For the first time since 2012, the Flyers will host a second-round playoff game.
The last time the Flyers made the second round was 2020, but those playoffs were in the bubble because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rick Tocchet’s club faces the Hurricanes on Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3 of this best-of-seven matchup. The Flyers trail Carolina 2-0 in the series.
“We’ve got to physically invest tonight,” Tocchet said, “and I think the crowd will help us physically invest.”
Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Puck drop is scheduled for around 8 p.m. ET on TNT. Flyers Postgame Live will follow immediately after the game on NBCSP+.
Rick Tocchet has really liked Denver Barkey at center, said he hasn’t been a liability at all defensively. Has liked his offensive smarts.
When Flyers needed help at center a few weeks ago, Keith Jones told Tocchet to not be afraid to try Barkey there. They’ve liked it so far. pic.twitter.com/SndrNp6h7P
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 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. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a take this inflammatory, we must all operate with the same basic assumptions. Here are mine: The Boston Celtics probably do not want to trade Jaylen Brown. He is eligible for a two-year, $141.9 million extension in July, and I expect they will offer it to him. I have no idea if Brown wants to sign said extension, and if he doesn’t, they will trade him. That is, as we say in the biz, that.
Because of the contract situation, we really don’t have to speculate much on if he willbe traded or not; the fountain pen and the expensive piece of paper will do the talking. But we can certainly wonder if Boston should proactively move past the Jaylen Brown era (short answer: no) or if Brown himself is starting to think past his time as a Celtic (short answer: probably, but everyone thinks about their future).
But then there’s the keystone question, one that is the genesis of this whole discussion and the reason I’m writing this at all: should Jaylen Brown want a trade now, and could that ultimately be good for Boston? (short answer: I think so)
Should the Celtics want to trade Jaylen?
If I’m Brad Stevens and Boston’s front office, I’m not getting in the habit of proactively trading All-NBA players who won a championship and Finals MVP for your franchise. The Celtics are no longer in dire financial straits, and it would be pretty cold to say “thanks for your service Jaylen, peace out!” without having your hand forced. Jaylen isn’t even 30 yet, just had the best season of his career and has the two best abilities a superstar can have: durability and availability. Boston would be stupid to throw that away.
But Brown is not just a contract or a stat sheet; he’s a guy with personal and professional priorities. I don’t know if those are still best served in Boston, and Brown and I might be on the same page.
Brown’s reaction to their recent first-round series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers hasn’t exactly been gracious, and he even said that this season was his “favorite year” of his career. Not crazy because it was easily Brown’s best statistical season, but also not really a team-first view either, given that they won the NBA Finals in 2024, this was the first time the Celtics had missed the second round of the playoffs since 2021 and this was Brown’s first major stretch of his career without Jayson Tatum since he was a rookie.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” is not true whatsoever (ever heard of a smoke machine?) but I don’t think Jaylen is saying this stuff just… cuz. It feels like a soft launch of a trade request, or at the very least, a cup of coffee with one. And I wouldn’t blame him, given we all just saw the best Jaylen Brown ever is one without Jayson Tatum on the floor. If you were Jaylen, you’d at least be wondering what life would be like if that were all the time, right?
Brown is not going to find that arrangement in Boston. Put simply, Tatum is a significantly better player than Brown and one the Celtics are more financially tied to. He will be healthy next season and regain his status as the primary creator and ball handler. Does Brown actually want to return to his old role?
How Jayson and Jaylen work in 2026 and beyond
The “Can Tatum and Brown win together?”debate… thing that dominated Celtics circles for over half a decade was finally put to rest when they, ya know, did. But personally, I always found both sides of the argument profoundly stupid. For one, it implied that this was an equal partnership, which it basically never was; Tatum’s dribble advantage always ensured he would dominate the ball. For another, it had this weird, New England Puritanical determinism bent to it; it was like you had to decide if you were committing your whole heart and soul to this core or if you were 100 percent out. God had already decided whether this was the right path, so you were either on the bus to salvation or nowhere near it.
I, conversely, always felt that trading Brown would make sense if I could be sure the Celtics would get better. Some Kevin Durant smoke back in 2021 piqued my interest, as did some 2019 Anthony Davis packages. For who those guys were at the time, Jaylen included, we were just talking about a categorical upgrade for Boston. It was always a question of how valuable Brown was to Boston versus how valuable he was to other teams.
And it’s the same deal now. Before the Celtics won it all in 2024, Brown’s value as an asset never exceeded his impact as a player. But it’s a brave new world in Boston, and Jaylen’s ability to be an elite first option may entice some interested teams to part with some serious beans to give Brown what he will never have on the Celtics: his own show, with all the trappings of superstardom and franchise control. How could he possibly avoid thinking about this?
Brown and Tatum have been extremely productive colleagues, but any suggestion from the Tatum-Brown Eternal Cult that they are blood brothers who never want to be separated ignores plenty of counter evidence. Logan Murdock’s excellent profile of Brown for The Ringer in 2023 explored the two’s relationship at length, and while the crux was basically “there has never been any conflict between them and that they’re good friends,” it also wasn’t “this guy is my ride or die forever, and I couldn’t imagine playing basketball without him.” Nor did Brown say much this year about how much he missed the then-injured Tatum on the court and how excited they all were to have him back. Calling this his “favorite year” isn’t super endearing either.
It was never a personal conflict, and I will resist to no end any notion that it was, but there has been obvious basketball friction between the two; they never ran much of a two-man game like some sort of Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray duo, and both are most comfortable with the ball in their hands. Then again, find me a pair of superstars in NBA history that have been completely, 100 percent without a basketball conflict. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen? Absolutely not. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? Nope. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant? Are you kidding me?
I think Pippen/Jordan is very instructive, as while Pippen was better than Brown is now, and Jordan was uh, better than Tatum, you have to wonder if Jaylen knows the first word everyone thinks of when they think Scottie Pippen: sidekick. It wasn’t until Jordan retired that Pippen left the Chicago Bulls, and, already past his prime, his production plummeted. Does Brown really want to be remembered as a sidekick? Or does he want a fabulous second act to his career? Personally, I would want the second act.
What does Jaylen Brown want?
As I said before, Brown can force Boston’s hand by refusing to sign the extension they will offer him. That will speed things along, and then Boston will try to get the best deal they can; you’ll notice I avoided speculating about Giannis Antetokounmpo or any of the other packages thrown out on social media because they would have distracted from the crux of the issue: should Jaylen Brown actually want this, but an Antetokounmpo swap with Boston attaching a pick or two would probably be good for both parties. I wonder if Milwaukee would actually trade Giannis to Boston of all places — that would be a Category 5 betrayal of their fans — but Brown is probably by far the best player they could get back. Meanwhile, Tatum-Giannis-Derrick White is another category upgrade. His media circus and durability would make me nervous as a Celtics fan, but this is Giannis Antetokounmpo we’re talking about — still a business you want to be in.
But again, this really will be Brown’s decision, and I am essentially at peace with the fact that the right one for him might be to take his talents someplace else. He spent nine years in Boston blowing through every expectation and ceiling ever put on him, by me and many others, and I would be happy for him to be here another nine as a Celtic. But I also want him to be happy as Jaylen Brown; if it is no longer in Boston, that is, as we have said, that.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks took a 2-0 series lead Wednesday night, grinding out a 108-102 victory over the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. New York trailed after the first quarter, 33-31, and stayed close through three, tied at 89 heading into the fourth. The relentless Knicks defense gradually wore down Tyrese Maxey (47 MIN, 26 PTS) and Paul George (43 MIN, 19 PTS)—and maybe both sides were a little gassed. Philly managed just 12 points in the final frame, and each team squeaked out just three points in the final three minutes. This wasn’t the blowout that we’ve become accustomed to, and the offense faltered at times (7-of-26 3PT), but the paint dominance (56 points), a 20-10-7 line from KAT, and Anunoby’s two-way bullying were enough to claim the victory.
Brunson was the engine, as usual, but it wasn’t easy. Kelly Oubre, Jr. and VJ Edgecombe took turns harassing JB through most of the first quarter, and he worked hard just to make 9-of-21 from the floor. He made up for it at the free throw line, where he converted 7-of-8. Those trips to the stripe were crucial in the fourth quarter when Philly was clinging to their lead. Given how well he was guarded, a 6:3 assist-to-turnover ratio ain’t too shabby. Cap still found his spots, still made the right reads, and outdueled Maxey yet again. Grade: B+
This was a KAT performance that reminds you of what he can do when he’s aggressive. He shot 75% from the field, drew eight fouls, and dished seven dimes. The double-double was almost a footnote given how efficient he was. Without Joel Embiid (ankle/hip), Philly had no answer for Karl inside or as a passer at the elbow. His free throw trips kept the Sixers in foul trouble all night. Three turnovers and that silly foul right after halftime keep the grade from climbing higher. Grade: A-
Best player on the floor last night? Quite possibly. OG logged four steals, zero turnovers, and 24 points on clean, efficient shotmaking. He generated 11 points off turnovers by himself and added six fast-break points, turning defense into offense while demoralizing Philly. Add to that a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe. The three-point shooting was a little off, but who cares when he’s so active and impactful everywhere else? The Knicks needed a difference maker in a close game, and OG answered the call. The only dark cloud? Late in the game, he tweaked something in his leg and exited. Say your prayers it’s merely something minor. Grade: A
A quietly terrific game. ’Kal shot 69 percent from the field, did his damage in the mid-range and at the rim (with very encouraging aggression). Crashing the glass and running hard, he hustled to score four second-chance points and four fast-break points. The threes weren’t falling, but he wasn’t the only one with that problem last night. Defensively, he was excellent, with more of an impact than his one steal and one block suggest. Consistent, efficient, low-noise production. Two more points and the Knicks would have had four starters with 20 or more. Grade: A-
The stat line is a tale of two halves. The good: seven boards, six assists, three steals, a +5. The bad: four turnovers, a tech foul, and 2-of-6 shooting. Hart’s energy is essential to the team’s success, and his playmaking and defensive activity were genuine contributions. One of the game’s biggest moments came when, after jamming his thumb in the third quarter, he returned in the fourth to make a back-breaking triple. The turnovers were costly, though, and the shooting kept him from having a complete game. By our count, Josh must have a splint on two of his 10 digits—and the series is still young. Grade: B-
The tall sophomore’s main crime was the foul trouble. With Mitchell Robinson sidelined by illness, and two first-quarter fouls on Towns, coach Mike Brown needed a clean game from his back-up center. Instead, Huk (who played very well in Game One) registered four personal fouls that limited his impact and shortened his stint. He grabbed three boards and had a second-chance bucket, but he fell short of expectation. Grade: C+
Defense was Deuce’s saving grace yesterday. He had a rough shooting night, making 1-of-5 from the field. One turnover, one assist, and a -2 in his stint. Sure, he canned a timely triple in the fourth, but he wasn’t a factor on offense otherwise. He’ll need to be more of a threat from deep as the playoffs continue, and if Anunoby misses any time, expect Deuce to play bigger minutes. Grade: B-
Shamet’s night was the definition of “cardio” in the box score, but don’t be fooled. That +6 in his eight minutes of action tells a truer tale. While Landry didn’t record a single counting stat, the Knicks went on one of their better mini-runs while he was on the floor. he functioned purely as a floor spacer tonight, and supplied some solid defense on the other end. Nothing memorable, but sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed. All those blanks bring down his mark. Grade: C+
A mixed bag. Clarkson went 2-of-4 from the field and grabbed five boards (three offensive), which is the hustle we like to see from him. The -6 in his minutes was a bummer. Grade: C
Bench / Rotation Notes
Jose Alvarado chipped in three points on 1-of-2 shooting, with one assist and one turnover in a seven-minute cameo. Overall, six NY reserves combined for 15 points and 52 minutes. Conversely, Nick Nurse played just three bench guys, who also scored 15 points. So far, New York’s depth is fine against Philly. It might prove less so in other rounds. Grade: C+
Coach Mike Brown
Battling poor officiating in addition to a well-coached opponent, Brown made the right adjustments heading into the fourth. The Knicks allowed 13 triples on 34 attempts, which is a bit concerning, but the overall defensive structure was sound, and New York outscored the Phillies 19-12 in the fourth to close it out. Up 2-0, no complaints. Grade: B+
The Knicks are in the driver’s seat heading to Philadelphia. Game Two was less pretty than Game One, but not unexpected. We figured the Sixers would come back with a strong counterpunch—and maybe play better without Embiid sucking up so much oxygen, frankly. Games Three and Four will be played in a tougher environment, but despite Philly’s attempts to block their attendance, Knicks fans should be present and vocal. Let’s hope the ‘Bockers give them something to cheer about.
The teams for the final in Budapest are set. We look at how they got there and the factors that could determine the champion
Destination Budapest, where Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to be the first club apart from Real Madrid to win two consecutive European Cups since Milan in 1990. Vincent Kompany’s promise of “more” from Bayern Munich after a nine-goal first leg did not materialise. PSG offered a different proposition in Wednesday’s second leg; they put on a performance of defensive discipline, with their attacking players committed to closing down their opponents. Luis Enrique’s team never allowed the tie to spin from their control even if there were 33 shots in Munich compared to 22 in Paris.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia plays like an old-style winger, and set up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal, but he is also thoroughly modern in the way he presses hard and high. Bayern found space at a premium until Harry Kane’s late goal. Luis Enrique’s team is much the same as last season’s, sticking to the same formula. They are a year older but still flush with youth. The PSG project took many years and billions of euros to hit pay dirt but is now delivering the success that was dreamed of after the Qatari takeover in 2011.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were messy in the series opener versus the Detroit Pistons.
Think “James Harden’s beard after eating ribs” kind of messy.
Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal tips off tonight, and my Cavaliers vs. Pistons props expect a cleaner effort from Cleveland and more halfcourt action because of it.
That boils down to my best NBA picks for Game 2 on Thursday, May 7.
Best Cavaliers vs Pistons props for Game 2
Player
Pick
James Harden
Over 6.5 assists
-112
Jalen Duren
Over 15.5 points
+100
Donovan Mitchell
Over 2.5 threes
-115
Game 2 Prop #1: James Harden Over 6.5 assists
-112 at bet365
James Harden pointed the finger at himself following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1. The Cavs guard had seven turnovers to seven assists in the opener. Yuck.
Those miscues combined with cold shooting from Cleveland left Harden’s 14 potential assists to shrivel up and die. And losing Jarrett Allen to foul trouble early also threw a wrench in the Cavaliers’ schemes.
Game 2 could see a shake up in the starting lineup, with Max Strus replacing Dean Wade and giving Cleveland more spot-up threats for Harden to find in drive-and-kick sets. If Allen can stay on the floor, he also benefits from the point guard’s playmaking.
Projections for Harden aren’t bullish on his assist output but do lean toward seven or more dimes in Game 2, with forecasts ranging from 6.1 to 7.3 assists. With fewer wasted possessions and improved fluidity on offense, Harden tops his passing prop.
Game 2 Prop #2: Jalen Duren Over 15.5 points
+100 at bet365
Jalen Duren’s box score from Game 1 doesn’t exactly tell you how troublesome the Pistons’ beefy forward is for the Cavaliers.
Duren got Allen into early foul trouble and dominated the glass with 12 rebounds. Offensively, he finished just 4-for-11 from the field for 11 points, staying below his closing point total of 16.5 O/U. He's gone Under in that prop market in seven of his first eight postseason outings.
While Duren has underperformed in the playoffs, Tuesday’s output was a byproduct of Detroit scoring a ton of points off turnovers and transition. Game 2 will be cleaner with more halfcourt action, which is where Duren throws his weight around.
Tonight’s game projections are positive, as most models sit around 17 points with a ceiling flirting with 20 points from Duren. My number comes out just north of 17 points in Game 2. His scoring total is bouncing between 14.5 and 15.5 O/U, depending on the book.
Game 2 Prop #3: Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes
-115 at bet365
Detroit didn’t have to worry about protecting the perimeter against Orlando’s lack of outside threats in Round 1. Cleveland, on the other hand, has Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell hit 4 of 10 shots from beyond the arc in Game 1 and has hit three or more triples in five of his eight playoff outings so far. All 10 of those 3PAs in Tuesday’s loss were graded as either “open” or “wide open,” meaning there were no defenders within at least four feet of Mitchell.
Game 1’s offense flowed like a backed-up crapper and Mitchell found it tough cracking the Piston’s stingy interior defense, even complaining about the physicality when attempting to drive to the basket.
With Detroit pushing him out the perimeter and game script calling for Cleveland to claw from behind, Mitchell will continue to take and make shots from downtown. His Game 2 forecasts all sit beyond three 3-pointers tonight.
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Devin Vassell isn’t the first name you think about when it comes to NBA sharpshooters, nor is he the guy you’d expect to hit circus shot in the playoffs — but here we are.
Everything has been going right for the Spurs this season with the Victor Wembanyama-led team quickly becoming a force in the Western Conference. It’s not just Wemby who is coming through for San Antonio, but role players who has ascended above their potentials to turn into assassins when the moment calls.
It’s difficult to know if Vassell’s three was more based on pure instinct or awareness. The shot clock was about to expire, he was the target of a desperation pass — and without thinking he jumped, took the pass in the air, and drained the corner three in one fluid motion. It was simply sensational.
A lot of players would have tried to set their feet and watch as time expired, but I love Vassell just going for it here. It’s a small moment in the scheme of things, but one that definitely highlights how the Spurs have zero quit — even when they’re up by a huge margin, they’re looking to make shots like this and keep the scoreboard ticking.
Double Tour de France winner makes his debut when race begins on Friday and is the outstanding favourite for victory in Rome
Jonas Vingegaard’s bid to complete a rare Grand Tour grand slam by winning the 2026 Giro d’Italia begins in Bulgaria on Friday when the double Tour de France winner makes his debut in the Italian race.
Vingegaard, the winner of the 2022 and 2023 Tours de France, has been eclipsed by the achievements of Tadej Pogacar – winner this season of nine races in 11 days of racing – but is the outstanding favourite for victory in Rome on 31 May.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens are both denying any rift between the two.
In fact, Brown says that if it were up to him, he'd be happy playing in Boston "for the next 10 years."
The status of the team's relationship with its leading scorer this season was called into question after Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady recently said on his podcast that Brown has a frustration that "lies deeply within the organization."
Brown hasn't been shy about expressing his frustrations publicly. He was fined $50,000 by the NBA earlier this week for comments he made about the officiating after the Celtics' season ended with a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Stevens on Wednesday, May 6, refuted McGrady's allegations, saying the last conversation he had with Brown two days earlier was "nothing but positive."
Later that day, Brown echoed Stevens' remarks on his Twitch stream.
"I hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this," he said. "Me and Brad have a great relationship. I love Boston. And if it was up to me I could play in Boston for the next 10 years."
The Celtics posted the second-best record in the East during the regular season, despite playing for an extended period without star guard Jayson Tatum, who was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Brown led the team in scoring with a career-high 28.7 points per game.
"Obviously, we're not satisfied with the result," the five-time All-Star said. "If it sounds like an excuse, it's not. But to fight and maneuver through adversity and grow, and galvanize with a bunch of guys and to have that mindset and approach, this was my favorite year."
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 06: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres runs to first base after hitting a two-run home run go over the wallagainst the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at Oracle Park on May 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ty France came in to pinch-hit in the top of the seventh inning and hit a two-out, two-run triple to score Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramon Laureano to give the San Diego Padres a 3-1 lead over the San Francisco Giants. Xander Bogaerts, who entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as a defensive substitution, added a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to make the score 5-1 and the Padres went on to beat the Giants and win the series before returning home to Petco Park. San Diego only outhit San Francisco 6-3 and the Padres were 2-for-10 with RISP, while the Giants were held without an opportunity to hit with runners in scoring position.
Matt Waldron did not start the game, instead he followed Bradgley Rodriguez, who pitch one inning without allowing a run to open the game. Waldron came into the game in the bottom of the second inning and pitched five innings without allowing a walk. He finished his five innings with one run allowed on two hits with seven strikeouts. Adrian Morejon covered the seventh and eighth innings and allowed one hit with four strikeouts. Mason Miller was called on to get the final three outs in the ninth inning and he did just that while recording two strikeouts.
The Padres return to home today to host the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park at 7:10 p.m.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 06: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base to score on an RBI double hit by Jonny DeLuca (not pictured) in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on May 06, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees broke their five-game winning streak on Wednesday, their offense finally getting stopped as Yankee Killer Nathan Eovaldi dominated them once again. Their last two losses both came at his hands, as he tossed seven shutout innings in their series in Texas before going eight strong with just an Aaron Judge solo shot blemishing his line in the Bronx.
The loss opens the door for the team’s rivals to have a rare chance to catch up with them, as they’ve lost just 3 of their last 18 games. Only one team taking the field was really within eyesight, and unfortunately they moved closer in that rear view mirror after taking advantage of the chance.
Tampa Bay Rays (24-12) 3, Toronto Blue Jays (16-21) 0
The Rays have also been red-hot, especially at home, and their home cooking kept going as they shut down the defending AL champs. Shane McClanahan pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just two hits and a walk against four strikeouts, and the rest of the Rays’ bullpen allowed just two hits the rest of the way to suffocate Toronto’s chances of ever starting a rally.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay struck in the fourth inning against Patrick Corbin. After Junior Caminero led off with a lineout, Jonathan Aranda walked to put a runner on ahead of Jonny DeLuca’s RBI double. Corbin got the second out to nearly keep it a minor scratch, but Chandler Simpson singled to right to score DeLuca and put up a crooked number in the inning. As it wound up, that would be all the damage that Tampa needed, but they got an insurance run in the eighth as Cedric Mullins singled and got moved around on a pair of grounders, eventually scoring on a throwing error from Ernie Clement.
Boston Red Sox (16-21) 4, Detroit Tigers (18-20) 0: Jack Flaherty had a rollercoaster of a day, striking out 10 batters in just five innings but allowing four runs (two earned) in the process. The two earned came in the third inning on an RBI double from Caleb Durbin and a sacrifice fly from Willson Contreras, while the two unearned came in the fourth after a grounder bounced off of Colt Keith into the corner in left field. Sonny Gray made his first start since April 20th and delivered five shutout on the other side, and the Sox bullpen prevented any hits from the Tigers bats to finish the sweep. Bad times in the Motor City, while Boston might feel a tad refreshed.
Cleveland Guardians (19-19) 3, Kansas City Royals (17-20) 1: Kansas City struck first, getting a sacrifice fly from Salvador Perez in the third inning, but it was all Cleveland the rest of the way. A leadoff walk and a single in the top of the fifth set up a double steal to put runners in scoring position with one out for Chase DeLauter, who drove them both home with a single to left field. The eighth saw them get some insurance, José Ramírez leading off with a walk and stealing second before eventually scoring on a groundout to third that bounced off of Maikel Garcia forcing Bobby Witt Jr. to field the ball.
Seattle Mariners (18-20) 3, Atlanta Braves (26-12) 1: Facing off against the team with the best record in baseball, the M’s managed a series victory in the rubber match thanks to six strong from Bryan Woo. It was the first time all year that Atlanta lost a series. Woo struck out nine batters and allowed just a single hit, walking two and giving up no runs. Martín Pérez did his best to match him, going 5.2 innings, but a double play ball in the third inning still brought home a run and Julio Rodríguez launched a solo shot in the fifth to give Seattle a 2-0 lead. Atlanta cut the deficit in half with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, but Seattle got it right back thanks to an RBI double from Cole Young.
After four consecutive easy playoff wins, the Knicks needed some extra work to put away the Philadelphia 76ers in a 108-102 victory Game 2 victory on Wednesday night.
Playing without star center Joel Embiid, the 76ers gave the Knicks a battle.
New York withstood the absence of big man Mitchell Robinson, a weak three-point shooting night and foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up the win. A combined 70 points from Towns, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby was a deciding factor in the victory, which gives the Knicks a 2-0 series lead.
Now, the series scene shifts to Philadelphia.
Let’s navigate through some keys ahead of the game on Friday night's Game 3.
Paint production
Through two games, the Knicks have dominated in close, outscoring Philadelphia 114-62 in the paint.
Interior points were a huge factor on Wednesday night.
New York won the paint scoring battle by a massive 56-30 margin, which helped make up for a cold shooting night. The Knicks shot 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) as a team from the three-point line. On nights when the three-ball isn't falling, dominating the paint can make up for it.
It was remarkable this happened even with Robinson out due to illness, and the Knicks only having nine offensive rebounds against the 76ers.
One main reason for finding easy scores around the basket is Towns. Having him operate as a playmaker out on the perimeter has opened up the paint for cutters. Towns had seven assists in Game 2, and has recorded at least six assists in each of the last five games.
If the Knicks can keep a healthy edge in interior scoring, it gives them a chance to win every game.
Pivotal injuries
While the Xs and Os are important, it’s the Jims and Joes on the floor who matter. Injuries will loom large in deciding how this series goes for both teams. Late in the fourth quarter of Game 2, Anunoby came up hobbling, and he was not available for the last two minutes and 30 seconds due to what seemed like a leg injury.
Postgame, Knicks head coach Mike Browndid not have an update on Anunoby’s status. It’s a gloomy ending to what was another marvelous night from Anunoby, who recorded 24 points, five rebounds and four steals.
Anunoby has been New York’s most consistent player during these eight playoff games and has made a great impact on both ends of the floor. He’s averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds during the postseason. It’s safe to say if he misses any time, that will have a significant effect on New York’s hopes to make a deep playoff run.
As mentioned before, Robinson missed the game with an illness. With Towns and Ariel Hukporti both picking up several fouls, the Knicks missed their rebounding center.
For Philadelphia, Embiid’s injury seems to be day-to-day, as he was ruled out earlier in the day before Game 2 with both hip and ankle injuries. Though he had trouble defending in Game 1, Embiid’s offense is valuable. The 76ers missed the big man’s ability to score and create offense in the half-court, especially during the fourth quarter, when they scored just 12 points on 4-for-19 from the floor.
Back in rhythm
If Anunoby is unavailable for the next game, the Knicks will need a group effort to replace his production. One player who could fill some of the void is Mikal Bridges. He’s averaged 19.7 points on 74 percent from the field over the last three games, including an effective 19 points and five rebounds in Game 2.
Bridges has also had the unenviable task of checking 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey. He and the Knicks as a team did a solid job on Maxey in Game 2, holding him to just 9-for-23 shooting.
Bridges had been maligned for uneven play throughout his two seasons with the Knicks, and his disappointing first few games of this year’s postseason run, but it seems like he has pulled himself of the rut he was in.
Now, the Knicks will likely need Bridges to contribute even more on both ends.
It’s a headline that’s grammatically difficult to write. It’s a concept that’s rationally hard to stomach.
The Cincinnati Reds have lost back, to back, to back games to the Chicago Cubs to begin this four-game series, and they’ve been walked-off in all three of them. The last two of them have even come in extra-innings.
Wednesday’s will be the one that ends up the most difficult to stomach, at least for now. That’s assuming the depths to which this 6-game losing streak overall continues. After trailing early and often, the Reds got a standout performance from reliever Tejay Antone when they needed it most, the former fireballer back in the big leagues over two years after the most recent of his three Tommy John surgeries.
To say his inning had an ‘uplifting’ effect would be putting it mildly. There was pep in the step of the defense behind him, and it carried right over to their bats in the Top of the 9th inning. Spencer Steer socked a homer to lead the charge, JJ Bleday chipped in with a vital RBI single to tie the game, and Elly De La Cruz plated a pair with a sacrifice fly so deep into RF that it caused Seiya Suzuki to fall at the wall.
The Reds had roared back to claim a 6-4 lead, and they turned things over to their closer to close it out. Except, of course, closer Emilio Pagan had hurt his hamstring the previous night and been put on the shelf for at least a month, and instead Graham Ashcraft was summoned to do a job he’s got almost no experience doing before. He left a meaty pitch over the plate, Pete Crow-Armstrong lifted it to left-center, and it landed in the first row of the Wrigley Field stands for a game-tying homer…
A game-tying homer that would have literally only been a homer in Wrigley. Only Wrigley.
The Reds then failed to plate the Manfred Man in the Top of the 10th. Then, they walked the bases loaded intentionally in the Bottom of the 10th to set up more appealing matchups for pitcher Brock Burke only for Burke to then walk in the game’s winning run unintentionally and wrap things up.
Even after sleeping on the result, it’s hard to think this series of events won’t end up haunting the Reds over the course of the season. The NL Central is simply too good for it not to, and the Reds have already seen their electrifying (and razor’s edge) start to 2026 see them fall to 4th place within their own division thanks to this brutal run of form.
Something is going to need to change to bust them out of it. The sentiment surely seemed to suggest that would be Antone’s return, but not even that changed the tides. Getting Eugenio Suarez back soon may help, though it will also once again return the flaws and overlaps in the team’s roster construction.
The Reds are 20-17 on the season with over 3/4ths of the season left to play, yet the ship couldn’t possibly seem more leaky than it does right now.
Draymond Green, who typically jumps on “Inside the NBA” as a guest analyst when his Warriors season is over, took a low blow at NBA legend Charles Barkley on Wednesday night.
“Sports are for young people. You hope to have a great, long career, but nobody wins when they’re 37, 38,” Barkley said on the ESPN show.
Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical.
In his 4 years in Houston, Chuck averaged 16-12-4, including averaging 18 & 12 during a run to the Western Conference Finals.
“I think the goal is just to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green replied.
Barkley spent the final four seasons his Hall of Fame career with the Rockets from 1996-2000, battling injuries while not scoring like had in the past.
When co-analyst Kenny Smith asked what that meant, Green doubled down on the statement.
“Did you see it? I saw it,” Green said.
Fox Sports television host Nick Wright detested the segment.
“Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical,” Wright said before crushing Green’s argument.
Draymond Green took a serious low blow at Charles Barkley. ESPN Inside the NBA
The Rockets went 57-25 in Barkley’s first season, grabbed the second seed in the Western Conference and were eliminated by the Jazz in six games in the conference finals, though many think they would have advanced to the NBA Finals had Barkley not been injured at the end of that series.
Injuries began to pile up on Barkley from there, as he played just 62 of a possible 164 games in his final two years in the league in his age-36 and age-37 seasons, respectively.
He still averaged a double-double in each season, averaging 16.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, although his points average marked Barkley’ lowest output with any of his three teams.
Even in Barkley’s toughest season in Houston, though, he averaged 14.5 points and 10.5 points per game, which clears Green’s career-highs for any season.
Charles Barkley’s career fizzled out with the Rockets from 1996 to 2000. Sporting News via Getty Images
“Draymond continues to recreate history,” Wright said.
Green, 36, was between the ages of six-year-old and 10-year-old when Barkley played the backend of his career with a Rockets team that included aging Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
The Warriors forward, a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Michigan State, where he also played some college football, has previously said that Steve Kerr didn’t make his career, as many think.
“As much as he’s done for me in basketball, a part of me thinks he’s hindered me in my career and what I could have become,” Green said.
Rivers clapped back at him, saying that he was “disrespectful” to Kerr and his situation.
“You were the luckiest basketball player, I think I’ve ever seen,” Rivers said. “You were drafted to a franchise with a Hall of Fame front office, Hall of Fame coach, the greatest shooter of all time and perhaps a top-five player of all time. Not to mention one of the most lethal scorers of all time and arguably a top-10 player of all time, Kevin Durant — the same guy you chased off because you talk too much. Steve Kerr made your career. How dare you?”
When looking forward to next season, Green added that Jimmy Butler was going to miss a big chunk of the campaign, as will Moses Moody, which represents $75 million of their payroll.
“The goal is always to compete at a championship standard … as you get older, you have to redefine what success is,” Green concluded. “Still the most sellouts in the NBA. Still, the most nationally televised games in the NBA. And you just want to give yourself a chance.
“Success might not be, at this point, a championship. That’s the way it goes.”
It’s even tougher when you have to do it on a cold, windy night.
Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta knew exactly what he’d be facing going in, though, and he tired to stay as prepared and loose as possible throughout Wednesday’s outing.
“It was crazy weather,” he said postgame. “I knew what I was facing, though. I knew it was going to be a little crazy so between innings I was riding a bike to keep myself warm and ready to go.”
That resulted in Peralta gutting his way through five scoreless innings of work.
The Rockies did do a good job of making him battle, as he threw a total of 91 pitches on the night, but he held their offense in check and left with a big-advantage still in place.
Peralta only struck out one, but limited Colorado to four hits and a pair of walks.
“I think it was good,” he said. “I was hoping to get into the sixth inning, but it was crazy -- my pitch count was a little high, but other than that I thought it was pretty good.”
“He found a way,” Carlos Mendoza added. “On a day where they put fouled off tough pitches and put together good at-bats, he gave us five and kept us in the game -- he attacked even when he got behind, so it was a good outing.”
Peralta pitched well enough to earn his second Mets win, and his first since Opening Day against the Pirates.
“It feels really good,” he said. “It’s funny because [Luis] Torrens was just asking me like ‘how long have you been pitching without a win?’ And I told him it was Opening Day and he was surprised -- me too.”
New York has suddenly found its footing a bit following the brutal stretch of play, going home victorious in three straight games and locking up back-to-back series to open the road trip.
“This is what I expected,” Peralta said. “This is who we are, we have to keep it that way.”
During Tuesday's installment of the "Show Me Something" podcast, Cunningham reacted to Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese's "NBA Playoffs love triangle"
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has entered the chat.
During Tuesday’s installment of the “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham reacted to Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese’s “NBA playoffs love triangle,” as Reese’s boyfriend, the Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., and her ex, the Pistons’ Jalen Duren, clashed and guarded each other in the first-round playoff series.
Reese previously reshared videos of Carter dunking on Duren to her Instagram Story, which sent NBA Twitter into a frenzy.
Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream poses for a portrait during WNBA Media Day at Gateway Center Arena on May 4, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“Something had to have happened for [Reese] to keep, I don’t know, wanting to embarrass him in some way,” Cunningham said.
“Or nothing happened,” said West Wilson, who is Cunningham’s co-host and “Summer House” star in the middle of a public cheating scandal.
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., right, beats Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) to a rebound during the first half in Game 7 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Detroit. APDetroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) dribbles the ball against Orlando Magic center-forward Wendell Carter Jr. (34) in the second quarter during Game 6 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center on May 1. Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
“Then move on, worry about current boyfriend,” Cunningham replied.
Wilson added that Duren, whose production dipped in the series, is “in his head.”
The Pistons center averaged 19.5 points in the regular season but that has dipped to 10.6 points over eight postseason games.
Detroit advanced after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit.
Reese and Carter tend to keep their relationship private.
Duren and Reese were a rumored couple in the summer of 2024, when the pair shared videos on social media from what seemed to be a similar vacation setting.
They never confirmed the relationship publIcly.
“A messy NBA storyline involving Angel Reese and her ex, the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren vs. current boyfriend, the Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., … while they’re literally guarding each other in a playoff series,” the description of the “Show Me Something” video read.
James Harden
Jalen Duren
