Posts

Posted on

Where to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, April 6

The Denver Nuggets begin the final week of the NBA’s regular season with a key game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. The Nuggets are in position to overtake the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The teams are currently tied, but the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Trail Blazers are trying to hold onto the No. 8 seed and avoid having to win two games in the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.

  • Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (No. 4 in Northwest Division)

  • Denver Nuggets: 50-28 (No. 2 in Northwest Division)

  • Spread: Denver Nuggets -8.5

  • Moneyline: Denver Nuggets -350 / Portland Trail Blazers 280

  • Over/Under: 240.5

Posted on

FanDuel Refunds Home Run Bets Robbed by Jo Adell’s Heroics

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

FanDuel Sportsbook is paying bettors who were robbed of three home runs during Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell’s historic night of defense.

Adell snagged three balls headed over the fence, including one that sent him tumbling into the stands, during Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Key Takeaways

  • Adell caught three balls that were headed over the outfield wall and would’ve been home runs.

  • The underdog Angels won the game and the series against their division rivals.

  • FanDuel users received bonus bets instead of cash refunds.

FanDuel bettors experienced the same sinking feeling of despair that the Mariners did during Saturday’s unprecedented outcome.

On three occasions, a Seattle player appeared to have slammed a solo blast over the right field wall. That included last year’s MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth, and J.P. Crawford in the ninth. 

Player home runs are one of the most popular betting markets in MLB games. Prior to the contest, sportsbooks had home run odds for Raleigh (+215), Naylor (+425), and Crawford (+800), while the Mariners were -150 on the moneyline.

Anyone who bet $10 on each outcome individually would have won $174. Taking it a step further and parlaying all three outcomes with a $10 wager would’ve resulted in $1,478.42 in winnings.

While all home run tickets on the players mentioned above could have been graded as losses, FanDuel decided to refund customers with bonus bets. The sportsbook said that it had its customers' backs for a “once-in-a-lifetime situation” like the one that Adell found himself in the middle of.

The company did not say anything about refunding Mariners’ moneyline bets.

Bonus bets are not the same as cash refunds. They cannot be withdrawn or transferred to other sportsbooks, but they can be used to fund wagers placed at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Adell powers the Angels’ solid start

Adell wasn’t much of a factor on offense in Saturday’s win. He hit one single but did not get on base otherwise and did not score the only run of the game.

Despite that, his defensive performance earned praise from a legendary player who happened to have a close-up view of his outfield robberies. 

Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, who now works as a special assistant for the Angels, said that Adell probably played “the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.” 

He also claimed to have “blacked out” when Adell, with whom he spent time working on defense during spring training, fell into the stands clutching his third robbery.

The Angels carried the momentum from Saturday night’s thriller into the rubber match with the Mariners on Sunday, which ended 8-7 in their favor. Adell went 1-5 at the plate with an RBI and scored twice.

The Angels now sit at 5-5 on the season, one game behind the AL West-leading Houston Astros. The Mariners are 4-6 and two games out of first in the same division.

World Series and future odds

There are still more than 150 games left in the MLB regular season. Although the Angels have enjoyed a solid start, they still find themselves last in odds to win the AL West at FanDuel (+2700). The Mariners (+105) lead the odds board and are slightly ahead of the Astros (+230). 

World Series odds still heavily favor the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are already down to +200. The New York Yankees are second and first among all American League teams at +800, followed by the Mariners (+1100).

There are no odds for Adell to rob three home runs in another game.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

FanDuel Refunds Home Run Bets Robbed by Jo Adell’s Heroics

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

FanDuel Sportsbook is paying bettors who were robbed of three home runs during Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell’s historic night of defense.

Adell snagged three balls headed over the fence, including one that sent him tumbling into the stands, during Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Key Takeaways

  • Adell caught three balls that were headed over the outfield wall and would’ve been home runs.

  • The underdog Angels won the game and the series against their division rivals.

  • FanDuel users received bonus bets instead of cash refunds.

FanDuel bettors experienced the same sinking feeling of despair that the Mariners did during Saturday’s unprecedented outcome.

On three occasions, a Seattle player appeared to have slammed a solo blast over the right field wall. That included last year’s MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth, and J.P. Crawford in the ninth. 

Player home runs are one of the most popular betting markets in MLB games. Prior to the contest, sportsbooks had home run odds for Raleigh (+215), Naylor (+425), and Crawford (+800), while the Mariners were -150 on the moneyline.

Anyone who bet $10 on each outcome individually would have won $174. Taking it a step further and parlaying all three outcomes with a $10 wager would’ve resulted in $1,478.42 in winnings.

While all home run tickets on the players mentioned above could have been graded as losses, FanDuel decided to refund customers with bonus bets. The sportsbook said that it had its customers' backs for a “once-in-a-lifetime situation” like the one that Adell found himself in the middle of.

The company did not say anything about refunding Mariners’ moneyline bets.

Bonus bets are not the same as cash refunds. They cannot be withdrawn or transferred to other sportsbooks, but they can be used to fund wagers placed at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Adell powers the Angels’ solid start

Adell wasn’t much of a factor on offense in Saturday’s win. He hit one single but did not get on base otherwise and did not score the only run of the game.

Despite that, his defensive performance earned praise from a legendary player who happened to have a close-up view of his outfield robberies. 

Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, who now works as a special assistant for the Angels, said that Adell probably played “the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.” 

He also claimed to have “blacked out” when Adell, with whom he spent time working on defense during spring training, fell into the stands clutching his third robbery.

The Angels carried the momentum from Saturday night’s thriller into the rubber match with the Mariners on Sunday, which ended 8-7 in their favor. Adell went 1-5 at the plate with an RBI and scored twice.

The Angels now sit at 5-5 on the season, one game behind the AL West-leading Houston Astros. The Mariners are 4-6 and two games out of first in the same division.

World Series and future odds

There are still more than 150 games left in the MLB regular season. Although the Angels have enjoyed a solid start, they still find themselves last in odds to win the AL West at FanDuel (+2700). The Mariners (+105) lead the odds board and are slightly ahead of the Astros (+230). 

World Series odds still heavily favor the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are already down to +200. The New York Yankees are second and first among all American League teams at +800, followed by the Mariners (+1100).

There are no odds for Adell to rob three home runs in another game.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Watch Warriors' Draymond Green get hilariously rage-baited on secret prank show

Watch Warriors' Draymond Green get hilariously rage-baited on secret prank show originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green has seen just about everything over the course of his NBA career.

But even he wasn’t prepared for this.

A newly released clip from the premiere of “Foul Play With Anthony Davis” shows the Warriors forward as the target of an elaborate hidden-camera prank orchestrated by Davis and LeBron James, who secretly feed lines to actors posing as business partners.

What b egins as a seemingly exclusive investment opportunity quickly spirals into chaos.

Inside a staged meeting, Green is pitched on what appears to be a high-level deal — before things quickly escalate into increasingly bizarre territory. When asked if he would commit to a $100 million cash investment, Green immediately shuts it down.

The actors insist that “lots of people” have that kind of money, but Green isn’t convinced.

“Well y’all should find them,” Green responded.

As the conversation grows more heated — and the pitch more aggressive — Green pushes back on both the tone and the situation.

“Number one, you guys should stop yelling,” Green said. “I’m a grown ass man.”

Moments later, clearly fed up, Green delivers a final warning before appearing ready to walk out.

“Alright, I’mma leave here or I will f— you up.”

The prank is part of a new unscripted series that flips the traditional locker room dynamic, allowing athletes to turn the tables on one another with the help of the creative team behind “Impractical Jokers.”

The show features a lineup of high-profile athletes and celebrities pulling off elaborate jokes on their peers.

The series debuts Monday, April 6, immediately following the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game, simulcast across TBS, TNT and truTV.

While Green might not have been in on the joke, the moment fits into his growing presence off the court.

The four-time NBA champion already hosts “The Draymond Green Show” and has expanded into media, acting and broadcasting roles in recent years — making him no stranger to the spotlight.

Just maybe not like this.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Yankees and Dodgers off to impressive starts, and Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani just are starting to hit

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are off to good starts — and their MVPs finally are starting to hit.

Shohei Ohtani hadn’t driven in a run until Friday, then homered in that game and again Sunday. He and Aaron Judge each have three straight multihit games.

Judge hasn’t needed to carry the Yankees, who are 7-2. They had allowed a paltry 15 runs on the season before a 7-6 loss to Miami. Cam Schlittler has made two scoreless starts and New York ran wild against the Marlins — with even Giancarlo Stanton stealing a base.

It wasn’t a great first week for the Dodgers’ quartet of sluggers — Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — but then they broke out in a big way as Los Angeles posted 31 runs in three games at Washington. The Dodgers are 7-2 with Andy Pages off to a 16-for-34 start at the plate, so they can afford to be patient with their stars.

That includes Betts, who went on the injured list with an oblique strain.

Los Angeles now heads to Toronto for a three-game series — the first meeting between the teams since the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series in Canada last year.

Battling Bucs

On the topic of teams succeeding while waiting for stars to get untracked, Pittsburgh swept three straight from Baltimore to improve to 6-3. The Pirates have won five straight, although Paul Skenes has allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings through his first two starts.

They haven’t needed much from top prospect Konnor Griffin either. The infielder is 1 for 9 since being called up, but he has yet to play in a loss. The Pirates have 10 of their next 13 games at home, with Skenes expected to take the mound when they host San Diego.

Trivia time

When is the last time the NCAA men’s basketball champion and baseball’s World Series champion came from the same state in a given year?

Performance of the week

Jo Adell went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday, but it’s what he did defensively that made a real impact. The Angels’ outfielder made three home run-robbing catches to help Los Angeles to a 1-0 win over Seattle.

Adell made spectacular catch while crashing into the seats when J.P. Crawford led off the ninth with a drive to right. Adell also denied Cal Raleigh what would have been the catcher’s first homer of the season.

Comeback of the week

Arizona trailed Detroit by four Tuesday night before scoring six times in the bottom of the eighth to win 7-5. The Tigers had a win probability of 96.4% after seven, according to Baseball Savant.

Corbin Carroll hit a bases-loaded double that scored two runs, and Jose Fernandez added a three-run homer. It was the second home run of the game for Fernandez, who was making his major league debut.

Trivia answer

In 1973, UCLA won the national title and the Oakland Athletics won the World Series. That pairing also won in 1972.

There was a recent near-miss in 2021 when Baylor won the NCAA Tournament and the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. The only way this double can happen this year is if Michigan wins in basketball and the Tigers prevail in baseball.

Posted on

Yankees and Dodgers off to impressive starts, and Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani just are starting to hit

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are off to good starts — and their MVPs finally are starting to hit.

Shohei Ohtani hadn’t driven in a run until Friday, then homered in that game and again Sunday. He and Aaron Judge each have three straight multihit games.

Judge hasn’t needed to carry the Yankees, who are 7-2. They had allowed a paltry 15 runs on the season before a 7-6 loss to Miami. Cam Schlittler has made two scoreless starts and New York ran wild against the Marlins — with even Giancarlo Stanton stealing a base.

It wasn’t a great first week for the Dodgers’ quartet of sluggers — Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — but then they broke out in a big way as Los Angeles posted 31 runs in three games at Washington. The Dodgers are 7-2 with Andy Pages off to a 16-for-34 start at the plate, so they can afford to be patient with their stars.

That includes Betts, who went on the injured list with an oblique strain.

Los Angeles now heads to Toronto for a three-game series — the first meeting between the teams since the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series in Canada last year.

Battling Bucs

On the topic of teams succeeding while waiting for stars to get untracked, Pittsburgh swept three straight from Baltimore to improve to 6-3. The Pirates have won five straight, although Paul Skenes has allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings through his first two starts.

They haven’t needed much from top prospect Konnor Griffin either. The infielder is 1 for 9 since being called up, but he has yet to play in a loss. The Pirates have 10 of their next 13 games at home, with Skenes expected to take the mound when they host San Diego.

Trivia time

When is the last time the NCAA men’s basketball champion and baseball’s World Series champion came from the same state in a given year?

Performance of the week

Jo Adell went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday, but it’s what he did defensively that made a real impact. The Angels’ outfielder made three home run-robbing catches to help Los Angeles to a 1-0 win over Seattle.

Adell made spectacular catch while crashing into the seats when J.P. Crawford led off the ninth with a drive to right. Adell also denied Cal Raleigh what would have been the catcher’s first homer of the season.

Comeback of the week

Arizona trailed Detroit by four Tuesday night before scoring six times in the bottom of the eighth to win 7-5. The Tigers had a win probability of 96.4% after seven, according to Baseball Savant.

Corbin Carroll hit a bases-loaded double that scored two runs, and Jose Fernandez added a three-run homer. It was the second home run of the game for Fernandez, who was making his major league debut.

Trivia answer

In 1973, UCLA won the national title and the Oakland Athletics won the World Series. That pairing also won in 1972.

There was a recent near-miss in 2021 when Baylor won the NCAA Tournament and the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. The only way this double can happen this year is if Michigan wins in basketball and the Tigers prevail in baseball.

Posted on

Cash Considerations: Early Season Lineup Construction

Aug 26, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) stands in the dugout in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Kevin Cash’s lineup decisions. Cash addressed those concerns recently, noting that the team expects to experiment with different lineups throughout the season. Much of the focus has centered on Chandler Simpson’s place in the order and Junior Caminero’s lack of traditional lineup protection.

It’s not a matter of these decisions being “right” or “wrong,” but there’s a clear pattern and underlying rationale behind them.

Leading-off

One of the main criticisms of the Rays lineups has been Simpson’s spot in the order. Some want to see him leveraging his speed at the top of the lineup. That would mean bumping Yandy Diaz down to 2nd or 3rd in the lineup. He’s the best on-base hitter on the roster, so they could potentially be leaving runs off the board by replacing him with Simpson. However, Simpson is off to a hot start and is reaching base over 43% of the time. Unfortunately for him, Yandy is getting on base nearly 49% of the time. Yandy also has a more established track record of getting on base at a high clip (.373 career OBP vs .334 for Simpson so far in the majors). I think Simpson will have some opportunities at some point this season to hit leadoff, but the best version of the Rays lineup right now has Yandy leading off. The case against Simpson leading off isn’t just about OBP – it’s about optimizing both his strengths and the hitters around him.

There’s also the question of how much is Simpson’s position near the bottom of the order helping his production. There’s typically less pressure to produce when you’re near the bottom of the lineup. Simpson has batted 8th three times already this season, and his average spot in the lineup is 6.3. It’s also fair to wonder how his current role is supporting his production. Hitters lower in the lineup often operate with less pressure and clearer situational expectations. While that’s difficult to quantify, it’s at least possible that Simpson’s current usage is helping him settle in at the major league level. Simpson is already making worse swing decisions that last season, so I’m not sure the added pressure of the leadoff position would benefit his production.

There’s also evidence that having an aggressive base stealer on first doesn’t necessarily help the hitter. In some cases, it can do the opposite; hitters may alter their approach to accommodate the steal attempt rather than focusing on their own at-bat. In this case, it might be better to have someone less central than the Yandy-Aranda-Caminero group hitting behind Simpson so the Rays best hitters can focus on being their best. Simpson batting 8th like he has most of the season might be the most effective way to get him in scoring position with the top of the lineup coming around; he would have an opportunity to steal a base with the number 9 hitter at the plate or potentially advance a base with a productive out from that hitter.

Cleaning-up

So far, Caminero has primarily been batting 4th in the lineup with mainly Cedric Mullins (x4), Jake Fraley (x2), or Ben Williamson (x2) hitting immediately after him. Some fans might want Caminero higher in the lineup so he can get more plate appearances. This does make sense as he would statistically have more PAs over a full season hitting 3rd rather than 4th, but there are a few reasons to bat him 4th and it doesn’t really matter who is “protecting” him in the lineup.

First, separating Díaz and Caminero (while still keeping both near the top) creates matchup pressure later in games. An opposing team could bring in a tough RHP to face Yandy, but would likely have to let them face Aranda plus another LHB like Fraley or Mullins. This forces an opposing manager between having to neutralize Yandy/Caminero or the LHB between them – but not both.

Another reason to hit Caminero 4th is because he’ll see more PAs with runners on base than if he was batting 3rd. Batting Caminero fourth may cost him some total plate appearances over a full season, but it increases the likelihood that those plate appearances come with runners on base — and for a hitter with his power profile, that’s often the more valuable trade-off.

Lastly, the idea of lineup protection is more mental than scientific.

There isn’t any research that supports the idea that protection is something that should be prioritized when building a lineup. The effects of having a good hitter protecting the batter in front of him are likely marginal at best, and Caminero can hit just about anything out if he squares it up, so he’s not really someone who needs to see more pitches in the zone to be productive. The main thing for him will be to continue to improve his swing decisions as his zone-minus-out-of-zone swing rate is the same as last season despite him chasing less. Having someone like Aranda hitting behind Caminero won’t help him be more productive, but swinging more at pitches down the middle will. Caminero swung at pitches in the heart of the plate just over 75% of the time in 2025, but that number is down under 64% this season. He has done well to limit his chasing so far, but swinging at pitches he can do damage on will help raise his game even more.

Lineup construction isn’t just about putting the “best hitters” at the top; it’s about sequencing skills, managing matchups, and creating the most difficult set of decisions for the opposing staff. Early on, the Rays appear to be prioritizing exactly that.

Posted on

Cash Considerations: Early Season Lineup Construction

Aug 26, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) stands in the dugout in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Kevin Cash’s lineup decisions. Cash addressed those concerns recently, noting that the team expects to experiment with different lineups throughout the season. Much of the focus has centered on Chandler Simpson’s place in the order and Junior Caminero’s lack of traditional lineup protection.

It’s not a matter of these decisions being “right” or “wrong,” but there’s a clear pattern and underlying rationale behind them.

Leading-off

One of the main criticisms of the Rays lineups has been Simpson’s spot in the order. Some want to see him leveraging his speed at the top of the lineup. That would mean bumping Yandy Diaz down to 2nd or 3rd in the lineup. He’s the best on-base hitter on the roster, so they could potentially be leaving runs off the board by replacing him with Simpson. However, Simpson is off to a hot start and is reaching base over 43% of the time. Unfortunately for him, Yandy is getting on base nearly 49% of the time. Yandy also has a more established track record of getting on base at a high clip (.373 career OBP vs .334 for Simpson so far in the majors). I think Simpson will have some opportunities at some point this season to hit leadoff, but the best version of the Rays lineup right now has Yandy leading off. The case against Simpson leading off isn’t just about OBP – it’s about optimizing both his strengths and the hitters around him.

There’s also the question of how much is Simpson’s position near the bottom of the order helping his production. There’s typically less pressure to produce when you’re near the bottom of the lineup. Simpson has batted 8th three times already this season, and his average spot in the lineup is 6.3. It’s also fair to wonder how his current role is supporting his production. Hitters lower in the lineup often operate with less pressure and clearer situational expectations. While that’s difficult to quantify, it’s at least possible that Simpson’s current usage is helping him settle in at the major league level. Simpson is already making worse swing decisions that last season, so I’m not sure the added pressure of the leadoff position would benefit his production.

There’s also evidence that having an aggressive base stealer on first doesn’t necessarily help the hitter. In some cases, it can do the opposite; hitters may alter their approach to accommodate the steal attempt rather than focusing on their own at-bat. In this case, it might be better to have someone less central than the Yandy-Aranda-Caminero group hitting behind Simpson so the Rays best hitters can focus on being their best. Simpson batting 8th like he has most of the season might be the most effective way to get him in scoring position with the top of the lineup coming around; he would have an opportunity to steal a base with the number 9 hitter at the plate or potentially advance a base with a productive out from that hitter.

Cleaning-up

So far, Caminero has primarily been batting 4th in the lineup with mainly Cedric Mullins (x4), Jake Fraley (x2), or Ben Williamson (x2) hitting immediately after him. Some fans might want Caminero higher in the lineup so he can get more plate appearances. This does make sense as he would statistically have more PAs over a full season hitting 3rd rather than 4th, but there are a few reasons to bat him 4th and it doesn’t really matter who is “protecting” him in the lineup.

First, separating Díaz and Caminero (while still keeping both near the top) creates matchup pressure later in games. An opposing team could bring in a tough RHP to face Yandy, but would likely have to let them face Aranda plus another LHB like Fraley or Mullins. This forces an opposing manager between having to neutralize Yandy/Caminero or the LHB between them – but not both.

Another reason to hit Caminero 4th is because he’ll see more PAs with runners on base than if he was batting 3rd. Batting Caminero fourth may cost him some total plate appearances over a full season, but it increases the likelihood that those plate appearances come with runners on base — and for a hitter with his power profile, that’s often the more valuable trade-off.

Lastly, the idea of lineup protection is more mental than scientific.

There isn’t any research that supports the idea that protection is something that should be prioritized when building a lineup. The effects of having a good hitter protecting the batter in front of him are likely marginal at best, and Caminero can hit just about anything out if he squares it up, so he’s not really someone who needs to see more pitches in the zone to be productive. The main thing for him will be to continue to improve his swing decisions as his zone-minus-out-of-zone swing rate is the same as last season despite him chasing less. Having someone like Aranda hitting behind Caminero won’t help him be more productive, but swinging more at pitches down the middle will. Caminero swung at pitches in the heart of the plate just over 75% of the time in 2025, but that number is down under 64% this season. He has done well to limit his chasing so far, but swinging at pitches he can do damage on will help raise his game even more.

Lineup construction isn’t just about putting the “best hitters” at the top; it’s about sequencing skills, managing matchups, and creating the most difficult set of decisions for the opposing staff. Early on, the Rays appear to be prioritizing exactly that.

Posted on

How NHL Tiebreaker Protocols Would Shape the Pacific Division

With just five games remaining in their regular season, there is still much to be determined for the Vegas Golden Knights.

They could make the playoffs and face the Anaheim Ducks in the first round. They could make the playoffs and face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. They could win the division and face WC1 (currently the Utah Mammoth) in the first round.

Now, it’s also still technically possible— although extremely unlikely— that the Golden Knights miss the postseason entirely. However, they’d basically have to lose out, and one of San Jose or Los Angeles would have to win out. There’s a reason why Moneypuck gives the Golden Knights a 97.4% chance to make the playoffs.

Regular-season series don’t always mean much in the grand scheme of things. In a seven-game series, coaches can make adjustments to counter their opponent. In an 82-game season, those adjustments are typically broader.That being said, in a tiebreaker situation, looking back on a regular-season series can make all the difference.

The top three spots of the Pacific Division are closer than ever. The Oilers currently hold the top spot with 87 points and the tiebreaker over the Ducks, but the Golden Knights lurk just one point back.

NHL Tiebreaker Protocols

If two or more NHL teams finish the regular season with the same number of points in the standings, playoff seeding is determined by these tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins

2. Regulation and overtime wins (excluding shootout wins)

3. Total wins

4. Head-to-head points

5. Goal differential

6. Total goals for

Let’s take a look at how the Golden Knights measure up against the other two top teams in the Pacific Division.

Vegas Golden Knights

Regulation wins: 27

Regulation and overtime wins: 34

Total wins: 35

Goal differential: +7

Total goals: 247

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more regulation wins (30).

The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more wins in regulation and overtime (39).

The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with more total wins (39).

The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with six head-to-head points against the Golden Knights this season.

The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with a higher goal differential than the Golden Knights (+8).

The Oilers would hold the tiebreaker with a higher total of goals scored than the Golden Knights (265).

Anaheim Ducks

The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with a higher number of regulation wins (the Ducks have 24).

The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with more wins in regulation and overtime (the Ducks have 33).

The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with more total wins (41).

The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with six head-to-head points against the Golden Knights this season.

The Golden Knights would hold the tiebreaker with a higher goal differential (the Ducks have a -14).

The Ducks would hold the tiebreaker with a higher total of goals scored than the Golden Knights (257).

Posted on

Chicago Bulls ownership could play a huge role in UNC’s head coach search

Apr 22, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas (right) talks with general manager Marc Eversley (left) before game three of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

All eyes are on the North Carolina Tar Heels as they attempt to find their new head coach for the men’s basketball program. All eyes are also on the Chicago Bulls, who have had way more of an eventful 2026 than they likely bargained for. In the middle of all of this is Billy Donovan, who will have to choose between one of these teams, or he will choose to just do something else altogether. Things got really interesting for the Bulls, though, and it could play a huge role in how things shake out for UNC.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf finally put their front office on notice. For those who aren’t familiar with how the Reinsdorfs operate, the family treats the Bulls like a cash cow rather than a competitive franchise, and they are very slow to make any kind of noticeable changes to the front office unless their financials start to suffer. That is why it is notable that in Cowley’s report he stated that back in January the Reinsdorfs told Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas to “pick a lane” when it came to what the actual long-term plan for the team was.

To this point of his Bulls tenure, Karnisovas has been perfectly fine getting into the Play-In Tournament every year, but his tone shifted after getting called out by ownership. Karnisovas proceeded to make a lot of moves before the trade deadline, but aside from adding recently exiled former Piston Jaden Ivey, most of the moves involved picking up expiring contracts in efforts to clear up cap space. For what, though? That is the question, and having to ask the question is the problem.

Because the Bulls are now in a predicament, and ownership is not convinced that Arturas Karnisovas or general manager Marc Eversley can fix it. Here is what Cowley stated in his report:

“Up to that point, the mentality from the Reinsdorfs was very hands off. In their eyes it was Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley who made the mess, and it was on them to fix it.

Less than three months later the stakes have changed.

Now, ownership is weighing if the mess has gotten too large for them to fix, and according to a source everything is on the table in the next 10 days.

First and foremost, coach Billy Donovan could be the most important domino currently standing. North Carolina has had Donovan and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd in the cross-hairs since the coaching seat became vacant.“

It again must be pointed out that the Bulls saying “everything is on the table” is significant, even if that information came from a source. The Reinsdorfs have had no problem putting up with mediocrity ever since Derrick Rose’s entire career was altered by tearing his ACL during the 2011-12 season, and then suffering a torn meniscus during the 2013-14 season. Now it seems the Reinsdorfs have had enough, and it could impact Billy Donovan’s decision-making process this offseason.

There are four things that could happen: Billy Donovan could find out that the front office is getting cleaned out, they’re actually going to try to build a good team around him, and he stays with the Bulls. He could also hear this new, or instead find out that Karnisovas and Eversley are staying, and he makes his way to Chapel Hill. There’s also a world where Billy Donovan takes the Brad Stevens path and accepts a role in the Bulls front office. Finally, Donovan could just do something that doesn’t involve neither team, whether that’s coaching another NBA team or taking some time away from the game. What is the most likely outcome? Only Donovan knows that, but we do know this: how the Bulls decide to move forward with their rebuild issues could play an important role in what he decides to do.

Focusing strictly on UNC, the question becomes how patient are they willing to be while Donovan sorts all of this out, especially since Dusty May announced that he isn’t interested in leaving Michigan for another college job. One would have to imagine that Donavan ranks higher than some other candidates, but it also sounds like there are some potential candidates that haven’t been named yet. We’ll see how serious the Reinsdorfs are about fixing the mess they allowed Karnisovas to make, and the ball will be in Donovan’s court from there.

Posted on

Islanders Anxiety – Episode 386 – The Islanders Own Easter

Mike and Dan have many words about the firing of Patrick Roy and the hiring of Peter DeBoer as head coach, as well as for the disastrous week that knocked the Islanders out of the playoffs.

Not in a million years did we expect the Islanders to lose all four games in the important week in front of them. But that’s exactly what they did – some in ways that even we hadn’t seen before. The string of defeats at the worst time, plus a series of defensive mistakes all season long, were enough for them to make a change behind the bench. The move from “player’s coach” to hard ass coach is a time-honored NHL tradition, and DeBoer will need to find something the Islanders haven’t had in several seasons if he wants to get them into the post season. Even if it’s too late for this team, he will set the foundation for what to expect next season (and beyond).

In the second half, we digest the strange Patrick Roy Experience, from a guy who was once out of the Islanders’ stratosphere to a frustrating figure who couldn’t or wouldn’t fix his team’s faults. But Roy isn’t the only one to blame for this situation. There’s the owners who have made the franchise vulnerable to critics, the general manager who has lost both trades and fan goodwill in his first year in the job, the scouts who dropped the ball when needed and the players who have gotten away with way too much for way too long. Everyone owns a piece of this disappointing and confusing campaign.

Finally, we look at the next three games, which will determine both how this season will be remembered and how DeBoer’s tenure will begin. No pressure, coach.

REFERENCES:

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.

PLUGS!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.
  • The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
  • Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.

Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Posted on

Where to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, April 6

The San Antonio Spurs, who are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, play host to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The game is the start of a four-game homestand to end the regular season for the Spurs. The Sixers are trying to secure the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.

  • Philadelphia 76ers: 43-35 (No. 3 in Atlantic Division)

  • San Antonio Spurs: 59-19 (No. 1 in Southwest Division)

  • Spread: San Antonio Spurs -7.5

  • Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -325 / Philadelphia 76ers +260

  • Over/Under: 237.5

Posted on

Big Ten hasn't won basketball national championship since 2000. Can Michigan change that?

On Sunday, a Big Ten team won the NCAA women's basketball tournament championship for the first time since all the way back in 1999, with conference newcomer UCLA thumping South Carolina 79-51.

Tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the league will hope a similarly long drought will come to a merciful end.

Michigan men's basketball's matchup against UConn in the championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is more than just an opportunity for the Wolverines to earn their second championship (and first since 1989) and for coach Dusty May to complete one of the more remarkable turnarounds in the history of the sport.

REQUIRED READING: 5 reasons Michigan will beat UConn for national championship — and one reason it won't

For all the Big Ten's money, influence and power in the broader world of college athletics, the conference hasn't seen one of its men's basketball programs win an NCAA championship since all the way back in 2000. Since then, UConn, Michigan's opponent on Monday night, has won five national championships by itself.

What’s made the drought so confounding is Big Ten teams haven gotten close to winning a championship. It’s not as if this is the Patriot League or the WAC, where it has a single representative in the tournament that’s fortunate to win a game. Big Ten teams regularly reach the biggest and brightest stages in college basketball; they just haven’t been able to close the deal.

Since Michigan State’s title in 2000, and not including Michigan this year, 15 teams from the conference have made it to the Final Four. Eight of those squads advanced to the national championship game, but in each instance, they lost. A couple of them came agonizingly close, with Illinois losing to North Carolina, 75-70, in 2005 and Wisconsin coming up short against Duke, 68-63, in 2015.

It’s not like its teams haven’t been in advantageous spots entering the tournament in recent years, either. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, 35 of the 40 national champions (87.5%) have been a No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 seed. Since 2018, Big Ten teams have accounted for 17 of those 84 spots on the bracket (20.2%).

Even if current Big Ten compatriot Maryland, which won the national championship in 2002 while a member of the ACC, was included as one of the Big Ten’s championships, the conference has still gone nearly a quarter-century without a title.

During that same stretch, other power conferences have repeatedly had its teams hoist a trophy at the end of the Final Four.

Since 2000, the Big East and ACC have each had eight teams win championships. During that same stretch, the SEC has had four champions and the Big 12 three. Even the American, which has disintegrated in recent years into a one- or two-bid league, had a title-winner on its resume, thanks to UConn in 2014.

When did Big 10 last win men's basketball national championship?

A team representing the Big Ten hasn't won an NCAA men's basketball national championship since Michigan State all the way back in 2000.

The Spartans' 89-76 victory against Florida in the NCAA tournament title game capped off a 32-7 season under Tom Izzo, who was then just in his fifth season leading the program.

That year's Michigan State team was built around three players — Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell and Final Four most outstanding player Mateen Cleaves — nicknamed "The Flintstones," as all three members of the trio were from Flint, Michigan, about 50 miles northeast of Michigan State's East Lansing campus.

Interestingly, the Spartans' triumph took place in Indianapolis, where this year's Final Four is being held.

Why has Big Ten basketball gone so long without winning a national championship?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the Big Ten’s tournament woes.

For one, it’s a single-elimination format that can create unexpected results and doesn't necessarily always reward the best teams. For years, the league's physical style of play was cited as a possible cause for the drought, with referees who don't consistently work Big Ten games getting assigned to the tournament and calling those teams' games with a tighter whistle.

Beyond that, many of the Big Ten teams that lost the national championship game had the misfortune of running up against some of the best teams in modern college basketball history. The North Carolina team Illinois lost to in 2005 was 33-4 and had four of the top 14 picks in that year’s NBA draft. Two years later, a Greg Oden and Mike Conley-led Ohio State team lost to a Florida team that brought back the entire starting five from its national championship team the year before. In 2009, Michigan State was blown out by a North Carolina team that was 34-4. Wisconsin came up short against a 2015 Duke team that won 35 games and had two top-10 NBA draft picks. Michigan was handled by a 2018 Villanova squad that won 36 games and had Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo on its roster. Two years ago, Zach Edey and Purdue weren’t able to hang with a buzzsaw of a UConn team that had won 27 of its previous 28 games, including five NCAA Tournament games that were decided by an average of 25 points.

REQUIRED READING: How Dusty May built Michigan into this behemoth. He aced transfer portal

Big Ten basketball national championship losses

Here’s a look at Big Ten teams that have lost in the national championship game in the years since Michigan State’s NCAA title in 2000:

  • 2002: Maryland 64, Indiana 52
  • 2005: North Carolina 75, Illinois 70
  • 2007: Florida 84, Ohio State 75
  • 2009: North Carolina 89, Michigan State 72
  • 2013: Louisville 82, Michigan 76
  • 2015: Duke 68, Wisconsin 63
  • 2018: Villanova 79, Michigan 62
  • 2024: Connecticut 75, Purdue 60

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When did Big Ten last win men's basketball national championship?

Posted on

Where to watch New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, April 6

The Atlanta Hawks, ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference, will host the New York Knicks, who are ranked third in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is favored with a -1.5 spread and a moneyline of -120.

  • New York Knicks: 50-28 (#2 in Eastern Atlantic)

  • Atlanta Hawks: 45-33 (#1 in Eastern Southeast)

  • Spread: Atlanta Hawks -1.5

  • Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks -120 (52.2%) / New York Knicks +100 (47.8%)

  • Over/Under: 227.5