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Open Thread: Game 4, Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights (7:00 p.m.)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 24: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck ahead of Pavel Dorofeyev #16 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

If the Colorado Avalanche season were a boat at sea, the vessel would be taking on water with the feeling of impending doom as the choppy waters of a series sweep loom over the horizon. A journey that started in the waters of Los Angeles could come to a sinking halt in the desert of Las Vegas, as the Golden Knights have a 3-0 series lead with a chance to advance to the cup final tonight.

Colorado seems battered and bruised from the quest, as Cale Makar is clearly not healthy, and Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin were hobbled in game three.

The team from the Mile High City also appears morally drained after blowing their first third-period lead to lose game two and a 3-0 first-period lead in game three. In fact, in game three, Colorado failed to register a shot in the last 12+ minutes of the final frame despite getting a power play at one point.

Vegas has been sippin’ pina coladas like a prize fighter as their (hard-earned) luxury yacht rolls into port for another night of dominance. The Avalanche have had zero answers to what Las Vegas has brought to the table, and so for the Golden Knights, the focus will be more of the same.

Will the Avalanche end the suffering and go quietly, or will they put up a fight?

Colorado Avalanche: 8-4

The Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights (11-4)

Time: 6:00 p.m. MT

Watch: ESPN+, ESPN

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche

What can I really say about where the Avalanche stand today ahead of game four? A lot.

For starters, it feels like Nathan MacKinnon either got some incredible treatment over the last 36 hours or he will, at a minimum, be hobbled this evening after he took a puck to the outside of his right knee in game three. The impact was substantial enough to bench MacKinnon for most of the third period outside of one pointless power play appearance.

I don’t say pointless because MacKinnon shouldn’t be out on the power play, but he was clearly unable to make any explosive movements and was basically ineffective.

This leads me to an adjustment I hope to see from Bednar. I don’t think riding your clearly wounded top guys into the ground is going to do anything but accelerate losing.

The approach we saw in game three just came off desperate as the top group waved off a timeout just to inevitably be too gassed to stave off an open net attempt.

Moreover, it explains why the end of game three was so lifeless.

Only one team in NHL history has come back from down 3-0 beyond the quarterfinals, and that was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.

Saying things have changed since then is incredibly reductive, but back then, Leafs head coach Hap Day chose to bench the team’s leading scorer and a veteran defender to make his lineup younger, faster, and better equipped to play 60 minutes of playoff hockey.

Here are three keys to victory for the Colorado Avalanche:

  1. Effort every second of every shift.
  2. A commitment to sacrifice and teamwork
  3. Patience and pride.

It’s desperation time for the Avalanche (although I’d argue it has been for at least two games), and they will have to lean into that to avoid the sweep. That means controlling what they can control, and that starts with effort.

Speaking of effort, you clearly aren’t going to skill it up to a victory against this Vegas team, so to win, Colorado will have to buy into sacrificing offense for defense, grinding in the corners and below the goal-line, and crashing the net.

The approach that’s required right now isn’t a pretty one. It’s not gonna land anyone on ESPN’s top ten or make an end-of-year highlight reel. The Avalanche will have to trust themselves, prepare for battle, and play for the logo on the front of their jerseys.

Projected Lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Gabriel Landeskog
Nazem Kadri — Brock Nelson — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Nicolas Roy — Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski
Josh Manson — Brent Burns

MacKenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Note: I have italicized the individuals who are a bit questionable tonight. We haven’t gotten the real word on either Nichushkin or MacKinnon’s status, and Cale has dealt with stuff all postseason.

Nothing has been reported, but it feels like the right time to give MacKenzie Blackwood a chance in game four.

Vegas Golden Knights

When John Tortorella took the reins in Vegas, he talked a lot about just getting out of the way with this Vegas group, which has an established cup-winning core and a cupboard full of talent. It’s apparently exactly what was needed to right the ship in Vegas.

Good goaltending has also helped, as Carter Hart is on a Jordan Binnington-like run here in the 2026 playoffs. His success has been largely instrumental in Vegas’ commitment to the counterstrike approach, as he’s backstopped the group well when Colorado has earned the seldom-seen high-danger look.

Vegas is in comfortable territory right now, but won’t just take the foot off the gas this close to getting back to a cup final.

Here are three keys to victory for the Golden Knights:

  1. Stick to the plan.
  2. Play to win.
  3. Ride momentum.

Vegas’ approach is undefeated against the team that many (along with Carolina) viewed as a shoo-in for the Cup Final. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

With this sort of series lead, it’s human nature to let up a little bit, seeing as only four teams have ever come back from being down 3-0 in the NHL’s 109 seasons. That gives the Avalanche ~ a 3.7% chance of realizing a reverse sweep.

That’s the sort of unlikelyhood that can seep into the little habits, but as we know in Colorado, habits are fleeting and must be nurtured even when the going is good. Or else.

The Golden Knights have done very well at getting and keeping momentum when it matters most. The first goal hasn’t mattered as much as the last goal in this series because Vegas doesn’t come out of their game when behind.

Projected Lineup:

Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner
Brandon Saad — Tomas Hertl — Colton Sissons
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar

Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton — Dylan Coghlan

Carter Hart
Adin Hill

Let us know what you think in the comments, Avs fans! Is this the end or the beginning? Are the Avalanche losing or winning tonight?

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Game 54: Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Yuki Matsui #1 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Petco Park on May 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Philadelphia Phillies (27-27) at San Diego Padres (31-22), May 26, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Joe Mazzulla captures ‘stupid’ Coach of the Year award after 56-win Celtics season

Boston, MA - April 19: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls out a play in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla once called the NBA’s Coach of the Year award “stupid.” On Tuesday night, he became the organization’s first recipient in 46 years.

“Don’t need it,” Mazzulla told reporters in March. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play. It’s about them. The staff works their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”

Mazzulla beat out J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs, becoming Boston’s first COTY winner since Bill Fitch (1979-80), and just the fourth in Celtics history. At 37 years old, Mazzulla became the youngest coach to win since Phil Johnson 51 years ago, earning 62 first-place votes to Bickerstaff’s 29 votes.

Following a complete roster overhaul that saw the Celtics move on from core pieces Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford, plus the absence of Jayson Tatum for the first 62 games of the season, Mazzulla got to work. With a slew of unproven newcomers, the fourth-year head coach reshaped the team’s identity to better suit the pieces available and keep the Celtics competitive enough to earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Boston went 56-26 and established a two-way playstyle that gave some of the league’s best issues throughout the year.  

INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 3: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 3, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

On March 25, the Celtics defeated the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and finished with the second-best home record in the NBA.

Mazzulla, thrust into the head coaching seat just four years ago following the abrupt suspension and eventual firing of Ime Udoka, has improved gradually each season. He worked his way up from a G League assistant with the Maine Red Claws to a Division II head coach at Fairmount State to an NBA assistant for three years under Brad Stevens and Udoka before finally landing his dream job in 2022.

“Thank you to the Lord for the platform he has given me, and to my wife and family who support me on this journey,” Mazzulla said, per the Celtics. “Thank you to our players who compete and give it everything they have each night. I am grateful for every member of the Celtics organization whose dedication impacts winning every day. This award belongs to our staff, who are there for the guys every day. Their relentless work ethic improves our team daily. This award should be named Staff of the Year.”  

Last August, the Celtics signed Mazzulla to a multi-year contract extension to remain in Boston.

In four years, Mazzulla has amassed a 238-90 record in the regular season while going 36-21 in the postseason. In 2024, he coached Boston to its 2024 NBA Finals win over the Dallas Mavericks to end the franchise’s 16-year title drought and secure Banner 18.

Fitch, Tommy Heinsohn (1972-73), and Red Auerbach (1964-65) are the only other Celtics coaches to ever win COTY.

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Gamethread 5/26: Phillies at Padres

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: (L-R) Brandon Marsh #16, Justin Crawford #2 and Adolis García #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

For the Padres:

Let’s talk about it.

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Victor Wembanyama rookie card sells for $5.11 million, a record for a non-autographed NBA card

Victor Wembanyama dribbles the ball while wearing a Spurs uniform in front of a crowd inside an arena.
Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the Spurs past Oklahoma City in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Sunday in San Antonio and tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

Victor Wembanyama is making news these days as a third-year player who has led the San Antonio Spurs to a 2-2 series tie with the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.

A sports card from the 7-foot-4 French star’s rookie season has also made headlines. Wembanyama’s 2023-24 Panini Prizm one-of-one Black parallel card recently sold for $5.11 million in a private deal brokered by Fanatics Collect.

It’s the highest known price paid for a non-autographed NBA card and the fourth-highest for any NBA card, according to price guide website Card Ladder. The buyer told the Athletic that he believes it will remain the best card for a player whose superstar potential is practically unlimited.

Read more:NBA star Victor Wembanyama inspires euphoria among French fans during the Olympics

“There’s a sort of obvious ceiling for him, just as an athlete, that I think is higher than most people that are like the ordained superstars, like the next guy that we anticipate them being pantheon people,” said the buyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “... If you take all these players and you say, ‘What’s their ceiling?’
I think Victor Wembanyama’s [ceiling] is substantially higher.”

Professional Sports Authenticator graded the card a Gem Mint 10, which the PSA site says is reserved for “virtually perfect” cards.

The previous record amount spent on a Wembanyama card was $860,100 paid for his rookie Panini Prism Nebula Choice one-of-one card in early 2025, according to Fanatics Collect. That card had a PSA 9 grade.

Read more:Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan sports card sells for all-time record of nearly $13 million

The grade for the recently purchased card came with controversy. Collector Cavelle McDonald pulled the card from a pack he purchased at NorCal Sports Cards in Roseville, Calif. A video posted to the store’s YouTube account in 2024 shows McDonald and NorCal Sports Cards owner Thomas Lindenthal getting the card graded.

After learning the card’s grade, Lindenthal gave “a huge shout-out” to Kurt’s Card Care. “Your product is phenomenal,” he said.

Read more:Lisa Leslie moved as she becomes the first Sparks star with statue outside Crypto.com Arena

According to its website, Kurt’s Card Care makes “100% handmade Cleaning sprays and polishes free of artificial colors and scents. Perfect for cleaning and restoring your card collection.” PSA says on its website that it “will not grade cards that bear evidence of trimming, re-coloring, restoration, or any other forms of tampering” and lists “evidence of cleaning” as a factor in the company returning a card without a numeric grade.

Some people in the video’s comment section speculated that Lindenthal’s shout-out may have indicated that the Wemby card had been tampered with in a way that should have disqualified it from being graded. NorCal Sports Cards did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Times.

McDonald told the Athletic that “Kurt’s Card Care has nothing to do with me or the card.” The new buyer told the publication that he was unaware of the situation before purchasing the card, but said it wouldn’t have made any difference if he had known.

The largest amount known to be spent on any sports card is the $12.932 million paid last year for the 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in the Spurs’ double-overtime victory against the Thunder in Game 1 of the conference finals and 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots in San Antonio’s Game 4 victory on Sunday. Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, with the winner of the best-of-seven series advancing to play the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Stay or go? NBA draft decisions with biggest college basketball impact

The entire trajectory of the 2026-27 men's college basketball season could change in the next few days.

Teams have mostly assembled their rosters for the upcoming season, but some decisions still linger with the players deciding whether to return or turn pro. Those contemplating their next move were able to get some intel on their NBA draft stock at the combine, and now have to make their choice by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 to retain their remaining eligibility.

More: 5 teams that walked out of portal looking like title contenders

With the early draft entry deadline imminent, these are the biggest names who still need to make a decision in terms of the college basketball impact, as their choice will greatly affect how the 2026-27 season unfolds.

Koa Peat (Arizona)

Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) reacts after a pay against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center.

A decision not many expected but suddenly is in play. Peat was instrumental in Arizona reaching its first Final Four since 2001, bullying defenses into 14.1 points per game and turning it up in big matchups. However, Peat doesn't have much of an outside game, and it was very apparent at the combine, resulting in his draft stock falling. While he's still likely a first round pick, Peat can return to the Wildcats to expand his offensive arsenal.

If he does, Arizona is primed again to be one of the best teams in the country with Peat leading a relentless frontcourt, and a possible player of the year contender. The entire trajectory of the loaded Big 12 changes if Peat decides to return.

Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State; in portal)

Teams are ready to splash out big bucks for Momcilovic to return to the college ranks. He was the best shooter in the country with 136 made 3-point shots a whopping 48.8% field goal percentage from deep. With him not having a new college set after leaving Iowa State, the demand to get him on a roster likely gets him a bigger pay day than the NBA, making returning to college an easy choice.

Coaches around the country are waiting on the official word so they can go all-in on trying to get Momcilovic on their roster, as he will make any offense he is on lethal.

Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois)

The son of former NBA All-Star sharpshooter Peja, Stojakovic really made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament. He came off the bench for Illinois and was the catalyst for the Fighting Illini making their first Final Four since 2005. He isn't as prolific of a shooter like his dad, but Stojakovic can spot up from mid-range and play through contact.

With Keaton Wagler for sure gone, Stojakovic is set up to be the top returning scorer, with Brad Underwood set to give him an elevated role. Illinois is already stocked up for another March run, and Stojakovic is the one critical piece to confirm it.

Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor; in portal)

A five-star recruit in the 2025 class could be coming back for another season. Yessoufou lived up to the billing by setting several Baylor freshman records, averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. However, some concerns developed with his ball-handling that dropped him from a projected lottery pick to a late first-rounder.

This may be the biggest toss up of the class as Yessoufou has the scoring ability to make the NBA, but also could polish his game on all sides of the ball. There are plenty of suitors waiting for him as one of the top available players still in the portal.

Allen Graves (Santa Clara; in portal)

This may be one of the biggest sleepers. Graves was the West Coast Conference freshman and sixth man of the year for a Santa Clara team that made March Madness for the first time since 1996. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, along with a 41.3% mark from 3-point range. Graves has the skills to have a long professional career, but he was one of the least athletic players at the combine and that could scare some teams away.

It's another tough decision to predict, given Graves can be a late first-rounder. He's currently the second-best transfer available after Momcilovic, and he will absolutely find himself playing for a Power conference team should he return.

Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)

Unless you were playing Vanderbilt, you couldn't help but have fun watching Tanner play. He put up 19.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and he doesn't play like he's only 6-foot-tall with impressive athleticism. However, that's a concern in the professional ranks, and he had some shaky performances in the combine that may have hurt his stock.

Vanderbilt was a surprise last season largely because of Tanner, and any chance to keep the momentum going would fall apart if Tanner decides to enter the draft. Mark Byington said it best: "We’re not going to be able to replace him if he doesn't come back."

Meleek Thomas (Arkansas)

Darius Acuff Jr. wasn't the only playmaker for Arkansas; Thomas had his own bright spots, possessing the skills to play at the next level. He thrived in John Calipari's offensive-minded team with 15.6 points per game and a 41.6% 3-point percentage. The one thing that goes against him is this is a loaded class from the guard position, so he finds himself behind several others projected to be lottery picks.

A star role for the Razorbacks is awaiting Thomas should he return. He could end up being one of the top scorers in the country, and would help Arkansas retain the crown in the SEC.

Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State)

Fears continued to elevate his game in his junior season, becoming the best passer in the country with 9.4 assists per game, all while leading Michigan State in scoring with 15.2 points per game. While he certainly had a productive combine, he still isn't much of scoring threat, and would likely be fit into a pass-first guard. He would thrive in it, but it would keep him from being a productive player.

All signs point to Fears returning to college, and it will keep Michigan State among the Big Ten powerhouses will the departures the Spartans had. Tom Izzo does his best with continuity, and one can only imagine how dangerous Fears can be with another season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA draft withdrawal deadline: Key decisions await top players

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Jalen Williams downgraded to out, Jared McCain starts for Thunder in Game 5

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jalen Williams was downgraded to out by Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, after being listed as questionable throughout the day because of his ongoing issues with a strained left hamstring.

Ajay Mitchell, who typically starts in Williams' place, was ruled out earlier by the Thunder with a strained right soleus.

The Thunder opted to put Jared McCain in the starting lineup, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lugentz Dort.

McCain was making the first playoff start of his career. He averaged 8.8 points in 12 playoff games off the bench for the Thunder entering Tuesday.

Williams returned for Game 1 of the Spurs’ series, scoring 26 points in 37 minutes a week ago Monday night in Oklahoma City’s 122-115 double-overtime loss. He had four points in seven first-quarter minutes in Game 2, including an alley-oop dunk with 2:12 left in the period, and hasn't played since.

Williams has now missed 58 of the Thunder’s 95 games this season, including playoffs. Of those absences, 19 were for a right wrist issue and the other 39 were related to his hamstrings — the right one costing him 30 games during the regular season, the left one now costing him nine during the playoffs.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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Takeaways as Phillies hammer heaters, Aaron Nola mixes up Padres in victory

Takeaways as Phillies hammer heaters, Aaron Nola mixes up Padres in victory originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

SAN DIEGO — You could probably hear the ball off the Phillies’ bats if you were anywhere near Southern California on Tuesday.

Philadelphia played its version of a home run derby against Padres starter Randy Vásquez at Petco Park. The long ball has carried the Phillies in San Diego, and it was again the biggest difference in their 4-3 win over the Padres.

The Phillies also received another strong performance from their starting pitcher, their fifth in a row. This one was arguably the most important.

Aaron Nola, who entered with a 6.01 ERA, delivered one of his best outings of the season.

Six innings. Three hits. Two runs. No walks. Five strikeouts.

Homers and strong starting pitching will win you plenty of games. Just ask the Phillies since they made it out west.

BACK ON TRACKNOLS

Nola showed he still has the stuff. Sure, the Padres have been one of the worst offenses in baseball despite their strong start. But Nola’s sequencing needed refinement, and it was.

The way he will be successful going forward starts with favoring his knuckle curve in any count. For the second consecutive start, Nola threw that pitch more often on the first pitch than any other in his mix, and he was efficient with it at a 63 percent strike rate.

He generated a 39 percent whiff rate with the pitch and got hitters to expand the zone against it more than a third of the time.

Against a predominantly right-handed lineup, Nola was able to mix and match his four-seamer and sinker. He threw the sinker more than usual, using it 24 percent of the time, five percentage points above his season average. His four-seam usage dropped 10 percentage points, due in part to there being just two lefties in the Padres’ order.

Of the heaters put in play, six resulted in contact, and only two were hard-hit. The average exit velocity sat around 76 mph.

That mattered. Opponents were hitting .417 against Nola’s four-seamer entering the night. Right-handed batters were also hitting north of .400 against his sinker.

The lone blemish on his night was Manny Machado’s fourth-inning two-run shot. It probably should not have happened.

A pitch earlier, Gavin Sheets hit a ball 84 mph that skipped off Trea Turner’s mitt. There were two outs. It was scored a hit, but it was certainly a play Turner is capable of making.

On the very next pitch, Machado, who has had a down season to this point, was sitting on something in. He got a sinker on the inner black and left the yard with it.

But Nola remained unfazed the rest of the way.

In the sixth, he allowed another two-out hit, which brought the left-handed Sheets to the plate. That has been a matchup Nola has struggled with this season.

This time, he handled it. He started Sheets with two knuckle curves, both whiffs, then finished him with a 93.7 mph four-seamer off the plate.

A huge punchout and an exclamation point on an encouraging night for the Phillies right-hander.

LOUD CONTACT

Since Don Mattingly took over for Rob Thomson on April 28, the Phillies have been much better against fastballs.

Before the managerial change, the club slashed .247/.332/.395 against all heaters. Since then, they are at .270/.349/.470.

That turnaround has directly tied into their overall improvement at the plate. The Phillies actually averaged a higher exit velocity against fastballs before Thomson was let go, but their batting average on balls in play against those pitches has jumped nearly 30 points.

Tuesday’s exit velocities made that improvement look loud.

Three of their eight hits left the yard, all against Vásquez. And they were scorched.

In the first inning, Bryce Harper got ahead 2-1 and got a low-and-in cutter from the Padres right-hander. Harper golfed a line shot into the right-field seats.

It left the bat at 113.5 mph, his hardest-hit ball of the season. That came a night after he drove a ball to the center-field wall, just missing a homer.

Harper made this one count.

The next homer came the following inning. In the second, J.T. Realmuto got ahead 1-0, then mashed a low-and-in cutter, just like Harper, into the first few rows in left field.

That one left the bat at 109.3 mph, Realmuto’s hardest-hit ball of the year and his first homer since April 1.

Good things came in threes.

In the third, Turner, batting second behind Kyle Schwarber, got a much-needed get-right swing.

This one was not a mistake over the middle. It was a sinking fastball that missed about two to three ball widths above the zone, up and in. Turner tomahawked it into the Western Metal Supply Co. building.

434 feet. 109.1 mph off the bat.

All three were solo shots, and they paired perfectly with Nola’s outing.

MARSH LEAVES

In the top of the first, after Harper’s solo shot, Brandon Marsh lined a single from the cleanup spot.

He was later back-picked by Padres catcher Freddy Fermin to end the frame.

Marsh looked like he was in pain after the play, stretching out his fingers near first base. He jammed his right hand on the bag, the hand not protected by the sliding mitt.

The Phillies later announced that Marsh sprained his right middle finger and would undergo further testing.

That is a situation worth watching.

Marsh has been the Phillies’ best pure hitter to this point, batting .326, third best in baseball.

If Marsh misses extended time, Edmundo Sosa would likely see more opportunities in left field. Otto Kemp could factor in, too. It could also make the Phillies more urgent in their search for outfield help ahead of the Trade Deadline.

Not great news for a player who has been one of the most consistent bats in their lineup.

SUCCESS AGAINST RIGHTIES

It is remarkable how different the Phillies have been against right-handed starters compared to lefties.

They are now 21-14 against right-handed starters. Against left-handed non-openers, they are 4-12.

Tuesday’s win put an exclamation point on that disparity. The Phillies hit three homers off a right-handed starter, got a strong outing from Nola and secured another important series win.

That gap against righties and lefties could also help shape the front office’s thinking as the Trade Deadline gets closer.

Either way, after back-to-back series losses following six straight series wins, the Phillies picked up a big series victory in San Diego. They remain in the thick of the National League Wild Card race and are again nine games back of the top spot in the division.

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The case for extending Dillon Brooks

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on December 01, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.

Dillon “The Villain” Brooks arrived in the Valley this year with a mix of emotions from fans. Some saw him as a solid role player who could help out; others thought he was just a bad throw-in from the Kevin Durant trade. One thing is for sure, though, is that no one saw him rising to the man he did just in his first year here in Phoenix. Brooks showed not only that he can be that defensive guy everyone buys into, but also a viable offensive option when injuries come into play.

This was seen from day one, even though no one knew what role he would truly hold; they saw he had gotten along well with the team in training camp. There was some hype around the team, even if they were not the best, that they would be a fun product to watch. Luckily for us, it was the best of both worlds, and Brooks was a huge part of that.

Brooks embodied the “Villain” persona he has stuck by in the league, really bringing out the best in these guys in the locker room and on the court. His aggressiveness and determination to leave it all on the court inspired teammates to give that same effort. This was the mold that a coach in Jordan Ott wants in his first year: guys who will buy in and leave it out there every single night.

This season, Brooks not only showed he could be better than anticipated, but even had fans clamoring for him to make the All-Star game.

He then suffered a broken wrist, which kept him out of 18 games for the Suns.

This definitely put a wrench in his great year, but when he returned, he bounced back to his average: 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks, while shooting 44/34/84 from the field in 30.2 minutes per game. This led him to a career-high in points and rebounds, which was another positive for Brooks.

In a season where he saw his role fluctuate a bunch with injuries to others and himself, he proved that he was one of the top options on both ends for Phoenix. In Houston, he had taken a bit of a backseat role, but when tasked with a larger workload, he rose to the occasion.

Brooks on the defensive end was also a positive, where he truly brought it together. His aggressiveness and mental toughness to always be hunting, not be the hunted, led him to make multiple big plays for Phoenix throughout the year. He did have a bit of a technical foul issue, but, as we saw, he was being targeted throughout the year, with many of those rescinded.

All of these points make the decision easy. The Suns should make this a priority, and it seems the ball may already be rolling on it. A few weeks ago, Marc Stein of The Stein Line Substack reported that the Suns and Brooks could work on this extension. The max Brooks can receive is a 4-year, $125M extension, but it is reported that the new deal will not reach that level.

That is a good sign, as not only is Brooks getting older, but the Suns have over $20 million in dead cap each year for the foreseeable future. They cannot keep extending the team and tightening the window, so locking him up at a respectable number is a good deal. Since Brooks is everything the Suns wanted in a player who represents this hard work and hustle culture, they should bring him back on a 2-3-year deal worth at least $20-25 million per season. With him making $21 million this year, it would be either at his pay rate or a bit higher, which he has deserved.

Ultimately, they should not prolong this. Brooks has won the hearts of fans and many in the locker room with his great play and character. Even if he is “the villain” we all know off the court, he is a great guy, and Phoenix cannot lose this. Especially with how their identity has looked in the past, if you get someone who fits it to a tee, you cannot lose them.

What do you think, though? Is this the right move for the Suns to extend Dillon Brooks and keep him in the Valley, or should they wait and potentially move off him?

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It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Game 5

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 24: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder passes over Devin Vassell #24 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of Game Four of the Western Conference Finals NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 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

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

This series has been an epic journey so far, as each team has made adjustments and the other team counters, changing the shape of the game every time these two teams meet. It has been a coaching master class, and the players have stepped up in every game to make things difficult on the opponent. Injuries have been a factor, with De’Aaron Fox missing the first two games with an ankle injury suffered against the Timberwolves, and re-injuring it in game three, but somehow playing through it in game four. Dylan Harper injured his adductor (groin) in the third quarter of game two and hasn’t been full speed since then. The Thunder have been dealing the absence of Jalen Williams (JDub) with a recurring hamstring issue, and Ajay Mitchell, who has a soleus (calf) injury suffered late in game three, when he landed awkwardly after shoving Castle in the back while committing a flagrant foul. Mitchell is out tonight, while JDub is listed as questionable.

The Thunder re-took home court advantage for the series by taking one of the two games in the Frost Bank Center, and the Spurs will need to win at least one more game in the Paycom Center if they are to win the series. Why not tonight? The team that wins tonight will have a chance to close out the series on Thursday night in San Antonio, which will be a loud and hostile arena for the defending champs. While it would be great to close out the series at home, it would also be acceptable for the Spurs to make it a seven game series and maximize the drama with a road game win to end the series. However this series plays out, it’s been a treat for the fans of both teams. LET’S GO SPURS!

Game Prediction:

Mark Daigneault blows a huge bubble gum bubble just before the an errant pass hits him in the face. The ball has to be replaced because of the gum stuck to the ball. After a conference from the officials, they decline to call a delay of game penalty on Daigneault, since it wasn’t an intentional act like Jason Kidd spilling a drink on the court.

San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Thunder, Conference Championship Round, Game 5
May 26, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: NBC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

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Kings Have Their Sights Set On Stanley Cup Winning Head Coach

The Los Angeles Kings are still enduring the long process of searching for their 29th Head Coach in franchise history. As time goes on we hear more rumors and speculation about who they may end up hiring.

There are certainly plenty of solid options in this year's coaching carousel, including Bruce Cassidy, Manny Malhotra, Craig Berube, among others.

Now, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the Kings are one of a handful of teams to have had talks with a coach who has seen a large amount of success, including a Stanley Cup Championship.

Now entering the mix is Peter Laviolette, a longtime NHL Head Coach who has been behind the bench for over 1,700 combined regular season and Stanley Cup playoff games.

In his regular season career, Laviolette has won 846 of his 1,594 games, giving him a respectable .589 winning percentage. The now 61-year-old has also had success when it matters, in the postseason.

Laviolette has coached three different franchise to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, and won one with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He fell just short with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and with the Nashville Predators in 2017, running into dynasties in both instances. 

Laviolette is more than qualified to be the next head coach of the Kings, however both he and the LA front office will have to do their due diligence to see if he is the correct fit moving forward.

The Kings Have Been Linked To A Former NHLer For Head Coach OpeningThe Kings Have Been Linked To A Former NHLer For Head Coach OpeningThe Los Angeles Kings have been linked to several candidates for their vacant Head Coach position, including a former NHL player who played in almost 1,000 career games.

The Kings aren't just focused on Laviolette. They have also reportedly expressed interest in Manny Malhotra, and while unlikely, interim coach DJ Smith has also been included in the process. Bruce Cassidy is perhaps the biggest name and the Kings have interest in talking with him, but have not yet had the opportunity to do so.

Finding a coach to begin the era of no Anze Kopitar in a Kings sweater is an important process and must be correctly, but it's also a task that shouldn't take up the entire offseason as the NHL Draft and free agency are quickly approaching.

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'We want Wemby!' Knicks fans are chanting, and it's gotten noticed at the Western Conference finals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Even before the New York Knicks won the Eastern Conference title, some of their fans took to the streets of Manhattan with a message.

The chants: “We want Wemby! We want Wemby!”

The Knicks have done their part, getting to the NBA Finals. And now, they'll have to wait until at least Thursday to see which team comes out of the Western Conference — either Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, or the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Before Game 5 of the Spurs-Thunder series on Tuesday night, San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson was asked if he has heard about the chants from those Knicks fans.

He hasn't — but didn't seem surprised that they're happening.

“I know New York's on fire. They won so that city is obviously enjoying it and they've had a heck of a playoff run,” Johnson said. “But unfortunately, I've been pretty locked-into what we've got going right here in front of us.”

The Knicks have won 11 consecutive games, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to beat Atlanta in Round 1 and then sweeping Philadelphia and Cleveland in the next two rounds.

And in fairness, some Knicks fans were captured on videos that got posted to social media chanting “We want Wemby!” after Game 1 of the East finals against the Cavaliers.

“Tip your cap to New York, for sure,” Johnson said. "They're having a heck of a run."

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

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Astros vs. Rangers Game Thread: Game 56, 5/26/2026

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jason Alexander #54 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

TONIGHT’S GAME: Tonight, the Houston Astros (24-31) and Texas Rangers (24-29) will play the 2nd game of a 4-game series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

RHP Jason Alexander (1-0, 7.30 ERA) will make his 2nd start and 4th app. of the season for the Astros as he takes on Rangers RHP Jack Leiter (1-4, 4.61 ERA). Tonight will be Alexander’s 1st career appearance at Globe Life Field.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT: In his last start, RHP Jason Alexander hurled 6.0 scoreless innings on May 19 at MIN in what was an emergency start.

Alexander, who has spent most of the season at Triple A Sugar Land, will make his 2nd start and 4th appearance of the season tonight. It is also his 2nd career start/appearance vs. TEX.

Remarkable Run: In 2025, Alexander had a remarkable run while in the Astros rotation. In a span of 9 starts, the Astros went 9-0, with Alexander posting a 2.32 ERA in that span (July 29-Sept. 15).

THE SILVER BOOT SERIES: In the first installment of the Silver Boot series in 2026, the Astros took 2 out of 3 from Rangers, May 15-17 at Daikin Park.

With last night’s win, HOU has now won 6 of their last 7 games vs. TEX.

Even Series: The two clubs have played each other 296 times in the regular season in their franchise histories, with the Astros holding a slight advantage, 149-147.

Recently, the Astros have had the upper hand, winning or splitting nine straight season series, going 96-52 against the Rangers since the start of the 2017 season.

The Silver Boot Trophy, which the Astros have held onto since 2017, is on display in the Centerfield Team Store at Daikin Park.

200 CLUB: The Astros next win will be #200 for manager Joe Espada. Espada’s very first managerial win came via a no-hitter by RHP Ronel Blanco on April 1, 2024.

ROSTER MOVE: The Astros optioned OF Zach Cole to Triple A Sugar Land following last night’s game.

To take his place on the active roster, the Astros reinstated OF Taylor Trammell from the 10-day IL today. Trammell is in the lineup today, batting 5th and playing LF.

RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 4 straight, 5 of their last 6 and are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

BLANKINGS: Last night’s 9-0, no-hit win at TEX was the Astros 6th shutout of the season, which is T-2nd most in the AL.

FOR STARTERS: Astros starters have a combined ERA of 2.14 (13ER/54.2IP) over the last 10 games.

Last night was the 4th time in the last 6 games that an Astros starter did not allow a run in his start. Additionally, Astros starters have allowed no runs 5 times in the last 10 games.

WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: 1B Christian Walker is on a sizzling run as of late with 3 HR and 9 RBI in hits last 3 games (5×11, .455).

For the season, he has been one of the top hitters in the AL and is currently tied for the league lead in RBI with 40.

He also ranks 6th in HR (15), 5th in TB (108), T6th in SLG (.540) and 11th in OPS (.879).

Walker also has not committed an error in his 55 games played.

THROWING SOME LEATHER: The Astros 19 errors as a club are tied for the fewest in the AL, along with KC and ATH. The Astros have a .990 team fielding pct.

PEN PALS: As a group, the Astros bullpen has had a decent run of success recently.

Since May 8, they have a combined ERA of 3.25 (20ER/55.1IP).

Individually, several relievers are currently pitching well:

–RHP Bryan Abreu: 0.00 ERA in last 8 outings (7.2 IP, 0 R).

–AJ Blubaugh: 3.14 ERA in last 9 outings (14.1 IP, 5 ER).

–LHP Bryan King: 1.42 ERA in last 10 outings (12.2 IP, 2 ER)

–LHP Steven Okert: 9 K’s in his last 5.2 IP (6 apps.) and a 2.89 ERA in his last 10 outings (9.1 IP, 3 ER).

ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros have been one of the AL’s top hitting teams on the road in 2026.

Entering today’s game, HOU leads the AL in road batting avg. (.265) and OBP (.335) while ranking 2nd in runs (134), SLG (.417) and OPS (.757).

YESTERDAY’S NO-NO:RHP Tatsuya Imai (6 IP), LHP Steven Okert (1.0 IP) and RHP Alimber Santa (2.0 IP) combined to no-hit the Rangers last night, 9-0.

It was the 18th no-hitter in franchise history (incl. postseason) and the 5th combined no-hitter in franchise history.

Christian Walker (3-run HR), Yordan Alvarez (solo HR) and Nick Allen (2 H, 2 RBI) led the way on offense.

ABOUT THE NO-NO: *In franchise history, it was the 17th regular season no-hitter and the 18th overall. The last was thrown by RHP Ronel Blanco on April 1, 2024 vs. TOR.

*It was the 5th combined no-hitter in Astros history and the 1st since Nov. 2, 2022 at PHI, which was Game 4 of the World Series.

*Per Elias, RHP Alimber Santa became the 1st pitcher since 1900 to pitch in a no-hitter in his ML debut. According to their records, it happened one other time, which was on Oct. 15 of 1892, when RHP Bumpus Jones of CIN hurled a 9.0 inning CG no-hitter in his ML debut.

*Last night’s no-hitter was the Astros’ 7th since 2019, which is the most in the Majors in that span. Additionally, the Astros 18 no-hitters overall are the most in the Majors since the franchise was born in 1962.

*The Astros are the 3rd team ever to have 2 rookies as part of a combined no-hitter. The other teams were the Cubs, 9/4/24 vs. PIT (Porter Hodge, Shota Imanaga) and Mariners, 6/8/12 vs. LA (Lucas Luetge, Stephen Pryor). source: Elias.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, May 26, 7:05 p.m. CT

Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

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Game Thread: Twins (26-28) at White Sox (27-26)

Rikuu Nishida will be making his second major league start in RF after a great performance Monday. | (Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

The White Sox brought themselves back to a game above .500 after a rough road trip, and will aim to defeat the Minnesota Twins for the eighth time in a row tonight. Sean Burke had himself an excellent April — 2.73 ERA in 29 2/3 innings — but has fallen flat this month, holding a 5.59 ERA in May across 19 1/3 frames. The righty still has plenty of positives: a walk rate in the 84th percentile (6.3%), a solid 33.1% whiff rate, and limiting barrels to 6.3% of the time, 22% less than the MLB average (8.1%).

It would be most ideal if the offense could back Burke up with some insurance runs, but the South Siders will have to face a tough opponent with righthander Joe Ryan on the mound for Minnesota. Ryan might be able to exploit his strong 27.1% strikeout rate since the Good Guys hold the second-highest K% in all of baseball (24.5%). I, however, would prefer if they could take advantage of Ryan’s 10.2% average barrel rate, which ranks in the 23rd percentile in MLB, as the White Sox have posted the fifth-best barrel rate at 9.8% and are tied with the Braves for second in team home runs (72).

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Speaking of homers, three of the first four guys in the lineup account for 60% (43) of the team’s 72 bombs: Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery. Players like Sam Antonacci and Chase Meidroth help balance out the lineup at the top and middle of the order with their ability to get on base, and both hold the highest batting averages on the team (minimum 60 plate appearances). And I’d be remiss not to mention newly arrived prospect Rikuu Nishida, who so far only has three at-bats but was a significant part of Monday’s win with his excellent defense and positive energy.

Ryan is 3-3 on the season in 11 starts (56 2/3 innings) with a 3.02 ERA, though his FIP is closer to a 2.50, potentially due to very mediocre defense from the Twins, who are tied with the White Sox and Tigers for eighth-most errors in baseball (28).

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The Twins might have traded everyone away last year, but they still have some decent power in their lineup, especially at the top of the order with Byron Buxton and Brooks Lee. Buxton is slugging .579 with a .901 OPS this season, and has previously hit a home run off of Burke. Lee was the one who struck yesterday with a homer in the first off of Anthony Kay, but hopefully, Burke can shut him down today.

First pitch on the South Side at the Rate will take place at 6:40 p.m. CT on a beautiful evening, with temperatures around 77º at game time. Tune in to the usual broadcast locations: either CHSN (TV) or ESPN Chicago AM 1000 (radio). Time for back-to-back Ws!

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Gabe Speier activated from injured list in Mariners bullpen relief

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 28: Gabe Speier #55 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Minnesota Twins on April 28, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Seattle Mariners announced Tuesday that they have activated LHP Gabe Speier off the 15-day injured list for pitchers, optioning RHP Nick Davila in a corresponding move. Speier had joined the ballclub in Sacramento following rehab stints in Everett and Tacoma. The southpaw has been a core part of the back end of Seattle’s bullpen once again, with a 2.92/3.64 ERA/FIP in 12.1 frames across 15 appearances. To some degree, Speier has perhaps shown the symptoms of a career-high workload in 2025, where he made 83 appearances across the regular season and playoffs, a total of 69.1 innings. His peripherals, namely strikeouts and walks, haven’t yet matched his usual pace as a Mariner, however the shoulder troubles that took him to the injured list may have played a role there.

It’s a tough beat for Davila, who may rightly be miffed to take the train back to T-Town. The 27 year old rookie did not yield a run in 7.1 frames across seven outings, albeit almost exclusively low-leverage. Davila’s 0.00 ERA is belied somewhat by a 4.43 FIP and just four punchouts to six walks. Still, he not only dutifully covered several innings in his first big league cup of coffee, but worked his way out of trouble each time. He’ll be near the top of the list the next time the bullpen needs reinforcements.