, who relieved Valdez in the fourth. Perez faced six batters. Five of them he struck out. He walked the other one.
Ethan Flanagan was on the mound after that for a four-inning save. Flanagan allowed seven runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Left fielder Christian Olivo had a magic night in South Bend. Olivo was a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk and two home runs. The first one was a three-run home run in the fifth and the second one was a two-run blast in the sixth. Olivo now has four home runs this year. Olivo had six total RBi and scored three times.
Second baseman Alex Madera was 3 for 5. He scored twice and drove in two.
Right fielder Leonel Espinoza went 2 for 5. He scored once and had one run batted in.
Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with one run scored.
Dominick Reid turned in a dominant start. He allowed no runs on just one hit over five innings. Reid walked no one, although hid did hit two batters, and struck out six.
Daniel Avita pitched the next three innings and he permitted two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out five.
The win went to Jordan Henriquez, who retired all six batters he faced in the ninth and tenth innings. He struck out four.
The Pelicans blew this game open with a four-run top of the tenth. Center fielder Alexy Lumpuy plated the automatic runner with a single. Lumpuy went 2 for 5 and scored once.
But the big blow in the tenth was a two-run double by second baseman Jose Escobar. Escobar was 2 for 5.
Both Pelicans runs in regulation came on solo home runs. Left fielder Darlyn De Leon homered in the second inning. He went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
In the third inning, right fielder Josiah Hartshorn cracked his fourth home run of the year. Hartshorn went 2 for 4. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base.
Kaleb Wing’s second pro start didn’t go as well as the first. Wing took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over 4.2 innings He did strike out eight and walked only two.
At this point, that’s good enough for the Giants, who staved off sole possession of the majors’ worst record Friday with a 5-2 win to start their series against the Pirates.
Robbie Ray walked four batters and was at 72 pitches through three innings, but the Giants’ starter buckled down to complete six frames.
Despite walking the bases loaded in the third, Pittsburgh’s only damage against the left-hander came on a solo shot from Marcell Ozuna.
Robbie Ray walked four batters and was at 72 pitches through three innings, but the Giants’ starter buckled down to complete six frames. APRafael Devers was the solo proprietor of runs for the home team until San Francisco finally broke through Getty Images
Rafael Devers was the solo proprietor of runs for the home team until San Francisco finally broke through for some insurance in its third scoring opportunity of the evening.
Devers’ fourth home run of the season — his second in as many games — matched Ozuna blast-for-blast to tie the score at 1 in the bottom of the second. He singled and scored in his next at-bat to give the Giants a 2-1 lead that would hold up for Ray’s third win in nine starts.
San Francisco added on to its advantage with three runs off the Pirates’ bullpen in the seventh. The rally was started by another slumping slugger, Willy Adames, who added a second knock for his second multi-hit game since April 17.
It proved to be necessary insurance as the Pirates plated one run and brought the tying run to bat in the ninth. Caleb Killian was able to get out of the jam to earn his second save of the season.
Devers’ fourth home run of the season — his second of the home stand — matched Ozuna blast-for-blast to tie the score at 1 in the bottom of the second. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
What it means
Ray had been the recipient of some of the lowest run support in the majors (2.72 per game) but got more than enough against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski.
With the Rockies’ extra-innings win over the Phillies, the Giants had to win to keep pace — with the second-worst team in the sport. Thanks to Colorado, San Francisco’s negative-42 run differential isn’t bottom of the barrel. That distinction belongs to the Phillies (minus-44).
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The further away from April the schedule moves, the more Devers is beginning to look like himself. The slugger has officially begun to come out of a season-long slumber over his past eight games, recording hits in all of them while batting .346 (9-for-26) with a 1.041 OPS.
The most encouraging sign might be the pitches Devers is doing damage against. Both his home runs this week have come against fastballs. Over the course of his hitting streak, Devers is batting 6-for-14 against the hard stuff, a vast improvement over his .269 start to the season.
“When he gets going, we start rolling,” Ray said. “If he’s feeling good in the box, if he’s taking at-bats like that, he can carry a team. It’s good to see.”
The five-spot represented one of the best scoring outputs for the Giants this season. AP
Who’s not
The five-spot represented one of the best scoring outputs for the Giants this season — only the second time in their past 10 games they reached that modest total.
But it was hardly an all-you-can-eat buffet for their bats.
Most notably: A group that has taken, by far, the fewest walks in the majors went its third game in a row without working a free pass from an opposing pitcher.
There have only been 12 such stretches previously in the bicoastal history of the franchise. It has happened just once — early on in 2009 — dating back to 1976.
The Giants will try to win consecutive games for the first time since the end of their last home stand. RHP Landen Roupp (5-2, 3.18) gets the ball against RHP Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.02). AP
Still, San Francisco had no shortage of runners and still managed strand five on base.
The Giants haven’t done much hitting or running — last in the majors in both runs and stolen bases — but executed both at the same time to perfection in the third to give them runners at the corners. Luis Arraez rolled over into an inning-ending double play.
The following inning, Casey Schmitt and Devers led off with a pair of knocks, giving the Giants runners at the corners and nobody out. Schmitt was thrown out at home when he broke on contact on a grounder to third from Matt Chapman.
That was only the first out of the inning. The frame came to a close when Chapman, for no apparent reason, got caught between second and third on a single to center from Heliot Ramos. Devers, at least, was able to touch home plate before Chapman was tagged out.
Up next
The Giants will try to win consecutive games for the first time since the end of their last home stand. RHP Landen Roupp (5-2, 3.18) gets the ball against RHP Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.02).
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan delivers during the first inning of a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Here an eight-figure salary, there an eight-figure salary, seemingly everywhere an eight-figure salary. There are not too many nights when you can point to a position and say the man playing a certain position for the Dodgers makes $17 million less this season than the opposing player at the same position.
This was one of them. The Atlanta Braves are paying Chris Sale, the nine-time All-Star, $18 million this season. The Dodgers are paying Emmet Sheehan a little less than $1 million.
You might not have bet on this outcome in the sports books or prediction markets: The Dodgers won.
Not because your home team has suddenly become a plucky underdog, even if the Braves (26-13) have a better record. The Dodgers (24-14) dented Sale for three runs in seven innings — one on a home run by Freddie Freeman ($27 million this year), one on a double by Kyle Tucker ($55 million), and one on a single by Shohei Ohtani ($70 million).
“I know the guys think a win is a win,” infielder Miguel Rojas said, “but knowing that we’re facing (the team with) the best record in the league now and those guys have been playing really good, the bullpen showed that they took the ball and knew what they were going to face.
“For me, it’s a pretty good win, because it tells us we are ready for the big picture.”
Two of the Dodgers’ pitching stars on Friday arrived in Los Angeles together, in a little-noticed trade that now stands out as one of Andrew Friedman’s most underrated. In the fifth inning, Alex Vesia relieved Sheehan and induced a two-on, two-out fly out from Matt Olson, who might be the National League’s most valuable player to date.
In the sixth inning, Kyle Hurt stranded two runners on base to complete a scoreless inning and lower his earned-run average to 0.90. In 2021, Friedman acquired Vesia and Hurt from the Miami Marlins for middle reliever Dylan Floro.
Dodgers reliever Kyle Hurt celebrates after striking out Atlanta's Mike Yastrzemski with two runners on base in the sixth inning Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“There’s just real confidence now,” Roberts said. “There’s always been talent.”
Will Klein, Brock Stewart and Tanner Scott finished off the Braves on a night the bullpen delivered 4⅓ shutout innings.
Vesia’s one-batter, one-out performance earned him his first victory of the season, with Scott working the ninth for the save.
Each team scored once in the second inning, with the Dodgers adding an unearned run in the fifth on the Ohtani single and a final run in the sixth on Freeman’s fourth home run — and first since April 6.
In 12 career at-bats against Sale, Freeman has two home runs. Teoscar Hernández is the only other player on the Dodgers’ current roster ever to homer off Sale.
For a left-handed hitter like Freeman, Sale combines a power fastball with a funky delivery.
Freddie Freeman, left, celebrates with Miguel Rojas after hitting his 100th home run as a Dodger on Friday against the Atlanta Braves. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“He’s probably the toughest lefty you are going to face in this game, as a left-handed hitter,” Freeman said. “He’s coming from behind you.”
It is not that Sheehan outpitched Sale. But Sheehan pitched well enough, against a very good opponent and a very good opposing pitcher, for the Dodgers to consider this progress.
“I thought Emmet threw the ball as well as he’s thrown the ball all year, as far as stuff and compete,” Roberts said. “What he gave us was what we needed.
“I think it’s something for Emmet to build on.”
Sheehan fired his fastballs from 94-96 mph in the first three innings, and six of his first eight outs were strikeouts. His fastball velocity dropped into the 92-93 mph range in the fourth and fifth inning, and four of his final eight batters reached base.
“I think it’s just being more consistent with my mechanics,” Sheehan said. “Obviously, trying not to think about that out there but, yeah, I definitely wish I could have held it a little better.”
Atlanta's Michael Harris II reacts after being tagged out by Dodgers catcher Will Smith on a throw from Teoscar Hernández in the fourth inning Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The line was good enough: one run over 4⅔ innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. How long the Dodgers might stick with a pitcher with a 4.79 ERA could be determined by how long Tyler Glasnow stays on the injured list. Glasnow hit the IL Friday because of back spasms, so the question of whom the Dodgers drop from the rotation to make room for Blake Snell is moot for now. The Dodgers plan to activate Snell from the injured list Saturday and start him against the Braves.
The Dodgers hope to activate shortstop Mookie Betts from the IL Monday, and the question of whom the Dodgers drop from their roster could be determined in part by the status of Rojas, who left the game in the eighth inning.
Rojas slipped getting out of the batter’s box in the second inning and said he had “kind of a dead leg” sensation after being hit while taking a throw at shortstop in the sixth. He said he expected to be “fine” going forward.
Nolan McLean endured the shortest outing of his career, his last time out, lasting just four innings as he was knocked around a bit by the Los Angeles Angels.
The young righty was able to bounce back nicely Friday against the Diamondbacks, though.
McLean didn’t have his best stuff, but he still gave the Mets six solid innings.
“My job is to get as deep into the game as I can every time I go out,” he said postgame. “I was disappointed in myself last time not being able, so it was pretty important for me today.”
McLean worked around a two-out Corbin Carroll double in the first, but then served up a Nolan Arenado homer on just the second pitch of the bottom of the second.
The crafty right-hander found his footing from there, retiring the next six hitters he faced before hitting Carroll with a pitch leading off the bottom of the fourth. McLean immediately rolled a double-play, though, to put up another zero.
He was able to evade a walk in the fifth and then a single in the sixth, ending his night with just the one run allowed on three hits and a walk while striking out eight Arizona hitters.
“He was pretty solid,” Carlos Mendoza said. “He did a good job pacing himself -- the sinker was good when he needed it, the breaking ball, the sweeper, the curveball, and when he needed to let it eat, he put some on it with the velo.
“He found a way to give us six good innings, so pretty solid there -- just the execution, strike-throwing, the attack, the way he was using all of his pitches, he was pretty good today.”
The Mets' bats couldn't back him up, but they finally came back to life in the 10th to rally for the series-opening win.
May 2, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Dodger Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Braves over the years, and it continued to be so on Friday night as they lost yet again, 3-1. Atlanta had chances to score in seemingly every inning and just couldn’t get the big hit to swing the game. They ended the night 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position with 10 runners left on base.
Yikes.
The lone run came by way of an Austin Riley single up the middle in the second to score Michael Harris. It seemed like more could be on the way, but back-to-back strikes from Mike Yastrzemski and Jim Jarvis promptly ended the threat.
Shortly after the Braves took the lead, the Dodgers quickly responded with an RBI double from Kyle Tucker to tie it up. In the fifth, LA took the lead with a Shohei Ohtani single to make it 2-1. And in the sixth, Freddie Freeman homered to make it 3-1. And that’s all she wrote.
Chris Sale was really strong for seven innings; he deserved a better fate tonight. He struck out seven, didn’t walk anyone, and scattered five hits. One of the three runs he allowed was unearned as Jarvis uncorked a wild throw that ultimately plated the go-ahead run. Aaron Bummer threw a clean 8th inning against the top of LA’s lineup, an encouraging sign.
The series continues Saturday night and all eyes will be on Spencer Strider, who needed 80+ pitches in his season debut to record 10 outs. Strider will be opposed by Blake Snell, who may be a bit limited as he makes his season debut a little earlier than expected. First pitch will be an hour earlier at 9:10 p.m. ET.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and sealed the game with big buckets late to the delight of roaring Knicks fans, leading New York to a 109-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
With 2016 and 2018 Villanova national championship banners hanging in the rafters, the so-called Nova Knicks all took turns taking the fight out of the Sixers in the fourth quarter, turning a four-point lead into another double-digit victory
Josh Hart had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 23 points, pushing the Knicks and first-year coach Mike Brown within one victory of their second straight conference finals appearance.
The Knicks have the luxury not to rush back forward OG Anunoby, who’s averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason. He sat out with a strained right hamstring and remains day to day.
Joel Embiid scored 18 points for the Sixers in his return after he missed Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.
SPURS 115, TIMBERWOLVES 108
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for San Antonio, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a victory over Minnesota.
Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.
Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.
Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama’s fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by double digits.
Wembanyama didn’t flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid’s pushed San Antonio’s lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama rebounded.
Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.
Game 3 between the Knicks and 76ers was physical, as you would expect from a series between these two rivals, especially with their recent playoff history.
While the first two games had their share of high-intensity moments, the opening few quarters of Friday's matchup felt like the pressure was turned up to 11. Both teams were jawing at the officials for every foul and no-call, and that includes Sixers star Joel Embiid.
Embiid, of course, is often seen as the villain whenever the Knicks and Sixers meet, and Friday was no exception. After he missed Game 2, the big man returned to the Sixers to try and stave off a 0-3 hole in the series. And while Embiid provided what he could in his 35 minutes (18 points, six rebounds, five assists), it just wasn't enough as the Knicks won 108-94.
After the game, Embiid was asked a gamut of questions regarding the loss. Then he was asked about the officiating and whether he felt the refs were letting some fouls go.
"I’m not sure. Maybe it was let go on our end," Embiid said. "They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We're not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. So, yeah, I don't know.
"I guess it's good when New York wins, so we've just got to have that mentality of just not fouling, I guess, and being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they're going to take advantage of it."
Joel Embiid was asked about the way tonight's game was officiated and whether or not the officials let more things go tonight:
"They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We're not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the ground. I don't know.
While the Knicks did wind up shooting 32 free throws to Philly's 16, New York did not shoot a free throw until the second quarter. Mitchell Robinson shot four thanks to the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy the Sixers used.
But Embiid wasn't the only one asked about the officiating. Karl-Anthony Towns, who committed five personal fouls, was asked and intimated his frustrations. One moment in particular saw Embiid called for a foul under the basket when both big men collapsed to the ground trying to box each other out. Philadelphia would challenge and win, reversing the call and giving Towns his third foul in the second quarter and forcing him to the bench.
Towns was asked whether he was surprised by the reversal, and he answered, simply, "I'm not surprised at anything anymore."
In Game 1, the Sixers had the free-throw advantage, 34-17. The next game saw was more even when Embiid wasn't playing, as the Sixers had a 28-25 advantage from the charity stripe.
How will the officiating be in Game 4? The Knicks will look to close out the series on Sunday in Philadelphia while the Sixers hope to force Game 5.
May 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) in the first half during game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
After Minnesota closed within 102-100, Victor Wembanyama, as part of a 16 point fourth quarter masterpiece, captained a 13-8 finish, and San Antonio righted the wrongs of their earlier free throw shooting woes to put away the Wolves 115-108. With Anthony Edwards inserted into the starting lineup for game 3, it was a tale of two first quarters as the Spurs surged to an 18-3 advantage and promptly ceded nearly all of it back to the Wolves in the closing four minutes. Despite the teams being knotted at 51 at the half, San Antonio was able to grab a hold of the lead through most of the second half before Wembanyama’s crunchtime takeover.
San Antonio, despite its early success, struggled for some time to find sufficient support of Wembanyama (39 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks). Running mates Stephon Castle (13 points, 12 assists, and 4 rebounds) and De’Aaron Fox (17 points and 5 assists) started slowly, but both of them worked through the kinks when it mattered most. Devin Vassell (13 points and 6 rebounds) made just the right plays on both ends. Rookie Carter Bryant (6 points and 2 rebounds) made the most of his first half minutes to help the Spurs stay ever so slightly ahead of the Wolves. Keldon Johnson (11 points) worked through an ineffectual playoffs thus far and had a much-needed burst late in the third quarter. Dylan Harper (8 points and 4 rebounds) figured meaningfully in the closing minutes.
Minnesota’s Edwards (32 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the way as expected with Jaden McDaniels (17 points and 7 rebounds) reprising his standout role from the Denver series. Former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) had an excellent effort off the bench, while Ayo Dosummu (11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) also helped the Wolves nearly pull off the upset.
San Antonio picked up where it left off from Wednesday night showcasing its defensive clamps – Edwards’ free throw was the only Minnesota scoring as they missed their first 11 shots. Wembanyama again set up shop in the paint and scored four early ones and netted 9 of the team’s first 11 points. The Wolves stayed glued to one point until the 5:09 mark when a Gobert tip-in roused the crowd from slumber. The Spurs reached zenith at 18-3. Despite the early San Antonio advantage, both teams shot a combined 9-for-36 (25%) over the first nine minutes, which was a foreboding lurch into Minnesota’s closing run. Gobert generated surprising offense, which emboldened Edwards to seek out his offense and the Wolves closed within 22-23 after one.
Three quick Minnesota field goals threatened to cause the Target Center to ’go crazy,‘ but the Spurs’ veterans – Wembanyama and Fox – stabilized them over several tense possessions. Bryant saw first half action and hit a pair of timely threes. Despite wresting the lead back, San Antonio left plentiful points on the board with its free throw misses. The teams fought and clawed to stay within 1-2 possesions of each other until fireworks from Minnesota and San Antonio resulted in a 51 tie at the half.
The teams put up a flurry of threes during a whirlwind third period. San Antonio remained ahead by a handful after the artillery exchange. The really interesting thing was that different players accounted for each three on both sides. The Spurs pushed their lead to as high as seven until Edwards and Dosummu connected on several quick field goals. Wembanyama, while having his left arm behind held by Gobert, swatted away Edwards’ floater with his right hand, and then the Wolves star held his right side as the center tried to run upcourt to join his tammates. After the pace slowed to a veritable crawl, San Antonio still found itself up seven going to the final 12 minutes.
Observations
This was the second game this series where Randle made hostile contact to Castle, and the Spurs guard was whistled for the foul. Tonight’s call, however, was overturned after review.
If Gobert continues to stay long stretches on the bench, that may effectively consume any meaningful Kornet minutes.
My friend said, “remember when Ginobili would get fouled… his hair would fly everywhere? That’s Castle” And all I could reply with was “until 2007.”
Does the Amazon arrow change directions depending on who’s leading?
It makes sense why the Spurs tried to sell tickets to people within 150 miles of San Antonio in Round 1. The Philadelphia / New York game very much sounded like a pro-Knicks crowd.
My three sisters and I ended our respective eulogies for my dad with ‘Go Spurs Go.’
Sequence of the Game #1: Several minutes in, Wembanyama swatted away Randle’s attempt, sped past other Wolves down the floor, and and converted an and-1 over McDaniels. #wemblock
Sequence of the Game #2: After a Reid three, Fox slithered down to the other end and got a layup over three Timberwolves.
Game Rundown
Wembanyama dunked home successive lob passes from Vassell and Castle for San Antonio’s first four points. Fox deflected a pass on the first Wolves possession. (Wembanyama’s first block looked like a goaltend but we’ll keep that between you and me.) Wembanyama’s turnaround banker made it 11-1. The only negative for the Spurs was getting into the foul bonus in less than five minutes. Johnson’s catch-and-shoot triple made it 14-1. Reid’s three caused Mitch Johnson to burn his late period timeout. Gobert’s second and third buckets kickstarted a 9-0 run late in the stanza. Vassell’s floater salvaged a series of fraught moments. Edwards went on a personal twelve point explosion to draw Minnesota within one.
Another Wembanyama lob provided momentary relief from the Wolves’ onslaught – as Edwards, Reid, and McDaniels connected early on in the second period. Bryant hit a corner three to put San Antonio ahead for mere seconds. Bryant’s next one – a shotclock beating three – put the Spurs back up four. Minnesota again drew San Antonio into the foul bonus halfway through. Right as I was muttering to myself that he was settling for too many threes, Castle’s pull-up jumper in the paint put the Spurs up six. An offensive foul on Reid – who elbowed Kornet in the face – was overturned due to the Spurs’ center holding with his left hand. San Antonio challenged an offensive foul whistled on Castle and it was unfortunately upheld. Reid’s corner three put Minnesota back up. but Castle drew Reid’s third foul shortly after. After Castle swiped it clean from Randle, Fox hit his second straight field goal, but that was matched by a McDaniels three tying the game at 51.
Dosummu replaced Mike Conley in the starting lineup, and San Antonio made some decent stops to start the second half. Threes from Castle and Wembanyama put the Spurs up six. After the Wolves bigs used Wembanyama as a punching bag, the referees finally whistled Randle for an offensive foul on an elbow extension. Vassell threw down a thunderous lefty jam seconds later. Edwards hit two baseline floaters and Dosummi followed with a corner three. Castle and Kornet ran pick and roll action to get the center a runner. Harper took a shot to the head on a loose ball situation and stayed down on the court for minutes, while Castle and McDaniels were assessed technicals. San Antonio got into the foul bonus but continued to put up ‘1-for-2s.’ Johnson paired two freebies with a wing three and the Spurs were relieved to head to the fourth up 86-79.
For the Wolves fan’s perspective, please visit Canis Hoopus.
San Antonio stays in the Twin Cities for Game 4 with Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night at 6:30 PM CDT on NBC.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 08: Manager Torey Lovullo #17 takes the ball from relief pitcher Kevin Ginkel #37 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during a pitching change in the 10th inning against the New York Mets at Chase Field on May 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game Summary
Let’s look back at another close loss for the 2026 Diamondbacks – or don’t and just skip straight to venting in the comments if you wish. For those of you still here, away we go.
Ryne Nelson put together his second straight strong start in May after scuffling through the month of April. He became the third of four Snakes’ starters to pitch into the 7th inning after Torey Lovullo pulled all of his starters into the office and told them they needed to be better. Well, the have been better. Much better. But Torey’s club has lost 3 of the the 4 ballgames since anyway. Tonight, Nelson was very efficient, sticking in and around the strike zone all night and finishing with 2 hits allowed, 7 strikeouts and a lonely walk to the last hitter he faced in 6.2 innings. Nelson’s one crime was a leadoff homer he allowed to Mark Vents in the top of the 2nd inning. After that, he was nails, including a run of 14 straight hitters retired before his walk with 2 outs in the 6th that ended his night. Nelly is looking much more like the pitcher he was for the bulk of 2024-25, which is great news for the 2026 D-backs.
The bullpen was also great, until it wasn’t. Juan Morillo and Brandyn Garcia put in excellent outings to keep the game in reach for the Snakes, but Kevin Ginkel came in for the 10th a gave up back-to-back doubles and a bunt single before finally getting an out before handing the ball to Torey. Jonathan Loaisiga promptly got 2 ground outs to end the frame.
Normally, 2 earned runs wouldn’t sink you, but the Diamondbacks offense right now is not normal. Tonight’s 1-run squeaker by the offense makes it 5 games in their last 9 in which they’ve been held to 2 runs or less. Unsurprisingly, they are 0-5 in those games. Nolan Arenado had a leadoff homer to match Mark Vientos in the 2nd, but after that, it was mostly crickets. They had opportunities, sure, but the good guys went 0-5 with RISP and left 8 on base. To be fair, Nolan McLean is a tough customer, but this is no longer a one-off. Hopefully the offense comes back to life soon, but as we Diamondbacks fans are conditioned to expect, when the offense figures it out, one of the bullpen or starting pitching – or both – will collapse.
Oh well. I’ll still be there to watch it all go down with you all here on the ‘Pit. The Waldschmidt era has arrived and Alek Thomas is out the door. I have a feeling that AT’s exit is only the first in a series of moves the D-backs will begin to make if they don’t figure things out quickly, overhauling much of the regulars we’ve had in the org over the past few years. Buckle up folks!
Loss Probability and Box Score
Outside the Box Score
After Gabi blew an ABS challenge on the first pitch of the game, Nelson came back and struck out Juan Soto on the next 3 pitches, culminating with a whiff on a 98mph fastball right at the top of the zone.
No bearing on the outcome of the game whatsoever, but a gentleman wearing a Dodgers hat caught Nolan Arenado’s home run ball in the third. He was clearly stoked about catching a home run ball. It’s great that no matter who your team is, catching a ball will turn you giddy.
DBacks fandom collectively held its breath at the end of the top of the third inning when Corbin Carroll made a fantastic catch fading/jumping into the right field fence. It looked like maybe his throwing hand was hurt since he was holding in close to his hip and then gave a little hop with a grimace as he ran back in to the dugout. Corbin had his helmet on in the dugout getting ready to hit the next inning so hopefully just a stinger that won’t cause any future issues.
Ildemaro Vargas made a very good diving play at second base to take a hit away from the Mets to lead off the fourth. He quickly spun around through to first while barely getting off the deck. Fernandez, for his part, did well to corral the throw far to the fair side of the bag and complete the putout.
The television broadcast showed a graphic during Corbin’s second AB of the game that showed the difference between his OPS in games the DBacks win vs. games they lose. His OPS is north of 1.300 in wins and around .400 when they lose, the largest gap in MLB so far this year. Corbin is our motor.
Ryne Nelson only had 64 pitches at the end of 5 innings. Looking extremely efficient, with only one 3-ball count through those 5 innings per the broadcast, and a Zone% of 58% (for comparison, Nolan McLean was at 49%).
Jose Fernandez was called out on strikes in the fifth on a curveball that looked pretty far outside, but already being down a challenge thanks to Gabi’s first pitch decision, made the decision to not risk the team’s final challenge at the halfway point of the game. Bummer as it would have brought up a full count with a runner on first and only 1 out instead of being the 2nd out of the inning.
Ryne Nelson owned Juan Soto all night long. 2 strikeouts and a lazy fly out and he didn’t look comfortable in the box all game.
The common refrain when something, anything, goes wrong for the Diamondbacks pitching late in the game, is that Torey was late with his hook for the pitcher. Tonight, he got up Morillo midway through the 7th and after Nelly had back-to-back full counts – with the second one resulting in a walk – Torey went out and got his starting pitcher after 6.2 stellar innings of work. Juan Morillo made quick work of Marcus Semien to strand the runner and, unfortunately, guarantee Nelson would get a No Decision for his work tonight.
Luis Torrens, the Mets catcher tonight, took a foul ball straight off the bottom of his mask from the bat of Jose Fernandez. He was down for several minutes and was clearly in pain based on his reaction to the Mets trainer prodding around his jaw and chin, but – as most catchers are – he’s tough as nails and got the mask back on got back behind the plate. I don’t know if I could mentally get through a full season as a Major League catcher. My hats off to them, that is a brutal position.
The Diamondbacks finally got to face someone other than Nolan McLean in the 7th inning, and the Rattle of the lineup went walk, single, walk with 2 outs to bring up Domo with a chance to put the Serpientes ahead for the first time of the night. Unfortunately, Gerry rolled over to first base for an easy out to end the threat.
Ryan Waldschmidt, fresh off the bus from Reno, came in as a pinch-hitter for ADC with 2 out in the 8th for his first AB in the Majors and spanked single that fell at the feet of Juan Soto for his first career hit in the Bigs. Congratulations on the first of many hits Waldy!
The Mets had runners at the corners with 1 out in the 10th and smartly had Semien steal second to remove the threat of the double play. Good thing for them as the next ball in play was a soft grounder right back to Jonny Lasagna, but since the Mets were running on contact, the Snakes got an easy out at the plate for the 2nd out of the inning and then Jonny induced a soft grounder to Arenado to finish the extra frame. Too bad it was 2 runs too late.
Comment of the Game
The GameDay Thread was very well attended with several topics touched on outside the ballgame (per usual). A final tally of 413 comments at time of publishing. Comment of the Game tonight is awarded to chwalter for this gem:
Coming Up
The Diamondbacks face the Mets for the second game of this 3-game set tomorrow evening with a 4:15pm first pitch televised on FOX. Righthander Clay Holmes (4-2, 1.69 ERA) will take the mound for New York and Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95 ERA) takes the ball for the good guys looking to show signs of life. Here’s to Merrill returning to his Mainstay form.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mitch Marner had three goals and an assist in his first career playoff hat trick, and the Vegas Golden Knights routed the Anaheim Ducks 6-2 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round series.
Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist and Brayden McNabb scored a short-handed goal as the Golden Knights stormed to a 5-0 lead after two periods, silencing a sellout crowd in Orange County and erasing memories of their rough offensive outing in Game 2.
Carter Hart made 30 saves as Vegas moved halfway to the Western Conference finals while sending the upstart Ducks to the worst loss of their first postseason in eight years.
Game 4 is Sunday night in Anaheim.
Marner got his natural hat trick in the first two periods, giving him six goals in the past four games of his first playoff run with his new team. The longtime Maple Leafs forward delivered Vegas’ first four-point playoff performance since 2019 and prompted a few hats to be thrown onto the ice when he slipped his third goal under Ville Husso with 2:04 left in the second.
Marner’s three goals were more than he scored in last spring’s entire 13-game playoff run with Toronto, where the Ontario native frequently got criticism for not delivering in the postseason.
Rookie forward Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider scored in the third period for the Ducks, who got embarrassed in their team’s first home game in the second round since 2017.
Lukas Dostal gave up three goals on eight shots in a rough first period before Husso replaced him, but Anaheim lost at home for the first time in four games this spring.
Vegas captain Mark Stone didn’t play in the third period after apparently incurring a lower-body injury in the first period.
Theodore put Vegas ahead 66 seconds after the opening faceoff with his 20th postseason goal off a clever assist from Jack Eichel. The Ducks drafted Theodore in 2013, but former general manager Bob Murray traded him to Vegas in 2017 in a questionable scheme to keep defenseman Josh Manson in the expansion draft.
The 35-year-old McNabb then scored the third short-handed goal of his 14-year NHL career when he crossed up Dostal with a fluttering shot.
Marner capped the Knights’ stellar first period with his fourth playoff goal on a power play when Dostal couldn’t control a rebound. Marner got another midway through the second period, tapping in a pass from Theodore while the Ducks stood around watching.
Brett Howden put his sixth playoff goal into an empty net with 1:56 left.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Alex Newhook had two goals, again providing Montreal with some much-needed secondary scoring, and the Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Friday night to even their second-round playoff series at one game apiece.
Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier and Nick Suzuki, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Canadiens. Rookie goalie Jakub Dobes made 27 saves, and Montreal extended its trend of alternating wins and losses after doing so in a seven-game first-round series win over Tampa Bay.
Montreal advanced to the second round on Newhook’s game-winner 11:07 into the third period of a 2-1 series-clinching win on Sunday. Meantime, the Canadiens’ top offensive threats continue to struggle. Cole Caufield extended his point drought to five games, while Juraj Slafkovsky has one assist in his past eight outings.
Zach Benson scored for Buffalo, but Alex Lyon allowed four goals on 27 shots. He previously allowed seven goals in six-plus appearances since replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was was pulled after two periods in a 4-2 loss to Boston in Game 2 of their first-round series.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mitch Marner had three goals and an assist in his first career playoff hat trick, and Vegas routed Anaheim to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round series.
Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist and Brayden McNabb scored a short-handed goal as the Golden Knights stormed to a 5-0 lead after two periods, silencing a sellout crowd in Orange County and erasing memories of their rough offensive outing in Game 2.
Carter Hart made 30 saves as Vegas moved halfway to the Western Conference finals while sending the upstart Ducks to the worst loss of their first postseason in eight years.
Game 4 is Sunday night in Anaheim.
Marner got his natural hat trick in the first two periods, giving him six goals in the past four games of his first playoff run with his new team. The longtime Maple Leafs forward delivered Vegas’ first four-point playoff performance since 2019 and prompted a few hats to be thrown onto the ice when he slipped his third goal under Ville Husso with 2:04 left in the second.
Marner’s three goals were more than he scored in last spring’s entire 13-game playoff run with Toronto, where the Ontario native frequently got criticism for not delivering in the postseason.
