May 4, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Eli White (36) is tagged out by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves are coming off a series loss to the Seattle Mariners and have a challenging weekend ahead. After losing their first series of the season, the West Coast road trip has moved on to Los Angeles, where the Braves take on the Dodgers in a three-game set.
Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Bryce Elder are each expected to start against a talented LA pitching staff. The Braves are tied for the best record in the league with 26 wins and 12 losses, while the Dodgers enter play with a 23-14 record. Fortunately, the Braves are 14-6 on the road, and this could shape up to be a great series should Atlanta’s performance remain consistent.
The series gets underway Friday night at 10:10 ET.
More Braves News:
With an abundance of moving parts in the starting rotation, we discuss what the Atlanta pitching staff looks like in the near future.
Tate Southisene continues his strong start with the Augusta GreenJackets after driving in three on Wednesday. More in the minor league recap.
Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd will undergo meniscus surgery and is expected to miss at least a month. Fortunately, the club does not expect a major meniscus repair.
From the Feed:
After clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett, the Carlos Carrasco saga continues.
One of the central topics of discussion on locker cleanout day last week was which Pittsburgh Penguins could, potentially, take the opportunity to represent their respective countries at the IIHF World Championship.
And it looks like at least two of them are headed to Switzerland.
On Thursday, the Penguins announced that forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Connor Clifton would both be representing Team USA for the tournament, which takes place from May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg. It will be the first appearance at the IIHF World Championship for both players, who had previously represented Team USA at the junior and under-18 levels.
Novak, 29, registered 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games for the Penguins this season, which was his first full season in Pittsburgh after being dealt to the Penguins from the Nashville Predators before the 2025 NHL trade deadline. It's the third time in his NHL career that he recorded 40 points in a season, and he spent a good chunk of his season centering Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov on the second line.
Clifton, 31, is a pending unrestricted free agent and was dealt to Pittsburgh from the Buffalo Sabres during last summer's NHL Draft. Known for his physicality, Clifton led the Penguins in hits with 180 despite playing in only 50 games, and he had two goals and six points in those 50 games.
The preliminary round for Team USA kicks off on May 15 when they face Switzerland.
“There’s a lot more to the NBA and sticking around than just [scoring],” Porter said in a revelation that always seemed to escape Thomas. “For Cam, I think it was a mixture of he was frustrated with a lot of things, and also his personality … he doesn’t really socialize. He’ll come to the gym sometimes and he’ll say like two words all day, all practice. He doesn’t really talk to anybody.
“I don’t think he does it in a way where he’s trying to be a bad teammate; I just think that’s him. But when it comes to a team being willing to pay you and come off that money and you’re a No. 1 option, it comes with so much more. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.”
Michael Porter Jr. is picture during the Nets’ March 20 game. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
It’s a role that Thomas viewed himself capable of filling, and the young guard did average team-highs of 22.5 points and 24.0 points in the past two seasons for the Nets. But after rejecting multiple contracts from the Nets last summer — a two-year, $30 million deal with a team option, or a one-year, $9.5 million pact — he ultimately settled for the $5.98 million qualifying offer.
In the end, Thomas managed just 15.6 points in an injury-marred campaign and got waived by Brooklyn. He got picked up by Milwaukee, but cut loose there as well. While he flashed the ability to get buckets, his shortcomings in terms of defense, playmaking, and — ultimately — self-awareness see him now unemployed.
“I know he was frustrated about the contract the year before, and the fact that Brooklyn didn’t really pay him how he wanted,” Porter said. “He’s thinking talent-wise, he’s thinking as good as Austin Reaves, he’s as good as Jalen Green, he’s as good as this guy or that guy, and they’re getting paid $100 million contracts. So I understand that part. But I knew when he left Brooklyn, I’m like, man, over there in Milwaukee he better change a couple of these things or else it’s going to be tough for him.
“And when he first got there, they were raving about him because he had a few good games. Doc Rivers was complimenting him and everything. And then I’m sure he had a bad game and kind of went back into his shell a little bit. It can come off like he has an attitude, but really that’s just him. And then I think from there it was downhill. But when it comes to being a basketball player and a talent, he’s up there with the best of them.”
Cam Thomas drives to the basket during the Nets’ Feb. 3 game against the Lakers. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Porter added he may take as many shots as Thomas, “but the time the ball was in my hands was a fraction.” He expressed confidence he can be a top scorer on a contender, but says the Nets adding a backcourt playmaker — via the lottery, trade or signing — will let them take a step forward.
“A No. 1 option on a championship-caliber team? I’m not about to sit here and say that I don’t think I can take on a big responsibility on a championship team, because I do, but I definitely would need some help with me,” Porter said. “If I got another guy over here who really is able to create and draw some attention, and now I’m getting two or three wide-open 3s a game, I think it would really help us.”
They improved to 7-0 in the 2026 NHL playoffs with a 4-1 road victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, May 7. And in doing so, they showed why they are so formidable.
A turning point occurred in the second period with the game tied 1-1. Taylor Hall rocked Philadelphia's Travis Sanheim into the boards.
"I was in a vulnerable spot and he decides to finish his check and it just felt like his hands drove my head right through the wall," Sanheim said. "I thought it was a pretty dirty play."
Hall was called for a five-minute major in order to trigger a review. A two-minute penalty was issued instead.
The Flyers weren't happy, but they still had a power play in order to break a tie. But 11 seconds later, it was the Hurricanes who broke the tie when Carolina forced a turnover and Jordan Staal fed defenseman Jalen Chatfield for a short-handed goal.
Here's why the Hurricanes are unbeaten in the playoffs:
They're hard to play against
Carolina plays an aggressive style that frustrates opponents. The 'Canes never trailed in the opening sweep of the Ottawa Senators and added to that in Game 1 against the Flyers.
But Philadelphia scored two quick goals in Game 2. No problem. The Hurricanes kept chipping away, tied the game and won 3-2 in overtime.
Philadelphia had a 5-on-3 power play in Game 3 and wasn't able to muster much.
Hurricanes have scoring depth
Thursday was Staal's night with a goal and an assist. It was his first goal of these playoffs.
The Hurricanes have more than enough scoring to go around.
Logan Stankoven is tied for the playoff goal lead with six. Hall has nine points and Jackson Blake has eight. Nikolaj Ehlers has goals in each of the past two games. They're unbeaten despite Andrei Svechnikov not scoring until Thursday.
Frederik Andersen is strong in net
Andersen had a regular season to forget with a 3.05 goals-against average and .874 save percentage. Brandon Bussi supplanted him at one point.
But coach Rod Brind'Amour went with the veteran Andersen in the playoffs, and it has paid off. Andersen has two shutouts and has given up two or fewer goals in each game. He's just the third goalie in the last 30 years to open 7-0.
The Flyers are banged up with Owen Tippett and Noah Cates unable to play. But unless the Flyers can figure out the Hurricanes, they, like the Senators, will be swept.
Then it comes down to whether the Hurricanes and Brind'Amour can get past the conference finals. The way they're playing, it's possible.
May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) scores a goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning ways with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night in the Xfinity Mobil Arena.
The Canes remain undefeated in postseason play and now lead this second round series, 3-0. They are 7-0 overall in these playoffs.
Going back to the regular season, they have won 16 of their last 18 games.
Frederik Andersen earned another win in goal and made 18 saves out of 19 shots.
The Flyers came out fired up and had several scoring chances early, but failed to convert. They hit the post a couple of times and the other times Andersen and the Carolina defense were both equal to the task.
Late in the period, Jordan Staal took a puck off the boards during a powerplay and tucked it past goalie, Dan Vladar to start off the scoring.
Trevor Zegras tied it up early in the second but that would be the only time they could get one past Andersen.
During a shorthanded opportunity a bit later in the period, Staal fed a wide open Jalen Chatfield who made no mistake as he gave the Canes a 2-1 lead.
At 3:52 into the third period, Andrei Svechnikov rifled in a one-timer to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. It was another powerplay goal for the Canes, who went 2-9 on the night.
K’Andre Miller and Jordan Martinook then got the puck to a streaking Nikolaj Ehlers and “Fly” broke in alone and roofed in a beautiful goal to virtually put the game out of reach.
Carolina’s balanced scoring made a statement in this game.
On the other side, the penalty kill was perfect, even during over a minute of a 5-3, disadvantage. This was due to a poor sportsmanship call on coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Obviously it was far from a perfect game but the Hurricanes did what they had to do for the win. It was another penalty filled fiasco at times. The Canes were called for 10 penalties while the Flyers were called for 15, but six of them were called with less than three minutes left in the game when the home team intentionally tried to rough up the Canes.
Carolina will look for another sweep as they face the Flyers for game four on Saturday.
Mar 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Kane Kepley against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Ferguson was acquired from the Athletics and sent to Triple-A Iowa.
Right-hander Kenten Egbert was promoted from High-A South Bend to Iowa.
Iowa catcher Casey Opitz was activated off the Development List.
Connor Noland gave the I-Cubs a solid start, going five innings and giving up two runs on four hits. Noland did walk five batters while striking out five. One of the five walks issued was intentional.
Paul Campbell pitched the other four innings and got the loss after he gave up back-to-back solo home runs in the eighth inning. Campbell’s final line was two runs on three hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked no one.
Iowa managed just five singles in this one. First baseman BJ Murray was 1 for 3 with a walk.
A nice play on defense by second baseman Scott Kingery.
Grant Kipp had an impressive start, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings. Kipp struck out eight and walked no one.
Jace Beck relieved Kipp and took the loss after he allowed one unearned run on one hit over two innings. Beck struck out four and walked one.
The Smokies only run came on a home run by first baseman Owen Ayers in the bottom of the second inning. It was Ayers’ ninth home run this year and third for Knoxville.
Ayers was 1 for 4.
Here’s the Ayers home run.
You don’t see a lot of beautiful swings from the right side, but Owen Ayers sure does have one pic.twitter.com/DXBDxedLtc
Eli Jerzembeck’s High-A debut went about as well as the Cubs could have hoped for. Jerzembeck pitched three scoreless innings and gave up just one hit. He walked two, hit two and struck out three.
I don’t know if Jerzembeck would have be taken out anyways after 51 pitches, but the game was delayed 92 minutes by rain after three innings. Alfredo Romero took over when the rain stopped and he got the win. He gave up two runs on three hits over four innings. Romero struck out two, walked two and hit one batter.
South Bend scored nine runs on just seven hits and none of them were home runs. First baseman Cole Mathis had one of the two doubles, which drove home two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Mathis was 1 for 4.
Left fielder Kane Kepley went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI double in the sixth inning. Kepley also stole one base.
Center fielder Christian Olivo was 2 for 4. He scored twice and drove in two runners.
Shortstop Ty Southisene hit a two-run single in the fifth. He was 1 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He also scored once.
Mason McGwire continued his strong start to the season by allowing three runs on six hits over four innings. Only one of the three runs McGwire allowed was earned. Most impressively, he struck out seven and walked just one.
Braylon Myers relieved McGwire and got the win. Myers gave up four runs on four hits over three innings. Myers struck out four.
Riely Hunsaker got his first career save by retiring all six batters over the final two innings. Hunsaker struck out one.
Catcher Logan Poteet hit a solo home run in the fourth, his fifth on the year. Poteet was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy clubbed a two-run home run in the sixth. Lumpuy was 1 for 5.
The Pelicans took the lead after they scored six runs in the eighth inning. They took the lead when shortstop Alexis Hernandez hit a two-run single in that inning. He was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.
Second baseman Jose Escobar was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored one run.
PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play and Jalen Chatfield added a short-handed goal, keying a special teams effort that helped the Carolina Hurricanes win their seventh straight playoff game, 4-1 over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes — who outshot the Flyers 30-19 —can complete their second straight postseason series sweep in Game 4 on Saturday in Philadelphia.
The Hurricanes — coming off a Game 1 shutout and a Game 2 overtime thriller — again rode the hot hand of Frederik Andersen in net to move to the brink of a sweep.
The Flyers, the last team in the East to clinch a playoff spot who then beat Pittsburgh in the first round, had a few sensational early looks at the net but again failed to finish and again failed on the power play. They had the worst power-play efficiency (15.7%) in the NHL this season and did not score with the man advantage in Game 3.
To make it worse, Chatfield scored to make it 2-1 in the second just 11 seconds into the Flyers’ power play with Taylor Hall in the box for boarding.
The Flyers hit Andersen with 15 shots during 19 minutes of overtime in Game 2 and whiffed on their chance at the win — and perhaps their best shot at making this a competitive series — when Travis Konecny missed a makeable look on a breakaway.
Konecny fired another clean look minutes into Game 3, only for Andersen to knock it away with his pads. Porter Martone, the Flyers’ teen sensation, rang the right side of the post moments later and two great chances at goals meant nothing on the scoreboard.
The Flyers still had a chance on the power play but were stymied and fell at that point to 1 for 12 in the series and 3 for 29 in nine playoff games.
The Hurricanes are too playoff tested, too veteran savvy to not capitalize on Philadelphia’s slow start.
Staal punched in a rebound in the first period for the 1-0 lead.
Trevor Zegras, a 26-goal scorer held without a point the previous four games, tied the game for the Flyers from one knee in the second period.
That was it for the Flyers. They went 0 for 5 on the power play while the Hurricanes were 2 of 7.
Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers scored in the third period, the latter of which sent Flyers fans headed toward the exits.
NHL playoff history is still against the Flyers. Only four teams that trailed 3-0 in a seven-game series have come all the way back to win — the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1980 New York Islanders, 2010 Flyers and 2014 Los Angeles Kings.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 07: Greg Weissert #57 of the Boston Red Sox tosses his glove out of frustration in the dugout after pitching less than an inning in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on May 07, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I had a feeling this game wasn’t going to go the Sox way before it even started. To be fair, that isn’t saying much— most games haven’t gone the Sox way this year! But I knew the vibes would be off as soon as this came across the timeline shortly before the game started:
Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony are the two most important players on the Red Sox. As fun as the sweep in Detroit was, it’s going to be really hard for this team to build any sort of momentum without those two guys healthy playing to the best of their abilities. Tonight’s game showed everyone precisely why that is. The lineup looked punchless, as any lineup with Trevor Story batting cleanup would. The pitching staff couldn’t get big outs when it mattered. And the Sox dropped a listless game to a team they’ll probably need to catch in the standings at some point this season if they’re going to make the playoffs.
Three Studs
Jake Bennett
Bennett didn’t exactly mow down the opposition. In fact, I would describe his outing as more of the “chugging along” variety. He generated just five swings and misses all night, but managed to keep it close, limit the walks, and pitch into the sixth. Look, folks, the word “stud” is relative tonight.
Tyler Samaniego
Like I said, we’re playing a little fast and loose with the studs. Samaniego faced just two batters, coming into the game after Greg Weissert coughed up two runs in the sixth. But he sat those two batters down, as he’s done to most guys so far this season.
Wilyer Abreu
He singled in the third and brought home a run on a sac fly in the eighth. That was enough to make him the most productive hitter in the Red Sox lineup tonight — by far.
Three Duds
Greg Weissert
To a certain extent, Weissert can console himself with the thought that he was BABIPed to death in the sixth inning, when he gave the Rays a two-run lead they would not relinquish on a couple of soft hits. But the fickle nature of the BABIP gods is precisely why it’s so important for relievers who come into tight games to strike dudes out. Weissert did not strike any dudes out, and walked a dude to boot. It’s not his year, folks, which is something that gets said about most middle relievers a few times throughout their mercurial careers.
Ryan Watson
Ryan Watson, on the other hand, cannot blame the cruel winds of fate for his performance. Watson entered the game in the seventh tasked with holding the Rays lineup at bay long enough for the Sox to get back in the game. The Rays sure looked happy to see him, as they hit him hard and often, putting the game out of reach.
Willson Contreras
There’s never a good time for a TOOTBLAN. But it’s hard to think of too many worse times for a TOOTBLAN than in the eighth inning of a three-run game with no one out and a runner on second. Contreras’s terrible decision to try to take second after singling while Jarren Duran held up at third base cost the Sox a chance at a big inning.
Play of the Game
I’m giving it to the back-breaking TOOTBLAN, the latest deflating moment in a season that’s already had too many.
Dru Baker drove in five runs in Charlotte’s rout of the Jumbo Shrimp. | Getty Images
Charlotte Knights 16, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 1 Not only did the Knights (18-18) make it back to .500, but they outhit the Jumbo Shrimp (18-18), 14-5, and went 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Charlotte’s pitching set the tone for the rest of the White Sox affiliates, striking out eight while walking just one, with the one run coming off an RBI double in the fifth, when the Knights already had a 10-run lead. Appearing for the seventh time this season and making his fifth start, Duncan Davitt tossed four scoreless with two hits, a walk, and two Ks. Earning his first win of the season, however, was righthander Jackson Kelley, shutting the Shrimp down for two scoreless.
Back to the red-hot offense. Half of the Knights hits were for extra bases — five doubles and two home runs — and they drew eight walks as a team while striking out 10 times. Nearly everyone got a hit tonight, but there were two guys that drove in more than half of the runs for the Knights: Dru Baker and Jacob Gonzalez. Baker’s first two came off an RBI single with the bases loaded in the fifth, and he then hit a three-run bomb the next inning, giving him five RBIs on the day.
Gonzalez accounted for four, off of a two-bagger and a homer, and Braden Montgomery was the only player that mashed three hits, also accounting for two of the doubles and runs batted in. These were Montgomery’s first extra-base hits in Triple-A, but he has overall adjusted well so far, holding down an .804 OPS in his 14 at-bat sample size.
Outside of Montgomery and Gonzalez, Ryan Galanie also went 2-for-4, with both of his hits being doubles. Galanie has been slugging like crazy since being promoted to Charlotte (.586 SLG), and has maintained an .881 OPS. It was a beautiful, well-rounded win for Charlotte. Hopefully, the big-league squad can follow in their footsteps and get back to .500.
Birmingham Barons 4, at Knoxville Smokies1 A prime six-inning start from lefthander Jake Palisch to begin a holistically outstanding performance from the Barons (14-15) pitching staff set them up for success in their 4-1 win over the Smokies (14-15). Left fielder Jacob Burke led the way for the Birmingham offense, posting three hits with a triple while driving in two runs. Burke has been hot at the plate recently, leading qualified Barons players with a 1.072 OPS (44 at-bats), four doubles, two triples, a homer and seven RBIs over the last 15 days.
A solo bomb for the smokies off of Palish was the lone run given up for Birmingham. After the five hits allowed during his start, the bullpen didn’t let up another the rest of the game, and Jairo Iriarte received the save. The bats did just enough to keep Birmingham in the game, though outside of Burke only Jordan Sprinkle recorded an RBI. As a team the Barons struck out 14 times while walking just three, and went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position with eight left on base; it’s a good thing the bullpen was on its A-game.
Winston-Salem Dash 7, Hudson Valley Renegades 3 Bouncing back after a blowout loss on Wednesday, the Dash (18-12) pushed seven runs across in as many hits while going 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position in Thursday’s 7-3 win over the Renegades (15-14). Righthander Gabe Davis tossed another excellent four innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven. Davis now sits at a 1.80 ERA across 20 innings, and if he keeps this kind of efficiency up he will likely make a trip over to Double-A Birmingham sooner than later.
Driving in two runs apiece for the Good Guys were Ryan Burrows and Kyle Lodise, including a solo bomb from Burrowes in the fifth. T.J. McCants and Kaleb Freeman also joined the homer brigade, while the other extra-base hit was an RBI double from Grant Magill in the fourth. Despite giving up the most runs (two), Frankeli Arias ended up with the win for the Dash, and Garrett Wright followed it up with two hitless innings to end the game and establish the W.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 3, Columbia Fireflies 2(10 innings) The Cannon Ballers (12-18) completed a late-game comeback against the Fireflies (14-16) to force extras, and pulled off the W, now having won four of their last five, 3-2. Kannapolis was outhit, 7-4, and Columbia essentially handed two runs and the game over to the Ballers in the final two innings.
D’Angelo Tejada led the eighth inning off with a double, and scored a couple batters later on a balk from the Fireflies pitcher, cutting the lead to one. In the bottom of the ninth, Marcelo Alcala lined an RBI double out to left, allowing pinch-runner Abraham Núñez to score all the way from first and tie the game.
Tejada poked a perfect sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 10th, but wild pitch offense ended the game after the Columbia pitcher threw it away, allowing the Ballers to walk it off.
Making up for where the bats were lacking, the pitching staff walked just one batter, while combining for a whopping 15 strikeouts. Righthander Riley Eikhoff was solid for his six-inning start, racking up six Ks and allowing the two runs, but receiving zero run support in return. In his ninth appearance for the Ballers, Jackson Nove was nearly perfect in his two innings, adding five strikeouts to the tally. Closing it out, righthander Marco Barrios earned his fourth win of the season, also striking out another four in his two innings of work.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 07: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after being defeated by the Detroit Pistons 107-97 in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I wanted to give Donovan Mitchell the full-fledged ‘WINNER’ title tonight. However, his second-half rally fell short. And we’ll talk more about the Cavs ‘ late-game execution later.
To focus on the positives, first, Mitchell had his best game since Game 2 versus the Toronto Raptors. That’s worth feeling good about.
Mitchell had 31 points on 11-24 shooting, and he was more efficient before the game became desperate. His on-ball production looked closer to what we’ve expected from him. Bringing it up to the floor and generating blow-bys to get the defense in rotation. Mitchell settled into a groove of either hitting floaters or passing to teammates for most of the second half.
Then, closing time came.
But before that, Mitchell delivered a much-needed sign of life. This would bode well for the Cavs if it carries over to the rest of the series.
LOSER – James Harden
I mean, listen, man. We all knew these games were coming. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
Harden doesn’t value possessions. That much is clear. His errant touchdown pass to Evan Mobley, who was draped by Ausar Thompson, is an example of this. There’s no reason to throw such a dangerous pass at the start of a game when the Pistons were already building a double-digit lead. That turnover added gasoline to the fire.
It got slightly better as the game went on. That is to say, Harden only had one turnover in the second half. Yeah, it came in the final minutes of a winnable game and was a result of him dribbling for 15 seconds in isolation — but it was his only turnover, nonetheless.
Harden finished tonight 3-16 from the floor. Worse, his style of play demands the ball run through him more often than anyone else. That’s a deadly combination.
Today was James Harden’s 182nd career playoff game.
It was the 36th time he’s had 3 or fewer made field goals. Nearly 20% of his career playoff games.
It was the 46th time that he’s had as many or more turnovers than made field goals. More than 25% of his career playoff games.
There’s a reason these types of performances make up a quarter of Harden’s playoff career. The fact that he hasn’t been able to adapt in 17 years is a crushing indictment against one of the most talented players of all time.
LOSER – Crunch Time
Everything looks hard for the Cavs.
It’s impossible not to notice the difference between how Detroit and Cleveland have closed the last two games. The Pistons are calm and composed, getting to advantageous spots and scoring timely buckets. The Cavs, meanwhile, are running around like headless chickens.
Much of this ties back to what we talked about with Harden. The late-game offense boils down to watching Harden pick his poison and dribbling until a Pistons defender turns him over, or forces him into a difficult shot. That’s a recipe I’ve grown sick of — having seen it multiple times in the previous round (and in years past).
But blaming Harden is missing the forest for the trees.
This team is too talented to fall by the wayside at closing time. Mitchell had opportunities, and instead of aggressively attacking the rim, opted for desperation three-point attempts. Mobley, meanwhile, was a non-factor offensively despite the massive defensive attention given to both guards.
On the other hand, Detroit is playing like a team. Trusting Tobias Harris to work in the post. Running the ball through Duncan Robinson and using his gravity to bend the defense. And, of course, resting on Cade Cunningham’s shoulders as he made all the right plays down the stretch.
Everyone needs to be better. The Cavs won’t last much longer if their process isn’t cleaned up.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball while Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons attempts to block the shot during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass. As a note, the percentiles are in comparison to other playoff games, which influences the sample size.
Offensive Rating
Effective Field Goal Percentage
Offensive Turnover Percentage
Offensive Rebounding Percentage
Free Throw Rate
Cavs
107.8, 29th percentile
46.3%, 10th percentile
12.2%, 72nd percentile
30.6%, 62nd percentile
27.2, 80th percentile
Pistons
120.2, 69th percentile
57.5%, 69th percentile
14.6%, 48th percentile
34.1%, 78th percentile
18.8, 40th percentile
Now, let’s dive into the numbers.
The Pistons went 14-28 (50%) from three. Out of the 91 regular-season and playoff games they’ve played this year, this was just the seventh time they’ve connected on 50% or more of their triples. Duncan Robinson hurt Cleveland most, going 5-9 (55.6%) from beyond the arc.
The Cavs went 7-32 (21.9%) from three. This was their lowest percentage from distance this postseason. Out of the 91 total games they’ve played, this was their third-lowest mark. It’s a make-or-miss league. The Cavs were on the wrong end of that as both teams had outlier performances, just on different ends of the spectrum.
Just five of the eight Cavaliers who attempted a three-pointer actually made one. Only two made more than one: Dean Wade (2-4) and Donovan Mitchell (2-9).
This is the second game in a row James Harden has had more turnovers (four) than made field goals (three). This is the fourth time it’s happened during this playoff run. Turnovers weren’t the main issue in this game. Instead, it was the shooting. Harden went 3-13 from the field in what was an abysmal game.
Harden had a team-worst plus/minus of -15. The Cavs were simply bad on both ends of the court when he was out there. The Pistons sought out mismatches and relentlessly attacked him on defense. On the other end, he wasn’t able to get his shot to fall, and he also didn’t have success as a playmaker.
The Cavs attempted just six shots in the restricted area all game (2nd percentile). The most efficient place to score from is getting to the rim. The Cavs weren’t able to get there at all. It’s a miracle they were even in this game, considering how poorly they shot the three-ball and their ability to attack the basket.
Donovan Mitchell took none of his 24 field-goal attempts at the rim. For context, nearly a quarter of his shots came there during the regular season. Mitchell did, however, go 9-13 on shots in the short midrange. The floater was working against the Pistons.
Mitchell attempted his most free-throws this postseason at nine. This wasn’t an overall efficient night due to going 2-9 from three. Being able to get to the line helped keep him on track as a scorer.
Evan Mobley had just one of Cleveland’s 47 rebounds. Being a good rebounder doesn’t always lead to high rebounding numbers. However, there’s no excuse for having only one in a game this close.
Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists. The Cavs don’t have an answer for Cunningham right now. He’s been the best player on the court, and when he has the three-ball falling like he did tonight (3-6), there’s little anyone can do to stop him.
The Cavs won the second-chance points battle 22-16. Cleveland had three more second-chance opportunities than Detroit. That’s an area the Cavs needed to clean up after Game 1, and did.
Cleveland (11) commited less turnovers than Detroit (13). Five of Cleveland’s 11 giveaways came in the first half. They corrected that over the last three quarters and were in a position to steal this one late because of it.
The Cavs have lost the fourth quarter in six of their nine playoff games. Closing games has been a challenge. Cleveland had a chance to win this one, but was outscored 28-22 in the fourth.
Cleveland went just 0-11 from three in the final frame. This included three misses from Mitchell and four from Max Strus.
The Cavs had just six points in the final four minutes. The offense went cold at the worst possible time. The Pistons outscored the Cavs by seven in that stretch.
The Cavaliers are now 4-13 on the road in the postseason since trading for Mitchell. Two of those wins are against a Miami Heat team that had more losses than wins in the regular season. You simply can’t have a long postseason run if you can’t occasionally steal road games.
For three quarters, the Cavaliers' game plan of "make anyone but Cade Cunningham beat us" was modestly effective — he only had eight shots and 13 points, but he also had 10 assists. At least the Cavs had slowed the leading scorer of these playoffs.
But in the fourth quarter, there was no stopping Cunningham.
Cunningham put up a dozen in the fourth and outdueled Donovan Mitchell, who finished the game with 31 points but didn't get enough help.
Behind Cunningham and rock-solid defense, Detroit picked up the 107-97 win to go up 2-0 in this Eastern Conference semifinal.
The series now moves to Cleveland on Sunday for Game 3, which you can watch on NBC and Peacock at 3 ET. The Cavaliers had some things they could take away from this loss that worked, plus they have been much better at home these playoffs (but 0-5 on the road).
Detroit has now won five playoff games in a row after falling behind Orlando 3-1 in the first round.
Two things were clear early in Game 2. One, Detroit was happy to have Cunningham working off-ball, and as Cleveland's Dean Wade worked to deny the Pistons' star the chance to initiate the offense. At times, Detroit used Wade's overplay against him, getting Cunningham the ball rolling toward the rim, where he could shoot or find a teammate (he had more assists than points in the first quarter).
The other key was the Pistons upping their defensive pressure, which threw the Cavaliers off. The result was Cleveland shooting below 40% (39.5%) and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from 3-point range in the first half, with nine turnovers. Harden, in particular, struggled, shooting 2-of-10 in the first 24 minutes.
James Harden is now 9-of-28 in this series and 1-of-11 from 3-point range with 11 turnovers. He simply has to be better in Cleveland if the Cavaliers are going to make this a series.
While Cunningham rightfully gets the headlines, the play of Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris was critical for Detroit in this game. Harris was again phenomenal with 21 points and seven boards, hitting some clutch shots. Thompson got eight first-quarter points coming out of the dunker's spot as the defense collapsed on Cunningham, but he also was strong on the boards (seven rebounds), served to bring the ball up and initiate the offense at points, and remains the best perimeter defender in this series (and the league).
Tobias Harris clamps. Ausar Thompson gets the steal.
Cleveland played with much more force in the second half ‚ they matched Detroit's physicality on defense, and they were more intentional and targeted on offense (plus they stopped turning the ball over). Mitchell led the way — they used him both as the screener and ball handler — and that opened things up for others.
It was a four-point game entering the fourth quarter, and then Detroit started the fourth on a 6-0 run to take the lead.
That's when Cunningham started to take over, and the Cavaliers ultimately had no answer.
Jarrett Allen had another strong game for Cleveland with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Duncan Robinson was 5-of-9 from 3 for Detroit and finished with 17 points, while Daniss Jenkins scored 14 off the bench and had some key minutes. Jalen Duran was again strong inside with 10 boards to go with his eight points.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart again in crunch time. They’ll head back to Cleveland trailing the Detroit Pistons 0-2.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Mitchell had his best game in weeks, jolting the Cavaliers back to life in the second half. Detroit had Harden in a locker, so the Cavs allowed Mitchell to effectively play point guard during the third quarter. This led to the most engaged version of Don we’ve seen since Game 2 versus Toronto. He repeatedly attacked the basket for floaters and used his gravity to create opportunities for his teammates.
Late-game execution was the problem. Mitchell suddenly stopped getting to the basket. And once again, Spida became a stationary sidekick as Harden dribbled the ball into oblivion.
Harden has raised the Cavaliers’ floor this postseason simply by being more available than Darius Garland ever was. And at times, he’s even raised their ceiling by showing glimpses of the player that will one day be in the HOF.
But that light is dwindling, and the last few games have been antithetical to everything that this team built its success on in the past.
Over-dribbling, isolation-heavy basketball has never led to the best version of the Cavs. Yet it’s the only style that Harden plays. He isn’t adapting to playing without the ball in year 17. You win or lose on his terms. The 0-2 deficit speaks for itself.
Mobley wasn’t involved enough on offense tonight. Part of that is the Pistons shrinking the floor and taking away the roll. Another part was Jarrett Allen had it going — so naturally, more touches went his way.
But Mobley did a fine job of reading the floor in this one. He punished the help defense with his playmaking, dishing 4 assists and narrowly missing on a few other potential assists that didn’t drop.
More so, Mobley was phenomenal on defense. His rim protection and efforts against Jalen Duren are some of the only reasons this game was close in the fourth quarter. We’d like to see him grab more rebounds, but he did spend chunks of time switched onto the perimeter.
Allen gave you everything you need to win this one. An efficient 22 points on 9 shot attempts. Competent defense at the point of attack whenever he had to switch. And, a respectable effort on the glass that was only tested when he was left alone to box out multiple players. He’s not going to do much more than this.
Grade: A-
Dean Wade
8 points, 5 rebounds
It’s the same old story. Wade’s defense makes him valuable. But his lack of offensive creation tests how valuable that defense actually is. The Pistons, like the Raptors, have successfully shrunk the floor by ignoring Wade in the corner.
Grade: C–
Max Strus
3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Strus was on fire in Game 1. Not so much in Game 2, shooting just 1-6 from the floor.
This is more or less what you expect from a streaky role player. He gave you a performance worthy of winning. Now you live with the opposite result. The Cavs missed their chance in Game 1.
Grade: D+
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
It feels like Tyson is going to be the X-Factor in this series. The Cavs desperately need someone who can create off the dribble and space the floor next to the core four. Tyson hasn’t gotten a full crack at that yet. But if he does, it could be the thing that finally unlocks Cleveland’s offense.
Grade: B–
Keon Ellis
3 points, 6 minutes
Ellis is going to get opportunities with Merrill out due to a hamstring injury. So far, those minutes haven’t gone well. He’s a defender who loves to gamble, and he isn’t doing enough on offense to replace Merrill’s production.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
4 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers
I don’t know if the Cavs planned on playing Schroder this often in the playoffs. But he’s become a mainstay in the rotation, largely because of how inconsistent the starting backcourt has been. The Cavs have needed an additional ball handler to relieve pressure, and I think Schroder did a fine job of that tonight despite his usual limitations.
The Yankees were hitless in their previous seven at-bats with runners in scoring position Thursday when the center fielder stepped up in the bottom of the sixth against the Rangers.
He didn’t just clear the bases in slapping an RBI double to the wall in left center, he kicked off a contagious six-run rally that turned a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead.
“I think that Grish at-bat’s the at-bat of the game,” Aaron Boone said following the 9-2 win in The Bronx. “And [then] we’re able to tack on a little bit from there.”
Following his clutch hit, Grisham reached home via a J.C. Escarra single, while Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger soon chipped in with RBIs as well, opening a five-run lead.
Trent Grisham connects on a double during the Yankees’ May 7, 2026 win. Bill Kostroun for the NY Post
Every Yankees starter (other than the injured Jasson Domínguez) ended the game with a hit, and Grisham scored again in the seventh off a Max Schuemann double — the first hit of the recent call-up’s Yankees career.
Texas starter MacKenzie Gore allowed just four hits prior to the Yankees outburst, one being a first-inning RBI triple from Bellinger.
Still, Boone was pleased with the quality of the team’s at-bats after the game and singled out his lefty hitters for praise.
Grisham, who is one of those lefties, has struggled at the plate this year as his average dipped to .151 in late April.
Trent Grisham reacts after hitting a double during the Yankees’ May 7 win. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
But he was the protagonist of this Yankees comeback and the game’s co-leader in hits (three), alongside fellow lefty Bellinger.
“He has been incredibly unlucky because I feel like he’s hit the ball off the barrel a couple times a game and not being rewarded,” Boone said of Grisham.
That luck shifted in the fourth inning for the 29-year-old when he saw a soft pop-up land off his bat in front of catcher Danny Jansen.
From there, he eventually kicked the Yankees’ turnaround into gear in what turned out to be a collective effort.
“Everybody feels pretty close. It’s a tight-knit group, so I feel like everybody’s fighting for each other up there,” Schuemann said. “It’s not necessarily selfish in any way. I haven’t gotten that vibe since being here.”
The Yankees will look to carry that positivity into their Milwaukee road trip.
May 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons used another well-rounded effort, with contributions up and down the roster, to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series. It was a tougher game as Cleveland cleaned up its turnovers and got a much friendlier whistle than in Game 1, but every time the Cavs punched Detroit in the mouth, the Pistons found a way to punch back.
The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham with 25 points and 10 assists, and just like in Game 1, Cunningham saved his best for late in the game. Cade scored 12 points in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter and played excellent defense to help stave off a late Cleveland surge.
Detroit was up comfortably throughout the first half, but a stagnant third quarter on offense and a subpar defensive effort, combined with an unfriendly whistle, allowed the Cavs to cut Detroit’s lead to four entering the final quarter. Cleveland then scored the first three baskets of the fourth, including an emphatic Evan Mobley dunk, to take their first lead of the game since early in the first.
Detroit then turned into their two most reliable players in game one — Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson. Harris settled things down with a steady turnaround jumper from 11 feet, and Robinson hit a three. When the Cavs cut it to a one-possession game again, Tobias hit a floater, and Duncan hit a three. Of course. That was all Detroit needed to get into Cade time.
He hit a pull-up three at the top of the key, a baseline fadeaway, got to the free-throw line, and effectively put the game away with a stepback three with just over two minutes left.
Plenty of Pistons played well, and it was all needed because nearly as many players were battling foul trouble. A game after Cleveland complained about the poor whistle they received, the script completely flipped in game 2 (interesting how that works).
Ausar Thompson got his fourth foul early in the third quarter, and his absence was a big contributor to Cleveland’s third-quarter run. James Harden seemed to be trying to bait foul calls as his entire role in the offensive game plan. Or, it was the only thing Harden did well, anyway.
The Beard was just 3-of-13 from the floor and had four turnovers, including a critical one late in the fourth when he pounded the air out of the ball and then got his pocket picked by Thompson. He wasn’t the only Cavs player who struggled. Evan Mobley was limited to just nine points and one rebound. Dean Wade, who is mostly in the lineup for defense, scored just eight points.
Donovan Mitchell almost won the game for the Cavs by himself. He was brilliant throughout the night. He had his swim move and floater game working hard, and he hit some tough perimeter shots to try to keep his team in the game. He led all scorers with 31 points. Jarrett Allen chipped in 22 points.
The Pistons got contributions up and down the roster. Ausar Thompson scored 10 points and added seven rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 21 points, stretching his 20-plus game streak to seven. Duncan Robinson scored 17 and hit five three-pointers. Daniss Jenkins scored 14 points and added six rebounds and four assists. He was absolutely critical to keeping Detroit in it when Cunningham was mostly quiet.
In the end, Detroit did exactly what it had to do. It protected its home-court advantage, established how they can best the Cavs on both ends of the floor, and now they will look to head to Cleveland to really put a stranglehold on this series.
