Alexander Nikishin is going to be a special player.
Three games into his NHL career and that already feels like a bygone conclusion.
Sure, he was one of the most hyped up prospects in a long time, but there's a huge difference between playing in the KHL and the NHL.
But honestly, based on what we've seen so far, we should perhaps just throw away the 'going to be' part, because this hasn't just been 'playing in the NHL.'
This isn't just some random mid-January game against the Anaheim Ducks, this is the Eastern Conference Final, in do-or-die games, yet Nikishin already like an NHL regular.
The rookie defenseman has played north of 18 minutes in back-to-back games, filling in on the team's top four in the absence of Jalen Chatfield and Sean Walker.
He's looked calm, composed and just unfazed by the whole situation.
You'd never guess that he had just three North American games under his belt with no training camp nor preseason experience.
And just the all around defensive game he showed against the defending Stanley Cup champs has been more than impressive.
"I just like that he's not rattled and that he's just going out there and playing," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Sometimes these young kids come over and come in, even rookies, they don't realize the moment and how big it is. They're just playing hockey. Sometimes it takes a couple years to realize, 'Oh this is pretty important,' you know? He looks like he's unfazed. I don't know. I can't really tell you, but he's doing a great job for us."
It wasn't like it was an immediate fit for Nikishin either, who had to wait several weeks for the chance to make his NHL debut.
He was the first guy to jump into the lineup when Chatfield went down with injury, but in that game against the Washington Capitals, he turned the puck over multiple times and was just constantly in the wrong spots.
"His first game wasn't very positive," Brind'Amour said. "It was a little rough. But now he looked like he's played more than one game in North America."
So what gives?
Well, for one, Nikishin has had plenty of time to learn the systems since coming over to North America in April.
"[Assistant coach Tim Gleason] has worked with him daily on how we want to play," Brind'Amour said. "He knows how to play even with the language issues. He's picking it up really quickly and it's been a month now. He's been here and everyday he's going through stuff. That's really encouraging for an organization standpoint and for us trusting him."
But there's also just the fact that he's had the opportunity to get the butterflies out and now he knows that he's being counted on in an important situation.
And at the end of the day, elite players rise to the occasions.
"I was really proud of how from one game to the next, it changed," Brind'Amour said. "We have a good one there for sure."
Hindsight is 20/20, but with the way Nikishin is playing, it really makes you wonder if he could have made a difference in those first two games.
"We went to him and it was a rough first outing, but obviously he's seizing the moment right now," Brind'Amour said.
"It's a tough time of the year to come in as a rookie and play minutes like that, so it's huge," said Jaccob Slavin. "The games that they played tonight were awesome and I'd say a big congrats to Niki on his first point. That's awesome and happy for him."
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Angels broadcasters Wayne Randazzo, left, and Mark Gubicza in their broadcast booth before the Angels' home game against the Miami Marlins on May 24. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The adjective hit me like a line drive.
Wayne Randazzo, the television voice of the Angels, was detailing just how poorly the teamâs relievers had performed. He recited the Angelsâ earned-run average in the late innings, inning by inning. Over 5.00. Over 6.00. In the ninth inning, at that time, over 7.00.
What a colorful, descriptive and absolutely apt adjective. Not the âstrugglingâ or âscufflingâ or âslumpingâ a broadcaster typically offers, bland adjectives presented with the assurance that better times are ahead. No team can win with that kind of bullpen performance, and no one can guarantee that better times are ahead for a relief corps where only the closer has a successful track record.
For all that has gone wrong on the field for the Angels in modern times, they have struck gold in the broadcast booth. In pairing Randazzo with longtime analyst Mark Gubicza, the Angels just might have their best broadcast team since Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale half a century ago.
Randazzo, in his third season with the Angels, grew up listening to Harry Caray in Chicago. He filled all sorts of roles on the New York Metsâ radio broadcasts â pregame and postgame shows, clubhouse interviews and eventually play-by-play â before the Angels hired him.
That background, he says, informs his honesty with the audience. âGargantuanâ isnât about trying to tear down the players; itâs about being forthright with the fans.
âIâm from Chicago, I worked in New York, and those markets do the same thing,â Randazzo said. âCarrying that through makes it a more respectable listen for the people that are really listening, which are the fans of the team.
âThey know what is really happening.â
Joe Davis, the television voice of the Dodgers, knows Randazzo well. The two broadcasters trained together in the Southern League, calling games for teams in Alabama: Davis for the Montgomery Biscuits, Randazzo for the Mobile BayBears (now the Rocket City Trash Pandas). The two were in each otherâs weddings, Davis said.
For the Dodgers, Davis calls a nightly all-star game. Randazzo calls games for a team that has not posted a winning record in a decade.
âI joke with people, but Iâm only half-joking,â Davis said recently at Dodger Stadium, âthat if this team had lost 100 games a year since I got here rather than won 100 games, I might not still be here.
âPeople enjoy when youâre delivering good news, and I have no control over that. Similarly, he and guys that cover teams that arenât winning have no control over that. Maybe his upbringing as a Cubs fan helped.â
Indeed it did. The Cubs might have been in their âlovable losersâ era, but Caray was leaning out of the broadcast booth and leading âTake Me Out to the Ballgameâ without a care in the world.
âWhen youâre 5 years old and youâre watching the Cubs play a day game at Wrigley Field, all that matters is that dayâs game,â Randazzo said. âI didnât even know if the game was important, but Harry made it seem like it was the best game ever.â
Gubicza grew up in Philadelphia, listening to Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn.
âAt that point, the Phillies were really bad,â Gubicza said. âBut every game was fun because they made it enjoyable and entertaining. They had some laughs together.â
Angels broadcasters Mark Gubicza, left, and Wayne Randazzo prepare for a game against the Miami Marlins on May 24. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Randazzo and Gubicza do too, which frankly is a stroke of luck on the Angelsâ part, since the two men said the team did not have them do a trial run together before hiring Randazzo.
On one recent broadcast, after a foul ball was lined back into the booth, the audience saw Randazzo triumphantly hold up the ball, which would have been the end of the scene on many broadcasts.
âI knew you had it,â Gubicza said on the air.
But then came the replay: Randazzo had ducked and covered as if he were doing an earthquake drill, before safely retrieving the ball after it had landed.
âWhereâd you go, Wayne?â Gubicza laughed.
âItâs 100 mph off the bat,â he shot back on air. âWhat am I, crazy?â
Said Randazzo: âI think not taking yourself seriously is a huge part of this.â
There is a time to be serious, of course. Randazzo went viral last year when he used a retroactive change to a scoring decision as the impetus for a rant in which he trashed the league for choosing to take action on that issue amid âscandal after scandalâ â the âfiascoâ of the Aâs move from Oakland, the âridiculous-looking jerseysâ with the tiny letters produced by Nike, the âconstant pitcher injuriesâ and the âglobal superstar ⌠embroiled in a betting scandal.â
Davis might never go that far, but he fully endorses Randazzo and his approach.
âHe has a really classic, big-time baseball sound,â Davis said. âHeâs as good as anybody there is these days at recalling an appropriate thing from baseball history in the moment.
âHe has this huge bank of information and stories that a guy his age typically doesnât have, and he has the confidence to tap into it. Iâm a huge fan of his.â
On the air during one of the recent Dodgers-Angels games, Randazzo shouted out Davis and broadcast partner Orel Hershiser, then pointed out how staggeringly high the decibel level is at Dodger Stadium: âThereâs no shortage of noise in this place. Ninety percent of it comes out of the sound system.â
The Angelsâ broadcast could use a touch more silence, fewer mentions of exit velocities, and more barbs like Randazzo mocking Sacramento fans for doing the wave while an Aâs player batted with the tying run in scoring position.
âNobody is ever like, âHey, you gave a great statistic in the third inning,â â Randazzo acknowledged. âTheyâre like, âYou made us laugh; you told a great story; you had a great interview.â â
Randazzo, 41, could earn his halo from fans if he sticks around long enough to see the Angels win again. He says he plans on doing just that, however long it takes.
Angels broadcasters Wayne Randazzo, left and Mark Gubicza in their broadcast booth before a game against the Miami Marlins on May 24. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
When we talked earlier this month in San Diego, Enbergâs picture was on the wall of the visiting broadcast booth at Petco Park. Enberg was dressed in an NBC Sports blazer. He left the Angels in 1978 and finished his distinguished career with the Padres in 2016, with national network stints in between.
The Dodgers accommodate Davis so he can fulfill his commitments to Fox in baseball and football. Davis and Hershiser are a terrific pair on the Dodgersâ television broadcasts, but they did just 51 games together in 2023 and 60 last year, according to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA.
Davis said he and Hershiser will be in that range again this year. The SportsNet LA broadcasts have featured five different announcer pairings this season, down from nine last season, Stephen said.
Randazzo said he and Gubicza will do about 125 games together this year. He also calls Friday night baseball games for Apple TV.
âI love baseball,â Randazzo said. âI donât ever want to not be associated with a team.
âI wouldnât want to be gone doing a football game on a Saturday or Sunday in September when the team is in a pennant race. I would be beside myself if I was in Morgantown for a big college football game. Itâs just not for me, because I love this game and this sport so much. For my career, that would be a success.â
For the Angels, a September that matters would be a success. Randazzo already is.
If you thought the 2025 NBA trade deadline was wild, just wait and see what could happen this summer.
With just over one month remaining until the NBAâs June 30 free agency tampering window opens, teams like the Warriors and Kings are watching the remainder of the playoffs from home as they gear up for a busy offseason.
ESPNâs Shams Charania appeared on Tuesdayâs episode of âThe Pat McAfee Show,â where he was asked if he anticipates an active free agency this summer.
âPat, this is the most, I think, anticipation team executives have had over an offseason,â Charania said. âI think this is going to be the craziest offseason of all â I donât want to say âall timeâ â we just came off a trade deadline that was the craziest of all time.
âI think this offseason might be the most craziest ever because I think what you have right now is the parity of the league, is so thin right now, as far as the thin line of you can win a championship, or you might be falling into the lottery. I think the ability to go out there and improve your team and get there to a championship level, I think thatâs on the minds of everyone around the league. So, how can you elevate your team?â
The Warriors were bounced from the playoffs after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the Western Conference semifinals, while the Kings failed to make the playoffs after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Nationals (24-29) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (29-23). Mitchell Parker is slated to take the mound for Washington against Logan Evans for Seattle.
Both the Mariners and Nationals had rest days yesterday. Seattle has lost two straight games and three of the previous four, while Washington is 6-2 in the past eight games, but 2-2 over the last four.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Nationals at Mariners
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: MASN2, RSNW, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Nationals at the Mariners
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Nationals (+126), Mariners (-150)
Spread: Mariners -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Mariners
Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Mitchell Parker vs. Logan Evans
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Nationals and the Mariners
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesdayâs game between the Nationals and the Mariners:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Seattle Mariners on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Mariners
The Mariners have won four of their last five matchups against NL East teams
The Over is 8-2 in the Mariners' last 10 home games
The Nationals have covered in four of their last five games for a profit of 2.15 units
If youâre looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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It's Tuesday, May 27 and the Athletics (23-31) are in Houston to take on the Astros (28-25). JP Sears is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Hunter Brown for Houston.
Both the Astros and Athletics had off days yesterday for this short two-game series. Houston is on a two-game winning streak and won three of the past four games, while the Athletics are coming off a 5-4 win over the Phillies, which snapped an 11-game losing streak.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Athletics at Astros
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 8:10PM EST
Site: Minute Maid Park
City: Houston, TX
Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, SCHN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Athletics at the Astros
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Athletics (+170), Astros (-206)
Spread: Astros -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Astros
Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: JP Sears vs. Hunter Brown
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Athletics and the Astros
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesdayâs game between the Athletics and the Astros:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Athletics at Astros
With Hunter Brown starting the Astros have won 4 of their last 5 head-to-heads against the Athletics
The Astros' last 5 home games with Hunter Brown as their starting pitcher have gone under the Total
The Astros have covered in 4 of their last 5 games with Hunter Brown as starting pitcher to return 2.60 units
If youâre looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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Itâs an East Midlands double in the County Championship, with Leicestershire topping Division Two
Nottinghamshire bounced back from last weekâs defeat to go into the T20 Blast break with a handy 10-point lead at the top of the County Championship. Yorkshire, enduring a tricky return to the top flight, were their victims, the leaders simply too strong at Headingley.
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Marlins (21-31) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (30-22). Max Meyer is slated to take the mound for Miami against Stephen Kolek for San Diego.
The Padres took Game 1 of the series, 4-3 yesterday behind a Manny Machado homer in the bottom eighth. San Diego has followed up a six-game losing streak with three victories in the past four games. Miami's two-game winning streak was snapped yesterday as the Marlins are 2-4 in the last six.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Marlins at Padres
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: Petco Park
City: San Diego, CA
Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, SDPA
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Marlins at the Padres
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Marlins (+152), Padres (-183)
Spread: Padres -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Padres
Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Max Meyer vs. Stephen Kolek
Marlins: Max Meyer, (3-4, 4.15 ERA) Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts
Padres: Stephen Kolek, (2-1, 2.84 ERA) Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Marlins and the Padres
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesdayâs game between the Marlins and the Padres:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Padres
The Padres have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against NL East teams
The Padres' last 5 home games have stayed under the Total
The Marlins have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.73 units
If youâre looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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Could Warriors guard Steph Curry soon become the next NBA podcast star?
Not exactly.
Although the four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP appreciates the art of communication and its proponents, Curry also has his reservations about entering the booming scene.
âI love the idea of people giving fans a new perspective, some good storytelling,â Curry told Jon Youshaei (h/t Bleacher Report). âIt does get a little loud at times. Some people are really good, though.â
The 37-year-old, who has a fervent worldwide following, is a relatively busy individual already, spearheading the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation with his wife, Ayesha.
Itâs also no secret that Curry is a passionate golfer who won the 2023 American Century Championship golf tournament and will attempt to defend his most recent title in this yearâs event from July 9-13.
So, no, donât expect Curry to follow teammate Draymond Greenâs lead in the podcast world anytime soon.
â⌠You wonât see me doing it, though,â Curry added. âDonât worry about that. I have a lot of other things I want to do other than be behind the mic every day.â
Curryâs passions lie elsewhere, Dub Nation. The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis podcast will have to do for now.
â[Because] if youâre going to do something, youâve got to be all in,â Curry concluded. âIt is a time commitment; itâs a big lift. Itâs not something Iâm passionate about.â
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Pirates (19-36) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (27-27). Mike Burrows is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Corbin Burnes for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks won Game 1 in shutout fashion, 5-0, yesterday as the Pirates batters totaled six hits by four different players. Arizona had 10 hits and two homers behind 6.2 innings from Ryne Nelson. Both teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Pirates at Diamondbacks
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: Chase Field
City: Phoenix, AZ
Network/Streaming: SNP, ARID, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Pirates at the Diamondbacks
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Pirates (+207), Diamondbacks (-256)
Spread: Diamondbacks -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Mike Burrows vs. Corbin Burnes
Pirates: Mike Burrows, (0-1, 7.20 ERA) Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonightâs game between the Pirates and the Diamondbacks
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesdayâs game between the Pirates and the Diamondbacks:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
The Pirates' last 3 road games have stayed under the Total
The Pirates have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight road games
If youâre looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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After a taste of the atmosphere during a post-university year travelling I was hooked and the memories will last a lifetime
June 2001. Iâm on an overnight Greyhound bus from Cairns to Townsville. A typical post-university year travelling in Australia and New Zealand has taken an unwelcome turn after an equally typical relationship breakup.
Initially there had been no plans to follow that yearâs British & Irish Lions tour, even though I had been enthralled by the classic encounter against the Springboks four years earlier. With my newfound freedom it seemed logical to head south, a couple of hundred miles down the coast, to see the legendary tourists in action.
Editorâs Note: As the Celtics enter a critically important offseason, Chris Forsberg is exploring three different paths Boston can take this summer, each with their own pros and cons for the short- and long-term future of the franchise. The first path: threading the needle.
Welcome to the Summer of Brad Stevens. All eyes turn to Bostonâs president of basketball operations to steer a teetering Celtics ship, with 18 banners as its mast, through some suddenly murky waters.
Stevens must choose a path to charter after a disappointing end to the 2024-25 season that included superstar Jayson Tatum rupturing his Achilles as part of Bostonâs second-round exit.
Should the Celtics attempt to thread the needle with their current core? Should they slam the reboot button? Or can Stevens overhaul the core on the fly despite the financial limitations as the rent comes due for Bostonâs splurge that delivered Banner 18?
In the first installment of our three-part series ahead of a potentially volatile offseason, we ponder the case for Boston threading the needle.
Objectives of this path:
Get below the second apron by trimming $20-plus million in salary.
Remain a tax-paying team, but limit the total spend.
Keep much of the core intact ⌠for now.
Remain competitive in the East, even with Tatum out indefinitely.
Identify and develop young, low-cost talent for rotation roles.
The road map:
Trade Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser with limited financial return.
Build a frontcourt with limited funds.
Use draft assets to acquire young, low-cost talent.
Why this path makes sense:
Bostonâs brass hasnât been bashful in acknowledging this approaching reckoning. Changes were coming regardless of whether the Celtics repeated as champs. A new collective bargaining agreement, with its punitive second-apron penalties, will prevent teams from building sustainably expensive rosters.
In a twisted way, the Celtics have to cut costs in order to ensure they can remain competitive deeper into the future.
Thereâs a line of thinking that suggests Boston ought to try to trim payroll below the luxury tax line with a goal of eliminating long-term repeater penalties. But we suspect that, with a new, energy-filled owner in Bill Chisholm, the Celtics will stomach a more manageable tax bill with hopes of getting out of the tax further down the road.
Why this path might not make sense:
Trading soon-to-be 35-year-old Holiday with $100-plus million remaining on his contract may not yield the best return among Bostonâs roster players. Even moving his salary for limited financial return wonât be enough to ensure the team gets below the second apron.
Whatâs more, if Tatum is going to miss some or all of the 2025-26 season, then it might make more sense for the Celtics to endure a more robust overhaul of the roster with the goal of getting all their finances in order.
What this path looks like:
Weâve previously laid out the financial constraints facing the Celtics this offseason. Boston is committed to roughly $228 million in salary for the 2025-26 season, and thatâs before pondering the future of free agents Al Horford and Luke Kornet. The Celtics must trim roughly $20 million after roster construction in order to get below the second apron.
Every member of the Celticsâ championship starting five is under contract for next season, and at monster money. The quintet of Tatum ($54.1 million), Jaylen Brown ($53.1), Holiday ($32.4), Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7), and Derrick White ($28.1) accounts for $198.4 million. The second apron starts at $207.8 million.
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We all knew these tough decisions were coming. The Celtics got ahead of the CBA curve by trading for Holiday and Porzingis in the summer of 2023 and then extended both of them, while knowing the rent would come due in July 2025. Banner 18 made it a worthwhile dice roll.
Now something has to give. The development of Payton Pritchard, who is playing on an uber-thrifty four-year, $30 million extension that will pay him $7.2 million in the 2025-26 season, makes it slightly easier to move a guard.
Holidayâs trade value is hazy given his age and big money remaining on the deal. But he can absolutely help a playoff team, and there should be suitors. Holiday is a proven winner who will be desirable for any contender looking to inject some defensive DNA.
But even in moving Holiday with limited return, the Celtics almost certainly will have to trim even more money, and thatâs where it gets tough to retain Hauser.
This summer, Hauserâs four-year, $45 million extension hits the books. His $10 million salary next season isnât prohibitive, but it is for a Boston team that, even if it dips below the second apron this summer, still would have to pay roughly $5.5 for every dollar spent at its repeater rate. So, Hauserâs price tag effectively becomes $55 million for the 2025-26 season.
Hauser is a desirable shooter on a reasonable deal, which could leave a low-spending team willing to use its non-taxpayer midlevel exception to absorb him in exchange for draft assets. The Celtics would shuffle second-year swingman Baylor Scheierman into Hauserâs role and hope his shooting blossoms the way Hauserâs did over time in Boston.
With enough maneuvering, the Celtics can examine the possibility of bringing back Al Horford or Luke Kornet. Is the soon-to-be 39-year-old Horford willing to play on cheap money when Boston isnât as much of a surefire contender without Tatum? Can the Celtics outbid any suitors to keep Kornet, who already took a discount to return to Boston on a minimum deal last summer?
Letâs make some deals:
A trade that seemingly makes sense for both sides â and was being theorized even before Bostonâs season ended â would see Holiday land in Dallas in exchange for some combination of expiring deals, including Daniel Gafford ($14.4 million) and P.J. Washington ($14.2 million). A third team would be involved in order to absorb money in the deal.
Boston could retain Gafford to stabilize an uncertain frontcourt, while a team with options to absorb salary (perhaps Brooklyn with its cap space or Atlanta with its large trade exceptions) might take on Washington and other filler in exchange for draft assets from both Dallas and Boston. The savings in money from Holiday to Gafford is roughly $18 million next season.
Moving Hauser to a team with the non-taxpayer midlevel in exchange for draft assets would save Boston another $10 million next season. It would be difficult to move a homegrown asset who was key to a title run, but a Hauser trade would be one of the least painful ways for the Celtics to trim salary.
The top of Bostonâs 2025-26 depth chart, under this path, looks something like this:
Ball-handlers: White, Pritchard
Wings: Brown, Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Tatum*
Bigs: Porzingis, Gafford, Queta
*Injured
Boston could examine what it has for room below the second apron to fill out the roster. Maybe thereâs space to squeeze in Horford or Kornet on limited funds. But the rest of the roster almost certainly would be minimum-salary players.
The bottom line:
Threading the needle allows Boston to tread cautiously into a new season. A roster topped by Brown, White, and a healthier Porzingis still has potential to compete in the East.
If the Celtics got to the trade deadline and felt that 1) Tatumâs return would wait for the 2026-27 season and 2) Their team wasnât a true contender without him, then they could take further steps to shed money by moving players on expiring deals like Gafford and Porzingis (ideally, when the latterâs trade value has been reestablished).
This path avoids a more immediate overhaul and gives the remaining core of this team a chance to show it can stay afloat without Tatum. The Celtics can also prioritize playing time for younger players while evaluating the pieces that will remain whenever Tatum is back on the floor.
The New York Knicks are set to take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night in a crucial matchup for the Knicks.
The Knicks won the last meeting 106-100 on Monday, led by 24 points from Karl-Anthony Towns. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20.
Haliburtonâs father, John, will be watching from a Gainbridge Fieldhouse suite â the first game he has attended in person since being banned following his run onto the court after Indiana closed out the first-round series against Milwaukee. And, of course, he has something to prove again as the Pacers try to position themselves for a second straight series-clinching victory at Madison Square Garden.
The Pacers are shooting 48.8% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 115.8 points per game, 0.7 more than the 115.1 the Pacers allow.
Itâs the Knicks first trip to the Eastern Conference finals in 25 years, but if they want to avoid a 1-3 deficit, Game 4 proves pivotal. The winner of the Eastern Conference finals will play the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Hereâs what to know about tonightâs game:
What time do the Knicks play tonight?
Game 4 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers is set for 8 p.m. Eastern.
What channel is the Knicks game on tonight?
The Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference finals will be available on TNT.
How do I stream the Knicks game tonight?
The Eastern Conference finals will be streaming on MAX from Warner Bros. Discovery with a subscription.
Where is Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals being held?
Game 4 will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.
Who is on the injury report for Game 4?
The Pacersâ Aaron Nesmith (ankle) will be listed as questionable for Game 4 against the Knicks on Tuesday, according to WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis.
Indianaâs Isaiah Jackson is out with a torn right Achilles tendon. He has been out since Nov. 1, 2024.
No one on the Knicks is listed on the injury report.
What is the remaining Eastern Conference finals schedule?
*If necessary. The Pacers hold a 2-1 lead ahead of Tuesday nightâs matchup.
Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, @ Indianapolis
*Game 5: Thursday, May 29 8 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden
*Game 6: Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, @ Indianapolis
* Game 7: Monday, June 2, 8 p.m., ET, Madison Square Garden
The Lancashire bowler, 43 in July, talks about life on and off the pitch, and why cricket was never about money for him
Sir Jimmy Anderson is running late, five, then 10 minutes past 10 before he arrives in front of his computer. He is dishevelled, like he is just up and into his T-shirt and jeans. He finished his first match since July the previous evening, Lancashire against Derbyshire in the County Championship, on a flat pitch at Old Trafford, and is still feeling it.
The fourth day had been hard going: 16 overs, eight maidens, two for 25, in a thwarted attempt to force victory against a Derbyshire team hell-bent on securing a draw. Lancashire finished two wickets short. âIâve woken up feeling like absolute death,â Anderson says. âIt was a bit of a wake-up call.â
