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Anton Forsberg Is Carrying The Kings, But Can It Last?

Through two games against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver, Anton Forsberg has been nothing short of exceptional under the crease, saving 30 of 32 shots in Game 1 and 34 of 36 shots in Game 2. 

Facing one of the NHL's most dangerous offenses, the Los Angeles Kings goaltender has delivered under pressure in his first-ever playoff series, keeping his team within striking distance in both contests.  

Forsberg was once again a difference-maker in Game 2, turning aside 34 of 36 shots in a tightly contested overtime loss. Time and time again, he came up with timely saves, whether it was shutting down odd-man rushes, controlling rebounds in traffic, or holding strong during extended pressure from Colorado’s top lines and power plays.

Despite all those heroics, the Kings still lost. 

In the last two games, Los Angeles has held the No. 1 offense in hockey to four goals and zero power-play goals, yet the Kings still find themselves heading back to Los Angeles down 2-0 in the series. 

Kings’ Defensive Gem Wasted As Avalanche Steal Game 2 In OvertimeKings’ Defensive Gem Wasted As Avalanche Steal Game 2 In OvertimeIn a game where their defense did everything right, the Kings’ inability to capitalize on prime scoring chances proved costly, wasting a chance to steal momentum in Denver.

This raises a familiar question: how much longer can elite goaltending by Forbserg carry a team without offensive support? We know how great Forsberg has been this season as a starter, finishing the last seven games of the season 6-0-1 and helping the Kings make the playoffs. 

Flashback to the 2023 playoff series, where the Los Angeles Kings lost to the Edmonton Oilers in six games, but were very competitive, led by former Kings goaltender at the time, Joonas Korpisalo.

Just like Forbserg, Korpisalo was a solid goaltender who exploded in that series, winning two games with elite play in net, but after Edmonton tied the series 2-2, he fell off in the final two games, resulting in a 4-2 series loss.  

For the 33-year-old goaltender, it's only a matter of time to see if he's good enough to maintain this for a full seven-game series, or will consecutive losses like this on the road hurt his play? 

After the game, Forsberg talked about the disappointment in going down 0-2 after two strong efforts.

"It’s tough, the way it ended, both games," said Forsberg. "We’re right in there, playing well, we’re fighting, we’re fighting hard. Just got to stick with it and turn this around."

Los Angeles has committed to a physical, defense-first identity in this series, with players like Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty stepping up in key moments.

The Kings have blocked shots, delivered hits, and disrupted Colorado’s rhythm as good as it gets. Holding the league’s top offense to just two goals in Game 2, and one in regulation, is not easy to do.

Despite forcing turnovers and generating high-danger looks, Los Angeles has struggled to convert offensively. Missed breakaways, failed power plays, and an inability to finish around the net have defined the first two games of the series.

The Kings have had opportunities to shift momentum, especially in Game 2, but couldn’t hold onto their lead for long after scoring their first goal in the final frame. 

Now, as the series shifts back to Crypto.com Arena, the focus quickly turns to Game 3.

Forsberg has given the Kings a foundation. His play has been more than good enough to win, and if he continues at this level, Los Angeles will have a chance every night. 

But can Forsberg continue this play at home, where the Kings have been terrible compared to playing on the road? If LA is hoping to tie this series 2-2 after four games, they'll need their Swedish goaltender to play at this level the rest of the way compared to his normal usage.  

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Lakers’ defensive intensity puts Rockets in stranglehold, formidable deficit

Kevin Durant thought he saw the best version of the Lakers’ defense a month ago.

After the Lakers beat the Rockets on March 18 in Houston for the second time in three days, Durant said, “This is the best version of their defense that they’re gonna bring out against us … if we do play them again, we got film to watch and learn from.”

The accurate part of what Durant said at the time was that the Rockets had two games of film to learn from.

The Rockets’ Kevin Durant looks for room against the Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (left) on Tuesday night. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The inaccurate part: That the March 16 and March 18 regular-season matchups were the best versions of the Lakers’ defense.

Because the Lakers have been even better defensively in the first two games of their best-of-seven first- round playoff series, leading LA to a 2-0 lead ahead of Games 3 and 4 in Houston on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Through two games, the Rockets are shooting 39% from the field, 29% on 3-pointers and have a 104.9 offensive rating (points per 100 possessions), worse than the Nets’ league-worst offensive rating (108.2) during the regular season. 

The Lakers followed up a strong defensive showing in Game 1 on Saturday, when they allowed 98 points to the Durant-less Rockets, with an even stronger performance in Tuesday night’s 101-94 Game 2 win against a Rockets team that had Durant back in the lineup.

“It gives anybody confidence,” the Lakers’ Marcus Smart said after Tuesday’s win. “When you’re able to tackle up against one of the greatest scorers in this game, and for him to say that, to have that type of view about you and opinion about you, speaks volumes. That just speaks not just me but this team and the things that we put in every day to help each other out and to make sure that we’re locked in, and we go out there and make it as tough as possible.”

Durant, fifth among the NBA’s all-time leading scorers, was efficient as a shooter in his return after missing Game 1 because of a right knee contusion. 

He scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting in Game 2. 

But Durant also tied a playoff career high with nine turnovers.

And he only had three points on 1-of-5 shooting in the second half Tuesday night, with the Lakers going all out on limiting Durant’s scoring opportunities.

“We’re just getting this thing started,” coach JJ Redick said. “He’s the type of player that can take over a series and just have to continue to have a great team defense and great activity.”

The Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes (11) and his teammates delivered defensively against the Rockets on Tuesday night. Anadolu via Getty Images

The Lakers showed in Game 1 that Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, as well as Rui Hachimura, can hold their own against Rockets All-Star big man Alperen Sengun.

And that continued to be the case in Game 2, with Sengun shooting a combined 2 of 12 from the field when guarded by Ayton, Hayes and Hachimura and a combined 6 of 8 against all other matchups. 

But with Durant back in the fold, there were questions about how viable the Lakers would be.

Turns out, their defensive strategies were similar to March, with the Rockets not showing they learned much from the film— or at the least aren’t applying the lessons learned in-game. 

The Lakers mixed in switching, blitzing double teams and more traditional coverages against Durant, forcing the ball out of his hands and daring the Rockets’ non-stars to produce offensively.

The Lakers continue to win this bet.

The non-Durant Rockets shot 37.7% from the floor and 24% from 3 in Game 2.

Which is right in line with the 37.6% shooting the Rockets finished with in Game 1 (including 33.3% on 3s).

The Lakers didn’t enter the season, let alone the playoffs, with the expectations of being a defensive-oriented team.

But that’s exactly what they’ve been so far.

“We trust one another,” Smart said. “The word is ‘elevate’ for us, and that’s all we’ve been trying to do, elevate our play on both ends.”

And the Lakers have elevated themselves to a place few outside the locker room thought they would be: up 2-0 in the series, with an opportunity to take a commanding 3-0 lead, which would all but guarantee a second-round appearance.

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Florida has Draymond Green to thank for Thomas Haugh’s return to college

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If Florida wins the national championship next season, Draymond Green should get a ring.

The Golden State Warriors forward was instrumental in convincing Gators star Thomas Haugh to postpose his NBA future and stay in school another year.

Haugh re-signed with Florida after teammate and close friend Alex Condon did the same, and following a conversation with Green. Center Rueben Chinyelu, meanwhile, is going through the NBA draft process with an eye on rejoining Haugh and Condon in Gainesville for another title run.

“They’re all boys, and they all want to be together,” coach Todd Golden said.

Golden will be around, too.

“I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators,” said Golden, who reportedly would be a target for the Warriors if coach Steve Kerr does not return.

The return of Haugh and Condon makes it unlikely that Golden would jump to the NBA. But keeping that door open could help his contract negotiations with Florida, which already said it plans on rewarding Golden with another raise and an extension.

Florida might consider sending at least a thank you card Green’s way.

Former Florida guard and current Warriors rookie Will Richard organized a conversation between Haugh and Green in which the first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection “was asking about the NBA and all these different things,” Golden said.

“I think Draymond gave him great perspective on what life in the NBA is like and what life in college is like and how enjoyable it is,” Golden added. “And it allowed him to be like, ‘All right, the NBA, not sounding arrogant, but it will be there for him.’ It’s going to be there.

“And he only has one more opportunity to be at Florida. So they had a great conversation, and I think that got him kind of thinking.”

Golden waited for Haugh to finish vacationing in Hawaii with his girlfriend before setting up a meeting in Los Angeles. Golden flew out with assistant coaches Carlin Hartman and Jonathan Safir, watched Haugh go through an offseason workout and then sat down for lunch when Haugh delivered the news.

“All of us were in great spirits for the rest of the day — and still are as a matter of fact,” Golden said.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Haugh led the Gators in scoring last season, averaging 17.1 points, to go along with 6.1 rebounds a game as a junior. He also totaled 73 assists, 58 3-pointers, 36 steals and 33 blocked shots while helping Florida win the SEC title and secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The 2025 national champions lost to Iowa in the second round of the tournament, a sour ending following a standout season. Golden said that outcome — Haugh was sobbing after the game — was pivotal in getting Haugh to run it back.

“If we would have made a deep run, we probably wouldn’t have as good of a chance of getting it back,” Golden said. “I think that’s reality; that’s human nature. And I think that kind of pours into his competitiveness and the legacy that he wants to leave here at Florida.”

Florida now has re-signed 10 of its 13 scholarship players from last season, with Chinyelu potentially making it 11. Point guard Xaivian Lee graduated, and center Micah Handlogten entered the transfer portal while he awaits word on gaining an extra year of eligibility.

Golden also has a commitment from former Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen, who spent three years at Florida before transferring and remains close friends with Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu. Aberdeen plans to re-enroll at Florida to finish his degree and is petitioning the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility.

“It’s just a commonsense situation, in my opinion,” Golden said. “This isn’t a 27-year-old trying to play his eighth year in college at his sixth different school. This is a 22-year-old within his fifth-year clock coming back to get his degree. I think it would be a really weird stance to try to fight him from playing.”

With Aberdeen and Chinyelu, Florida would be the team to beat in the SEC and maybe in the country. The Gators might already be that with Haugh and Condon in the fold.

“Any time you can build and maintain your roster internally, it’s the way to do it,” Golden said. “It’s not easy to do every year.”

Green surely helped.

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Magic vs Pistons Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 2

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Our NBA player prop projections are loaded as the Detroit Pistons try to even the series against the Orlando Magic who stunned them in the opener, with the model highlighting several high-value spots across the board.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve pinpointed where the strongest edges appear.

These Magic vs. Pistons predictions aren’t based on narrative or intuition; they’re driven by the numbers.

If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Wednesday, April 22.

Magic vs Pistons computer picks for Game 2

Magic MagicPistons Pistons
Banchero o21.5 points
+100		Cunningham u28.5 points 
-120
Bane o3.5 assists
+102		Duren o10.5 rebounds
-130
Carter Jr. o7.5 rebounds
-110		Harris u1.5 threes 
-140

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Magic Game 2 computer picks

Paolo Banchero Over 21.5 points (+100)

Projection: 21.53 points

There’s nothing quite like stealing a Game 1 on the road, and Paolo Banchero played a key role in helping the Orlando Magic shock the Detroit Pistons with a 23-point performance.

Replicating that effort won’t come easy, as Detroit will respond with urgency to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole, but Banchero still has a strong path to do just enough offensively to clear his points prop and hit the Over.

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Desmond Bane Over 3.5 assists (+102)

Projection: 3.7 assists

Desmond Bane has cleared the 3.5 assist line in six of his last 10 games, and there’s a solid case for him to keep that trend going against the Pistons.

Bane’s playmaking has quietly become a reliable part of his game, especially when defenses key in on his scoring. As a respected perimeter threat, he naturally draws extra attention on the wing, which opens up passing lanes when he puts the ball on the floor.

Against a Detroit defense that can be vulnerable to ball movement and secondary creators, Bane should find opportunities to facilitate out of those situations.

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Wendell Carter Jr. Over 7.5 rebounds (-110)

Projection: 7.6 rebounds

The Magic have been active on the offensive glass, ranking sixth in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game over their last five outings, and Wendell Carter Jr. stands to benefit as a key presence in keeping Orlando productive on the boards.

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Pistons Game 2 computer picks

Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points (-120)

Projection: 26.3 points

The pressure is mounting for the Detroit Pistons, and much of it falls on Cade Cunningham, who erupted for 39 points in Game 1.

However, with his recent return from a collapsed lung, Detroit may look to ease his workload and lean on other contributors to preserve his health in a tricky situation where they can't allow Game 2 to slip away.

That approach could leave Cunningham just shy of clearing his points prop tonight.
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Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds (-130)

Projection: 11.6 rebounds

The Pistons have been dominant on the offensive glass this season, ranking third in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game, and that trend could set the stage for Jalen Duren to elevate his impact in a pivotal Game 2, where his presence on the boards will be more important than ever.

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Tobias Harris Under 1.5 threes (-140)

Projection: 1.45 threes

The Pistons have been the least aggressive 3-point shooting offense at home over their last 20 games, and that trend doesn’t bode well for Tobias Harris, who has gone Under in six of his last 10 games on a 1.5 made threes line — putting him on track for a similar outcome tonight.

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How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 2

LocationLittle Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
DateWednesday, April 22, 2026
Tip-off7:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN

Not intended for use in MA.
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Munetaka Murakami can provide a blueprint for Spencer Jones

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox hits a two-run home run against the Athletics in the top of the fifth inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on April 19, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Picture this. A player with unfathomable power who obliterates every ball he makes contact with and a decent understanding of the strike zone. Picture that player also with a very steep bat path that creates a massive hole in his swing that makes them extremely prone for in-zone whiffs, to the point where they can go stretches where making contact would be an accomplishment.

Who am I describing? Maybe, for older fans, Rob Deer comes to mind. Perhaps Adam Dunn or Mark Reynolds, the real three-true-outcome pioneers. Maybe it’s Joey Gallo, whose tenure in New York is still a fresh wound to some. Hell, it can describe late-career Giancarlo Stanton to an extent.

Some of the more prospect-minded of you probably thought of Spencer Jones and, if we’re being honest, that’s pretty reasonable, but the player I’m specifically describing has nothing to do with the Yankees at the moment: Munetaka Murakami. Just look at that Baseball Savant page!

The former NPB star signed a surprisingly cheap two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox in the offseason after his once-nine-figure value fell apart after injuries and startlingly bad contact numbers slowed down the hype train in Japan. There were real concerns that he just wouldn’t be able to make enough contact against major league pitching for his undeniable, generational power to take hold. That also sounds familiar, no?

In reality, the prospect Jones and Murakami are extremely similar hitters. I’d say Murakami has better plate discipline, as he’s had a very impressive start in terms of chase rate, but Jones makes up for it with his startling raw power. Both have big holes in their swings in terms of in-zone contact (Jones 60.2%, Murakami 68.5%) that rank towards the bottom of professional baseball, but both run solid walk rates. As pure baseball players, you could argue Jones has a higher floor with his plus-speed and defense at a more premium position than first base, where Murakami has been OK after a disastrous time at third base in the NPB, but that isn’t what we’re focusing on.

With all the similarities between them, what Murakami does should be watched by not only Yankees fans, but the Yankees’ organization. If he flounders with prolonged slumps against the pure nastiness of MLB pitching, that could prove to be a concerning sign for Jones. On other hand, success from Murakami in spite of his flaws could provide a roadmap for Jones, who is 15 months younger and on the doorstep of the major leagues.

The overall range of Murakami’s damage thus far has been centered on absolutely demolishing bad pitches. He enters Tuesday with an average exit velocity of 99.6 mph on pitches in the heart of the plate with a .571 xwOBA, elite numbers on pitches that are meant to be crushed.

One of the most damning stats on Murakami in NPB was his struggles against high velocity, but even though most pitchers in MLB nowadays are capable of throwing 95, there are still softer throwers that Murakami has been able to feast on. Of his eight home runs to this point, just one of them was hit off a fastball over 94.5 mph, which was a 98.3 mph heater from Elvis Alvarado over the weekend.

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So far, he has just two hits all season on pitches above 95 mph and a whiff rate above 30 percent, but he’s still managed to put good swings on the ball and is actually underperforming the expected stats. As you might expect with a tremendously high strikeout rate and a low chase rate, that means a whole lot of whiffs in the zone:

If we compare these to Jones, the Yankees’ prospect is doing even more damage on pitches over the heart of the plate (.602 xwOBA, 102.3 avg EV) but is whiffing more (31.3 percent) in Triple-A. Against 95+, Jones is running an untenable 53.6 Whiff%, but is obliterating the ball when he makes contact. That’s been the story of both of their seasons, which is what makes them theoretically such similar players.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Jones would be on the major-league roster of maybe 10 teams across the majors with his tremendous upside, but he finds himself blocked in the Yankees’ system, which has three big-money starting outfielders, but a spot could open up soon, whether that’s next year, or midseason. If someone gets hurt, there’s a chance he’s first up instead of his fellow prospect-in-limbo Jasson Domínguez after being added to the 40-man roster in the offseason.

If there’s any player across the league that we should keep a close eye on, it’s Murakami. There’s no better comp for Jones as he gets closer and closer to making his MLB debut, and what Murakami does over the course of his first major league season could give us a major clue regarding Jones’ chances of making it in the bigs.

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Veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito signs with San Diego Padres to bolster their injured rotation

The San Diego Padres have signed veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito, bolstering the surging club’s injury-plagued rotation with the top starter left on the free agent market.

The Padres announced a one-year deal for Giolito with a mutual option for 2027. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

The 31-year-old Giolito is a Southern California native who went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts last year for the Boston Red Sox, bouncing back solidly after missing the entire 2024 season because his right ulnar collateral ligament was repaired with an internal brace that March.

Giolito has played parts of nine seasons in the majors for Washington, the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland, going 71-66, with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.

He has been durable and dependable for most of his career while earning an All-Star selection in 2019 and throwing a no-hitter in 2020. Despite missing a season because of injury, he ranks in the top five among AL pitchers from 2018-25 in innings pitched (1,092), strikeouts (1,153), wins (68) and complete games (5).

But Giolito remained on the free agent market nearly one month into the regular season before landing with the Padres, who are pitching superbly this season despite major upheaval and injury problems in their rotation.

Opening day starter Nick Pivetta went on the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain that could keep him out for months, while Joe Musgrove has yet to make his season debut after a slower-than-expected return from Tommy John surgery. Yu Darvish already is out for the season with an elbow injury, and Dylan Cease left last fall for a $210 million free-agent deal with Toronto.

Yet the Padres’ team ERA is the second lowest in the majors at 3.22 after they beat Colorado 1-0 for their 11th victory in 12 games. San Diego (16-7) is even with the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors.

General manager A.J. Preller figured out a way to fit Giolito under his budget even while his team is in ownership transition. The family of late Padres owner Peter Seidler is nearing a sale of the team to billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones.

Giolito will slot immediately into a rotation that currently includes Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Germán Márquez and former Dodgers star Walker Buehler. Right-hander Matt Waldron took a start last week after Pivetta’s injury but struggled in a loss to the Angels.

Giolito agreed to a two-year, $38.5 million contract with Boston in January 2024. He will attempt to build on his strong work with the Red Sox in 2025, when he went 9-1 with a 2.26 ERA in 15 starts from June 10 to Aug. 31 after a slower start to the season. Opponents hit .194 (25 for 129) against his changeup and .200 (3 for 15) against his curveball.

He was left off Boston’s postseason roster after experiencing some elbow discomfort in mid-September, but there was no structural damage — something he said was “a small relief in a very unfortunate situation.”

“As it was described to me in layman’s terms, my flexor is very irritated and at this point it’s hard for me to describe,” Giolito said after Game 1 of Boston’s AL Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees. “It’s like weird stuff going on with my bone. It’s one of those things I was told you got to stop throwing and let it calm down.”

Giolito hasn’t pitched in the postseason since 2021, when he made his second career playoff appearance for the White Sox.

San Diego transferred right-hander Bryan Hoeing to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Giolito on the 40-man roster.

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Kings' close playoff losses to Avalanche stoke confidence and frustration

Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood saves a shot by Kings center Samuel Helenius during overtime of Game 2.
Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood saves a shot by Kings center Samuel Helenius during overtime of Game 2 in their first round playoff series Tuesday in Denver. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)

Before Anze Kopitar left the ice after the final regular-season home game of his NHL career, he told the fans he was saying good-bye, not farewell.

He would return, he promised, in the playoffs.

He’ll make good on that pledge Thursday when his Kings and the Colorado Avalanche face off in Game 3 of their first-round series at Crypto.com Arena. But it could prove to be a short encore because after losing the first two games of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff in Denver, the Kings need a win Thursday or in Game 4 on Sunday to extend both their season and Kopitar’s Hall of Fame career.

The Kings’ — and Kopitar’s — last six playoff appearances have all ended after just one round. And they’re halfway to another first-round loss this year, though they probably deserve better after giving the league’s best team everything it could handle, only to lose twice by a goal, including a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.

Read more:Kings let late Game 2 lead slip away and lose to Avalanche in overtime

“To a man we're playing hard,” interim Kings coach D.J. Smith said. “We hoped to split here, but regardless we're gonna have to win at home. We’ve got to find a way to win a game.

“Clearly good isn't enough.”

Kopitar announced his retirement before the start of this season, the 20th in his Hall of Fame career. And while many of his teammates talked of their desire to see their captain hoist the Stanley Cup one more time, just making the playoffs appeared beyond the Kings’ reach until the final two weeks of the regular season.

Colorado, meanwhile, led the league in everything, winning the most games, collecting the most points, scoring the most goals and allowing the fewest. The Kings? Not so much. They gave up 22 more goals than they scored, worst among playoff teams, and needed points in 11 of their last 13 games just to squeak into the postseason as the final wild-card team.

Colorado left wing Joel Kiviranta skates under pressure from Kings center Scott Laughton and goaltender Anton Forsberg.
Colorado left wing Joel Kiviranta skates under pressure from Kings center Scott Laughton and goaltender Anton Forsberg during Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series Tuesday in Denver. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)

Yet two games into this series, it’s been hard to tell the teams apart on the ice. The Kings have outhustled, outhit and outskated the Avalanche for long stretches. But those moral victories have been their only wins.

Asked if he can take solace for the way the team has played, goalie Anton Forsberg, who was outstanding in his first two career playoff games, stared straight ahead.

“No,” he said. “We wanted to go to home [with] a win.”

Forward Trevor Moore was a little more forgiving.

Read more:Anze Kopitar honored after Kings beat nemesis Oilers during regular-season home finale

“We would have liked to steal one,” he said. “But you can't look back. You have to look forward. Confidence-wise, we hung in there with them for two games and we've been competitive. I think we could have won either night.”

They won neither night, however, which leaves little margin for error in the next two games.

If the Kings lacked wins in Denver, they didn’t lack chances. On Tuesday they had a man advantage for nearly a quarter of the first 25 minutes and had five power plays and a penalty shot on the night.

When Quinton Byfield’s second-period penalty shot was stuffed by Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood, a group of Avalanche fans celebrated by pounding on the protective plexiglass behind the Kings’ bench with such force it shattered, raining shards down on the team’s coaches

"Whoever the guy [was] just kept pushing and pushing and pushing," Smith said. "I looked back because it hit me a bunch of times, then it broke."

The Kings couldn’t score on the power play either until Artemi Panarin finally found the back of the net with less than seven minutes left in regulation, giving the team its first lead of the series.

“We had every opportunity,” Smith said. “You’ve got to be able to close it out.”

They couldn’t. So when Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog evened the score 3 ½ minutes later, the teams headed to a fourth period.

The overtime was the 34th  in 84 games for the Kings this season, an NHL record by some distance. But it ended in the team’s 21st  overtime loss when Nicolas Roy banged home a rebound 7:44 into the extra period.

“We had some good looks. I thought we really had the momentum in overtime,” Smith said. “Maybe a bad bounce or a turnover, whatever, it ends up in your net. But to a man this team is playing hard and we’ve got to find a way to win.

“I expect that we'll be better at home.”

If they aren’t, the Kings face another long summer and Kopitar’s retirement will start earlier than he had hoped.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Kyle Leahy labors. So does the getaway day offense as the Marlins defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1

Apr 22, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Ivan Herrera (48) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Game Summary

The Marlins jump Leahy for an early 2-0 with death by a thousand cuts singles with too many walks sprinkled in. The Cardinals come out swinging against Junk (literally and figuratively), but muster only a weak single against him. Leahy labors through 5 innings, giving up 8 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and 4 runs. Not his best day. The getaway Cardinal lineup musters but 4 hits and it took a ninth solo HR by Herrera avoids a shutout. The getaway lineup was not particularly sharp defensively, either. On the bright side, the Cardinal bullpen navigated 3 IP without giving up a run or a walk. That was pretty much the bright spot of the day.

Line-up (and roster) machinations

  • An early start today, noon Eastern.
  • A getaway day line-up today, if there ever was one. For both sides.
  • Leahy takes the mound for the Cardinals. Ironically, Junk takes the mound for the Marlins. Queue the jokes.
  • Burleson gets a day. Gorman into the three hole and playing third.
  • Urias is the back-up first baseman, it turns out. Hitting clean-up.
  • Winn gets a day, too. Saggese in at short.
  • Walker gets a day, too. Church in right, Fermin in left.
  • No Pozo? I missed the news that he is redshirting this year.

The Game Details

T1 – Wetherholt F7 on the first pitch. Herrera F8. Gorman lines out L8. Quick inning.

B1 – 1-3. 3u. 4-3. Leahy gets through a quick inning.

T2 – Urias reaches on E5. Fermin promptly GIDP. Church K’s. Guess they can’t hit Junk.

B2 – Single. Single. FC at third. RBI single. HBP. As efficient as the first inning was, this has been the opposite. P2. Bases loaded walk after 0-2 count plates another run. 4-3 closes out the inning. Marlins up 2-0.

T3 – Sags 5-3. Pages singles to break the no-no by Junk. Scott II forces Pages at second. Lots of swings today, typical of getaway day. It’s funny how plate discipline wanes on these days. Wetherholt F8.

B3 – K. L8. Walk. What is with these walks? It is an epidemic. All four balls were “waste” pitches. Totally non-competitive. F9.

T4 – Herrera F8. Gorman F7. Urias 6-3. A seven-pitch inning. Junk at 36 pitches through four innings. Cardinals trying to get him a complete game.

B4 – 1-3. Another walk. He is missing by a lot! Most of his pitches are non-competitive. Not much on the borderline. Single. An RBI single, but Church does get the backside runner going to third for the second out. 9-5 is the scoring. Stolen base. Urias makes a nice play 3-1 to end the inning. Marlins now up 3-0.

T5 – Pages F8. Saggese K. Church earns a walk. Fermin hits into hard luck out 5-3.

B5 – Single. 4-3 advances a runner who was on the move with the pitch. An RBI single, followed by another single signals that Leahy is really laboring. A caught stealing and a K re-direct the inning to a more positive end. Leahy is assuredly done. His line through 5 innings – 8 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and 4 runs. 89 pitches, only 50 for strikes.

T6 – Nardi in for Junk. He pitched 5 shutout IP, 1 hit, 1 BB. Scott K. Wetherholt K. Herrera 4-3. Ho-hum.

B6 – Graceffo in. Single. Single. F8 and GIDP allow GG to make a good recovery. Still Marlins up 4-0.

T7 – Gorman doubles. Bender in for Nardi. Urias F8. Fermin backwards K. Saggese’s struggles continue 6-3.

B7 – Svanson in for Graceffo. K. F7. 6-3. Good inning for a guy that needed one.

T8 – Petersen in for Bender. Pages backwards K. Scott swinging K. Wetherholt backwards K. Been that kind of day.

B8 – Fernandez in for Svanson. K. E-3. Single loads the bases. P6. K. Ends the uprising.

T9 – Bachar in for Petersen. Herrera with a lead-off solo HR. Gorman walks. Urias P6. Fairbanks in for the save. Fermin F7. Church K to end the game after an 8-pitch PA. 4-1 Marlins in your final.

Post-Game Notes

  • Check out Today on the Farm – Wednesday 4/22 for updates on MiLB action. Two teams play day games today.
  • After the game today, a flight home followed by an apparently well-timed off day. Seattle comes into town for a weekend tilt, which will be a very brief 3-game homestand.
  • Paid attendance for this game was less than 7,600. Actual attendance well less than that. These teams drew better in Spring Training at RDS.

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The Celtics lost Game 2 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they figured out why.

Los Angeles, CA - February 22: Guard Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

BOSTON — Neemias Queta just wanted to watch film.

Moments after the Celtics’ painful 111-97 loss to the 76ers, the Portuguese center stood in the Celtics locker room surrounded by reporters, fielding question after question about what went wrong in Game 2.

Queta was asked about what allowed Tyrese Maxey to get going after a quieter Game 1; the Philadelphia star exploded for 29 points and 9 assists on Tuesday night.

And, he paused for a moment to consider the question.

“I’m not sure,” Queta said. “Gotta watch film tomorrow.”

It was his first of four times bringing up film in his postgame media availability. Safe to say, he was eager to review the footage.

Jaylen Brown, who was relatively upbeat at the podium, was also eager to review what went wrong in a game that saw Philadelphia hit 19 three-pointers (on nearly 49% shooting) and explode for 37 second-quarter points (a number that Queta deemed a “death sentence.”)

“Obviously, it wasn’t the best showing for us,” Brown said. “But, we’ll watch the film and see where adjustments need to be made.”

Film, after all, has been the crux of the Celtics’ season. Jaylen Brown has deemed the group’s consistent in-depth film study ‘Celtics University.’

“This year, our margin for error has been slim,” Brown said earlier this season. “If we don’t come to play, if a team wins the margins, you see, we’ll lose games that you know we’re supposed to win. So, those film sessions that we’ve had, I call them Celtics University. It’s like a classroom.”

“Everybody’s got their notepads, asking questions, we’re breaking down the film and the details of everything. Because the details are most important. The difference between good and great players is the emphasis on the details. There’s no detail too small. So, the film room has helped me elevate my game, and it’s helped elevate our team as well.”

So what does a film session look like after a disappointing loss in the NBA playoffs?

Players filed into the Auerbach Center on Tuesday morning, just hours removed from a loss that saw them score just 43 second-half points.

Film, like it has been all year, was important. Nikola Vucevic explained that, immediately after the final buzzer, it can be difficult, as a player, to process what went wrong.

“Right after a game, it’s hard to have a clear picture of what exactly happened,” Vucevic said. “I think that’s why film is good, because you have time to kind of cool down after the game, let the emotions settle, and then you go back and watch and get a clearer picture of what happened, because in the moment of a game, it happened so fast. You’re in full-on competition mode, and you’re trying to win. And sometimes your emotions get involved, and you can’t have a full, clear picture.”

That’s why Wednesday’s film session was illuminating. Vucevic said that the coaching staff and the players communicated well and discussed things openly. He also acknowledged that players can have a tendency to think a particular coverage or scheme is to blame for defensive shortcomings, whereas in reality, a lot of the time it’s more about their own execution of the coverages.

“Today, in the film session, they showed a lot of stuff that we could have done differently, that could have helped us in certain situations,” he said. “But I think it’s just natural — when a player you’re guarding gets going, you’re always trying to figure out, why is it? And I think it’s natural for players to think, ‘Oh, maybe schemes.’ But then, when you go back and watch the film, you realize there’s so much more that goes into it, and there are definitely things last night that we could have done better, that we could have controlled, that would have helped.”

After reviewing film, players were able to clearly identify where individually they could be sharper ahead of Friday’s Game 3.

“When you talk to the coaches, they do a good job explaining ‘hey, this is why we did this,’” Vucevic said.

“A lot of times, it’s little details like, ‘Oh, maybe if, for example, if I was there to help in the right, if I wasn’t late on that help, maybe the other guy wouldn’t have to help on my guy, [and they] wouldn’t [have] gotten the corner three,’ for example — things like that.”

Joe Mazzulla said he identified three main areas where the team could control their own destiny.

He pointed to how they closed the first quarter; after leading 26-13, the 76ers went on a 10-0 run that included multiple let up offensive rebounds, live ball turnovers, and missed free throws.

He also pointed to the 76ers’ 37-point infamous second quarter, a quarter that Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta all spoke to after the loss.

“Losing a quarter of 37-26 is tough to overcome in a playoff game against a team like that,” Mazzulla said. “And I think that stems from some missed shots, but also things that we can be better and things that we can control on the margins — live ball turnovers, offensive rebounds, and things of that nature.”

Finally, there were personnell tendencies the Celtics didn’t pay close enough attention to — 6 to 8 times where the Celtics defended without accounting for a 76ers’ player’s offensive tendency.

The Celtics will look to turn the page when they travel to Philadelphia on Thursday.

But in a way, Wednesday’s film session was therapeutic, too — because it helped understand just how much is in their control.

“When you lose a game in the playoffs, you feel like it’s the end of the world,” Derrick White said. “And so you see that there are these little pockets of the game here – this is why we are losing, or why they want to run. And so, just kind of see what plays that we should have made or could have made that might have changed the whole game. And I mean, you can get that from a win, but I feel like it’s just probably — they say it’s easier to learn from a loss. And so, it’s just all those little plays, all those little things that go into winning and losing.”

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Today in White Sox History: April 22

On this day 86 years ago, Vallie Eaves set a club record that still stands, with 12 walks — and left the game in line for the win!

1900
After a loss debuting in the American League on April 21, the White Sox split the weekend and got in the winning column with a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in front of a Sunday crowd of 15,000 fans at South Side Park.

The deciding run came in the seventh inning, snapping a 3-3 tie, when left fielder Dan Lally singled home right fielder Herm McFarland on a hit-and-run. Lally, McFarland and shortstop Frank Shugart all collected two hits apiece in Chicago’s 11-hit attack. Starter Roger Denzer got the complete game victory.

1940
In his season debut, sixth career game and fourth career start, Vallie Eaves set a White Sox record that still stands, with 12 walks over 7 2/3 innings in a 6-5 loss vs. Detroit. The rookie fell behind in the second inning after four walks, a wild pitch, a double and triple — but escaped the inning down just 2-0! Another three walks and a wild pitch saw Eaves get the hook in the eighth inning — amazingly, the righty left the game with a 5-3 lead and ended up with an adequate game score of 46, given his seven strikeouts. He walked in two of Detroit’s three runs on his watch, but it was Clint Brown out of the White Sox bullpen who blew the game, and Eaves’ shot at his first White Sox win.

Just 13 pitchers have ever thrown more than 12 walks in a single game, with two of them coming against the White Sox — including a 14-walk game, tied for fourth-most ever.

1955
It was the first time the White Sox ever played in Kansas City, and outfielder Jim Rivera would make it a memorable night by scoring what would be stand up as the deciding run in the 5-4 victory. Chico Carrasquel had the biggest night for the victors, going 4-for-5 with a double and a home run. Chicago improved to 5-2 on the season.

And stay tuned to Today in White Sox History, because the very next day packed an even bigger wallop.

1959
In one of the most bizarre innings in baseball history, the White Sox got 11 runs in the seventh inning of a 20-6 win at Kansas City.

The uniqueness of it was that fact that those 11 runs scored on only one hit! It took 45 minutes to play the half-inning, with Johnny Callison getting the only Sox hit. Jim Landis made two of the three outs, both on comebackers to the pitcher.

Through six innings, the White Sox trailed Kansas City, 6-1. Here is the play-by-play of the historic proceedings from there:

  1. GORMAN REPLACED WARD (PITCHING)
  2. Ray Boone reached on an error by DeMaestri [Boone to first]
  3. Al Smith reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt by Smith [Boone to second]
  4. Johnny Callison singled to right [Boone scored (unearned) (error by Maris), Smith scored (unearned) (error by Maris), Callison to third]
  5. Luis Aparicio walked [Aparicio stole second]
  6. Bob Shaw walked
  7. EARL TORGESON BATTED FOR SAMMY ESPOSITO
  8. FREEMAN REPLACED GORMAN (PITCHING)
  9. Torgeson walked (walk was charged to Gorman) [Callison scored, Aparicio to third, Shaw to second]
  10. Nellie Fox walked [Aparicio scored, Shaw to third, Torgeson to second]
  11. Jim Landis forced Shaw (pitcher to catcher) [Torgeson to third, Fox to second]
  12. Sherm Lollar walked [Torgeson scored (unearned), Fox to third, Landis to second]
  13. BRUNET REPLACED FREEMAN (PITCHING)
  14. Boone walked [Fox scored (unearned), Landis to third, Lollar to second]
  15. Smith walked [Landis scored (unearned), Lollar to third, Boone to second]
  16. Callison was hit by a pitch [Lollar scored (unearned), Boone to third, Smith to second]
  17. LOU SKIZAS RAN FOR CALLISON
  18. Aparicio walked [Boone scored (unearned), Smith to third, Skizas to second]
  19. Shaw struck out
  20. BUBBA PHILLIPS BATTED FOR TORGESON
  21. Phillipswalked [Smith scored (unearned), Skizas to third, Aparicio to second]
  22. Fox walked [Skizas scored (unearned), Aparicio to third, Phillips to second]
  23. Landis grounded out (pitcher to first)

If you made it to the end, all told that’s 11 runs, one hit, three errors, three left on base, 10 walks and one hit-by-pitch.

The 11 runs in the seventh inning are the most the Sox have ever scored in that frame. The 20 runs scored is tied for fifth-most in franchise history.

Ironically, this game came almost exactly four years after the White Sox scored their most-runs ever in a game, 29, on April 22, 1955 — against these same Kansas City Athletics!

1972
In the first game of a doubleheader against the Royals at Comiskey Park, White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood reached on a fielder’s choice and scored the only run of the game thanks to an error, in the 1-0 win. Wood went the distance, allowing seven hits in a game that lasted less than two hours.

The Sox also won the second game, 3-2, thanks to a home run from Carlos May in the eighth inning.

1991
Frank Thomas hit the first White Sox home run in new Comiskey Park, a two-run blast in the fifth inning, off of Ben McDonald. It was also the first-ever night game played at the park and the first save earned by a White Sox pitcher there (Bobby Thigpen). The White Sox defeated Baltimore, 8-7.

1998
Ray Durham tied a major league record by reaching base safely three times via error in a 14-7 win over a sloppy Cleveland club that committed five errors overall. Durham reached base six times in the game, getting three additional hits, as well as scoring four runs and knocking in two.

Amazingly, Durham also advanced bases on the two other errors in the game, once advancing to third due to a wild throw on a steal of second base, and also getting all the way home when his triple forced another error.

Four of the five errors were committed by future White Sox: Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Jim Thome (two).

2000
The White Sox and Tigers had a brawl that reminded many longtime fans of the fights from the 1950s with the Yankees. This one lasted for almost 30 minutes and saw eight players from both sides get kicked out, along with Sox manager Jerry Manuel. A record number of 16 players would be fined and subsequently suspended.

The brawl started after Detroit pitcher Jeff Weaver hit Paul Konerko in the fourth inning, and Carlos Lee in the sixth. Sox pitcher Jim Parque then drilled Detroit’s Dean Palmer leading off the seventh, and the fight was on.

One of the lingering memories was relief pitcher Keith Foulke suffering a gash on his face courtesy of a sucker punch thrown by either Karim Garcia or Bobby Higginson; Foulke needed five stiches to close the wound. Tigers catcher Robert Fick was seen taunting White Sox fans in the bleacher seats in right field, and got deluged with beer over it.

The Sox won the game, 14-6, and used it as a rallying point for the rest of the season, as they went on to win 95 games en route to a division championship.

2024
The nightmare White Sox season continued, as they were shut out in Minnesota, 7-0, dropping their record to an unbelievable 3-19. It was the eighth time in the first 22 games the team was held without a run, which had never happened before in baseball history.

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Mikal Bridges: Knicks must 'bring that fire' into Game 3 against Hawks in NBA playoffs

After dropping a heartbreaking Game 2 to the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks hit the road for a pivotal Game 3 in Atlanta on Thursday night. 

Before leaving town, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges met with reporters on Wednesday, looking back on exactly what went wrong in Game 2.

The Knicks, of course, led by double digits entering the fourth quarter, but were outscored 28-15 in the final 12 minutes, falling 107-106 as a buzzer-beater attempt by Bridges came up short.

While a 2-0 lead would feel a lot more comfortable for the Knicks than having the series tied heading into Atlanta, Bridges explained that there’s still plenty to take away from the disappointment of the last game.

“You always want to get better in a win, but sometimes you need a loss to dive in on the things that you’re not doing well,” Bridges said. “That’s a good team, too, so it’s not like it’s going to be easy. Just gotta learn from it and bring that fire to the next game.”

So what exactly did go wrong for the Knicks in that second half? According to Hart, the team didn’t play with the same physical edge as they brought in the first six quarters of the first-round series.

“I feel like we didn’t have that physicality that we did Game 1 and in the first half. I think that was the biggest thing,” said Hart, who finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. “When you lose that physicality, then you allow them to kind of move at their own pace and dictate their offense, instead of you dictating it. We just have to make sure we’re physical and pay attention to detail and focused for a full 48 [minutes].”

“That’s a game we should have won,” Hart added. “Watching the film, obviously it reenforces that. You see just a small area that you had a little bit of slippage on, and that affects the outcome of the game. Obviously, we’ve got to make sure we’re locked in and focused for a full 48. It’s the playoffs. Basketball is a game of runs. You can go up 12, 14, and this team, they’re going to battle and they can go on a run and cut it to four. Now you just have to make sure you’re focused and locked in to punch back.”

The series now heads to Atlanta for the next two games, with the Hawks stealing homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven by splitting the two games at The Garden. 

And while the Knicks won’t be playing in front of their home fans, Hart explained that sometimes going on the road can help bring a team together even more, especially in the playoffs.

“I think we have a really good group of guy, who especially during this time, we don’t care about anything else but winning,” Hart said. “We don’t care about point, touches, minutes, anything like that. We’re focused on winning the game, and when you have a collective group of guys who are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team, that’s where special things happen. And I think we have that kind of character in the locker room. 

“When you go on the road, it’s just those guys in the locker room and no one else. So sometimes being on the road kind of helps you band together.”

Hart, Bridges and the rest of the Knicks tip off Game 3 with the Hawks in Atlanta on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

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Game #24 GameThread: Jays @ Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: A detail view of a MLB baseball during the game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 22, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Game three of three with the Angels.

When I went to watch games in Anaheim, I really enjoyed the stadium. It was the first ballpark I’d been to that basically had a shopping mall in it. I remember looking in the Oakley store at over priced sunglasses and one of the sales person said I could get my name (or whatever I wanted) sketched into the lenses, for just another $40 bucks. It seemed really weird to me. But people were doing it.

We stayed in a hotel that was close enough to the ballpark to walk over, which was good, because traffic was nuts around there.

I should be back home for this game, with any luck and West Jet’s cooperation. Which means this is the last GameThread I have to put together a month ahead of time. I’ve never had this many scheduled posts before. Hopefully they all went up exactly as I planned.

Go Jays Go.

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Shohei Ohtani vies to maintain an edge over Rafael Devers

Apr 21, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) warms up before a game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Showcasing just how much he was held back last season, his first coming back from elbow surgery, Shohei Ohtani could tonight against the Giants complete at least half of his innings total in last year’s regular season. The back-to-back NL MVP has three starts on the year, completing exactly six innings in each of them with a 2-0 record, part of a rotation that has been one of the best in baseball.

Ohtani will face a Giants offense that, despite the win on Tuesday, hasn’t exactly been at its finest this season, and that mainly goes through the struggles of Rafael Devers, who did play a key role in their 3-1 win on Monday with one RBI. Signed to be the leader of this attack, Devers only has four extra-base hits IN 93 at-bats this season, and if his track record against Ohtani is to be taken into account, the outlook for tonight’s game favors the Dodgers.

Players who first crossed paths when they were both in the American League, Ohtani with the Angels and Devers with the Red Sox, have faced each other 12 times—Devers is two for 12 against Ohtani with no home runs and no runs batted in. Still with a small sample on the mound as a Dodger, Ohtani doesn’t have a lot of experience against this Giants lineup. Other than Devers, Matt Chapman is the only Giant with double-digit at-bats against Ohtani, hitting two homers in 19 of them.

After sitting down quietly despite a bombardment of walks against Landon Roupp—who, by the way, hadn’t allowed a home run all season long—the homer-happy Dodgers face the favorable matchup of Tyler Mahle, responsible for 25% of the long balls conceded by the Giants’ pitching staff (6 of 24).

Wednesday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Giants
  • Ballpark: Oracle Park, San Francisco
  • Start time: 6:45 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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New Portland owner Tom Dundon's penny-pinching ways talk of league, he does not care

On the court, the Portland Trail Blazers are impressing with their athleticism and play in their first-round series against San Antonio — there is a real path forward for this team to be a threat in the West.

However, in league circles, it's the Trail Blazers moves off the court that have everyone taking — and mocking — the franchise. Specifically, reports of penny-pinching by new owner Tom Dundon. While more rumors are swirling around the league than we have room to discuss here, there are a few of these incidents that have become public:

•Portland was the only team not to bring their two-way players on the road for their first-round playoff series, something first reported by Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report. Traditionally, those players are considered part of the team — Caleb Love played 49 games for the Trail Blazers this season — even if they are not on the active playoff roster.
• The Trail Blazers shrunk the size of their traveling party for road trips, which included the team photographer and digital reporter not making trips.
• Portland made support staff check out of their hotel rooms early and wait nearly four hours in the lobby of a hotel to avoid late check-out fees. That included the team masseuse, who had nowhere to set up and work on players, reports Jason Quick of The Athletic.

However, the big rumor has been that they are trying to hire a coach on the cheap. As one source told NBC Sports, Portland is trying to hire an NBA coach on a mid-major coach's salary. There were reports that Dundon spoke to multiple college coaches and was reportedly trying to hire a coach for about $1.5 million a season, well below the roughly $4 million average starting salary for an NBA coach (the league average for a coach is closer to $7 million). Tiago Splitter has done an admirable job after being forced to take on the head coaching job one game into the season, following Chauncey Billups' arrest as part of a federal gambling probe. In a move that breaks with NBA etiquette, Dundon has searched fairly publicly for a new coach while Splitter still has the job.

This is the one area source really pushed back to Quick of The Athletic.

"Of all the things reported on Tom, the one thing that is not true is the coaching thing, that he is trying to get someone for $1 million to 1.5 million," a team source said. "It's just not true. He's talked to everybody, and of course, some coaches he talks to would be less expensive than others. The goal is to find the best person."

None of this talk bothers Dundon, according to reports. While most owners might be shamed and change their behavior because of all this, Dundon appears unfazed, as one source told Quick at The Athletic.

"I ought to tell you, I don't think he gives a rat's ass what is said about him," a league source told The Athletic. "Most owners care. They insulate themselves because they care very much about their image and profile. He doesn't give a f***. He doesn't even flinch with this stuff."

It's all a shock to the system in Portland because long-time owner Paul Allen was lavish with the perks, from big ones like a specially-modified private charter plane for the team to the fact that players got their cars washed and detailed during practice.

It was not financially prudent (not that it impacted Allen, one of the Microsoft co-founders). Still, as Bill Oram of The Oregonian noted, it's not easy to get free-agent players to commit to Portland or to stay once they arrive. Rainy Portland, somewhat isolated on the NBA map up in the Pacific Northwest, is a very different vibe for players who might have grown up on the East Coast. The perks and the way the organization treated players helped — if the perks and amenities are stripped away, will it be even harder to get players to come? Will the Trail Blazers have to overpay to get players with options?

That said, Dundon had the same playbook with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes — he may not have spent on the things around the team, but he has always been willing to spend on players and talent. And, the Hurricanes are currently in the NHL playoffs for the eighth consecutive year — that kind of run of success would win fans over in Portland. Winning cures a lot of ills in any organization.

That may be what Dundon is banking on, and his young team has shown signs of promise this season and already in the playoffs. Plus, next year, they get Damian Lillard back.

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Cavaliers vs Raptors Same-Game Parlay for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 3

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are making teams nervous in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland has looked like the best two-way team in the East and takes a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 of its opening-round matchup with the Toronto Raptors.

My Cavaliers vs. Raptors predictions won’t get in the way of the road team, backing them to win again while getting strong production from their stars.

Here are my best NBA picks for Thursday, April 23.

Our best Cavaliers vs Raptors SGP for Game 3

The Cleveland Cavaliers have looked great on both ends of the floor in two strong wins over the Toronto Raptors. While Toronto will be more competitive back in Canada, there’s just too much firepower for Cleveland, and the Raps haven't been getting the best from their starters.

Donovan Mitchell has amassed 62 points through the first two games, which means Toronto will try to take him out of the equation in Game 3. That added pressure makes “Spida” more of a passer, and he’s been excellent at trusting his teammates this season.

Cleveland center Jarrett Allen boasts a massive edge in size against Toronto, especially if the Raptors roll out a small-ball lineup again. Allen can dominate inside and is projected for 13+ points in Game 3.

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