Duke basketball has a trio of nonconference games against top-tier programs next season. Each of the games will only be available on an exclusive platform.
The Blue Devils announced a multi-year partnership with Amazon Prime on Thursday, April 30, giving the platform exclusive access to multiple Duke basketball games each season. Duke's games agains Michigan, UConn and Gonzaga will air exclusively on the streaming platform in 2026-27.
"It's exciting to bring this relationship with Duke University to life, and we're looking forward to presenting this premium college basketball showcase to fans around the world next season and beyond," Amazon Prime Head of Sports Partnerships Charlie Neiman said in Duke's announcement. "Duke basketball games transcend the schedule, and the creation of this all-new offering gives fans more of what we all want, marquee matchups featuring the most successful programs in the nation."
Duke faces UConn, who it faced in the Elite Eight last season, on Wednesday, Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. It then takes on Michigan on Monday, Dec. 21, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
"In addition to our outstanding partnership with ESPN, we are excited to work with Prime Video on this groundbreaking initiative," Duke athletic director Nina King said in the announcement. "As Prime Video's first college sports partner, this collaboration not only expands the global reach of Duke Men's Basketball, but also creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes in a way that reflects innovation and excellence."
Duke will also participate in multiple ESPN-owned, neutral-site events in 2027-28 and 2028-29 in exchange of its partnership with Amazon Prime, according to the news release. ESPN is the primary TV partner of the ACC.
ESPN reported the deal will also generate name, image and likeness opportunities for Duke players, who will be able to promote the games on the platform. The deal also shows a new aggressiveness with streaming platforms in gaining exclusive college sports access.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets looks to pass the ball while defended by Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game during Round One Game Five on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Not only have brooms been shoved back into closets, but another flight to Houston has also been booked.
After being listed as a game-time decision for three straight matchups, Austin Reaves returned for the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday while superstar Kevin Durant remained out, putting Alperen Şengün at the top of LA’s scouting report.
Şengün dissected the Lakers’ defensive game plan, burning their consistent doubles by finding cutters or shooters with a patient offensive approach, leading Houston to a Game 5 win and shifting the entire feel of this series.
Houston’s All-Star came off two strong performances at home, where he put up 33 points in the overtime loss in Game 3, shooting an efficient 15-27 from the field and followed it up with 19 in their blowout rout of the Lakers in Game 4, drawing 13 free throws in the contest.
Instead of allowing any single coverage in the post, LA decided to send extra help on Wednesday and dared not only Şengün to make the right read, but Houston’s shooters to knock down their open shots.
The Rockets did both. It started early in the second quarter. Watch below as Jarred Vanderbilt completely leaves his man, Dorian Finney-Smith, in the corner to double up Şengün. A quick spin and a read from Şengün gets a wide open look that falls.
On the first possession of the third quarter, the Rockets posted Şengün up on the wing. LA zones up and flashes two defenders on him in the post. Houston patiently waits for the opening and finds Tari Eason cutting behind for the finish in the clip below.
In the few instances he got single coverage, the big man used his array of spin moves and soft touch to get shots like this one to go down.
Şengün finished with 14 points on 5-9 shooting and a series high of eight assists. LA did force him into five turnovers, but the big man finished a game-high plus-8 on the floor in just over 43 minutes.
“He made good reads,” Marcus Smart said postgame. “We forced him to make some reads and he made the right reads. We knew he would. He’s an All-Star caliber player and really good at what he does but we got to go to the drawing board and see what else we can do and throw different looks at him.”
LA doesn’t have very much time to reexamine the drawing board, as just one day of rest sits between both Game 6 and a potential Game 7. After a slow start to the series, Şengün is up to 22 points and five assists on 54% shooting from the field in the last three contests. Houston has a case to be up 3-2 if not for the late collapse in Game 3.
One option is to increase Deandre Ayton’s minutes, who finished a plus-2, and the only guy head coach J.J. Redick allows for single coverage on Şengün. Another is leaning into small ball and removing backup center Jaxson Hayes from the rotation just as Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has done with big man Clint Capela.
They need to decide quickly, because they could be facing a catastrophic Game 7 before they know it.
While Durant doesn’t seem likely to return in this series, a hungry and feisty Rockets team is growing in confidence and getting comfortable playing without their offensive star. They’ve reoriented around Şengün, and the Lakers will need answers or else their season could end much earlier than expected.
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Celtics Game 6 computer picks
Sam Hauser Over 6.5 points (-125)
Projection: 8.35 points
Sam Hauser went Over this total in just two of the five playoff games so far, but in the other three, he finished with exactly six each time. It's also a much lower bar to clear than the 8.5-point total he faced in Games 3 and 4.
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Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 7.8 rebounds
Jaylen Brown finished with seven rebounds in three straight games before logging just five in Game 5. Tonight's projection calls for 7.8 rebounds and the plus-money price makes it an easy button to push.
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Jayson Tatum Under 25.5 points (-115)
Projection: 23.58 points
Jayson Tatum has only scored 26+ points once in this series and also failed to reach that number in five straight games to close the regular season. Projections call for 23.58 tonight, which gives the Under lots of wiggle room at 25.5.
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76ers Game 6 computer picks
Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 8.5 points (-115)
Projection: 12.03 points
Kelly Oubre Jr. struggled in Games 4 and 5 but scored 10+ points in seven straight games before that and averaged 13 ppg across the first three games of this series. This line is too low on that fact alone.
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Joel Embiid Under 28.5 points (-125)
Projection: 23.86 points
This is one of the biggest gaps between projection and total on tonight's board. Joel Embiid is 1-1 against this total in his two games back, and considering how prone he is to leaving the game with injury, the paths to the Under are much clearer than the Over.
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VJ Edgecombe Over 11.5 points (-112)
Projection: 14.32 points
VJ Edgecombe's scoring has dipped since Embiid's return, but this total has made just as much of a dive after being as high as 15.5 in Game 3. The projections expect him to be much better at home tonight.
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How to watch Celtics vs 76ers Game 6
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSN/Peacock
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The Mets are making another depth addition, claiming versatile infielder Andy Ibáñez off waivers from the Athletics, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes has confirmed.
Ibáñez signed with the Dodgers on a one-year deal this offseason, but he was DFA'd just days later and was picked up off waivers by the A's.
He hit .308 with six extra base-hits during spring training, but wasn't able to carry that production over to the regular season, being set free again after just 11 games.
Ibáñez now comes to the Big Apple, where he'll look to help the Mets as they deal with a plethora of injuries.
The 33-year-old has experience at first base, second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots over his big league career.
He's a career .275 hitter with 17 homers, 32 doubles, and a .763 OPS against left-handed pitching.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Yoelin Cespedes #23 of the Boston Red Sox takes batting practice ahead of the Spring Breakout game against the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 16, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Portland and Somerset (NYY) played a pair of seven-inning affairs on Wednesday, with the second game being a makeup of a rainout on April 5th. Let’s talk about the first game in as few words as possible.
Somerset had 15 hits in six innings, scoring multiple runs in four of them. They teed off on starter Cade Feeney and reliever Max Carlson for seven extra base hits, while stealing five bases. Right fielder Will Turner homered for the only Sea Dogs run. On to game two…
Rehabbing Yankee starter Gerrit Cole got the ball for Somerset in Game Two. Some people in social media circles are saying that Cole looked a little bit hefty in his postgame interview. Not me, I would never say something like that. Cole allowed home runs to Johanfran Garcia and Max Ferguson. We’re certainly posting video of both of these.
Cy Young Award winners don't scare Johanfran Garcia
Cole went 5 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs, and striking out three. With the game tied 3-3 entering the seventh inning, the Sea Dogs scored three runs, all on RBI doubles by Max Ferguson, Will Turner, and Tyler McDonough. The Patriots cut the lead to one on a Jace Avina two-run homer but Reidis Sena eventually locked down the save in a 6-5 win.
Blake Wehunt went the first three innings, allowing one run and striking out four.
On Thursday, Portland’s starter at 6:35 ET is TBD.
Greenville Drive 8, Hub City Spartanburgers 7 (BOX)
The Drive blew a late lead before winning in dramatic fashion in extra innings on Wednesday against Hub City (TEX).
Entering the ninth inning up 5-3, reliever Danny Kirwin allowed a two-run homer to Luke Hanson, tying the game. Malcolm Moore did the same off of Matt McShane in the top of the tenth, putting the Spartanburgers up 7-5.
And that’s when Yoeilin Cespedes happened, again. Cespedes had already homered in the third inning and, in the bottom of the tenth, hit a two-run dinger with a man on to tie the game. The Drive walked it off on a potential double-play ball, which Freili Encarnacion beat out at first to win 8-7.
Yoeilin Cespedes can’t be stopped!
The Boston Red Sox prospect ties the game in the bottom of the 10th inning with a two-run homer. He has four hits and two home runs tonight.
On the day, Cespedes was 4-for-5, with three RBI, to go along with the two home runs. Encarnacion had homered in the second inning, and Justin Gonzales added three hits as part of a 13-hit effort for the Drive. Alex Bouchard had a standout relief appearance, allowing just one run over 5 ⅓ innings.
On Thursday, Kyson Witherspoon (0-1, 6.00) will take the hill for Greenville at 6:45.
Starting pitching Dylan Brown continued his excellent start to the season, throwing 5 ⅔ innings without allowing an earned run, and striking out seven against the Warbirds (MIL). In a 1-1 game in the eighth, the bullpen for the RidgeYaks got roughed up a bit, leading to a 5-1 L.
Third baseman Ty Hodge’s long ball accounted for the lone run for Salem.
Madison Frias (0-1, 11.08) will toe the rubber on Thursday at 7:05.
Worcester Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings – Ppd.
The Worcester and Rochester game was postponed on Wednesday, with a doubleheader coming up on Thursday, which already got underway at 11:05 ET. Worcester’s is starting Alec Gamboa in game one, and although game two is currently unlisted for the Woo Sox, Rochester will be throwing Riley “The Great” Cornelio.
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 21: Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics bats during the game between the Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The A’s and Royals have split the first two games of this mid-week three-game set. Now we have a rubber match this afternoon that’ll determine who takes the series, and who heads into Friday on a losing note. And with a slim one-game lead in the division over the Mariners, the A’s could really use a win today.
Taking the ball for the series finale will be Jeffrey Springs. The lefty has been the A’s unquestioned best pitcher in the early going here in 2026 but is coming off a pair of tough outings that have seen him allow 11 runs in as many innings. Both he and the team will be hoping he can bounce back and look like the guy who had a 1.46 ERA before these two tough outings. In his career (6 appearances, two starts) the left-hander has a solid 3.07 ERA against this AL Central for.
Here’s how the A’s lineup looks against the Royals for the finale:
The team is predictably still without regular left fielder Tyler Soderstrom as he continues to recover from whiplash. And of course taking his spot in the field is last week’s Player of the Week Carlos Cortes, hitting in the fifth spot. He’s getting mighty comfy in his everyday role and deservedly so.
We got Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers atop the batting order followed by the big bopper in Nick Kurtz. Langeliers is in the DH spot today while Brent Rooker gets the day off. That means Colby Thomas draws the start in right field and Austin Wynns will be catching Springs this afternoon.
For the Royals, they’ll be relying on their own left-hander in Noah Cameron. The young starter burst onto the scene last year with a 2.99 ERA in his first 24 career starts, though his sophomore season has been a bit bumpier. He pitched twice against the A’s last year, going four innings and two-thirds innings and allowing three runs in his major league debut, then shutting down the A’s over five full frames his second time out.
Gotta keep Witt from doing any damage this afternoon. If they can avoid giving up the big hit to Kansas City’s star player the A’s have an excellent chance today.
Let’s finish this series strong before we welcome Cleveland this weekend. Let’s go A’s!
Three teams will have the chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs in tonight’s NBA slate, with some great player props available in all three games.
My NBA predictions for tonight include seeing OG Anunoby and Payton Pritchard helping their teams finish off their opponents, while I also like Jamal Murray to help force a Game 7.
Read on below to see why I’m backing these player props and get my free NBA picks for Thursday, April 30.
So far, Anunoby hasn’t had fewer than eight rebounds in a game in the series, grabbing 10 in both Game 4 and Game 5. That’s way up from his regular season average (5.2 rebounds per game), but there are two good reasons for the increase.
First, Anunoby is playing more, getting 37.6 minutes per game in the series. The Hawks are also a relatively poor rebounding team, ranking 20th this season in rebound rate (49.0%). I expect Anunoby to keep crashing the boards as the Knicks likely put away this series tonight.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #2: Payton Pritchard Over 4.5 assists
+120 at bet365
Payton Pritchard had a rough game shooting from deep in Game 5, going just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc in the Philadelphia 76ers 113-97 win over the Boston Celtics. Pritchard has been up-and-down in his scoring, averaging 15.0 ppg in the series with a high of 32 points and a low of just four.
One place where Pritchard has remained consistent, however, has been as a distributor. In four of the five games of this series, the Celtics guard has had 5+ assists, a reminder that he dished out an average of 5.2 assists per game during the regular season.
Pritchard will always be a key third option in the Boston offense, but with Jaylen Brown (25.8 ppg) and Jayson Tatum (24.6 ppg) both putting in strong performances, he’s going to do more work in a support
role than as a leading scorer. That role should continue in Game 6, which is why I’m taking Pritchard to hit his assists total again tonight.
While Nikola Jokic has been inconsistent – at least by his standards – in this series, Jamal Murray has been a constant force keeping the Denver Nuggets alive against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the first five games of the series, Murray is averaging 26.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, and outside of a dip in Game 3, his numbers have been similar every night.
Murray and the rest of the Nuggets have a bit of a break for the remainder of the series, as Anthony Edwards (28.8 ppg in the regular season) is done after his knee injury in Game 4. And while it’s not as big a loss, the fact that Donte DiVincenzo is out with an Achilles injury won’t help Minnesota either.
Murray has put up 40+ PRA in three of the first five games of this series. I expect Denver to lean on him and Jokic heavily to make sure they can win the final two games of this series and keep their postseason run alive. In Murray’s case, that means another all-around performance that allows him to hit the Over on his PRA total.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run during the game at Oracle Park on March 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second day in a row, the San Francisco Giants only had three Minor League Baseball games, as AA Richmond had their contest against Altoona rained out. Those teams will play a doubleheader on Friday.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
AAA Sacramento had a little shifting of inventory. On Wednesday, the Giants purchased the contract of RHP Gregory Santos, who presumably had a May 1 opt out. In exchange, RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL) was optioned back to Sacramento after his successful stint in the Majors. And on Thursday, the Giants brought up RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL) as the allotted 27th player for their doubleheader. The Giants can keep McDonald on the roster past Thursday and option/release someone else, but I’d assume that he’ll be headed back to Sacramento.
AAA Sacramento (16-11)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees (Angels) 17-7 Box score
It’s not exactly news to anyone, but first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) is one of the top prospects in the sport. But hey … just because it’s not news, doesn’t mean we don’t like to be reminded about it, right?
And remind us he did.
The tall lefty had an eye-popping showing on Wednesday — the type of game that will have KNBR callers losing their minds if the Giants offense doesn’t do much during today’s doubleheader.
In his 1st plate appearance of the day, he worked a walk.
In his 2nd plate appearance of the day, he worked the count full and then, against a left-handed pitcher, blasted an absolutely sensational 2-run home run that measured out at 434 feet, and left the bat at 110.1 mph.
In his 3rd plate appearance of the day, he ripped a 103.6-mph single, again off of a lefty.
In his 4th plate appearance of the day, he hit yet another single off of a left-hander.
In his 5th plate appearance of the day, he was finally retired, but on a hard-hit ground out.
And in his 6th plate appearance of the day, he capped his superstar showing with a 3-run home run, hit 103 mph and 401 feet. Not only that, but it came in an 0-2 count and, you guessed it, against a lefty.
Yes, it was a 4-5 day with 2 dingers and a walk, and all 4 of his hits coming off of same-handed pitching. Even when you account for the Salt Lake environment — the Bees play in a park that is basically the Great American Ballpark of the Coors Field League — it was a mesmerizing showing, and one that raised his OPS all the way up to .955 and his wRC+ to 155.
That’s about as good of a day as you can have, and about as encouraging of a day as you can have, though fans clamoring for his call-up will probably be disappointed. There are still things to work on — mainly making contact, as his in-zone contact rate remains in the 32nd percentile, while his whiff rate is in the 18th percentile — but yeesh. Sometimes a player reminds you of what they’re capable of, and when that player is the best power prospect the Giants have had in many decades, it’s pretty exciting!
Eldridge didn’t have the only good day in the batter’s box, as you could probably surmise by the 17 runs, which came via 15 hits, 10 walks, 3 hit batters, and 2 Salt Lake errors. Center fielder Grant McCray had a fantastic game and would have been the headliner had Eldridge not stolen the show.
McCray had a brutal start to the year but has been turning things around lately, and Wednesday was his best game yet, as he hit 2-5 with a grand slam, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout.
The grand slam was beautiful, but it’s the stolen base that the Giants are probably happiest to see. If McCray wants to get back to the Majors soon, it will likely be in a Jared Oliva-esque role, and we saw during the spring the difference in how those two attack the bases, despite having similar speed. McCray had 52 thefts in 2023, but swiped just 14 bags in the Minors in 2024, and 5 more in the Majors. He bounced back a little with 27 stolen bases last year (but none in 22 Major League games). So far this year, he has 3, but has been caught stealing twice.
As for the bat, though, it’s thankfully coming around, as he’s up to a .718 OPS and a 101 wRC+. McCray started the season with a great game, hitting 3-3 with a walk, but then hit a huge slump: over the next 15 games, he hit just 5-46 with 0 home runs, 2 doubles, 12 walks, and 17 strikeouts. But since then, he’s hit 10-32 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. A big step in the right direction.
The other nice hitting days belonged to right fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) and third baseman Buddy Kennedy. Bericoto hit 2-5 with a walk, and smashed a 2-run home run.
The 24-year old is holding his own in his 1st real look at AAA (he had a brief stint there last year), as he has a .803 OPS and a 113 wRC+. The big power in his right-handed bat hasn’t been too on display — this was his 1st home run since April 8, and just his 2nd extra-base hit in that time — but the 18.3% strikeout rate is extremely encouraging. Bericoto has some really nice exit velocities (he’s 83rd percentile in 90th percentile EV), so if he can keep limiting strikeouts, that will be a very good thing.
As for Kennedy, he kept his excellent season going by hitting 3-4 with a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch, which raised his OPS to .933 and his wRC+ to 154. He’s done absolutely everything that the Giants have asked of him when they signed him to a Minor League contract to be AAA depth.
On the pitching front, it was a pretty nice start for RHP Carson Seymour, who you have to imagine the organization was considering calling up for Thursday’s MLB doubleheader before landing on RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL). Seymour went 5 strong innings, most notably not issuing any walks while striking out 5 batters. He gave up 6 hits (honestly not bad given the environment) and 2 runs, which came on a 2-run home run by former Giant Donovan Walton. AAA baseball, baby!
Mostly it was just nice seeing Seymour strike some batters out, as that has been mysteriously absent from his game this season. The 27-year old, who made his MLB debut last year, has struck out just 7.7 batters per 9 innings, though he’s only walked 2.0 (he also has a very high 58.5% groundball rate at the moment). The overall package has been so-so, as he has a 4.03 ERA and a 4.76 FIP on the season. But games like this, especially against a Salt Lake roster with so many former Major Leaguers on it, certainly help him state his case.
A pair of Sacramento’s more high-profile relief prospects really struggled, as LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL) gave up 2 hits (including a home run), 2 walks, and 3 earned runs while recording just 2 outs, and RHP Trent Harris (No. 29 CPL) allowed 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs while also recording just 2 outs. Sánchez has a 4.76 ERA and an 8.36 FIP through 5.2 innings, while Harris has a 9.45 ERA and a 7.52 FIP in 6.2 innings.
RHP Marques Johnson had a great game though, retiring all 5 batters he faced and striking out 2 of them. The 2022 11th-round pick, who came to the Giants in the Mauricio Llovera trade, has a 4.50 ERA and a 5.37 FIP in his debut AAA season.
The Emeralds continued their great season, and they did so with a stellar pitching performance. A quartet of arms took the mound for Eugene, and all 4 pitched very well … but none better than the starter, LHP Charlie McDaniel. The 24-year old southpaw isn’t the most heralded pitcher in the system, as he was an undrafted free agent who is in his 2nd season. But there aren’t many pitchers in the organization who have been better to start the year.
Wednesday was McDaniel’s 4th start of the season, and he went 5.1 strong, strong innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. Most impressive, though, was his strike-throwing ability: McDaniel threw a gorgeous 53 of 70 pitches for strikes, didn’t walk a single hitter, and struck out 8 batters on the day. Glorious!
McDaniel’s numbers are nothing short of excellent this year, as he has a 1.10 ERA and a 2.38 FIP. The really nice thing has been the control, though, as McDaniel has 18 strikeouts to just 3 walks in 16.1 innings. Control has always been McDaniel’s strength, though he’s taken it up a notch this year by improving both his walk and strikeout rates … and he’s also upped his ground ball rate from 42.2% last year to 54.3% this season. While McDaniel doesn’t have overpowering stuff, he certainly fits into the Giants big bucket of funky and intriguing bulk inning southpaws.
But McDaniel wasn’t the only undrafted pitcher to shine in this game, as RHP Ben Peterson earned the save with 2 no-hit innings, walking 1 and striking out 1. Like McDaniel, Peterson — who has a 1.80 ERA and a 3.15 FIP — has been tremendous with his control so far this year, with 13 strikeouts against just 2 walks in 10 innings. A fantastic start to his 2nd season for the 24-year old North Carolina alum.
It was a mild day on offense, but there were a pair of stars: first baseman Zander Darby and left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL). Darby continued his awesome season, hitting 1-3 with a beautiful home run and a strikeout.
💣 Darby Dinger! 💣@DarbyZander takes advantage of the wind blowing out and hits this baseball 434 feet to dead center field. Call him with all your insurance needs!#RootedHerepic.twitter.com/8T48jmEEtV
A 23-year old taken in the 12th round of the 2024 draft, Darby really struggled when he got to Eugene late last year, posting just a .489 OPS and a 45 wRC+ in 21 games … which came after a delightful .862 OPS and 136 wRC+ with Low-A San Jose. But he’s made the adjustments this year, and looks much more like the hitter who earned the promotion than the one who struggled with it. Through 19 games this year, Darby has a .892 OPS and a 147 wRC+. He’s still striking out too much … his rate is 29.9% this year, after 42.0% in Eugene last year, which followed a very good 18.4% rate in San Jose.
Darby’s a little bit of a fill-in-wherever option for the Ems, as he’s started at least 5 games at first, second, and third base this year. He’s not the highest-regarded prospect, but if he keeps hitting he’ll keep playing!
As for Gutierrez, he went 2-3 with a walk and a stolen base. That’s more like the Gutierrez we’ve grown accustomed to! The 21-year old lefty broke out last year with a high-contact approach — he had a .351 average and just a 13.7% strikeout rate, but with limited power with San Jose — but this year has flipped the script a little bit. He’s had more power than we’re used to, but with a lower batting average and higher strikeout rate. So this performance was nice to see, as it was a return to the norm!
Gutierrez is still settling into the level, as he has just a .215 average … but thanks to that increase in power and a 10.8% walk rate, he’s still hitting right at league average, with a .711 OPS and a 102 wRC+. He’s also up to 5 stolen bases on the year, without yet being caught.
Not very good days for the other high profile hitters in Eugene: center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) went 0-4 and struck out twice, lowering his OPS to .897 and his wRC+ to 147; shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) hit 0-2 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a strikeout, and now has a .756 OPS and a 109 wRC+; designated hitter Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) hit 1-4 with a double, but struck out 3 times and saw his OPS move to .683 and his wRC+ to 105; and third baseman Walker Martin went 0-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts, lowering his OPS to .780 and his wRC+ to 122.
Low-A San Jose (15-8)
San Jose Giants lost to the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) 9-8 Box score
A rough loss for the Baby Giants, who took an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, only to get walked off later that inning. Ouch!
The struggles began with RHP Cooper McGrath. Last year’s 18th-round pick cruised through the 8th inning, but couldn’t find the strike zone in the 9th, issuing a 4-pitch walk, a 5-pitch walk, and a hit batter (in a 3-ball count) to load the bases without an out.
He then gave way to RHP Alix Hernandez, who preceded to hit a batter, bringing in a run. After recording a strikeout, Hernandez allowed a run-scoring single, and then a sacrifice fly, before ceding a walk-off 3-run home run.
That’s a painful way to go out, and it raised McGrath’s ERA to 14.14 and his FIP to 11.29, and Hernandez’s to 5.06 and 4.99, respectively. After giving up no earned runs in his 1st 5 games of the year, Hernandez has allowed 3 runs in each of his past 2 games.
The bullpen collapse came after a decent start by RHP Jordan Gottesman. The team’s reigning 6th-round selection threw 50 of 73 pitches for strikes while giving up 5 hits (including a home run), 1 walk, and 2 earned runs in 4.2 innings, while striking out 4.
That’s not a great outing, but it’s a solid enough one, and it moved his ERA to 3.60, though his FIP sits at just 6.46. The long ball has been dooming the Northeastern product in his debut season, as he’s limited hitters to just 16 hits in 20 innings … but 4 of them have cleared the fence.
San Jose had a funny day on offense, netting 8 runs without recording an extra-base hit. You don’t see that very often … in fact, I looked it up out of curiosity, and the last time the Major League team did that was 1979!
A trio of hitters had really nice games though: right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL), catcher Junior Barajas, and left fielder Damian Bravo.
Maldonado hit 2-4 with a sacrifice fly and a stolen base, moving his OPS to 1.107 and his wRC+ to 166, with 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts. Last year’s 7th-round pick has come back to earth following his other-worldly week of baseball destruction, but is still having one of the best seasons on the farm this year. Barajas hit 3-5, which raised last year’s 11th-round pick’s OPS to .940 and his wRC+ to 134. And Bravo, a 15th-round pick a year ago, went 1-3 with 2 walks, a stolen base, and a strikeout, boosting his OPS to .867 and his wRC+ to 112, with 2 stolen bases in as many attempts.
Sacramento: 5:35 p.m. PT at Salt Lake (SP: TBD) Richmond: 8:05 a.m. PT at Altoona (SP: Joe Whitman) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Tyler Switalski) San Jose: 6:35 p.m. PT at Visalia (SP: TBD)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: Collin Gillespie #12 & Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns hug before the game against the Golden State Warriors during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the offseason officially underway for the Phoenix Suns, discussion on offseason plans will begin to run rampant over the next few weeks. Many have already started with fake trade proposals, and we will explore that here, too, but not today.
Instead, we will discuss the recent tweet from known Suns insider John Gambadoro, as he said this early this morning (for us East Coast people) and late last night for Suns fans.
I would expect the Suns top priorities this offseason to be 1. Retaining Collin Gillespie 2. Retaining Jordan Goodwin
Gambadoro stated that two of the Suns’ four free agents should be top priorities to retain. Those would be Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin. This would make sense for the Suns as both players were key pieces to the new culture and identity Phoenix wants to present, and both were hidden gems for the franchise as well.
Gillespie coming from the Denver Nuggets on a two-way deal and then Jordan Goodwin being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers allowed the Suns to get this dynamic duo. Early this week, I wrote about Collin Gillespie’s exit interviews, in which he stated that he and the franchise knew he wanted to be back in Phoenix next year. So hearing the news from Gambadoro is not much of a surprise, but the other name is nice to see as well.
As I stated earlier, Goodwin came over from the Lakers after being waived and had to compete for his roster spot at the beginning of the year against Jared Butler. He ended up winning that battle, and, luckily for both parties, that was a great benefit. Goodwin had a career year in his return to the Valley, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41/37/70 in almost 23 minutes per game.
He had a career-high 6 threes in one contest vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, allowing them to win that game while also being a key disruptor on the defensive end for Phoenix. His energy and hustle also earned him the Dan Majerle Hustle Award, which he was definitely the most deserving of. Goodwin would always throw his body on the line to make a winning play, and Jordan Ott fell in love with that from the get-go.
For Goodwin retaining him, like Gillespie, makes sense for the Suns, as he fits everything this team stands for and has carved out bigger roles for himself with this franchise. Both will have a market in free agency, but with the Suns knowing how much they mean to the core, it would make sense for them to come back on long-term deals.
Now, there is another free agent that Gambo mentioned as well, and that was Mark Williams.
I do believe retaining Mark Williams is something the Suns would like to do so not having him in my top two priorities is NOT me saying he won't be back since so many of you are commenting on this. I do think he will be back. Just believe Collin and Jordan are the 2 most… https://t.co/Ha893NcwiQ
It seems Williams is still on the Suns’ priority list, and that is a good sign. Even if Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach may be the future of this frontcourt, Williams is a great starter who can still help bridge the gap for the young bigs next year. The one issue the Suns may run into with him, though, is that he is a restricted free agent.
This allows the Suns to match any offer the team makes to Williams, unlike with Gillespie and Goodwin, but it also means a team could price the Suns out to secure him. That being said, last year, most restricted free agents did not get long-term deals; many just received the qualifying offer. Will Williams get that? I don’t think so. Even if he was injured for the last third of the season, he did play a career-high 60 games and was a nice change of pace for Phoenix in the front court. He will find himself with Phoenix, a team friend who also makes sure he can still develop here long term.
Phoenix likes most of its pieces and will retain their major features. Does that mean there are things they do not need to address? No, they will find a larger size, but it also shows that this internal development still has some ways to go. It’s exciting to see the team sticking together and buying back into a winning culture.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Drew Time #11 and Bronny James #9 of the South Bay Lakers smiles during the gameduring the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Change is coming to the Lakers’ G League team. The South Bay Lakers will become the Coachella Valley Lakers in 2026 as they move their games to Acrisure Arena.
The Lakers have had their G League team playing in South Bay since 2017, and before that, in 2006, they played at Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) before moving to El Segundo.
“Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization,” said Los Angeles Lakers President of Business Operations Lon Rosen. “The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades, from the Showtime Lakers holding training camp in the 1980s to more recent preseason games. We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment. Acrisure Arena is the perfect modern venue that provides an incredible fan-first experience, while ensuring players have the premium facilities and space they need on game day.”
There is no question that this is an upgrade for the Coachella Valley Lakers. This past season, they played games at the UCLA Health and Training Center, which is essentially the Lakers’ practice facility. While there were advantages to having them play near and around the main team, they couldn’t even seat 1,000 people during games.
Now, at Acrisure Arena, they can have as many as 11,000 people attending G League matchups.
In a press release, Acrisure Arena Senior Vice President John Page shared his enthusiasm for this partnership.
“Opportunities like this are simply not possible without the support and assistance of incredible partners,” said Acrisure Arena Senior Vice President John Page. “We would like to recognize the efforts put forth by Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and Visit Greater Palm Springs, who have worked in conjunction with Oak View Group, the Lakers organization and many others in order to welcome the G League to our town. We look forward to expanding upon our growing connection to the sports community with the addition of this storied franchise.”
The Lakers have already had a relationship with Acrisure Arena. LA played against Phoenix at the stadium for a preseason game, and clearly, that was a positive experience.
In a statement released to the press, Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff talked about the connection he has had with the most powerful members of the Lakers organization, including Jeanie Buss, Linda Rambis and Rosen.
“I have enjoyed a long-time relationship with Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Lon Rosen and Linda Rambis,” said Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff. “And I am beyond thrilled to have the Coachella Valley Lakers call OVG’s Acrisure Arena their home. Go Lakers.”
The Lakers have had plenty of success developing talent in the G League.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks celebrates a three point basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A 3–2 series is maybe the trickiest one to gauge in sports. One team clearly has the advantage of needing to win just one of the remaining two games, and if said team was the winner of Game Five, as the Knicks were, then their confidence is likely high. But New York will be heading into an Atlanta arena that should be more hostile than Games Three and Four, which saw their fair share of Knicks fans. Not to mention the Hawks are also playing with their season on the line, making it the hardest game of the series to win. Despite having a one-game lead in the series, it oddly feels close to a must-win, seeing as a loss tonight means a Game Seven, where anything can happen.
That being said, the momentum and stats do side with the Knicks. Outside of the fourth quarter in a blowout Knicks win, and the second and third quarters of an even bigger blowout in Game Five, the Knicks have comfortably won each quarter. Not only have they won back-to-back games by 15+ points, they’ve outscored the Hawks by seven or more points in five of the last eight quarters. While starting guard Josh Hart is currently listed as questionable for tonight’s game, the Knicks have seemingly figured out how to slow down the Hawks’ offense while also solving the issues their defense caused.
It took close to 200 minutes of basketball longer than fans might have liked, but Mike Brown, Jalen Brunson, and the rest of the team have learned from their Game Two and Game Three transgressions and have arrived at a game plan that has been simple: take what the defense gives them and attack.
It’s hard to fathom what overtook them and their minds in their losses earlier, but it’s as if they were reminded that they are the more talented and more experienced team, and regardless of what the Hawks do, it’s on them to not shoot themselves in the foot. Atlanta is a capable team that deserves its flowers, but New York has a myriad of weapons it can use to dismantle its opponent.
Want to hone in on limiting Brunson? Play through Karl-Anthony Towns. Pivot and put Dyson Daniels on Towns? Let Brunson go to work. Face-guard both and pray? Look for OG Anunoby on the perimeter and let him knock down threes or attack closeouts. The Knicks currently have all the answers to what Quin Snyder and the Hawks have thrown at them.
But with how unpredictable the first round of this year’s playoffs has been, it would behoove the Knicks to continue putting their first-quarter struggles behind them and come out ready to match, if not exceed, the Hawks’ energy and fight. Regardless of Hart’s status, they must be prepared to withstand not just one or two, but multiple punches (theoretical, of course) from Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, McCollum, and anybody else capable of providing them with a memorable playoff spark. Doing so would not only advance them to the second round, but also serve as a statement game from a team that has repeatedly been labeled inconsistent and not good enough.
If Hart goes, expect an at-times ugly but gutsy performance from the wing. Other than that, I expect business as usual from Towns and Anunoby, who have continued to stand out as the two best players in the series. And while Brunson has had his share of ups and downs this series, the captain often saves his best for last. I’m predicting, and also hoping, he comes out just as patient, composed, and confident as he looked in Game Five to deliver another memorable performance. Manifesting a double-digit win for a Knicks team that will struggle to put away the Hawks early, but come alive in the second quarter.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (3-2) at Atlanta Hawks (2-3) Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA TV: ESPN Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As a result of last night’s rainout, the Houston Astros (11-20) and Baltimore Orioles (15-15) will play a traditional doubleheader today at Camden Yards.
Game Two:RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will make his 6th start of the season of the season as he takes on Orioles RHP Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53 ERA).
TODAY’S GM 2 STARTER: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will make his 7th career start and 9th overall app. vs. BAL in Game 2. He is 3-0 in his career vs. the O’s with a 3.34 ERA (13ER/35IP) and 41 strikeouts.
Déjà Vu: McCullers pitched in relief in Game 2 of the last doubleheader between HOU and BAL, which was on Sept. 29, 2018 at Camden Yards (0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 SO).
Last Start: Prior to today, McCullers last start was on Friday vs. NYY (5 IP, 5 ER).
Innings Milestone: McCullers needs just 0.2 IP to reach 800.0 for his career.
Fun Fact: He and his father, Lance McCullers Sr., were both the 41st overall pick in their respective MLB Drafts (1982 and 2012). Lance Sr. pitched 7 seasons in the Major Leagues
DOUBLEHEADER INFO: Today will be the first doubleheader for the Astros since July 21, 2022 at home vs. NYY, which resulted in an Astros sweep of the Bronx Bombers. That DH was scheduled as a result of the delay to the start of the 2022 season due to the work stoppage.
Doubleheaders are a rarity at Daikin Park since the Astros have a roof.
The Astros last doubleheader played vs. BAL was Sept. 29, 2018 at Camden Yards, which also resulted in an Astros sweep. In Game 2 of that DH, today’s Game 2 starter, RHP Lance McCullers Jr., hurled 0.2 scoreless in relief, earning a hold in the Astros 5-2 win.
VS. THE O’S: Today’s doubleheader will wrap up this 3-game series vs. the Orioles.
The Astros were 4-3 vs. BAL in 2025 with a 3-1 mark here at Camden Yards, Aug. 21-24. The two clubs will next meet for a 3-game set at Daikin Park, July 17-19.
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY: To Phil Garner, who would have turned 77 years old today.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1982 – At Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburth, Phil Garner hits a 3-run HR on his 33rd birthday to help defeat the Pirates, 4-3. Garner, who was voted into the Astros Hall of Fame earlier this month, had played for the Pirates (1977-81) prior to being traded to HOU on Aug. 31, 1981.
1979 – At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Terry Puhl’s 2-run HR in the top of the 9th lifted the Astros to a 6-5, comeback win over the Cardinals. The Astros had entered the 9th, trailing, 4-2. Puhl’s HR capped a dramatic, 4-run 9th-inning rally.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 30 minutes after completion of Game 1
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
NEW YORK (AP) — Moussa Diabaté of the Charlotte Hornets was announced Thursday as the NBA’s Hustle Award winner for this season.
Unlike most of the year’s awards, this one was not done by voting. The NBA uses a ranking system that takes nine stats into account — offensive box outs, defensive box outs, screen assists, contested 2-pointers, contested 3-pointers, offensive loose balls recovered, defensive loose balls recovered, deflections and charges taken.
Diabaté ranked 11th or better among qualifying players leaguewide in six of those categories. He also posted career-high numbers in several categories, including points (7.9), rebounds (8.7) and assists (1.9) per game.
Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels was second, Golden State’s Draymond Green — last season’s Hustle winner — was third, Memphis’ Cedric Coward was fourth and New York’s Josh Hart was fifth.
This was the 10th season that the award has been handed out.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: John Wall talks to the media before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks on January 29, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Sabina Shysh/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Kentucky basketball star and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall has been named president of basketball operations at Howard University, returning to Washington, D.C., in a major leadership role, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Howard officials confirmed the partnership, which positions Wall at the helm of one of the nation’s top HBCU basketball programs. Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft after one season at Kentucky, played for the Washington Wizards from 2010-20 and now transitions to a front-office role focused on program building.
The idea reportedly began on January 31 when Wall served as Howard’s honorary captain for a game and expressed interest in eventually taking on a basketball operations position at the professional or collegiate level.
In his new role, Wall is already involved in roster evaluation, transfer portal decisions, recruiting discussions, NIL strategy, revenue-sharing planning, and player mentorship. School officials say he will help shape the long-term vision of the program.
Many fans around Kentucky basketball had hoped Wall might eventually take on a similar leadership or advisory role in Lexington after Mark Pope’s arrival, but that has not materialized heading into Year 3 of Pope’s tenure. Across college basketball, programs such as Duke with Jayson Tatum and Davidson with Stephen Curry have incorporated former stars into staff or advisory roles, reflecting a growing trend.
It will be interesting to see if Pope eventually gets a full-time GM and whether he brings in a former player for a similar position to what Wall and others have taken at their alma maters.
The Atlanta Hawks have not only squandered a 2-1 series lead, but they have been blown out in the last two games against the New York Knicks.
Those routs create rather distinct Atlanta doubt in these Knicks vs. Hawks player props and NBA picks on Thursday, April 30.
Best Knicks vs Hawks props for Game 6
Player
Pick
Karl-Anthony Towns
Over 12.5 rebounds
+102
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Under 17.5 points
-112
CJ McCollum
Under 3.5 assists
-130
Game 6 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds
+102 at bet365
The best-shooting center in NBA history has not lost his shot, not by any means. Karl-Anthony Towns has gone 8-of-17 from deep in this series, 47.1%. But taking only 3.4 shots from beyond the arc per game is a worry both for Towns and for the New York Knicks.
More worrying, Towns has taken only eight three-pointers in the last three games. Then again, he has snagged double-digit rebounds in each of the last three games.
Towns recognizes this is the rare matchup where his best advantage comes not on the perimeter against a sluggish big, but in the frontcourt against the undersized Atlanta Hawks. Grabbing 13.7 rebounds per game in the last three games emphasizes that edge.
Game 6 Prop #2: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Under 17.5 points
-112 at bet365
Even when the Hawks were leading this series, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was not pouring in the points. The Most Improved Player of The Year has not cleared this prop yet in five games in this series.
Even when Alexander-Walker went a combined 9-of-19 from beyond the arc in Games 4 and 5, he still scored only 15 and 16 points.
NAW averaged 15.3 shots per game this regular season. That has fallen to 12.6 per game in this series.
Some of that is a credit to Alexander-Walker; he is more focused defensively than on getting his own shot. But regardless of the reason, the drop has not been properly accounted for by oddsmakers.
Game 6 Prop #3: CJ McCollum Under 3.5 assists
--130 at bet365
Perhaps CJ McCollum caught the Knicks by surprise? That would obviously be reprehensible from the New York coaching staff, given McCollum is one of the best shooting guards of his generation and has always been ready to score 30 points on no notice. But perhaps?
He opened the series averaging 27 points per game while taking 20.3 shots per game through the first three games, when Atlanta opened up a 2-1 series lead.
But now that the Knicks coaching staff has been faced with a harsh reminder of his abilities, it is emphasizing getting the ball out of McCollum’s hands. He took only 25 shots total in the last two games.
One might think that leads to assists, but the ball is simply not finding any openings via McCollum. He dished out three assists in Game 4 and then just one in Game 5. Across this whole series, he has cleared this modest prop only once and has averaged 2.4 assists per game.
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Celtics
76ers
OG Anunoby
Nickeil Alexander-Walker