The New York Knicks scorched the nets at Madison Square Garden in the series opener and take aim at a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night.
My same-game parlay for Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal likes the points to keep flowing, along with standout efforts from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for 76ers vs. Knicks on May 6.
Our best 76ers vs Knicks SGP for Game 2
SGP leg #1: Over 215
The New York Knicks shot 63% from the floor and scored 137 points in the series opener. While I expect New York’s success to come back to earth, its offense throws a lot at Philadelphia, especially with Joel Embiid limping around on defense.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they need to promote pace on offense, and I expect the Sixers to do their share of the scoring in Game 2. This total has jumped only two points from the closing number of 213 O/U in Game 1, leaving a low bar for the Over.
SGP leg #2: Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds
Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging six rebounds for the postseason, but his work on the boards surges in this series. Embiid is being drawn away from the rim and isn’t mobile enough to chase down misses.
Oubre had five boards on eight rebounding chances in Game 1, with New York not missing much. There will be more rebounding chances in Game 2, and Oubre is projected for six or more rebounds after pulling down seven in both regular-season meetings with the Knicks.
SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns has served more as a conduit for the Knicks' offense in the playoffs, passing off rather than attacking. However, Philadelphia has to change how they defend KAT.
That means sending smaller players at him up top or sagging off with Embiid. Either way, Towns can find the bottom of the basket, and Game 2 forecasts have him scoring around 22 points.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his 76ers vs Knicks predictions for Game 2.
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Across 1,960 career playoff and regular-season NBA games, LeBron James has never been a larger underdog than he is against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ben Fawkes, the 15.5-point Game 1 line represents the largest perceived deficit of James’ illustrious 23-year career.
Key Takeaways
LeBron hasn’t been as large of a series underdog since 2006.
The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets at +550 underdogs in the first round.
Bronny James has +500 odds of scoring 15 points in the upcoming series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are taking on a real-life Goliath in the form of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are -15.5 at home ahead of tip-off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Los Angeles Lakers are consensus 15.5-point underdogs in Game 1 tonight at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
➡️That would be the biggest underdog LeBron James has been in ANY game in his 23-year career
James is already 11 regular-season games clear of Robert Parish and 39 playoff outings ahead of Derek Fisher for the NBA’s all-time record in career appearances. But while he has won four championships and produced countless unforgettable moments, he has never been a larger underdog than he is tonight.
The Lakers’ +600 moneyline odds at DraftKings suggest they only have a 14.3% chance to steal Game 1 on the road. Notably, they’re still without leading scorer Luka Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury on April 2 against this same Thunder team.
Upsets aren’t impossible. The Lakers overcame huge +550 odds to win their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, eliminating a team they were given a 15.4% chance of beating in six games.
However, in extending their season, they also accepted a date with a team that tormented them during the regular season.
LeBron, Lakers face daunting task
The defending-champion and NBA Finals odds favorite Thunder (-155) went 4-0 against the Lakers during the regular season. Those wins came by nine, 29, 36, and 43 points, and they did not have MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the nine-point victory.
DraftKings has the Thunder at -1600 (94% implied chance) to eliminate the Lakers and move on to the Western Conference Finals. LA is only +900 (10% chance) to continue past the series.
For context, here are all of the opening series odds for the other NBA conference semifinals:
San Antonio Spurs (-525), Minnesota Timberwolves (+350)
New York Knicks (-260), Philadelphia 76ers (+215)
Detroit Pistons (-125), Cleveland Cavaliers (+105)
According to SportsOddsHistory, that makes this the second-most lopsided series of LeBron’s career as an underdog. The only other time he faced a greater deficit was in the 2006 Conference Semifinals, when his Cleveland Cavaliers were +1200 against the Detroit Pistons. Detroit won the series in seven games after falling behind 3-2.
Oddsmakers at DraftKings don’t believe that James has much of a hope of extending the series as he did back in ‘06. There are -320 odds the Thunder cover a 2.5-game spread, meaning they have an implied 76.2% chance of winning the series in four or five games.
Notably, the Thunder enter the series having already swept the Phoenix Suns. They also swept their first-round opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies, before they were taken to seven games by the Denver Nuggets one year ago.
They went on to win the NBA Finals, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
Bronny James prop special
As LeBron looks to add a possible final crowning achievement to his playoff resume, his son, Bronny James, is enjoying his first taste of playoff action.
Bronny finished the first round against the Rockets with 10 total points scored while getting playing time in five of six games. FanDuel Sportsbook published a special market for Bronny to reach 15 total points in the series with the Thunder for +500 odds, suggesting he only has a 16.7% chance to hit the mark.
Bronny had 10 total points the Lakers' series vs. the Rockets 😳
The 2025-26 season was another tough year for the Chicago Blackhawks. They finished the campaign at the bottom of the Central Division standings with a 29-39-14 record and 72 points. They also lost eight out of their final 10 games.
While the Blackhawks had some rough moments this campaign, forward Ryan Greene was certainly one of their bright spots. The 22-year-old forward had a solid rookie campaign for Chicago, posting 12 goals, 17 assists, and 29 points in 81 games. With this, he cemented himself as a full-time NHL player.
Greene also ended the season on a strong note for the Blackhawks. He scored a goal in each of his final three games of the campaign and will now be looking to carry that momentum over to next season.
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When noting that Greene is a young forward with plenty of promise who is just kicking off his NHL career, there is no question that he has the potential to hit a new level. With next season being just his second full campaign in the NHL, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he put together a breakout year for the Blackhawks.
Greene has the tools to blossom into an impactful offensive contributor. It will be interesting to see what he can do in 2026-27, but there is a lot to like about his game.
Thompson just completed his first season as Bridgeport Islanders head coach, leading a team that finished in last place in the AHL in 2024-25 back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021-22.
The 48-year-old former third-round pick who played 25 NHL games over a four-year career with the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers has been behind an NHL bench before.
Thompson has six years of NHL assistant coaching experience. He served one season as an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers (2014-15), two with the San Jose Sharks (2020-2022), and three with the Philadelphia Flyers (2022-2025) under John Tortorella.
As for the connection between Rocky Thompson and #Isles coaching staff:
While Thompson was never an assistant for Pete DeBoer, assistant coach Bob Boughner had Rocky as his assistant in San Jose for his final two seasons there (2020-2022).
Rocky's job in Bridgeport, changing the culture while also getting prospects back on track, earned him this opportunity on DeBoer's staff.
The Hockey News confirmed that Ray Bennett and Bob Boughner remain with the team, so this could be your Islanders coaching staff for the 2026-27 season.
New Orleans has been deliberating over finalists Darvin Ham (a Bucks associate head coach under Rivers), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn assistant), Sean Sweeney (San Antonio associate head coach) and Rajon Rondo (a coaching associate with the Bucks). Mosley has long been believed to be a possible candidate if he became available, but it's unclear as of yet if he'll be added to the list.
Rondo is an interesting name. The four-time All-Star point guard has been out of the league for four seasons and is on the radar of a number of general managers, but is he ready for that leap? It has long been expected in league circles that the Magic's Mosley would move to the front of the line in New Orleans if Orlando moved on from him, which it did. Ham was a former head coach with the Lakers, and his name has come up as a possibility in Orlando’s coaching search.
While New Orleans is narrowing down the field, Portland continues to cast a very wide net, reports Amick.
As league sources said on Monday, the Trail Blazers have cast a net so wide that the list of candidates could be almost 20 coaches long and, in the end, will consist of names procured by both Dundon and general manager Joe Cronin. What's more, league sources say, there is no clear messaging as of yet about a possible timeline on the hiring.
While Tiago Splitter did a good job taking over a team a couple of days into the season (after the arrest of Chauncy Billups on alleged gambling charges) and leading the Trail Blazers to a surprise playoff berth, league sources told NBC Sports he does not appear to be a favorite of new owner Tom Dundon, so the door is wide open. Then there is the lingering money question: Rumors circulated that Dundon was trying to get a coach to take the job for $1.5 million or less — mid-major college coach money — the team has pushed back hard on that. Still, the chatter around the league is that Portland is trying to hire on the cheap, whatever that final number is. As Amick notes, it is thought that the least any coach in the league is making is at least $2 million, in Sacramento's Doug Christie (who is keeping his job).
It appears it could be a while before Portland has a coach.
For teams outside of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the offseason will finally get in full swing tonight with the NHL Draft Lottery. The San Jose Sharks enter the night with the ninth-best odds of moving up, but there is also a chance that they could fall back.
The Sharks have six possible outcomes at the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. They could win big and earn the honor of picking first overall for the second time in three seasons, they could pick second, or even third, overall. The most likely outcome is that they stay in place and pick ninth overall, but they could also fall to either the 10th or 11th overall pick as well.
In the United States, the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will be broadcast on ESPN beginning at 4 p.m. PT. For those in Canada, it'll be available on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
SHARKS' RECENT LOTTERY HISTORY
The San Jose Sharks have only won the NHL Draft Lottery once in 2024, however that was only because they entered event with the highest odds on the night. That first-overall selection, Macklin Celebrini, ended up changing the franchise's trajectory right out of the gate.
Last year, the Sharks were again projected to earn the first-overall pick heading into the Draft Lottery which would've earned them the right to select star defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Luck wasn't in their favor on that occasion, as the New York Islanders jumped from the 10th overall pick to the first pick, dropping the Sharks to the second selection.
Important note, no team in the 30-year history of the NHL Draft Lottery has earned the first overall pick with the ninth-best odds entering the night, meaning history doesn't favor the Sharks tonight.
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LeBron James defied all odds again.
In the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, King James led a Luka Dončić-less Los Angeles Lakers to a surprising six-game series win over the Houston Rockets.
Over the course of the series, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. After closing out, he told NBA on ESPN correspondents “the mission has always stayed the same throughout my career and that’s to go out there and try to dominate.”
Next up, King James and co. will attempt to dominate once again against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s No. 1 seeded, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since they don’t have home court advantage this time around, their three hypothetical games at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena are scheduled to take place:
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are available for each and every contest in LA.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one game at the Crypto.com Arena was $250 including fees on SeatGeek.
Prices start at $146 including fees for games at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center.
While pricey, don’t underestimate just how much you can help the Lakers at home.
Over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, the Thunder beat Los Angeles in all four of their meetings and won by an average of 29.3 points (!) per game.
According to NBA.com, that should come with a disclaimer because “LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played in the same game just once and were minus-16 in 17.9 minutes.”
Sources told The California Post that “Dončić is expected to miss the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma.”
Will he be back for Games 3 and 4?
While we can’t say for certain, we do know the best way to find out is live.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 Western Conference Semifinals series below.
Lakers playoff home game ticket prices
A complete calendar including all announced Lakers home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:
Lakers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 9
$292(fees included)
Game 4 Monday, May 11
$250(fees included)
Game 6 Saturday, May 16
$300(fees included)
Thunder playoff home game ticket prices
All Thunder playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Thunder home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 1 Tuesday, May 5
$146(fees included)
Game 2 Thursday, May 7
$168(fees included)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 13
$205(fees included)
Game 7 Monday, May 18
$323(fees included)
How to watch the Lakers and Thunder on TV
Fans hoping to catch LeBron and co. on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC and NBA TV.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
2026 NBA playoff schedule
Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out thus far?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
As the Mets' 2026 season spiraled early, with New York going from 7-4 to 7-16 before bottoming out at 10-21 as their shockingly bad nine-game homestand against the Twins, Rockies, and Nationals concluded this past weekend, it was easy to lose sight of why New York had fallen so far.
Yes, they were a bad team. And it seemed kind of beside the point to bother to dig beyond that given how deep their struggles were, how rare the wins were, and how bleak it seemed.
But focusing on the why was important when it came to diagnosing the problem and envisioning the possibility of a recovery.
The why, of course, was the offense.
During their 12-game losing streak, the Mets mustered just 22 runs, an average of 1.83 per game.
It was more of the same during their 3-6 homestand against the Twins, Rockies, and Nats, when New York scored 13 runs combined over their six losses -- an average of 2.16 per game.
There were other issues at play during that 10-21 start, including way too many mental and physical errors, along with the serious struggles of Kodai Senga (who pitched himself out of the rotation before landing on the IL) and David Peterson (who has excelled in relief this season, but struggled when handed the ball to start).
But the takeaway here is that the Mets have the kind of pitching that could anchor their rise back to respectability and (yes, it's still possible) contention.
Apr 3, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. / Neville E. Guard - Imagn Images
First, let's look at the rotation...
Nolan McLean is an emerging ace with wipeout stuff who has a 2.97 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. His 2.13 FIP leads the National League, and his hits per nine rate (5.9) and strikeout rate (11.7) are elite.
Clay Holmes' 1.69 ERA is the second-best in the NL and his 0.98 WHIP ranks sixth. His 3.66 FIP and relatively low strikeout rate (6.5) suggests there will be some regression to the mean, but Holmes has become a legitimate rotation weapon. And when it comes specifically to the low K rate, it's mitigated by Holmes' ability to get hitters to chase and to pound the ball on the ground -- his ground ball rate this season is in the 94th percentile.
Fredy Peralta has been steady, if not spectacular, posting a 3.52 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. He's been rounding into form lately, pitching 5.2 innings or more in each of his last four starts while seeing his fastball velocity tick up.
Christian Scott remains a bit of a mystery in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, but his second start was eye-opening, with the right-hander firing four no-hit innings after allowing two runs in the first frame. Scott has the kind of swing-and-miss stuff to excel.
The fifth starter spot is still being pieced together, but it's fair to believe Jonah Tong -- who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his most recent start for Triple-A Syracuse -- will be a factor by June or July.
Then there's the bullpen.
There were some early hiccups, including a brutal four-game stretch where Devin Williams couldn't harness his stuff and back-to-back appearances for Luke Weaver where he allowed six combined runs.
But Williams has four straight scoreless appearances under his belt, and has been dominant during that span -- allowing just one hit in four innings while walking none and striking out five. Meanwhile, Weaver has been terrific since his aforementioned two-game hiccup, allowing two runs in 7.2 innings over his last seven appearances dating back to April 18.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) and pitcher Devin Williams (38) celebrate the victory against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez - Imagn Images
Elsewhere in the bullpen, Huascar Brazoban (1.08 ERA, 0.84 WHIP in 15 appearances) and Brooks Raley (1.42 ERA, 0.86 WHIP in 14 appearances) have been tremendous.
The relief corps will also get a boost soon, with A.J. Minter expected to be activated off the IL in the next few days.
One thing the Mets will arguably have to do in the near future when it comes to their bullpen is adjust the configuration. It's very hard to maintain success when three relievers (Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Tobias Myers) are ordinarily used for multiple innings at a time, which limits how often they can pitch and has a trickle down effect on the other relievers. Peterson has been very good in relief, while Myers has been stellar in his role. Manaea, whose fastball velocity has not returned after his injury-riddled 2025 campaign, has a 6.55 ERA and 1.63 WHIP.
But again, the Mets have the pitching to succeed, and their overall runs allowed (151, seventh-best in the NL) is inflated due in part to the three starts where Senga surrendered 17 runs in just 8.1 innings.
This takes us to the caveat, which is a huge one.
Will the Mets, still without Lindor, Polanco, and Robert, hit enough to be able to take advantage of what their pitching staff can do?
As far as how much they'll have to hit, it's fair to believe that -- given the quality of their pitching staff -- the Mets will win far more often than not if they can simply be about average offensively.
For example, while winning three of their last four games, the Mets have scored four, five, and four runs. Not exactly an offensive onslaught.
New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) greets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium / William Liang - Imagn Images
But just being average will require a massive improvement from what they've been most of the year, since New York has scored only 122 runs -- the second-fewest in baseball.
That paltry run total is obviously colored by everything that was covered above, including the absence of Soto, the current injuries, and most of the Mets' key offensive players going through prolonged slumps at the same time earlier this season.
In that regard, things seem to be going in the right direction.
Soto's return has helped stabilize things, Bo Bichette has looked more comfortable, Mark Vientos has hit enough to lift his OPS to an above average level, Francisco Alvarez has emerged from the doldrums and hit in four straight games, MJ Melendez has come up from the minors and posted a .906 OPS, and Carson Benge is starting to get his feet under him at the plate in his first taste of the majors.
Over his last 11 games, Benge is slashing .303/.361/.545 with two homers and two doubles.
Potentially huge will be getting Polanco and Robert back, which could happen sooner rather than later. As far as Lindor and his calf injury, more will be known when he undergoes reimaging in about 10 days, with a "relatively quick progression" possible if all goes well.
In any event, while the worst seems to be behind the Mets, they still have a very tall mountain to climb.
Notable when it comes to New York's expected chances of scaling that mountain is that the FanGraphs playoff odds currently give the Mets a better chance to reach the postseason than about half the league, including the 21-14 Cardinals and 20-15 Reds -- teams that just so happen to be holding two of the three Wild Card spots in the NL.
Those odds should be taken with a grain of salt, but the Mets have the ability to rise up, even if they haven't yet earned the benefit of the doubt that they will.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sabres center and faceoff ace Sam Carrick resumed practicing on Tuesday, and is in position to return for Buffalo’s second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.
Coach Lindy Ruff anticipated Carrick will be back in the lineup soon, without providing a timetable by saying: “Once you’re cleared to practice, you’re within days of playing.”
The Sabres host Montreal in Game 1 on Wednesday night, followed by Game 2 on Friday.
Carrick wrenched his left arm during a fight with Islanders captain Anders Lee in the third period of Buffalo’s 4-3 win on March 31. He missed the final seven regular-season games and Buffalo’s six-game first-round series win over Boston.
Carrick’s return is considered ahead of schedule, and comes after he met with team doctors on Monday.
The Sabres acquired the 10th-year player in a trade with the New York Rangers on March 5. Carrick immediately took over as Buffalo’s fourth-line center, and has handled key faceoffs, especially in late-game situations in the Sabres defensive zone.
He won 82 of 143 faceoffs for Buffalo. The Sabres entered Tuesday ranked last among 16 playoff teams in winning 43.8% of their faceoffs.
Ruff previously ruled out rookie center Noah Ostlund (lower left leg) for Round 2.
Minor League Baseball: View of starting lineups for San Jose Giants and Fresno Grizzlies before game at Excite Ballpark. San Jose, CA 5/7/2021 CREDIT: Brad Mangin (Photo by Brad Mangin/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163609 TK1)
It’s been a tough go for the Colorado Rockies, who have lost their last four games, including the series opener with the New York Mets. However, the Rockies will have to wait for Game 2 since snowstorms across the Front Range led to postponing today’s game.
So we interrupt our regularly scheduled MLB game thread and instead will focus on the Rockies minor league affiliates today.
(We’ll add more game details as they become available.)
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (18-15) @ Sugar land Space Cowboys (17-16)
The Isotopes and Space Cowboys meet for the first of four series on the year, including two in Sugar Land (other: July 7-12). The Isotopes will look to extend their winning streak to four and hope to see as much success this week as they did last when they went on a hitting frenzy. The last time Albuquerque has been over .500 in May was May 20, 2019 (23-22).
Starters: RHP Velente Bellozo (0-1, 6.87) vs. RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 5.79) on a rehab start.
Game 1 First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
For the visiting Isotopes:
We open a six-game series on the road at Sugar Land tonight!
— Binghamton Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) May 5, 2026
High-A: Spokane Indians (9-18) vs. Tri-City Dust Devils (16-11)
The Spokane Indians host the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) this morning for the opener of a six-game series. The Indians are optimistic that being back home gets them back on track after finishing their road trip through Everett and Eugene with a 3-9 record. Spokane continues to struggle offensively, scoring just 41 runs in their 12 games on the road (3.41/game) while allowing 67.
They’ll have their work cut out for them today though, with Angels No. 1 prospect and last year’s No. 2 overall pick Tyler Bremner on the mound for the Dust Devils in the series opener.
STARTERS: Tri-City Dust Devils RHP Tyler Bremner (0-0, 1.08) vs. Spokane Indians RHP Jackson Cox (0-1, 5.16)
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (15-2) @ San Jose Giants (17-10)
It’s a big week for the Grizzlies as the take on the California League-leading Giants. Fresno opens the set against a San Jose club that leads the California League in runs (198), average (.292), OBP (.387), slugging (.467) and OPS (.854). The Grizzlies counter with 33 home runs, 147 walks and an .801 OPS, giving this series plenty of offensive punch on both sides.
The Grizzlies bring one of the league’s most disciplined approaches into San Jose, ranking second in the California League with 147 walks and posting a .367 on-base percentage (4th). Cameron Nelson (24 BB, 2nd in CAL) and Ethan Holliday (17 BB, T-8th) continue to set the tone, helping Fresno grind out at-bats against a Giants staff that has issued just 113 walks — fewest in the league — setting up a strength-on-strength battle at the plate.
Starters: Fresno Grizzleys LHP Ethan Cole (2-1, 4.58) vs. San Jose Giants RHP Keyner Martinez (1-1, 5.17)
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick's first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).
The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 6: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs off the field with teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 after their team defeated Toronto Blue Jays in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on April 6, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani has allowed only four runs to date this season, two of them unearned, which has aided his ability to complete six innings in all five of his starts. Completing at least six innings has been the norm this season for the Dodgers rotation, whose 5.83 innings on average are tops in the majors.
Dodgers starters have completed six innings in 23 of their 35 games thus far in 2026, three more than the next-most in the majors. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings in Monday night’s win in Houston, and has lasted at least six innings in six of his seven starts. Tyler Glasnow lasted at least six innings in his first five starts before 5 2/3 last Wednesday at home against the Miami Marlins.
Who will win Braves vs Mariners today: Mariners (-125)
George Kirby threw just 43 changeups in 2025, with a 5% whiff rate.
This year, he’s already thrown 58 of them with a 30.7% whiff rate. That has helped him generate a career-high 56.5% ground-ball rate, well above his 44.2% lifetime metric.
The Atlanta Braves had just nine hits last night, and four of them were solo bombs. Without Ronald Acuna Jr. or Michael Harris II in the lineup, they simply aren’t creating enough runs.
Bryce Elder will give them a solid start, but his inability to generate strikeouts or limit contact will lead to the Seattle Mariners scoring enough to win.
Braves vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (+100)
Kirby’s changeup is a tremendous complement to his sinker and sweeper. Opponents have posted an xSLG of .189 and xBA of .161 against the pitch.
It’s helped him post career lows so far in ERA, xERA, xwOBA, and xwOBAcon.
Elder’s allowed just two homers in 37 IP, despite a career-low ground-ball rate. A key reason has been an improvement in limiting pull rate, thanks to adding a cutter to his arsenal.
Both starters should limit runs and eat innings in a ballpark that doesn’t give much to hitters. With Acuna, Harris, and Raleigh all on the shelf, this has all the makings of a lower-scoring affair.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-5, -1.42 units
Over/Under bets: 6-3, +2.91 units
Braves vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Braves +117 | Mariners -122
Run line: Braves +1.5 (-186) | Mariners -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)
Braves vs Mariners trend
The Seattle Mariners have hit the moneyline in 32 of their last 50 games at home (+7.10 Units / 9% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Mariners.
How to watch Braves vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, Mariners.TV
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.88 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby (4-2, 3.00 ERA)
Braves vs Mariners latest injuries
Braves vs Mariners weather
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.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 17: The snow is plowed at Coors Field prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Friday, April 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight’s game between the Mets and the Rockies at Coors Field has been postponed due to inclement weather. Freezing rain and snow, as well as cold temperatures, is forecasted for the Denver area, which resulted in the need for the changes to the schedule.
Tomorrow’s game, which was originally scheduled for a 3:10pm EDT first pitch, will now be moved to 9:20pm EDT. Today’s game will then be made up on Thursday afternoon at 3:10pm EDT. Thursday was originally a scheduled travel day for both clubs, with the Mets heading to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks and the Rockies heading to the East Coast to play the Phillies.
The Mets have gotten off to a strong start on their nine-game road trip, winning three of the first four games against the Angels and the Rockies following their 3-6 homestand. The Mets won their series opener 4-2 against Colorado yesterday thanks to a four-run sixth inning, including a Carson Benge home run, and a strong performance from their pitching staff.
Freddy Peralta and Christian Scott were slated to pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Presumably, the team will push them both back a day and keep them on the same schedule.
The New York Yankees begin a new series with the Texas Rangers after a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. New York is one of the hottest teams in baseball with eight wins in their last ten but tonight, they are favored when they simply shouldn’t be. I’m taking the Hall of Fame pitcher here at plus money.
Read all about it in my Rangers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, May 5.
Who will win Rangers vs Yankees today: Rangers moneyline (+111)
These two teams faced off in Texas a week ago, with Jacob deGrom going head-to-head with New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler in a 3-2 loss. Not much has changed in a week, deGrom is still poised to slow the Yankees' bats, but he’s facing a much different pitcher in Elmer Rodriguez.
deGrom will be deGrom in this matchup. His uniqueness as a pitcher plays directly against some of the things New York struggles with. deGrom is getting strikeouts out and in the zone.
Unlike many pitchers, he’s not reliant on chase, which has hurt many opponents facing the Yankees, as New York has the lowest chase rate in baseball. deGrom doesn’t have to worry about that low chase rate and can still exploit the five Yankees hitters with an above-average strikeout rate.
On the other end, I’ll simply fade an arm in Elmer Rodriguez, who is making his second career MLB start with an expected ERA that exceeds 6. His strikeout stuff will keep the Texas Rangers hitters honest, but I worry about his struggles with the hard-hit ball against a lineup with plenty of power.
COVERS INTEL:Jacob deGrom has one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball at 32% which sets in the top 7% of baseball.
Rangers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+105)
I projected this total right at 8, so I was fairly surprised to see this number.
deGrom should be able to suppress a good part of this Yankees lineup for a variety of reasons. Even though they haven’t chased pitches outside the zone, this is still a Yankees lineup that ranks 7th in whiff rate.
deGrom has faced a few other teams outside of New York that rank among the top ten in whiff rate in the sport and held them to one earned run over double-digit innings (Seattle Mariners).
On the other side, it’s still hard to know what to make of Rodriguez going forward. However, he’s demonstrating enough swing-and-miss stuff that makes you think he can work through the less formidable parts of the Rangers lineup. That may be all it takes to keep this under.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:13-10, +3.62 units
Over/Under bets:16-9, +7.72 units
Rangers vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Texas +113 | New York -117
Run line: Texas +1.5 (-178) | New York -1.5 (+180)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-104) | Under 8.5 (+100)
Rangers vs Yankees trend
The Texas Rangers have hit the Moneyline in 9 of their last 18 away games (+0.50 Units / 3% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Yankees.
How to watch Rangers vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
RSN, YES
Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
Rangers vs Yankees latest injuries
Rangers vs Yankees weather
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.
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: The Braves 