Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Preview: Lineups, Stats, How To Watch

5/10/26 - 7:00 pm at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec

TV - US - ESPN, Canada - CBC Hockey Night In Canada

Buffalo – 50-23-9 | - 109  points – 1st place in the Atlantic Division

Montreal  – 48-24-10 | - 106 points – 3rd place in the Atlantic Division

 

Special Teams

Buffalo

Power Play(Reg) – 19.5% (21st)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 3 for 32 - 9.4% (13th) 

Penalty Kill(Reg) – 81.9% (4th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 15 for 23 - 87.0% (6th) 

Montreal

Power Play(Reg) – 23.1% (10th)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 6 for 33 - 18.2% (8th)

Penalty Kill(Reg) - 78.2% (18th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 28 for 37 - 81.1% (10th)

Top Scorers

Buffalo

Alex Tuch: 8 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS

Tage Thompson: 8 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Bowen Byram: 8 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS

 

Montreal

Nick Suzuki: 9 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS

Lane Hutson: 9 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Zachary Bolduc: 9 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS

 

Starting Goalies

Buffalo – Alex Lyon (4-2, 1.73 GAA, .934 Sv %)

Montreal  – Jakub Dobes (5-4, 2.14 GAA, .917 Sv %)  

Other Sabres Stories

Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

Is Alex Lyon the starter that can carry Buffalo in the playoffs?

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings 

Forwards

Peyton Krebs   - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch

Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh Doan 

Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn  

Jordan Greenway - Sam Carrick - Beck Malenstyn

Ex., Tanner Pearson,, Josh Dunne, Tyson Kozak

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power - Bowen Byram 

Logan Stanley - Conor Timmins 

Ex. Luke Schenn, Michael Kesselring, Zach Metsa

Goaltenders

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Ex. Colten Ellis

Injuries

Justin Danforth (lower body, Oct. 18; injured reserve)

Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season) 

Noah Ostlund (lower body, Apr 28; week-to-week)

 

Sabres Playoff Stats Leaders 

Shots: Dahlin (30), Thompson/Tuch (27), Doan (20) 

Hits: Samuelsson (31), Malenstyn (27), Tuch (23) 

Blocked Shots: Timmins (19), Samuelsson/Tuch (11), Dahlin (9)

https://x.com/DuaneS39/status/2053207890379292707?s=20 

 

 

Notes

This season marks the first time the Sabres have advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they advanced to the 2007 Eastern Conference Final. The Sabres have earned three playoff series victories over the Canadiens in franchise history. 

Buffalo last faced Montreal in the playoffs in the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series in which the Sabres won four games to none. The Sabres also defeated the Canadiens three games to none in the 1983 Adams Division Semifinals and four games to two in the 1975 Semifinals. Buffalo has allowed just 12 total goals in the team’s last six games. Prior to this season, the Sabres last allowed 12 or fewer goals in a six-game span in the playoffs from April 20 to May 4, 2007 (12). The Sabres have allowed only one power-play goal over their last six games, the fewest by a Buffalo team in any six-game span in the playoffs all-time. 

In his last five games, Zach Benson has posted six points (3+3), including at least one point in three straight contests. Benson’s five points (2+3) in his last three games are the most by an NHL skater age 20 or younger in any three-game span in the playoffs since Wyatt Johnston from April 27 to May 1, 2024 (3+2). A point in tonight’s game would make him the first NHL skater age 20 or younger since Cole Caufield from June 6 to 18, 2021 (five games; 2+3) to register a point streak of four or more games in the playoffs. Benson would be the first Sabres skater to do so since Pierre Turgeon from April 5 to 9, 1989 (four games; 3+5). 

Alex Lyon has allowed 11 total goals in seven appearances in the playoffs, tied for the fewest goals allowed in any seven-game span in the playoffs by a Sabres goaltender all-time (Dominik Hasek; April 23 to May 14, 1999). It is the first time any NHL goaltender has allowed 11 or fewer goals in their first seven playoff games (within a single playoff year) with a team since Jacob Markstrom from May 3 to 15, 2022 with Calgary (11). Lyon has posted a .934 save percentage in his first seven appearances in the playoffs, the best mark by a Sabres goaltender in any seven-game span in the playoffs since Ryan Miller from April 18, 2007 to May 4, 2007 (.937). It is the second-best save percentage by a Sabres goaltender in their first seven playoff appearances with Buffalo (within a single playoff year) all-time (Steve Shields; April 21 to May 5, 1997; .935). 

Peyton Krebs has registered six points (2+4) in the playoffs thus far and his plus-6 rating through the team’s first eight playoff games ranks first among all Sabres skaters. Krebs’ plus/minus is the best by a Sabres skater in their first eight playoff games with Buffalo since Toni Lydman from April 22 to May 8, 2006 (plus-9). It is tied with Matthew Barnaby (May 9, 1993 to May 3, 1997; plus-6) for the best mark by a Sabres forward all-time in their first eight playoff games with Buffalo. 

In his last five games, Josh Doan has registered six points (2+4), including at least one assist in each of his last three contests. An assist tonight would make Doan the first Sabres forward since Tim Connolly from April 27 to May 4, 2007 (four games; 0+4) to register an assist streak of four or more games in the playoffs. 

Bowen Byram has recorded four goals in the playoffs and is one goal away from recording the most goals by a Sabres defenseman in a single playoff year all-time. 

Conor Timmins tallied the first point of his playoff career with an assist in Game 2 against the Canadiens. Timmins would become the third Sabres defenseman to record an assist in at least two consecutive games this postseason with an assist tonight (Byram, Owen Power).

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Game Thread

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 8: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammate CJ Abrams #5 after batting Abrams in on a home run during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 8, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday was a missed opportunity for the Nats, but they still have a chance to get the series win this afternoon. They have an early game today that is nationally televised. It will be a good chance for the boys to show what they have. Hopefully they can secure yet another road series win.

The lineup will look a little different today. After a couple shaky games at shortstop, CJ Abrams will DH today. Nasim Nunez will move over to short and Jorbit Vivas will play second. Outside of that, the lineup will be the same as yesterday. They have scored early against the Marlins this series, but have taken their foot off the gas. Cade Cavalli will get the ball looking to bounce back from a rough outing.

The Marlins have a couple new faces in the lineup. Javier Sanoja will get his first start of the series and Christopher Morel will be in the DH spot after not playing last night. Liam Hicks will actually be sliding over to first base today and is hitting second. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara will get the ball, and he looks better than he did last year as he is further removed from his Tommy John Surgery.

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Game Info:

Stadium: loanDepot Park

Time: 12:15 PM EST

TV: NBCSN and Peacock

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

After coming up short yesterday, the Nats need to get back on the horse and bounce back. They face a tough pitcher, but this lineup has proven they can handle that. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Pirates vs Giants Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Pittsburgh Pirates look to notch their seventh win in nine games when they face the San Francisco Giants this afternoon

Our MLB odds have the Giants favored to win despite the hosts having lost nine of their last 11 games.

My Pirates vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks explain why the Patrick Bailey trade makes the home pitching staff even more vulnerable to a rough outing. 

Who will win Pirates vs Giants today: Pirates (+102)

The Pittsburgh Pirates 20-hit outburst on Saturday wasn’t a fluke. The Pirates rank fourth in xwOBA over the past two weeks with a .339 mark while sitting third in MLB in wRC+ over that span.

It also came immediately after the San Francisco Giants traded Patrick Bailey, arguably the best pitch framer in baseball. The Giants' pitching staff looked noticeably more vulnerable without him behind the plate.

That’s bad news for Tyler Mahle, who enters with a 4.50 BB/9 ratio and now loses an elite catcher who consistently stole strikes for his pitchers.

The Pirates have also dramatically improved their plate discipline lately, carrying just a 5% strikeout rate over the past two weeks — a major boost against a pitcher prone to issuing walks.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Eric Haase, San Francisco’s projected catcher for Sunday, owns a 63% called strike rate on pitches 1-2 inches inside the zone — 25% lower than the league average.

Pirates vs Giants Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)

Saturday’s matchup produced 16 runs, and another high-scoring game is very much in play Sunday afternoon.

The Pirates are slugging .416 over the past two weeks while posting a 37% hard-hit rate that ranks second in baseball during that stretch.

Bubba Chandler has also been far less effective on the road, allowing opponents to slug .448 with four home runs surrendered in just 18 2/3 innings away from Pittsburgh.

Mahle’s control issues should continue giving the Pirates free baserunners, and the weather conditions only help the Over case further, with winds expected to blow out to left field at more than 10 mph.

Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 4-7, -3.67 units
  • Over/Under bets: 8-3, 4.91 units

Pirates vs Giants odds

  • Moneyline: Pirates +104 | Giants -108
  • Run line: Pirates -1.5 (+178) | Giants +1.5 (-186)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Pirates vs Giants trend

The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Moneyline in 11 of their last 18 away games (+5.20 Units / 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Giants.

How to watch Pirates vs Giants and game info

LocationOracle Park, San Francisco, CA
DateSunday, May 10, 2026
First pitch4:05 p.m. ET
TVSNP, NBCSBA
Pirates starting pitcherBubba Chandler
(1-4, 4.76 ERA)
Giants starting pitcherTyler Mahle
(1-4, 5.00 ERA)

Pirates vs Giants latest injuries

Pirates vs Giants weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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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.

Here’s how to watch Knicks vs. 76ers Game 4 for free: Time, livestream

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An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) is fouled by New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) alongside guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first quarter of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena

The Knicks are just one win away from sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers to secure a second consecutive appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York moved one win closer to the ECF with a commanding 108–94 Game 3 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite the return of Sixers center Joel Embiid, who finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds after missing Game 2, the Knicks took control in the second quarter and never looked back.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 33 points and 9 assists, making history for the most 30-point playoff games in franchise history (passing Carmelo Anthony’s record), while Mikal Bridges chipped in 23 points to help New York secure a 3–0 series lead.

Knicks vs. 76ers: what to know
  • What: NBA Playoffs Second Round, Game 4
  • When: May 10, 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • Channel: ABC
  • Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)

The Knicks were without starter OG Anunoby in Game 3 due to a hamstring injury; he’s currently listed as questionable and will likely be a game-time-decision today.

If the Knicks win tonight’s matchup with the 76ers, they’ll advance to the ECF, where they’ll face either Detroit or Cleveland. A 76ers win would lead to Game 5 on Tuesday.

Knicks vs. 76ers start time:

The Knicks vs. 76ers game today, May 10, is scheduled to tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET.

What channel is the Knicks game on today (May 10)?

The Knicks-76ers game will air on ABC.

How to watch Knicks vs. 76ers for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Knicks game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ABC (plus most channels you’ll need for the WNBA season). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

You can also tune in to today’s game with fubo’s Pro or Sports and News plans. Live TV plans from fubo start at $44.99 and also include a five-day free trial.

Knicks-76ers second round playoff schedule

  • Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
  • Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
  • Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94
  • Game 4: Sunday, May 10 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
  • Game 5: Tuesday, May 12*
  • Game 6: Thursday, May 14*
  • Game 7: Sunday, May 17*

* if necessary

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.


Yankees Birthday of the Day: Ed Barrow

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1926: New York Yankees General Manager Ed Barrow circa 1926.. (Photo by WM. C. Greene/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images

Most days during our Yankees Birthday series have been highlight a player who was born on that particular day. While the players are the ones we watch on a day in and day out basis, it takes more than them to make a baseball team go, and today we’ll look back on someone who had a major impact in franchise history off the field.

You can make an argument that Ed Barrow is one of the single most important people in franchise history. While in the front office, he played a key role in the Yankees finally getting over the World Series hump, and then them winning a bunch more, as they became the preeminent MLB franchise.

Edward Grant “Ed” Barrow
Born: May 10, 1868 (Springfield, IL)
Died: December 15, 1953 (Port Chester, NY)
Yankees Executive Tenure: 1920-45

Barrow was born in Springfield, IL in 1968, but his birth came as his family was moving to Nebraska in search of farmland. His family settled there for a couple years, but the Barrows would later move to Iowa, where Ed spent much of his youth.

As a teenager, Barrow began working as a mailing clerk for a Des Moines, IA newspaper, eventually working his way up to a reporter job with the Des Moines Leader. He used his higher position to create a local baseball team, which featured future Hall of Famer Fred Clarke among others.

Barrow later moved to Pittsburgh and worked in some other industries before returning to baseball. He bought pieces of several minor league teams, including the Patterson (NJ) Silk Weavers, eventually also managing the team. He ended up signing a young Honus Wagner from the team, giving the future Hall of Famer his start in pro baseball. After holding a number of positions around baseball, he bought a share of the Toronto Maple Leafs (the baseball version) of the Eastern League, also eventually becoming their manager. He managed to help turn them around from a struggling franchise to the EL pennant winners in 1902. That quick turnaround led to the Detroit Tigers hiring him as manager for 1903.

In Detroit, Barrow helped improve the Tigers’ spot in the standings in his first season. However that offseason, new owners bought the team and Barrow soon found himself at odds with some of the new brass and resigned partway through 1904. He returned to the minor leagues for a while after that, eventually getting the position of president of the Eastern League. Under him, the league was redubbed the “International League,” which it still exists as today in Triple-A. Later in his run, he tried to build up a third major league with some IL franchises, leading him to clash with some of the league’s owners and them eventually ousting Barrow.

By this point, Barrow’s reputation in baseball had grown enough that he was then quickly hired to manage the Boston Red Sox. Boston had finished in second in the AL the previous season, but with some savvy additions, Barrow took them to the AL pennant in 1918. However, the savviest move was putting to use the hitting ability of the young Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth. In addition to hitting a league-leading 11 homers, Ruth then won two games on the mound in the World Series as the Red Sox won the title. As we Yankee fans once liked to point out, it would be Boston’s last for a while.

The Red Sox fell under .500 the following two seasons, and against Barrow’s wishes, Ruth was famously sold to the Yankees after 1919. His frustrations eventually boiled over, and the Yankees’ owners gave him an opportunity to become the team’s business manager. He took that opportunity, resigned from Boston, and jumped to New York. With the Yankees, Barrow’s position morphed into something resembling the general manager job of today. He was generally in charge of contract negotiation and player acquisition, while acting as an intermediary between ownership and on-field manager Miller Huggins.

While Ruth’s move to the Yankees did predate Barrow, almost every other move in the 1920s through the next couple decades, many of which led to championships, can be traced back to Barrow in some way. He hired scout Paul Krichell, who quickly discovered Lou Gehrig, and then also scouted and signed the likes of Tony Lazzeri, Phil Rizzuto, and Whitey Ford. Barrow stuck by Huggins despite internal and external pressure, who eventually led the Yankees to their first couple titles, and then later hired Joe McCarthy. He played a role in helping the Yankees secure their move to Yankee Stadium. He signed a young Joe DiMaggio out of the Pacific Coast League. His protégé, George Weiss, later became Yankees GM and led the team to a host of even more World Series titles. During Barrow’s tenure from 1920-45, the Yankees won 10 World Series titles, never mind the ones that came after that he deserves an assist for.

In 1945, the estate of Jacob Rupert, who had hired Barrow, sold the Yankees to Larry MacPhail, Dan Topping, and Del Webb. The new owners moved Barrow to a ceremonial position and advisor, and Barrow eventually retired from baseball in 1946. MacPhail briefly held the GM position for a couple years before Weiss took over and continued on with the franchise’s dominance.

After leaving the Yankees, Barrow was offered the position of commissioner, but declined, citing his age. He remained in the New York area until he passed away in 1953. Shortly after his passing, he was voted into the Hall of Fame and given a Monument Park plaque by the Yankees. Beyond what his teams did on the field, Barrow was the innovator of putting numbers on players’ uniforms, as well as retiring them, as he did initially with Lou Gehrig’s No. 4. He was the first to let fans keep foul balls. There’s so much about the Yankees and baseball that you can trace back to Ed Barrow in some form.


See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Chase Burns might yet save the Cincinnati Reds season

May 9, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns (26) pitches against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds are an absolute wreck.

The Cincinnati Reds are 1.5 games out of a playoff spot.

The Cincinnati Reds pitching staff owns the single worst xERA in baseball (5.21).

The Cincinnati Reds are two games over .500.

The Cincinnati Reds have a team wRC+ of 87, fourth worst in baseball and ahead of only the 17-22 Boston Red Sox, last place New York Mets, and last place San Francisco Giants.

The Cincinnati Reds just lost eight straight games, including three straight as walk-offs.

The Cincinnati Reds just won yesterday, ending that losing streak.

The Cincinnati Reds have Chase Burns.

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The Cincinnati Reds have been without ace Hunter Greene all season, and without #2 Nick Lodolo for all but one start this year. They’ve lost their closer in Emilio Pagan and rotation depth with Brandon Williamson. Big slugging Eugenio Suarez has been out two weeks with an oblique, and wasn’t exactly their 49-homer superstar when healthy.

Andrew Abbott looks woefully mediocre.

The bats of Ke’Bryan Hayes and TJ Friedl look hopelessly washed as they near 30, the hope that Matt McLain ever regains his 2023 form has almost completely evaporated. So, too, has much of the expectation that Noelvi Marte will figure it out at the big league level, with him now firmly in the same AAAA bucket as Rece Hinds.

Despite that – despite all of that – the Reds have made it through one-quarter of the 2026 season with their heads above water, two games over the .500 mark on a Sunday morning with a chance to win a series against the Houston Astros on their docket for the afternoon.

And they owe a gargantuan portion of that to young Chase Burns.

************************************************************************

Burns, still just 23, has been the single most valuable pitcher in the National League so far in 2026 according to Baseball Reference (2.1 bWAR). His 2.11 ERA ranks 3rd in the NL among qualifying pitchers, his 47.0 IP perhaps even more valuable (and 10th overall in the league) given the troubles the rest of the Cincinnati rotation has heaped upon its overworked bullpen.

Most recently, though, you’ve seen a Burns that wasn’t just good, he was rise to the occasion good. When his team was bruised and battered after two bad losses to the Pittsburgh Pirates last weekend, he poured in a career-best 7.0 IP of scoreless ball for his club (even though the offense didn’t hold up their end of the bargain). One full turn of the rotation later, the Reds still hadn’t found a way to win a single game, and he poured in another gem with 6.0 IP of ER ball against Houston to help them finally, mercifully get back into the win column.

That’s a rock on which this team can lean. That’s a bona fide stopper within the rotation. That’s precisely the kind of part of a team that can almost singlehandedly redirect a team’s momentum, a cog this iteration of Reds need so badly right now it’s hard to understate.

If that proves to also make him a human reset button, perhaps yesterday is what gets the rest of this team out of the gutter. Perhaps him showing up unfazed, uninterrupted yesterday will help remind the dugout that they, too, can shelve the poor form of the last few weeks and walk into the 1st inning of today’s game with a clean slate.

And if Burns can continue to do that for another turn in the rotation, these Reds are going to get Geno back in the lineup. If Burns can do it for another handful of turns, they’ll get Pagan back, too. If he can help bridge them to early July, this Reds club will have Burns and Greene atop their rotation and not a team in the sport is going to want to face them back to back.

Saturday’s outing by Burns is a microcosm of just how vital to this team he has already become just 16 – yes, just sixteen – starts into his big league career. And if he keeps it up, he might just save this Cincinnati Reds season.

Texas Rangers lineup for May 10, 2026

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Justin Foscue #56 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the third inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for May 10, 2026 against the Chicago Cubs: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Cubs and Jameson Taillon for the Cubs.

Texas will try to make it a two game winning streak this afternoon, and win the series against the Cubs.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Duran — 2B

Seager — SS

Jung — 3B

Carter — CF

Pederson — DH

Osuna — LF

Jansen — C

Foscue — 1B

1:35 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -125 favorites.

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Newcastle, Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa, Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton – as it happened

The Premier League afternoon got under way with three games, 10 goals and three score draws

4 mins: A tasty cross from the right for Newcastle, but nobody gets on the end of it. Here’s the top of the Scottish Premiership as it stands:

The final whistle has blown in the Old Firm game at Celtic Park, where Celtic came from behind to beat Rangers 3-1 and keep the heat on Hearts. The top two play each other next Saturday in their final game of the season, with both also playing in midweek.

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Lakers’ best player this series is about to become free agent

One player has shined the brightest on the NBA playoff stage, and his name is not LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves. 

It’s Rui Hachimura. 

Playing on a court with superstars, future Hall of Famers and generational icons, Hachimura has been the best player in the Western Conference semifinal series between the Lakers and Thunder. 

“He’s a talented guy. He plays like a Japanese [Michael] Jordan,” said Thunder center Chet Holmgren of Hachimura. “He can really make shots and make shots in bunches. You can’t let him get hot.”

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives to the basket against Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Holmgren was complimentary of Hachimura because both played at Gonzaga, but his analysis still rings true. You can’t let him get hot, and right now in this series Hachimura is scorching.

He’s shooting a blistering 58% from 3-point range in the postseason. He’s averaging 18.3 points in this series. To drag Hachimura’s 3-point percentage below 40, he’d have to miss 46 straight 3s. All this as a quiet, corner-dwelling forward whose job description is that of a role player and not a headliner. 

To drag Hachimura’s 3-point percentage below 40, he’d have to miss 46 straight 3s. NBAE via Getty Images

And yet, through three lopsided losses, he’s been the most consistent Laker on the court and one of the few players who has kept them in games before everything eventually unravels. 

What makes Hachimura’s performance this postseason even more remarkable is that he’s doing it all without the ball in his hands. LeBron and Reaves are the Lakers’ primary ball handlers. Heck, even Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard handle the ball at times. 

But there are no play calls for Hachimura. No high pick-and-rolls. No offense built around him. No 3-pointers off a perimeter screen or dribble penetration. Just patience and timing. Hachimura waits for the pass that may or may not come, but he delivers when it does.

What makes Hachimura’s postseason performance more remarkable is that he’s doing it without the ball in his hands. NBAE via Getty Images

“Rui has been shooting lights out and has been playing really well for us,” Kennard said after Game 3, in which not much else went right for the Lakers. 

Game 3, when the Lakers’ backs were against a wall, should have been a night when LA pushed back against the defending champs and won its first game of this series. Instead, it became yet another reminder of the large gap between these teams. Especially without Dončić.

Even as Hachimura led the Lakers with a team-high 21 points and knocked down five 3s, the Lakers still got steamrolled by the Thunder, 131-108. One stat in particular was even more shocking. In their eight playoff games entering Saturday, every time the Lakers outshot their opponent from the perimeter, they won the game. Game 3 was the first time they outshot OKC in the series, and they still got run out of the building. 

That tells you everything you need to know about this matchup. 

The fact that Hachimura has been able to stay this hot against this elite defensive team is even more impressive. NBAE via Getty Images

As we’ve been telling you all along, the Thunder are just better. They’re operating on a different plane of existence than the Lakers now. OKC has won all three games by an average of nearly 20 points; that’s the worst playoff point differential in Lakers’ franchise history. 

The fact that Hachimura has been able to stay this hot, this consistent, against this elite defensive team is even more impressive. But he’s also quietly making himself more expensive.

Hachimura will be a free agent at the end of the season, and he’s about to hit the open market.

Hachimura signed a three-year, $51 million deal before the 2023 season. It felt reasonable then. It feels like a bargain now. In a league starving for playoff performers, especially ones who don’t need the ball, can stretch the floor and punish mistakes, Hachimura is about to create a bidding war for his services. 

There’s no doubt that teams will line up to sign him. They always do for role players like this. We expect him to get offered a deal somewhere in the four-year, $80 million to $100 million range. 

Can the Lakers afford that? Maybe, but they’re staring at a financial puzzle that borders on impossible. 

James, Reaves, Maxi Kleber, Kennard, Deandre Ayton, Smart and Jaxson Hayes all can be free agents June 30. All of them will command money. The Lakers will be forced to make some tough decisions. You can’t afford to pay everyone. That’s just the reality of the NBA. 

But here’s one reality that fans should talk about: If the Lakers let Hachimura walk for nothing, then they’re not just losing a role player. 

They’re losing their most consistent playoff performer. The one guy who showed up for every game this series against the reigning champions.

Not LeBron. Not Reaves. Not Dončić. 

And sometimes, in a league obsessed with superstars, the quiet role players end up being the most costly to replace.


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Knicks vs 76ers Props & NBA Playoffs Game 4 Best Bets

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The Knicks head to Philadelphia tonight looking to complete a second-round sweep of the 76ers after dominating the first three games of the series by nearly 20 points per contest.

With New York one win away from another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, I’m breaking down the best Knicks vs. 76ers props for Game 4, along with today’s top NBA picks and full Knicks vs 76ers predictions.

Best Knicks vs 76ers props for Game 4

PlayerPickbet365
Knicks Jalen BrunsonOver 27.5 points-110
Knicks Karl-Anthony TownsOver 5.5 assists+102
76ers Kelly Oubre Jr.Over 1.5 made threes+120

Game 4 Prop #1: Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points

-110 at bet365

He’s known as Captain Clutch for a reason. In his four seasons with the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has improved his scoring average by an average of 3.2 points per game in the playoffs. He’s scoring 28 points this postseason, up from 26 in the regular season. Against the Sixers, he’s found another gear, averaging 31.3 points per game in the series.

Brunson is taking more than 20 shots per game this series, and that volume should continue. OG Anunoby missed the last game and is a game-time decision Sunday with a hamstring injury, meaning the offense may lean even more heavily on Brunson. Coach Mike Brown joked that Brunson is his “security blanket,” and that has certainly been the case throughout this matchup.

Despite the increased volume, Brunson is shooting over 50% from the field this series and has also elevated his free-throw efficiency from the regular season.

Game 4 Prop #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 5.5 assists

+102 at bet365

The Knicks center is turning into a facilitator this postseason. After averaging 3.0 assists per game during the regular season, Karl-Anthony Towns has boosted that number to 6.2 in the playoffs and 6.7 in the current series.

New York appears to have unlocked something with Towns’ passing midway through the first-round series against Atlanta. He has recorded six or more assists in six straight games, and the Knicks have won all six.

Towns’ scoring numbers have dipped while battling Joel Embiid inside, but that has created more opportunities for him to facilitate. With Brunson and Mikal Bridges both thriving offensively, Towns should continue finding open shooters rather than forcing difficult looks against Embiid.

Game 4 Prop #3: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 1.5 made threes

+120 at bet365

The Sixers’ top scorers have struggled badly in this series. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are both averaging roughly 10 fewer points than their regular-season numbers, while Paul George and VJ Edgecombe have also seen offensive drop-offs.

That has forced Kelly Oubre Jr. to take on a bigger scoring role. After averaging 14.1 points during the regular season, Oubre has elevated that to 17.7 points per game in the series against New York.

He’s shooting 50% from the field and 46.2% from deep in the matchup, averaging two made threes per game. With Embiid limited physically and the Knicks' defense collapsing on Philadelphia’s primary scorers, Oubre should continue getting quality perimeter looks.

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Rockets 2025-2026 season in review: Jeff Green

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 26: Jeff Green #32 of the Houston Rockets smiles during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Jeff Green is the ultimate bench guy. The 39-year-old Uncle Jeff shows the young players how to operate as a professional, how to be ready night-in and night-out, how navigate the pitfalls of a life partially on the road, and basic emotional support to an overall young team. It’s been valuable.

But on the court, Green’s goose is pretty much cooked. Green played in just 30 contests this season, averaging just 5.8 minutes per game. His per night averages of 2.2 points on 0.8 rebounds were the lowest of his career.

Green’s contract is also up, making him an unrestricted free agent. In addition, as we saw in the playoffs, if nothing else changes this season, Houston absolutely needs an influx of bench talent — skilled bench talent that can shoot and/or make plays. You can see where I’m going with this.

Green helps with none of those.

Sadly, it looks to me like it just may be time to part ways with Uncle Jeff. The locker room stuff is great and all, but this is a team that is looking to take the next step from above average/good up to the next tier of good/great. To do that, each roster spot needs to be maximized. I no longer think the Rockets can afford to roster a locker room guy that doesn’t help on the court.

Green’s three seasons with the Rockets are a nice swan song for the veteran, but as we saw recently with another Rockets locker room guy — Boban Marjanovich — there comes a time to ride off into the sunset, and with the Rockets likely to do at least a little shuffling this offseason, particularly on the margins, this just might be it for old Unc.

If it is, we loved having him in Houston, and when the Rockets were still babies, his presence was invaluable. But as the team grows up and the Rockets look to continue to improve, re-signing a guy who’ll be over 40 by the time the season starts who’s not named LeBron James isn’t exactly a path to a title. We appreciate you, Uncle Jeff. But if he remains on the roster next season, I’ll believe that Rockets GM Rafael Stone hasn’t fully done his job to improve.

Minor league update for 5/9/26

Deimos, Satellite of Mars (Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) | Corbis via Getty Images

Hickory’s Saturday and Sunday games have been cancelled due to a fire in the visitor’s clubhouse.

Hub City starter Ismael Agreda allowed allowed a homer to Devin Fitz-Gerald to lead off the game, then allowed just one more run in five innings, walking one and striking out seven. With Hickory not going, A.J. Russell, who was slated to pitch for Hickory on Saturday, made his high-A debut for Hub City. He struck out four in three perfect innings. Joey Danielson struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Gleider Figuereo tripled. Maxon Martin was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Malcolm Moore had a pair of hits. Paxton Kling had a hit.

Hub City box score

Frisco starter Dylan MacLean allowed three runs in 4.2 IP, striking out four and walking two.

Dylan Dreiling homered twice. Ian Moller had a hit and a walk. Keith Jones II had a pair of hits.

Frisco box score

For Round Rock, Robbie Ahlstrom struck out two in a shutout inning. Dane Acker struck out one and walked one in two scoreless innings.

Aaron Zavala homered and walked.

Round Rock box score

Tracy McGrady walks back Jaylen Brown “frustration” comments

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 22: Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics smile after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 22, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Tracy McGrady is clarifying his comments about Jaylen Brown.

After previously saying he believed Brown’s frustration “lies deeply within the organization,” McGrady said Saturday on NBC’s “NBA Showtime” that Brown had not personally told him he was frustrated with the Celtics. Instead, McGrady said he was speaking as an analyst based on what he had observed publicly.

“I haven’t talked to Jaylen at all about this,” McGrady said. “I just know my friend, and when I see certain things, I see frustration.”

Quite the change-up from what T-Mac said earlier this week.

McGrady’s initial comments, made on “Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady,” quickly made the rounds after the Celtics’ season ended with a first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. In the clip, McGrady said Brown’s frustration “lies deeply within the organization” and referenced “a lot of stuff” he had been hearing around the Celtics organization and Brown.

McGrady has a long-standing relationship with Brown, so it was easy to understand why those comments were interpreted as more than an outside read. McGrady’s wording sure made it seem like he was passing along something Brown had told him directly.

On Saturday, McGrady pushed back on that idea.

“I’m part of the media, so if I see something, I’m gonna speak about it,” McGrady said. “I think they haven’t really separated my friendship versus me being an analyst and talking about this. It was nothing that we had a conversation about.”

McGrady pointed to Brown’s public comments after Game 7, including Brown saying he found out shortly before tip that Jayson Tatum would not play, as well as Brown’s post-elimination Twitch comments about officiating, which resulted in a $50,000 fine from the NBA.

“Because I have a relationship with Jaylen, I know him and I know how he acts,” McGrady said. “So, watching this series, how it unfolds, watching the behavior change and uncharacteristics of who I know Jaylen is, so it looked like he was frustrated to me.”

That is a very different thing than reporting that Brown privately expressed frustration with the Celtics organization, something both Jaylen and Brad Stevens had to deny in streaming and media appearances, respectively.

McGrady is certainly allowed to interpret what he sees. After all, that’s part of the job. But this is also where modern sports discourse can get messy. A comment from someone with a personal relationship to a player that sounds rooted in truth can quickly turn into a bigger story, especially when it involves a star player, a disappointing playoff exit and an offseason already filled with trade speculation.

Brown has repeatedly pushed back against questions about his future. After Boston’s season ended, he called this past year his favorite and said he would stay in Boston for another decade if the decision were up to him.

McGrady and Brown have known each other for years, which is exactly why McGrady’s original comments carried weight. It is also why the clarification was necessary.

T-Mac may still believe Brown looked frustrated. Given the way Boston’s season ended, that would not exactly be shocking. But according to McGrady, Brown never told him that directly.

If this is any indication of how conversations around Brown will be handled this summer, it’s going to be a very long offseason in Boston.

Everton’s European hopes hit after Mateta’s equaliser for Crystal Palace

David Moyes’s European dream is now hanging by a slender thread. Against a Crystal Palace side who have been distracted by their Conference League exploits, Everton were unable to take their opportunity to close the gap on their rivals as Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to equalise after they had twice been ahead, through goals from James Tarkowski and Beto.

It could have been even worse for Moyes had Adam Wharton’s shot not struck the outside of a post in the 90th minute. In a frantic finish, Dean Henderson denied Iliman Ndiaye in stoppage time before Mateta missed a great chance to win it for Oliver Glasner’s side.

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Tatis redeems himself, getting the Padres back in the win column

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts after hitting an RBI single during the fifth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on May 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres really needed a win. They’d take it any way that they could get it, eking out a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals after failing to score a single run in 21 consecutive innings until Ty France’s fifth inning home run.

It was all the runs that they would need, with starter Randy Vásquez pitching five solid innings of one-run ball and Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam and Mason Miller each pitching scoreless appearances in relief. However, Adrian Morejon did allow a run in 2/3 of an inning in the top of the eighth.

Miller regained the MLB lead in saves by pitching his 12th of the season. He was briefly tied for the lead with Cards closer Riley O’Brien and Cade Smith of the Cleveland Guardians.

Miller pitched a four-out save for just the second time this season, and struggled with command in the ninth inning, issuing back-to-back walks to the first two batters. Miller worked out of the jam by striking out four (yes, that’s right) and secured the win for San Diego.

The Friars will need their offense to produce a little more if they hope to take the finale and salvage a split with St. Louis after dropping the first two games.

Taking the mound

Kyle Leahy (STL) v. Walker Buehler (SD)

In doing so, they’ll face Leahy. The young right-hander has yet to find any legitimate success in his MLB career. He’s spent his career in the St. Louis bullpen and was stretched out before this season in order to bolster the Cards’ rotation depth.

Leahy has been a serviceable back-end starter in the rotation with a 4.93 ERA across his first seven starts. His lasting outing against the Milwaukee Brewers was one of his best, pitching 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Heading into his eighth start of the season, he’ll look to continue that bounce back against the Friars.

The Padres will have Buehler on the bump for them, who has also struggled with consistency in his 2026 with San Diego. He’s pitched to a. 5.64 ERA across 30 1/3 innings.

But Buehler is likely pitching to save his spot on the roster. If he can’t turn things around, he’ll soon be supplanted by the recently-signed Lucas Giolito. Should Buehler stumble in today’s finale against the Red Birds, that decision would be even easier for the Padres’ front office to make.

Batter up!

The Friars haven’t faced Leahy very much before, with him only working out of the bullpen prior to this year. But what they have seen of him has been difficult, with only two hits across a combined 17 at-bats. But that was before Leahy transitioned into a full-time starter role. Now that he’s in that role, the Padres should fare much better against the righty.

  1. Jackson Merrill, CF
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  3. Manny Machado, 3B
  4. Gavin Sheets, LF
  5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  6. Miguel Andujar, DH
  7. Ty France, 1B
  8. Sung-Mun Song, 2B
  9. Rodolfo Durán, C

Tatis was raised to the second spot in the lineup after batting fifth for the last few games. He rewarded skipper Craig Stammen for that faith immediately, hitting a two-run, go-ahead single in the fifth to win the game for the Friars.

Durán had a tough MLB debut, though he caught starter Michael King incredibly well (and was lauded by King after the game). At the plate, the catcher went 0-for-3 and will hope to improve in today’s contest.

Machado’s home run in yesterday’s contest was an encouraging sign that the third baseman may be heating up. He’s been solid to start the year, but has struggled to find a consistent rhythm at the plate. If he can turn that around it would be a huge development for the Padres’ offense.

Relief corps

The Padres used all of their high-leverage relievers to finish out yesterday’s win. Estrada and Adam each pitched hitless inning before Morejon hit some trouble. He allowed a run and only record two outs in the eighth before Miller was called upon to get a four-out save.

He did so swimmingly, though Miller made it more interesting than the Friar Faithful would have liked. After walking the first two batters, he struck out the next three. But catcher Freddy Fermin dropped the third strike to Yohel Pozo, allowing him to reach first base and load the bases. With the top of the order now up, Miller struck out JJ Wetherholt in four pitches to end the rally.

In today’s finale, the Friars will have to hope that Buehler can pitch better than he has lately. Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez represent mostly lower leverage options who could easily give up the lead in a close game.

That being said, all of them are able to cover multiple innings. If Buehler falters, they’ll easily cover the remaining innings for San Diego.