With obstacles still to clear, SEC football coaches are pushing for Big Ten schedule agreement that could boost College Football Playoff bids.
Several Big Ten ADs wouldn’t support ‘5+11’ CFP format if SEC keeps 8-game conference schedule: Sources
The 5+11 model and a previous "4-4-2-2-1+3" model are the formats under the most consideration.
Here's Why Oilers' Clutch Player Needs To Be A Free-Agent Target For Sabres
In their current playoff push, the Edmonton Oilers have received contributions from throughout the lineup. But one player -- albeit a currently-injured player -- is someone the Buffalo Sabres ought to be targeting when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
We're talking about Oilers right winger Connor Brown, who's been out of action since absorbing a huge hit from Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Petrovic in Game 3. But prior to that, Brown was one of Edmonton's best secondary scoring options, posting five goals and eight points in 14 playoff games this year. The 31-year-old doesn't appear on many highlight reels, but his grit and drive makes him one of the Oilers' more valuable components -- and he's doing it on the cheap, earning only $1-million this season.
With his terrific and timely play, Brown -- who generated 13 goals and 30 points in 82 regular-season games this year -- may be pricing himself out of Edmonton after this season concludes. Since the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him 156th-overall in 2012, Brown has bounced around the NHL, playing for the Buds, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and Oilers. And in five of his nine seasons, Brown has posted at least 13 goals -- and in two seasons, he's put up at least 20 goals. So while he's not going to break the bank by any means, Brown has shown enough to get a healthy raise on a new contract this summer.
As a Toronto native, Brown might decide to play closer to home next year -- and that's where the Sabres should pounce. If Buffalo gave him the security of, say, a three-year contract around $2-millon per season, that might just be enough to convince Brown to play for the Sabres. We're not suggesting there's going to be a bidding war per se for Brown's services, but he's shown more than enough in this current post-season to deserve a serious bump in pay.
Brown's experience, versatility and quiet leadership would serve the Sabres very well. Given that it's going to be difficult for Buffalo to attract high-end UFAs, putting their energy into wooing Brown is the type of move that could pay off for both the player and the team next season. And being part of an on-the-rise Sabres team might prove to be very appealing for Brown.
Canucks' Upcoming Free Agent Should Be A Target For Sabres This SummerThe Buffalo Sabres have a lot of salary cap space to spend this summer -- and a Vancouver Canucks star should be firmly in the sights of Sabres management.
He has been undervalued in the past, but Brown's rising profile in the current post-season means those days are coming to an end. He's earned the attention he's going to get on the open market at the end of the season, and he's exactly the type of role player Buffalo needs more of.
Brown may ultimately decide to stay with the Oilers -- especially if they win the Stanley Cup this year -- but if he is looking to get paid, the Sabres should be pushing toward the front of the line and doing a hard sell on what relative riches and opportunity awaits him in Western New York. Role players bring their unique skill sets to teams, and Brown's above-average capabilities would look particularly good if he were in a Sabres uniform.
Former Golden Knights' Forward Reportedly Open To Trade From New Team
Jonathan Marchessault shocked the hockey world when he signed a five-year, $5.5M contract with the Nashville Predators, leaving the Vegas Golden Knights organization and ending the most successful era of his career.
When Marchessault left the Golden Knights, he left as a Stanley Cup Champion, a Conn Smythe Winner, the franchise leader in goals and points and the most decorated player in franchise history.
His first season with the Predators went south quickly, both for him and the organization. The Predators finished the season in 29th place in the NHL and were never in contention to make the playoffs. Personally, Marchessault scored 21 goals and 56 points, a step down in production from recent seasons. During his time with the Golden Knights, the 34-year-old was an effective 5-on-5 player, but with the Predators, that all disappeared.
Many analysts and fans believe the Predators could be playoff contenders again this season, but as it stands, Marchessault doesn't want to wait for possibilities; he wants to be on a playoff-contending team again.
The Daily Faceoff's Frank Servalli said during his show that he believes Marchessault would be open to a trade and that in a perfect world, he'd like to go home and join the Montreal Canadiens.
“I think in a perfect world, he would love to go to the Montreal Canadiens & go home. I don’t know how open they are to that, given the term on his deal. But you can see him helping a pretty good offence already to take that next step. He seems like a true Marty St. Louis type player, doesn’t he?”
The Canadiens made the playoffs for the first time since the start of their rebuild, losing in the first round to the Washington Capitals. Marchessault would be a great addition to a young core that consists of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky.
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Jonathan Marchessault Anticipates Having 'Tears Just Dripping Down His Face' During Video Tribute From Golden KnightsJonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith talk often.
The Series Of Events That Have Followed Jonathan Marchessault's Departure From The Golden KnightsDrama has followed since Jonathan Marchessault's departure from the Golden Knights with different truths coming from the different parties involved.
Duke’s ACC slate announced
Blue Devils will play UNC and Louisville twice but miss out on game against Miami USA Today Sports Duke will play North Carolina and Louisville twice in the upcoming men’s basketball season, the ACC announced Wednesday afternoon.
Former Head Coach Mike Sullivan Sends Heartfelt Message To Penguins' Fans
On Apr. 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with a head coach who had been leading the team for a decade. And although Mike Sullivan was subsequently hired by the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh will always hold a special place for him.
And he sent the Pittsburgh faithful a heartfelt message on Wednesday.
On a billboard in the Pittsburgh area, Sullivan posted a message to Pittsburgh that read, "Thank you, Pittsburgh. Cup Family is forever."
To: Pittsburgh
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 28, 2025
🖤💛 Sully pic.twitter.com/mTsTaEkdgp
Sullivan was at the helm for Pittsburgh from 2015-2025 and led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. He left Pittsburgh as the Penguins' all-time leader in wins. In 835 games with Pittsburgh - including the regular season and the playoffs - Sullivan was 453-293-89 (.543 win percentage). That puts him at 15th all-time for wins with a single franchise.
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Griffin Canning struggles, bats go quiet as Mets fall to White Sox, 9-4
The Mets couldn't complete the series sweep, falling to the Chicago White Sox by a score of 9-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field.
Here are the key takeaways...
-Griffin Canning had an outing to forget. The right-hander struggled with his command, walking four hitters while throwing just 44 of his 80 pitches for strikes, and the White Sox capitalized when they had traffic on the bases, with Andrew Benintendi and Mike Tauchman each driving in a pair of runs in the first two innings to give Chicago a 4-0 lead.
Canning lasted just 3.0 innings, and while the defense behind him wasn’t always strong (Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil committed back-to-back errors in the second inning), the right-hander allowed three earned runs, and five runs overall, striking out three to go along with those four walks.
-Offensively, the Mets had a couple of base-runners on in the first and second, but failed to take advantage against Chicago righty Shane Smith. In the third, however, after back-to-back walks from Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto, Mark Vientos came through with two outs, slamming a three-run home run to right to bring the Mets back within two at 5-3.
Vientos' sixth homer of the season was the big blow against Smith, who lasted 3.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits while walking five and striking out five.
-Brandon Waddell gave the Mets some needed outs after Canning's shortened start, but he seemed to be running out of gas in the sixth, which was his third inning of work. Another Benintendi RBI hit and a Lenyn Sosa RBI knock put the Sox up 7-3. Waddell then came back out for a fourth inning, allowing another run before his afternoon came to a close.
Waddell ended up saving the bullpen by going 5.0 innings, throwing 94 pitches while allowing four earned runs on seven hits.
-Mike Vasil, who was at one point the Mets’ top pitching prospect, pitched the sixth inning for Chicago. An eighth-round pick in 2021, Vasil was a Rule 5 pick by the Phillies after the Mets didn’t protect him on the roster. He eventually ended up with Chicago this offseason, and pitching against his former organization on Wednesday he struck out five over 3.0 scoreless innings.
-Nimmo had two of the Mets' five hits, and he reached base four times. Nimmo scored the Mets' fourth run of the day in the ninth inning on a Pete Alonso RBI double.
Who was the game MVP?
Benintendi, who homered off Waddell in the eighth and had four RBI on the day.
Highlights
Mark Vientos gets the Mets right back in the game with a three-run shot! pic.twitter.com/eTh2a9a6aH
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 28, 2025
"BATY! BEAUTY!"
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 28, 2025
What a play for the final out of the inning by Brett Baty 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IoICzEtZiU
Pete Alonso with an RBI double
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 28, 2025
He has tied Howard Johnson for fourth place on the Mets' all-time RBI list pic.twitter.com/IOzSvF8s5c
Upcoming Schedule
The Mets are off on Thursday before welcoming the Colorado Rockies to Citi Field for a three-game weekend set, starting on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.
David Peterson starts for the Mets, while the Rockies have not yet announced a starter.
O'Connor: Stevens should take page out of Ainge's playbook
O'Connor: Stevens should take page out of Ainge's playbook originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has had to make some tough decisions since replacing Danny Ainge in 2021. This upcoming offseason, however, is shaping up to be his most challenging yet.
Restrictive second-apron penalties will force Stevens and the C’s to make noteworthy roster changes this summer. Boston, which is currently $20 million over the threshold, must decide whether to attempt to “thread the needle” with tweaks to its championship core or undergo a full reboot.
Will Stevens channel his inner “Trader Danny”? Yahoo Sports’ NBA insider Kevin O’Connor made the case for Stevens to maximize his players’ trade value this offseason.
“I think back to Danny Ainge,” O’Connor told co-hosts Drew Carter and Chris Forsberg on NBC Sports Boston’s The OffC’season special. “Danny Ainge, what did he do when he traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets? Two things: A, he traded them before they fell off a cliff. Before they aged out and before they were near retirement. And B, he took advantage of a completely desperate franchise in the Brooklyn Nets. That’s why they got Jayson Tatum, that’s why they got Jaylen Brown, that’s why they had 10 straight years of making the playoffs and why they won a Finals.”
Of course, Pierce was 35 and past his prime when he and the Celtics parted ways. Kevin Garnett was 36 and his best days were well behind him.
Boston’s most valuable trade chips, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, are 29 and 31, respectively. Both are in the prime of their careers.
Trading oft-injured 30-year-old big man Kristaps Porzingis or 35-year-old guard Jrue Holiday seems more realistic, though O’Connor wouldn’t take anything off the table if another general manager calls Stevens with an enticing offer.
“For Stevens, he needs to find the most desperate team,” O’Connor added. “Whether that means Brown or White, or whether it means (Kristaps) Porzingis as an expiring salary, or whether it means Jrue Holiday as the final piece for the Dallas Mavericks and Nico Harrison’s vision. Whatever it is, finding the most desperate team to get the best value back based off of how you perceive your own player.
“That could be a lot of pain. It might mean trading Derrick White. But if the Warriors are going to give you a Mikal Bridges type of deal — like four, five first-round picks — how do you say no? You can’t say no.”
Holiday has already been connected to the Mavericks in trade rumors, and the Warriors have reportedly “looked into” White as a potential option. O’Connor notes White especially as someone who could bring back a massive haul for the Celtics.
No matter what direction Stevens chooses, all signs point toward an uncomfortable offseason in Boston. The championship window may not be closed, but the window to win it all again with the 2024 core almost certainly has.
Watch the full “OffC’Season” episode below or on YouTube:
Caitlin Clark cleared to return Saturday against Liberty
After five games on the sidelines, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark has been freed from her de facto "assistant coach" role. Friday afternoon, the Indiana Fever announced that Clark has been cleared to play in Saturday's game against the undefeated New York Liberty.
she's back
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 13, 2025
Caitlin Clark is ready to play tomorrow against New York. pic.twitter.com/tOfuyfF99M
Check out Rotoworld’s newly-launched WNBA Player News section, the best place to keep up to date with transactions, injuries, and game results around the W this season!
How did Caitlin Clark get injured?
The Fever announced on May 26 thatClark would be out for at least two weeks with a strained left quadriceps muscle. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year has gotten off to a good start to her second season, averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.8 three-pointers in 34.9 minutes.
The exact timing of Clark's injury is unknown. She dealt with a left leg injury during the preseason, sitting out Indiana's May 3 opener against the Washington Mystics. However, that was the first of two games in as many days for the Fever, who face Brazil's national team in Iowa City the following day. Clark was on the floor for her "homecoming," playing 19 minutes and finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, one blocked shot and four three-pointers in the blowout victory. Clark also played 23 minutes in Indiana's preseason finale against the Atlanta Dream on May 10.
Fever coach Stephanie White said during her availability on May 27 that this injury is not related to the leg issue that Clark dealt with during the preseason. Clark played 38 minutes in Indiana's two-point loss to the Liberty on May 24 and would then undergo an MRI on her quad. The strain would be discovered then, sidelining the point guard for at least two weeks.
How many games did Caitlin Clark miss?
While the initial timeline announced by the Fever meant Clark would miss a minimum of four games, she would miss five. The fifth was Indiana's 77-58 loss to Atlanta on June 10, dropping the Fever to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in Commissioner's Cup competition. The good news for Indiana is that it is still in second place in the East in the cup competition, with New York boasting a 3-0 record ahead of Saturday's matchup.
While New York (+75) would still hold a decided advantage over the Fever (+17) in the point differential category, an Indiana victory would tighten up the race for the top spot in the East.
Who filled in for Caitlin Clark?
When Clark was injured, Fever coach Stephanie White moved veteran guard Sydney Colson into the starting lineup. In the five games she started, Colson averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 assists in 21.4 minutes. Also, she was injured during Indiana's May 30 loss to Connecticut, but did not miss any time beyond the remainder of that contest.
Alsosuffering an injury during Clark's absence was reserve guard Sophie Cunningham, who sprained her right ankle for the second time this season during the aforementioned loss to the Sun. Clark has not appeared in a game since and will not be available for Saturday's game against New York.
The player who benefited the most from Clark's injury was Aari McDonald, who was signed on a hardship exemption on June 1. In three appearances, the 2021 first-round pick averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 three-pointers in 25.3 minutes, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from the foul line.
Indiana won two of the three games McDonald played in, with the lone defeat being Tuesday's loss to Atlanta. Clark's return moved Indiana back to 10 game-eligible players, meaning that McDonald had to be released in a corresponding move. Her brief stint with the Fever may be enough to get McDonald a look from another WNBA team soon.
UPDATED 2025 WNBA MVP ODDS
(from DraftKings Sportsbook)
Napheesa Collier: -330
Caitlin Clark: +400
A’ja Wilson: +3000
Breanna Stewart: +3500
A look at the Panthers' Cup Final history as they make a 3rd straight appearance
A look at the Panthers' Cup Final history as they make a 3rd straight appearance originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Stanley Cup Final will feature the Florida Panthers for a third straight year.
The defending champion Panthers on Wednesday secured their third consecutive Eastern Conference title, booking yet another trip to the NHL‘s championship round in the process.
Florida, the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, needed five games to take down the Metro’s No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. It was the second time in three years that the Panthers defeated the Hurricanes in the conference final, previously sweeping them in 2023.
The Panthers, who also eliminated the Atlantic’s No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning and No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2025 playoffs, are just the seventh team since the start of the expansion era (1967-68 season) to reach at least three straight Cup Finals.
They now will battle for Lord Stanley against the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Central’s No. 2 Dallas Stars and Pacific’s No. 3 Edmonton Oilers. And a second straight Cup Final triumph would put Florida in an exclusive group of repeat winners.
So, before the championship round gets underway, here’s what to know about the Panthers’ history in the Cup Final:
How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Florida Panthers made?
Florida is making its fourth appearance in the Cup Final since the franchise’s 1993-94 debut season.
How many Stanley Cup championships do the Florida Panthers have?
The Panthers won their first-ever championship last year in historic fashion, becoming just the third team since the start of the expansion era to go from Stanley Cup runners-up to winners. After losing the 2023 Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida outlasted the Oilers in a roller-coaster 2024 Cup Final to capture the franchise’s first title.
The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Oilers won three straight elimination games. But Florida took the decisive Game 7 at home by a score of 2-1, with a second-period goal from Sam Reinhart being the difference.
How many NHL teams have made three straight Stanley Cups?
As previously mentioned, the Panthers are just the seventh team since the start of the expansion era to appear in at least three straight Cup Finals. The last team to do so was the Lightning from the 2020-22 postseasons. Tampa Bay won it all in 2020and 2021 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Cup Final.
The record for consecutive Cup Final appearances since the start of the expansion era is five, achieved by the New York Islanders from 1980-84. The Isles won four straight titles before falling to the Oilers in the 1984 Cup Final.
Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup Final appearances
Here’s a look at the Panthers’ three previous Cup Final results:
- 2024: Beat Edmonton Oilers in seven games
- 2023: Lost to Vegas Golden Knights in five games
- 1996: Lost to Colorado Avalanche in four games
Where is the Florida Panthers’ stadium?
The Panthers’ home stadium, Amerant Bank Arena, is in Sunrise, Florida, roughly 35 miles north of Miami.
Who is the Florida Panthers’ captain?
This is the seventh season that center Aleksander Barkov has donned the “C” on his sweater for Florida. Barkov, the second overall pick of the Panthers in 2013, is the franchise leader in games played, goals, assists and points.
Who is the Florida Panthers’ head coach?
Paul Maurice has overseen the entirety of Florida’s current three-year Cup Final streak, taking over behind the bench starting in the 2022-23 campaign. The Panthers sport a .610 regular-season winning percentage over Maurice’s tenure.
The 58-year-old has 29 years of NHL head coaching experience, with previous stops in Hartford, Carolina, Toronto and Winnipeg. Maurice coached the Hurricanes to the 2022 Cup Final.
Dodgers' bullpen melts down in eighth inning as trip ends with loss to Guardians
Given the shorthanded state of the Dodgers’ current pitching staff, losses like Wednesday are the ones that hurt the most.
Seeking to end their East Coast trip with a three-game sweep against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field, the Dodgers got a productive five-inning, one-run start out of Clayton Kershaw in his third outing back from offseason foot and knee surgeries.
They had a late-game lead on a day an ominous rainy forecast never came to fruition.
Most of all, they had most of their top current relievers available, able to call upon names they trusted over the final few innings.
Such a perfect alignment has been rare for the Dodgers lately. Which means, when it does come around, “we've got to win these games,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Instead, the Dodgers lost 7-4 to the Guardians on Wednesday, wasting Kershaw’s five-inning outing with a five-run meltdown in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Struggling closer Tanner Scott gave up the inning’s first two runs on three ground ball singles and a walk, squandering a 4-2 lead for his fifth blown save of the season. Left-hander Alex Vesia then yielded the deciding blow, serving up a three-run blast to Angel Martínez to drop the Dodgers to a 3-3 record on this New York-Cleveland swing.
“It's sour in the sense of, you win the first two [games of this series] and you catch a lead going into the eighth inning,” Roberts said. “You feel good about the game. I thought we did enough to win. But unfortunately that eighth inning got away from us."
And quickly, at that.
Leading 4-2 entering the frame, Scott took the mound for his second inning of work, Roberts seeking an up-down outing from his recently up-and-down closer.
Scott’s appearance had started well, with the left-hander striking out Gabriel Arias to escape a jam he inherited in the seventh inning.
But, in what became his third rough outing out of the last five, he failed to limit damage as a threat began to brew.
Jhonkensy Noel led off the frame with a ground ball up the middle, after second baseman Kiké Hernández got to it in the hole but had no chance to make a throw. Will Wilson followed that with a spinning three-hopper up the third base line, its awkward bounce off the edge of the infield grass tripping up Max Muncy for another infield single.
Read more:Max Muncy, Michael Conforto come alive on offense as Dodgers defeat Guardians
Scott hurt his own cause from there, walking Daniel Schneemann in a left-on-left matchup to load the bases.
And though he fanned Austin Hedges for the first out of the inning, Nolan Jones hit a one-out roller that found a hole through the left side of a shifted infield. Two runs came around to score. A lead the Dodgers had held since the fourth inning had suddenly evaporated.
“I think at the crux is, when you get count leverage, we're just not able to put guys away with the strikeout,” Roberts said of Scott, who had Jones to two strikes before throwing a slider that caught the outer edge of the plate.
“Leaving middle spin sliders in the zone for them to put the ball in play, I think that when you do that, sometimes the ball finds holes or some outfield grass,” Roberts added. “It's something that we've seen all year. There's great strike-throwing, getting count leverage. But just that last pitch to put guys away … That's what we've got to kind of unlock and be consistent with.”
The final blow came in the next at-bat, when Vesia entered the game and quickly fell behind 2-and-0 to Martínez. Vesia tried to get back in the count with a fastball up in the zone. Martínez instead delivered a knockout blow, belting a three-run homer to left to complete the Guardians’ five-run rally.
“Tried to throw him two changeups and they were not very good, [and] the fastball was right down the middle,” Vesia said. “Just gotta be better in those situations.”
Two of the runs were credited to Scott, whose ERA ballooned to 4.62 just months removed from his $72-million signing with the team.
For Vesia, meanwhile, it marked the seventh home run he has surrendered this season, matching his full-season totals from each of the last two years.
“Just my misses have been bad,” Vesia said. “That’s pretty much it. Just gotta keep going and execute pitches a little bit better.”
The ending left Kershaw with a no-decision; despite him getting through five innings on a day he navigated traffic, limited damage and overcame what he called “some bad habits” in his delivery.
“I'm fighting some stuff mechanically,” said Kershaw, who gave up six hits and two walks while striking out only three. “I was able to make a few pitches here and there to get through five. But obviously wasn't pitching good enough to be able to stay in the game, which makes the bullpen have to throw more innings, and sometimes stuff like this happens.”
It also didn’t help that Kershaw’s last start on Friday in New York was shortened by a rain delay to just two innings, prompting an early hook from Roberts after just 74 pitches.
“I thought the last couple innings got a little bit better,” Roberts said, adding: “I felt at that point in time he did enough to help us win a game.”
That much, he did, the Dodgers leading 2-1 when Kershaw exited at the start of the sixth (in the fourth inning, Will Smith had an RBI double and Andy Pages an RBI single) and 4-1 by the seventh-inning stretch (Freddie Freeman had an RBI single in the sixth, before Hernández doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh).
Alas, right-handed Lou Trivino gave up one run in the bottom of the seventh before being relieved by Scott. And in the eighth, everything fell apart on a day the Dodgers — despite all their injury absences at the moment — seemed to be building momentum. “It's still a .500 road trip, which I think going into it we would have banked,” Roberts said. “But losing this one kind of how we did … we're not used to giving up games late as far as the bullpen. There's things that we've just got to keep kind of trying to figure out and get better."
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
When do the 2025 NBA Finals start? Here's the full schedule and how to watch
When do the 2025 NBA Finals start? Here's the full schedule and how to watch originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Oklahoma City Thunder are roaring into the 2025 NBA Finals.
Top-seeded Oklahoma City was crowned Western Conference champions Wednesday night with a Game 5 home rout of the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s the first conference title for the Thunder since the 2012 postseason and their second since relocating from Seattle to OKC in 2008-09.
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. enter the NBA Finals having lost just 18 total games across the regular season and postseason. The Thunder went 68-14 in the regular season, tying for the sixth-most victories in NBA history. They then swept the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies to open playoffs before outlasting three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in a seven-game battle.
Now, after eliminating the Anthony Edwards-led Wolves in five games, the Thunder sit one series victory away from securing their first championship in OKC. The franchise’s lone title was won in the 1979 Finalsby the Seattle SuperSonics.
OKC will need to get past either the No. 3 New York Knicks or No. 4 Indiana Pacers in order to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Indiana currently holds a commanding 3-1 series lead over New York in the Eastern Conference Finals.
So, when and where will the NBA Finals tip off? Here’s what to know:
Who has home-court advantage in the 2025 NBA Finals?
The Thunder will have home-court advantage in the NBA Finals regardless of opponent due to recording a superior regular-season record.
What is the format for the NBA Finals?
The NBA Finals are best-of-seven with a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Oklahoma City will host Games 1 and 2, along with the potential Games 5 and 7.
What day do the NBA Finals start?
The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 5.
2025 NBA Finals schedule
- Game 1: Knicks/Pacers at Thunder — Thursday, June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 2:Knicks/Pacers at Thunder — Sunday, June 8, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Thunder at Knicks/Pacers — Wednesday, June 11, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Thunder at Knicks/Pacers — Friday, June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 5 (if necessary):Knicks/Pacers at Thunder — Monday, June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Knicks/Pacers — Thursday, June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 7 (if necessary):Knicks/Pacers at Thunder — Sunday, June 22, 8 p.m. ET
What TV channel are the NBA Finals on?
All NBA Finals games will air on ABC.
Where to stream the NBA Finals live online
The action will also be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
Arturs Silovs' Sensational Spring Complicates The Vancouver Canucks' Goalie Picture
No matter where he’s playing, Arturs Silovs has a knack for bringing his best when the stakes are raised in springtime.
In 2023, he earned MVP honors at the IIHF World Championship by backstopping his native Latvia to its first-ever medal in tournament history. One year later, he stepped in for Thatcher Demko and helped the Vancouver Canucks advance to the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
This year, Silovs has been channeling peak Andrei Vasilevskiy while taking the AHL Abbotsford Canucks to their first-ever Western Conference final. In all three of the Canucks’ series wins so far, Silovs pitched a shutout in the deciding game of the series. He also shut out the Colorado Eagles to open the best-of-five Pacific Division championship, so he now boasts a 1.73 goals-against average and .936 save percentage to go along with his 8-3 playoff record so far.
It’s another extraordinary run, especially since Silovs didn’t play No. 1 AHL minutes this season. He spent a good amount of time in Vancouver while Thatcher Demko was sidelined but only got into 10 games and posted an underwhelming record of 2-6-1 with an .861 save percentage.
In Abbotsford, Silovs was 14-5-1 through 21 regular-season games, with a .908 save percentage. That was enough to earn him the nod over Nikita Tolopilo for Game 1 of the playoffs, and he hasn’t looked back.
While Silovs’ current star turn has been fantastic for Abbotsford, it creates a bit of a challenge for the parent club. At 24, he’ll no longer be waiver-exempt next season.
He may not have shown especially well at the NHL level last season, but with Silovs’ proven ability to heat up when the pressure rises and with a very reasonable cap hit of $850,000 for 2025-26, he may not sneak through waivers next fall.
Right now, the NHL Canucks are set in net with Demko and Kevin Lankinen — a solid pairing if Demko’s healthy. Lankinen signed a five-year contract extension in February and has a full no-move clause for his first two years. Demko has one year left on his current deal, which doesn’t carry trade protection.
At his season-ending media availability, Demko indicated he wants to stick around.
“I've always wanted to be a Canuck since Day 1. I want to be here,” he said. “I’d like to get an extension done to stay here.”
Demko is just one year removed from finishing as runner-up in Vezina Trophy voting. In April, he said he was “going into the summer healthy.”
If his injury woes are behind him, he could be a tempting trade chip as GM Patrik Allvin and hockey ops president Jim Rutherford embark on their stated mission of improving their forward group through the trade market, specifically targeting a second-line center. And that would make a full-time spot for Silovs in the fall.
Karlsson, Raty To Take Next Step
Two key Abbotsford forwards are also about to lose their waiver exemption.
Linus Karlsson will certainly draw interest, as he’s proving to be a clutch scorer. Through 12 playoff games, he’s tied for the AHL playoff lead with seven goals. Four of those came against Colorado, including the overtime-winner in Game 3 and a pair in the deciding Game 5.
Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2018 and acquired by the Canucks in a trade less than a year later, Karlsson still meets the criteria to qualify as an NHL rookie next season. He doesn’t turn 26 until November, two months after the rookie cut-off, and his four NHL games in 2023-24 and 23 games last year also keep him just under the bar.
Karlsson’s limited NHL experience means he’ll become a Group VI UFA unless he's re-signed by the Canucks before July 1.
Then there’s Aatu Raty, the key prospect who came back to Vancouver when Bo Horvat was dealt to the New York Islanders in 2023. He turns 23 in November but lost his rookie status last season, when he played 33 NHL games.
Raty is hard-working, versatile and strong on the faceoff dot. He’s had a little trouble scoring at the NHL level but did manage seven goals last season, while averaging just 10:39 a game in mostly a bottom-six role. He may not have the offensive upside to be the top-six pivot that the Canucks are looking for, but he’s a handy guy to have around.
Raty had three assists in five playoff games with Abbotsford before he was sidelined with an injury on May 3. He’ll be an RFA without arbitration rights this summer.
Defensive Depth
On the blueline, Canucks management has more flexibility with its young defense group, which has gotten much deeper over the last couple of years.
At 21, Elias ‘Junior’ Pettersson had cemented himself so solidly at the NHL level by the trade deadline that he was not even papered down to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. With 28 games played last season, he’s no longer considered a rookie, but he will still be waiver-exempt for two more seasons.
Victor Mancini, who turned 23 this week, was made AHL playoffs-eligible after being acquired as part of January’s J.T. Miller trade. He has dressed for all 12 of Abbotsford’s games, collecting five points, and will remain waiver exempt for another 39 games next season.
Beyond them, Vancouver’s next wave of young defense prospects includes 21-year-old Kirill Kudryavtsev and 20-year-olds Tom Willander and Sawyer Mynio.
A seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Kudryavtsev has been acquitting himself well in his first AHL post-season and didn’t look out of place in his two-game NHL cup of coffee in April. Mynio has been practicing with Abbotsford since his WHL season ended, and Willander will be ready to go next year after finally inking his entry-level deal on May 14.
Abbotsford’s best-of-seven conference final against the Texas Stars will be played in a 2-3-2 format. Game 1 goes Thursday (10 p.m. ET) at Abbotsford Centre.
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Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, fires 66 to clinch first career AJGA title
Charlie Woods wins first AJGA title by three shots
Tiger’s son shoots final-round 66 to claim victory
16-year-old finishes 15 under at Streamsong Resort
Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of golfing great Tiger Woods, earned his first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) win on Wednesday with a three-shot victory at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in Bowling Green, Florida.
Woods, playing in his fifth AJGA event, began the final round one shot behind overnight leader Luke Colton and mixed two bogeys with eight birdies for a six-under-par 66 on the Black Course at Streamsong Resort that brought him to 15 under on the week.
Continue reading...Former Canadiens Player Chooses Switzerland
It doesn’t seem like so long ago that Tomas Tatar was skating alongside Philip Danault and Brendan Gallagher as part of the Montreal Canadiens’ top line. Yet, that combination was split up during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs when Tatar was made a healthy scratch after producing just one point in five games.
The following offseason saw a wind of change blow over the Canadiens, after signing a significant extension with Gallagher, GM Marc Bergevin was unable to reach an agreement with Danault who chose to sign with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent, Jesperi Kotkaniemi was signed to an offer sheet by the Carolina Hurricanes, Shea Weber, Carey Price and Paul Byron were all dealing with serious injuries and Tatar wasn’t offered a new deal.
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Still, he landed on his feet, signing a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, after which he signed a one-year pact with the Colorado Avalanche. However, he was traded to the Seattle Kraken in December. At the end of the 2023-24 season, he signed a new one-year pact with the Devils to play what appears to be his last season in the NHL, as he has elected to sign a two-year contract with EV Zug.
If this is it for his NHL career, he can leave with his head held high. In 927 games, he gathered 227 goals and 269 assists for 496 points. Throughout three seasons, he played 198 games with the Canadiens, scoring 149 points for an average of 0.75 points per game, easily the best of his career. It’s a shame to see Tatar go so close to the 1,000-game milestone; one single season would have done it. However, he probably felt like he didn’t have enough left in the tank, after all, he could only muster 17 points in 74 games with the Devils last season.
In addition to his performance alongside Danault and Gallagher, Tatar will always be remembered as the player who gave Habs fans one of the most memorable memes associated with the team: a fan saying his name as if he were calling the game. It’s right up there with the “What?!?” lady from the 2018 draft.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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