What we learned as Warriors hold off Rockets, take 3-1 series lead to Houston
What we learned as Warriors hold off Rockets, take 3-1 series lead to Houston originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The bad blood between the Warriors and Houston Rockets boiled over into dangerous territory Monday night at Chase Center in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series.
With so much on the line, the Warriors were the last man standing on the battlefield, beating the Rockets 109-106 to take a commanding three-games-to-one series lead.
All eyes were on Jimmy Butler in his return from missing Game 3, and most of Game 2, because of a left pelvic contusion. Butler limped to the free-throw line with 58 seconds left and the score tied 104-104 after being fouled on a 3-point attempt. The longtime playoff star made all three free throws. His two free throws in the final four seconds were the final points of the night, putting an exclamation point on his heroic effort of 27 points and six rebounds in 40 minutes.
Butler was a perfect 12 of 12 on free throws, finding the extra gear Golden State needed in the second half.
Steve Kerr also changed his starting lineup, bringing Buddy Hield in and keeping Moses Moody on the bench. The decision went about as perfectly as Kerr could have hoped for. Hield brought defensive intensity early, and later hit some big shots, scoring 15 points as a game-high plus-17 in 30 minutes.
The starting five played 14 and a half minutes together and outscored the Rockets 41-20 together.
On a night where Steph Curry was held to 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting and 2 of 8 on threes, Brandin Podziemski had a game to remember as his backcourt mate. Podziemski scored 26 points and made six threes. He also had five rebounds, five assists and two steals, but his ability to be a big-time scorer shone brightest in the most important game of his young career.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ Game 4 win.
Robin’s Return
The pain Butler played through is sure to be downplayed by the man himself. He isn’t one to make excuses or show a sign of weakness. He also clearly wasn’t at full strength like the player who put up 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals over 42 minutes in the Warriors’ Game 1 win.
Butler scored four points on two shot attempts in the first quarter, and then was held scoreless as a minus-11 in the second, bringing him to just four points, two rebounds and two assists on three shot attempts in the first half. In the third quarter, though, the beast inside Butler was awakened.
His short halftime rest had Butler looking more active in the third quarter, and it showed in his stats. Butler in the third quarter drew three fouls and scored nine points, going 5 of 5 at the free-throw line. That’s the Butler the Warriors badly needed.
Butler bodied the Rockets down the stretch and turned a paltry first-half stat line into pure production, scoring 23 of his 27 points in the second half. Take a bow, Playoff Jimmy.
All The Antics
Basketball was replaced by a dumbed-down backyard brawl in the second quarter, bringing the pace of the game to a snail’s crawl. There were numerous scuffles and multiple reviews by the referees that mostly made the home crowd furious. It was ugly in so many ways.
Between two different incidents, Draymond Green was called for a technical foul and a Flagrant 1. Curry was called for a technical for taunting Dillon Brooks, who also was given a tech in the same sequence. Tari Eason also was assessed a technical foul during a skirmish on the floor with Green. This kind of game was incredibly predictable given how the series has played out so far.
The antics also played in the Rockets’ favor, at least for the second quarter.
They were able to completely muck the game up and get the Warriors out of their rhythm. After only one turnover in the first quarter, the Warriors didn’t take care of the ball in the second quarter and paid for it. They tallied eight turnovers for the period, which led to 16 Rockets points – more than half of their 31 second-quarter points.
Warriors’ Loud Response
They could have played into the Rockets’ game to begin the second half, but instead, the Warriors came out of halftime laser-focused as a completely different team. The Warriors, through the first three and a half minutes, went on a 13-0 run, finally driving into the lane and breaking down the Rockets’ defense. Their run was pushed to 18-1, making it seem like the Warriors could bury the Rockets for good.
Not so fast. The Rockets then had their own response shortly after, going on a 7-0 run to cut the Warriors’ lead to three points halfway through the third quarter. The final six minutes of the third quarter were a back-and-forth battle with the Warriors holding an 82-80 lead going into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Rockets 32-23.
The Warriors also had to fend off the Rockets for the final eight minutes of the third quarter without Green after being whistled for his fifth foul. He didn’t return until there were just under eight minutes remaining in the game and the Warriors trailed 92-90. Sengun in that span scored 16 points.
Green kept himself in the game and contested Sengun’s game-winning attempt over him with six seconds left. A handful of Warriors played like champions down the stretch, including the one who nearly played himself out of the game.
Here's Why Former Penguins Cup-Winning Coach Should Be Target No. 1 For Sabres
The Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with longtime coach Mike Sullivan Monday morning in a move many observers have predicted was coming for quite some time. With the Penguins missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three seasons, the writing was on the wall for Sullivan, who now is on the free agent market.
However, Sullivan won't be out of work for very long. As a two-time Cup-winning coach, Sullivan has the pedigree every team is looking for. And wouldn't it be great for Buffalo Sabres fans if the Sabres blew their competition out of the water by hiring Sullivan as a replacement for current coach Linday Ruff?
It might take a serious overpayment for Sullivan to join the Sabres, but there's no salary cap on NHL coaches, and if Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams gave Sullivan some input on roster moves, that might be enough to make the Sabres the preferred destination for Sullivan.
At one point, Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula looked fondly on former Penguins management members, hiring former Pens GM Craig Patrick as a special advisor and Jason Botterill as GM. So making a splash by hiring Sullivan shouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibilty for the Pegulas now.
There will be many competitors aiming to sign Sullivan as quickly as possible. The Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers all need a new bench boss, and that makes it all the more intriguing for the Sabres to outbid them for Sullivan's services. The Bruins, Flyers and Rangers are teams Buffalo will be battling for a playoff berth next season, and spending extra money to acquire Sullivan would be a huge coup for the Sabres.
That said, Buffalo will have to move fast to land Sullivan. In our estimation, Sullivan will be off the market in a matter of weeks, if not days. And if that means the Sabres have to bid farewell to Ruff, so be it. The St. Louis Blues wasted no time in firing coach Drew Bannister in November when Jim Montgomery came available, and that's the type of aggressive move a team needs to make when a quality coach hits the open market.
Sabres' Off-Season Must Radically Shake Up Team CultureThe Buffalo Sabres' off-season has many priorities, includng getting the team's seven RFAs signed to contract extensions. But the overarching change for the franchise is clear: there has to be an extensive culture change, one that charts a new course for an organization that has flailed often as it tries to end what is now a 14-year stretch without any Stanley Cup playoff action.
Nobody will expect the Sabres to win the battle for Sullivan, and that's exactly why Buffalo ownership needs to do it. If it's true that fortune favors the bold, the Sabres need to heed that truth and bring in a proven champion to effect a major culture change on and off the ice. That's exactly what Sullivan has the skills to do.
Sullivan is a winner, and no team needs more winners than the Sabres right now. A motivated owner would and should spare nothing to add a difference-maker behind the bench, and Sabres fans would be rightfully-delighted if Buffalo did outbid the rest of the field and came away with Sullivan on board.
If the Sabres want to be considered as a destination for players, they need to show it's a destination for management members, and that process can start by hiring Sullivan. It won't be easy, but moves of consequence rarely are. And that's why Buffalo should shock the league and make Sullivan a key component for many years to come.
What we know about Round 2 of the NBA playoffs so far
What we know about Round 2 of the NBA playoffs so far originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Both No. 1 seeds have swept their way into Round 2 of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder were the first teams to advance to the conference semifinals following four-game sweeps in the opening round. The Thunder eliminated the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, while the Cavs bounced the No. 8 Miami Heat with a historic 55-point rout on Monday.
Cleveland and OKC will next be looking to book their first trips to the conference finals in several years. The Cavs haven’t reached the Eastern Conference Finals since their 2018 NBA Finals run, while the Thunder’s last Western Conference Finals appearance came in 2016.
So, when will the Cavs and Thunder continue their chases for the Larry O’Brien Trophy? And who could their next playoff opponents be? Here’s what we know about the conference semifinals:
When does Round 2 of the NBA playoffs start?
The second round is scheduled to get underway from Monday, May 5, to Tuesday, May 6, according to the NBA. But those start dates could be moved up to Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, depending on when first-round series conclude.
Do the NBA playoffs reseed teams?
The NBA playoffs follow a bracket format and do not reseed teams after the first round. That means the Cavs and Thunder will meet the winner of the 4-5 matchup in their respective conferences, regardless of other first-round results.
What are the Round 2 matchups in the NBA playoffs?
Here’s a look at the conference semifinal matchup possibilities:
Eastern Conference
- No. 1 Cavaliers vs. winner of No. 4 Indiana Pacers-No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
- Winner of No. 3 New York Knicks-No.6 Detroit Pistons vs. winner of No. 2 Boston Celtics-No. 7 Orlando Magic
Western Conference
- No. 1 Thunder vs. winner of No. 4 Denver Nuggets-No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
- Winner of No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers-No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. winner of No. 2 Houston Rockets-No. 7 Golden State Warriors
What’s NBA playoff schedule for Round 2?
The NBA hasn’t released any series schedule details for Round 2. This section will be updated as more information is announced.
‘Celtics City' beyond the episode: The road to Banner 18
‘Celtics City' beyond the episode: The road to Banner 18 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics came crashing back down to earth not long after their 2008 NBA championship.
Although they returned to the NBA Finals in 2010, then-president of basketball operations pivoted to a new era following his team’s series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Before the 2013-14 season, he traded aging franchise cornerstones Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a package including three first-round draft picks. Two of those picks turned into Jaylen Brown (2016) and Jayson Tatum (2017).
Brad Stevens was the Celtics’ head coach at the time, but after continuously failing to get Boston past the Eastern Conference Finals, he replaced Ainge as president of basketball operations in 2021. Stevens has shined in the role, making several shrewd moves as de facto general manager including a brilliant trade with the San Antonio Spurs for Derrick White at the 2022 deadline and deals for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday ahead of the 2023-24 season. He also made the decision to have Joe Mazzulla replace Ime Udoka as head coach.
The rest is history. White, Porzingis, and Holiday instantly jelled with Tatum and Brown to form a juggernaut in the East. Mazzulla proved to be the perfect leader for the group, and it culminated in the Celtics raising Banner 18 into the TD Garden rafters.
More Celtics City ‘Beyond the Episode’
- Episode 1: “Founding Fathers”
- Episode 2: “No Final Victories”
- Episode 3: “All Swept Up”
- Episode 4: “Great Hope, Period”
- Episode 5: “F**k the Celtics”
- Episode 6: “Untenable Toll”
- Episode 7: “Not Again”
- Episode 8: “Ubuntu”
The road to Banner 18 is the subject of the “Celtics City” series finale, titled We’re the Celtics. Max’s nine-episode docuseries starts with the dynastic 1950s and 60s C’s and ends with the potential for a new dynasty in Boston.
Longtime NBA reporter Jackie MacMullan and NBC Sports Boston’s Michael Holley offered their thoughts on the series finale during “Keys to the City,” as seen in the video player above.
“I think Jaylen Brown was so articulate about not only the Celtics as a whole and the franchise as a whole and what it means, and the weight of carrying that expectation, which is a great thing and an onerous thing,” MacMullan said. “But just to list to his personal and professional growth, I thought he came to symbolize why the team did so well last year, the idea of everybody giving up for one another.”
While much of the episode focuses on the Jays, MacMullan identified Stevens as the mastermind behind the 2024 NBA champs.
“He’s just behind the scenes doing all the little things that made this work,” MacMullan said of Stevens. “The things he did for player empowerment within the organization, state of the art facilities, accomodations for families, all the little things that he thought would turn into big things, and created an environment that would be a winning environment.
“Showing Joe Mazzulla unwavering support when a lot of people were like, ‘This guy’s in over his head. Why did you pick this guy?’ He’s hit all the right notes.”
Check out NBC Sports Boston’s exclusive footage and interviews from the road to Banner 18 below:
A complete look back at the highlights of the Celtics’ 2024 playoff run to win their 18th NBA title.
A look at the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and how they came together to win Banner 18. A video essay by Michael Holley.
After endless trade rumors surrounding the third pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Celtics held the pick and drafted Cal wing Jaylen Brown. Watch NBC Sports Boston’s coverage from that night with Kyle Draper, Brian Scalabrine, A. Sherrod Blakely, Mike Gorman, and Tom Heinsohn as they discuss the pick.
At the event at TD Garden, Wyc Grousbeck announced the pick and many fans famously booed. Brown, of course, has gone on to more than justify the selection for Boston, signing one of the richest contracts in NBA history and winning Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP in 2024.
Cozens Struggling In Playoff Debut For Senators
The Buffalo Sabres deal at the trade deadline that sent former first-rounder Dylan Cozens to Ottawa for Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker cannot be truly evaluated at this point. Norris played three games for the Sabres before being shut down with an oblique injury, and Bernard-Docker exceeded expectations playing on the right side with Owen Power for his short tenure, while Cozens has struggled in his four playoff games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 24-year-old had an assist in the Senators' Game 1 loss on Easter Sunday and was victimized by Max Domi on his overtime winner in Game 2, but in two home games at Canadian Tire Centre, he went pointless. The verdict on this deal will be in the coming years, as Ottawa hopes that Cozens regains the scoring touch he possessed in 2023, when he scored a career-high 31 goals, while Buffalo is hoping that Norris can manage to stay healthy and center one of their top two lines.
Other Sabres Stories
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Questions Yet To Be Answered If Adams Will Remain As Sabres GM
Over the weekend, former Sabres captain Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights regained home-ice advantage with a 4-3 overtime victory in Minnesota, while Sam Reinhart and the Florida Panthers lost Game 3 to Tampa Bay 5-1 at home, but still hold a 2-1 lead in the series with the Lightning.
Here is how some former Sabres did in the playoffs on Sunday:
William Carrier (CAR) -1, 12:33 TOI, 1 Hit, 1 SOG
Eric Robinson (CAR) 14:00 TOI, 6 Hits, 4 SOG
Taylor Hall (CAR) 13:18 TOI, 2 Hits, 1 SOG
Jeff Skinner (EDM) Did Not Play
Evander Kane (EDM) -2, 23:23 TOI, 4 Hits, 4 SOG
Joel Armia (MTL) 14:57 TOI, 3 Hits, 1 SOG
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
'We got to move on': Clippers look to rebound against Nuggets in critical Game 5
Game 5 is a pivotal contest for the Clippers and the Denver Nuggets.
Pivotal because the winner in a series that’s tied at 2-2 will be one win away from advancing in the Western Conference playoffs.
Pivotal because the loser will be one loss away from their season being over.
Pivotal because the team that wins Game 5 and subsequently takes a 3-2 lead in the series has gone on to win the series 81.3% of the time, according to the NBA.
Read more:Kawhi Leonard isn't surprised Clippers and Nuggets are locked in playoff showdown
So for the Clippers, this fifth game is about tilting the odds back in their favor and the only way to do that is to win Game 5 in Denver on Tuesday night.
“That means it’s an important game,” Clippers center Ivica Zubac said after practice Monday. “Every one of them is important. But in a mini-series, a best-of-three, you for sure want to get the next one. So, you want to get a Game 5 for sure. It’s a very important game. But I’ve been in a series where we were 2-2, we lost Game 5 and we still came back and won in seven. So, just got to win two.”
Zubac was talking about when the Clippers lost the first two games to the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, won the next two to tie the series, lost Game 5, but won the next two games to win the series 4-3. That Clippers group just happened to advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.
As for the current Clippers team, Zubac said: “There’s been a sense of urgency. Nothing changed for us. Best-of-seven. Best-of-five. Best-of-three. Whatever. We got to win four games.”
The Clippers have won in Denver during this series, taking Game 2 and stealing the home-court advantage away from the Nuggets — only to give it back in a dramatic Game 4 loss.
Three of the four games have been decided by three points or less, so one would think the Game 5 will be even more intense than the others.
Read more:Nuggets beat Clippers in Game 4 with a buzzer-beating tip-in dunk
“You would think so, but I haven’t really looked at it and said Game 5 is something different,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said after practice Monday. “But all these games are the same. Like, you got to be ready to compete from the start. You got to have an attack mentality on both sides of the basketball and you just got to go from there.”
This game will also call for the Clippers to find a way to slow down Denver’s otherworldly center Nikoka Jokic, who after averaging a triple-double during the regular season (29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists) is averaging 28.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 10.8 assists in this series.
Zubac will be assigned to Jokic, like he has all season and in the playoffs. But the Clippers will send plenty of bodies Jokic’s way.
Zubac said the only way to not get discouraged is to “not get bored with the process.”
“It’s what he does,” Zubac said. “It’s what he’s been doing for years now and he averaged triple-double through the regular season. So, it’s what he does. That’s how they play, and that’s it.
“You shouldn’t be discouraged by looking at the other players’ stats. You should be discouraged if you’re down 20 or something. Like, you shouldn’t be discouraged when he got a triple-double and the score is good for us. So, we’re focused on winning. We’re not looking at the other player’s stats and being discouraged by them. We want to win the game.”
Still, Lue was asked what will the Clippers do differently on defense against Jokic now.
Read more:Clippers know job isn't done after first playoff win in Intuit Dome history
“We’ll see,” Lue said. “We’ll see tomorrow.”
The Clippers had two days off to recover from the sting of losing Game 4.
They got down by 22 points in the fourth quarter, took a one-point lead and then tied the score — only to have Jokic shoot an airball on a step-back three-pointer that Aaron Gordon caught by the rim and dunked as time expired.
“Sometimes basketball can be amazing and it can be cruel as well,” Nicholas Batum said. “We got to move on. It’s 2-2. We’re right where we’re supposed to be, both teams. Now we got to go out there [to Denver]. We done [won] it once, almost did it twice in their place. We have to go there, regroup, move on. It’s a tough one, but we still got a chance to win this series and we hope to take another one and come back here.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Three predictions: Osborne’s choice, Brown’s ranking, Oregon’s QB pursuit
Is OL Lamar Brown destined for five-star status? Adam Gorney thinks so.
Knicks Notes: Referees finding consistency, Mikal Bridges keeps on shooting
The refs in the Knicks-Pistons series have been getting as much attention as the players.
Maybe it started after Game 2, when head coach Tom Thibodeau said Cade Cunningham was getting some calls that Jalen Brunson wasn’t.
“And look, I don’t give a crap how they call a game, as long as it’s consistent on both sides,” Thibodeau said that night.
There were two controversial calls at the end of Game 3: a non-call on a potential backcourt violation and a possession ruling after a clock malfunction. (Both calls were deemed correct and followed the current NBA rulebook (see Rule 4, section XIV for the dead-ball determination.)
You know how Game 4 ended: a non-call on contact from Josh Hart on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s three-point attempt that referees later admitted they missed.
If you’re a Pistons fan, you’re obviously upset about the non-call on the final possession. But if you look at the entirety of Game 4, the non-call at the end of the game was consistent with the previous 47-plus minutes.
The refs set the tone early by letting a lot of contact go, and they stuck with that approach throughout the game.
In Game 4, Cunningham shot four free throws on 23 field goal attempts. Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns each shot two free throws on a combined 49 attempts.
Total free-throw attempts were roughly even, with New York getting an 18-17 edge.
Maybe you don’t agree with some individual calls. But if you’re looking for consistency, you got it from the Game 4 crew.
If the refs started calling the game tighter in the final minute, they might have whistled Tobias Harris for a foul with about six seconds to play. Harris clearly hit Hart while trying to rebound Cunningham’s miss on his potential go-ahead basket. It’s also worth noting that the refs missed a potential game-changing call in Game 2 when Hart was fouled on a layup late in the fourth quarter. If Hart had made a free throw, it would have given the Knicks a one-point lead with 1:15 to play.
Cunning defense
Cunningham went 10-for-25 in the Knicks' Game 3 win, and he didn’t fare much better in Game 4. He went 11-for-23 and scored 25 points. Cunningham had 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but he also turned it over seven times. He missed five of his seven attempts in the fourth quarter.
After the game, players and Thibodeau lauded Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
“They’ve been great. They’ve been great all year. Regardless of what people say,” Brunson said. “It’s tough to guard people in this league. This league is clearly offensively driven. It’s tough to stop players one-on-one, but when you have two guys like that who just go out there, just play hard every possession, I like their chances.
"They’ve been doing that since I’ve known them, since I’ve been seeing them play, and I’m just glad they’re on my team.”
Building Bridges
Bridges was 1-for-10 from the field entering the fourth quarter. He’d missed all four of his three-point attempts. But he kept shooting. And Bridges hit two threes to start the fourth quarter, which spearheaded the Knicks.
Cam Payne gets an unofficial assist on the play. He was in Bridges’ ear throughout the game.
“He’s big on voicing, helping me out. Sometimes, him calling me some not good names helps, as well,” Bridges said with a laugh. “It just feeds off that. But it’s everybody, man. Like, Ty, I swear it’s everybody. Even Josh, JB, when we’re on the court, they just tell me to stick with it.
"I know I’m ready. I know I’m ready. It’s not fun missing, and you wait for that next opportunity to shoot again and I appreciate those guys, always.”
NFL Draft: Former five-stars that went undrafted
Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was one of 11 draft-eligible former five-stars that went undrafted.
Rob Manfred says he discussed Pete Rose's status with Donald Trump and will rule on reinstatement
NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed Pete Rose with President Donald Trump at a meeting two weeks ago and he plans to rule on a request to end the sport's permanent ban of the career hits leader, who died in September.
Speaking Monday at a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors, Manfred said he and Trump have discussed several issues, including Manfred's concerns over how Trump's immigration policies could impact players from Cuba, Venezuela and other foreign countries.
Manfred is considering a petition to have Rose posthumously removed from MLB's permanently ineligible list. The petition was filed in January by Jeffrey Lenkov, a Southern California lawyer who represented Rose prior to the 17-time All-Star's death at age 83.
“I met with President Trump two weeks ago, I guess now, and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I’m not going beyond that," Manfred said. "He’s said what he said publicly, I’m not going beyond that in terms of what the back and forth was.”
Trump posted on social media Feb. 28 that he plans to issue “a complete PARDON of Pete Rose.” Trump posted on Truth Social that Rose “shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING.” It's unclear what a presidential pardon might include - Trump did not specifically mention a tax case in which Rose pleaded guilty in 1990 to two counts of filing false tax returns and served a five-month prison sentence.
The president said he would sign a pardon for Rose “over the next few weeks" but has not addressed the matter since.
Rose had 4,256 hits and also holds records for games (3,562) and plate appearances (15,890). He was the 1973 National League MVP and played on three World Series winners.
An investigation for MLB by lawyer John M. Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. Rose agreed with MLB on a permanent ban in 1989.
Lenkov is seeking Rose's reinstatement so that he can be considered for the Hall of Fame. Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall. Rose applied for reinstatement in 1997 and met with Commissioner Bud Selig in November 2002, but Selig never ruled on Rose’s request. Manfred in 2015 denied Rose’s application for reinstatement.
Manfred said reinstating Rose now was “a little more complicated than it might appear on the outside" and did not commit to a timeline except that “I want to get it done promptly as soon as we get the work done.”
“I’m not going to give this the pocket veto," he said. "I will in fact issue a ruling.”
Rose's reinstatement doesn't mean he would automatically appear on a Hall of Fame ballot. He would first have to be nominated by the Hall's Historical Overview Committee, which is picked by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and approved by the Hall's board. Manfred is an ex-officio member of that board and says he has been in regular contact with chairman Jane Forbes Clark.
“I mean, believe me, a lot of Hall of Fame dialogue on this one," Manfred said.
If reinstated, Rose potentially would be eligible for consideration to be placed on a ballot to be considered by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era committee in December 2027.
Manfred added he doesn't think baseball's current ties to legal sports betting should color views on Rose's case.
“There is and always has been a clear demarcation between what Rob Manfred, ordinary citizen, can do on the one hand, and what someone who has the privilege to play or work in Major League Baseball can do on the other in respect to gambling," he said. "The fact that the law changed, and we sell data and/or sponsorships, which is essentially all we do, to sports betting enterprises, I don’t think changes that. It’s a privilege to play Major League Baseball. As with every privilege, there comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is that they not bet on the game.”
Manfred did not go into details on his discussion with Trump over foreign-born players other than to say he expressed worry.
"Given the number of foreign-born players we have, we're always concerned about ingress and egress," Manfred said. "We have had dialogue with the administration about this topic. And, you know, they're very interested in sports. They understand the unique need to be able to go back and forth, and I'm going to leave it at that.”
Cassidy Hoping Line Changes Spark Golden Knights In Time For Game 5
LAS VEGAS -- As the second-seeded Golden Knights saw their opening round series with the Minnesota Wild slipping away, and on the brink of becoming out of hand, coach Bruce Cassidy did what he has done countless times: put his forward lines in a blender.
With his team trailing in the series 2-1, and home ice now in Minnesota's hands, the Golden Knights made one lineup change, swapping Victor Olofsson out for Tanner Pearson. But when the Golden Knights trailed heading into the third period, Cassidy pulled out his biggest change yet, and the blending paid off.
Cassidy got the goals he was searching for, with Nic Roy scoring an equalizer on the power play, and even-strength goal from Tomas Hertl to put the Golden Knights ahead momentarily. The Wild quickly tied the game, but Ivan Barbashev scored the overtime winner, playing alongside Roy and Reilly Smith.
"Well, the overtime goal is a big goal for Nic Roy's line. I thought he was really had good jump. He played with Smitty when we first reacquired him. I liked what they brought. Barby's played with Nic and probably Kolesar more than Smith, so he's been there."
And while one of Cassidy's most significant changes didn't score, and came away with a -1, the most dangerous Golden Knights line returning home for Game 5 could arguably be William Karlsson, Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev forging together a potent trio.
"Jack and Karly, that was one that matchup dictated," Cassidy said. "Two of our best centers against their top line, and they were okay with it. So we just made a move, shuffled some people around."
The line didn't play together during the regular season, but Dorofeyev has spent time with both Eichel and Karlsson separately, showing chemistry with each by raising his caliber of play to the level of his veteran teammates. Surprisingly, Eichel and Karlsson have little to no experience together.
The three were the first line on display at Monday's practice.
Understandably, Eichel and Karlsson haven't seen time alongside one another because both are exceptional centermen, but the combination could trigger their offensive games Tuesday night in Game 5, where Vegas will look to seize momentum on home ice, and take a 3-2 series lead back to St. Paul.
"Karl's such a great player, he's super easy to play with," Eichel said. "And obviously we know what Pav brings and his ability to score and shoot the puck and make plays. So, yeah, I thought we did a good job of just getting some looks off the cycle and creating some offense. And, obviously, trying to keep them off the score sheet as well."
In Game 4, the trio played 6:52 together at 5-on-5, holding the advantage in Corsi (12-3), shots on goal (4-2) and Fenwick (8-2). Although they allowed a goal and gave up a high-danger chance, the process was visible and obviously to everyone's liking.
"I think it's important," Eichel said of the line changes. "I think we have all smart players on this team, and guys are easy to play with. I think you can shuffle lines up when need be, and you get a good result.
"Sometimes that's what happens, you need to shuffle things up, and all of a sudden you catch a spark. ... We rely on all of our forwards and all our defensemen to contribute. And I don't think it really matters who you're playing with. I think it's just trying to bring whatever you have to the team and help the team win."
Each player in the trio certainly has the skill set to complement one another.
Dorofeyev doesn’t need the puck to be dangerous, always lurking in high-danger areas to showcase his quick release. Eichel, the team's point leader in the regular season, naturally loves the puck and always looks for it in transition or during the cycle. With the puck, he can be a facilitator or use his deadly accurate release to beat goaltenders. Karlsson, meanwhile, is the perfect balance at both ends, as he can make plays with the puck but sees the ice well enough to get himself open without it.
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Inside the Numbers: Mike Sullivan's Decade As Penguins Head Coach
On April 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they mutually parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. As the winningest coach in franchise history, it's a monumental day for the organization, which will begin its search for a new leader for the first time since 2015.
Considering how long Sullivan has guided the Penguins, his decade-long run behind the bench is one of the more successful tenures in NHL history. Today, we will reflect on Sullivan's tenure and compare these numbers to those of other coaching legends.
Before being hired by Pittsburgh in 2015-16, Sullivan was the head coach of his hometown Boston Bruins, compiling a record of 70-56-15-23 in 164 games, with a 3-4 playoff record.
After taking over the Penguins, Sullivan helped the club achieve a 33-16-5 record in 54 games, culminating in a Stanley Cup victory in June 2016. During his first full season, the team repeated as champions, winning in June 2017.
'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.
From 2016 to 2022, Sullivan and the Penguins qualified for the playoffs, but missed the postseason in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh did not have a losing season until the 2024-25 season, when they finished with a record of 34-36-12.
During his time in Pittsburgh, Sullivan achieved the following milestones:
- He is the only head coach to guide the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles, one more championship than Bob Johnson (1991), Scotty Bowman (1992), and Dan Bylsma (2009).
- Sullivan is the only head coach to win more than 300 and 400 games (429) with the franchise, breaking Bylsma's record of 252.
- He overtook the Penguins' record for most losses (255) in 2024-25, breaking Eddie Johnston's record of 224.
- Sullivan compiled 907 points in the regular season, almost doubling Bylsma's 536, who formerly held the record.
- His .602 PTS% ranks third behind Bylsma (.668) and Bowman (.628).
- Sullivan (82) broke Bylsman's playoff games coached record (78) in 2022, and with a win on May 9, 2022, became the all-time leader in postseason wins with 44. Following a Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers that same playoff year, he overtook the loss record with 38.
- He ranks second all-time in playoff win percentage at .537, trailing Bylsma's .551 record.
- Sullivan is the only head coach in Pittsburgh history to coach more than seven seasons, surpassing Johnston (seven) and Bylsma (six).
- He is one of only four coaches never to record a tie with the Penguins, joining Bylsma, Michel Therrien, and Mike Johnston.
- Sullivan is one of three Pittsburgh coaches to secure a 50-win campaign, following Bowman (56 - 1993) and Bylsma (51 - 2012, 2014).
- The Penguins never lost more than 36 games in a single season under Sullivan's guidance.
BREAKING: Penguins And Head Coach Mike Sullivan Mutually Part WaysAfter nearly 10 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a new voice behind the bench for the 2025-26 season.
- Despite owning the franchise's playoff wins record, Sullivan helped the Penguins win just nine postseason series, with four in 2016 and 2017 and just one in 2018.
- Sullivan ranks 15th in NHL history for most wins with a single franchise (409). Additionally, he is one of just 15 head coaches to have recorded 400 wins with a single team.
- He ranks 17th overall, with 753 games behind the bench for one club, the last person to join the 750-game club.
- Captain Sidney Crosby scored 321 goals, 504 assists, and 825 points with Sullivan behind the bench, which ranks sixth in the NHL during this time.
- According to statistics available at NHL.com, 144 skaters dressed with the Penguins from Nov. 19, 2015, to Apr. 17, 2025.
- During Sullivan's tenure, 13 goalies dressed for Pittsburgh, led by Tristan Jarry, who went 152-97-31 in 293 games.
At just 57 and coming off a Silver Medal finish at the 4 Nations Face-off, Sullivan shouldn't be unemployed for long, with several teams potentially interested in hiring a multi-time Stanley Cup winner.
Leeds close in on title after Tanaka and Ramazani’s double crushes Bristol City
As, partway though the first half, the home supporters launched into a chorus of “Daniel, Daniel Farke,” a little smile played across the face of the Leeds manager as he offered a polite wave in return.
Up in the directors’ box, Paraag Marathe looked on inscrutably. If, and it remains quite a big if, he really is considering sacking Farke, the club’s chairman – who, perhaps significantly pulled out of a planned pre-match television interview at the last minute – must surely be having second thoughts after this.
Continue reading...Top Nashville Predators Prospect Joins AHL Affiliate as Postseason Looms
The Nashville Predators assigned forward prospect David Edstrom to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals on Monday ahead of the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The 20-year-old, whose season with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League came to an end on April 14, has joined the team in Milwaukee for the start of his North American pro hockey career.
HE’S HERE 🗣️
— y - Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) April 28, 2025
the @predsnhl have assigned center David Edstrom to us!#MILhockeypic.twitter.com/LSTaowZ3tp
Edstrom joined the Predators' organization as a centerpiece of the San Jose Sharks' trade package for top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov last fall. Internationally, he has earned silver with Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Championship and 2023 U-18 World Championship.
Edstrom was originally selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round (No. 32 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Golden Knights flipped him to San Jose less than a year later as part of a trade package for Tomáš Hertl.
Edstrom joins an Admirals team that won the AHL's Central Division for the second straight season with a record of 40-21-5-6 (91 points) and will play in the Calder Cup Playoffs for a fifth straight campaign.
Milwaukee will open the Central Division Semifinals Thursday at 7 p.m. CT against the winner of the best-of-three Central Division First Round series between the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs.
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