Posts

Posted on

Wednesday Bantering: Berrios Had Tommy John Surgery

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Toronto Blue Jays Starting Pitcher José Berríos (17) throws a pitch during the MLB regular season game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on September 24, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The big news, this afternoon, is that Jose Berrios had full Tommy John surgery, so he’ll be out for a year at very least. The good news keeps coming. The told us yesterday that they were going to ‘remove loose bodies’ in his elbow and see what else needs fixing. I’m sure when Berrios woke up and was told they decided to do Tommy John surgery, since he was already on the operating table, it was a bit of a shock (I’m joking, I’m sure they wouldn’t do that without discussing it with him).

I don’t know why the team has been gaslighting us. They must have known he was getting TJ, so why not say it. Why pretend it was something minor when it wasn’t. Would telling us yesterday have been worse than telling us today. Are we going with ‘It’s not a lie if we know the truth’, as Donald Rumsfeld would have told us. Or something like that. Ask Matt.

This has been such a fun season.

I missed something yesterday. It happened in the hour and a half that I spent in a Rogers shop, trying to get a new phone. Something that you would think would take 10 minutes. Maybe 15? It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I wanted. I said “that one” within minutes of entering the store. An hour and a half later, and roughly 100 of my signatures, I walked out with ‘that one’.

I don’t know why it has to be so complicated.

Anyway, Joe Mantiply was put on the IL with left knee inflammation. He’s been excellent this seasons, with a 2.04 ERA in 17 appearances.

Chase Lee, who pitched yesterday, came up from Buffalo. He had a 1.83 ERA there. The AI summery of the deal, on Twitter, tells me that Lee’s fastball ‘touches 100 mph’. It doesn’t. It touches 90, maybe 91. He also has a sweeper and a changeup. He is a side arm pitcher

There maybe be other stuff going on, Rafael Lantigua, a right-handed hitting infielder, is in New York. Officially on the taxi squad but I can’t see any reason he would be there if he wasn’t going to be on the roster soon. He’s not hitting much in Buffalo, just .211/.312/.349 with 3 home runs, 16 walks and 30 strikeout in 35 games. He’s never played in the majors before.

Davis Schneider (53 OPS+) and Lenyn Sosa (40 OPS+) are hitting roughly what you or I would hit, but maybe the team has tired of one or the other.

Today’s lineup. I’m kind of grumpy about Springer at the top of the order, but then I don’t know who I’d put there. I guess Lips.

Today’s Lineups

BLUE JAYSYANKEES
George Springer – DHBen Rice – DH
Vladimir Guerrero – 1BAaron Judge – RF
Daulton Varsho – CFCody Bellinger – LF
Kazuma Okamoto – 3BJazz Chisholm – 2B
Yohendrick Pinango – LFPaul Goldschmidt – 1B
Ernie Clement – 2BTrent Grisham – CF
Jesus Sanchez – RFRyan McMahon – 3B
Brandon Valenzuela – CAnthony Volpe – SS
Andres Gimenez – SSAustin Wells – C
Trey Yesavage – RHPCam Schlittler – RHP

Posted on

Kenny Atkinson defends James Harden and fourth-quarter defense during Cavs Game 1 collapse to Knicks

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during overtime against the New York Knicks in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavalierssquandered a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

Numerous things have to go wrong to give up an advantage that large. The defensive end was no exception. Jalen Brunson led the way with 15 points in the fourth quarter to help claw his team to victory.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson could’ve handled the fourth quarter better. He held onto timeouts and allowed the Knicks to pick on James Harden repeatedly down the stretch. Both are inexcusable.

Still, the comeback was also because the Knicks hit some incredibly tough shots. That’s something that Atkinson wanted to acknowledge when he talked to media members after practice on Wednesday afternoon.

“[In the] fourth quarter, they were in the first percentile of shot quality,” Atkinson said after practice. “We have data that you guys don’t have. First percentile. So, our process was right, they made some tough, tough shots.”

We don’t have access to the data, but you can sort of see what is leading to Cleveland’s internal numbers pointing to this.

Of the 22 shots that New York took in the fourth, nine came at the rim, six came in the midrange, and seven came from beyond the arc. Of those three zones, the shots at the rim are the ones the Knicks converted the least, which is the most efficient place to score from.

Knicks fourth-quarter shot chart from Game 1 | <a href="https://www.nba.com/game/cle-vs-nyk-0042500301/game-charts?shotchart=shotzone&period=Q4">via nba.com</a>

A lot of the looks in the midrange were contested pretty well, particularly on Brunson. However, good offense beats good defense, as it did here.

Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the new City Edition shirt can be found HERE.

Atkinson also wasn’t willing to put this loss on Harden. He said on Wednesday that the Cavs wouldn’t have gotten out of the first round if it wasn’t for him, and that his defense down the stretch wasn’t the main issue.

“[Harden] is a good isolation defender,” Atkinson said. “Everybody’s putting it on James. Sure, some of it was him. … Sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated.”

I wouldn’t go as far as saying the eye test backs up that the Knicks were in the first percentile for shot quality. They hit some tough shots, but they also got some clean outside looks, especially when the Cavs tried and failed to double-team Brunson. That said, that wasn’t where the Cavs lost this game.

“Looking back on it, we’re more dissapointed by the offense,” Atkinson said. “The shot quality wasn’t great. We weren’t getting to the rim. We took nine threes. I thought we could’ve gotten to the rim more and put more pressure on them.”

The offense was horrid down the stretch. All of the things that were working throughout the game just disappeared. This is where Donovan Mitchell deserves a lot of blame.

Mitchell was occupying possessions, but not generating good looks. He took the air out of the ball by slowing down the pace. This came at the expense of the rhythm they built in the previous two quarters, leading to disastrous results as seen in the possession breakdown in the final eight minutes of the fourth.

The Cavs wouldn’t have been in the position that they were in if it weren’t for Mitchell’s incredible shotmaking and the force he was playing with on both ends in the first three quarters. He deserves credit for that. But he also bears the blame for that going away.

It’s also fair to point out that this is where fatigue likely set in the most. That’s why holding onto timeouts is indefensible for Atkinson.

Despite how poorly things ended, the Cavs showed that they can play up to their talent level against the Knicks. If they can figure out how to do so for 48 minutes, instead of just 40, they’ll turn the series around.

“I just want to lean on the positives,” Atkinson said. “We had three quarters of really good basketball. Some of the best basketball we’ve honestly played in the playoffs… offensively and defensively.”

Posted on

Mets prospect Jonah Tong 'in play' to get called up and pitch during Miami series

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that pitching prospect Jonah Tongis "in play" to be called up to make his 2026 debut at some point during this weekend's series against the Miami Marlins.

Tong was scratched from his scheduled Wednesday start with Syracuse, which seemed to indicate a call-up would be happening soon.

"We’re keeping him in play," Mendoza said. "There’s a chance that he plays a part in the Miami series for us. We’ve got to get through today. We’ve got to get through tomorrow, and then we’ll go from there. But we want to keep him in play in case there’s a need here."

Mendoza said earlier this week that Tong was in consideration to get called up when the club called up Zach Thornton, who will make his season debut on Wednesday night.

The 22-year-old right-hander has been hit hard at Syracuse this season, pitching to a 5.68 ERA. But he's also struck out a whopping 55 hitters in just 38.0 innings. 

Tong had a brief stint with the Mets at the end of the 2025 season, making five starts while pitching to a 7.71 ERA. 

And while those numbers don't seem like much to write home about, Mendoza said the club still believes in Tong, and they like his ability to put a poor outing behind him.

"There’s no denying that he’s been inconsistent, but we also like how he bounces back," Mendoza said. "We saw it last year when he was here with us. He had a couple of tough outings and he was able to recover for the next one, so we’re not too worried about that. That’s why he’s in play. We believe, we’re high on him, and we’ve been saying it, he’s going to help us. Here he is, waiting for his opportunity, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to come here soon."

Posted on

Most Hated NHL Team In Florida Is Probably Not Who You Think

Hockey in the state of Florida has become much more than just a novelty.

This year will break a streak of six consecutive seasons in which the Stanley Cup Final was played in Florida.

The Tampa Bay Lightning went to the Final each year from 2020 to 2022 and the Florida Panthers reached the Final from 2023 to 2025.

Additionally, despite failing to extend the streak this season, both the Panthers and Lightning are considered among teams that could continue to compete for the Stanley Cup in the foreseeable future.

All that success has given Floridian hockey fans one hell of an in-state rivalry between its two NHL franchises, which has provided some incredibly fun and entertaining hockey games over the past several seasons.

Recently, RotoWire.com put together a guide of the most hated teams in America, going state-by-state.

While that might lead to the question of which team is more disliked inside the state, the Panthers or the Lightning, this collection of data looked to see which teams that played outside of each state were the most hated by those who live on the inside.

So neither the Panthers or Lightning was the most hated in Florida, just like how neither the Rangers or Islanders was most hated in New York, or how none of the Kings, Ducks or Sharks were the most hated in California, and so on.

Interestingly, the most hated team inside the state of Florida is apparently the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Florida was the only state that had Toronto listed as its most hated.

What makes more sense to this writer would be if it were the other way around. A team from Florida has knocked the Maple Leafs out of the playoffs in three of the past four postseasons; Tampa took out the Leafs in 2022 while Florida eliminated them in both 2023 and 2025.

Do you agree that Toronto is the most hated NHL team in Florida not named the Panthers or Lightning?

No states in the U.S. had the Panthers or Lightning listed as their most hated.

Outside of the Florida result, there were some other interesting elements of this data collection.

The most hated team in the U.S. is, according to this list, the Vegas Golden Knights, who are the most hated team in 11 different states, including Hawaii and Alaska.

Next is the Colorado Avalanche, hated in eight states, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, who are each hated in five states.

The most hated team in New York was the Boston Bruins, the most hated team in Pennsylvania was the New York Rangers and the most hated team in Massachusetts was the Canadiens.

Some of the seemingly random ones were the Philadelphia Flyers being the most hated team in West Virginia and the Edmonton Oilers being most hated in Nevada.

Let us know in the comments which team you think is the most hated in Florida.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Is Making His 2026 World Championship Debut After Missing First Three Games

Former Panthers Coach Doug MacLean 'Wouldn't Be Surprised' If Florida Acquires Brady Tkachuk Before NHL Draft

Panthers Have Eight Arbitration Eligible Players

Exploring Panthers Goaltending Situation, Interest In Connor Hellebuyck Amid Negotiations With Sergei Bobrovsky

NHL Analyst Links Panthers To Veteran Defenseman John Carlson

The Hockey Show: Pair Of Coaches Fired, Vegas Postgame Shenanigans, Ducks Talk With Brad Williams

Photo caption: May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal and celebrates with center Anton Lundell (15) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

Posted on

The AAtJ Preview and Open Post for the Conference Finals of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 27: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena on November 27, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Good morning, everyone. With the first round just about completed (there is one game to be played as of this writing), it is time to make an update to our Stanley Cup Playoffs Open Post. You can see the original post here, but let’s dive into the new matchups.

The Schedule: You can see the NHL’s schedule here.

The IIHF Worlds Open Post: For Worlds-related commentary, please see here.

The Preview

The Eastern Conference Finals: The Carolina Hurricanes vs. the Montreal Canadiens

The Carolina Hurricanes are surely very rested. Through two rounds, they have played the minimum of eight games, and former Devil Taylor Hall leads them in scoring with 12 points. The Hurricanes also got the version of Freddie Andersen who usually shows up against the Devils in the playoffs, as he has a .950 save percentage and a 1.12 (not a typo) goals against average. Carolina does probably want to work some kinks out here. Sebastian Aho only has four points, as do Nikolaj Ehlers and Seth Jarvis. Shayne Gostisbehere has not been as productive as he has been in the regular season. But the depth of their attack will be very difficult for Montreal.

Montreal probably deserved to lose the second round to Buffalo, and I tend to think that Buffalo would give Carolina a better chase. But Montreal’s top players are showing up. Lane Hutson is continuing to be a point-per-game defenseman in the playoffs, and the trio of Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky have continued to be very productive on the power play…but that may be their downfall. They have yet to really step up at five-on-five in these playoffs, and Devils fans know that Carolina is a ridiculously stifling team on the penalty kill. If that top line does not turn it around at even strength, this may be another short series for Carolina. If they do turn it around, we might be in for an upset.

A saving grace for Montreal is they have three good centers leading the way right now in Suzuki, Evans, and Danault. But I am not convinced that they have a third-line edge over the Carolina group of Hall, Stankoven, and Blake. What I am sure about is this should be a fun series to watch the net, as both Andersen and Jakub Dobes have had excellent performances throughout these playoffs. Dobes may be more inconsistent through two series, but the highs get really high with him.

The Western Conference Finals: The Colorado Avalanche vs. the Vegas Golden Knights

They did not make it here without controversy to write about, but the Vegas Golden Knights are back in the mix for a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, and I am sure that everyone reading this is just thrilled to see it. To their credit, though, Mitch Marner has been incredible and good to rely on in these playoffs, and that contract is looking very much worth it at the moment. But I will push back on the narratives surrounding him for a moment: this is the fourth time out of the last five playoffs that Marner has produced at a point per game or better. He is scoring more goals as an individual, but it would be wrong to say this is the first time he’s shown this ability in the playoffs.

The Colorado Avalanche, though, are in a space similar to the Carolina Hurricanes. They are a powerhouse. Nathan MacKinnon has seven goals in nine games. Gabriel Landeskog is the same as he ever was. They have six players who have taken shifts at center in the playoffs, and all of them range from solid to elite. The one thing they will be fighting is an injury to Cale Makar, who has admittedly not been his usual uber-productive self. However, he will not be out long. With Devon Toews, Brent Burns, and assorted contributions from Brett Kulak and Josh Manson, the Avalanche should be able to survive a night without their top blueliner.

We will see who returns first between Makar and Mark Stone. However, the key to this series will be whether defense and goaltending can allow Vegas to hold on with Colorado. The Avalanche have not gotten their playoff goaltending completely set in stone yet, but Scott Wedgewood is 7-1-0 with a .914 save percentage. I would think his leash is not super long at this stage of the playoffs, as Mackenzie Blackwood has already played in a couple of games to less rousing individual success. The Knights may have better numbers in goal, but they have less depth to rely on, and they do not have the skaters to stay purely even with Colorado without big performances in net. Even with as good as they are with Eichel, Marner, Barbashev, and Stone, Colorado has an embarrassingly rich lineup.

The Rules: Gamethread rules apply. Please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey games going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

With that, thank you for reading! Comment away.

Posted on

Dodgers vs Padres Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 20

The Dodgers stormed back to beat the Padres, 5-4, and tie up the series at one apiece. Freddie Freeman hit two home runs and Andy Pages recorded the tie breaking RBI off Mason Miller, which was just the third run scored when he's in the game all year.

The Padres' four-game winning streak was snapped yesterday as they fall to 4-1 over the past five and 7-3 in the last 10. The series has featured 10 total runs scored in two games so far and San Diego recorded two hits in 19 at-bats from the 5-9 hitters. San Diego turns to Randy Vasquez. The Padres are 8-1 in his nine starts this season.

Shohei Ohtani is back on the mound for the Dodgers. Los Angeles is 3-4 in his seven starts this season despite his 0.82 ERA and WHIP over 44 innings. In the four losses during Ohtani's starts, Los Angeles has been outscored 11-5. In the three wins, the Dodgers have outscored their opponents 16-3.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, 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 Dodgers at Padres

  • Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Time: 8:40 PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park 
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

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 Dodgers at the Padres

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-193), San Diego Padres (+158)
  • Spread: Padres +1.5 (-114), Dodgers -1.5 (-105)
  • Total: 7.5

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Padres

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (May 20): Shohei Ohtani vs. Randy Vasquez
  • Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani

2026 stats: 44.0 IP, 3-2, 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 50 Ks, 11 BB

  • Padres: Randy Vasquez

2026 Stats: 50.1 IP, 5-1, 2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 45 Ks, 13 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Padres’ Miguel Andujar is hitting .299 with 40 hits and 70 total bases over 134 at-bats
  • The Padres’ Jackson Merrill is hitting .205 with 36 hits and 49 strikeouts over 176 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .294 with 53 hits and 91 total bases over 180 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is hitting .172 with 10 hits and 7 strikeouts over 58 at-bats

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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Padres

  • The Padres are 21-25-1 ATS this season
  • The Dodgers are 21-27 ATS this season
  • The Padres are 7-4 ATS and 5-6 on the ML as a home underdog
  • The Dodgers are 14-9 ATS as a road favorite, ranking second-best
  • The Padres are 7-4 to the Over as a home underdog

If you’re 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Padres

Rotoworld Bet 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 Wednesday's game between the Dodgers and the Giants.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.5

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Posted on

St. Louis Blues 2026 NHL Draft Dream Scenario: Viggo Bjorck Falls To Pick No. 11

The St. Louis Blues made a late-season push for a playoff spot, which, as many predicted, fell short.

With that, the Blues pushed themselves into the ‘Mushy Middle,’ just outside the playoffs but too far from landing a potential top-five pick.

The Blues moved to 11th last by the end of the season, and did not move in the draft lottery, so their top pick this season will be the 11th overall.

While it is very possible that they can still find a very skilled player who could change the franchise, it’s far less likely than if they were selecting in the top five. But each draft is unique, players rise or fall, whether there is a good reason or not.

This year, a prime candidate to be selected far lower than he should be is Viggo Bjorck, and that’s why he can be considered the dream draft scenario for the Blues.

Bjorck is an ultra-skilled center with two-way versatility. The 18-year-old loves to have the puck on his stick, and he excels with it. When watching Bjorck, his ability to pick up the puck from his own end and skate in transition is evident each shift. At times, he can look like a one-man breakout and zone entry.

But he also excels when he has the puck in the offensive zone. He possesses slick hands with the ability to make passes into the slot and carry the puck into dangerous areas of the ice. 

Defensively, Bjorck is smart with his positioning in his own end, and along the boards, he’s able to position himself and utilize his stick to win puck battles.

With all those traits, it’s odd to see many draft analysts think Bjorck will fall in the draft, but the reason is due to his size. 

Can The Blues Trade Up In The 2026 NHL Draft?Can The Blues Trade Up In The 2026 NHL Draft?Could the St. Louis Blues use the 11th and 15th overall picks in the 2026 NHL draft to trade up? And how high can they realistically trade to?

Bjorck is listed at just 5-foot-9. That’s very undersized, especially for a center. While there is plenty of evidence that smaller players can be successful NHL players, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Mats Zuccarello, Alex DeBrincat, Brad Marchand, and Jonathan Marchessault all come to mind, none of those players are centers, and they were all selected outside of the top 10; in fact, Caufield is the only player selected in the first round. 

With all that evidence against Bjorck, it’s understandable why some believe he could drop in the draft. 

But with all that, there’s still reason to believe he can be a top-six center. Take Logan Stankoven, for example. Stankoven stands at just 5-foot-7, but his relentless motor and fearlessness to get to the front of the net has seen him be successful in the playoffs.

The best example might be Brayden Point. Point does stand a couple of inches taller than Bjorck, but they possess so many similar traits, and Point has been a key contributing player, and at times the best player on a Tampa Bay Lightning team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Draft-Eligible Viggo Bjorck Stars for Sweden: “It’s Just Hockey”Draft-Eligible Viggo Bjorck Stars for Sweden: “It’s Just Hockey”Sweden rallied past Switzerland at the World Juniors as draft-eligible Viggo Björck sparked a third-period comeback in a 4–2 win.

Like Point, Bjorck owns a relentless motor, a strong lower body, and a high hockey IQ. Very few players have had the success Point has shown in the bumper spot, and we’ve already seen Bjorck have success in that position at the world juniors and the World Championship. 

In all, Bjorck notched six goals and 15 points in 42 games in the SHL this season. He then won the championship in Sweden’s U-20 league, posting eight goals and 20 points in nine games.

After a successful SHL season and a gold medal win with Sweden at the World Junior Championship, where he posted three goals and nine points in seven games, he was selected to represent Sweden at the World Championship.

So far, he’s posted one goal and two points in four games. Bjorck is the youngest ever player to represent Sweden at the World Championship. 

NHL clubs might fear his size, but they could risk missing out on a future star. At pick No. 11 and with two picks still in the first round, selecting Bjorck would be a worthwhile gamble. 

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Frank Vatrano

The Anaheim Ducks just had their most successful season in nine years come to an end after a 4-2 series loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs. 

They’ve taken a colossal step toward becoming a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and have arguably opened that contending window in 2025-26 and beyond. 

One player who was once projected to be a key depth piece during the early stages of the Ducks’ build is veteran winger Frank Vatrano. 

Vatrano (32) entered the 2025-26 season coming off back-to-back-to-back 20-goal seasons, including a 37-goal, 60-point campaign in 2023-24 that earned him an All-Star appearance. 

Revisiting the Ducks Acquisition of John Carlson

Lack of Adjustments Proved Costly for Ducks against Golden Knights

With a high-energy approach and a lethal release, Vatrano’s usage increased year after year during his first three seasons with the Ducks, and he signed a three-year contract extension on Jan 5, 2025, worth $18 million in real dollars. Still, due to a percentage of it being deferred, his AAV settled at $4.57 million. 

The Ducks hired head coach Joel Quenneville ahead of the 2025-26 season, and he brought with him a mostly-new coaching staff, along with all-new play styles and systems. Due to how Quenneville elected to divvy up usage and how he prefers his lineups to be constructed, Vatrano found his role diminished and eventually eliminated down the stretch of the regular season. 

Vatrano averaged 16:41 TOI per game in 2022-23, 18:21 in 2023-24, and 17:33 in 2024-25, and featured heavily on both special teams units. He experienced difficulty carving a role for himself on the 2025-26 Ducks’ depth chart, sustained a shoulder injury in Dec, and left the team for a period of time due to personal reasons. 

He finished the year averaging just 11:49 TOI/G in 50 games played, scored just nine points (5-4=9), and was scratched for every game of the Ducks’ 12-game playoff run to the second round. It’s understandable to question his future with the Anaheim Ducks.

Vatrano has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $4.57 million. However, he is owed $900,000 per year for ten years, starting in 2035. That number will not impact his NHL club’s cap sheet, but will have to be honored in real dollars.

On the surface, due to his production and contract, he appears somewhat immovable for Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek. However, Verbeek was able to move center Ryan Strome at the 2026 trade deadline. Strome experienced similar struggles as Vatrano, only producing nine points (3-6=9) in 33 games and had a year and a half remaining on his contract that carried a $5 million cap hit. The Ducks didn’t have to retain on Strome’s contract and acquired a seventh-round pick in exchange. 

The 2026 NHL free agency class is notoriously thin, and combined with the dramatically rising salary cap ceiling ($95.5 million to $104 million), teams may find themselves interested in or in need of the services of a forward like Vatrano. 

If the contract is too much for teams to stomach and the Ducks intend to spend to the salary cap ceiling, as they may have to, given contract projections for RFAs like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, along with the potential to add to the roster, buying out Vatrano’s contract presents itself as an option for Verbeek. 

If Vatrano’s contract is bought out, his cap hit will decrease to $571,189 for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. They will also incur a $2 million cap hit for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons. 

Perhaps the least likely scenario, given all that’s transpired over the course of the 2025-26 season, is the hope that he re-finds his scoring touch and is afforded a role on the Ducks’ depth chart in 2026-27, rendering last season a “one-off.” Vatrano’s talent as a depth scorer and energy forechecker remains, but a longer leash than the coaching staff is willing to give out may be necessary to achieve that goal. 

The summer of 2026 will likely prove a pivotal one for the future of the Ducks franchise, as they have some aspects of their roster to iron out, some holes to fill, and a cap sheet that may require some navigating if they’re to maximize their potential and begin contending for Stanley Cups as soon as next season. Part of that navigation might include an important decision on what to do with Frank Vatrano.

Takeaways from the Ducks' 5-1 Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas wins Series 4-2

Takeaways from the Ducks' 3-2 Overtime Loss to the Golden Knights, Vegas Leads Series 3-2

Olen Zellweger Has Given Ducks A Boost

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek Finalist for General Manager of the Year

Posted on

Washington Capitals re-sign Timothy Liljegren to a 2-year, $6.5 million contract

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million.

General manager Chris Patrick announced the deal Wednesday. Liljegren will count $3.25 million against the salary cap next season and in 2027-28.

The right-handed-shooting Swede played just four games for the Capitals after they acquired him from San Jose at the trade deadline in early March. He could have a bigger role next season as part of a blue line that is not expected to have John Carlson back after Washington sent the pending free agent to Anaheim on the eve of the deadline.

Now 27, Liljegren has 94 points in 324 regular season and playoff games in the NHL, with the vast majority of that time spent with Toronto.

The biggest question of the offseason for Patrick and the front office is the status of longtime captain, face of the franchise and career goal-scoring record holder Alex Ovechkin, who has not yet declared whether he'll return for a 22nd season at age 41.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Posted on

Five Reasons Canadiens Fans Should Be Optimistic in the Eastern Conference Final

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Montreal Canadiens have taken a very different path to the Eastern Conference Final than the Carolina Hurricanes, but they arrive with real reasons for optimism despite being sizable underdogs.

From clutch-game resilience and overtime poise, to a perfect response record after losses, this group has consistently found ways to rebound.

Add in strong coaching, steady identity, and playoff composure, and Montreal has legitimate belief heading into Round 3 despite being underdogs in the NHL odds.

Canadiens Why Habs fans should have hope

Five reasons Canadiens fans should be optimistic

The top line hasn’t even shown up yet at 5-on-5

The Montreal Canadiens have eight wins in the postseason, and of the team’s 27 even-strength goals, only one has come off the sticks of Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.

That top line, alongside Nick Suzuki, accounted for 72 total even-strength goals during the regular season, or 37% of all the team’s goals at even strength. It’s not as if Caufield and Slafkovsky have done nothing, though, as they’ve still contributed seven of the Habs’ 13 power-play goals through 14 playoff games.

This team is getting scoring from its middle six, but the offense still hasn’t played its best postseason hockey. Everything on that top line runs through Suzuki, who is still sitting at +3000 to win the Conn Smythe.

With how heavily head coach Martin St. Louis is leaning on his center, leading this series in points at +350, the betting favorite makes sense.

Canadiens odds to lead ECF in points

PlayerBet99
Nick Suzuki+350
Cole Caufield+550
Lane Hutson+700
Juraj Slafkovsky+1500

Jakub Dobes

The goalie landscape in the NHL has changed. Gone are the days of riding your No. 1 for 70% of the season. All four starting goalies in the Conference Final were not their team’s No. 1 option early in the year.

Jakub Dobes has gone on an incredible run ever since Montreal changed goalie coaches on January 28 and brought in Marco Marciano. The rookie netminder closed the regular season at 13-5-1 with a 2.57 GAA and a .914 SV%, a notable jump from his earlier marks of a 2.96 GAA and .890 SV% before the change.

His 0.776 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes trails only three playoff goaltenders with at least three games played.

The eerie part is Montreal’s history with rookie goalies making playoff magic. Some guy named Patrick Roy won the Cup in his rookie season back in 1985-86, going 15-5 with a .923 SV%. He wasn’t even the first to do it. 

Ken Dryden led the Habs to a Cup in 1970-71 after appearing in just six regular-season games. Dryden played in two Game 7s across three playoff series that year, with Montreal playing in 20 of a possible 21 playoff games. Sound familiar?

Both Roy and Dryden walked away with the Conn Smythe in their Cup-winning rookie runs. Dobes enters the Eastern Conference Final at +1900 to win the Conn Smythe, and Martin St. Louis appears ready to ride him the rest of the way.

Rest vs. Rust

I hate this term more than anything, but you might never see a more classic “rest vs. rust” ECF setup. One team is coming off back-to-back Game 7 wins, while its Round 3 opponent rolled in at a perfect 8-0 SU. It’s the longest break between playoff series since 1919.

The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t played a game since May 9 — an 11-day layoff — while the Canadiens at least get a chance to catch their breath after taking Game 7 in Buffalo on Monday.

Teams coming off a Game 7 win and facing a team coming off a sweep are 8-1 SU in all series since 2000.

Montreal is +250 to win the series at BET99, the best available price.

Canadiens CanadiensvsHurricanes Hurricanes
May 21 • NHL ECF
Series Prediction
Canadiens to win series (+250)
Bet now at img src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/82/bet99_bg.svg" alt="BET99" style="display: block; height: 44px; width: auto; max-width: 160px; object-fit: contain; border-radius: 4px;"

Freddy, the Bod, and the Canes’ semifinal track record

Things in the Eastern Conference Final have not been good for anyone associated with the Hurricanes since the days of Ron Francis. You could say this team has metaphorically pissed all over themselves when they are eight wins away from the Cup.

We have seen this early-playoff form from Frederik Andersen before. Just last year, he entered the ECF with elite numbers, much like this season, and fell flat, posting sub-.840 SV% numbers over four games before getting pulled.

He is 4-10 SU in the third round over his career.

Head coach Rod Brind'Amour may be running out of runway if he can’t break through this stage. Since taking over in Carolina, he's 0-3 in Round 3 across seven postseason appearances, and an even more concerning 1-12 SU in those series combined, despite going 24-8 SU through the first two rounds.

Don’t read too much into Carolina’s 8-0 SU start, as their path to this point has come against noticeably softer competition than the Canadiens have faced. The Canes are not walking all over their third straight opponent.

Odds for which game the Canadiens will win the series in

ResultBet99
Canadiens in 4+3000
Canadiens in 5+1500
Canadiens in 6+850
Canadiens in 7+725

Youth that's been tested under pressure

That Canadiens might be one of the youngest teams in the NHL, but this is a group that has handled every situation this season. They don’t panic down multiple goals late, they can win in overtime, and they have shown an ability to respond immediately after poor performances.

There’s a reason they are 5-0 SU this playoffs following a loss.

This might be one of the best-coached teams in hockey, and it’s a shame St. Louis didn’t receive more Coach of the Year attention.

There’s a reason this group has been labeled the “Cardiac Kids,” and it’s because adversity doesn’t seem to affect them — something the playoffs have made very clear.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Knicks Notes: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart on needing to start stronger; making adjustments for Game 2 vs. Cavaliers

Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks fought back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's contest to steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals from the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime.

While Brunson's 17 points in the fourth quarter and OT were incredibly impressive, the team acknowledged they can't allow themselves to go down by that much at this stage of the playoffs.

Looking ahead, Brunson, Josh Hart, and head coach Mike Brown discussed with reporters on Wednesday what the team learned from the Game 1 victory, how they're staying focused, and what they anticipate from the Cavs in Game 2 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Starting stronger

The Knicks led by seven points after the first quarter on Tuesday night, but were outscored 67-46 in the second and third quarters. Brunson said the biggest takeaway from the game was how they played prior to their big fourth quarter.

"I think more of the first three quarters is a bigger takeaway," Brunson said. "They were playing great basketball, had us on our heels. Just got to give them a lot of credit. Obviously, we played well in the fourth and overtime. 

"We got to come out ready to go. Honestly, I think we did. It was the middle, it was the middle of second and third quarter where we let go of the rope. That's our biggest takeaway."

Hart agreed, saying the Knicks need to bring the same type of energy they expect from Cleveland in Game 2. 

"They're going to come out with extreme energy, attention to detail, focus, sense of urgency and desperation," Hart said. "And we got to not match that, but we have to exceed it. They're looking at it like, 'That was our game we gave away.' They're looking at film of, 'If we fix this here and fix this here, we would've won the game.' And that's what they're gonna try to do tomorrow.

"So we got to make sure we come in focused and have a better start than we did."

Winning mindset

While the comeback was a strong team achievement, Brunson added that the confident mindset they've displayed all season long helped them fight back.

"Yeah, absolutely. It's great to have a mindset of continuing to do the things that has made us a good team over the course of this year," Brunson said. "Regardless of what the score was and being able to fight back, obviously, was great. I mean we don't want to be in the position where we're down 22 again obviously, but having that mindset definitely helps."

Brunson also thanked the Garden crowd for giving the team an edge throughout the night, adding that "our fans kept us in it, so credit to all them." 

He was later asked about going on social media to see the reaction from a big comeback win like Game 1, but showed how locked in he really is.

"I've been shutting down social media throughout the series," Brunson said. "Obviously, I think I've posted in between series, but I've been shutting it down, not opening it. Just focusing on what we need to do as a team, what I need to do individually. Just doing my best to have tunnel vision and stay focused."

Making adjustments for Game 2

Hart mentioned how the Cavs will be spending Wednesday dissecting film about what they could have done better down the stretch to close out the win. And while it's common to learn from mistakes, Brunson noted how the Knicks can improve going forward by watching their film as well.

"I think a lot of people when they watch film after a loss, you learn a lot. I think you can still learn from a win as well," Brunson said. "Obviously, you're very thankful you got the win, but there's clearly things that we need to work on to be better and not be in the position we were in. It's definitely a lot you can learn, always."

"They're gonna be ready to go."

Brown gave praise to Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff, but similar to Brunson, mentioned that his team will need to make the proper adjustments as well in Game 2. He knows Atkinson won't let James Harden get isolated as much as he did in Game 1 and it'll be a challenge for the Knicks to find other ways to score.

"Kenny's a great coach and we know they're going to come out ready to play," Brown said. "They came to New York to get one game and it's still within reach... They're going to be ready, they're going to mix it up. At the end of the day, it's our job to make sure that we're more efficient and we're more diverse offensively so that nobody can sit on any one action we're trying to run."

Posted on

Dodgers Shohei Ohtani to pitch, hit vs Padres: What to watch in NL West showdown

Baseball fans at Petco Park will get the full Shohei Ohtani experience on Wednesday night.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar is set to pitch and hit on the same day for just the third time this season, manager Dave Roberts told reporters. Roberts has experimented with keeping Ohtani out of the lineup on days he's pitched this season in an effort to ease his workload after starting the year in a prolonged slump at the plate, and the results have been promising.

Ohtani enters Wednesday with a 0.82 ERA, the lowest in the Majors. And after back-to-back off days in the final two games of the Dodgers' series against the San Francisco Giants last week, his bat has started to trend upwards as well. In the five games since, Ohtani has gone 10-for-19 with five extra base hits -- including an insane Little League home run against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday -- for eight RBIs with five walks. His OPS has also shot up by over a full percentage point from .767 to .872 in that span.

Roberts told reporters over the weekend that his expectation was that Ohtani would hit during his next start, and reaffirmed that plan once the team was in San Diego.

"I just feel like he’s more energized," Roberts told reporters on Monday. "I think the couple days off did his body and mind some good."

The Dodgers retook first place in the NL West from the San Diego Padres with a 5-4 win courtesy of Andy Pages' clutch ninth-inning at-bat against Mason Miller that scored the winning run from third on Tuesday night. Now with a half-game lead, LA can create some breathing room (albeit not much) against their neighbors to the south with a win in Wednesday's series finale.

How to watch Dodgers vs. Padres on Wednesday

  • When: 6:40 p.m. PT (9:40 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, May 20
  • Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California
  • How to watch on TV/streaming: Spectrum SportsNet LA (Dodgers), Padres.TV (Padres)

Dodgers vs. Padres lineups on Wednesday

Here's the full batting order for each team tonight:

Los Angeles Dodgers

  • Shohei Ohtani, DH
  • Mookie Betts, SS
  • Freddie Freeman, 1B
  • Kyle Tucker, RF
  • Andy Pages, CF
  • Max Muncy, 3B
  • Will Smith, C
  • Teoscar Hernández, LF
  • Hyeseong Kim, 2B

San Diego Padres

  • Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
  • Miguel Andujar, DH
  • Gavin Sheets, 1B
  • Manny Machado, 3B
  • Xander Bogaerts, SS
  • Jackson Merrill, CF
  • Nick Castellanos, RF
  • Ramón Laureano, LF
  • Freddy Fermin, C

Shohei Ohtani will be on the mound for the Dodgers opposite Randy Vásquez for the Padres.

NL West standings

Here are the most recent NL West standings entering Wednesday's series finale:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani pitching and hitting vs Padres: Time, TV and lineups

Posted on

Canadiens: The Battle Could Be Won In Net

The Carolina Hurricanes have had 11 days to rest before the start of their third-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, and even though they are 8-0 So far in these playoffs, winning the Conference Final could still prove to be tricky. Since 2018-19, the Canes have reached the third round three times and have failed to make it through to the Stanley Cup Final.

In those three third-round series, they have a 1-12 record. In 2018-17, they were swept by the Boston Bruins, who would go on to lose the Final to the St. Louis Blues. In 2022-23, they were swept by the Florida Panthers, who would go on to lose the Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights. Finally, in 2024-25, they lost to those same Panthers 4-1, before Matthew Tkachuk and co. won the Cup.

ESPN Betting Against Canadiens In Eastern Conference Final Big Time
Is It Time For The Canadiens To Try Demidov On The Top Line?
The Dobes Spring Is In Full Swing For The Canadiens

While one would be right to point out that there have been many personnel changes on the Hurricanes since they reached the first Conference Final under Rod Brind’Amour, the coach remains the same, and the starting goaltender is the same as in those last two occasions.

In 2022-23, Andersen played three of the four Conference Final games, losing them all. However, he had a .950 save percentage in the first game, a .941 in the second and a .833 in the last one.

Then, in 2024-25, he played four of the five games of the third-round series; he had a 20-save shutout in the sole win, but in the other three games, he gave up five goals once and four goals twice. In those three games, his SV stood at .750 twice and .833 once. Until the ECF, his SV was .931.

Fast forward to this year, and he has a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 SV in eight games. However, in the series-clinching win against the Philadelphia Flyers, he let in two goals on 17 shots for a .882 SV.

Will the Canes’ 11 days off have allowed him to work through his ECF demons? Or has he spent them obsessing over the ghost of playoffs past? Furthermore, the veteran netminder has appeared in only 35 games this season, and he’s had more than his fair share of injury troubles over the years. Can he be consistent over the course of this whole postseason? The Canes better hope so, but at this stage, it feels like Andersen hasn’t really been tested after facing the Ottawa Senators and the Flyers in the first two rounds.

Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes has an 8-6 record in these playoffs, with a 2.52 GAA and a .910 SV%. He has had a few rough games in the first two series, but generally, he has been clutch for the Canadiens and has bounced back (or forward, as Martin St-Louis would say) every time he faltered. Furthermore, he did win his three duels against the Hurricanes this season, allowing eight goals for a 2.67 GAA and a .922 SV. As for Andersen, he lost both of his games against the Habs, posting a 3.73 GAA and an .806 SV.

If the Canes are to finally overcome this bump in the road that has given them so much trouble over the years, they will need Andersen to be at his very best and leave the past in the past.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

Posted on

How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder Game 2 for free: Livestream, start time

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to bounce back from a shocking loss in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs took Game 1, 122-115, in a double overtime victory where star Victor Wembanyama put up a staggering 41 points over 49 minutes of action — a career-high for the center.

The Thunder, whose nine-game postseason winning streak was snapped in the loss, struggled in the first half but clawed back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the overtime periods.

NBA Western conference finals: what to know
  • What: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
  • When: May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
  • Channel: NBC
  • Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)

The next game in the Western Conference Finals is scheduled for Friday night, when the series moves to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4.

Spurs vs. Thunder start time:

Game 1 between the Spurs and the Thunder is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 20.

How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.

NBA Western Conference Finals schedule

  • Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (OT2)
  • Game 2: Wednesday, May 20 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
  • Game 3: Friday, May 22 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
  • Game 4: Sunday, May 24 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
  • Game 5: Tuesday, May 26 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
  • Game 6: Thursday, May 28 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
  • Game 7: Saturday, May 30 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)*

* if necessary

TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

Posted on

Spurs vs Thunder Same-Game Parlay for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 2

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

If Game 2 of the Western Conference finals is anything like the series opener, NBA bettors should probably go ahead and book tomorrow off. 

The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder put in a double OT classic on Monday, and run it back in OKC tonight. My same-game parlay for Game 2 calls for OKC to even the series on the back of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but also respects Victor Wembanyama’s defensive impact at the rim.

Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Spurs vs. Thunder tonight.

Our best Spurs vs Thunder SGP for Game 2

SGP leg #1: Thunder moneyline

The Oklahoma City Thunder still forced overtime against the San Antonio Spurs despite a dismal opening half in Game 1. The Thunder rallied behind a more aggressive offense, and I see OKC finding that gear earlier in Game 2. OKC is a strong bounce-back team, going 8-0 SU off a playoff loss the past two postseasons.

SGP leg #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 28.5 points

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was passive in the opening half of Game 1. In previous series, SGA could rely on his teammates to carry the offensive weight when teams clamped down on the MVP. However, he quickly realized he would need to set the tone in the second half. We saw more attacks from Gilgeous-Alexander, and that approach will get him Over his scoring prop tonight. Models call for closer to 30 points in Game 2.

SGP leg #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks

Victor Wembanyama is always a threat to swat your shot into the fifth row. He didn’t have a single block in the first half of Game 1, but once OKC started attacking the interior, he quickly sent back three shots in the second half and overtime. Wemby will patrol the paint with the Thunder not shying away from the Spurs’ 7-footer, providing ample block opportunities in Game 2.

Covers NBA betting tools

See our full Spurs vs Thunder Game 2 preview

Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs, Thunder predictions for Game 2.

More Covers NBA Playoff content

NBA Championship odds

Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

NBA Finals MVP odds

See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

MORE NBA FREE PICKS

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.