Inter bounced back under Cristian Chivu, Como made a splash, and Scott McTominay kept Napoli ticking
This has not been a happy year for Italian football. The men’s national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, while Serie A clubs endured one humiliation after another in Uefa competition.
Inter went from Champions League finalists to elimination in the playoff round by Bodø/Glimt, while Juventus conceded seven goals to Galatasaray. They both did better than last year’s Scudetto winners, Napoli, who failed to even get through the group stage. At least Atalanta rescued Italy from having no representatives in the last 16 for the first time in almost 40 years when they overturned a two-goal deficit against Borussia Dortmund. And then they got walloped 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich.
Boston, MA - March 22: Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez stands for the playing of the National Anthem before the game. The Celtics played the Minnesota Timberwolves at TD Garden on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Last summer, there wasn’t much to expect from Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens approaching the 2025 NBA Draft. Boston entered the night with three late selections — No. 28, 46, and 57 — yet still managed to reel in a little-known prospect with the potential to impact winning more than most rookies in his class: Hugo González.
Stevens took González at No. 28 in a move that wasn’t regarded as noteworthy at the time, considering the organization had just traded away Kristaps Porziņģis to begin their roster overhaul. But Stevens had a vision for González from day one.
“He’s tough, he’s hard-playing, he cuts, he goes after the ball, he competes,” Stevens told reporters the following day after the first round. “He’s got all the intangibles of a winning basketball player. There’s things he can get better at, just like everybody else at that age, but competitiveness is at a high level.”
González was a unique case, joining the Celtics with more professional experience than most entering the NBA. Coming from Spain, fresh off three seasons with Real Madrid, González had already played alongside former NBA pros, including Serge Ibaka, Facundo Campazzo, Dennis Smith Jr., and Bruno Fernando. During his run in the Liga ACB, he rarely got minutes off the bench, buried behind Real Madrid’s veteran-loaded roster, which nearly slid González’s draft stock down to the second round.
It had nothing to do with his potential and everything to do with his limited sample size in Spain.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 21: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at TD Garden on January 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by China Wong/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stevens saw González as a spark plug capable of providing the Celtics with valuable minutes off the bench to maintain their intensity while starters rested. Stevens recognized González’s ability to make Real Madrid’s roster as a valuable prerequisite, speaking to the then-19-year-old’s ability to become a major rotation piece down the line if placed in the right development system.
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff already checked off that box.
González, like many on the 2025-26 roster, was thrust into the spotlight. No Jayson Tatum for the first 62 games of the regular season meant it was up to everyone else to keep Boston’s ship from sinking. González had only logged 10.2 minutes through 69 games the previous year for Real Madrid, so there was an immediate pressure to perform whenever his open mic opportunities arrived.
On Oct. 24 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, González made his NBA debut and showed flashes, scoring six points with four rebounds, two steals, and one assist as Boston’s leader in plus-minus (+7). Teammate Jaylen Brown took notice of González’s motor and its ability to flip off and on at any moment, and suggested the Celtics “(needed) more of that.”
It wasn’t long before González earned the fan base’s approval, too.
The upside revealed itself from the start. González, unlike most rookies, didn’t need to score to keep himself on the floor. Mazzulla knew that through his defensive pressure to corner opposing offenses into compromising positions, possession after possession, González was a piece that needed time on the floor to flourish and develop. He earned that.
On Jan. 24 against the Nets, González committed a major defensive miscue, allowing Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. to drain a wide-open 3-pointer. Immediately, Mazzulla sat González on the bench, which the young guard admitted was deserved. Later that same night, with 2.5 seconds left in overtime, González came off the bench in a desperation possession and nailed a clutch, game-tying corner 3-pointer to help secure a road victory in double overtime.
Little by little, González made it known that he wasn’t only a piece for the future, but also a piece ready to make a difference in real-time. He didn’t squander the opportunity to play in over 14 minutes across 74 appearances — including three starts — for the Celtics in his rookie campaign. Instead, González did everything to reward the team every chance he could.
On March 2, he accepted the challenge of guarding 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo in just his third career start.
González rose to the occasion, with Brown and Neemias Queta sidelined, and set career-highs in points (18), rebounds (16), blocks (three), and steals (two). Tasked with the daunting defensive assignment of covering Antetokounmpo, he overcame the size mismatch and held his own — limiting the two-time MVP to just one made basket across five possessions.
Mazzulla recognized the performance as proof positive for both González and Stevens.
“This was them,” Mazzulla told reporters in Milwaukee. “I think Brad does a great job of finding guys with high competitive character. When you come into the locker room, you want to play for the guy next to you. You look for nights to create ownership and responsibility.”
González never obsessed over shot attempts or minutes. Even though the Celtics needed contributions wherever they could find them, he naturally let the game come to him. If a shot needed to be taken, he’d take it — only if necessary. If someone needed to rest, González was ready to carry the load. Everyone in the locker room and throughout the organization saw his potential from the start of Summer League, and watched as González used the regular season to build on that trust and solidify it.
González averaged 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and shot 47.6 percent from the field in his rookie season. Defensively, he validated his upside. González averaged 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks, registering a plus-minus that ranked third among rookies behind Kon Knueppel and Dylan Harper, netting González five second-place votes in the NBA’s All-Rookie Team.
In the playoffs, González didn’t get a chance to do anything — and that’s perfectly fine.
Boston is at a point where the coaching staff, locker room, and front office all have an idea of what they have in González. That’s critical. He’s graduated past the evaluation phase, as the Celtics no longer need to gauge his potential moving forward. González has obvious areas to refine this offseason, but his foundation is strong.
That’s more than most rookies can say, especially coming from Spain as a teenager, again rummaging for minutes behind proven professionals.
González belongs, and the C’s now know it.
“The reality is Hugo had a great rookie year and is, I think, a critical part of us moving forward because his athleticism can meet the moment in the big games,” Stevens told reporters during his end-of-season press conference. “That’s a real thing. You can see it. You know it. His strength is off the charts. He’s one of the strongest guys on our team now, pound-for-pound for a 20-year-old, so he’s got a bright future.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 09: Kris Letang #58, Sidney Crosby #87 and Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins look on prior to the game against the New York Islanders at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 9, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s now t-minus one month until the start of the NHL Draft on June 26th, usually the first big movement period for NHL teams as they start to restock their rosters and shuffle pieces around. The Penguins were very active last year at the draft, making a few trades among only their draft picks and another move that sent Conor Timmins to Buffalo for Connor Clifton and a high second round pick.
Heading into that offseason event, why not set the stage early for a projected grouping of which Penguin players are likely to be back next seasons and which ones better be watching for a phone call from the GM or their agent about heading out of town.
Tier 1: The Big 3 No brainers
Sidney Crosby – nothing further needed.
Evgeni Malkin – re-signing with the Pens means Malkin will be back for a 21st season
Kris Letang – this might make some scratch their heads, but just look at the playoffs. In Games 4-6, Letang averaged 26:15 of ice time when the season was on the line. The Penguins might need to find the right role for the 39-year old, but he’s still a major part of it on and off the ice. Until some drastic news breaks, he’s gotta be set in stone for the roster.
Tier 2: A class to himself This guy doesn’t fit anywhere else..
Erik Karlsson – Karlsson, 36 on Sunday, is coming up on the final year of his contract. He’s been very choosy in the past about how he handles his no movement clause and there’s been no indications that the Penguins have even considered talking to him about an exit strategy. But, you never know what could happen over the long summer. The clock is ticking on Karlsson’s career and time remaining as an elite defenseman, he doesn’t have a Stanley Cup and while Pittsburgh was (and may be yet again) a decent/good team, they’re hardly serious championship contenders. Karlsson just finished eighth in points among defenders this season, there would be external interest if he was available. Does he want to make himself available? That’s the big question, the answer is unknown, and perhaps unlikely to get resolution during this off-season.
Tier 3: Young, valuable players This group of players are either off limits or close to it, because the Pens know them well enough to know what they have
Ben Kindel – The current crown jewel for the Pens’ future after a dazzling age-18 season. Surely he’ll be asked for in possible trades by other teams and just as surely that will be a quick and complete pass from the Pens.
Egor Chinakhov(RFA) – Looks like he has star potential, probably worth keeping around to see if that can happen in Pittsburgh.
Arturs Silovs(RFA) – Showed he can be a capable 1A/1B type for next season. Maybe the Pens seek an upgrade or more veteran partner for Sergei Murashov next year, but they’re probably just fine with keeping Silovs around for another season.
Elmer Soderblom – It’s a bit of a stretch to fit in this category, but Soderblom gave the Pens a lot to feel excited about in the future.
Tier 4: Veteran core Could these players be available? Sure. But they’re likely to be key supporting players next season that the Pens value. However, if Pittsburgh really wants to shift into a new direction, it’s not like they wouldn’t at least listen to trade offers.
Bryan Rust – His name is bound to be in some level of the rumor mill but there’s no reason to expect or think the Penguins are in a hurry at this point to trade a heart-and-soul player who scores nearly a point per game and is a leadership figure.
Rickard Rakell – Rakell would be an interesting case study for just how aggressively the Penguins want to get younger this offseason. He’s got to have decent value in a trade, but he’s also got immense value for the lineup considering his stint at center and bouncing around all over the top-six last year while retaining effectiveness and production.
Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar – Seems natural to lump these two together since both recently signed extensions of matching salaries. Makes a quick trade look very unlikely. You never truly know but odds have to be heavily slanted to them staying in Pittsburgh for a bit.
Parker Wotherspoon – Wotherspoon is a player the Penguins need to find one or two more of as effective, low-maintenance top-4 options, not send the one they have out the door this offseason.
Tier 5: Who would want them? Likely to be safe because it’s not like anyone outside the league is seeking them
Ryan Graves – Graves does have three years left on his contract, which could make a trade more palatable trade situation since other teams might have similar term left on a player that isn’t working out for them. A buyout won’t work based on how Graves’s is structured, so who knows. Might be at least another year of NHL/AHL limbo for him.
Caleb Jones – 2025-26 featured a major ankle injury, a major shoulder injury and a positive test for a banned substance. Can’t imagine anyone in the league is calling up to acquire this guy.
Filip Hallander – blood clots shutting down his season in November makes him an unlikely target for other teams.
Ilya Solovyov – Nothing against Solovyov, but this is the only category he somewhat fits into. Almost every team has a 6/7/8th unestablished defender in their organization.
Tier 6: Keep your Friedman/Seravalli social media alerts ready.. Players who fit the mold of recent Kyle Dubas flipping
Tommy Novak – Novak isn’t exactly young (29), did pretty well last season with 42 points and is an affordable player whose contract is up after 2026-27. He can help a team but isn’t a bedrock, foundational player. This is the exact profile that Dubas has tended to move on from. It might not be this summer since Novak would be valuable to the Pens if he returns in the fall, but in trying to predict the unpredictable known as what Dubas trades, Novak checks an awful lot of boxes as a trade chip.
Sam Girard – Girard had a strong reputation and an uneven finish to the season with the Pens. He’s a mobile defenseman who can move the puck, and that is always in demand. The Pens have plenty of ability to retain salary on the one-year remaining on his deal if that would help a suitor. Pittsburgh might want to see more from Girard and hope he’s better for them when he gets more acclimated, but he’s also the type of veteran that tends to go in-and-out of the organization these days.
Justin Brazeau – The Pens bought low on Brazeau last summer, do they now try to sell high? He’s a huge forward on a cheap deal that showed some scoring touch with the 17 goals last season. Pittsburgh practically has a young clone of Brazeau in Elmer Soderblom, will that make Brazeau redundant to the point of moving on from?
Tier 6: Free Agent decisions, even though many are obvious Pittsburgh has given out extensions to UFA players (Malkin, Dewar, Solovyov). But not any of these guys. Read into that at your own risk for how much or little of a priority they may be..
Noel Acciari – Wish he was a little younger, probably has aged out for a team that will be looking to get young players (Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz) into the NHL next season.
Anthony Mantha – Don’t expect this to be much of a decision, based on the Dubas press conference. Mantha will be cashing in on his big 2025-26 with a new team and likely huge contract. He earned it.
Kevin Hayes – Great guy, hopefully he is able to do what he wants if that means continuing to play somewhere else next season. If not, hopefully he remains active in the media space somewhere.
Stuart Skinner – Another player almost certainly out the door this summer. Here’s to wishing he goes somewhere that can use him like a 1B and he can get a little support and stability.
Connor Clifton – Physical and a good soldier, will probably have his journey take him somewhere new next season.
Ryan Shea – Of all the remaining unrestricted free agents, this is the one that you probably have to wonder the most about having a real shot to come back. Then again, Shea is the highest-scoring UFA left handed defenseman this summer (and sixth highest-scoring defenseman overall). He’s in-line for a good, if not really good, type of pay day – very much earned through years of grinding and finally breaking through. This is a real decision for the Pens, do they want to pay a market rate for a strong performer? If not, they’ll need a plan to replace him.
A bullpen game from the Hens went sideways as their pitchers issued 10 walks on the night. The offense was a little off, failing to capitalize on a few chances as they fell to the Cllippers on Wednesday.
Konnor Pilkington got the spot start and just dug himself a little hole in the second with walks, allowing a pair of runs. Tyler Mattison was lucky to only surrender a run in the fourth as he walked four hitters and only got one out in the inning. Tanney Rainey was the only one looking good as he cleaned up Mattison’s mess and tossed a nice fifth inning, collecting five outs with three punchouts.
So it was 3-0 Clippers heading into the sixth as Nick Sandlin took over for the Hens. He had a shaky inning with an assist from a Jace Jung error at second base as the Clippers scored two more for a 5-0 lead.
Finally in the bottom of the sixth, Max Burt drew a walk and singles from Ben Malgeri and Max Clark loaded the bases. Instead of a chance to come back in the game, they just ended up with one run as Max Anderson grounded into a double play. A Corey Julks solo shot and a Max Burt sacrifice fly to score Tyler Gentry made it 5-3 in the seventh.
Matt Seelinger allowed a run in the eighth, and the Hens couldn’t muster any more offense.
Malgeri: 2-4, 2B, K
Gentry: 1-3, R, BB, K
Pilkington (L, 1-4): 3.0 IP, 2 ER, H, 2 BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. ET on Thursday.
The SeaWolves had an uncharacteristically quiet day at the plate while the Baysox did not on Wednesday.
Max Alba got the start, allowing a run in the top of the first. John Peck answered back in the bottom half with his ninth homer of the season to tie things up. It was Peck again in the third with a two-out double, scoring on a Thayron Liranzo single that sneaked through the right side of the infield.
So it was 2-1 Erie, but Alba ran out of gas in the fourth. He gave up three runs, and Johan Simon took over and gave up three more of his own as the Baysox took a 7-2 lead. The offense was out of juice at that point, and Yosber Sanchez gave up two more late runs as the Baysox ran away with this one.
Peck: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR, BB
Liranzo: 1-4, RBI, K
Alba (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:05 p.m. ET start at UPMC Park on Thursday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lansing Lugnuts 5 (F/12)(box)
After being walked off over and over again over the past month, it was finally the Whitecaps who rallied late to win on Wednesday. It took 12 innings, but a wild pitch from Lansing and impressively game work from the Whitecaps bullpen got it done.
Ben Jacobs had a rough outing and the Lugnuts took advantage. A pair of walks in the bottom of the second, followed by a successful double steal got them in position for a sacrifice fly that made it 1-0 Lansing. In the fourth, Rodney Green Jr. got to Jacobs for a leadoff homer, and a single followed, ending Jacobs night. Luke Stofel took over and walked the first two hitters he faced, ultimately allowing two more runs and a 4-0 Lansing lead.
Jacobs struck out seven and intermittently looked outstanding as usual, but two walks and a lot of lengthy at-bats shortened his outing signficantly.
The ‘Caps had plenty of opportunities, but couldn’t break through until the eighth inning. Andrew Sojka led off with a walk and stole second base. Ricardo Hurtado was hit by a pitch with one out, and then Lugnuts relievers Ryan Brown threw the ball away on a pickoff attempt. Bryce Rainer stayed ball and flicked an RBI single to right field to make it 4-1, and Luke Shliger pulled a single through the infield to score Hurtado.
Jalen Evans spun a shutdown inning in the bottom of the eighth after good work from Duque Hebbert and Dariel Fregio shepherded the Whitecaps through the middle innings.
In the top of the ninth, with the game on the line, three straight singles from Clayton Campbell, Sojka, and Garrett Pennington scored a run and with two outs, Rainer and Shliger drew walks to force in the tying run. Unfortunately, Jackson Strong struck out to end the bases loaded threat, turning this one into an endurance test.
With Strong on second base to start the 10th, Cristian Santana sacrifice bunted him to third. That proved unnecessary as Juan Hernandez lined a single to make it 5-4. Campbell was hit by a pitch, but Sojka and Pennington struck out.
Logan Berrier allowed the tying run in the bottom half, and the game was only saved by a double play turn that went 4-6-3-2. CJ Weins was able to get a double play ball after a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 11th to keep things tied up after the Whitecaps failed to get the runner home in the top half.
The Whitecaps can’t turn the conventual double play, but Clayton Campbell alertly throws home to get an out at the plate, and we move into the 11th inning. pic.twitter.com/dQ58iuhL3D
Finally, in the top of the 12th, Strong came through with a good bunt for a single that moved the runner to third. A wild pitch scored the run, but that was all they’d get after they loaded the bases only to see Sojka strike out and Pennington fly out to end the threat.
Weins came back out and induced a pair of pop-ups, and then a grounder to Rainer at shortstop that ended it.
Hernandez: 3-5, RBI
Sojka: 2-5, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K, SB
Rainer: 1-5, RBI, BB, K
Jacobs: 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start in Lansing on Thursday.
Cash Kuiper ran into some largely walk-induced trouble in his start, but Alistair Tanner and the offense were up to the task as the Flying Tigers pounded out 10 hits and took nine walks, running away with this one late.
Zach MacDonald opened the scoring in the top of the third with a drive over the left field wall for his 11th home run already on the season. Unfortunately, he’s still striking out a ton, because he’s an athletic outfielder with huge power developing.
Kuiper was solid early, but gave up two runs in the third and another in the bottom of the fourth. Beau Ankeney had cracked a two-run shot in the top half with Trei Cruz aboard after a walk, so it was 3-3 after four innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Flying Tigers took the lead for good. Jack Goodman reached on a swinging bunt, taking second on a throwing error, and then scoring on a Jordan Yost opposite field double. Trei Cruz spanked a ground ball single to score Yost and make it a 5-3 game.
Jan Carabello did nice work taking over for Kuiper and pitching a clean fifth inning. Then Ali Tanner took the mound for the final four innings, and the 19-year-old right-hander was untouchable. Tanner has a high overhand arm slot and gets massive ride on his fastball. The Cardinals couldn’t cope with it as Tanner mowed through them for four perfect innings and seven strikeouts.
Tanner topped out at 96.5 mph with his fourseamer, averaging 94.5 mph with 20 inches of induced vertical break. He got eight whiffs on 24 swings, but the Cardinals largely just couldn’t pick up his stuff out of hand, taking a ton of called strikes as well. He’s got a mean breaking ball to boot. Like most of the Tigers best young arms, Tanner is still years from Detroit, but his progress will be worth following.
In the seventh, Yost and Cruz drew walks to start the inning and the Flying Tigers were able to rack a pair of insurance runs. Nick Dumesnil bounced into a force of Cruz at second, but Ankeney singled in Yost, and Jesus Pinto plated Dumesnil with a single to make it 7-3 where it ended as Tanner was unhittable the rest of the way.
Yost: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB
Pinto: 3-4, RBI, 2B, BB
Ankeney: 2-5, R, 3 RBI, HR, 2 K
Kuiper: 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K
Tanner (S, 1): 4.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: First pitch on Thursday is set for 6:30 p.m. ET with the series tied at a game apiece.
On the 556th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including some takeaways from the NBA Finals-bound New York Knicks, who are playing for a title for the first time since 1999. They haven’t won a championship since 1973.
Soshnick, who covered that 1999 Knicks team, discusses what he remembers from the run to the NBA Finals. He also compares it to this year’s team, which is on a historical 10-game winning streak that rivals any stretch for any team in the history of the league.
One major difference: the availability of officially licensed merchandise has changed dramatically. The shift to e-commerce—and in particular, the shift of sports e-commerce to a Fanatics-dominated market—has severely limited the amount of places where fans can buy title merch in person. New York City is currently a bit of a wasteland for big box stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods or even Walmart that often sell that merchandise.
The hosts debate which Knicks player has historically sold the most jerseys—is it an old timer like Patrick Ewing or a current star like Jalen Brunson? They also talk about the Knicks’ two potential opponents, both of whom have a very different in-game atmosphere than Madison Square Garden.
Next they discuss Princeton winning another men’s lacrosse national title, the school’s first in two and a half decades. It’s possible that changes across the NCAA, particularly those that are forcing the richest athletic departments to divert as much money as possible to athletes in football and basketball, have re-opened the door for smaller schools to excel in niche sports that they care about.
They close by talking about an expansion of women’s pro volleyball. Billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong is buying a new MLV franchise in Los Angeles for a fee in the $15-$20 million range. Soon-Shiong, who is a minority investor in the Lakers, compared this moment to the launch of the Lakers in the 1940s.
(You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
“No one remembers the wins (Goliath gets),” Calipari said during an interview with USA TODAY Sports and a few other media outlets at SEC spring meetings. “If you said, 'Who did we beat in the national championship?' They would not know. You know what they know? Saint Peter’s beat us. That’s what they know.
“That’s what makes this tournament. Don’t take that away.”
Don't take that away, because David and his 3-pointer give March Madness its soul.
Calipari looks at this from a perspective of, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. March Madness wasn’t broken. It was beautiful.
But, if you must make an unnecessary expansion from 68 to 76, why couldn’t that expansion uplift power-conference teams and mid-majors in equal proportion? That's what Calipari would like to see.
Alas, “no one listens to me,” said Calipari, now the coach at Arkansas.
John Calipari: March Madness expansion should uplift Cinderellas, too
I sure wish NCAA Tournament powerbrokers would listen to Calipari as a voice of reason.
Because, he’s right: Cinderella gives March Madness its spirit, even as upsets dwindled the past two seasons in the wake of NIL and transfer free agency.
If anyone listened to Calipari, here’s what they’d hear: Take these eight extra bids created by tournament expansion and split them into two groups:
Four bids go to power-conference teams. Four go to Cinderellas.
“I don’t think that’s how it’s going to operate,” Calipari said, “but that’s what I would say.”
NCAA Tournament expansion will add the dregs of power conferences
In the absence of an idea like the one he’s pushing, Calipari worries these eight bonus bids mostly will go to lower-end teams from power conferences.
Who wants that? Not anyone who truly loves the tournament, and not the guy who accelerated his career by taking UMass to the Final Four.
“I just think half of (the extra spots) should go to the non-Power Five. So, four of them. That would have people in our room saying, ‘Speak for yourself,’” Calipari said. “I get that, but I’ve been at UMass, and I’ve been at Memphis, and I know how hard it is to schedule. You can’t schedule your way in.”
To Calipari’s point, Miami (Ohio) encountered difficulty getting power-conference teams to agree to play the RedHawks last season. They slipped into the First Four as one of the last at-large teams selected.
Mid-majors are good theater. Mid-majors beating Goliath are great theater.
But, will anyone other than Calipari take up for the little guy?
You can bet your basketball SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti, his Big Ten counterpart, won't throw their weight behind Calipari's idea. They want these bonus bids going to the dregs of their conferences.
Here's how to spice up the 'First 12'
I’d take Calipari’s suggestion a step further. Don’t just split the final eight bids between high-majors and Cinderellas. Make sure to pit those teams against each other in the "First 12."
Think of it as a miniature Power Conference vs. Mid-major Challenge.
Or, just call it David versus Goliath.
So, Power Four teams won’t schedule the likes of Miami (Ohio) in November? Fine, but you’ll see ‘em in March.
If CBS wants to make the “First 12” a worthwhile product (rather than filler until the real tournament starts on Thursday) that's how you do it — by creating matchups that involve an underdog like the RedHawks against a power-conference brand, rather than matching up two 17-16 teams from power leagues.
It’s as Calipari said, though. Nobody will listen to him. The power conferences run college sports, and the dregs of those conferences will gobble up most of these bonus bids.
An expansion that could otherwise give us more Cinderella stories will instead mostly admit more access to weak and vulnerable Goliaths, with no David to contend with.
The embarrassment of being swept out of the Western Conference Final may not be the most damaging thing the Colorado Avalanche carry into the offseason.
For weeks, the focus has been on Colorado's inability to keep pace with the Vegas Golden Knights. Now, attention is shifting to something potentially more concerning: whether franchise cornerstone Cale Makar will be healthy when next season begins.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the injury that sidelined Makar for the first two games of the series against Vegas is serious enough that questions are already being asked about his availability for training camp and opening night.
“I’ve heard his injury is pretty significant,” Friedman said on his podcast. “And I know some people have been wondering, will he be ready for the start of next year? I guess we’ll find all that out, but I just don’t think that that’s the reason here. I think it’s more of an excuse than anything else.”
Friedman made it clear he doesn't believe Makar's injury was the deciding factor in the series. The Golden Knights were simply the better team.
Still, that doesn't make the injury any less concerning.
The Moment Everything Changed
The play itself hardly looked catastrophic.
Midway through the third period of Colorado's Game 5 matchup against the Minnesota Wild in the previous round, Makar tangled with Mats Zuccarello along the boards. Almost immediately, he grabbed at his right arm and headed down the tunnel.
The reaction raised eyebrows because Makar had already been visibly uncomfortable throughout the game, repeatedly reaching for the same area and speaking with trainers on the bench.
Although he returned later that night and continued playing through the postseason, it became increasingly obvious that he wasn't operating at full strength. Reports have since indicated the arm issue was compounded by a lingering hip injury, leaving one of hockey's most dominant players battling through multiple ailments during the most important stretch of the season.
The statistical drop-off reflected it.
After producing 79 points during the regular season, Makar finished the playoffs with just five points in 11 games. It matched the lowest postseason point total of his career, including seasons that ended in first-round exits.
More Questions Than Answers
The Avalanche entered the playoffs believing they had another legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup.
Instead, they were swept in four games, watched their stars struggle to generate offense, and exited with more uncertainty than momentum.
Now, the organization faces an offseason filled with difficult conversations.
Head coach Jared Bednar is entering the final year of his contract. The roster has clear areas that need improvement. And hanging over everything is the health of the player many consider the best defenseman in the world.
If Makar's recovery extends deeper into the summer than expected, it won't just affect his preparation. It could alter how Colorado approaches training camp, roster planning, and expectations for the start of the 2026-27 season.
For a franchise already searching for answers after a humiliating finish, the possibility of beginning next year without a fully healthy Makar would only make an uncomfortable offseason even more complicated.
Bednar said the organization expects to provide more detailed injury updates in the coming days following Colorado's Game 4 elimination.
James Dolan attends a Knicks game during the 2024-25 season. Photograph: Rich Graessle/Getty Images
The most stunning part about the Knicks snapping their 27-year NBA finals drought isn’t the 22½-point average margin of victory they posted over an 11-game playoff winning streak, or New Yorkers somehow resisting the urge to tear the city apart in celebration, or even the fact that neither the iPhone nor Facebook existed back in 1999.
No, the most surprising aspect when they sealed the Eastern Conference finals on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ home court was the Knicks’ star guard, Jalen Brunson, talking about his pride in a winning culture that “starts with Mr Dolan”.
It’s one thing to shout out the boss when cornered in public, but placing Knicks owner James Dolan at the very top of the list of people responsible for the team’s dramatic turnaround feels like thanking the iceberg for the movie Titanic. The Knicks’ redemption arc doesn’t hit as hard, or quite deliver the same catharsis, without Dolan’s special blend of chaos and dysfunction.
This may come as a shock to fans boarding the Knicks bandwagon, but before Kylie Jenner and the influencer set started turning up courtside, Dolan had spent decades in a race with Dan Snyder (formerly of the NFL’s Washington Commanders) and Bob Nutting (of MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates) for the title of worst owner in US sports.
In 2018, Bleacher Report described him as “masterful at destroying two beloved franchises”, the second being the NHL’s Rangers, who haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1994. In a lengthy interview with ESPN’s Ian O’Connor in 2018, Dolan said Knicks fans who spotted him around town would “shout something horrible and run away. It’s not fun.” In another digression about selling the team, an idea he has long insisted is well off the table, Dolan spoke more urgently about his responsibility to shareholders than to fans.
At the turn of the century, Dolan was a New York nepo baby poster boy – a recovering addict who inherited a multibillion-dollar cable TV and sports empire and ran it with a rumpled authority that carried through even to his personal presentation: he painted himself as the Long Island boy who owns Madison Square Garden and once had his blues-rock band, JD & The Straight Shot, open for the Eagles. For Knicks fans, he was a byword for chronic mismanagement more commonly known as “Jim Fucking Dolan”. He traded away franchise cornerstone Patrick Ewing in 2000 and signed Allan Houston to a $100m extension that prompted a league exemption for teams buried under bad contracts. Under Dolan’s ownership, the Knicks found themselves in salary-cap purgatory time and again, something that left them too constrained to pursue top free agents and too mediocre to rebuild through the draft.
There’s more. Under Dolan, the Knicks traded for middling center Eddy Curry despite his documented heart condition, hired Phil Jackson a decade too late for the wrong job, and reportedly benched the cheerleading squad during a grim loss to Charlotte (a team source later denied the story was true). Rather than attend the 2017 draft, which took place in New York, Dolan chose to play a JD & The Straight Shot gig across town. While we’re on the subject of his music endeavors, in 2018 he wrote a song about not knowing his former friend Harvey Weinstein was a sexual predator.
Then there’s the treatment of the fans themselves. Knicks fans who voice frustration with Dolan – whether on picket lines outside Madison Square Garden or during in-game “sell the team” chants – risk permanent banishment. Famously, MSG security denied Spike Lee entry to the Garden on a whim in 2020 when he arrived through a gate reserved for Garden employees and media – as had been his custom for nearly 30 years.
Beat writers are careful not to be too critical of Dolan or the team, as MSG staff hawkishly manage access. In a recent interview with investigative reporter Pablo Torre, one Knicks beat reporter, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested the team’s media workroom may be bugged. Even former players tread lightly: Charles Oakley has been a ghost at MSG since he was hauled out of the arena for heckling Dolan at a 2017 game.
Dolan’s abiding loyalty to Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas was another staggering low point. In 2007, Dolan’s Madison Square Garden company was ordered to pay $11.6m to settle a lawsuit brought by a female team executive who had alleged sexual harassment by Thomas; Dolan, who had reportedly fired the woman, personally contributed $3.5m to the settlement. In 2015, Dolan brought Thomas on to the New York Liberty – his WNBA franchise. Former NBA commissioner David Stern, noting both the controversy and the Knicks’ lack of success during Dolan’s tenure, described him as “not a model of intelligent management”. (Dolan sold the Liberty to billionaires Joe and Clara Wu Tsai in 2019).
Only the tools Dolan uses to indulge his worst instincts have become more intelligent. Last month, a damning report in Wired revealed the extent to which Dolan has transformed his vast entertainment empire into a surveillance state, one that uses biometric surveillance technology to track perceived enemies in real time – from Oakley to a graphic designer who sold “Ban Dolan” T-shirts years ago to a fan whom Dolan personally deemed a security risk, monitoring her movements down to drink orders and bathroom trips before banning her from the Garden. MSG dismissed the Wired report, which stemmed from a lawsuit brought by a former member of the company’s security team, as “reckless”.
It is hard to look at Dolan’s digitally driven paranoia without being reminded of another New York nepo baby poster boy. Sure enough, it was only a matter of time before Donald Trump climbed back aboard the Knicks bandwagon, confirming reports that he plans to attend the finals at the Garden next week – another instance of a major sporting event being conscripted for his presidential stagecraft. Of course Trump made sure to add that the Knicks “have really suffered for years”, and that he was “invited by numerous people” including Dolan. Incidentally, Dolan, who married his second wife at Mar-a-Lago, remains a fierce Trump supporter despite the president undercutting his grand plans to redevelop Madison Square Garden.
So how does one of the worst owners in sports wind up not only riding herd on the NBA’s hottest team, but drawing credit for the turnaround? Well, Dolan may have his faults, but cheapskating the Knicks is not one of them. After burning through one basketball executive after another – from Thomas to Jackson to Indiana Pacers architect Donnie Walsh – Dolan turned to Leon Rose, a former agent who had closed a number of client-favorable deals with the Knicks, Curry’s albatross contract among them. Dolan then largely stayed out of the way as Rose reshaped the roster: trading for Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns, drafting the rangy center Mitchell Robinson, and ponying up to bring in Brunson from the Dallas Mavericks in an above-market deal that, in retrospect, looks like one of the NBA’s biggest bargains. Broken clock and all that.
It’s to the point now where any fantasy about this Knicks team winning the NBA title has to reconcile with the jarring reality of the Larry O’Brien trophy being handed to Dolan – a truly strange image to consider. And while some fans now politely applaud Dolan for finally getting the Knicks on the right track and may even endure a JD & The Straight Shot performance to mark the occasion, most are not inclined to excuse the years of emotional punishment it took to get here. After the Knicks came back to beat the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the East finals, Dolan gave away an Anunoby-signed game ball to a young fan waiting for him outside MSG afterward. Lucky kid can hardly fathom the Knicks’ misery Trump speaks of so authoritatively.
In the 2018 ESPN interview, Dolan said he didn’t think he would take part in a parade if the Knicks ever won a championship. Some free advice: stick with that plan. It’s one thing to thank the boss after a game in Cleveland – which, to be fair, coach Mike Brown (another brilliant Rose addition) did as well. But in New York, celebration and grievance can’t help but ride the same subway car. True blue Knicks fans can forgive, but they shouldn’t soon forget.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 17: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees in action during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The results from imaging taken on Giancarlo Stanton Tuesday showed enough progress to give him the green light to begin running again. Per Aaron Boone, he’s seeing “a lot of improvement” and, given the fact that he’s continued taking swings while on the IL, he might be able to return before too long. The Yankees DH landed on the shelf a month ago with an injured right calf.
In other injury news, Jasson Domínguez may be in a position to begin taking live BP next week, advancing him along in his recovery from an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The outfielder would likely need a rehab stint before he’s ready to be activated.
MLB.com | Brian Murphy: The Yankees accomplished an extraordinary team feat Tuesday in the middle game of their eventual sweep, with each starter recording at least two hits for the first time in franchise history. “It feels great to be part of Yankees history,” said third baseman Amed Rosario who notched four hits, two of which were round trippers. A few other statistical nuggets to underscore the rarity of the offensive explosion:
Five players recorded at least three hits (the most since August 3, 2011)
The lineup recorded 46 total bases (the most since July 22, 2007)
The lineup had 24 hard-hit balls (the most in the Statcast era, which began in 2015)
MLB.com | Robert Falkoff: Amidst the Yankees’ historic 15-1 steamrolling of the Royals Tuesday, Cam Schlittler’s six-inning, one-run showing was an afterthought. It’s a testament to how dominant the sophomore hurler has become. “Not the best,” Schlittler said of his strong performance. “My stuff wasn’t as sharp, but I was able to put the team in position to win. That’s all you can ask for.”
His manager was more effusive in his praise of the right-handed phenom, highlighting his competitive edge. “He expects to not only pitch well, but dominate,” said Aaron Boone. “He has that mindset. Some people have that mindset but don’t have the confidence to go with it. He certainly does.”
The Athletic | Evan Drellich: ($) The MLB Players Association has proposed a new revenue sharing model, including a soft salary floor to encourage teams to spend at least $150 million. The proposal comes a day in advance of the owners’ plan, which is expected to include a salary cap. The union’s plan also includes nearly doubling the baseline MLB salary to $1.5 million with sizable increases in the pre-arbitration pool and arbitration minimums. In competing statements, the MLBPA and owners presented opposing viewpoints, with the union trumpeting competition while the owners drove home their purported belief in the importance of parity.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: Knicks fans celebrate winning the eastern conference championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 25, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in 1999, falling to the Spurs, and are seeking their first championship since defeating the Lakers in 1973. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You know what’s poppin’?
The Spurs and the Thunder are five deep going seven.
On Jalen Brunson’s work ethic and leadership after yet another sweep:
“His work ethic is second to none. On top of that, he’s pretty even-keeled. Never gets too high, never gets too low. And when your leader is that way — which you need to have, especially when you hit adversity — it’s easy to get everybody else to follow.”
On the identity and sacrifice behind the Knicks’ Finals run:
“Our identity lies in our intangibles. And I go back to what our standard is. Guys on [the Spurs and Warriors], they all sacrificed. They all had a competitive spirit that was unmatched. They all stayed connected through tough times. They all believed in each other and the process while holding each other accountable. Those intangibles are what I’m starting to see with our group as being what our identity is, which is similar to some of the other teams I’ve been fortunate, blessed and lucky to be a part of that have made it that far.”
Jalen Brunson
On the team’s collective sacrifice during the Finals run:
“We have good character guys in there. We have guys that want to win. We have guys that are willing to sacrifice. It’s a team effort.”
On keeping the ECF celebrations muted and getting back to work:
“The celebrations were minimal. We really wanna get back to work. We know what happened last time we had the long layoff, so we already talked after the game right away about preparing, getting to practice, back to the work. That’s what’s made us special and it’s what’s gonna give us a chance to win the next series.”
On adjusting to yet another long break before the Finals’ Game 1:
“We’ll do a better job this time around of just preparing for that kind of situation to happen. I think obviously the coaches have done an amazing job getting us ready for Game 1, but obviously we didn’t go out there and shoot well. I think I looked up at one point and we were at four percent from three. So we just got to figure out a way to get those kinds of game-like reps. I think the coaching staff heard us loud and clear: We want to get back to work to keep the rhythm and maybe change up the philosophy of how we have those scrimmages that we didn’t do last time. I think we’ll be better prepared. But at the end of the day, it’s all about execution, desperation, energy. We got to bring it Game 1. This team’s hungry, and that’s the most important thing. Even with an amazing, historic win we had tonight, the celebrations were at a minimum. We really want to get to work. We asked Coach [Mike Brown], can we get back to work quick. We know what happened last time we had a long layoff, so we already talked after the game right away about preparing, getting to practice, getting back to the work. It’s what made us special and it’s what’s going to give us a chance to win the next series.”
On reviving hope in New York as a lifelong Knicks fan:
“When I was growing up, watching the Knicks, it was just hoping one day you could just put the jersey on. [I] Never knew I’d be in this position at this mic talking about us going to the Finals and the city believing in us. There’s nowhere better in the world when [Madison Square] Garden has hope.”
On the collective effort behind the Finals run:
“We got to this point because we worked together. We’ve been a team. We unified. The collective group has shown up in spots when we need to.”
On acknowledging fans’ celebrations but recognizing there’s still work to do:
“Experience teaches you a lot. This is my third conference finals in a row, and I finally got over the hump, finally got to the Finals. I’m gonna enjoy this moment. It’s OK for New York, the fans, us, our fan base to enjoy this moment and be jubilant about this. But for us as the players, we understand that the job’s not done, we’ve got to get back to work.”
On Brunson’s commitment to the work behind the scenes:
“The magic’s in the work; he’s a testament of that. He believes in that. He showcases that every single day to all of us and drives us all to be better.”
On his own willingness to sacrifice for winning:
“I’ve always said I’m willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to impact winning and help this team win. That’s the blessing of our group.”
Wings, Wings and More Wings!@AdamSchein breaks down how he prefers his chicken wings!
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 26, 2026
Josh Hart
On the chicken-wing man:
“You got chicken wings. You supposed to be asking questions, and you went and got chicken wings. Hell no. You don’t get nothing. Then wings are hitting though.”
On keeping a selfless mindset through the Knicks’ 11-game win streak:
“I don’t think a switch flipped per se. This is a selfless team. Being unselfish, I think that’s the biggest thing. And where we’re at right now, everyone is unselfish. We’re willing to sacrifice numbers and stats for the betterment of the team. And I think when we do that, we’re playing our best basketball.”
On the surreal journey from Villanova to the NBA Finals:
“Yeah, it’s something that is surreal. When you’re in college and you’re in that locker room, you always kind of — you know, the goal is the NBA. And you know the percent chance that you guys are gonna be on the same team is very slim, if not none. And it’s always something you talk about and dream about, but you know the reality is almost impossible. So the fact that it actually came to fruition is super cool, because I know the time that these guys put in. I know where their hearts are. We already share a bond and a brotherhood for life, and this is just another step there. Obviously, this is not the ultimate goal. But, you know, you just keep adding memories to that, and these are memories that we’ll have for a lifetime.”
On whether self-doubt crept in during his journey from joining the Knicks in 2021 to making the Finals:
“For sure. For sure. It was some tough, long nights.”
On the ups and downs of his role this season:
“Shout out to God for keeping my head right. Been a lot of ups and downs individually. From not playing to getting thrust into a rotation. High minutes, low minutes. It’s been a lot. But it’s all worth it in the end.”
"It's definitely a blessing to be a piece of the puzzle, especially in this organization… no other player, no other guard that I want to be along besides JB so I'm just very grateful to be in this position."
On embracing his role after the Eastern Conference clincher:
“Everybody out there is trying to do just one thing: win. All trying to play hard, at the end of the day, just trying to get a Knicks win.”
On being grateful to be part of the Knicks’ core:
“I think it’s definitely a blessing to be a piece of the puzzle, especially in this organization. You know, like JB was saying, just grateful to be in this position, the organization believing in me personally, you know, bringing me over here. But there’s no other player, no other guard that I wanna be alongside besides JB. So I’m just very grateful to be in this position, and you know, I just gotta keep it going.”
On his message to Jalen Brunson after the ECF title:
“I just told the maestro to keep doing it. He’s very level-headed, always wants to do team-oriented things. He’s very focused.”
On the Knicks’ pride and momentum during the Finals run:
“They have a lot of pride in there. A lot of pride. Let’s see what happens. They’re on a roll.”
On how the Knicks have elevated their pace and performance:
“The last 11 games, the way they’re getting up and down the court, everyone is moving and grooving. Every game they seem to get better and better (with) movement, defense. I think the pace is what’s really changed. They can go on runs now, 10 or 15 points, and just blow the game right open. And they weren’t doing that during the regular season.”
On sharing history if the Knicks win a title:
“It’s good for me. It’s a resurrection. They’re talking about me more now than then. It’s the same thing now with these guys. When they start winning, they got to bring us up. That’s what we’re comparing. They’re saying Brunson is better than Clyde or he’s better than [Patrick] Ewing, [that] he’s the greatest Knick.”
On adjusting to life after being traded to Cleveland:
“I was preparing myself for my retirement. I was reading self-help books, something I would have never done if I stayed in New York. It turned out to be a blessing, but I was devastated when I got traded.”
On how long it took to forgive the Knicks for trading him:
“It took me about seven or eight years. I didn’t follow the game after I retired. I was trying to adjust to life. The biggest thing I found was that I had to control my ego. My phone isn’t ringing off the hook no more and the Knicks had moved on to the next Clyde.”
“The last 11 games, the way they’re getting up and down the court, everyone is moving and grooving."
“Just enjoy the moment, the most important thing that these guys do. You never know when you’re gonna get back. When we lost the Finals in ’94, I thought we’d be back a couple of times, [which] didn’t happen for me and my teammates, for some of us. Just enjoy the moment.”
On why this roster understands what it takes to win:
“A lot of these guys have been through a championship in college with the Villanova guys. They understand what it takes. We’ve got a great leader in Jalen [Brunson] and Karl-Anthony Towns. I’m excited about it. These are such even-keeled individuals. All those guys. I think Leon [Rose] and [William Wesley] did a great job putting together like-minded individuals. And that’s what it takes. Guys that are not gonna get too high, get too low, and they cheer for one another and they like one another. That’s what it takes, to have that togetherness, because things can get tough. You got to know who’s in the same boat as you. You don’t want to see guys jumping ship. And these guys don’t jump ship. If the boat’s gonna go down, they’re gonna go down together.”
On the Knicks’ historic 11-game run and two-way dominance:
“I haven’t seen nothing like this. You probably have to go back to the 76ers, when Moses [Malone] said, ‘Fo,’ Fo,’ Fo.’ ’ … We’re rolling right now. The team should feel good, and all the work that they put in over the year has culminated into what you see. In order to do what you’re doing, both sides of the ball have to be played very well. And those guys are playing both sides of the ball very well — defensively, offensively. They’re executing, cutting down on the turnovers, just enjoying one another. The atmosphere that’s in this arena, wherever we go — on the road, at home — New York is just representing. They understand the moment.”
On seeing franchise legends hand out the 2026 Eastern Conference trophy:
“That’s legacy there. Those two guys was pillars of this organization for so many years. To be able to see them hand out the trophy, it means a lot.”
On celebrating the Knicks’ return to the Finals:
“Just a special moment. I’m happy for those guys because they did it together.”
The back page: ULTIMATE 'WARRIOR'
Mess: No drought about it, Brunson's Knicks can repeat after 1994 Rangers
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 27, 2026
Mark Messier
On what it takes to end a championship drought:
“It’s a selfless endeavor trying to win a championship. And the Knicks have figured out a way to play together and sacrifice themselves for the team, and it’s being led by a warrior in Brunson.”
On the city rallying around the Knicks:
“It’s just great to see. Everybody is caught up in it.”
On staying relaxed under pressure and trusting yourself in championship moments:
“If you’re thinking about consequences, that’s when things are not going to flow for you. You have to trust yourself. You have to do what you’ve done 1,000 times and not let the moment and pressure tighten your instincts, your natural motion that you’ve done thousands of times. Jalen has shown that he’s not afraid to fail. And I think, because of it, he’s able to get himself in that relaxed state under the most pressurized moments. And you see that when you’re talking about Jordan or Kobe or Larry Bird or any of the great players who’ve played the game. Magic Johnson. They trusted themselves implicitly in those moments because they’ve done it so many times and they’re able to stay in that flow state. And they’re not afraid.”
On embracing the weight of ending a long championship drought:
“Trying to do something that hadn’t been done at that time in 54 years was an amazing opportunity for me. It was something I really leaned into and felt the enormity of it. Generations of fans who have been waiting to see a Stanley Cup on the Madison Square Garden ice. And then to win it at home in a Game 7 [against the Canucks] was just incredible.”
On why the Knicks are easy to root for during this run:
“They’re an easy team to root for when you watch them. They’re celebrating each other. They’re seemingly devoid of ego, which sometimes can be a problem. And then it has to be coached and taught and mentored to the team, to the culture, and it seems like Brunson is doing that. And of course he can always lead by example. And nobody is playing harder on the court or wants to win more than him.”
Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -228, Canadiens +187; over/under is 5.5
STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Hurricanes lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes host the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the eighth time this season. The Hurricanes won the previous meeting 4-0.
Carolina has a 34-11-2 record at home and a 53-22-7 record overall. The Hurricanes are 56-6-6 when scoring three or more goals.
Montreal is 31-10-10 in road games and 48-24-10 overall. The Canadiens rank fifth in the league serving 10.4 penalty minutes per game.
TOP PERFORMERS: Andrei Svechnikov has 31 goals and 39 assists for the Hurricanes. Logan Stankoven has six goals over the past 10 games.
Nicholas Suzuki has 29 goals and 72 assists for the Canadiens. Alexander Newhook has scored six goals with two assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 9-1-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.9 assists, 5.9 penalties and 15 penalty minutes while giving up 1.7 goals per game.
Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 3.5 goals, six assists, 5.8 penalties and 20 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed.
Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 26: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs works against Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 26, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Facing elimination for the first time this postseason, the San Antonio Spurs come into this pivotal Game 6 with their backs against the wall. With 10 games already played between them and the Thunder this season and Game 6 looming, both of these teams are way passed the point of being surprised at what the other is trying to do. They’re both also worn down and beaten up, which means still finding a way to lock in and do the little things that are needed to come away with playoff wins, all while dealing with heavy legs, will be more important than at any point this season for either team.
Considering that they’ll need to win two games in a row including what would surely be a chaotic Game 7 on the road against the defending champs, the Spurs are in as good a position as possible given the circumstances. They’ll have a raucous San Antonio crowd behind them tonight that can hopefully give them any juice they might currently be lacking in these latter stages of the Western Conference Finals as they look to force that Game 7. The Spurs have surprised not only Silver and Black fans this season, but also the entire NBA audience as a whole. Do they have another surprise in them?
San Antonio Spurs (2-3) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (3-2) May 28 2026 | 8:30 PM CT Watch: NBC, Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Line: San Antonio -3.5
He caught the attention of headlines afterwards for failing to address the media after Game 5, but Victor Wembanyama didn’t have the sort of performance in that game that the Spurs need him to have if they want to get to the NBA Finals, let alone win them. He went just 4/15 from the field, with a lot of that offense starting at least 18 feet out from the basket. When he has his outside shot falling, Wembanyama looks like the basketball demigod that people imagine him to be, but when he isn’t knocking down jumpers he still has a tendency to play far from the hoop. This is not new criticism of him: casual fans and analysts alike just assume that the 7’4 Wembanyama should just be able to dominate a game inside whenever but the Thunder have done as good a job as anyone to this point at keeping a body on him to either push him away from the basket or to contain him on his drives. Time and time again Wembanyama has responded to adversity defiantly. Expect him to rise to the challenge tonight on his first career elimination game.
With tonight’s game a do-or-die situation, Mitch Johnson’s bench rotations will be of great interest. It’s no secret that this hasn’t been a great series for Luke Kornet. Kornet, who played a pivotal role throughout the regular season as a competent back up big to Wembanyama, has a cumulative plus-minus of -52 in the first five games of this series. He played just 8 minutes in the Game 5 loss, his fewest of the series thus far. Perhaps there’s a chance Mitch decides to cut out his minutes entirely in a game of this magnitude, riding Wemby as long as he can while maybe going small in the odd minute where Vic isn’t on the court.
Kornet is far from the only one who’s struggled on San Antonio’s bench in this series though. Dylan Harper had that 24 point explosion in Game 1 as a starter, but he hasn’t looked the same since suffering an adductor strain in Game 2, while Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant have also been kept on a relatively short leash by the San Antonio head coach. If it’s a tight game, especially in the 2nd half, it seems to this point that the guy Johnson trusts the most is the rookie Harper.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
This Columbus lineup is extremely stacked. Cooper Ingle went 1-5 with a two RBI single in the 8th. Ralphy Velazquez extended his on base streak to 12 games with a single. Angel Genao went 1-3 with an RBI, single, and a walk. Kody Huff went 0-1 with 2 RBIs via a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly.
Koby Allard got the start and went 5 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks. Andrew Walters and Franco Aleman both appeared in this game and they both looked great. Walters struck out two and didn’t allow a single hit. Aleman still has yet to allow an earned run in AAA this season. I expect both of these two to make an impact in the Guardians bullpen at some point this season.
It was a rough game for the RubberDucks offense. Former RubberDuck Matt Wilkinson shut them down with 7 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. Jake Fox was the only player to record a hit tonight, he went 1-3 with a walk. This offense badly misses Angel Gena0 and Ralphy Velazquez.
Khal Stephen had another great outing. He tossed 6 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. I would like to see that strikeout number increase but it’s hard to complain about 6 scoreless innings. His ERA is down to 2.74 on the season.
No multi hit performances from anyone on the Captains today, but we did see Dean Curley, Luke Hill, and Aaron Walton hit doubles. Nolan Schubart went 1-2 with a HR and two walks.
It wasn’t the best start for Franklin Gomez today, as he allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 4.2 innings. However he was still able to strike out 5 batters, his ERA sits at a cool 2.47 on the season.
It wasn’t a big day for the Howlers offense. Cannon Peebles went 1-3 with an RBI single. Yeiferth Castillo went 3-4 with three singles.
Nelson Keljo continues to rack up the strikeouts against Single A hitters. He did allow two runs in 3.2 innings pitched but was able to strike out 7 batters. His ERA on the season is at 3.14.
One week ago, the Colorado Avalanche looked like a team that was inevitable. Today, they're cleaning out their lockers after one of the most stunning collapses in franchise history.
For months, the Avalanche looked destined to lift the Stanley Cup. They won the Presidents' Trophy. They overwhelmed opponents with speed and skill. They entered the Western Conference Final as heavy favorites.
Four games later, they were swept. Not beaten. Swept.
The easy explanation is to point at Vegas and say the Golden Knights got hot at the right time. The better explanation is that Colorado spent an entire season flirting with problems that eventually became impossible to ignore.
And no, this has nothing to do with some mythical Presidents' Trophy curse.
The Presidents' Trophy isn't cursed. It's a trophy. You make your own destiny. And the Avalanche made theirs.
Throughout the season, there were warning signs hiding beneath the wins. If you've watched our interviews all year long, you've heard the same phrases repeated over and over: poor puck management, defensive-zone turnovers, sloppy play, unforced mistakes.
The difference was that those mistakes usually came with a safety net. Scott Wedgewood would make a ridiculous save. Mackenzie Blackwood would erase a defensive breakdown. Nathan MacKinnon would score a goal and suddenly nobody cared about the turnover that happened three shifts earlier.
Winning has a way of covering up flaws. Until it doesn't.
Against Vegas, it was like pneumonia and sepsis hit at the exact same time. The offense stopped scoring. The goaltending advantage disappeared. The power play went silent. The injuries mounted. Every issue that had been masked by elite talent and timely saves suddenly stood naked under a spotlight.
Everything that could go wrong went wrong.
Nathan MacKinnon didn't score a goal in the series. Think about that for a second. The most dominant even-strength player in hockey went four games without scoring. That's never happened before, and the Avalanche had no answer.
When The Punches Started Landing
Watching Colorado during the final three games of this series reminded me of Oscar De La Hoya's fight against Manny Pacquiao in 2008.
On paper, it looked like a massive showdown between two stars.
What people forget is what De La Hoya had to go through just to get there. He hadn't fought at that weight class in years and spent his training camp draining his body to make weight. By fight night, he looked depleted, dehydrated, and physically empty. When the fight started, Pacquiao immediately took over, and De La Hoya had no ability to change the momentum.
At one point, the late Emmanuel Steward — one of the greatest trainers in boxing history and a former coach of De La Hoya himself — watched the fight unfold and delivered a brutally honest assessment:
"He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to do at all."
Watching Colorado against Vegas, it was hard not to think about that quote.
The Golden Knights kept punching. The Avalanche kept absorbing. And no adjustment ever came.
Vegas clogged the middle of the ice and dared Colorado to beat them from the perimeter. Colorado kept trying anyway.
Vegas erased a third-period lead in Game 2. Colorado looked stunned. Vegas stormed back in Game 3. Colorado looked stunned again.
For a team that entered the third period with a lead and won 41 consecutive regular-season games, plus four playoff games, the inability to respond was shocking.
"I think we let Games 2 and 3 slip away from us," Logan O’Connor said. "Super uncharacteristic from our group to give up the leads like that, especially in consecutive games."
The scary part wasn't just that Colorado lost those games. It was how they reacted afterward. The confidence disappeared. The swagger disappeared. By Game 4, they looked like a team waiting for something bad to happen.
Then it did.
The Offense Never Showed Up
A lot of attention will naturally fall on Nathan MacKinnon, because that’s what happens when superstars go quiet on the biggest stage.
But he wasn't alone.
Martin Necas, Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin combined for 88 regular-season goals. In this series, they combined for four. Only two came against goaltenders.
Necas was supposed to be the connector, the secondary engine who punished teams for overloading on MacKinnon. Instead, Vegas forced him to the perimeter and took away his ability to attack the middle of the ice.
Nelson generated chances but couldn't finish them. At times, he looked like a player pressing for offense that never arrived. In 20 playoff games with Colorado, he has just two goals, both empty-netters.
Nichushkin’s story was more physical than statistical. His offense had already faded late in the regular season, and it never returned in the playoffs. A lower-body injury eventually ended his series after Game 4.
Now the Avalanche face difficult questions about his future, with four years remaining on his contract and a modified no-trade clause attached.
But regardless of the individual cases, the result is the same: Colorado’s depth scoring vanished.
And when MacKinnon stopped scoring, there was nothing left to catch the slack.
The Details That Decided Everything
There’s a temptation to frame this as a collapse defined by one issue.
It wasn’t.
It was everything at once.
The power play struggled for most of the season and carried that problem straight into the postseason. Puck management issues that showed up in November were still there in May. Defensive-zone breakdowns never fully disappeared.
The Avalanche often survived those flaws because they had enough elite talent to erase the consequences.
Vegas removed that safety net.
The Golden Knights defended with structure and patience. They clogged the middle of the ice, forced Colorado to the outside, and waited for mistakes.
And Colorado kept giving them.
You can point to injuries. You can point to goaltending swings. You can point to luck.
All of it matters.
But great teams are eventually defined by what they repeatedly are, not what they occasionally become.
For months, Colorado’s flaws were survivable.
Against Vegas, they were decisive.
Even the goaltending story fits that pattern. Scott Wedgewood earned his role with a strong season, but Carter Hart consistently outplayed Colorado’s netminders throughout the series. When Mackenzie Blackwood finally delivered Colorado’s best performance in Game 4, it came too late, with too little support in front of him.
By then, the series had already slipped away.
Meanwhile, Vegas only got stronger. Health returned. Execution tightened. Confidence grew.
That’s how a sweep happens in a series that was supposed to be competitive.
Not because of fate.
Not because of a curse.
But because one team adapted — and the other didn’t.
And once the punches started landing, Colorado never found a way to answer them.
In this week's Closer Report, Josh Hader's season debut with the Astros is drawing closer as he wraps up his minor league rehab assignment. Gregory Soto is tightening his hold on the Pirates' closer role. And Kenley Jansen's status is worth watching after the veteran closer departed Wednesday's contest. All that and more as we break down the last week in saves.
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Mason Miller - San Diego Padres Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves
Miller made one appearance this week, striking out two in a clean inning against the Athletics on Saturday for his 16th save. It was the first time he didn't have to navigate baserunners over his previous five outings. With solid contributions from Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Jeremiah Estrada, the Padres have collectively had one of the best bullpens in baseball.
Smith locked down three more saves to give him an MLB-leading 19. The 27-year-old right-hander has been lights out, posting a 2.70 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts over 26 2/3 innings. The back end of the Cleveland bullpen did take a hit, with Erik Sabrowski landing on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Sabrowski has been one of baseball's best setup men, with a 1.71 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 21 innings while leading the league in holds at 17.
Duran surrendered a run to blow a save chance against the Guardians on Friday, then bounced back with three straight scoreless outings for three saves this week. He's certainly making up for the time he missed with an oblique strain, converting 11 saves with a 1.62 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings.
Chapman got a week of rest as he didn't see any save chances. Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten lost the lead for the Red Sox on two occasions. The team currently finds itself in last place in the AL East. While they'll likely stick it out and try to get in the hunt over the next two months, Chapman will be a hot commodity if the team sells at the trade deadline.
Muñoz picked up a save against the Royals on Friday and had strung together five straight scoreless appearances before giving up a solo homer in a non-save situation on Tuesday against the A's. The 27-year-old right-hander is up to nine saves with a 4.79 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings.
On one hand, Muñoz has lowered his walk rate from last year and is generating far more whiffs, giving him an elite 29.2% K-BB rate that bodes well for better performance. On the other hand, he's giving up more hard contact than ever, giving up a 14.3% barrel rate and 49% hard-hit rate. Hitters are slugging .625 on his fastball. Still, it feels a little more fluky, and I trust he'll get back to his dominant self through the rest of the season.
After starting the season with 15 consecutive scoreless appearances, Iglesias finally has an ERA after giving up two runs against the Red Sox on Tuesday. Still, he held on for his ninth save of the season, looking as effective as ever in his 12th MLB campaign.
▶ Tier 2
Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
O'Brien recorded four outs and gave up an unearned run to take the loss against the Reds on Saturday for his only appearance this week. He remains at 13 saves with a 2.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts over 24 1/3 innings.
Baker appeared in two games this week, picking up his 14th save with a scoreless inning against the Yankees on Friday. The 31-year-old right-hander is well on pace for over 30 saves this season, not something we thought we'd get out of a Rays reliever coming into the year.
The Cubs have had a hard time getting a tight lead to the ninth for save chances all season. Palencia hadn't pitched in a week before getting the seventh inning in a blowout loss on Tuesday. He gave up one run on a solo homer.
Varland completed a clean, two-inning save against the Pirates on Friday with three strikeouts. He was unavailable on Saturday after the extended outing, with Jeff Hoffman stepping in for a save. Varland was then used in the eighth on Wednesday against the Marlins to face the heart of the order. He kept Miami off the board before Tyler Rogers picked up the save in the ninth.
Scott didn't get a save chance this week, either. Instead, he made a pair of scoreless appearances against the Brewers over the weekend, striking out five over two innings of work. With Scott unavailable on Monday, Blake Treinen stepped in to record the final out for a save against the Rockies. Scott then pitched the eighth inning against the top of the Rockies lineup on Wednesday before Kyle Hurt took the ninth for a save. While Scott should be considered the primary closer in Los Angeles, it's clear manager Dave Roberts isn't going to save him for every save chance.
▶ Tier 3
Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks David Bednar - New York Yankees Josh Hader - Houston Astros Gregory Soto - Pittsburgh Pirates Devin Williams - New York Mets Kenley Jansen - Detroit Tigers Pete Fairbanks - Miami Marlins Jacob Latz - Texas Rangers Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White Sox
Sewald continues to get it done for the Diamondbacks. He picked up three saves and a win this week, giving him 14 saves with a 3.80 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 21 1/3 innings.
Bednar got back on track with two scoreless outings. He struck out the side in a non-save situation against the Rays on Friday, then picked up a save against the Royals on Monday. Bednar is another reliever with better underlying metrics than surface stats, suggesting better days ahead.
Bryan King recorded back-to-back saves against the Cubs over the weekend, then gave up one run in the eighth inning against the Rangers on Wednesday before Enyel De Los Santos stepped in for his fourth save. King has led the way in Josh Hader's absence with six. His utility could be coming to an end soon, with Hader approaching his season debut in the coming days. He's been out of action all season recovering from a biceps injury. The 32-year-old left-hander made his eighth rehab appearance on Wednesday and will likely get one more outing in with Triple-A Sugar Land before he's activated from the injured list. We'd place him here in the rankings for now, but he could quickly rise if he looks like he's returned to form following the long layoff.
Soto has fully entrenched himself as the Pirates' primary closer. He picked up back-to-back saves this week against the Blue Jays and Cubs. The 31-year-old left-hander has converted five saves this month and six on the season to go with a 2.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings. Fellow left-handers Evan Sisk and Mason Montgomery have been excellent in middle relief, giving Soto the chance to be saved for the ninth inning.
Just when Williams looked to have turned a corner, he surrendered four runs and took the loss while recording one out against the Marlins on Sunday. He had worked his ERA down to 4.32, then ended that day with a 6.35 mark. Williams recovered on Wednesday with a scoreless inning against the Reds, striking out the side for his eighth save, but had to work around three walks and strand the bases loaded.
In Detroit, Jansen surrendered three runs, blowing a save and taking a loss against the Orioles on Sunday. He then departed from Wednesday's game against the Angels with a right groin injury and will undergo further evaluation. If Jansen is forced to miss some time, Kyle Finnegan would likely step in as next in line for saves. Though Finnegan's 1.82 ERA is mostly a mirage, as he's issued more walks than strikeouts with a 15/19 K/BB ratio across 25 2/3 innings. Drew Anderson has shown far better skills, with a 45/16 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 innings. But he's been used for multiple innings in his outings, including three scoreless frames against the Angels on Wednesday.
Fairbanks took the mound four times in the last week, picking up a win and a save. Nine of his eleven runs allowed have come in three blowup outings. He's been otherwise solid for the Marlins when healthy, converting six saves with a 21/7 K/BB ratio over 14 innings.
Latz gave up a solo homer against the Astros on Tuesday, but held on to convert a four-out save with two strikeouts. Four of his six runs allowed have come over his last three appearances. Still, he's been incredibly solid for the Rangers, settling in as the team's closer with six saves and a 2.16 ERA over 25 innings.
After giving up four runs in two appearances last week, Domíguez bounced back with a pair of scoreless outings. He picked up his 11th save against the Twins on Monday. The Grant Taylor hype turned out to be a bit premature after he picked up a save last week. He pitched the fifth inning in his next outing, giving up two runs against the Giants, then tossed a scoreless seventh against the Twins.
▶ Tier 4
Trevor Megill/Abner Uribe - Milwaukee Brewers Rico Garcia/Anthony Nunez - Baltimore Orioles Lucas Erceg - Kansas City Royals Kaleb Killian - San Francisco Giants
Megill may be taking a step towards retaking the primary closer role. He pitched the ninth with a six-run lead against the Cardinals on Tuesday. This came after Uribe tossed a scoreless eighth and displayed a controversial gesture toward the Cardinals' dugout as he walked off the mound. Megill was given the ninth again on Wednesday, converting a save against the Cardinals.
Garcia and Nunez have split save chances in the absence of Ryan Helsley, with three saves each. Nunez converted a save on Friday against the Tigers, then gave up a run to blow the lead in the eighth inning against the Rays on Monday. Helsley is working his way back from a bout of right elbow inflammation and hopes to return sometime next month.
Erceg had a rough week. He gave up three runs against the Mariners on Sunday, then blew a save chance and took the loss with two runs allowed against the Yankees on Monday. It was always going to be difficult to maintain success with a 5.4% K-BB rate. But Erceg appears to have a leash on the closer role, for now. Daniel Lynch IV may be the biggest threat for saves in the bullpen, but he's the only effective left-hander on the roster. Carlos Estévez, out with a shoulder injury, could be cleared to resume throwing, but it'll likely be a while still before he's able to return.
Kilian struck out the side in a perfect inning of work against the White Sox on Sunday for his third save of the season. He then tossed two scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, giving him a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 26/12 K/BB ratio across 24 1/3 innings. If there's anyone worth rostering for saves in San Francisco, it's Kilian.
▶ Tier 5
Kirby Yates/Sam Bachman/Ryan Zeferjahn - Los Angeles Angels Gus Varland/Richard Lovelady - Washington Nationals Tony Santillan/Graham Ashcraft - Cincinnati Reds Mark Leiter Jr./Joel Kuhnel/Hogan Harris - Athletics Juan Mejia/Antonio Senzatela - Colorado Rockies Eric Orze/Justin Topa/Luis Garcia - Minnesota Twins
These are the situations that are probably better off left untouched for fantasy purposes outside of the deepest of leagues. Varland had been gaining steam with the Nationals, but has now made seven appearances without recording a save as the team has gone with a matchup-based committee. Richard Lovelady and Orlando Ribalta recorded the two Nationals' saves this week. Kirby Yates picked up his first save with the Angels this week, striking out one batter in a clean inning against the Rangers on Saturday. He's one of the few in this tier worth speculating on in deep leagues if desperate for saves.
