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Yankees’ Jose Caballero to get MRI as finger injury grows more worrisome

New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero reacts in pain after being hit by a pitch, as manager Aaron Boone and a trainer check on him.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) and a trainer look in on New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero (72) when he was hit by pitch in the elbow during the third inning when the New York Yankees played the Texas Rangers Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

BALTIMORE — José Caballero’s hopes of remaining the Yankees starting shortstop hinge on a Tuesday morning MRI.

For now, a right middle finger injury was enough to keep Caballero out of the Yankees lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards, sustained while diving back into first base in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Brewers.

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After Monday’s game, Caballero will travel to New York to undergo an MRI and see team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and a hand specialist to determine the severity.

“I don’t think it’s a fracture,” Caballero said before pinch-running in the ninth inning and getting thrown out trying to steal second to end a 3-2 loss. “Not worried [about going on the injured list]. I’m just not happy that I have to be out of the lineup today.”

But Aaron Boone, who generally downplays any worries about potential injuries, sounded more concerned than Caballero.

“There’s definitely some concern because Cabby, he’s as tough as they come,” Boone said. “Just had a little hard time when he went to throw today. The good thing is hitting was good. So we’ll see. He’s going to get some tests [Tuesday] morning. See what we have over the next day or two.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) and a trainer look in on s shortstop José Caballero (72) when he was hit by pitch in the elbow during the third inning on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

Max Schuemann started at shortstop Monday night, and Boone indicated he would be comfortable with him (and perhaps Ryan McMahon in spot duty) filling the void if Caballero just needs a few days.

If Caballero has to go on the injured list, the recently demoted Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera would be candidates for a call-up from Triple-A.

But first comes the MRI for Caballero, whose strong play on both sides of the ball over the first month-plus of the season forced the Yankees to change their plans for Volpe, whom they initially planned to reinsert at shortstop once he came off the IL last week.

“[Caballero] has been great,” Boone said. “He’s been such a good performer for us here to start the year, on both sides of the ball. He’s been a key part of our team to this point, but again, hopefully it’s just a day-to-day situation. We’ll have a better idea of that [Tuesday].”

Caballero dodged an injury concern last week after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch, needing only a day out of the lineup Thursday to deal with some swelling before playing all three games over the weekend in Milwaukee.

He is still wearing tape on that left elbow Monday, but now has his right middle finger taped up as well.

The speedy Caballero was trying to steal second base in the ninth inning of a tie game Sunday when he dove back into first base, and while he was wearing a sliding glove on his right hand, it did not fully protect him.

“Didn’t work,” he said. “It’s just the part that is covering that part of the finger, it’s kind of soft, so it doesn’t really help much.”

And so the shortstop with a 1.6 bWAR — the fifth-highest mark on the Yankees entering Monday — was put on hold.

If Caballero does need to go on the IL, it would set up an interesting decision for the Yankees.

Volpe did not exactly set the world on fire in his first week at Triple-A following his activation off the IL and demotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In five games, he hit 4-for-24 (.167) with a .472 OPS.

Cabrera, who offers more positional flexibility, had a rough start to the season but has hit better of late, going 14-for-36 (.389) with a 1.032 OPS over his last nine games.

Boone said he had not spoken to Volpe since giving him the news last Sunday that he was being optioned to Triple-A, but has maintained that the 25-year-old is equipped to handle it well.

“Definitely it’s challenging to deal with that, but everyone has challenges they’ve got to deal with and some adversity they’ve got to deal with,” Boone said. “He’s mentally a very tough kid and that’ll serve him well as he navigates this.”

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José Caballero injury update: Yankees shortstop to undergo tests on finger

BALTIMORE - New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero will be sent back to New York for tests on his right middle finger after he injured it diving back into a base, manager Aaron Boone said Monday, May 11.

Caballero, who seized the starting shortstop job from Anthony Volpe with his early season play this year, hurt his finger diving into first base on a pickoff attempt in the ninth inning of the Yankees' loss at Milwaukee Sunday. He will need an MRI to determine the extent of the damage, but said he doesn't believe the finger was broken.

"There’s definitely some concern. He’s as tough as they come," says Boone. "So, just had a little hard time when he went to throw today. His hitting was good.

"He’s going to get some tests tomorrow morning. We’ll see what we have the next day or two."

Boone said Caballero will be examined by a hand specialist along with club physician Christopher Ahmad. Max Schuemann will start in place of Caballero Monday and likely Tuesday, Boone said, though he did not rule out third baseman Ryan McMahon making his second start of the season in this series.

Caballero's 1.6 WAR trails only outfielders Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger among Yankee position players. He has a league-average 100 adjusted OPS, batting .259 with four homers and 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

While the Yankees do not know if Caballero's injury will require a stint on the injured list, that scenario would generate intrigue about how the club would fill the roster spot. Volpe lost his three-year grip on the starting job when he was optioned to Class AAA after his rehabilitation from offseason shoulder surgery was complete.

Volpe is batting .205 with a .238 OBP through his first nine games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Jose Caballero will undergo tests on his right middle finger after injuring it in Milwaukee.

"I haven’t talked to Anthony since he went down, since we made that decision," says Boone. "It’s definitely challenging to deal with that. Everyone has challenges they gotta deal with, some adversity they gotta deal with. Whether it’s up here, it’s part of it.

"Anthony’s mentally a very tough kid. That will serve him well as he navigates this."

The club could also promote veteran utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, who has filled the utility role in past seasons in New York. That would enable Volpe to play every day at Class AAA.

Either way, the club must, at least in this series, navigate life without one of their surprise stars.

"He’s been great. He’s been such a good performer for us this year on both sides of the ball," says Boone. "He’s been a key part of our team to this point. Hopefully it’s a day-to-day situation."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees' José Caballero sent home for tests on finger injury

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Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama escapes NBA playoff suspension after Game 4 ejection over elbow

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) commits a flagrant foul against Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during Game 4.
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) commits a flagrant foul against Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during Game 4.

The Spurs’ loss was punishment enough for Victor Wembanyama.

Following the French big man’s ejection for elbowing the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid on Sunday, he will not face a suspension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

During the Spurs’ Game 4 loss to Minnesota in their second-round series, Wembanyama was tossed with 8:39 left in the second quarter after whacking Reid in the face after fighting for possession.

Spurs center Victor Wembanyama commits a flagrant foul against Timberwolves center Naz Reid during Game 4. Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The hard contact from the 7-foot-4 center sent Reid to the floor, though he was fine to continue playing and finished the game with 15 points in 31 minutes.

With Wembanyama sidelined for much of the contest, the Timberwolves took their chance to even the series, winning 114-109.

Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 36 points, while Wembanyama was forced to leave the floor with just four points in 12 minutes.

While Wembanyama will be available to play in a pivotal Game 5, his wallet may take a hit as a result of his actions on Sunday.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said he believes “there’s a chance” the reigning Defensive Player of the Year gets fined for his elbow.

Nonetheless, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended Wembanyama for sticking up for himself amid a perceived lack of protection by the referees from the Timberwolves’ physical play.

Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after he was ejected for a flagrant foul during the first half of Game 4. AP

“I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that,” Johnson told reporters.

“… But he’s going to have to protect himself if [the refs] are not. The amount of physicality that people play with, with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself.”

The Spurs will welcome Minnesota back to San Antonio on Tuesday night for a pivotal Game 5.

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Lakers’ Adou Thiero’s postseason opportunity is an audition for next year

As Adou Thiero was standing in front of the scorer’s table at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City early in the second quarter of the Lakers’ Game 2 loss to the Thunder, a familiar face followed Thiero’s path with a message. 

Luka Doncic, the team’s star player who’s been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained left hamstring, made the walk from his seat on the Lakers’ bench to the scorer’s table before putting his arm to Thiero.

Doncic was there to give the Lakers rookie pieces of advice before getting his first opportunity of being in the Lakers’ playoff rotation after Jarred Vanderbilt suffered an open right pinky dislocation, opening up playing time. 

“He just told me to go out there and play hard, just do what I do and don’t overthink anything,” Thiero said of Doncic’s message. “Just kept it simple and trying to lighten the pressure on me.”

Lakers rookie Adou Thiero has found himself in the rotation in Games 2 and 3 against the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images

During a loss that didn’t provide many bright spots for the Lakers, outside of Austin Reaves bouncing back from a rough Game 1 to kick off the series, Thiero provided what the coaching staff was looking for.

He had three rebounds in his six-minute shift in the quarter. 

He hustled.

He was energetic. 

He was physical. 

All of the areas the Thunder have had the edge over the Lakers entering Monday’s Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena. 

“High energy and physicality,” coach JJ Redick said of what’s expected of Thiero. “Thought he played well.”

The good impression led to more playing time for Thiero in Saturday’s Game 3 loss.

Thiero had a team-high eight rebounds in 13 minutes – five defensive rebounds and three offensive boards – and four points. 

“[I] prayed for moments like these and worked for moments like these,” Thiero said, “Just to get that opportunity has been special; go out there and do what I can for the guys.”

After spending the majority of the season in the G League, Adou Thiero now finds himself defending the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the postseason. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Thiero has felt the shift in focus and energy during the 19 combined minutes he played in Game 2 and Game 3 compared to when he’d get playing time in the regular season. 

“It’s definitely very intense,” Thiero said. “You got a loud atmosphere. Everybody is into it. Every possession, leave it all out there. It’s very intense. I felt the change in pace and everything as soon as I got out there.” 

Thiero’s inexperience showed when he was called for a moving screen while trying to initiate a dribble handoff with Rui Hachimura late in the third quarter. 

Or other moments when he passed up shots, with his energy and hustle masking the fact the No. 36 pick in the 2025 draft only played 149 minutes across 25 regular season games before the playoffs.

“They told me I did a lot of good things, but there’s still a lot of things I need to work on, which, granted, I haven’t gotten that many reps. But still gotta be disciplined with what we’re doing as a team and keep picking up our principles.”

But if the Lakers hope to compete with teams like the Thunder, or even the Spurs, in the future, they need to develop players like Thiero into quality rotation players.

Thiero had only played 149 minutes across 25 regular season games before the playoffs.
NBAE via Getty Images

Thiero, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward who impresses with his leaping ability and athleticism, not only represents what the Lakers lacked for most of the season, but also an advantage the Thunder and Spurs have over the Lakers.

The Lakers have lacked inexpensive, younger talent that they’ve developed who can be counted on to step up when needed.

Austin Reaves was once that player, but is 27, now five years into his NBA career and is set for a big pay day this offseason. 

Max Christie, who the Lakers drafted in the second round in 2022, was turning into that type of player before they included him in the trade for Doncic last winter.

Both of the Lakers’ draft picks from 2023, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, are no longer in the NBA.

Their 2024 picks, Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, have only played against the Thunder when the game results were essentially decided. James was in the rotation during the first round against the Rockets while Reaves was sidelined. 

Selected with the 36th pick in the 2025 draft, the Lakers need to see if Thiero can emerge as a part of their rotation next season. AP

Compare that to the Thunder, who have multiple younger players on rookie scale contracts or inexpensive deals (Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell)) who have contributed to the 3-0 series lead they had going into Monday, and it’s clear the Lakers are missing out on an important factor for team building.

It’s why they need Thiero to get this playing time. 

And for the Lakers sake, hopefully grow from it. 

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Where to watch Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild Game 4 NHL playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel for Monday, May 11

The Minnesota Wild are looking to even their second-round NHL playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4. The Avalanche won the first two games in Denver before Minnesota won Game 3 5-1. The Colorado Avalanche are favored by 1.5 goals with the over/under set at 6.5 goals.

  • Date: Monday, May 11

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

  • Where: Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN

  • TV Channels: ESPN, CBC, Spor, TVAS

  • Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Spread: Minnesota Wild +1.5

  • Moneyline: Minnesota Wild +112 (45.2%) / Colorado Avalanche -133 (54.8%)

  • Over/Under: 6.5

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Bucks ‘open for business’ on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Milwaukee.

The Bucks’ on-again, off-again relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo has entered a new chapter.

After unsuccessfully engaging in trade talks about the two-time MVP in February, the Bucks are again “open for business” on offers for Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

As was the case in February, when the Bucks ultimately decided to hold on to the Greek Freak, Milwaukee’s front office will reportedly be looking for a “young blue-chip talent” and/or a sizable package of draft picks.

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly “open for business” on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade calls once again AP

Antetokounmpo, 31, has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee and helped lead them to a championship in the 2020-21 season.

But with the Bucks falling out of contention in recent seasons, his relationship with the franchise has frayed and he reportedly told team brass last year that he wanted to play for the Knicks.

Talks between the two sides never materialized, as ESPN reported, while contenders like the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Celtics and Lakers are all said to have made calls on Antetokounmpo at this year’s deadline.

Antetokounmpo has just one more guaranteed year on his contract before a player option kicks in the following season.

Novak Djokovic (l.) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (r.) attend a EuroLeague game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Monaco in Athens, Greece on April 30, 2026. Euroleague Basketball via Getty

After Antetokounmpo reportedly expressed an openness to leaving Milwaukee last May, the team decided to hand a $108.7 million deal to Myles Turner in the summer to try to build a contender around their star player.

However, the Bucks never got going this season and looked to be heading for the exit with Antetokounmpo this winter.

That didn’t come to fruition, though, setting up for an awkward last few months of the season as the Bucks finished 32-50 and ultimately parted ways with coach Doc Rivers.

The Bucks will be juggling Antetokounmpo’s future with their plans for the NBA draft, after landing the No. 10 pick in Sunday’s lottery.

The first round of the draft is June 23.

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Where to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, May 11

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to complete a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference semifinals series. The defending NBA champion Thunder won the first three games by an average of just under 20 points. Oklahoma City will advance to the West finals with one more win. Oklahoma City is favored by 10.5 points with an over/under set at 214.5.

  • Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +10.5

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers +406 (18.9%) / Oklahoma City Thunder -552 (81.1%)

  • Over/Under: 214.5

Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90
Game 2:Thunder 125, Lakers 107
Game 3:Thunder 131, Lakers 108
Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)*
Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*

*if necessary

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Texas Rangers lineup for May 11, 2026

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 21: Jakob Junis #16 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field on April 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for May 11, 2026 against the Arizona Diamondbacks: starting pitchers are Jakob Junis for the Rangers and Michael Soroka for the D-Backs.

The Rangers, who haven’t allowed a run since the seventh inning of Friday’s game, find their scoreless streak in greater jeopardy now that Nathan Eovaldi has been scratched. Texas is going with a bullpen game fronted by Jakob Junis. Cal Quantrill, the long man — and also the last Ranger pitcher to give up a run — threw 70 pitches on Friday, so he’s likely unavailable.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Duran — 2B

Seager — SS

Jung — 3B

Carter — CF

Pederson — DH

Osuna — 1B

Higashioka — C

7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -126 favorites.

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Where to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Game 4 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, May 11

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Detroit Pistons in Game 4. The Cavs won Game 3 after the Pistons took the first two games in Detroit. Cleveland is favored by 3.5 points. The over/under is set at 213.5.

  • Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -3.5

  • Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers -167 (60.0%) / Detroit Pistons +140 (40.0%)

  • Over/Under: 213.5Series schedule, results

Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Game 2:Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
Game 3:Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109
Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13)
Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)*
Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*

*if necessary

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Will LeBron James Announce Retirement Before the 2026-27 NBA Season?

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The Los Angeles Lakers' season ending at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in a disappointing — albeit expected — four-game sweep has most in the basketball world asking: Will LeBron James retire?

King James enters the summer as a free agent after completing his contract with the Lakers. Set to turn 42 years old in mid-December, LeBron averaged 20-plus points for a 23rd straight season, to go with 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game across 60 regular-season games. He elevated his game once again in the playoffs to average 23.2/6.7/7.3 over 10 games.

Will he return to the Lakers (or another team) to chase a fifth championship ring? We make our NBA picks for the offseason's hot-button topic below.

Will LeBron James retire?

Traders at Kalshi, one of our best prediction market apps, are giving LeBron James a 25.6% chance of announcing his retirement before the 2026-27 season following the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The market has drawn $429,529 since it opened on June 14. James was initially given an 11% chance of retiring before the 2026-27 campaign. It peaked at a high of 46% in mid-January but has dipped again.

The Lakers failed to make the third round of the playoffs for a third straight year. But James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves can keep this team competitive for several more seasons.

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LeBron James' contract

LeBron James completed the final year of a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that carried a $59.5-million cap hit this season, according to Spotrac. The 23-year NBA veteran has reportedly not yet made any decisions on his playing future.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old James said, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press. “I’ve got a lot of time now.

“I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

LeBron's son Bronny James averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 rebounds per game over 42 games in the regular season, and averaged 5.3 minutes per game in the playoffs — he didn't play in Game 4 against the Thunder. Bryce James took a redshirt year as a freshman at Arizona, and will need to wait until at least the 2027 NBA Draft.

How old is LeBron James?

LeBron James, now done his 23rd NBA season, is 41 years old, and will turn 42 in December. The first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft played at least 45 regular-season games each year of his career. He played 60 games this season and didn't miss a playoff game.

Prediction

Despite several NBA teams likely to have interest in pursuing James as a free agent this offseason — including the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and potentially the Los Angeles Clippers — I firmly expect James to call it quits before next season.

A $100 investment on James to retire at a Yes price of 22 cents at Kalshi would return a profit of $355.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Why Lakers’ Luka Doncic wouldn’t have made a difference against Thunder

Do you know the craziest part of the Lakers’ second-round playoff series against the Thunder?

There’s such a wide chasm between the two teams that it has all-but-nullified what would’ve been a burning question in every other series involving LA. 

Would things have been different had Luka Doncic played? 

Without knowing it then, the Grade 2 hamstring strain Luka Doncic suffered on April 2 was the last time he took the court this season. NBAE via Getty Images

Doncic, who has been sidelined since April 2 because of a strained hamstring, was a top-five MVP contender. He led the league in scoring (33.5 points), was third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). He became the second player in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March alongside Michael Jordan. 

Would a generational talent like that have swayed things?

Nope. And it’s very obvious.

So obvious that pundits have hardly postulated about the question on talk shows. Journalists haven’t really mulled over it in columns. 

The Thunder are that good. 

Even without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City looks like a juggernaut and the favorites to win the NBA title again. AP

Sure, the Lakers would’ve had an easier time scoring if Doncic had been on the court. 

But it still wouldn’t have been enough. 

The Thunder’s top-rated defense would’ve collapsed on him and they still would’ve had ample depth to swarm everyone else. 

It’s really incredible.

Players one through five on the court for Oklahoma City at all times are gnats, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. 

The Lakers’ offense simply wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.

Wallace has discombobulated Austin Reaves. Dort has frustrated LeBron James. Luke Kennard has only made a dent in one game this series. Really, Rui Hachimura has been the only Laker who has consistently shot well. 

As for the other end of the court? 

Doncic would’ve been a defensive liability. He would’ve been yet another target for the Thunder to attack with their dribble-drives, alongside Austin Reaves and Luke Kennard, who have basically been rendered unplayable together this series. 

Doncic has missed the entire postseason after leading the NBA in scoring during the regular season. NBAE via Getty Images

Get past them?

Deandre Ayton has been largely ineffective patrolling the paint. 

Chet Holmgren has had his way down low. Mitchell has had his way everywhere.

The Lakers one bright spot on the defensive end is they’ve stunningly held Gilgeous-Alexander to 21 points a game this series, a marked dip from the postseason-leading 33.8 points he averaged in the team’s first-round sweep against the Suns, but that hasn’t even made a dent. 

The Thunder are simply too deep, They have no holes.

Meanwhile, they took a floodlight to the Lakers’ roster, exposing their many deficiencies. 

This was no surprise. The Lakers lost their four regular season games to the Thunder by an average of 29 points. When Doncic was on the court, nothing changed for them. And nothing would’ve changed now. 

With Doncic on the sidelines, the Lakers trail the Thunder 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals heading into Monday’s Game 4. Getty Images

As for Lakers coach JJ Redick, when asked if he has thought about how differently things could’ve looked if Doncic had been on the court, he didn’t hesitate. 

“Never,” he said. 

He likely didn’t want to waste his time on hypotheticals. He had too much on his plate. But we all know this wasn’t a burning “what if” question anyway. 

Even an MVP-contender couldn’t have plugged the Lakers’ problems. 

They need to remake their roster. They need to have a huge offseason. It’s obvious they can’t compete against the reigning champions. They can for a quarter. Maybe two. Three on a good day. But they simply aren’t deep enough to sustain that effort for an entire game.

If they had Doncic, they likely would’ve won one game.

But the outcome of this series wouldn’t have changed. 

Even though he wasn’t available for the end of the season, the Lakers are expected to build around Doncic in the offseason. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

No Doncic? No difference. 

The Thunder are just too good. 

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René Cárdenas, broadcasting pioneer who was Dodgers' first Spanish-language announcer, dies

FILE - Longtime Spanish radio broadcaster René Cárdenas waves to the crowd as he is inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)
René Cárdenas waves to the crowd as he is inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame on Aug. 17, 2024. (Kevin M. Cox / Associated Press)

René Cárdenas, the first radio announcer to broadcast major league baseball games in Spanish to a domestic audience while with the Dodgers and who helped start Spanish-language broadcasts for two other teams, died Sunday in Houston. He was 96.

The Dodgers announced his death Sunday night, noting his 21 years — over two stints — with the team starting in 1958. The broadcasting pioneer also served as the Houston Astros' first Spanish-language announcer starting in 1962.

Cárdenas called games for 38 seasons with the Dodgers, Astros and Texas Rangers and paved the way for Jaime Jarrín, who joined the broadcast team in 1959 and served as the Dodgers' broadcaster for 64 seasons.

"He was indisputably one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball radio broadcasting, and he opened the door for other broadcasters to reach the major leagues," Jarrín told The Times in Spanish on Monday morning. "He was a total professional, truly."

Read more:Dodgers muster only two hits, drop series to MLB-leading Braves: 'We're struggling'

Cárdenas was born on Feb. 6, 1930, in Managua, Nicaragua. His grandfather, Adan Cárdenas, was president of the country from 1883 to1887 and is recognized for introducing baseball to Nicaragua in the late 19th century while his uncle, Adolfo, played on the first national team.

But Cárdenas became more adept at describing the action and before he left high school, he was not only writing for La Prensa, Nicaragua’s leading newspaper, but also broadcasting games for Radio Mundial, the capital city’s top-ranked station.

“He had a very original style,” Edgard Tijerino, a Nicaraguan sports journalist, told The Times' Kevin Baxter in 1995. “It was a way of broadcasting that nobody here in Nicaragua had. The people of my generation remember him with fondness and still value the work he did.”

When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn ahead of the 1958 season, they partnered with KWKW-AM (1330), the only Spanish-language radio station in L.A. at the time, to broadcast the games in Spanish. Cárdenas was hired as the lead play-by-play announcer while Jarrín shadowed him that first season before settling in as the No. 2 announcer. During that time, Cárdenas was part of the first Spanish broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and the All-Star Game in 1961.

Before the 1962 season, Cárdenas moved on to serve as the lead play-by-play announcer for Houston's new team, then known as the Colt .45s. He chronicled the team's first 14 seasons, during which the team moved into the Astrodome and were renamed the Astros in 1965.

Cárdenas returned to Nicaragua in the late 1970s to live in semi-retirement, but political unrest in the country, in the form of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, forced him to flee and eventually return to the United States. The rebels’ final push to victory would take them right past the front door of Cardenas’ three-quarter-acre hacienda.

“They were fighting around my house every night. We used to go under the bed every single night for months,” Cárdenas told The Times in 1995. “We were in a war without being soldiers.”

Cárdenas, who became a U.S. citizen in 1963, had his house, life savings and many priceless mementos from his broadcasting career seized.

After working with Texas Rangers, Cárdenas returned to the Dodgers for the 1982 season. By this point, Jarrín was firmly in place as the team's lead Spanish-language play-by-play announcer — particularly in the wake of Fernandomania the season before, when Jarrín's profile was raised as Fernando Valenzuela's interpreter during his media interviews.

"It was explained to him by our producer, 'You can't come back as the No. 1 announcer because Jaime is established, he has many years as the lead announcer and he is beloved by the community,'" Jarrín said Monday. "René said, 'I don't care, I'll come back as the No. 2 with Jaime. I just want to come back to the game of baseball.' He was determined to return to the Dodgers.

"It was during that time that we established a close-knit friendship and we were well-received by the community as a broadcast duo."

Cárdenas worked with the Dodgers through the 1998 season and moved back to Houston, where he wrote for multiple outlets and then broadcast Astros games on the radio in 2007 and on TV in 2008, setting another first at the time: the only MLB team with a standalone Spanish-language broadcast featuring dedicated cameras and Spanish-language graphics separate from the English-language broadcast.

Read more:Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who changed MLB by sparking Fernandomania, dies at 63

Fifty years after his first broadcast with the Dodgers, Cárdenas remained a pioneer.

He was nominated several times for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, including last year, but did not receive enough votes for induction. He is in the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame, the Broadcasters Wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and in the Astros' team hall of fame.

"I think what hindered him was that he didn't fully establish himself with the Dodgers," Jarrín, one of three Latino broadcasters in the Baseball Hall of Fame, said of Cárdenas' chances of enshrinement. "He was away for many years. So that lack of continuity may have hindered him, possibly. Because professionally, he is deserving of being in the Hall. I would love it if he got inducted posthumously because he was a broadcasting pioneer and a true professional."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Xhekaj And Malenstyn Fined, Expect More Bad Blood

Sunday night’s duel between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres wasn’t for the faint-hearted. There were big hits, elbows, punches, and stick whacks. It wasn’t pretty, unless of course you're into that kind of hockey, in which case, you probably loved it. Still, the deeper we got into the game and the more frequent the incidents became, which makes sense given how much of a one-sided affair it was becoming.

There was, however, one moment that prompted a collective horrified gasp from the filled to the rafters Bell Center, the moment when Beck Malenstyn collided at full speed with Jakub Dobes. By that time, the score was 3-1 Montreal, and the Sabres were seriously feeling the pressure. When Malenstyn battled with Zach Bolduc to reach the net, he saw an opportunity to get to Jakub Dobes, to shake him up and get him off his game. The jump right before the impact, as well, made it look like the Sabres forward might have been a WWE in a previous life, as if he was jumping off the third rope for a flying elbow.

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Somehow, that play only led to a two-minute goalie interference call, and while the Canadiens took advantage of that opportunity to make it 4-1, that moment in the game, that hit on Dobes, will not be forgotten or forgiven. On Monday afternoon, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Malenstyn had been fined $3,515.63, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the play. That’s a slap on the wrist considering how disastrous that incident could have been for the Canadiens. Habs fans will remember all too well what kind of effect an injury to a team’s number one goaltender can have in the playoffs; some still have nightmares about the Carey Price-Chris Kreider incident.

Malenstyn wasn’t the only one to be fined on Monday afternoon. Arber Xhekaj also encountered “the wrath” of the Department of Player Safety for roughing Sam Carrick in the dying seconds of the game. At 19:56, there was a melee in the corner, and Alex Carrier was outnumbered by two Sabres. The gritty defenseman intervened and pulled Carrick off Carrier, then proceeded to give him one punch to the jaw, which sent him down to the ice. It will be interesting to see if a Sabres player will dare try to “keep Xhekaj accountable.” Just like Malenstyn, the rugged defenseman was fined $3,385.42.

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In wake of sweep by Knicks, 76ers to re-evaluate everything, including GM Daryl Morey, coach Nick Nurse

Just eight days earlier, the potential of these Philadelphia 76ers was on full display — they had vanquished their heated rivals from Boston in seven games, sending the Eastern Conference betting favorites home for the summer. The young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe had been fantastic, Paul George was healthy and making big contributions, and a dominant Joel Embiid in the paint made the difference. The vibes could not have been better.

Sunday, the vibes around the 76ers could not have been much worse after they were dominated by the Knicks and swept out of the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the four games in the series by an average of 22.5 points per game (including an ugly 30-point blowout in Game 4 that felt over after the first quarter). Joel Embiid missed a game due to injury and could not push around the Knicks frontcourt like he did the Celtics, and when the Maxey/Edgecombe backcourt was off, as it was in Game 4, things fell apart fast.

Now everything in Philadelphia is under a microscope — including the jobs of team president Daryl Morey and coach Nick Nurse, something Tony Jones detailed at The Athletic.

The jobs of Morey and head coach Nick Nurse are expected to be evaluated entering the offseason, multiple league sources told The Athletic. As of Sunday's elimination, team sources said ownership has not made final decisions on either and is likely to take a few days to assess before making any major calls...

"Internally, the volatility of this year cannot be ignored heading into the offseason. From a tumultuous trade deadline to late-season frustrations between players and coaches that nearly derailed a shootaround, tension simmered throughout the year. On many nights, the team barely knew who would be available."

The report details tensions between Embiid and the front office, and the frustration that the only move made at the trade deadline was to send away Jared McCain to get under the salary cap (Philly did get the No. 17 pick in this upcoming draft as well, but that's not helping Embiid on the court this season). McCain has thrived in Oklahoma City, including scoring 18 off the bench in a playoff game against the Lakers.

Then there was the tension around whether Embiid would play on April 1 on the road in Washington — Embiid expected to play, the team listed him as out, and the following meeting almost derailed the entire shootaround that day, Jones reports. (Embiid did not play that night.)

All of this was just part of the drama in Philadelphia this season. As Joel Embiid put it:

"So, we just gotta get better from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better."

That has to start with Embiid — he played in 38 games this season and, while he rushed back from an appendectomy to be on the court for the playoffs, still missed a game against the Knicks. Embiid hasn't played in six straight games since December of 2023.

Philadelphia has to decide what to do with a very expensive player who is still elite when he is on the court but can't be counted on to play consistently, even in the playoffs. While the logical step may be to pivot and get younger, building around Maxey (the team's clear best player now) and Edgecombe, it's not that simple — Embiid is almost untradable. He is guaranteed $188.3 million over the next three seasons (the last one is technically a player option, but he's going to pick that up or want to be extended off of it). Paul George is guaranteed $54.1 million next season and has a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28. Because of the health concerns around both of them, the only way to trade the 76ers veterans is to add first-round draft picks or young players as sweeteners in any deal — and it would take more than one pick.

All of that means this core is likely the 76ers core again next season, and likely at least one more after that. If Embiid can't play consistently, how good can the 76ers really be?

That question may fall to a new coach and head of basketball operations, because owner Josh Harris is stepping back and looking at everything.