May 21, 2026; New York, New York, USA; American actors Jason Bateman (left) and Jason Sudeikis in attendance during the second quarter of game two of the eastern conference finals...
A magical Game 1 win brought the Knicks’ most famous fans out for more.
Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden was packed as always, with regulars and Knicks superfans Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller leading the charge alongside Tracy Morgan and Spike Lee for Game 2 against the Cavaliers.
Stiller’s hype for the second game of the Eastern Conference began well before he entered the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman and Chris Rock were also in attendance.
Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis are pictured during the Knicks’ May 21 game. Imagn Images
What would a Knicks playoff game be without some of the franchise’s own?
A cadre of alumni took in the action, with John Starks, Patrick Ewing, Stephon Marbury and Walt “Clyde” Frazier watching the current generation of stars — sometimes a little too close, as Starks and Marbury nearly took their courtside celebrations onto the parquet during Monday’s series opener.
Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg sat courtside as well.
Current mayor Zohran Mamdani sat up high alongside public advocate Jumaane Williams as concerns over a potential curse loomed over his presence following an appearance at a Mets game that preceded an 11-game losing streak, NY1 reported.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 15: In an aerial view, the downtown skyline is seen during a heat wave on July 15, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Weather forecasts today are expecting temperatures to reach 115 degrees. The Phoenix area is grappling with record-breaking temperatures as prolonged heat waves continue soaring across the Southwest. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
ROCKIES
DIAMONDBACKS
Willi Castro – 1B
Ketel Marte – 2B
Tyler Freeman – RF
Corbin Carroll – RF
Hunter Goodman – C
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Ezequiel Tovar – SS
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Kyle Karros – 3B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Jake McCarthy – CF
Lourdes Gurriel – LF
Braxton Fulford – DH
Gabriel Moreno – C
Troy Johnston – LF
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Chad Stevens – 2B
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Keegan Thompson – RHP
E. Rodriguez – LHP
If you look at the chart above, you’ll notice something a little unusual. There’s eighteen bullpen outings in total above, and in none of them has a D-backs reliever thrown as many as twenty pitches. This appears to be something of a trend. Indeed, excluding Brandon Pfaadt for obvious reasons, no Arizona reliever has gone past 20 pitches in a game this month. The last to do so were Philip Abner and James McCann on April 30th, who threw 34 and 24 pitches respectively. Taylor Clarke’s last five appearances have averaged just 8.8 pitches, and Juan Morillo is lower still, at just eight pitches per outing over his previous five outings.
All told, the D-backs bullpen has thrown 681 pitches this month. That’s the lowest in the majors, and it’s not close. It’s 245 pitches fewer than the 29th-ranked Braves: they’re nearer the 12th ranked Cubs, than to the 30th place D-backs. The average Arizona relief appearance in May has lasted just 13.35 pitches. That figure is down by over twenty percent from 16.89 pitches per GR over the first month of the season. The number was even higher last year, at 18.94 pitches. This is not a major league-wide trend. Indeed, compared to last season, the average number of pitches has actually increased, going up from 18.55 to 19.50 P/GR.
I wonder if this is something the D-backs are consciously doing. It could partly be a result of the rotation going deeper into games. The starters have thrown 112 innings this month – most in the majors, despite playing a game less than the other leaders. When there’s only an average of eight outs per game to get, you can be more aggressive about changing relievers. Getting all of your bullpen into games might require shorter outings. But I wonder if it may also be an attempt to protect arms? Has the team found that longer outings lead to excessive strain on relief arms as well as starters? No idea. But something to keep an eye on.
San Antonio's De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, as well as Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, are all listed as questionable for Game 3 Friday night in San Antonio.
Fox, the Spurs' starting point guard, has missed both games this series with a sprained ankle suffered in the previous round against Minnesota. He worked out on the court prior to Game 2, before the decision that he would not play was announced. In his case, expect this to be another game-time decision.
Harper stepped into San Antonio's starting lineup with Fox out and had a breakout Game 1, where he scored 24 points to help spark the Spurs' 2OT win. However, he had to leave Game 2 in the third quarter with what the Spurs are now listing as adductor soreness. The adductor, like the hamstring, is a muscle that is easy to re-injure or worsen if not fully healed before returning to play, so don't be surprised if he sits out a game or games. Without two of their three primary ball handlers at the end of the game, it put a lot of pressure on the Spurs' Stephon Castle to be the team's primary shot creator. He's taken on a lot more of the ball handling load while going against the high-pressure defense of the Thunder, and the result is that Castle has 20 turnovers across the two games so far.
OKC's Williams missed half of the Thunder's first-round series against the Suns and the entire series against the Lakers with a left hamstring strain, and he appeared to re-injure that same muscle in the first quarter of Game 2. He received treatment on the bench for a while, then eventually went back to the locker room but did not return to the game. The team considers him day-to-day, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Williams scored 26 points in Game 1. The Thunder are used to playing without Williams, who took the court just 33 times this season due to wrist and right hamstring issues. That said, the Thunder will need contributions from everyone in what is a very even, tightly contested series.
Luis Severino takes the mound at Angel Stadium in Anaheim for the series finale against the LA Angels. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Athletics have taken two of the three games in this series with the Los Angeles Angels at their home field and are aiming for three of four with a victory tonight in the final game of this set. But standing in their way will be LA’s ace, José Soriano. Soriano on the year is 6-3 with a 2.41 ERA in ten starts. He’s in the top five in the American League in wins, ERA, strike outs, and opponents’ batting average. However, he’s given up a dozen runs and has only one win in his last three starts in 2026. Soriano will face Luis Severino for the A’s. Severino is 2-5 with an ERA of 4.45 in his ten starts this season. His ERA is a full two runs lower on the road than at home in Sutter Health Park and the Angels struggle to score at home, so this may be a better matchup than anticipated.
Soriano will go up against this lineup for the A’s tonight:
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 15: Pitcher Zach Agnos #36 of the Colorado Rockies throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning at Coors Field on May 15, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After another heartbreaking loss on Wednesday to close out the homestand, the Colorado Rockies are back out on the road to kick off a seven-game trip to face the Arizona Diamondbacks for a four-game series, followed by three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Rockies and Diamondbacks squared off last weekend at Coors Field, with the Snakes taking the series. Arizona ended up scoring 19 runs while Colorado scored 11 in the series. Two of the games remained relatively close, so hopefully things can turn in the Rockies’ favor as they are 9-16 on the road. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, are fresh off a three-game sweep of the scuffling San Francisco Giants and are now 15-9 at home.
Zach Agnos (0-0, 5.59 ERA) will take the mound as the starter for Colorado. This is Agnos’ first career start as he has only worked as a reliever dating back to his college days. Manager Warren Schaeffer has liked what he’s seen out of Agnos in a long relief role, and may have been convinced to give him this start after he tossed 4.1 innings in his last appearance. That outing just so happened to come against Arizona, as he allowed two runs on four hits. Agnos has now gone three or more innings five times out of his 13 appearances. Strikeouts are definitely down as he has just four in 11.2 innings, but he has also limited himself to three walks. He will get into some trouble giving up contact, but if he keeps up what he’s been doing of late, he could eat some much-needed innings.
Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1, 2.53 ERA) has continued his excellence for the Diamondbacks. The veteran lefty has consistently averaged at least five innings per start and allowed more than two runs just three times. His previous outing came at Coors Field, where he limited the Rockies to just three runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work with six strikeouts and no walks. It was the first game this season where Rodriguez hadn’t issued a walk, as he had allowed at least three in each of his previous five starts. He continues to limit hard contact and generate a healthy amount of ground balls.
Walt Frazier believes how Harden performs the rest of the series, however long it lasts, will be remembered for a long time.
“This is where Harden is now. He’s come to the fork in the road. Which way is he going to go? His legacy is on the line,” the legendary Knick said on The Post’s “Schein Time” with Adam Schein on Thursday afternoon. “If he gets torched again, he’s done. His career is over. This is all people are going to remember, this series. Not what he did in the regular season, but what he did in the playoffs.”
Harden has only reached the NBA Finals once, back in 2012, and he may not get another chance, at age 36.
Frazier does think that Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson is making the right decision by sticking with Harden despite his struggles.
Jalen Brunson attempts a shot during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg
“So if I’m Kenny Atkinson, I put Harden back in the game [in crunch time]. I don’t punish him, I encourage him,” Frazier said. “When we were in the playoffs and we were playing the Bullets, Red Holzman pulled me in the corner [and said], ‘Hey, Clyde, forget about offense, just focus on defense on Earl [Monroe]. Forget about offense. Don’t think about offense.’
“If I'm Kenny Atkinson, I put Harden back in the game."
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 21, 2026
“If I’m Kenny Atkinson, I go to Harden, and say, ‘Hey, man, I’m putting you back in there. This is why we acquired you. Look at your career. I know what you’ve done, you can do it.’ I leave it all up to him. This is what coach [Mike] Brown did to [Mikal] Bridges. Remember when Bridges was floundering? Everybody said take him out of the lineup. He didn’t take him out; [he] put him out there and now look at what Bridges is doing.”
James Harden reacts during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026. Charles WenzelbergWalt Frazier is pictured during the Knicks’ April 28 game. NBAE via Getty Images
Harden was the goat of the series opener, shredded by Brunson in the Knicks’ wild comeback.
It was also the sixth different playoff game in which Harden committed more turnovers than made field goals.
Atkinson has defended Harden and hasn’t second-guessed his decision to stick with him.
The Liberty open their seven-game homestand Thursday against the Golden State Valkyries.
But as that game tips off at Barclays Center, the Knicks will simultaneously start Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers across the East River at Madison Square Garden.
Talk about a good time to be a New York basketball fan.
We’ve got you covered on the Liberty beat
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“They deserve it,” Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said after shootaround. “My dad’s from New York, I lived in Long Island, I like the teams he likes so I’ve grown up, I know what it was like some close calls, being able to win one in New York, so New York deserves it, for sure.”
DeMarco, of course, is keeping an eye on the basketball action happening in the other borough.
The longtime Warriors assistant and hoops junkie attended Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday and witnessed Jalen Brunson help the Knicks mount an improbable 22-point comeback to force overtime, where New York ultimately won.
DeMarco, who’s worked alongside both Knicks head coach Mike Brown and Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson on the Warriors staff, won’t publicly pick a side in this series, but he lauded both of his friends and former coworkers.
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco reacts during game against the Connecticut Sun Michelle Farsi/New York Post
“I’m watching the series closely,” DeMarco said. “It’s pretty cool to watch, they’re battling to go to the Finals.”
Brown and Atkinson overlapped on Steve Kerr’s staff for only the 2021-22 season, the same campaign the Warriors won their fourth championship in eight years.
DeMarco was along for all six of the Warriors’ NBA Finals runs during his 13-year tenure. The longtime assistant coach worked his way up from roles in the video room and player development to eventually be in charge of the team’s defense.
The Knicks on Tuesday were successful at slowing down Harden, something DeMarco is familiar with doing.
Chris DeMarco and Mike Brown of the Golden State Warriors pose for a photo during the Warriors Victory Parade on June 12, 2018 in Oakland. NBAE via Getty Images
Obviously the current version of Harden is far different from the bearded man who led the Rockets a decade ago. DeMarco aided the Warriors in figuring out a plan to wear down Harden over the course of a seven-game series, and Brown divulged that “secret” after Tuesday’s win.
“When I was at Golden State, we played Houston in the playoffs, we counted James Harden’s dribbles,” Brown told reporters. “We told our guys, ‘He’s dribbling close to a thousand times… Keep picking him up full court, keep making him dribble because at the end of the series, at the end of games, it’s going to wear him down.’
“And did it? Probably not,” Brown continued, “but you say stuff like that to help give your guys a psychological advantage.”
DeMarco recalled tracking Harden when the Warriors faced the Rockets in the postseason. He said examining those details to create a game plan is one of his favorite parts of the playoffs.
“In that specific series with Houston, it was about having James heavily handle the ball, and one, what that would do to his fatigue or… just his overall being able to produce through a seven-game series and then what it did to the others if he’s dribbling the whole game so you look at all of that stuff,” DeMarco said. “Houston was always one of the most competitive teams we played and those were always battles.”
The Warriors were quite successful against Harden, beating the Rockets in the 2015 Western Conference finals, the 2016 first round, the 2018 Western Conference finals and the 2019 second round.
Golden State went 16-7 in the playoffs against the Rockets during Harden’s era.
Harden’s ballhandling responsibilities aren’t as consuming with the Cavaliers thanks to Donovan Mitchell. But that mentality of wearing an opponent down to eventually pounce held true for the Knicks.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 21: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves has his hand looked at during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 21, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. was replaced in the bottom of the sixth inning of tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins by Eli White after dealing with an apparent thumb issue one inning prior.
When getting ready to take the field in the bottom of the fifth, Acuña, Jr. lingered near the dugout while his thumb was examined before jogging back to right field. Acuña, Jr. had singled in two runs in the top of the inning.
The star outfielder has been snake-bitten by injuries throughout his career and hopefully this was purely a precautionary measure with the team leading the Marlins 6-2 at the time of his removal.
Update #1: The Braves official statement was removal due to “pain in his left thumb.”
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from tonight’s game as a precaution with pain in his left thumb.
Thursday was big for the Mets and especially David Peterson.
After the Mets removed Peterson from the rotation -- having him pitch as a bulk reliever behind an opener -- the southpaw was pegged to start Thursday's series finale against the Nationals. The decision was made partly because Peterson has pitched better of late as a reliever, and the Mets, in the midst of playing 16 straight games, needed length from a starter and the left-handed heavy Nationals lineup was an ideal landing spot to give Peterson his first start in almost a month.
And Peterson rewarded the Mets with arguably his best start of the season.
Peterson allowed just one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three across five innings. The combination of Peterson and four relievers led the Mets to a 2-1 win. It was Peterson's first win as a starter since Sept. 5, 2025.
"I thought he was good. That first inning, he lost the zone a little there. Got a little quick with his tempo but settled in nicely and gave us what we needed," manager Carlos Mendoza said after the win. "
He’s a good pitcher. That’s why he starts. Went through struggles and we believe in him. Now it’s time for him to continue to do that and he will. He’s a big part of this team and we’ll continue to use him."
Thursday's start wasn't all great, as Mendoza mentioned. In the first, Peterson loaded the bases with three straight two-out walks, but got out of the jam by striking out Daylen Lile. He escaped another jam in the fifth, allowing just one run after Washington had runners on second and third and no outs.
"Felt I was a little quick. Just tried to settle in and slow myself down my motion," Peterson said. "Get ahead on the first pitch and go from there... We were on the attack, just tried to fill up the zone and stay on the attack, be aggressive all day."
Entering Thursday's start, Peterson was much more effective as a reliever, pitching to a 2.25 ERA and allowing only four earned runs over his last three appearances (13.0 IP). In his five previous starts this season, Peterson is 0-4 with an 8.10 ERA across 18.0 innings pitched.
With the Mets dealing with injuries and inconsistencies, if Peterson can find his 2025 self (the first half, at least) the rotation would be in much better shape as New York looks to absorb the loss of Clay Holmes.
Peterson pitched to a 6-4 record and a 3.06 ERA in the first half of last season, en route to his first All-Star Game selection. However, his second-half performance was one reason the Mets faltered down the stretch and missed the postseason. Mendoza was asked what it would mean if Peterson returned to that form, and the skipper gushed over the idea.
"A lot. We saw it; he was an All-Star last year. A big part of the success we had last season," Mendoza said. "If he can be that guy, it’ll help us get us to the next level and he’s more than capable of doing that."
"Felt like I’ve been that for a couple of outings now," Peterson said when asked if he feels like his 2025 first-half self. "Good to get the start. Continue to build off of it, look at what we need to work on and move forward."
The 30-year-old says he's confident that he can recapture those performances because he's done it before and knows what he's capable of.
"Trust in my teammates, my catchers and continue to be aggressive and throw a lot of strikes," he said.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 02: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Grayson Allen arrived in Phoenix right before the 2023 season in that three-team deal involving Deandre Ayton, Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, and Toumani Camara. He has been a steady force, whether off the bench or in a starting role, for Phoenix over the past three seasons; he’s fit right in like a glove.
Grayson has been a low-maintenance role player who has more to his game than you’d think once you get a closer look. He is not “just” a shooter. He is a legitimate athletic downhill threat and secondary playmaker.
Allen missed 32 games, but even with a down year relative to his three-point shooting, he showcased why he is one of the best value contracts on the team, posting career highs in scoring and assists.
Expanded Role, Not Regression
Let’s address the elephant in the room right away. Allen’s 2025-26 season naturally leaves you a bit cautious. Missing 32 games and watching his usually lethal three-point efficiency dip to 34.9% (alongside a 40.3% overall field-goal percentage) are some yellow flags of caution to monitor. That said, he did average a career-high in PPG (16.5), APG (3.8), and 3PFGA (8.9) this season.
The increase in volume, along with a couple of rough shooting stretches and injury woes, is more than likely the culprit for the dip in efficiency. In his expanded role, the volume was there, the aggressiveness was there, and the defense remained mostly steady. On a guard-heavy roster where every single contract matters, a down year from your premium floor-spacer triggers concern; that’s only fair.
Let’s not forget he dropped a career-high 42 points to go with a franchise-best 10 three pointers in a win over the Pelicans in November!
Grayson Allen is an easy player to take for granted. Plenty of teams could use an efficient floor-spacing guard that competes on both ends and makes the right play more often than not. He is athletic and has excellent footwork and deceleration skills on the move.
Grayson Allen concludes his regular season with career highs in points (16.5) and assists (3.8) while playing under 30 minutes per game.
Most drives he’s ever had in his career with 530. Helped generate 517 points off his assists, which is 154 more than last season.
With the Suns’ sudden influx of guard depth, it is incredibly easy to fall into the trap of viewing Allen as expendable. But trading away a high-IQ, plug-and-play volume shooter just to balance out a positional spreadsheet is how good teams accidentally slide back into mediocrity.
1. Perimeter Gravity + Downhill threat
Even in a self-described “down” shooting year, Allen still canned 3.1 triples a night. Opposing coaching staffs don’t look at his season percentage on a scouting report and decide to leave him open; they respect the quick release and the proven history.
When Devin Booker is hunting paint touches or running the offense, the floor geometry completely changes depending on whether Allen is standing on the wing. His gravity is far more than a luxury. It’s a necessity. And he can aggressively attack closeouts and put the ball on the deck. As mentioned above, he is not just a shooter.
The modern NBA is defined by premium wing depth. Teams are constantly scouring the market, desperate to find players who can hit open shots, execute extra passes, and defend multiple perimeter positions without demanding heavy usage.
Grayson Allen is exactly what every contending front office is searching for. Having that piece already in-house is a massive competitive advantage.
Grayson Allen is still on a relatively friendly contract heading into next season at $18.1 million, which accounts for roughly 11% of the salary cap. He holds a player option for $19.4 million the following year. In an era where the second apron and tightening financial restrictions can paralyze a front office, having a highly productive asset locked in at roughly 11% of the cap is an incredibly team-friendly, movable contract sitting right in a mid-tier sweet spot.
And for that same reason, it’s why he’s come up in potential trade talks, which I’m not against if the RIGHT deal comes along that addresses their weaknesses. Trading him just to trade him is a mistake.
Closing Thought
Guard depth is a position of strength, not a flaw that requires a panicked correction. Unless a landscape-altering frontcourt piece becomes available via a consolidated package, keeping Allen’s spacing, elite perimeter gravity, contract flexibility, and competitive fire in the Valley is the smartest path forward.
If the perfect deal comes along that moves the needle, I’m okay dealing from a position of strength. Otherwise, let’s welcome Grasyon back to the Valley with open arms.
"I don't know that."
Grayson Allen when asked about the Suns making roster changes in the offseason.
"I haven't thought about that. I like our group. I think we have a good chance to keep a lot of people together." #Sunspic.twitter.com/3UbYsTcgbH
“Last post before I delete this app,” Robinson wrote on Facebook on Thursday afternoon, just a few hours before Game 2. “I finally have changed my number for many reason [sic] … as I fight through and keep fighting in this playoffs run my focus have to go to another level. This is the start of a new chapter in my life. Love and will miss y’all … Mitch out.”
Robinson has never been shy in letting his thoughts be known on social media.
He has opened up about his mental health and at times complained about his role in the Knicks offense.
On the lighter side, he constantly posts pictures and videos of his trucks.
Mitchell Robinson chases after a loose ball during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over over the Cavaliers on May 19, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg
It’s also hurt his wallet.
Both he and the Hawks’ Dyson Daniels were fined by the NBA for their roles in a heated fracas during Game 6 of their first-round series earlier this postseason.
Mitchell Robinson addresses reporters during a May 3 press conference. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
But Robinson was docked $50,000 — twice the penalty Daniels received — because of a vulgar video shared afterward as an Instagram story.
After such an emotional Game 1, did the coaching staff have to talk about settling down and being ready again for Game 2?
“We have a veteran group,” coach Mike Brown said. “Any time you’re in the playoffs, you obviously need a little bit of talent, you need a little bit of luck and then you need skill. All those things came to play for us coming back from [22] points down with that little bit of time to go. I think our guys understand that we got away with one and we don’t want to put ourselves in that position again because Cleveland is a great team, they’re well coached and they have great players on that team. They’re not gonna let that opportunity slip through their hands again.
“We’ve talked about that but not necessarily about the emotional part.”
The Knicks were not in their normal home uniforms for Game 2 on Thursday night, instead wearing their Statement Edition jerseys.
Talk to people around the league and the running joke is that new Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon is shopping for the team's next head coach at the 99¢ Store, trying to find a bargain. Dundon has denied he is trying to hire a coach on the cheap, and the latest report suggests he's at least looking at a more expensive coach.
Current Clippers assistant and former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy is one of the finalists for the Trail Blazers' job, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Van Gundy's name has popped up in several job searches recently, though he hasn't been a head coach in 19 years (his last head coaching job was with the Rockets in 2007). Since then, he has been a lead broadcast analyst for ESPN/ABC, before becoming the defensive coordinator on Tyronn Lue's Clippers staff the past two seasons.
Portland and team president Joe Cronin are known to be casting a wide net in the search to replace interim coach Tiago Splitter. While Splitter did an impressive job considering he was thrown into the big chair after the arrest of Chauncey Billups one game into the season, the buzz around the league has been that Dundon wanted to go in a different (ideally cheaper) direction.
It is rumored that Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori is a candidate for the job. Also, former Portland coach Terry Stotts — who spent last season on Steve Kerr's bench in Golden State — said he would love to come back to Portland.
What all three of those coaches — Van Gundy, Nori and Stotts — have in common is they are not coming cheap. What direction Dundon and the Trail Blazers ultimately go remains to be seen, but this is a roster with some promising young players such as Deni Avdija, plus quality veteran guards in Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard (expected to return after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles).
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: James Harden #1 and head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers speak during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 was fun, I guess. Let’s see what pain this one brings.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 14: Brenton Doyle #9 of the Colorado Rockies takes the field prior to the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Thursday, May 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the Colorado Rockies prepare to start their three game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, they announced a series of roster moves on Thursday afternoon.
The Colorado Rockies announced today the following transactions: -Selected the contract of INF Chad Stevens (#39) from Triple-A Albuquerque. -Recalled RHP Blas Castaño from Triple-A. -Placed OF Brenton Doyle on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 20 (left oblique…
— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) May 21, 2026
Brenton Doyle was injured on Tuesday while making a diving catch, so his landing on the IL with a left-oblique contusion is not surprising.
Meanwhile, Chad Stevens has absolutely been on fire with the Albuquerque Isotopes. In 168 plate appearances, he’s slashing .362/.435/.523 (.958 OPS). He has stolen six bases. The infielder was an off-season minor league free agent signing for the Rockies. Stevens, 27, was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in 2021 and made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Angels last season.
With his two-run single in the third, Chad Stevens has set the franchise record with a 39-game on-base streak! 😎🙌👏 pic.twitter.com/0xr6sGUkIb
Blas Castaño was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque four days ago. He pitched 2.1 innings for the Rockies and allowed one earned run on two hits. He also struck out three and walked one. The righty fits well into the Rockies current model that relies on relievers who can throw bulk innings.
The Rockies optioned LHP Sammy Peralta to Albuquerque. He most recently served as an opener for Tanner Gordon on Tuesday, and did not get out of the first inning.
Finally, the Rockies designated LHP Carson Palmquist (No. 19 PuRP) for assignment. Palmquist has struggled this season. In 25.0 IP, he has a 7.20 ERA, allowing 12.6 H/9. Originally selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, Palmquist made his MLB debut last season but struggled immensely. He posted an 8.91 ERA in nine appearances—seven of which were starts—with 25 walks to 27 strikeouts and ten home runs allowed over 34.1 innings.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 9: Danhausen and Minihausen celebrate during WWE Backlash at Benchmark International Arena on May 9, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/WWE via Getty Images) | WWE via Getty Images
If you have children and they watch WWE, you know who Danhausen is.
In case you don’t, he is a professional wrestler who has gained fame for “cursing” opponents. He records copious amounts of YouTube videos in character, which you can view here.
Danhausen debuted back at WWE’s Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event. Since then, he has quickly risen to be the number 2 merchandise seller in the company.
He then went on to ‘curse’ Stephen A. Smith, and the Knicks promptly went down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA playoffs. A Knicks fan bought a Cameo, which is a way for fans to pay for celebrities to create custom videos, to uncurse the Knicks and curse the Hawks.
He did it for the “human monies,” and now the Knicks haven’t lost, including in a game they were down 22 in the 4th quarter.
Anytime you can pair WWE with BBN, it probably means a successful business venture.
So, when Kentucky announced it would be pairing with Danhausen to create a new collaboration, the internet went into a frenzy.
Now, it may not mean a lot to some of you, and that’s okay. But if you are a wrestling fan, the shirt has already had a couple of restocks today, which means it is selling fast. See the design and get yours below. It comes as WWE SmackDown is live tomorrow night at Rupp Arena; you can get tickets for that here.
