Steve Kerr remaining with Warriors on new contract: What it means

The Golden State Warriors appear ready to run it back — at least with one key piece of the puzzle reportedly locked in.

Steve Kerr has agreed to return as head coach of the franchise after both sides agreed to a two-year contract extension, his agents told ESPN. Kerr will remain the highest-paid coach in the NBA on a yearly basis, ESPN reports.

This comes after weeks of speculation that Kerr was considering stepping down. Kerr, whose contract was set to expire, had been engaged in meetings with the Warriors over his future with the team.

“I still love coaching, but I get it,” Kerr told reporters after the Warriors lost in the Play-In Tournament. “These jobs all have an expiration date. There's a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that.”

In fact, in the closing seconds of the Warriors' season-ending loss April 18 against the Phoenix Suns, Kerr embraced Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the sideline.

“I don't know what's going to happen next,” the Amazon Prime Video mics picked up Kerr telling his star players. “But I love you guys. Thank you.”

Steve Kerr returns: what does it mean?

This is a clear indication that the Warriors are looking to run it back once more with Stephen Curry (38 years old), Jimmy Butler (36) and Draymond Green (36) — all of whom will be on expiring contracts in 2026-27, assuming Green exercises his player option.

Green could decline the option and seek a multi-year deal, but the Warriors will need to carefully consider their future beyond the next two seasons.

It’s also an indication that Kerr and the Warriors feel they can win; presumably, Kerr wouldn’t want to be part of a rebuild. And, along a similar thread, if the Warriors were looking to build for the future, they would presumably want a coach earlier in his career than the 60-year-old Kerr.

In any case, the Warriors likely need to add some pieces to stay competitive in the Western Conference.

In January, Butler suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and his status for the start of the 2026-27 season could be in doubt. Either way, it became clear that this Warriors roster was deficient, so Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. could use this closing window to compete to seek out a star.

Prior to the February trading deadline, the Warriors had been linked to Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and as Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee will be assessed this offseason, Golden State could once again become involved in that pursuit.

In any case, one thing that will benefit the Warriors is if Kerr can get some of their younger players to develop and take steps forward.

Steve Kerr coaching record

Since taking over in 2014, Kerr’s record at Golden State is 604-353 (.631). He’s the second longest-tenured active head coach in the NBA behind only Erik Spoelstra, who has been head coach of the Miami Heat since 2008.

The 2025-26 season marked the first time in Kerr’s 12-year run that the Warriors finished with a losing record (37-45) in an 82-game season. Golden State went 15-50 in 2019-20, but they played only 65 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How many championships has Steve Kerr won?

Not counting his five rings as a player with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, Kerr has won four NBA championships as the head coach of the Warriors.

Kerr took over in 2014-15 for previous head coach Mark Jackson and led Golden State to the Finals in his first season. Eventually, the Warriors knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending a 40-year title drought. The team won a regular-season record 73 games the following year but ultimately lost a Finals rematch against the Cavs in seven games after Golden State blew a 3-1 lead.

That offseason, the Warriors shifted the balance of power in the NBA by signing Kevin Durant and proceeded to win consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018 before losing their bid for a three-peat to the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

The Warriors captured their most recent championship in 2022.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Kerr contract with Warriors reached: Coach staying in Bay Area

Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman remembers late Braves manager Bobby Cox

If the sun is blocked at some point Sunday by clouds passing over Dodger Stadium, Freddie Freeman won’t move his sunglasses to the brim of his cap.

He doesn’t want his shades to obscure the Dodgers’ logo.

Former Braves manager Bobby Cox died Saturday at age 84. AP

“It will be on the back of my hat,” Freeman said. “That’s Bobby. Bobby’s still in me.”

Freeman smiled often Saturday as he told stories of his first MLB manager, Bobby Cox, whose death was announced earlier in the day by the Braves. The Dodgers are in the middle of a three-game series against the Braves.

Cox, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, was 84.


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A September call-up in Cox’s final season as a manager, in 2010, Freeman’s time with the Braves didn’t overlap much with Cox’s. However, Freeman said Cox had an oversized influence on him.

“A manager who relentlessly had our backs,” said Freeman, who was in the Braves’ major-league spring training camp in each of Cox’s last two years.

Freeman recalled walking into the Braves’ clubhouse for the first time on Sept. 1, 2010, and seeing a lineup card on which he was listed as the team’s No. 6 hitter.

“I almost threw up,” Freeman said.

Freeman was staring into space in front of his locker when Cox walked over. The manager dropped an expletive, which was followed by a question: “What took you so long to get here to the big leagues?”

“All the nerves immediately went away,” Freeman said.

Dodgers star Freddie Freeman shared his favorite Bobby Cox stories on Saturday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Freeman said everyone who was in Cox’s orbit had stories like that.

“A lot of how the game goes is already played out before the game,” Freeman said. “There’s meetings with pitching coaches, who’s available, who’s down, but the managers that can connect with you as a person, that’s what makes a great manager. And that’s what Bobby was.”

Freeman’s favorite memory of Cox wasn’t even from a baseball field or clubhouse. In spring training of 2017, Freeman and his wife were out to dinner with their then-6-month-old son, Charlie. They ran into Cox and his wife.

“To see Hall of Famer Bobby Cox, the joy on his face when he saw my 6-month-old son, that’s the stuff I will never forget,” Freeman said.

Game #40: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 3: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on May 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants, May 9, 2026, 9:05 p.m. ET

Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet

Starting Pitcher: Braxton Ashcraft


The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the San Francisco Giants looking to grab a win.


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Carlos Rodon about to put all his rehab work to test in Yankees debut

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Carlos Rodón of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, during a game against the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park on Tuesday May 5, 2026, Image 2 shows Carlos Rodon throwing during a spring training workout
Carlos Rodon Yankees

MILWAUKEE — The biggest Yankees workhorse over the past two seasons is ready to get back in the saddle. 

Nearly seven months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur, Carlos Rodón is set to return from the injured list Sunday to make his season debut against the Brewers at American Family Field. 

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The left-hander will do so with an unfamiliar feeling: no longer pitching through discomfort. 

Across an MLB-high 33 starts last season, and even for some time before then, Rodón had limited range of motion with his left arm — making everyday tasks like buttoning his shirt difficult — which he had learned to pitch through, and pitch well. He posted a 3.09 ERA with 203 strikeouts across 195 ¹/₃ innings and finished sixth in the American League Cy Young voting. 

Now, after spending much of his rehab process rediscovering how to harness the extended range of motion that he was not used to, Rodón is about to find out how it plays on a big league mound. 

“I just want to go out there and compete,” Rodón said Saturday. “I know I can still do this.” 

After right hamstring tightness in late March slightly delayed his buildup, the 33-year-old made three rehab starts, getting up to 83 pitches and 6 ¹/₃ innings Tuesday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He will likely be limited to a pitch count around that same range Sunday as the Yankees ease him back in. 

Carlos Rodón of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, during a game against the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park on Tuesday May 5, 2026. Arthur Mansavage for NY Post

“This being probably my third time through a lengthy rehab process, I have some experience, although most people don’t want to really say that,” Rodón said. “Just [leaning] back on those times and working on the craft and trying to get back here and help the team.” 

Aaron Boone acknowledged that Rodón, who admitted not being good at staying patient, would have liked to be back pitching in the big leagues a few turns sooner. But the manager is looking forward to getting him back Sunday. 

“Feel like he’s had a good couple months, even in and around the hamstring that didn’t trip him up too much,” Boone said. 

Rodón’s return gets the Yankees one step closer to having their full rotation, with Gerrit Cole possibly joining it by the end of the month after he makes two or three more rehab starts in his own comeback from Tommy John surgery. 

The Yankees rotation has gotten off to a terrific start without the two veterans, entering Saturday with a 3.09 ERA (the second best mark in the majors, trailing only the Dodgers’ 2.95) and a 4.9 fWAR (which was the best in the majors). Much of that has been thanks to Max Fried and Cam Schlittler, though Will Warren and Ryan Weathers have been strong in their own rights, with the rotation providing the backbone for the AL-best 26-13 record coming into Saturday. 

Carlos Rodon throwing during a spring training workout. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“They’ve been impeccable,” Rodón said. 

But adding Rodón — whose 370 ¹/₃ innings from 2024-2025 were the fifth most in the majors and 3.50 ERA the 20th best during that span — into the mix has the potential to make the Yankees even better. 



In his first few starts back, Rodón’s command and velocity will bear watching. He only walked three batters in 16 innings during his rehab process, though he acknowledged at various points of his comeback that he was still relearning his arm path after compensating for the limited range of motion in recent years. 

As for the velocity, part of the reason why Rodón finally underwent the surgery in October was because his four-seam fastball velocity took a fairly significant step down last season — averaging 94.1 mph compared to 95.4 mph in 2024. In his final rehab start Tuesday, Rodón’s four-seamer averaged 93.3 mph, though that number is expected to tick up a bit when he gets the adrenaline back of pitching in the major leagues. 

Just how much that accounts for in miles per hour remains to be seen, but after staying patient throughout a lengthy rehab process, Rodón is champing at the bit to find out.

The Washington Nationals drop a disappointing and mistake filled contest

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 8: Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins reacts after being tagged out by CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals at second base during the eighth inning at loanDepot park on May 8, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nationals had a chance to get back to .500 this afternoon and after the first couple innings, it looked like they would pull it off. They were all over Marlins starter Janson Junk early. However, when the game got turned over to Zack Littell and Mitchell Parker, things went off the rails.

As we mentioned, things started so well in this late afternoon showdown. For the third time this season, James Wood hit a leadoff home run. It was a towering 442 foot shot that went way into the second deck. Seeing Wood really get a hold of a ball is truly a joy to watch.

After the Wood homer, Luis Garcia Jr., Brady House and CJ Abrams got three straight hits. Before you could even blink an eye it was 3-0 Nats. The same sort of thing happened last night, but this time it was even faster. Last night the Nats could not add on and were lucky to escape with a victory.

This time the Nats scored on a sac fly after a CJ Abrams triple. However, the offense went quiet after that. The Nats did not score between that Lile sac fly and the ninth inning. While the Nationals were in an offensive malaise, the Marlins struck.

Once Zack Littell entered the game, the momentum really shifted. Littell has probably been the biggest disappointment of the season so far. He is fooling absolutely nobody, and even in a bulk relief role he struggled. Even the outs he was getting were loud outs. 

Littell did not totally melt down in this one, but he allowed the Marlins to slowly chip away. In the 4th, he allowed a home run on an absolute meatball to Kyle Stowers. Nats pitchers got punished for hanging their offspeed pitches all afternoon in this one. All three Marlins homers came on secondary pitches right down the middle.

Littell was also not helped by his defense. CJ Abrams made an error for the second straight game, and has really gone back to old habits defensively. He looked great on defense the first week or two of the season, but that has shifted in a big way. While Abrams is a superstar at the plate, he might be the worst defender of any everyday shortstop. His -5 OAA ranks in the 1st percentile. 

Littell was not convincing at all, but he did maintain the lead for the Nats in his four innings of work. However, I am not sure how much longer you can continue with this experiment. He just has not had it in a Nats uniform.

Mitchell Parker had looked promising in a multi-inning relief role before this game, but today was not his day. After giving up a game tying home run and limping his way through the 7th inning, that much was clear. However, Blake Butera decided to stick to his plan and roll out Parker for a second inning.

That decision backfired in a huge way. Parker’s command was just completely off today. He was unable to consistently throw his fastball in the zone and his slider was just hanging on a tee for Marlins hitters. After a single and a walk, Parker allowed a gut punch of a homer to Jakob Marsee. It was on yet another hanging slider.

He was unable to stop the bleeding there either. Still in the game, Parker allowed a double to Esteury Ruiz before Blake Butera finally pulled him, a move he made way too late. Butera went to Zak Kent, who allowed the inherited runner to score, but stopped the bleeding there.

It was a major gut punch and the game felt all but over, but the Nats had one last rally in them. Jose Tena led off the inning with a double, and then the light hitting Drew Millas drove him in with an RBI knock. With the top of the order coming up, the boys were in business.

James Wood made the game even more interesting with an RBI double on a rope to left field. Luis Garcia Jr. drove him in with yet another hit. It was now 8-7 Marlins with a runner at second base. Joey Wiemer would pinch run for Garcia, but his base running would cost the Nats. Pinch hitter Jorbit Vivas hit a ground ball to third, and Wiemer was caught between second and third base. He got tagged out trying to scramble back to second.

That meant the game would be up to CJ Abrams. There was only a runner on first now, but the Nats had the right man in the box. The Marlins went to a lefty out of the bullpen, and unfortunately, the move paid off. Abrams got under an 0-2 sweeper and flew out to left to end the ball game.

This was a really frustrating loss. The Nats were in control for most of the contest, but allowed the Marlins to wrestle that control away. Sloppy mistakes were just scattered across this contest. I did not think Blake Butera had his best game either. The Nats had a chance to get to .500 and they blew it. Now the boys need to brush off that disappointing loss and go for the series win tomorrow afternoon.

Braves vs Dodgers Game Thread: 5/9/2026

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 08: Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) reacts after being called out at home trying to score during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 8, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Join us and discuss tonight’s game in the comments below, as the Braves look to even up their series against the Dodgers in LA!

Game Info

Game Time: Saturday, May 9th, 9:10 pm EDT

Location: UNIGLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA.

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Mike Brown is pushing all the right buttons — and keeping the Knicks nimble at right time

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Mike Brown talking with Josh Hart during the Knicks' Game 2 against the 76ers, Image 2 shows New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) double team Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the fourth quarter
Knicks

PHILADELPHIA — It seemed like a throwaway comment at the time, but it’s the perfect encapsulation of how Mike Brown has the Knicks on the front foot. 

When asked how the 76ers might adjust to the Knicks playing without OG Anunoby in Game 3, Nick Nurse said, “I guess I gotta see what happens, which way they go.” 

Throughout these playoffs, it’s been Brown who is dictating things, and opposing coaches who are reacting and trying to keep up. 

Brown used the regular season to experiment — a major departure from his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau — and it is paying major dividends in the postseason.

Mike Brown talking with Josh Hart during the Knicks’ Game 2 against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Knicks have been nimble in making needed adjustments, whether with the rotation or with scheme. 

The biggest adjustment has been with the offense. Midway through the first round, the Knicks began running their offense through Karl-Anthony Towns at the elbow. It allowed Jalen Brunson to play off the ball and set screens for his teammates. It gave OG Anunoby more freedom as a cutter, rather than having to stand in the corners for kickout 3s. It brought the best out of Towns and his playmaking ability. 

In the first round, Quin Snyder tried to combat the new offense by having Dyson Daniels guard Towns instead of Brunson. It was a complete failure, and he quickly abandoned the plan. 

“I feel like the real change for us came before Game 4 in Atlanta,” Towns said Saturday. “I think that’s when we really changed our offense. It’s been great. It’s been something I’ve talked about for a lot of the season, to feel like we can help our guys more. We made the right moves. [Brown] set the table for us to have this kind of run.” 

And in this second-round series, the Knicks decided to completely target Joel Embiid, when he’s playing and on the floor, in pick-and-rolls to expose his lack of mobility. Nurse and the 76ers have had no answer for it. 

On the defensive end, Brown and his staff — in collaboration with the players — have made huge impacts on the game with their matchup decisions. The move to have Josh Hart guard CJ McCollum completely neutralized McCollum and changed the course of the first round. In Friday’s 108-93 Game 3 win over the 76ers, they at times shifted Mikal Bridges onto Paul George, who torched them for 15 points in the first quarter and then went scoreless and 0-for-9 from the field the rest of the way. 

Nurse and the 76ers had no successful countermove to get George going the final three quarters. 

“It was the perfect time for all of us to really get on the same accord,” Towns said. “There’s no better time to be playing your best basketball than right now. So shout out to Mike and really the whole coaching staff for putting us in the best position to succeed.” 

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) double team Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the fourth quarter of Game 4. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

Even before the Knicks played without Anunoby in Game 3, the rotation looked different than expected. Jose Alvarado, who appeared to be out of the playoff mix when the postseason started, now has regular minutes. It was a tweak Brown felt was needed to have a more natural point guard on the floor rather than having Miles McBride or Landry Shamet handling that responsibility. 

It meant Shamet was buried on the bench, a major departure from the key role he played in the regular season. But, without Anunoby in Game 3, there he was, providing a huge lift with 15 points in 26 minutes Friday. It didn’t matter that he had basically been on ice since early in the first round. He stayed ready. 

“When guys are engaged like that 24/7 throughout the course of the year,” Brown said, “it bodes well for the environment, for the culture and guys are actively trying to keep their mind present because when they get an opportunity, they want to perform well.” 

It’s part of a culture of professionalism Brown has established where there are contributions up and down the roster. Every coach talks about players being ready for when their number is called. For the Knicks — because Brown gave them all a chance in the regular season — it’s actually reality. 

“As a coach, you love to see it,” Brown said. “That’s why you give different guys opportunities at different times. Sometimes, you start Landry. Sometimes, you start Mo. Sometimes, you start this guy. And what hopefully it shows at the end of the day coming from me is that I have confidence in them, and not only that, your number can be called any time, so be ready. And our guys have taken that to heart. We’ve got a lot of good guys that are resilient. They’re fighters. And they’ve done a good job of keeping their mind on staying present in whatever we’re doing, and it’s showing when they go out there and get the opportunity.” 

Whether with schematics or rotation, Brown is pressing the right buttons. 

And it has the Knicks surging at the perfect time. 

Sabres Get Key Reinforcement as Ruff Preaches Calm Ahead of Crucial Game 3 in Montreal

The Montreal Canadiens struck back with authority in Game 2, powering past the Buffalo Sabres 5–1 to level the series at one win apiece as the matchup now shifts into a hostile setting at the Bell Centre for Game 3.

Buffalo, meanwhile, won’t be making the trip at full strength—but they will be adding back a familiar, physical presence at the right time.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed to reporters, including TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, that forward Sam Carrick is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 against the Canadiens.

Carrick isn’t the type to drive headlines, but his value shows up in all the places coaches notice most—penalty kills, defensive-zone faceoffs, and the grinding minutes that stabilize a bottom-six group. For Buffalo, his return is less about flash and more about function, restoring a layer of structure and physical edge that becomes even more important in a tightly contested playoff series.

Across the season, Carrick split time between the New York Rangers and the Sabres, appearing in 73 games while recording nine goals, seven assists, and 16 points. He also delivered 106 hits and finished with a plus-2 rating, cementing himself as a dependable depth forward. Since joining Buffalo, he’s chipped in five goals and an assist in 13 games, quickly earning trust in a checking-line role.

Ruff Confident Sabres Can Reset and Respond in Montreal

Still, the bigger message out of Buffalo isn’t about personnel—it’s about belief.

Even after a decisive Game 2 loss, Ruff projected calm rather than concern, leaning on his group’s ability to respond to adversity rather than spiral from it. The Sabres’ bench boss emphasized that postseason swings are part of the rhythm of winning in the playoffs, and that one result rarely defines the next.

“Sometimes when you're winning, you don't ever think you're going to lose in the playoffs,” Ruff said. “Then when you lose one, you don't ever think you're going to win again.”

He pointed to recent examples of Buffalo’s resilience during the regular season, including responses after uneven stretches and setbacks following long winning runs. For Ruff, the pattern has been consistent: the Sabres have shown an ability to reset quickly rather than carry frustration forward.

“We knew we had to play really well in Boston,” he added, referencing a previous playoff series. “The whole year we've answered the call. You had a couple stretches, even after our 10-game winning streak. We played a terrible game in Columbus, and we bounced back with real good hockey, so really just reset, refocus, let's take the temperature down a little bit.”

Now, with the series tied and the pressure shifting to Montreal, Buffalo’s message is simple—Game 2 is in the rearview mirror. Game 3 is a different game entirely.

Image

Game Thread: Mariners (19-20) at White Sox (17-21)

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 08: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Friday, May 8, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Munetaka Murakami set yet another MLB record in last night’s game: Homering in the opening game of eight straight series. The Good Guys look for more of that power tonight. | (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

After dropping the first game of this nine-game homestand last night and on a three-game losing streak, the Chicago White Sox will rely on Anthony Kay to provide a lead the turnaround. Kay (1-1, 5.70 ERA, 7.62 xERA) has struggled with consistency in the early going and hasn’t pitched into the sixth inning since April 9 in Kansas City. He’s yet to find the success he had on the other side of the world, so here’s hoping he settles in against a Mariners squad on the verge of breaking through.

As for his mound mate, he’s off to a rocky start himself. Luis Castillo (0-3, 6.29 ERA, 5.86 xERA) has given up runs in every start apart from his first of the year. He’s already had two such starts where he’s given up seven runs. Let’s see if the Sox can make it three.

Either way, something’s gotta give between these two starting pitchers.

Looking to keep the offense the way it was last night, Will Venable makes two small changes: swapping out his catcher and substituting an Andrew Benintendi dealing with neck soreness with Randal Grichuk, who homered in his pinch-hit appearance yesterday.

Here’s how the Mariners will line up:

Luckily for us, Luke Raley is not in tonight’s starting lineup — but Josh Naylor is.

You can catch tonight’s game at 6:40 p.m. CT on CHSN or ESPN 1000. Let’s get back in the win column!

Lakers’ old weakness came back to haunt them vs. Thunder

Many reasons explain why the Lakers are trailing their best-of-seven second-round playoff series against the Thunder.

The Thunder’s depth has overwhelmed the Lakers, evident by the 82-39 combined margin the Thunder’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ in Game 1 and Game 2.

The Lakers, including Austin Reaves, have struggled against the Thunder’s drop coverage in the second-round series. NBAE via Getty Images

Or the fact the Thunder outscored the Lakers by 22 points across the 33 minutes that Thunder superstar and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t play in the first two games.

The Lakers have struggled taking care of the ball: The Thunder averaged 23 points off the Lakers’ 19.5 turnovers in the first two games.

The Thunder also averaged 19 second-chance points despite only grabbing nine offensive rebounds per game — highlighting how efficient they were with an extra scoring opportunity.

These are the areas the Lakers were better during the first round, especially toward the end of their series victory over the Rockets.

And were significantly better throughout the regular season.

But the Thunder also exploited an old Lakers’ weakness during the first two games in Oklahoma City: The Lakers struggle against teams that deploy drop coverage defensively. 

The issue is far from new.

It was a talking point from coach JJ Redick after the Lakers’ Feb. 22 home loss to the Celtics, a team that deployed a deep drop coverage to stifle the Lakers’ offense, which mustered 89 points in defeat — their third-lowest scoring total of the season.


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The Lakers became less efficient against drop coverage throughout most of December and January before improving throughout February, March and the end of the regular season, utilizing the proper counters.

That wasn’t the case in the first two games against the Thunder.

The Thunder had their big men in drop for most of Game 1, with the Lakers not creating quality looks against the coverage — in part because of poor shotmaking but also the team and players not using the proper counters.

The Lakers need to use proper counters to solve the Thunder’s drop coverage. Getty Images

Too many drag screens that didn’t create quality offense. 

Not enough stack sets. Not enough pull-up 3-pointers. Not enough Gortat screens. 

“Our options out of early offense, specifically, we ran so many just early drags,” Redick responded ahead of Game 2 when asked what stood out from the offensive film of Game 1. “Which has been a great play for AR [Austin Reaves], but was not a great PPP [points per possession] play for us [Tuesday] night. So just trying to be organized with early offense.”

The Lakers struggled against the Thunder’s drop in Game 2, but they also faced it less often because the Thunder decided to hedge/blitz more — specifically when Reaves handled the ball coming off a screen.

The Lakers are very comfortable in this situation.

The counters are more natural for them after seeing these types of coverages more since Luka Doncic joined the franchise in February 2025.

But the Thunder’s decision to go away from what was working masked an issue that it looked like the Lakers had overcome toward the end of the regular season.

If the Lakers don’t consistently tap back into those counters from the late winter/early spring against the Thunder’s drop, their season will likely end this week.

Baz’s mistakes doom impotent O’s offense in 6-2 loss to the A’s

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 9: Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch against the Athletics during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This game was summed up for me by two innings. Be warned; it’s not pretty.

In the top of the third, the Athletics’ Brent Rooker came to the plate with two on and one out. Orioles starter Shane Baz had already given up a four-pitch walk and a single. Then, with the right-hitting Rooker up to bat, Baz left a cutter hanging up and just off the plate. Rooker swung, launching the pitch 365 feet away onto the flag court. That meatball, and the bombardment thereof, made the game 4-0 Athletics.

This felt like an insurmountable lead until the Orioles got a glorious scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth inning. Infielder Jeremiah Jackson had reached on a Bermuda Triangle single, Gunnar Henderson doubled, and Taylor Ward walked. That brought up to the plate Adley Rutschman, a career .407 hitter with the bases loaded. Sadly, Adley did not deliver that inning. Nor did Pete Alonso. Nor did Samuel Basallo. The former struck out after a long battle with A’s starter Aaron Civale; the second popped up too shallowly to score the lead runner; the third also flew out.

There was a late, two-run Baltimore rally against Mark Leiter Jr.—brother of Jack, son of Mark, nephew of Al, but also a pitcher who entered this game with a 7.63 ERA. Leody Taveras, Dylan Beavers, and a pinch-hitting Colton Cowser strung together consecutive hits to make it 5-2. That was as good as it got.

Anyway, today’s game is still defined by Shane Baz handing out runs with missed pitches and Orioles hitters making Civale look like an ace. I’m not sure which is more concerning: Baltimore hitters failing to take advantage of Civale, a pitcher whose average exit velocity is higher than his fastball, or Baz failing to go five while throwing one hundred pitches.

Start with the pitching side. Shane Baz is way too talented to be allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings to an offense like the Athletics’. Command issues were at the heart of his problems today. It started in the first, when Baz hung a cutter to leadoff man Nick Kurtz, who doubled. Then Baz missed with three straight cutters to catcher Shane Langeliers, who singled home a first run.

After looking lost against the first two hitters, Baz appeared to find something, and reeled off three consecutive outs, plus a scoreless second.

But again, there was that third inning, which felt completely avoidable, barring that early walk and two bad cutters.

It still feels true to say that with his stuff, most teams can’t beat Shane Baz, so long as he doesn’t beat himself. But he sure seems to be beating himself a lot lately…

As for the offense, let’s put it this way. At one point in the third inning, with Baltimore still scoreless, MASN flashed a graphic placing Aaron Civale in the bottom 110 to 130 MLB pitchers in hard-hit percentage and whiffs. Perhaps such stats undervalue “Crafty Veteranness.” And true, Civale did command his breaking pitches today.

But I don’t quite buy this excuse, for the reason that today, it was the same O’s hitters who’ve been connecting who connected, and the same ones who’ve lately looked hopeless who continued to look hopeless.

Gunnar Henderson had two hits, including a double. (He’s chasing too much, but still.) Adley Rutschman had a double. (Also that crucial bases-loaded strikeout, but still.) Taylor Ward walked three times (!!). Samuel Basallo singled twice, one of them 112 mph.

But that was it for the hitters against Civale, who over five innings racked up six punchouts, equal to nine per nine innings. Given a pitcher who averages 6.6 strikeouts a game, it feels hard to deny that O’s hitters aren’t giving opposing pitchers much of a challenge.

And toward the middle innings, it was the talented Shane Baz who looked error-prone, not Civale with his more limited stuff. Baz allowed a leadoff double to first baseman Nick Kurtz, then allowed Kurtz—no Trea Turner in sprint speed, from what I can see—to take third base uncontested as Baz missed high to catcher Shea Langeliers, who then got the RBI with a sac fly to center.

Now 5-0 Athletics, this felt like a slow trudge through nine. The fifth inning was the one exception: a bases-loaded situation that had you dreaming of grand salamis, only to cruelly rob you of all hopes of a stirring comeback.

The bullpen pitched okay, with the exception of Andrew Kittredge. Lou Trivino covered two 1/3 scoreless and Dietrich Enns threw one, too, despite allowing two hits. Kittredge continues to look problematic, allowing a sixth run in the ninth, although at this point it didn’t feel very important.

The two-run rally in the eighth was nice, in that it raised the averages of the struggling Beavers and Cowser, but I doubt the Athletics were very nervous.

It is what it is. Back this spring, there were high hopes for both this lineup and the starting rotation. Well, maybe not high hopes for this rotation, but at least reasonable expectations of competence. Now, Trevor Rogers is hurt (or something), Zach Eflin is out for the year, Dean Kremer—who didn’t even make the rotation—is out with a quad, and Shane Baz is highly erratic.

If this is the Orioles throwing their hardest punches and still getting KO’d, this is going to be a long season.

James Harden’s clutch shots help Cavaliers cut into Pistons’ series lead

James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a basketball over a Detroit Pistons player.
James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.

CLEVELAND — After collapsing in the clutch in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers got timely plays in the final three minutes from James Harden and Max Strus to get back into their series against the Detroit Pistons.

Harden hit three big shots and Strus came up with the steal and go-ahead basket in the Cavaliers’ 116-109 victory on Saturday to cut the Pistons’ lead to 2-1.

“We know how important it is to get this first win to make it a series. So, really a team win where a lot of guys contributed tonight,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game 3 on May 9, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images

The Cavaliers will look to even the series when they host Game 4 on Monday night.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Harden finished with 19 points and Jarrett Allen scored 18.

There were 11 lead changes, with the final one occurring with 2:28 remaining when Strus jumped to snare Cade Cunningham’s inbound pass to Daniss Jenkins near midcourt. Strus then drove past Cunningham and Jenkins to make a layup and give the Cavaliers a 106-104 advantage.

Atkinson called it the winning play of the game.

“That was a game changer right there. It gives us a lead, get a couple stops and a couple buckets and that’s the game,” Harden said.

Strus said it was about 3-4 seconds into the inbound play that he timed his jump and made the play.

“My job is to help win in any form or fashion,” said Strus, who finished with seven points, five rebounds and one steal. “Some nights it’s going to be shooting. Some nights it’s going to be defense. Some nights it’s going to be rebounds. The ball didn’t find me tonight, but I don’t care. As long as our team wins, I just want to make an impact and find a way to win.”

It was also the first of three straight turnovers by Cunningham, who had his second career postseason triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but also committed eight turnovers.

“I don’t want to say they were careless turnovers because I care about it a lot. They were just bad turnovers,” he said.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots in front of Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) inthe first half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs series on Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland. AP

Harden, who drew plenty of criticism for turnovers in the clutch in the first two games, kept the Cavaliers in front with big shots. The 17-year veteran hit a 16-foot step-back jumper to extend the lead to 108-104. After a driving dunk by Cunningham, Harden made a floating 7-footer to put the lead back up to four.

Cunningham responded with a 3-pointer before Harden provided the decisive blow with 25 seconds remaining on a step-back 3-pointer while being guarded by Harris to make it 113-109.

Mitchell reached 2,000 career postseason points in his 73rd game, tied for third-fastest among active players and ninth in NBA history. He said Harden’s performance showed why he wasn’t worried after two tough games in Detroit.

“I think the biggest thing is just he’s always consistent. He’s not result based. I think the biggest thing is we’ve seen him thrive and for me and for the group just continue to be like, ‘Hey, we know who you are. Keep being yourself.’ We’ve seen him play at a very high level, so we have no doubt that he’s going to continue to be great,” Mitchell said. “Every game might not be that way for him, for me, for whoever. But it’s just how do you continue to stay even keel and find ways to impact the game.”

Tobias Harris added 21 points for Detroit, which had its five-game playoff win streak snapped.

GAME THREAD: Twins at Guardians, game 41 of 162

CHICAGO - AUGUST 09: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians pauses during a heavy rain storm during the tenth inning against the Chicago White Sox on August 9, 2020 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, that was an interesting day!

Here’s the Twins lineup:

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

GameThread: Tigers vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Wenceel Perez #46 of the Detroit Tigers hits an RBI double during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Detroit Tigers (18-21) vs. Kansas City Royals (18-21)

Time/Place: 7:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium
SB Nation Site: Royals Review
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Ty Madden (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (3-2, 3.05 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Madden15.035.00.069.20.340.2
Wacha744.120.78.631.14.060.7

Lineups

TIGERSROYALS
Kevin McGonigle – SSMaikel Garcia – 3B
Matt Vierling – CFBobby Witt – SS
Colt Keith – 3BVinnie Pasquantino – 1B
Riley Greene – LFSalvador Perez – DH
Dillon Dingler – DHCarter Jensen – C
Kerry Carpenter – RFJac Caglianone – RF
Spencer Torkelson – 1BLane Thomas – LF
Zach McKinstry – 2BMichael Massey – 2B
Jake Rogers – CKyle Isbel – CF

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Brock Stewart back on injured list with Blake Snell returning

May 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart (41) pitches during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

LOS ANGELES — Blake Snell was activated off the injured list on Saturday to start against the Atlanta Braves, after missing the first six-plus weeks of the season with left shoulder fatigue. To make room on the active roster, Brock Stewart is back on the injured list, this time with a bone spur in his left foot.

With Tyler Glasnow sidelined with back spasms, the Dodgers turned to Snell, who was scheduled to pitch five innings in his final rehab start for Class-A Ontario on Saturday, with a proposition he was eager to accept.

“You try to figure out if [Snell] is open to taking the five innings here versus on rehab,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “And he was. he couldn’t be more excited to do that.”

Snell had a 4.50 ERA in eight innings over his three minor league rehab starts, with two walks and 10 strikeouts among his 32 batters faced between Class-A Ontario and Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 10 strikeouts came in his last two outings, with six in three innings for the Tower Buzzers on April 28 and four in four innings last Sunday for the Comets in Round Rock, Texas.

Saturday is the 39th game of the season for the Dodgers, who to date have only used six starting pitchers in an incredibly stable rotation to date. This is the latest into a season the Dodgers have used their seventh different starting pitcher since 2021, when it took until game number 40 with opener Jimmy Nelson.

Dodgers starting pitchers used through 39 games

Stewart was just activated on Wednesday after missing the first 36 games while rehabbing from last September’s shoulder surgery. Stewart pitched in both games in which he was active, throwing scoreless innings on both Wednesday in Houston and on Friday against the Braves, totaling three strikeouts and a walk among his seven batters faced.