DENVER — The NHL Coaches’ Association said it is closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy amid reports that the Vegas Golden Knights have denied multiple teams permission to speak with him about working for them.
Cassidy was fired in late March and still is under contract through next season, so anyone wishing to interview him must get permission from the Golden Knights, according to league rules.
“It is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities,” the Coaches’ Association said in a statement. “It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.”
Vegas reportedly has not allowed Pacific Division rivals Edmonton and Los Angeles to talk to Cassidy when asked since their seasons ended. Word of the Oilers’ interest in Cassidy leaked before they fired Kris Knoblauch following a first-round playoff exit.
It was not clear if teams in the Eastern Conference or elsewhere in the West sought or received permission to interview him. General manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed teams have asked for permission to talk to Cassidy.
“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said at a news conference ahead of Game 1 of the West final at the Avalanche. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this, as well.”
Cassidy, who just turned 61, guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, helped Boston reach the final in 2019 and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in the pandemic shortened ’19-20 season. He was an assistant on Canada’s staff at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
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The Garden is in full bloom.
Following their nine-day (!) hiatus from playoff basketball, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks miraculously triumphed over Donovan Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers in a comeback victory for the ages at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Find a way,” Brunson said after scoring 38, including a heroic layup to send the game into overtime. “We got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing. We just kept chipping away.”
Next up, Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart and KAT will start from scratch and attempt to do it all over again in Game 2 at MSG on Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m. EST.
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are still available for the sure-to-be electric contest at the Garden the House that Brunson Built.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for Game 2 was $715 including fees on SeatGeek.
Potential home Games 5 and 7 back in NYC — if the series goes that far — are quite a bit pricier starting at $878 including fees.
While prohibitively expensive, it’s hard to put a price on playoff basketball- especially when it’s this good.
Case in point, Yahoo! Sports described witnessing the Knicks’ already historic fourth-quarter rally where Jalen Brunson led the team on an improbable 44-11 run as “something akin to a full-scale collective out-of-body experience.”
“I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game,” Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown said afterwards. “I don’t know if I’ve been a part of it.”
“What did I just see? Let’s gooooo,” Oscar nominee and Knicks diehard Timothée Chalamet shared in an Instagram Story.
Kicking yourself for missing Game 1?
No need to worry, Knicks fans.
Our team has everything you need to know about Game 2 of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals series at Madison Square Garden below.
New York Knicks playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks Eastern Conference Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets, can be found here:
New York Knicks home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 2 Thursday, May 21
$715(including fees)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 27 (if necessary)
$878(including fees)
Game 7 Sunday, May 31 (if necessary)
$1,124(including fees)
Cleveland Cavaliers playoff home game tickets
All Cavs Rocket Arena playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Cleveland Cavaliers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 23
$257 (including fees)
Game 4 Monday, May 25
$160 (including fees)
Game 6 Friday, May 29(if necessary)
$233 (including fees)
How to watch the Knicks and Cavs on TV
Fans hoping to catch Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on MSG, 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?
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.
Sep 29, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly speaks to the media during media day at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
It was the third straight season in which the Wolves got demolished in their final game of the season. In 2024, it was the Dallas Mavericks, and last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to the championship, both in the Western Conference Finals.
This time, against the Spurs, the end of the season came a round earlier, and against a seven-foot-six Frenchman who seems primed to dominate the league, with a cast of 26-and-under players who are all years away from their primes.
Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly spoke to the media Tuesday to put a bow on the Timberwolves’ 2025-26 season and discuss where the franchise is heading moving forward.
“Our goal to start the season was to be a home playoff team. We weren’t,” Connelly said. “Our goal was to get further than we did last year. We didn’t. So those things kind of demand action, and we’ll see how those things take shape. We want to win more than we won this year.”
Connelly made it clear that the Timberwolves need to get better, saying, “We finished sixth in the West again, and it didn’t end the way we wanted, so I think everything is on the table.” Connelly continued, “We have to be realistic about what we have, which is way more good than bad, but know that we’re not good enough right now.”
Tim Connelly on the Timberwolves moving forward: “It would be disingenuous for me to be sitting here in front of this crew and say, 'Hey we're happy with the sixth seed. We're happy with not be a home court playoff team. We're happy that our last three closeout games have been… pic.twitter.com/A2yuas5Iem
With the last two teams to eliminate the Timberwolves, the Spurs and Thunder, currently battling it out in this year’s West Finals, the goal is clear. Minnesota needs to make moves to improve the roster, or else be destined to be taken out by one of the same two teams every year.
“I think the equation changes when you see the two teams playing in the Western Conference [Finals] right now,” Connelly explained. “We got smacked by Oklahoma City last year, we got smacked by San Antonio…We know our competition is not gonna sit still, and nor will we.”
While the Spurs and Thunder are certainly the measuring stick in terms of quality, the Timberwolves president pushed back on the idea that the Wolves need to build their team with the sole focus of taking down one or both of those teams.
“I think it’s dangerous because if they were specific solely to the San Antonio matchup, you take your ball and go home a little bit right now,” Connelly stated. “We’re not going to sit here for the next two months and solely focus on our ability to match up with the Spurs.”
“I think on the most simplistic level, if you have enough good players, and we have a great, great one in Anthony, you’re going to be a good team. So I don’t think you want to lose sight of that.”
Connelly has made his opinion clear; it is more important to stack as much talent as possible than to chase certain players that might have an advantage in a certain matchup. In Connelly’s eyes, it makes more sense to acquire the best players possible and retrofit the team’s identity around who is on the roster.
The Timberwolves President didn’t get into specifics about how he would improve the roster or what players may be a target for the team this offseason, but did give an insight into his philosophy around putting together a championship team.
“The risk is all self-induced pressure,” Connelly said. “I’d rather get fired for trying than just sit here and be in job survival mode.” He continued, “We’re not going to have a blind appetite for risk just because. But until you win it all, I think you’ve got to just keep playing hands.”
Two years ago, on the night of the NBA Draft, the Timberwolves took a risk and traded their 2031 first-round pick unprotected, along with a first-round pick swap in 2030, for the draft rights to Rob Dillingham. That risk did not pay off, as at the recent trade deadline, the Wolves traded Dillingham to the Chicago Bulls for Ayo Dosunmu.
Dosunmu has shined in his brief stint in Minnesota, including a 43-point performance in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets after both Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards went down with injuries.
With Dosunmu’s contract expiring this offseason, Connelly made it clear that retaining Dosunmu was one of his priorities heading into the summer, stating, “Ayo’s our most important free agent.” Connelly finished his answer about Dosunmu, saying, “We’re pretty optimistic that we’ll get something done there. He’s everything we thought and more.”
The other piece of the organization that Connelly is intent on keeping is Head Coach Chris Finch. While many fans online may want a new look in that position, Connelly and the Timberwolves organization have total confidence in Finch.
“I think Finch is great. I think we have a fantastic coaching staff.” Connelly said. “It’s not an easy job. He was masterful, I think, in the Denver series. We’re not here without Finchy. The playoff success we’ve had. I’m just thankful that he’s a partner and thankful that he’s our head coach.”
It is unclear exactly which direction the Timberwolves will take. Will they trade one or both of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, who have been key players during their time in Minnesota? Will they be able to make a big swing for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, which would be sure to make waves both in Minnesota and across the NBA?
What is clear is that Connelly and the Timberwolves know they cannot just stand pat. They have to improve the team and cannot let continuity further devolve into complacency. While Minnesota is expereinceing it’s golden age in the franchise’s history, one thing was made apparent by Connelly at Tuesday’s press conference at the Wolves’ practice facility: the team needs to get better.
“We’ve had success the last couple years, and we have to take that next step.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Jeremy Sochan #20 of the New York Knicks smiles after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What. A. Game.
The Knicks were down 93-71 with 7:40 left in Tuesday’s series opener at Madison Square Garden. No matter how optimistic you are, this game was over.
At that moment in time, I was just trying to mentally move on to Game 2, the same way I did after that stunning loss to Indiana last year in Game 1. Splitting at home is not the end of the world, and regardless of how this game went, I knew that the Knicks were capable of picking themselves up and making the adjustments they needed to come out firing on Thursday.
Well, I was right in my belief; it just happened two days sooner. It was the most unbelievable stretch of basketball I’ve ever watched in my entire life.
Jalen Brunson outscored an entire team by himself over the last 14 minutes of the game.
The Knicks, who have had some incredible runs and quarters in this playoff run, somehow topped themselves with a 44-11 run to end the game.
I don’t care if the average NBA fan might prefer the true avalanche of triples that willed the Pacers to a win in Game 1 last year. This game completely erased the stench of one of the most mortifying losses I’ve experienced as a sports fan. Regardless of what happens in this series and beyond, the Knicks got their getback from the utter humilation they experienced at the hands of Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton.
But how did they do this? Was it as simple as finally making their threes and Cleveland cooling off? While, of course, a comeback of that caliber is impossible without certain things that don’t necessarily require schematic shifts, there were several things that the Knicks managed to pick up on during the game that helped them rally.
Even if they hadn’t come all the way back. Even if Sam Merrill’s in-and-out shot in the final seconds of regulation went in to let Cleveland escape with a win, these changes are something that they’ll absolutely be able to apply moving forward and do to prevent themselves from falling into such a large deficit in the first place.
No Longer Doubling The Ball
The adjustment that the Knicks made after falling behind 1-2 to the Atlanta Hawks four weeks ago was pretty straightforward.
We’re not going to let CJ McCollum beat us. Blitz every screen, show every action, make him make a play.
It worked to a tremendous degree, so they applied it again to Tyrese Maxey in the next series.
It worked again, so they decided to stick with it against a turnover-prone James Harden to start this series.
In the first half, it did work. Harden was making bad decisions and the Cavs were missing the good looks they were getting when good ball movement left the Knicks helpless on a 4-on-3, but when Cleveland drained six of their last seven threes to end the half, the warts really started to show.
Out of the locker room, the Knicks kept at it, and the Cavs continued to beat it with excellent precision. You could tell it was their emphasis coming out of the locker room. If the Knicks’ offense didn’t heat up and Cleveland was able to abuse this defensive coverage, they had Game 1 in the bag.
Look at how Harden finds Jarrett Allen in the center of the court and collapses the defense. On every one of these possessions, there’s a shooter open. Dennis Schroder, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill, it didn’t matter. You had to choose one of them to leave open because of the 4-on-3 and they kept making you pay.
If it wasn’t an open three, it was an open layup. Hard closeouts on shooters led to driving lanes and cuts to the rim by Allen and Evan Mobley that the Knicks couldn’t stop. There were also times where Donovan Mitchell was just able to drive straight to the rim with ease.
No timeout effectively stopped the double-teaming, but after Merrill’s three-pointer with 3:05 left in the third quarter, the Knicks primarily switched their coverage to straight-up. The rest of the way, Cleveland scored just a grand total of 27 points in 20 minutes.
The only times I noticed the Knicks doubling the ball after that were on sporadic possessions, but also during Cleveland’s collapse. The blitzing worked in the first half when their offense was out of sorts, so returning to it when the sky is falling on them can work.
Ultimately, the Knicks cannot enter Game 2 thinking that Cleveland won’t abuse this coverage if attempted. I know it’s a scary proposition to deal with Harden or Mitchell 1-on-1, but it’s as rare as a blue moon when both of them are on their game at the same time, and we saw that again today. It’s enticing to try to force turnovers at half-court, but they have too much shooting to let them continue to exploit it.
Attacking James Harden
Through three quarters, I was pretty impressed watching how Harden was holding up defensively. After all, his reputation is certainly not the best on that end.
But a nearly 37-year-old man did not suddenly wake up and become good defensively, no matter if he has three inches and 30 pounds on Brunson. The final eight minutes of the first half were a schematic masterpiece for a Knicks offense that was abysmal in the first 40. The Cavs were voluntarily giving up a switch between Dean Wade and Harden and allowing Brunson to get to his spot repeatedly against the former MVP. Just watch this masterpiece.
— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) May 20, 2026
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges repeatedly drew Wade away from the action to leave Harden on an island, and it wasn’t until the Knicks had come all the way back that they finally sent a double team with Merrill. By that time, Brunson was willing to give the ball up to OG Anunoby, who further opened up the offense with hard drives to the rim that opened up three-point looks for Landry Shamet and Mikal Bridges.
Give the Knicks enough time, and they’ll find your defensive weakness. They did it with Joel Embiid; they figured out how to do it with Harden. The Cavs will certainly adjust one way or another, but the game plan into Game 2 is clear: Let Jalen Brunson go to work against single coverage all day, every day.
I love Josh Hart. He’s an extremely important part of this team, both on and off the court. If the Knicks are going to end a 53-year long championship drought, their glue guy is going to be a massive part of it.
But sometimes, it’s not your series. It’s really early, but all of the data suggests that Hart might be out of place here. After all, if he’s not a willing shooter who’s able to somewhat consistently make shots, it freezes up the Knicks’ offense with the ghost coverage that opponents are able to play.
Hart was minus-23 in 31 minutes. The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers by 34 points in 22 minutes with him on the bench. That entire run in the fourth quarter and overtime was with him on the bench. He wasn’t providing enough defensively to make up for what he was doing to the offense.
There’s value to Hart in this series, but he needs to be used differently. The starting lineup has now been absolutely decimated in three combined matchups against the Cavs this year, putting up a net rating worse than -30 in 43 combined minutes, getting the team off to a slow start on Christmas, and struggling in February and last night.
I believed that Mitchell Robinson was the answer if the Knicks ever needed to change the starting five in this series, but the answer might be the likes of Deuce McBride or Landry Shamet after what we just witnessed.
Granted, it’s one game. It’s statistical noise. The Knicks didn’t just find a lineup that turns the Cavs into goop on both ends of the floor, but there are stylistic reasons why a change there could be beneficial.
For one, Shamet did a great job on Mitchell when he defended him, and it allowed Bridges to frustrate Harden with his length, while Anunoby did what he does best off the ball. If you go to Mitch, you match up with the Cavs’ double big lineup and take away any rebounding disadvantage that the Knicks seemed to have early in this game.
There are multiple factors that Mike Brown is going to need to consider over the next two days heading into Game 2, but you have to hope that a guy who was hired to be innovative with the lineups won’t revert to something that doesn’t work for extended stretches.
The two NBA teams will first face one another on Jan. 14, 2027 at Accor Arena in Paris and then play again on Jan. 17 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. This will be the sixth time the NBA has contested a regular-season game in Paris and it will be the first regular-season game in Manchester.
The Spurs also played two regular-season games in Paris against the Indiana Pacers during Wembanyama's second season in January 2025. The 7-foot-4 French superstar was born and raised in the city's suburbs and began his professional career playing for clubs in the area before debuting in the NBA. Next year's trip will represent the first time the Spurs have appeared in a game in England.
The NBA has been playing games abroad since 1978 and ramped up its presence internationally more than 30 years ago. But it is seeking greater influence in European basketball at the moment, with plans on starting an NBA Europe league also backed by FIBA that could could begin play as soon as October 2027. The NBA is also scheduled to play regular-season games in Berlin and Paris in 2028.
The Pelicans finished with a 26-56 record and traded away their 2026 first-round pick to move up in last year's draft and select promising rookie Derik Queen. They also have veterans Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and guard Dejounte Murray, but could see the roster change this offseason under new coach Jamahl Mosley and lead executive Joe Dumars.
This will be the first time the franchise plays games in France and England.
"These games provide a unique platform to showcase our team, our culture and our community to global audiences while building meaningful relationships with fans, partners and communities abroad," Dumars said in a statement. "We are grateful to be part of the NBA’s continued international growth efforts, and we are excited to help grow the game globally and connect with new generations of basketball fans."
The Montreal Canadiens are one of the four teams still playing hockey as the calendar inches closer to June. While that is quite a surprise for a team that nobody saw as a contender yet, it’s even more surprising when you factor in the fact that their top line has been neutralized throughout the first two rounds.
In 14 games, Nick Suzuki has a total of 13 points, but eight were scored on the power play, while both Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield have nine points, but only one at even strength for the captain’s wingers. What’s even more worrying is that the three first-line forwards are part of a select club of only five players on the Canadiens’ roster who have a negative differential alongside Noah Dobson and Joe Veleno. Not only are they not producing at even strength, but they are getting scored on.
Despite having four power-play goals in 14 games, Slafkovsky’s performance has been largely underwhelming. In fact, since the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the power forward has not really looked like himself. The punch he took from Brandon Hagel or the hit that obliterated him from Max Crozier might have something to do with it. It looks like he’s playing injured, and as the Canadiens get ready to take on the well-oiled scoring machine that is the Carolina Hurricanes, they need to find a way to get their top players going.
Throughout the second round, one player looked like he was slowly finding his footing in the playoffs: Ivan Demidov. The Russian rookie has seven points in 14 games, but he has looked increasingly threatening of late; five of his points came in the last five games. He might not have gotten an assist on Alex Newhook’s series-winning goal in overtime. Still, it was his forecheck and active stick that helped the Canadiens regain puck possession and allowed Alexandre Carrier to send Newhook on his way to score the most important goal of his career thus far.
The 20-year-old rookie is also quite the playmaker and having him on Caufield’s opposite wing might be a good way to get the sniper the puck in dangerous areas more often. That could allow Caufield to finally get going at even strength in these playoffs. Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Demidov all had five points in three games against the Canes this season, but based on recent performance and the fact that the top line has been ineffective in these playoffs, it could be time for St-Louis to give a boost to his top line.
The first game of this third-round series will be a pivotal one. The Canes have been off for 11 days, while the Habs are just coming off an intense series against the Buffalo Sabres in which they had to dig deep. In the long run, the rest could come in handy for the Canes, but early in the series, they might need to get rid of some rust, and Montreal needs to take advantage of that.
HAGEL AND SLAFKOVSKY DROP THE GLOVES AND HAGEL DROPS SLAF WITH A SINGLE RIGHT 😱👊 pic.twitter.com/fuTEJTspLb
Jan 21, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The NBA Draft Combine is now over, and there are three Tar Heels that could have their name called on draft night should nobody withdraw their name. Two of those Tar Heels have already fully committed, but Matt Able is the guy that may or may not decide to return to college and play under Michael Malone. There is also the Seth Trimble situation, but that situation is somewhat complicated.
But now that we’re done with the combine, ESPN released their latest NBA Mock Draft yesterday, and there was some movement that UNC fans may be interested in. That said, let’s take a look at where ESPN has each player landing in the draft.
Caleb Wilson —1st Round, 4th overall pick to the Chicago Bulls
There was a lot of speculation before the combine that Caleb Wilson could potentially move into the top three of the NBA Draft, but that possibility has disappeared according to most outlets. While NBA scouts have stated there’s no real order when it comes to the top four players of the draft, it is feeling more and more like Wilson is destined to become a Chicago Bull.
The Bulls have finally decided to tear everything down to the studs and are officially in rebuild mode. With a new front office, a new head coach that hasn’t been named yet, loads of cap space, and two first-round picks, the Bulls are in an ideal situation to build their team around Wilson. He could end up being their best draftee since Derek Rose, so he’ll have big shoes to fill in the Windy City.
Henri Veesaar — 1st Round, 25th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Estonian center could find himself in an interesting situation to start his NBA career should things play out the way that ESPN is projecting. Henri Veesaar could potentially get drafted by the Lakers, a team that seemingly will be without LeBron James for the first time in years. Of course they still have Luka Doncic, but what they don’t have is depth at center, which is where Veesaar comes in.
What’s worth noting is that media outlets do not seem to agree when it comes to their projections for Veesaar. For instance, Yahoo Sports has Veesaar going 20th overall to the San Antonio Spurs, which is a pretty big jump up the boards compared to ESPN. As long as he lands somewhere within the 20-30th pick range, he’ll likely be satisfied with his decision to stay in the draft. The excitement may wear off if he is picked up by the Dallas Mavericks, though. If you know you know.
Matt Able — 2nd Round, 33rd overall to the Brooklyn Nets
Here is the projection everyone has been waiting for. Former NC State guard Matt Able is currently projected by ESPN go very early in the second round should he stay in the NBA Draft. Much like the Veesaar situation, though, this one isn’t easy to figure out — Yahoo Sports has Able as the 42nd pick to the San Antonio Spurs, which is significantly lower than ESPN is predicting.
While I would love to say that Matt Able returning to UNC feels likely, the truth is that we just don’t know. Taking second round money in the NIL era is really hard, but also some players are more than willing to take the risk if they’re just done with the school aspect of their careers. Able would have a chance to develop and get drafted higher should he stay in college, but let’s be honest: he’d develop in the league too. There’s no wrong decision for Able, but it would be awesome if Michael Malone didn’t have to go back into the portal to get someone that is inevitably less talented than Able to fill out his roster.
What do you think of ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft? How are you feeling about Matt Able’s impending decision to leave or stay in the draft? Let us know in the comments below.
It's time to start handing out hardware in the NHL as the playoffs have reached the conference finals.
The Prince of Wales Trophy and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl — and more important a spot in the Stanley Cup Final — are on the line as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals while the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche battle in the Western Conference finals.
The Canadiens and Hurricanes have taken just about opposite paths to the East finals. Carolina has played just eight games this postseason, becoming the first team to sweep its first two series since the first round went to best-of-seven in 1987. The Habs enter having played the most possible games (14), fresh off a second consecutive Game 7 win (this time in OT).
Out West it's a battle of heavyweights, with the 2022 champions (Avalanche) and 2023 champions (Golden Knights) squaring off. Will the Avalanche, the NHL's best team in 2025-26, continue their march?
USA TODAY Sports' NHL experts make their predictions for the conference finals:
Eastern Conference finals predictions: Hurricanes vs. Canadiens
Kevin Skiver: Hurricanes in 5. The Habs deserve a ton of credit for what they've done. Montreal brings its 14 playoff games so far up against Carolina's eight, with the Hurricanes having swept their first two series. It's a question of rest vs. rust, one as old as time. But the 'Canes benefit from their extended break and take down the team that has proved to be the most fun to watch this postseason.
Jace Evans: Canadiens in 6. It is perhaps ill-advised to pick against a team that has literally not lost a game yet in the playoffs, but I picked the Canadiens to reach the Stanley Cup Final before the playoffs began and I'm staying on this magic ride. They are young, but they have the skill to hang with the Hurricanes. And they appear to have the goaltending.
Mike Brehm: Hurricanes in 6. The Canadiens will be a lot tougher opponent for the Hurricanes than the Senators and Flyers, but Carolina's sweeps gave the team a chance to rest up any injuries. Montreal has played two seven-game series. A rested Hurricanes team will prevail because it will be able to continue its high-energy game.
Western Conference finals predictions: Avalanche vs. Golden Knights
Kevin Skiver: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights took down a few upstart teams in Utah and Anaheim, but now they run into a team that is shaping up to be as much a force of nature as its namesake. Colorado is back in the conference finals for the first time since 2022, and has cruised past the Kings and Wild. Jared Bednar's Avs get past the Golden Knights, and Vegas enters the offseason with a choice to make on John Tortorella.
Jace Evans: Avalanche in 6. When they're not preventing their former coach from interviewing with other teams or skirting league media rules, the Golden Knights are pretty good at hockey! I think the Avs are just a cut above, though. Colorado is 8-1 these playoffs and what's been most impressive is it's not just the big guns getting it done; 17 different Avalanche players have scored in their nine playoff games.
Mike Brehm: Avalanche in 6. The Golden Knights have the playoffs' leading scorer (Mitch Marner) and goal scorer (Pavel Dorofeyev), but the Avalanche have the best remaining player in Nathan MacKinnon and scoring depth throughout the lineup. Colorado has won eight of nine games with a seemingly banged-up Cale Makar limited to five points.
Jason Kidd was shown the door in Dallas. Will he be out of work for long?
The 53-year-old was fired by new Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri on Tuesday in a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA.
The Magic, Bulls and Trail Blazers are the teams still looking for head coaches, and NBA reporter Marc Stein noted that Orlando had interest in Kidd in 2021 and is looking for an experienced head coach, though whether the Magic will pursue him is still to be determined.
Jason Kidd might be a candidate for another job after being fired in Dallas. NBAE via Getty Images
The Magic fired Jamahl Mosley after blowing a 3-1 series lead against the top-seeded Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, marking the third straight year Mosley’s Magic were eliminated in the opening round.
Orlando hoped to take a step forward after acquiring Desmond Bane last offseason, but went 45-37 and settled for the Play-In Tournament before coming close to taking down the top seed.
Kidd, who has a 388-395 record as a coach including his one season with the Nets and four years with the Bucks, led the Mavericks through tumultuous times over five campaigns, including last season’s trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, who immediately went down with a season-ending injury.
Stein reported before the Mavericks fired Kidd that former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy and Billy Donovan are expected to be candidates for the Magic’s vacancy.
The Magic have a solid roster, but have not made noise in the East. NBAE via Getty Images
After drafting eventual Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick last year, the Mavericks went 26-56 this season.
Sep 23, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks speaks at Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
First things first: The Nets are not talking about Draft strategy. They are notorious in that regard. Unlike other teams, they don’t announce who they have in for workouts and interviews. They even frown upon agents who reveal which clients have traveled to HSS Training Center. (Last year’s SCOUT series on the Draft was remarkable in that it gave some insights into the process but really kept the most sensitive info off camera, fuzzing out every screen, whether the big board in the Draft room or someone’s laptop.)
That said, fans and draftniks want to know the latest. Among them Jeremy Woo who compiles ESPN’s mock drafts. In his latest mock, out Tuesday, Woo speculates that the Nets pick is, in the minds of NBA executives, a “wild card,” meaning it’s possible that we could see it move.
After a second straight disappointing lottery result dropped the Nets three spots, this pick is viewed around the league as a potential wild-card spot, with Brooklyn needing star power and still developing young players at every position after rostering five first-rounders a year ago. What direction the Nets wind up going might offer insight into how they view their current prospects. They also have cap space and a supply of tradable future firsts at their disposal. Acuff Jr. doesn’t fit Brooklyn’s established positional-size philosophy, but he has a best-available case if this is how the board falls. It’s not viewed as a given that the Nets select a guard, however, and they could find value in trading back.
Acuff was helped by his combine measurements, standing 6-2 barefoot with a plus-4 ½ wingspan. While still on the smaller side, those dimensions are solid for a starting point guard, and his sturdy build should help him keep up with NBA physicality. None of that assuages the concerns around his poor defense, but his offensive bona fides vaulted him into this range of the draft and will keep him there. The Kings at No. 7 are viewed by rival teams as Acuff’s floor: Sacramento needs a point guard, and there are existing connections, including the fact that GM Scott Perry coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky.
A lot of what Woo talks about is not that new. The Nets have options. In order of degree of difficulty, they could stay where they are, they could move down, they could acquire a second first rounder using their multitude of draft assets or finally, they could (try to) move up. Four days ago, Brian Lewis reported this:
Whispers going around the combine suggest Nets general manager Sean Marks is open to moving up or down from the No. 6 spot.
And in his latest mock draft, Kevin O’Connor implies that the Nets universe of possibilities may not be limited to the four or five guards linked to them by draftniks: in alphabetical order, Darius Acuff, Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries, Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler.
The Nets shocked a lot of people when they took Egor Dёmin with the eighth pick one year ago. And maybe they will shock again this year. Multiple league sources have connected Brooklyn to Michigan center Aday Mara and Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament. But in this mock, we’re sticking with the best guard available.
In his opinion, that’s Wagler, but is there another implication from KOC: that the Nets could add a second first and take the 7’4” Mara or 6’10” Ament or, as Erik Slater speculated, the 6’9.5” Karim Lopez or the 6’10” Yaxel Lendeborg? A league source told ND before the trade deadline that of course the Nets have interest in adding a second first with such a deep draft. But he added that teams were unlikely to answer calls until after the lottery when they know the lay of the land. Of course, we’re there now. Another league decision-maker told us that he thought with all those assets 32 picks — including nine tradeable firsts — they could move up.
Brooklyn has four unprotected first-rounders over the next seven years, acquired in two separate trades (Mikal Bridges to the Knicks and Cameron Johnson to the Nuggets). Three are from New York (2027, 2029, 2031) and one from Denver in 2032.
Brooklyn also has the most favorable pick in 2028 among Philadelphia (if 9-30), New York and Phoenix.
The downside? Houston has the right to swap picks next year, the final condition from the James Harden trade in 2021.
Marks ranked the Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards in Tier One as well. In overall numbers, the Nets’ 13 firsts were tops by his count, two more than the Grizzlies 11 while their overall total of 32 was eight more than the next biggest cache, the Hornets 24. The nine tradeable firsts were two better than three other teams, the Grizzlies, Hornets and Thunder.
Who’s ranked 30th? The Denver Nuggets.
Again, if you’ve been following this site, that’s not new either. Sean Marks (no relation) & co. have accumulated picks willy-nilly. They have seven in 2029 — three firsts and four seconds — and six in 2032 — two firsts and four seconds. As the league decision-maker said, there’s only one reason to husband all those assets: to be able to move quickly and opportunistically when the time comes, but that time may is unlikely to come till a month from now and if history is any guide, as a surprise.
France's Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio Spurs side will face the New Orleans Pelicans in a double-header in Paris and Manchester next season.
The two sides will face twice in Europe in the space of 72 hours in January 2027.
They will play first at the Accor Arena in Paris on Thursday, 14 January. Then they will take each other on again at Co-op Live in Manchester on Sunday, 17 January.
It is the first time that Manchester has played host to a regular-season NBA match.
French centre Wembanyama finished third in this season's vote for the NBA Most Valuable Player award. He is also one of the sport's most popular figures.
The Spurs are currently leading 1-0 in this season's Western Conference finals against reigning NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Earlier this year, the first European double-header between two teams across multiple European cities took place. The Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies faced each other twice in Berlin and London in the space of three days in January.
Another double header has been scheduled to take place across Berlin and Paris in 2028.
When it was confirmed last year that Manchester would host a 2027 NBA game, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: "This is great news for the city-region and is an exciting opportunity for us to see some of the best basketball players in the world on our doorstep."
The move comes alongside the NBA's plans to launch a European NBA-run league.
"Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we're seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe," said George Aivazoglou, NBA managing director for Europe and the Middle East.
"As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities."
The NBA has focused on both Paris and Manchester as part of its plans to launch an independent European league, with both cities attracting interest from investors over having franchises in an 'NBA Europe' league, which could start as early as the 2027-28 season.
2027 and 2028 NBA fixtures in Europe
Victor Wembanyama is this season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year [Getty Images]
2027
Thursday, 14 January: San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans - Accor Arena, Paris
Sunday, 17 January: New Orleans Pelicans v San Antonio Spurs - Co-op Live, Manchester
LONDON (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs will play in Paris and Manchester next year as part of the NBA’s multiyear slate of regular-season games in Europe.
The league announced on Wednesday that the teams will meet in Paris on Jan. 14 and in Manchester three days later.
The NBA revealed last year that it planned to play at least six regular-season games in Europe over three seasons.
That started with a pair of games between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic last January, in Berlin and London. The games in the 2027-28 season will take place in Berlin and Paris.
“Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe,” George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said in a statement.
“As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities.”
Next year’s Paris game will be the NBA’s 16th in France since 1991 and the league’s sixth regular-season game in Paris. Manchester has never previously hosted a regular-season game, although it will mark the 20th game featuring an NBA team in England since 1993.
When it comes to the first round of the NHL Draft next month, the Senators are in “just glad to be here” mode.
After the botched communications on their 2021 Evgenii Dadonov trade, the Senators were planning to give up a first-round pick this summer. But the NHL relented and returned it to them in mid-March, with some conditions. The biggest was that they would have to select dead last, no matter what place they finish.
Normally, that would be a cause for celebration because drafting 32nd overall means you just won the Stanley Cup.
Senators winger Drake Batherson says it would be nice if he's able to get an extension done this summer.
But the Senators’ fate this season wasn’t quite that glorious. They were swept in Round 1, scoring just five goals in the process. So there is work to be done, and another first-round pick, as late as it is, certainly cannot hurt.
It also adds at least some intrigue to the draft for Senators fans. Before the NHL's change of heart, the Senators didn't have a pick until the third round.
So let's glance at what the 32nd pick might get them.
In his past two drafts, the first of his NHL GM career, Steve Staios has opted for defencemen in Carter Yakemchuk (2024, seventh overall) and Logan Hensler (2025, 23rd overall).
As most GMs will tell you, they usually don't try to draft for need because their biggest need usually won't be filled by an 18-year-old who was just chosen 32nd overall. He’s probably 2-4 years away from the NHL, if he gets there at all. And who knows what your NHL needs will look like by then?
So, once Gary Bettman announces you're on the clock, the simplest and smartest way to handle things, at least in the early rounds, is to draft the best player available.
If you cover or cheer for a team with a top-10 pick, projecting players they might pick is a lot easier because you can probably hone in on 5-8 guys. But the deeper you go, the more things morph into a total crapshoot.
Elite Prospects not only lists the rankings of some of the top draft analysts in the game, including our own Ryan Kennedy and Tony Ferrari, but EP also puts everyone’s lists together to formulate consolidated rankings. So just for fun, and with a big tip of the cap to Elite Prospects, here are five players who might be available to the Senators.
These are the players they ranked 30-34, all based on a consensus of the experts.
30 William Håkansson (D), Luleå HF, SHL
Jan 5, 2026; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Sweden forward Jack Berglund (26) and defensemen William Hakansson (19) hug after defeating Czechia in the final of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, the left-shot defender is more of a shutdown defenceman, and Staios is fond of those. He played 22 games as an 18-year-old in the top Swedish men’s league this season. Håkansson also won gold with Team Sweden at the 2026 World Juniors.
31 Maddox Dagenais, C, Québec Remparts
Dagenais played for Team Canada at the U18s last month. What’s not to like about a 6-foot-4 forward who skates well, puts up a point a game in the Q, and plays a highly physical game? Oh, and his dad, Pierre, played in the NHL, and the Sens love those NHL bloodlines.
32 Liam Ruck (F), Medicine Hat Tigers
Falling right on the consensus number 32 ranking, Ruck put up 45 goals and 104 points with Medicine Hat this season. At 6 feet and 176 pounds, he can obviously produce offence, but he's also bursting with hockey IQ when he doesn't have the puck. And hey, if the Sens miss out on Liam, they can always grab his twin brother and teammate, Markus, who had 108 points for the Tigers this season. Markus is currently ranked 44th.
33 Nikita Shcherbakov (D), Salavat Yulaev Ufa
The puck-moving Shcherbakov appeared in seven KHL games this season. Based on a viewing of his highlights at the lower levels, if you can picture Thomas Chabot at 18, but now imagine him being 6-foot-5, Shcherbakov plays the game a little like that, including the lack of physical play. Despite his height, Shcherbakov is still fairly light and will need to pack on some pounds.
34 Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms
Hextall put up 58 points in 59 games in the USHL this season. He is 6 feet, 185 pounds, skates well, and brings an excellent, quick-release shot to the table. Hextall was a member of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and he tied for the team lead with seven assists.
So there they are, just for fun, the kinds of players that might be available to the Senators at 32 next month.
May 3, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16), Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (21), and Athletics third baseman Darell Hernaiz (2) celebrate the Athletics victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday Athletics fans!
After several consecutive losing seasons, the A’s entered 2026 with renewed expectations, aiming to finish above .500 and remain in playoff contention late in the season. Through nearly 50 games, the A’s have played like a .500 team, yet they still sit atop an underwhelming American League West in which no team has consistently separated itself from the pack. Even the Seattle Mariners, preseason favorites to win the division, entered play today below .500.
Mark Kotsay’s team has handled adversity better this season, avoiding extended losing streaks like the nine-game skid it suffered last May. The A’s have fluctuated between playing strong, winning baseball and enduring sloppy stretches marked by costly losses, but inconsistency is part of the grind of MLB’s 162-game season.
Currently, the A’s miss Jacob Wilson, who is on the injured list with a left shoulder subluxation and sprain. Wilson was heating up offensively before the injury, but his improved defense at shortstop may have been even more encouraging for the A’s. In the wake of Wilson joining fellow infielder Max Muncy on the injured list, Darell Hernáiz has received everyday playing time at shortstop. While Hernáiz can hold his own defensively, Wilson offers more consistency at the plate.
Like last season, the A’s offense was expected to lead the way this year. At the moment, however, the unit has struggled aside from outfielder Carlos Cortes, catcher Shea Langeliers and first baseman Nick Kurtz. Designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler are all batting around the Mendoza Line, with the latter two left-handed hitters mired in prolonged slumps that kept them out of last night’s starting lineup against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
Kurtz has drawn 44 walks, the second-most in MLB, in large part due to his keen eye and strike-zone awareness, but also because opposing teams would rather avoid him and take their chances with the hitters behind him, including Rooker and Soderstrom. The A’s have also received limited offensive production from their backup catcher, a spot that was previously held by Austin Wynns and is now Jonah Heim’s.
Entering last night’s game, the Athletics ranked near the middle of the pack in runs scored and home runs, despite playing home games at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. They proceeded to tag the woeful Los Angeles Angels’ pitching staff for a season-high 14 runs. That will surely boost the team’s offensive confidence. Time will tell whether last night’s offensive explosion was a breakthrough or an anomaly.
The A’s need daily contributions from their offense to offset any pitching concerns if the team wants to remain competitive this season. Wilson and Muncy will return at some point and Soderstrom and Butler have too much talent to keep playing this poorly offensively. Down on the farm, shortstop Leo De Vries remains an intriguing late-season call-up possibility, while left-handers Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump could provide reinforcements for an Athletics’ pitching staff that has been respectable this year.
Here is the Athletics‘ updated minor league transaction log. Should outfielder Denzel Clarke remain at Triple-A after his rehab assignment or return to the big-league club?
OF D.Clarke to LV on rehab IF M.Stefanic elects free agency IF-OF M.Durrington off STK IL C T.Takayoshi to STK develop list RHP Chen Zhuang to LV IL IF Alika Williams to A’s from PIT for LAN RHP Kyle Robinson OF J.Perez to CWS for LHP Jackson Nove (to STK)https://t.co/joKXkyUAPy
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) May 19, 2026
Which player do you think has the best nickname in Minor League Baseball?
The American League West has arguably been the weakest division in MLB this season, which makes it even more disappointing that the A’s have been unable to separate themselves from their division rivals.
USA - CIRCA 1987: Ty Gainey of the Houston Astros looks on circa 1987. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
In our 17th installment of our Legends Series we sit down with Ty Gainey, whose debut with the Astros in 1985 was brief and memorable.
Q: What do you remember about being called up in April of 1985 ?
A: It was shocking because one day I’m down in the minors and then next thing I know, Yogi comes over and tells me that I better get loose around the 6th or 7th inning because I might be used as a pinch runner or possibly even pinch hit that night. That really stuck with me because he took the time to come tell me that.
Yogi was a funny guy. My first day at the dome he told me that they put the grass down before they put the top on. I just looked at him. He was funny.
Q: When I say Houston Astrodome, what comes to mind?
A: You know, I actually tripped in center field and fell. I had toe turf or something (laughs). The turf got me, crept up on me.
Q: You only appeared in 13 games. When you look back on it, do you feel they rushed you out too quickly?
A: They changed course and decided to go with the older players before the younger ones, so I just had a courtesy glance. Keep in mind, Terry Puhl, Jose Cruz, and a lot of talented guys were there, but what really happened was Kevin Bass came along, and Hal Lanier became manager and that was the end for me.
Q: And yet your one career home run, you hit off one of the very best in Orel Hershiser. What do you remember about that?
A: I was a little nervous the first pitch he threw me but then I felt okay. I started fouling balls off. I had studied Orel from the bench, so I knew what his pitches were and what he liked to go with. I knew he was going to throw me a fastball and when he did, I drove it to left field.
Q: What was it like playing all of those years in Asia after your stint in the majors?
A: It was fun. I played with Ichiro. He was a rookie when I got there and had a 30-game hitting streak even in spring training that year. Believe it or not, some of the coaches didn’t think he was ready (laughs). He stayed there longer than he should’ve and even with that, (when he joined the Mariners) he still easily got over 200 hits that rookie season with Seattle.
