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Spurs let Game 2 slip away as injuries, cold finish doom team versus Blazers

SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs holds his head after falling to the court against the Portland Trailblazers in the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on April 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Everything about the night felt like it was setting up for another San Antonio statement. The crowd was buzzing. The series leaned their way. And early on, even adversity didn’t seem like it would matter.

Then everything unraveled.

The San Antonio Spurs watched a 14-point fourth quarter lead disappear Tuesday night, falling 106-103 to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 and evening their best of seven series at 1-1. What should have been a commanding 2-0 series advantage instead turned into a painful lesson in how quickly playoff momentum can swing.

The first turning point came long before the final minutes. Midway through the second quarter, Victor Wembanyama crashed to the floor on a drive and struck his chin on the hardwood, leaving the game and later entering concussion protocol. He finished with just five points in 12 minutes and his absence reshaped everything San Antonio wanted to do on both ends.

“I just know he has a concussion, and he’s in the protocol, and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said after the game.

Still, the Spurs didn’t fold. They absorbed the blow, fought back from an early deficit, and slowly took control. Despite missing their franchise centerpiece, San Antonio leaned on its depth and defensive effort to claw its way back. A balanced scoring effort: led by De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell; helped stabilize the offense, even if efficiency wasn’t always there. 

By the fourth quarter, it looked like resilience would define the night. The Spurs opened the period with a 13-0 surge, building a double-digit lead that stretched to 14 points with under nine minutes to play. At that moment, the game, and perhaps the series, felt firmly in their control.

Then came the unraveling.

Portland caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting timely threes and chipping away at the deficit possession by possession. San Antonio, meanwhile, stalled. The ball stopped moving. Shots stopped falling. And in the game’s most critical stretch, the Spurs failed to score a field goal over the final three minutes.

“I thought we weren’t as poised as we were in Game 1,” Johnson said. “We weren’t as sharp to start the game tonight. We weren’t on the same page or organized. We’ll be better in Game 3.”

A late Portland run, fueled by Scoot Henderson’s 31-point explosion and clutch execution down the stretch, flipped the game entirely. By the time San Antonio tried to respond, it was too late.

The loss wasn’t just about one run — it was about missed opportunities. Free throws left points on the board. Defensive lapses opened the door. And without Wembanyama anchoring the paint, the margin for error vanished. Even strong contributions elsewhere, including a steady effort from Luke Kornet off the bench, couldn’t offset the late-game breakdown. 

“Have to be more physical with him. No catch-and-shoots. No easy, off-the-dribble pull-ups,” Spurs forward Devin Vassell said of Henderson. “We’re going to make it a lot harder for him, because obviously, he’s feeling way too comfortable.”

And beyond the scoreboard, the bigger concern lingers. Wembanyama’s status moving forward now looms over the series, with concussion protocol introducing uncertainty at the worst possible time.

Instead of heading to Portland with full control, the Spurs now find themselves in a fight. Game 2 was there for the taking, even without their star. But in the playoffs, letting one slip can change everything.

Now, the question isn’t just how San Antonio responds. It’s whether they can regroup, and recover, before the series slips with it.

Game Notes

  • Without Wemby in the game, Luke Kornet had another solid night off the bench. He had 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes.
  • Stephon Castle had 18 points, but shot just 7-for-20 from the floor. He will need to be better in Game 3 without Wemby in the lineup if the French star misses Game 3.
  • Despite the loss, it the game came down to the little things. San Antonio went 20-for-28 from the free throw line. Make those eight free throws and the Spurs win by five points.
  • De’Aaron Fox went 6-of-16 for 18 points. It will be interesting to see if he takes control in Game 3 or if Portland will now gameplan for that if Wembanayama is out.
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Dodgers can’t overcome first-inning hole in loss to Giants

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Teoscar Hernández #37 and Alex Call #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers collide as Call catches a ball hit by Casey Schmitt #10 of the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Oracle Park on April 21, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The highest-scoring team in the majors managed only three hits on Tuesday night at Oracle Park, and when the Giants scored three runs in the first inning that proved to be enough to beat the Dodgers 3-1 in the series opener in San Francisco.

Chaos reigned in the bottom of the first inning, beginning with Hyeseong Kim airmailing a throw from shortstop into the Giants dugout. Yoshinobu Yamamoto issued only his fourth walk of the season and loaded the bases before recording an out. All three runners scored during the four-hit frame, including on a sacrifice fly in which Teoscar Hernández collided with Alex Call, who started in center field with Andy Pages getting his first off day of the season (at least until pinch-hitting in the ninth.

But after that 26-pitch first inning, Yamamoto locked in, retiring 11 in a row and 16 out of 17 batters at one point, enough to get through seven innings without allowing another run, and on just 101 pitches to boot.

Yamamoto nearly gave up a fourth run thanks to a pair of two-out hits in the sixth, but Jung Hoo Lee’s mad dash around the bases in the rain was for naught, thrown out at home plate trying to score on a single.

Yamamoto followed this by striking out the side in the seventh inning, completing his night.

MLB teams through Monday had a .674 winning percentage when their starting pitcher completed at least six innings this season. The Dodgers are now 12-3 (.800) in those games after Tuesday’s loss. Two of the three losses are Yamamoto starts.

The Dodgers managed only one single off Landen Roupp, though they did make him work. He walked four batters in the fourth inning alone, though the Dodgers scored only once in the frame, which ended on a double play grounder by Call.

Roupp needed 106 pitches to complete five innings thanks in part to five walks, the most by any pitcher against the Dodgers this year. It might have been six walks, but Alex Freeland seemed allergic to challenging what appeared to a three-ball pitch outside the strike zone for the second time in three days. Roupp was able to limit the damage during his outing thanks to seven strikeouts.

It only took two batters after Roupp exited for a Dodger to reach second base on his own volition, thanks to a Teoscar Hernández one-out double into left field in the sixth inning. But Max Muncy struck out and Dalton Rushing flew out on the first pitch he saw to end that rare threat by the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Shohei Ohtani singled in the seventh inning, extending his on-base streak to 53 games, matching Shawn Green (2000) for the longest streak in Los Angeles Dodgers history. In modern franchise history (since 1900), only Duke Snider’s 58-game on-base streak in 1954 for Brooklyn is longer than Ohtani’s. It’s also the longest MLB on-base streak since Orlando Cabrera reached in 63 straight games for the Angels in 2006.

Ohtani’s single put another runner in scoring position, but Kyle Tucker struck out.

Los Angeles had the tying run either on base or at the plate in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but was hitless in five at-bats with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, with three strikeouts.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: none

WP — Landen Roupp (4-1): 5 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts

LP — Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2): 7 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

Sv — Ryan Walker (2): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts

Up next

Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound in the middle game of the series on Wednesday night (6:45 p.m.; SportsNet LA, MLB Network), with right-hander Tyler Mahle pitching for the Giants.

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Recap: B’s score four unanswered, hold on late to win Game 2

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Viktor Arvidsson #71 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on April 21, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

After the Bruins melted down in the last eight minutes of Game 1, Marco Sturm and several of the players cited a desire to learn from the experience and move forward for Game 2.

Tonight’s last seven minutes showed they learned a thing or two—but not quite enough to avoid nearly giving their fans a collective heart attack in the process.

After taking a 4-0 lead into the final half of the third period, the B’s held on down the stretch to skate out of Buffalo with a 4-2 win and a series even at a game apiece.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice for the Bruins, while Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie added one goal each.

Jeremy Swayman was immense for the Bruins, making 34 saves, including 18 in the third period alone.

Buffalo scored twice in a span of 1:14 in the last few minutes of the third period, raising blood pressures across New England, but Swayman made a few more saves and the Bruins emerged with the win.

Exhale.

After a scoreless first period, Arvidsson got the scoring started five minutes into the second period to make it 1-0 Bruins.

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Geekie doubled the lead ten minutes later, beating Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a hiiiiiiiiiiiiigh fly ball from center ice to make it 2-0 Bruins. As Judd Sirott said on NESN, “E-1” for Luukkonen.

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Zacha capped a sterling second period for the Bruins with a tip-in on the power play to make it 3-0 Bruins with 1:50 left in the period.

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Arvidsson would get his second just 16 seconds into the third period, beating Luukkonen clean with a wrist shot on the rush to make it 4-0 Bruins.

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Bowen Byram gave the Sabres life with 6:06 left in the third period, making it 4-1 Bruins.

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Peyton Krebs would add another for Buffalo (with the goalie pulled) a little more than a minute later, making it 4-2 Bruins, as Sabres fans were thinking about another crazy comeback.

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Buffalo would continue to push in the last five minutes, but the Bruins held on (for dear life, at times).

Bruins win, 4-2.

Game notes

  • Aren’t the playoffs fun? As a few of you said in the comments, that was probably the most nerve-wracking two-goal win I can remember for quite some time, especially given what happened at the end of Game 1.
  • Speaking of the playoffs, it was funny to see Buffalo getting really angry about a penalty call on Connor Timmins, only for the penalty to be as clear as day. “It’s the f***ing playoffs” generally doesn’t excuse a crosscheck to the neck, but maybe I’m just sensitive.
  • This game featured plenty of rough stuff, with Mark Kastelic fighting Logan Stanley (one of you fine commenters told us prior to the series this would happen at some point) and ten-minute misconducts for Nikita Zadorov, Andrew Peeke, Tage Thompson, and Zach Benson. In total, the game featured 94 penalty minutes, split evenly at 47 each for both teams.
  • The Sabres seemed to be seeking opportunities to “accidentally on purpose” make contact with Swayman, with Buffalo players running into the Bruins goalie multiple times in the first half of the first period alone. Something to file away, I guess, and something Zadorov noted postgame.
  • Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy had monster nights for the Bruins, skating 27:40 and 27:22, respectively. Some of that was due to the third period misconducts for Peeke and Zadorov, but it was also evidence of Sturm leaning on his two most dependable defenders.
  • Swayman grabbed the bull by the horns and told his coaches to call a timeout after the second Buffalo goal, something Sturm failed to do to stem the tide in Game 1.
  • After a bad game in Game 1, the Bruins got a much better performance from their second line tonight. Arvidsson’s two goals get the headlines (along with Zacha’s, though that was on the power play), but they were much more involved across the board (in a good way) than they were in Game 1.
  • Arvidsson’s first goal came via a backhand that beat Luukkonen. In the first period, Arvidsson skated onto a loose puck for a mini-breakaway after coming out of the penalty box. Because he was in tight, he elected to hold onto the puck and go forehand, only for Luukkonen to make the save. I can’t help but wonder if that was on his mind when he went backhand on the second opportunity.
  • Speaking of mini-breakaways, tonight saw a few more (mini or standard) for the B’s, coming on the heels of a few breakaway opportunities in Game 1. I’m not sure if the Bruins are a making a conscious effort to try to sneak behind the Buffalo D or if it’s a circumstantial thing.
  • While they didn’t end up on the scoresheet, the Bruins’ third line had another good night. Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and James Hagens were involved in a good way, creating a handful of half-decent chances and generally bringing positive energy. Hagens did take a stick foul penalty with nine minutes left in the third period, but I’d imagine Sturm won’t hold that against him when looking at the big picture.
  • Along with the aforementioned fight, Kastelic also had four shots on goal and won more than 71% of his face-offs. The Bruins had a much better face-off night in general, winning 36 out of the game’s 66 draws.
  • David Pastrnak had two assists tonight, giving him 1G-4A-5PTS in the first two games of this series. He’s now tied with Bobby Orr for eight in all-time franchise playoff scoring.

Game 3 will be at TD Garden on Thursday night. That game is slated for a 7 PM start (not 7:30), so plan accordingly.

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Sharks Linked to Leafs' Rielly, What Would He Bring to San Jose?

The San Jose Sharks have been linked to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly by insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Sharks general manager Mike Grier has been clear about his desire to improve on the blue line this offseason, but what would the long-time Maple Leaf bring to the Sharks?

In short, Rielly is an offensive defenseman who can help on the power play, although his offensive numbers have taken a considerable step backward under the current Maple Leafs head coach, Craig Berube. He’s not the type of defenseman who will help the Sharks keep the puck out of the net and improve their goals-against, which was third-worst in the league this past season. 

Fit in the Lineup

At this stage in his career, it’s hard to imagine Rielly as a true number one defenseman. He can be a reliable option on the second pairing, but it seems that he’s struggled in a top-pair role for the Maple Leafs as of late. 

Back in January, my colleague Adam Proteau wrote, “Rielly has clearly regressed this season. He's a team-worst minus-13 despite having 26 points in 42 games. You can chalk up some of that to averaging 21:55 of ice time, but compare that to McCabe, who is averaging 22:01 and is a plus-26 while chipping in 16 points, and you can see why Leafs fans have grown tired of Rielly's subpar defensive play.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs Lack A True No. 1 DefensemanThe Toronto Maple Leafs Lack A True No. 1 DefensemanToronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly's struggles in his own zone highlight a glaring defensive void for the Buds. And it's now painfully obvious the Leafs have lacked a true No. 1 blueliner in the Auston Matthews Era.

Rielly finished the season with 11 goals and 36 points while playing in 78 games for the Maple Leafs, his lowest total since the 2020-21 season when he had 35 points in 55 games. The one bright side for him offensively this season was his goal-scoring. 11 goals were the most that he’s scored since the 2018-19 season, when he hit the 20-goal plateau for the only time in his career. 

Although Rielly has occasionally filled in on the penalty kill when necessary, he’s certainly not reliable enough in his own zone to be counted on regularly in that regard. 

As a second-pairing puck-mover and power play specialist, he could be an effective player. If he’s used as a top-pairing player and given the most difficult defensive assignments, he’ll struggle mightily. Currently, that would leave Dmitry Orlov as the Sharks’ top defenseman if Rielly slotted into the second pairing; however, Grier will likely make additional moves that could move either of them down the lineup.

A Hefty Contract

The biggest concern with Rielly at this stage of his career will undoubtedly be his contract. He’s signed through the 2029-30 season with an average annual value of $7.5 million. The Sharks could undoubtedly handle that contract now, and the rising salary cap will help prevent it from becoming an issue later on down the line. With that being said, players like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and quite a few others are going to be due for pay raises in the near future, which could quickly eat up cap space. 

The main concern with an offensive defenseman in their early-to-mid 30s with a big contract is simply a fear of regression. Their legs can slow down at any moment, and they can lose a step without much warning. With that being said, Rielly is still a very quick player. His maximum skating speed during the 2025-26 season was 22.71 miles per hour, which puts him in the 87th percentile around the NHL. 

Shooting Tendency and Leadership

One area in which Rielly has shown some regression over the years is his shot. While he’s never been known for having the hardest shot, his fastest shot during the 2025-26 season was 87.13 miles per hour, according to NHL Edge. That’s a reduction of four miles per hour from his fastest shot the season before, and 12 miles per hour slower than his all-time fastest recorded shot from the 2021-22 season. His average shot power is also below league average for a defenseman, and he has a tendency to pass on taking one-timers from the point. 

On the other hand, Rielly has been a key member of the Maple Leafs’ leadership group for many years. It was often praised earlier in his career, and he’s been an alternate captain for Toronto since the 2016-17 season. As a result, he could be a good mentor for the Sharks’ young players, especially a young offensive defenseman like Sam Dickinson. He should also, on paper, fit the locker room culture that the Sharks have been building as of late. 

Ultimately, like with every player, there are positives and negatives for the Sharks if they were to acquire Morgan Rielly. There’s the risk of his age, his contract, and his shot as well. On the other hand, he’s a leader who has maintained his footspeed to this point in his career and could help fill the role as a puck-moving defenseman, something the Sharks certainly need at this point. It remains to be seen if this is the type of move Mike Grier will pull the trigger on over the summer, but it certainly is an interesting idea to ponder at the very least.

What Makes Collin Graf a Good Complement For Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith? What Makes Collin Graf a Good Complement For Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith? While Macklin Celebrini’s record-breaking sophomore season and Will Smith’s growth received the majority of the attention around the San Jose Sharks this season, Collin Graf quietly showed his value on their wing and on the penalty kill. Zack Ostapchuk Making Himself "Super Important" to Sharks' FutureZack Ostapchuk Making Himself "Super Important" to Sharks' FutureThe contributions of fourth-line forwards often go under the radar. They rarely show up on the scoresheet, but their hard work and determination earn the respect of their teammates and players around the league. Zack Ostapchuk may not have started the season in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks, but he proved his value to the team when he earned his opportunity.
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Padres 1, Rockies 0: The Rockies finish on the wrong side of a pitching masterclass

DENVER, CO - APRIL 21: Relief pitcher Chase Dollander #32 of the Colorado Rockies looks on after walking in a run in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on April 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies get together, anything can happen, especially at Coors Field where games can quickly escalate into unruly slugfests.

That wasn’t the case tonight, however, when both teams’ pitching staffs silenced the opposing team’s offense in a game that can only be described as almost meticulous in its pitching.

In the end, however, the Padres managed to eke out a 1-0 run win to kick off the three-game series in what would be only the 12th 1-0 game in the history of Coors Field, and just the fourth time the Rockies were on the losing end of one. (It last happened in 2006, when it happened three times!)

A Rockies pitching clinic

Opener Jimmy Herget got the game off to a sparkling start by striking out the side (Ramón Laureano, Fernando Tatís Jr., and Jackson Merrill) on a tidy 14 pitches, 10 for strikes.

Chase Dollander took the mound in the second and was absolutely on fire with his slider and four-seamer especially effective.

In the third inning, Dollander struck out Laureano which began a string of six consecutive Ks until Miguel Andujar grounded out in the fifth. (For those keeping score at home, Germán Márquez set the Rockies record for consecutive strikeouts in 2018 with eight.)

The Padres did not have a player in scoring position until Jake Cronenberg hit a double in the sixth inning. And that’s when things got complicated for Dollander. Tatís Jr. hit a soft single, and then Dollander grazed Merrill, loading the bases for Manny Machado.

Dollander walked Machado on six pitches, and the Padres took a 1-0 lead.

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He came back to strike out Xander Bogaerts, but the Rockies were down in a game that had seen little offense.

After allowing the run, Dollander returned to pitch the seventh inning and retired the side after hitting Fermín.

His final line was 6.0 IP giving up one run, earned, on three hits. He walked one and struck out nine on a career-high 102 pitches, 67 for strikes.

Currently, Dollander has a 2.88 ERA in 25 total innings.

Also worth noting, Dollander’s nine Ks ties the Rockies record for strikeouts by a reliever, which was set by Bruce Ruffin in 1993.

“He was great tonight. What a well-pitched ballgame on both sides of the ball,” manager Warren Schaefer said. “He looks like a completely different guy this year.”

The Rockies turned to the bullpen in the eighth when Juan Mejia entered the game. He allowed one hit, but no runs.

The ninth inning went to lefty Brennan Bernardino. After getting two quick outs, he allowed a two-out single to Andujar followed by a Fermín double — only the second Padres extra-base hit of the evening. With the count 2-2, Cronenworth took a pitch that was called a ball. Goodman was quick to tap his helmet, and the call was overturned.

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Inning over.

In total, the Rockies pitching staff struck out 15 — the most strikeouts the Padres have recorded in a game this season. They issued only one walk and allowed one run (earned) on six hits.

A Padres pitching clinic, too

On the Padres side of Coors Field, starter Randy Vásquez was dealing. Although the Rockies were able to get players on base in every inning until the fifth, none of them managed to get past second base.

Vásquez went 7.0 IP giving up just three hits and no runs. He struck out three and did not issue a walk and now has a 1.88 ERA.

“Vásquez was awesome. It was the cutter,” Schaeffer said. “We just didn’t have an answer for it tonight.”

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For the eighth inning, the Padres sent out Jason Adam, who easily handled the bottom of the Rockies order.

In an odd move, the Padres did not bring in stellar closer Mason Miller for the ninth. Instead, that duty fell to Adrian Morejon, who made quick work of the top three hitters.

A work-in-progress offense

On a low-scoring game when the Rockies needed offense, they could not figure out Randy Vásquez and fared no better against the Padres bullpen. They managed only three hits and were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.

Rockies hitters struck out eight times and had no walks. They did not manage a hit after Goodman’s single in the fourth inning.

That said, although no one likes losing, this was an encouraging showing for a rebuilding team.

One other note: In the postgame, Dollander gave a shoutout to Alon Leichman for his pitch calling.

Join us for Game 2 tomorrow night at 6:40. Walker Buehler will start for the Padres while Tomoyuki Sugano will take the mound for the Rockies.

See you then.

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Utah Jazz announce 2026 Salt Lake City Summer League

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 7 : Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz works to the basket against GG Jackson II #45 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA Summer League game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on July 7, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Utah Jazz announced the return of the Salt Lake City Summer League for 2026. Once again, it will be a four-team, six-game event hosted by the Utah Jazz. Here are the details:

It will inc

  • It will include four teams: Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder
  • It will be held at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah
  • It will be held on July 4th, 6th, and 7th
  • Tickets go on sale in May for the general public and can be purchased at SLCSummerLeague.com.
  • It will be held at the University of Utah for a second time because the Delta Center will be closed for renovations.

This has the potential to be an electric summer league. Utah, Atlanta, and Memphis all have great odds to get top picks in the draft in the upcoming lottery. Even the Thunder have a shot at a top pick because they own the Clippers’ 12th pick. On top of that, it’s likely we’ll see Ace Bailey play again. It could be an electric atmosphere if the Jazz combine Bailey with one of the top players in the draft. That, of course, will be decided on May 10th in the upcoming draft lottery.

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Landry Shamet’s Knicks struggles spilling into Hawks series

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Knicks guard Landry Shamet's end-of-season struggles have carried over into the playoffs

For most of the regular season, Landry Shamet was one of the best minimum contracts in the league.

Recently, though, he’s playing … well, like a player on a minimum contract.

His rough end of the regular season has now bled into the start of the playoffs. In the first two games of this first-round series against the Hawks — which is tied 1-1 heading to Atlanta — he shot 1-for-6 from 3-point range and 1-for-7 overall.

Knicks guard Landry Shamet’s end-of-season struggles have carried over into the playoffs NBAE via Getty Images

In Monday’s 107-106 Game 2 collapse at Madison Square Garden, he did not score, and the Knicks were outscored by six points in his 10 minutes on the court.

It got so bad that coach Mike Brown opted to give Jose Alvarado — who appeared to be out of the playoff rotation — some playing time over Shamet in the second and fourth quarters.

Shamet’s shooting slump has endured. In the 16 games he played from the start of March to the end of the regular season, he shot just 30.4 percent from deep, while also missing five games due to a knee injury.

In the 35 regular-season games he played prior to March, he shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range.

One thing that has been noticeable so far in these playoffs is the Knicks’ lack of a backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson. Brown has said he is comfortable with Shamet and Miles McBride there, but neither is a natural point guard, and both have struggled.

They acquired Alvarado ahead of the deadline, but despite a hot start to his Knicks tenure, he has largely not looked capable of owning that role.

There was a brief period in the middle of the season when it seemed like Tyler Kolek was cementing himself in the role, but he subsequently fell out of the rotation.

McBride and Shamet have shared the court for 23 minutes across the two games.

The Knicks have a minus-1.9 net rating in that time.

If their struggles continue or worsen, the Knicks bench suddenly looks thin.

CJ McCollum said he doesn’t view himself as a villain, even though the MSG crowd treated him like one with obscenities and boos.

But his teammate thinks he’s embracing it. They all are, too.

“CJ, that got him going,” Jonathan Kuminga said after Game 2. “I think he enjoyed that. The crowd shouldn’t really do that or say that. I think that really got him going and got all of us going — just the energy.”

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Lakers vs Rockets Game 2 brings star-studded crowd with Matthew Stafford, Will Ferrell, Shannon Sharpe and more

Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night once again brought out the star power. 

The Lakers courtside seats felt more like a Hollywood red carpet. 

Here’s the list of actors, musicians, and athletes in attendance for the showdown between Kevin Durant and LeBron James:

AJ Dybantsa, Su’a Cravens, Jake Shane, Will Ferrell, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Quentin Lake, Scott Speedman, Byron Allen, Trevor Ariza, Will Anderson Jr., Sebastian Maniscalco, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Iman Shumpert, Jay Mohr, John David Washington, Ray Nicholson, Diane Cannon, Max Kellerman, Micah Parsons, Finneas, Tinashe, Shannon Sharpe and more!

NBAE via Getty Images
NBAE via Getty Images
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NBAE via Getty Images
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NBAE via Getty Images
Michael J. Duarte
Michael J. Duarte

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This story will be updated throughout the game…

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Arvidsson scores 2 and the Bruins beat the Sabres 4-2 to even first-round series at 1

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres

Apr 21, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) takes a shot on goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Morgan Geekie bounced in a shot from beyond center as part of Boston’s three-goal second-period surge and the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1 on Tuesday night.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Pavel Zacha also scored. David Pastrnak had two assists to give him five points in the series and tie Bobby Orr for eighth on the Bruins career playoff list with 92 points.

Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 shots, and this time Boston managed to not blow a multigoal third-period lead.

Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored 1:14 apart to cut Boston’s lead to 4-2 with 4:52 remaining in regulation before being stymied by Swayman, who stopped the final eight shots he faced.

The Sabres opened the series with a 4-3 win in which they overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit by scoring four times in the final 7:58 of regulation on Sunday.

The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday night.

Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 15 saves and was pulled after allowing Arvidsson’s second goal 16 seconds into the third period to put Boston up 4-0. Alex Lyon mopped up and finished stopping all seven shots he faced.

Luukkonen looked shaky on three of the four goals allowed.

Arvidsson opened the scoring 4:54 into the second period by beating Buffalo defender Mattias Samuelsson to a loose puck. He then drove in and beat Luukkonen through the legs after the goalie was late in getting his stick down.

Then came Geekie’s goal some 12 minutes later. From just outside the center line, the forward flipped a high backhander at the Buffalo net. Luukkonen came out of his crease in an attempt to glove it, only to have the puck bounce past him.

After Zacha redirected Pastrnak’s centering pass for a power-play goal with 1:50 left in the second period, Arvidsson scored by driving up the right wing and beating Luukkonen through the legs from 25 feet.

Buffalo’s power play continued to struggle in going 0-of-5 on Tuesday and 0-of-9 in two games. The drought extends into the season, after Buffalo closed 0-for-22 over its final seven games.

The Sabres are making their first playoff appearance after winning their first Atlantic Division title and snapping an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

With the city still buzzing from Buffalo’s stunning win in Game 1, Bills quarterback Josh Allen kicked things off by beating the drum to lead the “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chants. The new father, wearing the jersey of Sabres forward and occasional golf partner Alex Tuch, then chugged a can of beer before violently throwing it to the ground to a crescendo of cheers.

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Yankees 4, Red Sox 0: Lifeless lineup limps its way to another lackluster loss

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox throws down his helmet after striking out to end the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on April 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

One of the most unfortunate things about being an American sports fan is you’re relentlessly inundated with erectile dysfunction advertisements. Are you unable to perform like you used to? Having trouble getting it up? Not making enough hard contact?

The saving grace is these inquiries are generally quarantined to the commercial breaks. But lately, and especially tonight, the bottom half of every inning at Fenway Park is resembling one of these uncomfortable questionnaires.

The Red Sox didn’t just get shutout tonight. They were held to a mere two hits over 6.1 innings against Luis Gil, who entered the game with a 7.00 ERA and has stuff so underwhelming, even this lineup walked more times (three) than they struck out (twice). Not a single pitch thrown by a Yankee arm tonight registered higher than 96mph, and the Red Sox couldn’t do anything in the box. These are the games you’re supposed to post crooked numbers! If the Sox are getting shutout and frankly not coming close to scoring runs against this competition, what are they possibly going to look like when they start facing some real flamethrowers?

Accompanying this latest listless performance was an 0-7 effort with runners in scoring position, which now leaves Boston with a .159 batting average with runners in scoring position on this homestand.

Needless to say given the score, the bats once against failed to go deep, which means they’ve now hit just five home runs in their last 16 games. During this stretch, they’re more likely to score two runs or less in the game (seven times) than they are to hit a home run at any point in the game (five times).

The at bats were so terrible and widespread in this one, it’s not even worth dissecting any key moments because there weren’t any that stood out. It was just one never-ending conveyor belt of uninspiring and boring at bats. They were so bad they didn’t even create a key spot in the game to fail in.

On the mound, Connelly Early was mostly solid until the sixth inning when he lost command of the zone and walked three guys. The overall outing was a mixed bag, but with a normal offense, this would have been enough to make it a competitive game that likely would have been decided in a nail biter in the ninth.

Unfortunately, the impotency of this lineup is anything buy normal. Ask your front office if a power hitter is right for you.

Studs

No player is going in this category tonight, but we can give it to …

The Pitch Timer: Not only did it get this disaster class game over with in a reasonable amount of time, but it also provided a couple of the most interesting exchanges of the night (both involving Jose Caballero).

In the sixth inning, when Jack Anderson came in to relieve Connelly Early, Caballero successfully baited Anderson into a violation twice by waiting until the eight second mark (when you have to be ready and address the pitcher) to address Anderson. As a result, Anderson was early both times and got called for it.

But then, Anderson showed us a little something and came back to to strike out Caballero, including on a perfect pitch down and in on 3-2.

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Then in the eighth, Caballero got the tables turned on him and ended up getting rung up on a pitch timer violation of his own.

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Not only has the pitch timer improved the game by tightening it back to where it was for the majority of last century, but it also provides some drama as teams push the edge.

Three Duds

It really should be the entire offense, but we’ll specifically give it to the three guys who never got on base.

Wilyer Abreu: 0-4 tonight, and his OPS has fallen from 1.101 to .796 over his last nine games.

Masataka Yoshida: 0-4, easily his worst day at the dish so far this season.

Strikeouts: 0-3 with two strikeouts. The only reason he wasn’t 0-4 like the others is because the lineup was so bad it didn’t get around to him again. He’s now hitting .155 with a .475 OPS on the season.

Play of the game:

There was this really sweet highlight reel catch from Ceddanne Rafaela tonight. It’s just too bad it happened late in this complete nothing game instead of to keep the score tied in the eighth or something like that.

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Looking ahead to tomorrow, this offense gets to face Max Fried. I’ve been told it’s not possible to score negative runs in a baseball game, but if it is, these guys are going to find it soon.

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Mets’ Nolan McLean was perfect through five innings, then things ‘snowballed’ once again

Nolan McLean was outstanding again on Tuesday night. 

After being handed an early 3-0 lead on a Francisco Lindor homer, the young right-hander was doing everything he could to make sure he brought the Mets’ 11-game losing streak to an end. 

McLean absolutely cruised his way through the Twins’ lineup in the early-going, retiring the first 15 batters he faced and picking up eight strikeouts along the way over the first five innings. 

Matt Wallner immediately brought both the perfect game and no-hit bids to an end, though, leading off the top of the sixth with a clean single. 

The righty retired the next two hitters easily, but then fell behind Byron Buxton 3-1 before he lifted an up-and-away cutter for a towering two-run homer down the left-field line. 

McLean gave up another hit but was able to escape without any further damage. 

Even with the youngster starting to show some signs of fatigue, Carlos Mendoza elected to stick with him to start the seventh, and Minnesota was quickly able to break through again. 

Back-to-back knocks from Kody Clemons and Luke Keaschall completely flipped the script, evening things up at three apiece and chasing McLean from the game. 

“He’s our guy,” the skipper said afterwards. “With the way he was throwing on a day when we had a couple of our guys down, we knew we were going to push him, so we felt good with where he was at and he gave us a chance."

"I’d like to go a bit longer," McLean admitted. "But Bux made a good swing and things snowballed from there."

The 24-year-old finished giving up just three runs on five hits while matching his career-high with 10 strikeouts.

McLean was outstanding the first two times through the order once again, but this isn’t the first time that he’s been hit a bit harder that elusive third time around. 

As pointed out by Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com, opponents have just a .075 average against him over the first five innings, compared to a .360 mark in the sixth and beyond. 

It’s something McLean knows he has to work on moving forward. 

“These guys are getting paid to play baseball, too,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just have to execute a little bit better, maybe do a little bit more homework on how guys are adjusting, but I just have to execute better at the end of the day.”

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Devin Williams not using Mets' losing streak as excuse for recent stretch of poor outings

The Mets are in the midst of a lengthy losing streak that has seen some of the best hitters in the league go cold, and starters and relievers implode in various ways.

On Tuesday night, it was Devin Williams' turn. After blowing his first save as a Met on Sunday, Williams was called upon to keep the team's series-opener against the Twins tied at three in the ninth. Williams, however, just could not control his signature changeup and allowed two runs on a hit and three walks in the team's 5-3 loss at Citi Field.

"Felt a little out of sync, mechanically," Williams said of his outing after the game. "Couldn’t really land my changeup for strikes. It was tough to beat guys with just the fastball." 

“Today, the command. Getting behind hitters, not able to execute," manager Carlos Mendoza said of his closer. "Once you start walking people, you’re in dangerous territory there. He’s gotta come back in the zone, and when he’s getting behind, good hitters are going to make him pay. Overall, the walks kinda hurt him there."

Williams has thrown his changeup 48 percent of the time this season, but he just couldn't rely on it on Tuesday. Of the 21 pitches he threw, Williams only tossed eight to the five Twins hitters he faced; only one was thrown for a strike.

For a two-pitch pitcher, their job is much harder when one of those pitches is taken away from them. But is it the reason for Williams' recent struggles? After allowing four runs in 0.1 innings against the Dodgers on April 15, Williams allowed a run in the aforementioned blown save in Chicago before Tuesday's performance. 

Those seven earned runs have ballooned his ERA to 9.95.

But Williams and Mendoza said today's outing was the result of bad command. Williams, who inked a three-year, $51 million deal with the Mets this offseason, was asked if the team's now 12-game losing streak is adding more pressure on him to perform. The right-hander, who is in his eighth season, didn't agree but can't pinpoint anything specific for his recent tough stretch.

"Obviously, you want to do well," Williams said of pitching during the losing streak. "We’re in a tough stretch here. It’s the same as any other game."

He added, "All three outings were something different. Today, I didn’t have command. Couldn’t throw my changeup for a strike. It’s tough to be one-dimensional."

Although he doesn't place blame on the added pressures of the Mets' losing streak for his recent performances, he acknowledges that it hasn't been easy.

"It’s tough, man. I’ve never been a part of something like this," he said of the streak. "I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself. It’s proving pretty difficult right now... Every day is a new day. We have a chance to win a new game every day. Everyone knows the situation; it’s just stacking on top of each other." 

 

 

 

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Sean Marks sees global imprint across the board in NBA

NBA: Brooklyn Nets-Media Day

Sean Marks may have been the GM of the Brooklyn Nets for a decade, but his roots lie elsewhere.

The native of Auckland, New Zealand, is part of the first generation of international NBA players, as he said among the first 40 or 50. He became the first player from his home country to play in the NBA, staying for 11 seasons, nine teams. For a year, he played in the Polish league and won a championship before joining the international basketball corps that became the San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Tony Parker (France), Rasho Nesterović (Slovenia), etc., etc., winning two championships, one as a player, one as an assistant.

Now he works in Brooklyn for a Chinese owner, his second international boss, something no other GM has done. He’s hired the first Spanish (and Catalan) head coach in the league, and he’s drafted four players with foreign passports last June, another first. He regularly goes on international scouting trips.

So his international basketball cred is active and this week he went on  Fullcourt Passport, a podcast focused on the NBA’s wider world, taking questions from Boki Nachbar, the former Net and Euroleague player, and veteran NBA writer Ric Bucher. His big take: the globalization of NBA has dramatically changed the sport from scouting to ownership.

“You and I were playing, there were 40, 50 maybe foreign players. And now you look around and I think a quarter of the league is foreign,” he told Nachbar.“ (It’s actually more, about a third.) Of course, it’s not just about percentages. The league, Marks said, is changing in a lot of ways, particularly in places like teams’ scouting departments. coaching offices and development systems.

“The NBA has completely embraced that,” Marks said, noting that the league cannot ignore any possibility, not when four international players have won the last seven MVP Awards. “The game has become so global and worldly. It is a copycat league, right? We are all trying to copy off who is doing something different and who has got the next greatest thing.”

Among the changes Marks has seen among the current crop of international players is their skill and confidence levels.

“Initially, it was hard to potentially find a foreign player who could come in and contribute right away. Maybe they were lacking a little bit of physicality, athleticism, what have you, but now, these guys are more than ready to step right in. We’ve seen that.”

That, he noted, has changed NBA scouting. No one wants to miss a diamond in the rough.

“I think scouting departments have grown exponentially, You have scouts all over the world. You have scouting services all over the world” said Marks explaining that there’s no escaping the international culture of basketball. “I go into Jordi’s office, speaking of foreign staff and more often than not, I don’t find a Nets game on. I find a game he’s watching — Barcelona or a second division in Spain! He’s thirsty for the knowledge, picking up traits and things from his counterparts in Europe. The game has completely changed.”

There are other more subtle changes like teams bringing in “guest coaches” from Euroleague teams and even the Basketball Africa League to serve as Summer League assistants in Las Vegas. The exchange, he said, is not one-way. NBA coaches like Fernandez get insights as well.

The Nets GM also agreed with Nachbar on the changing mentality of international players now that there are so many of them in the league. Players are more confident and are less likely to be affected by the cultural clash on arriving in North America.

“It’s not that big of a step,” said Marks, noting the international aspect of the league has given younger prospects their own heroes from their home countries. “They’re so much more locked in and closer to their own counterparts that are now playing in Europe. They’ve got their own role models whether they’re in Croatia or Spain or France.”

Marks was also asked about working for two owners — Mikhail Prokhorov and Joe Tsai — who have world views. (He also hinted on who has the final say.)

“Having two different owners in my time in Brooklyn, obviously from my current owner, Joe Tsai, to our previous Russian owner (Mikhail Prokhorov),” said Marks. “I always ask those guys their advice, their help. I mean these guys are doing multi-billion dollars deals and I’m doing trades with guys who will a half million bucks or three million dollars or five million dollars.

“It’s still their baby and I want to make sure … how they can influence me in my negotiating skills or what have you. I’d be a fool not to involve them. They’ve come from a completely different backgrounds but also to empower them to understand why we’re doing to these deals and what it means down the road. I’m very fortunate in that regard.”

Marks did not discuss current prospects in his talk, but back in January, he flew 11,000 miles to Perth, Australia, to scout Karim Lopez, perhaps the top international in this year’s draft, and Dash Daniels, a defensive-oriented wing. His international scouting director, Simone Casali, has a rep as one of the top overseas scouts.

In addition to the changes brought on by the game’s growing globalization, Marks talked with Nachbar and Bucher about the effect of NILs on evaluating players in an environment where college players hop from school to school, seeking more NIL money.

 “It is a little bit of the wild wild west,” he said. “These guys are coming in ready,” but he also argued that increased money and movement can alter early career decisions for younger players.

He said that environment is reshaping how teams evaluate prospects. “We want players that want to win,” Marks said. “So you sit there and go, why did you move? Did you just move purely for the money or was it a role or was it the coach?”

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Moser scores in OT as Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 and tie first-round series

Montreal Canadiens v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Two

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his goal with teammates Darren Raddysh #43, Anthony Cirelli #71, J.J. Moser #90, and Brandon Hagel #38 against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena on April 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

TAMPA, Fla. — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1.

The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.

Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots.

The Lightning had lost four consecutive home playoff games and 10 of the past 11, dating to Game 4 against Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes finished with 31 saves.

Kucherov forced overtime at 12:33 of the third period, collecting a deflected puck off the stick of Hagel and scoring on a wrap-around. The goal was the first playoff goal for Kucherov since April 19, 2023, a span of 17 postseason games.