Barracuda Defenseman Set to Return to Sweden for 2026-27 Season

One of the San Jose Sharks' pending unrestricted free agents has already gotten his plans for the 2026-27 season sorted out.

Defenseman Lucas Carlsson has signed with Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League. His newly-signed contract with Djurgårdens runs for four seasons and upon expiration, he'll be 32 years old.

Carlsson spent the majority of his time in the Sharks organization with their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, but he did play a few games at the NHL level as well. 

During his two seasons as a member of the Sharks organization, Carlsson played 103 games for the Barracuda. From the blue line, he scored 22 goals and 49 points during that time.

Carlsson also played in 13 games at the NHL level for the Sharks, all of which came during the 2024-25 season. He scored a goal and had four points during his limited opportunities with the Sharks. 

Prior to his NHL career, Carlsson played in the SHL for Brynäs IF. In his SHL career, he's appeared in 136 games, scored 14 goals, and tallied a total of 38 points. Given the nature of his contract, it's likely we've seen the last of Carlsson in North America.

Knicks' Mike Brown: OG Anunoby 'got robbed' of NBA All-Defensive First Team

Knicks wing OG Anunoby "got robbed" of the 2025-26 NBA All-Defensive First Team, coach Mike Brown said Sunday in Cleveland during a Zoom with reporters.

"I got one more thing before I'm taking off -- you guys can all print this," Brown, who made the case in early April, said at the end of his media availability. "Great players out there -- I'm not discounting anybody -- but freakin' OG got robbed. He should've been First Team All-Defense -- First Team All-Defense. The versatility that he brings to this team, we're a top five defensive team -- top five defensive team. OK?

"The versatility that he brings -- and everybody always says, 'Oh, you got KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns), you got Jalen (Brunson), blah, blah, blah.' The versatility that that guy brings to this team is off the charts, and I hope the voters get it next time around. I'm happy he's Second Team -- he deserves something -- but it was wrong."

Before Brown's statement, Anunoby said earlier in the video call that he was honored to be mentioned but "hoping" to make the First Team.

"It was cool to get the recognition, you know," Anunoby said. "... Second Team is cool. I was hoping I got First Team -- I thought I should've gotten First Team -- but Second Team is just as good."

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, Oklahoma City Thunder center-forward Chet Holmgren, San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert got the nod for the First Team.

"He's been tremendous, obviously, defensively," Brunson said of Anunoby. "And I think him being able to guard 1 through 5 on any given night has really been a big part of who we are and what we're allowed to do on defense because of him. ... Any publicity is good publicity, but I think he was well deserving of the First Team."

Anunoby made the cut for the Second Team with Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Thunder guard Cason Wallace, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.

"There's a lot of great defenders in the league, so to be recognized as one of the 10 premier ones is really cool ... now just focus on the rest of the playoffs," Anunoby said.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights Anytime Goal Scorer Predictions & Parlay for Game 3

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Nathan MacKinnon scored seven goals over his first nine playoff games but has yet to open his account in the conference finals.

My Avalanche vs. Golden Knights goal scorer predictions expect that to change, with MacKinnon headlining the list.

Let's take a closer look at my NHL picks for Sunday, May 24.

MacKinnon will have power-play mate Cale Makar back in action tonight, as well.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights goal scorer predictions for Game 3

Player to score a goalOdds
Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon+105
Avalanche Brock Nelson+335
Golden Knights Tomas Hertl+350
💲Goal scorer parlay: Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Tomas Hertl +2000

Goal scorer pick: Nathan MacKinnon (+105)

I'm backing Nathan MacKinnon to have a strong volume game, and his shot output correlates strongly with his goal scoring. MacKinnon found the back of the net in 62% of his games when attempting seven shots or more this season, and he has attempted at least seven shots in five of his last six.

Focusing specifically on this matchup, MacKinnon has generated 45 shot attempts over five games against the Vegas Golden Knights this year — including 11- and nine-attempt performances while John Tortorella was behind the bench.

The Colorado Avalanche desperately need a win and will rely heavily on MacKinnon to lead the charge. That means a ton of offensive zone starts and extra ice time for the Rocket Richard winner. Bet him to find the net up to -111.

Goal scorer pick: Brock Nelson (+335)

Brock Nelson has scored just twice in the playoffs despite creating 24 scoring chances and 4.03 expected goals.

That is highly abnormal, as Nelson has scored more goals than expected in 11 consecutive years.

He is a consistently excellent finisher, and I want to buy the dip. Even with this cold stretch, Nelson has found the back of the net in 32% of all games this year. A +335 price tag implies a 23% chance of scoring.

I think the fair price is somewhere in the middle, and would back Nelson up to +270.

Goal scorer pick: Tomas Hertl (+350)

Tomas Hertl is not playing a lot at 5-on-5, but he's getting a steady dose of offensive zone starts, which helps him maximize his minutes.

Nobody on the Golden Knights has recorded more shot attempts, scoring chances, high-danger chances, or created more rebounds than Hertl in this series.

He is also skating on a talented top power-play unit, playing a net-front role and looking to pounce on loose pucks sprayed to the net.

Hertl's a big threat to an Avalanche team that hasn't gotten high-danger saves consistently since the first round. I'd back him to +310.

Avalanche vs Golden Knights anytime goal scorer parlay (+2000)

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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All-NBA teams revealed: Who made the list

The best of the best in the NBA have been honored.

The league announced its 2025-26 All-NBA selections Sunday, May 24, and a pair of players led the way with unanimous selections.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning, two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player, and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić were the only two players to receive 100 first-place votes.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama nearly made it three, but one panelist gave him a second-place vote.

A panel of 100 media members voted to select the All-NBA teams. Voters were asked to appoint five players to the first team, five to the second and five to the third. Then, the votes were tallied and added up and ranked in numerical order.

First-team votes were worth five points; second-team votes were worth three and third-team votes were worth one.

2025-26 All-NBA first team

*Total points in parenthesis

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City (500)
  • Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (500)
  • Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (498)
  • Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers (482)
  • Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (414)

2025-26 All-NBA second team

*Total points in parenthesis

2025-26 All-NBA third team

*Total points in parenthesis

  • Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (168)
  • Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets (149)
  • Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks (125)
  • Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons (121)
  • Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder (87)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: All-NBA teams revealed: Who made the list

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama headline All-NBA Teams

It’s a little strange to see the All-NBA Teams list and not see LeBron James on there. This is the first time in more than two decades that LeBron did not make an All-NBA Team (he didn't play the minimum 65 games to qualify for the ballot).\

Consider it another sign of the changing of the guard in the NBA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama — the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year — led the list of players to be named to an All-NBA Team. Those 15 players were announced on Sunday. Here is how the voting shook out:

All-NBA

First Team

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)
Nikola Jokic (Denver)
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio)
Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)
Cade Cunningham (Detroit)

Second Team

Jaylen Brown (Boston)
Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland)
Kevin Durant (Houston)
Jalen Brunson (New York)

Third Team

Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia)
Jamal Murray (Denver)
Jalen Duren (Detroit)
Jalen Johnson (Atlanta)
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

The team was voted on by a panel of 100 media members.

Notes and thoughts on this vote:

• There was a pretty steep drop-off between the players who made All-NBA and those who didn't. Holmgren had the fewest points of any player on the teams, with 87 (eight second-team votes, 63 third-team votes). The next three players on that list (with their points): Portland's Deni Avdija (26), New York's Karl-Anthony Towns (14), and Toronto's Scottie Barnes (9).

• Avdija and Towns would have made the Third Team if Doncic and Cunningham had not been granted exceptions after falling short of the league's 65-game rule. Also, that would have bumped Brown and Leonard up to First Team.

• Kevin Durant makes history as the first player ever to make an All-NBA team with five different franchises.

• The only players to unanimously make the First team were Gilgous-Alexander and Jokic.

• Victor Wembanyama was not unanimous, he had 99 first-team votes and one for the second team.

• Notable players who did not meet the 65-game threshold to qualify for All-NBA (besides LeBron) include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards, and Stephen Curry.

Tyrese Maxey earns first All-NBA honors with 2025-26 third team selection

Boston, MA - May 2: Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey reacts in the second quarter. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

From the 21st pick in the draft to one of the 15 best players in the league.

The NBA has announced their All-NBA teams for the 2025-26 season, revealing that Tyrese Maxey has been selected for the first time in his career. He joins Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson, and Jamal Murray for those honors.

Leading the league in minutes per game, Maxey averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals a night. He did so on 46.2/36.7/89.2% shooting splits, earning his second All-Star selection back in February. Maxey becomes the first Sixer to make an All-NBA team since Joel Embiid’s MVP year back in 2023 and the first non-Embiid Sixer to earn the honors since Ben Simmons in 2019-20.

Maxey’s spot on an All-NBA started to be penciled in at the very start of the season when Maxey came out of the gates hot, averaging 32 points per game over the first month and a half of the season. His production tailed off a bit as his workload caught up with him, and suffered a finger injury in March that put him in danger of missing the 65-game threshold for awards.

He returned a week early, clearing that benchmark by five games and navigating his team through the Play-In tournament as the Sixers again lost Embiid to a freak injury right before the playoffs.

Had his production been able to withstand his heavy workload, he only averaged a measly 26.5 points per game since the calendar flipped to 2026, there was definitely an argument for him to make second team. He was the leading third-team vote getter and received 36 votes for second-team.

This is also the first step in another leap Maxey can make, this one being financial. ESPN’s Bobby Marks has already run the numbers as Maxey will be eligible for the Super-Max extension in the 2027 offseason should he make an All-NBA team again next year.

Draymond Green threatens Knicks supporter with ‘smashing kids’ post as Warriors star keeps beefing with fan base

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) during the second half in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Image 2 shows Draymond Green gets in a feud with a fan on social media

Draymond Green is certainly known to have his opinions, but a social media beef has caught everyone off guard. 

The Warriors star and NBA analyst for “Inside the NBA”bizarrely told a Knicks fan to “Watch your mouth before I crush those dirty ass kids in your banner” in response to a remark she made on X. 

The user, @HanaHoops, has an old photo featuring two young girls in her X profile banner.

It’s unclear if it’s an old photo of herself or others. 

The social media user had originally posted, “COME OUTSIDE BITCH” and tagged Green, in a likely chirp related to his commentary on “Inside the NBA.” 

Draymond Green gets in a feud with a Knicks fan on social media.

The reply didn’t seem to bother @HanaHoops, who replied to Green’s comment on Sunday, asking if he was “hacked or something?” 

“Im actually crying bruh why would he say that,” she also wrote on X. 

She also posted about it on TikTok, where she screenshotted and shared the exchange and captioned it, “When you get in a random Twitter beef with Draymond Green.” 

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green looks on in the first half of the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Green seemed plenty busy on social media Sunday, also taking aim at a fan who had said that the hooper could get on the Knicks bandwagon. 

That offer was not met with much appreciation. 

“Why would I? I got more rings than y’all. I don’t need to be on anyone’s bandwagon,” Green wrote on X. 

Green has been complimentary of the way the team has played through the playoffs and even said that three was “no one playing better than the New York Knicks.” 

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) during the second half in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

They’ve been consistently good on both sides of the basketball. They’re really connecting the game, they’re using their defense to fuel their offense,” Green said about the Knicks. 

The Knicks are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

Sharks Alumni to Collide in AHL Western Conference Final

Four former members of the San Jose Sharks organization will compete in the American Hockey League's Western Conference Final, three currently play for the Colorado Eagles while there's one former Shark on the Chicago Wolves.

Starting with Colorado, Jacob MacDonald, Keaton Middleton, and Daniil Gushchin are all set to suit up in the Western Conference Final. 

MacDonald originally joined the Sharks organization in the middle of the 2022-23 season as a part of the deal that sent Ryan Merkley and Matt Nieto to the Colorado Avalanche. Known for his ability to play both on the wing and on defense, MacDonald played 59 games for the Sharks across two seasons. He scored eight goals and had 15 points during his time with the team in teal. When his contract with the Sharks expired, he returned to the Avalanche organization, signing a two-year contract.

Middleton never suited up for the Sharks at the NHL level, spending his entire time as a member of the organization playing for the San Jose Barracuda, often alongside his older brother, Jacob Middleton. The younger Middleton spent two seasons with the Barracuda, playing 102 games with the Sharks' farm team. He scored 10 goals and has 26 total points during his time with the Barracuda before moving to the Colorado Avalanche organization for the 2020-21 season.

Last but not least, Gushchin, the Sharks' third round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, spent parts of four seasons bouncing between the Barracuda and the Sharks. At the NHL level, he appeared in 18 games for the Sharks. During that time, he scored two goals and had five points. He was much more effective at the AHL level though, scoring 70 goals and 150 points in 182 games. 

The Sharks traded Gushchin to the Avalanche this past summer, getting Oskar Olausson in return. 

In the other locker room, there's just a single Sharks alumnus on the Chicago Wolves, Givani Smith. After spending parts of two seasons in the Bay Area, Smith was traded to the Colorado Avalanche alongside Mackenzie Blackwood ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. 

During his time with the Sharks, Smith played in 42 games, registering a single goal and four points during that time. He also recorded 50 penalty minutes with the Sharks. 

The AHL's Western Conference Final will kick off this Thursday as the Chicago Wolves visit the Eagles in Loveland, Colorado.

Wembanyama scores 33 and Spurs trounce Thunder 103-82 to even the NBA West final

Wembanyama scores 33 and Spurs trounce Thunder 103-82 to even the NBA West final originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 on Sunday night to tie the NBA Western Conference finals.

De’Aaron Fox had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has not lost three consecutive games all season. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 13 points each.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points on 6-for-15 shooting for the Thunder.

Wembanyama took Oklahoma City’s 123-108 victory Friday in Game 3 personally. The 7-foot-4 star from France said he needed to be better to make his teammates better. He was monumentally better Sunday night — and so was San Antonio.

The Spurs limited the Thunder to 33% shooting from the field, including 6 for 33 on 3-pointers (18%).

After being outscored 76-23 in bench points in Game 3, San Antonio’s reserves scored 30 points while limiting Oklahoma City to 34.

The Spurs had another hot start in Game 4 after opening the previous game on a 15-0 run. Unlike Friday’s lopsided loss, the Spurs never relinquished that lead.

After blocking Jared McCain’s layup under the rim, Vassell tossed an alley-oop pass to Wembanyama for a dunk as part of 16-0 run that gave the Spurs a 23-8 lead with 4:19 remaining.

San Antonio had an assist on all 10 field goals in the first quarter.

San Antonio held Oklahoma City to 38 points in the first half, tied for its second-lowest half in the past four regular and postseasons. The Thunder are 2-9 when they score less than 40 points in any half over the last five seasons.

Oklahoma City’s franchise low is 65 points in a playoff loss to Memphis on May 3, 2014, and its second-fewest points had been 85 against San Antonio on May 21, 2014.

Wembanyama scores 33 and Spurs trounce Thunder 103-82 to even the NBA West final

Wembanyama scores 33 and Spurs trounce Thunder 103-82 to even the NBA West final originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 on Sunday night to tie the NBA Western Conference finals.

De’Aaron Fox had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has not lost three consecutive games all season. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 13 points each.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points on 6-for-15 shooting for the Thunder.

Wembanyama took Oklahoma City’s 123-108 victory Friday in Game 3 personally. The 7-foot-4 star from France said he needed to be better to make his teammates better. He was monumentally better Sunday night — and so was San Antonio.

The Spurs limited the Thunder to 33% shooting from the field, including 6 for 33 on 3-pointers (18%).

After being outscored 76-23 in bench points in Game 3, San Antonio’s reserves scored 30 points while limiting Oklahoma City to 34.

The Spurs had another hot start in Game 4 after opening the previous game on a 15-0 run. Unlike Friday’s lopsided loss, the Spurs never relinquished that lead.

After blocking Jared McCain’s layup under the rim, Vassell tossed an alley-oop pass to Wembanyama for a dunk as part of 16-0 run that gave the Spurs a 23-8 lead with 4:19 remaining.

San Antonio had an assist on all 10 field goals in the first quarter.

San Antonio held Oklahoma City to 38 points in the first half, tied for its second-lowest half in the past four regular and postseasons. The Thunder are 2-9 when they score less than 40 points in any half over the last five seasons.

Oklahoma City’s franchise low is 65 points in a playoff loss to Memphis on May 3, 2014, and its second-fewest points had been 85 against San Antonio on May 21, 2014.

Luka Dončić named to First Team All-NBA, earning sixth All-NBA selection

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

While Luka Dončić’s Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge was approved by the NBA, making him eligible for end-of-season awards, the voters still left him off their MVP ballots. However, Luka will not go empty-handed regarding NBA accolades this year as he was named First Team All-NBA on Sunday.

This is his sixth All-NBA selection, but his first in a purple and gold uniform.

Luka is joined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham on the First Team.

Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson made the Second Team. Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson, Tyrese Maxey and Jamal Murray were on the Third Team.

Luka received 91 First Team votes and nine Second Team votes.

With LeBron James and Austin Reaves both failing to reach the 65-game threshold to be eligible, no other Lakers received All-NBA honors. Last year, the roles were reversed as LeBron was an All-NBA player and Luka was ineligible due to injury.

Luka had an incredible season that deserves to be celebrated. He made the All-Star team, representing the Lakers in the game for the first time in his career. He was the NBA’s scoring champion, averaging 33.5 points per game. He was also the only player to earn Western Conference Player of the Month honors multiple times this season, those coming in Januaryand March.

In March, he was particularly impressive. He scored 60 points on the road against the Heat, led the Lakers to a 15-2 record, and had 600 points in the month.

Only 10 players in NBA history have accomplished that feat. And that list includes players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and Jerry West.

Now, Luka adds another All-NBA selection to his resume, making him just one of the 50-plus players to make the team six or more times.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Hamilton elated after beating Verstappen to second ‘in good day of racing’ at Canadian GP

  • British driver enjoys best finish at Ferrari

  • ‘I am much, much happier in the car’

Lewis Hamilton was thrilled with his second place at the Canadian Grand Prix in what he called “the greatest job in the world” after a great fight with his old adversary Max Verstappen and expressed how excited he was to be back in a wheel to wheel contest, enthused with his and his Ferrari team’s performance.

“I love this job it’s the greatest job in the world, I never take that for granted,” he said. “To have a good battle with Max finally, I’m really, really grateful. I am so, so happy. It’s good day of racing, overall, a solid weekend. I felt the whole team have done an amazing job.”

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Lakers’ Luka Doncic named to All-NBA team, receiving first-team honors

Luka Doncic was once again formally recognized as one of the NBA’s best players.

The Lakers superstar guard was named to a 2025-26 All-NBA team on Sunday, receiving first-team honors.

Lakers superstar Luka Doncic made the All-NBA team Sunday, earning a spot on the first team. Corey Sipkin for NY Post

The recognition marked the sixth time in Doncic’s eight-year career that he was named to an All-NBA team.

He was named All-NBA First Team in five consecutive seasons (2020-24).

The 2025-26 All-NBA teams are:

  • First Team: Doncic, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Pistons guard Cade Cunningham;
  • Second Team: Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard, Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell;
  • Third Team: 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, Pistons center Jalen Duren and Thunder center Chet Holmgren.

Doncic received 91 first-team and nine second-team All-NBA votes, landing on all 100 of the media ballots.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Wembanyama, Doncic and Brown were the lone players to be on every ballot.

Doncic is the fifth player in league history to earn six All-NBA first-team honors by age 27 or younger, according to the Lakers. He and Jokic were the 22nd and 23rd players in NBA history to receive six or more career first-team selections.

The lone seasons Doncic hasn’t been named to an All-NBA team were his first season in the league, when he was named the 2019 Rookie of the Year, and after the 2024-25 season, when he was limited to 50 regular-season games. 

Doncic, 27, won the scoring title for the second time in the last three seasons. 

He led the league with a scoring average of 33.5 points to go with 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals. His 254 made 3-pointers were the most in Lakers history for a season and the third most in the league for 2025-26.

Doncic was the lone player to be named the Western Conference Player of the Month twice in 2025-26, receiving the honor for his play in January and March

Despite falling short of the 65 games-played threshold, Doncic was eligible for the league’s end-of-season awards voting, including All-NBA, after the NBA and NBPA announced last month that his Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge for the 65-game award rule was honored. He finished fourth in the voting for league MVP, which Gilgeous-Alexander won for the second consecutive season.

Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic are no strangers to All-NBA teams. Doncic made his sixth, and James has earned the honor 21 times. AP

Doncic played in 64 qualified games before suffering a regular-season-ending Grade 2 left hamstring strain during the Lakers’ loss to the Thunder on April 2. He missed two games in December because of the birth of his daughter in Europe, which qualified as an extraordinary circumstance according to the announcement. 

His 2025-26 regular season was filled with historic achievements and accolades, as he reestablished himself as one of the league’s best players after a 2024-25 season that featured a lengthy absence because of a calf injury and the shocking trade to the Lakers in February 2025.

Doncic scored at least 40 points in the first three games he played to start the season. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player in league history to reach the 40-point mark in their first three games of a season. 

Despite LeBron James being sidelined for the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica, Doncic, along with fellow star guard Austin Reaves, led the Lakers to a 15-4 record through the season’s first six weeks. Doncic averaged a league-high 35.1 points in that stretch.

Doncic’s best stretch of the season came after he returned from a left hamstring injury after the All-Star break.

He averaged 35.8 points, 7.8 assists and 7.7 rebounds in the 21 games he played from Feb. 20-March 31. The Lakers went 16-5 in the games Doncic played during that stretch, including 14-2 in March.

It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Game 4

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 22: An overall photo of the Frost Bank Center during the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals on MAY 22, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.

Tonight’s game is almost a must-win game for the Silver and Black, as they need a victory tonight to avoid a trip to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night with elimination on the line. If anyone would have told me early in the season that the Spurs would be in the conference finals at the end of may with a chance to even up the series 2-2, I would have been ecstatic. But after watching the playoff run so far with the Spurs, I don’t want this to end yet. The Spurs need to keep extending the series until they can take it all the way to the Finals to meet a well-rested Knicks squad, who are murderizing the Cavs on the other side of the bracket.

Game 3 started out well for the home team, as the Spurs rushed out to a 15-0 lead, but unfortunately for the home team, the game isn’t over after the first 5 minutes, and they were thoroughly outplayed after the initial run and lost the game by 15. It was the first game where the Spurs weren’t just outschemed by a more experienced coach, but were neutralized by superior play of the opponent. I have been pretty critical of the physical play style of OKC, but that was not the reason the Spurs lost Game 3. The Thunder played with more energy and got an excellent effort up and down the roster as every player who hit the court made a significant contribution. For the Spurs, Wembanyama had a good but not great game, and the Spurs elite guard trio, struggling with injuries, couldn’t be dominant enough to make up for the lack of production from the San Antonio bench, who were bleeding points every minute they were on the court. If the Spurs want to avoid facing elimination on Tuesday, players like Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet, and Carter Bryant will need to step up, and Julian Champagnie will need to hit some shots to relieve some of the defensive pressure on Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.

The Spurs aren’t listing any players on the injury report, but both Fox and Harper have been dinged up, and won’t be at full speed tonight. They are going to go, and maybe that will inspire some of their teammates to help them to a win. Ajay Mitchell is out tonight, and Jalen Williams (hamstring) is listed as questionable. I doubt that JDub will play tonight, but if he does, he won’t be at full speed. With all that’s gone wrong in this series, the Silver and Black have a great opportunity for a win tonight to even up the series, and guarantee at another home game on Thursday in the Frost Arena. Let’s see the Spurs conquer adversity tonight, and give the fans another chance to cheer on their team. The Spurs have not lost three games in a row all season, and you definitely don’t want that to happen for the first time in the playoffs. LETS GO SPURS!

Game Prediction:

Carter Bryant has a breakout game and hits six three point shots as the Thunder are busy triple teaming Wembanyama.

San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Conference Championship Round, Game 4
May 24, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: NBC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 1: Quick and painful

May 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies Catcher Brett Sullivan (26) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | Anna Carrington-Imagn Images

After three close contests in the desert where the Colorado Rockies lost by just one run in two of them (and won by one in the other), the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks went anything but according to plan. The Rockies were bullied for nine runs while failing to get anything going on offense. The one bright side was that the suffering was at least quick. This afternoon’s game clocked in at just two hours and 18 minutes, a tie for the third-quickest nine innings of the season so far.

Quintana struggles before leaving injured

Rockies starting pitcher José Quintana got off to a rough start this afternoon as the Diamondbacks got to him early. In the first inning Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll went back-to-back with extra-base hits and the Diamondbacks ended up scoring two runs. In the bottom of the second inning, Quintana gave up another three runs on two singles and two doubles.

Quintana recorded just one out in the second inning before further disaster struck. After giving up a two-run ground-rule double to Ketel Marte, Quintana left the game with Rockies training staff without attempting another pitch. His injury would be later described as left elbow discomfort.

Manager Warren Schaeffer stated after the game that Quintana had not been dealing with any discomfort prior to his start today. He said more information would follow over the next day or two.

More innings for a taxed bullpen

The Rockies are currently in the midst of playing 16 straight games without a day off. The pitching staff has already been stretched thin as we have seen players like Zach Agnos pressed into starting duty. José Quintana leaving after just 1.1 innings spelled even more work for the bullpen.

Right-handed pitcher Blas Castañ0 is deserving of kudos, entering the game cold in the second inning to replace Quintana. Castañ0 ended up pitching a fairly solid 3.2 innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits and a hit batter. He also tallied three strikeouts.

Castaño has proved a valuable innings-eater after being claimed by the Rockies earlier this season. He has pitched a minimum of two innings in all three of his appearances so far, with today’s outing being his longest in a Rockies uniform.

Seth Halvorsen struggled to finish out his inning of work today. With two outs in sixth inning he gave up three straight hits—a double, a single, and a triple—that allowed the Diamondbacks to plate another two runs.

Halvorsen gave way to lefty Brennan Bernardino, who worked a clean seventh inning with two strikeouts before a position player took the mound in the eighth.

Catcher Brett Sullivan, who started today’s game behind the plate, moved to the mound and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. It was Sullivan’s second relief appearance of the year, the other of which happened on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers.

The offense went out not with a bang but with a whimper

Despite only striking out four times and drawing a handful of walks, the Rockies struggled to get anything going offensively with just one run on six hits.

The Rockies actually started both the first and second innings with a baserunner, only to have the following hitter ground into a double play to erase the advantage. Perhaps even more frustrating is that the Rockies had baserunners in every inning except the seventh and ninth. The lone run of the afternoon came in the eighth inning. Jake McCarthy led off the frame with a single, reaching second on a wild pitch and third on a groundout. He was then driven in on a sacrifice fly by Chad Stevens.

McCarthy was the only Rockies batter with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 on the afternoon. Troy Johnston and Kyle Karros were the only other members of the Rockies lineup to reach safely twice. Johnston went 1-for-2 with two walks while Karros went 1-for-2 with one walk.

Coming Up Next

The Rockies are heading to California to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. It will be their final series of this 16-game stretch before a much-needed day off. The series starts tomorrow evening with Emmet Sheehan on the mound for the Dodgers. The Rockies have not yet announced their plans for the game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM MDT.


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