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Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-3 Sunderland
Continue reading...Osula at the double as Newcastle push brittle West Ham closer to the brink
It was a decision that threatens to keep Nuno Espírito Santo awake for many nights to come.
Why, oh why, West Ham’s manager will doubtless wonder, did he opt to start with a back three on Tyneside?
Continue reading...Yegor Shilov: 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: A Cerebral Offensive Threat Up the Middle
Good afternoon, Devils fans and hockey fans, and welcome to another All About the Jersey draft profile. Today, we are going to look at someone who might fly under the radar a bit. Coming out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but hailing from Tyumen, Russia is Yegor Shilov, a 6’1” and 180+ pound left-shooting center. From Elite Prospects, you can see his production history below.
I am always interested by any European player who dominates their local junior leagues and then flies all the way to the United States or Canada to play North American hockey as a teenager. And for what it’s worth, Shilov had a good offensive season in the United States at 16 and 17 years old in 2024-25. The USHL, as a league massively rising in quality of play over the last five or ten years, is a good offensive litmus test for forwards, and we are starting to see more Russians and Belarusians testing their hands there. Ilya Protas of the Washington Capitals played for Des Moines in 2023-24 at age 17, scoring 51 points in 61 games before tearing the OHL apart in 2024-25 at age 18. Looking back, it’s kind of baffling Protas made it to the third round in 2024.
I do think it’s interesting that Shilov decided to go to the QMJHL from there, which is a path less trodden among top prospects over the last few years, but he had a good season there as well. Among recent Devils draft picks, Matyas Melovsky went through the Q, but he didn’t hit 80 points until his age-20 season, when he had 26 goals and 57 assists after being drafted as an overager by the Devils. Melovsky, of course, went on to score 26 points in 55 AHL games this season, and he now has an assist through two Worlds games for Team Czechia.
But Shilov is only 18: he broke 30 goals and 80 points in Quebec at just 17 years old, turning 18 on April 30 of this year. Production-wise, he is about three years ahead of a guy like Melovsky, who is now decently well-regarded as a possible fourth line center in 2026 or 2027. Above, you can see that Shilov is committed to playing for Penn State in 2027-28, but I think it would be best if he tried to find a college commitment before then. He’s off to a great start, but the NCAA would be a logical step for someone who has already hit elite production in a league like the Q.
Where is Shilov Ranked?
Elite Prospects lists Shilov ranked as such:
- 19th by TSN (Button)
- 19th by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
- 23rd by Elite Prospects
- 24th by Smaht Scouting
- 25th by Dobber Prospects
- 25th by Draft Prospects Hockey
- 27th by Sportsnet (Cosentino)
- 30th by Daily Faceoff
- 32nd by The Hockey News (Kennedy)
- 40th by McKeen’s Hockey
- 49th by The Hockey News (Ferrari)
Additionally, Shilov rates out as a late-first quality producer by Byron Bader’s NHLe model, though he is even with Viggo Bjorck in NHL and star probability. This is an area where playing in a better league would help Shilov in production models, though I think scoring 82 points in the QMJHL at just 17 years old as a Russian-born player is pretty noteworthy.
I will note here, per Bader’s linked tool explanation, is that NHLe is tracked to estimate the average season a player would have if they were immediately dropped into the NHL. So, a player coming off 33 goals and 82 points in the QMJHL this season would be expected to score about 28 points next season. This type of prediction worked to near perfection for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who nabbed Benjamin Kindel at 11th overall last year with a 37 NHLe in the 2024-25 season, as he scored 35 points in 77 games for Pittsburgh as an 18-year old rookie this year. In short: players with NHLes like this often become viable NHLers sooner than you think, though Shilov probably has a year or two of seasoning to do.
What Others Have to Say About Shilov
From Alessandro R. at The Hockey Writers:
Shilov’s skills are enough to hear his name in the first day of selections. He’s expected to be picked in the first round, but his lack of speed and relative mono-dimensional play are very likely to cause him to fall to around the 25-30 range despite his excellent passing, shooting, and puck-handling abilities.
From Sam Cosentino’s February rankings at Sportsnet:
One of the most dynamic power play producers in this draft class, Shilov is slippery holding pucks along the wall. He darts away from defenders at the last second…There is some frustration watching his game in that maximum effort isn’t always present, but he’s inspired with the puck on his stick and is a threat every time he possesses it.
From Austin Garrett at Smaht Scouting
Yegor Shilov is one of the most skilled centers in North America whose game is defined by elite puck feel and creative vision, but whose overall impact is limited by pace and engagement away from the puck. With possession, he’s among the most talented players in the class, manipulating defenders with ease, slipping pucks through traffic, and distributing the puck with imagination and precision. He defends more by anticipation than confrontation, playing with a deep, read-and-react posture that allows him to pick off lanes and disrupt plays with an active stick rather than physical pressure.
Shilov’s Video
I am wary of those who knock prospects for skating ability and compete level. It’s something that I generally have to see for myself, because sometimes evaluators can overvalue apparent effort over genuine skill and hockey IQ. Seeing that Shilov is praised for his quickness along the boards and heavily criticized for his 200-foot speed is also something that tells me this could be a prospect who is either still physically developing or has just not had the time to perfect his straight-line skating. But, we’ll look at the video.
What I notice early in this video is that Shilov is not really used defensively like an aggressive center. As Garrett noted for Smaht Scouting, he’s more positioned to be anticipatory. However, he does seem to try making a point of finishing his checks to start the game (even if he does so uncomfortably), so I can imagine that his coaches were encouraging him to make some changes there. On his second shift, he comes out right to a point shooter and blocks a shot wide with his stick, so I lean towards thinking Shilov tries to lean on his smarts and reads early on. He gets right in perfect position to facilitate transition up the boards, and he does not burn the opposition but manages to stay ahead long enough to send a backhand centering feed that is redirected wide. He is also able to anticipate the backchecker and quickly shows the awareness and ability to protect the puck with someone on his back.
By his third shift, I’m wondering what the problem with this guy is. He takes the puck up ice and flips after hitting the red line with four opponents to beat. He hits the burners around a defender at the blueline for a moment, just enough to be first to his flip in the corner after going around another opponent trying to slow him down. He wins the board battle under pressure by a larger player, moves the puck to his teammate, and cycles around the point to allow an activation before rejoining the play at the boards.
On the power play, Shilov scores a goal cutting from the slot to the hashmarks of the faceoff circle right off the opening draw play. He got a pass and absolutely ripped it to the far corner, an impressive shot at such short range. The goalie had no chance with the speed of his release and the placement of the shot.
Stop me if you’ve ever heard someone described like this before. Shilov was cycling around the offensive zone after a shot from his teammate was blocked. He circled around the faceoff dot and high slot waiting for a pass, but it didn’t come to him despite a big passing lane until he was near the puck carrier. After Shilov got it, he switched with his teammate at the left point, stickhandling towards the blueline until he came back into a turn towards the net. Taking the middle of the ice and the other team off guard, creating a three-man screen in front of the goalie, Shilov cut left at the last moment and roofed another goal to the far corner around the screen. Once he got the goalie moving, he took his spot and hit it.
While Shilov plays the entire second period without any issues, he does end up on the ice for a goal against in the third. He chased a puck carrier up to the point and was slightly picked, but he doesn’t come back in time to get back in the passing lane. His teammate drops to one knee rather than cover the netfront man he was on, and his team goes down 5-3 here.
Back on the power play later in the period, Shilov gets back to take the puck away in the neutral zone after his team lost possession, but he does not get a chance to make a play in the offensive zone. Late in the game, Shilov threads a perfect pass at the blueline with four opponents in the area, springing his teammate on a quick breakaway. The Armada goalie made the save, but Shilov easily could have had an assist here.
For more highlights, see the following video from HSD prospects:
My Thoughts
I think that the online scouts have it right that Shilov needs to work on his skating, but I do not think it is that dire. He can certainly gain another step, but if skating is a player’s biggest weakness going into the Draft, it’s an issue that can be overcome far easier than others. Besides, it seems like Shilov is a pretty agile skater, and he is still able to consistently beat defenders despite a lack of obvious speed because of his skill and agility.
An issue players tend not to get that much better at is making reads and anticipating plays. Shilov has those down, it seems. Shilov is also apparently a skilled passer and is certifiably a talented goal scorer. He also has a certain offensive element to his attack that I do not think we see from any Devil other than Jack Hughes. He’s incredibly cerebral with the puck. He’s looking for weaknesses and openings, and he is capable of taking advantage with quick cuts and a fast release of an accurate, quick-rising shot.
That’s one reason I became interested in Shilov in the first place. He is ranked lower than the Devils are set to pick, though he is a fall candidate as a Russian-born skilled forward without obvious physical tools. There is a chance he is available early in the second round. Of course, the Devils could always end up later in the first round if they make any trades leading up to the NHL Draft in June, such as any involving pick swaps or a pure trade down move on Draft Day. But I am not convinced that Shilov is such a worse prospect than some of the guys being pushed in that 10-15 range, anyway. His skill level is visibly much greater than that of his teammates when he has the puck, and I think he has the hockey IQ to play at a high level in the NHL.
A player like Shilov makes a ton of sense for the Devils, given that. We have all seen the Hughes-less swoons of the New Jersey Devils, when the team cannot score a goal to save their lives in the absence of their best offensive threat. We have also been watching a franchise that has repeatedly struggled to formulate a third line that has stayed a consistent, high-level offensive threat. The Devils are starting to get there now with Arseny Gritsyuk, but only until coaches realize that he should be getting paired with top six players every night. A player like Shilov, drafted and developed to be that third offensive threat at center, can not only complement the attack of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, but give the Devils the opportunity to have a player that can actually step into their offensive roles in the case of injury. From Mitch Brown’s juniors and NCAA tracking project, Shilov is fantastically skilled at entering the offensive zone, creating rushes out of nothing, and getting to dangerous shooting areas.
This is the exact kind of offensive player that the Devils need to be able to develop internally. If Sunny Mehta’s Devils are going to be an improvement from the last several years, this front office needs to trust that players like this can round out their games and play on the same wavelength as the team’s best players. So Shilov is not a forechecker, not much of a hitter, and he turns the puck over at times. What is most important is that the Devils have centers who can create offense, and Shilov makes up for his defensive issues by making great reads, winning a lot of plays in the neutral zone, and anticipating shooting lanes. This was visible when I watched the video of his shifts, and upon my checking it was even reflected in Brown’s tracking.
While some people might envision each line to serve a different purpose, a team is more threatening when their top offensive players are followed by third liners who can beat opponents in similar fashion. Shilov is a player who can be a puck carrier on the power play, evaluating the entry after the drop pass and either taking it in himself or seamlessly passing from his forehand or backhand. He’s a player who can keep and extend possession through cutbacks. He can switch with defensemen and attack from the point into the high slot. And, importantly, he is not reliant and creating from the outside. He wants to be in the middle of the ice, shooting and scoring goals.
It is also likely that the Devils have the chance to select someone with a better production profile than Shilov at 12th overall, if they keep that pick. I know that. But I think Shilov, one way or another, is someone to watch. He does not score cheap goals. He is not a peripheral playmaker. I do not see him as someone who relies on a type of offense that won’t be available at higher levels. He’s unpredictable, skilled, and smart. I do think he needs to up his physical compete level a little bit or perfect his anticipatory reads, but he might be one of the most skilled players in the 2026 NHL Draft, and any team that drafts him outside the top 10 is getting a good chance of making one of the best picks in the Draft. There might be better goal scorers among wingers in guys like Adam Novtony and Nikita Klepov, but Shilov had similar total point production to some of the top-ranked forwards in the Draft while being one of the top two or three goal-scoring centers.
In Memoriam
I would like to also take a moment to honor the passing of Johan Nilsson, the founder of Elite Prospects. As a young hockey fan, I was always hooked onto his website, learning about prospects or teams overseas, and it was an invaluable resource early on. It has continued to be an invaluable resource as a central base for all things hockey, and I lean on it a lot as a blogger here. My heart goes out to his family and children, and to all of those in the world battling colon cancer.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Yegor Shilov? Do you think scouts have him right at the late first round? Or do you think he’s better than that? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
Hoopaholic’s Gazette: The Waiting Game
From the moment of my fist keystroke here, there are 10 days, 10 hours and 34 minutes until the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline for college underclassman, those wishing to continue their undergraduate eduction at an institution of higher learning.
Flory Bidunga, you are on the clock.
And now the Louisville Cardinal fanbase, after enduring a week of quiet burgeoning anxiety, which followed a furious couple months of anticipation and good news, sits and waits.
Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Like the opening of “60 Minutes,” only a whole lot longer.
And we wonder, what if the “#1 Player in the Portal,” opts to stay and roll the dice. As The Professor, may he Rest in Peace, would opine, “Perhaps the kid simply doesn’t want to endure the ‘Theoretical Thereminology 368’ class he’d need for graduation.”
If rational thinking doesn’t prevail and he leaves his talent in the 2d round pool, what are the Cardinals to do?
It would leave them with enough largesse to make a necessarily absurd offer to Milan Momcilovic. Which would certainly help the Cards’ chance for real marksmanship. But leave them for the second season in a row bereft of depth underneath.
Oh the pluses and minuses of this obsession.
When word from whatever spot of gestation started to circulate last week that Bidunga was ” perhaps leaning” toward staying in the Draft, I began to cull the nooks and crannies of the www. for other unsigned possibilities.
The name David Fuchs popped up. A 6-9, 245 lb. bruiser who is not leaving his heart in San Francisco.
Apparently ACC mate Clemson is making the biggest push. But . . . that was several days ago, and a quick check does not reveal any commitment on the kid’s part.
Understand, I have not the foggiest idea whether this baller’s even on the U of L staff’s radar. Just me trolling for some nugget that will sate my craving for the day.
Or, is there some fire breathing, vodka guzzling firebrand from Hackcomputevenia we’ve never heard of that might add to the global nature of the team?
Flory, the Cardinal Nation awaits.
* * * * *
I finally remembered the name of the player whom Isaac Ellis reminds me of.
Tyler Kolek at Marquette from a few years back.
Late bloomer who became the heart and soul of Shaka Smart’s Warriors a/k/a Golden Eagles.
Not projecting anything about Ellis, other than in my obsessive brain, Kolek came to mind after watching Ellis’s tapes.
* * * * *
Speaking of that university that Al McGuire made famous on the hardwood, I am looking forward to observing how Sananda Fru fares in MIlwaukee?
Was he mishandled in Louisville?
Were our observations of his “softness” correct?
Can Smart instill some boom shaka laka in the center?
* * * * *
Because it’s the only hoops being played by the male of the species, I watch the NBA playoffs.
A Motowner by birth, I have a rooting interest.
Am glad the Pistons bench finally showed up in Game 6, a beat down. In which former Cardinal Donovan Mitchell did not do his thing.
Which Detroit performance helped ameliorate my disgust over how Detroit lost Game 5. James Hardin missed a FT in OT. But no Piston blocked him off and the Beard captured his miss.
“Basketball 101,” I screamed at the screen. You learn it in the 6th grade. Cut off the shooter at the line. Geesh.
If the Cavs prevail tonight in Game 7, I’ll be fine. Donovan will give me a rooting interest against the Knickerbockers. But I’ll be wearing my lone piece Pistons merch during the game.
* * * * *
The other once upon a time Cardinal I’ll be paying attention to next campaign: Luke Murray. Now head guy at BC.
Former assistant in the Yum!, stupidly fired by Chris Mack, two time natty winner at UConn since, has apparently harvested some money in Beantown. Using it wisely.
He only had one player returning. And now has what appears to be a more competitive roster than the Eagles have had in decades.
* * * * *
10 days, 9 hours, 48 minutes.
Yo, Flory, ya know you don’t have to wait for the last moment to withdraw.
— c d kaplan
England’s Aaron Rai wins US PGA Championship – as it happened
️ Aaron Rai put together one of the great closing rounds – and sunk a monster putt for the ages – to finally scatter a bunched field at Aronimink
️ Official leaderboard
Parish noticeboard. Shane Lowry finished his week as he started it, with a fine round of 68. He never really got over the top into the water at 17 on Friday; that Cognizant Classic collapse cuts deep. He’s +2 for his week’s work. Matt Wallace won’t become the first Englishman to win since Jim Barnes in 1919, but he ends his tournament with a 68 as well; he’s +2 too. A final round of 74 for last weekend’s nearly man at the Truist, Alex Fitzpatrick, who departs his maiden Stateside major at +8. And Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald finishes a very respectable week in style, with a 69 that puts the 48-year-old veteran at +7.
While we’re on the subject of tournament records, let’s give fair measure to Kurt Kitayama. His round of 63 ties the lowest final-round score at any PGA Championship, set by Brad Faxon at Riviera in 1995. Faxon stays top of the list, however, on account of Riviera being a par 71, so his round was eight under par, compared to Kitayama’s seven. But we’re splitting hairs here. Kitayama deserves his flowers.
Continue reading...Saying the Suns will win a title with Devin Booker is the easy part
How much postseason basketball have you been watching?
I know once the Phoenix Suns season ends, plenty of fans pack away the jerseys, toss the hats in the closet, and decide they’ve had enough basketball for a while. The season didn’t end in a championship, so they check out until next October. Others become casual viewers. They’ll catch a game here and there because they enjoy basketball in general. Maybe they tune back in once the Finals arrive. After an entire season of emotionally investing in the Suns, the postseason almost becomes a mental vacation.
Then there are the maniacs. The people watching every game like it’s a scouting report. I fall into that category. And after obsessively watching this postseason, one conclusion keeps smacking me in the face. Damn, the Suns are far away from a championship.
I know Mat Ishbia said during his postseason press conference that Phoenix will win a championship with Devin Booker. For some reason, people are taking that statement as the end-all, be-all beacon of the Suns’ direction, as if Ishbia saying it automatically means the organization is about to abandon every ounce of responsibility in pursuit of forcing that outcome immediately.
I love what Mat Ishbia has done with the Phoenix Suns organization lately. He’s made the team accessible. He values the fan experience. He’s actively trying to correct the mistakes that often come with new owner syndrome. That said, simply because Ishbia says the Suns will win a championship with Devin Booker doesn’t automatically make it a reality. There are too many variables involved, and some of the biggest variables are sitting at the top of the Western Conference right now. Their talent. Their youth. Their continuity. Their cohesiveness.
If you’ve been watching the postseason, you know the Oklahoma City Thunder are an absolute buzz saw. They shredded Phoenix like a wood chipper and turned around and did the same thing to the Los Angeles Lakers. They’re 8-0 heading into the Western Conference Finals.
Their opponent in the Western Conference Finals? The San Antonio Spurs, who just dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. Sure, San Antonio is young and going through its first real postseason experience together. Even with all of that inexperience, they still found themselves with a shot at an NBA Finals appearance.
That’s the part that hits you when watching these playoffs. You realize how far away Phoenix still is from legitimately competing for a title. Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio are positioned to remain elite for years because they combine high-end talent with youth, depth, and asset flexibility.
The Suns, as competitive as they showed they could be last season, are still trying to exceed expectations while carrying $23.2 million in dead cap. The reality is the path to an NBA Finals appearance over the next five years feels incredibly narrow.
It’s interesting because we hear what we want to hear, right? Mat Ishbia said the Phoenix Suns will win a championship with Devin Booker, and some people immediately took that as gospel. In the same press conference, he also talked about continuity, development, and progression. That’s the part I’m taking as gospel because I truly believe that’s the direction Phoenix is headed. And realistically, it is the more probable outcome based on the statements provided.
I think winning a championship with Booker is going to be extremely difficult given the current roster construction and the limitations attached to it. I also think developing what you currently have and leaning into progression is the correct path forward. More importantly, it’s the realistic one because there simply aren’t a ton of options available.
I know there are still people who want to blow the whole thing up, trade Booker for draft capital, and fully reset the organization. Honestly, they might not even be wrong long term. I still don’t think now is the time to do it. This organization is still in the process of building a foundation. Year two of this retool becomes about seeing how the roster responds to the direction Phoenix is trying to establish, Booker included. Brian Gregory said everyone on this roster has to improve, and that absolutely includes Devin Booker.
That’s why next season becomes a massive evaluation year for him. Can he handle the expectations? Can he elevate with this version of the roster and culture around him? If the answer is no, then next summer becomes the time for a very serious conversation about potentially moving on from Booker.
Because right now, the timelines don’t fully align. The top of the Western Conference is loaded with juggernauts, and the Suns simply don’t have enough to realistically compete at that level. What they do have is direction. What they do have is a desire to stabilize the franchise, and they’re actively in the process of doing that. You don’t stabilize an organization by detonating everything, bottoming out, and losing games when you don’t even control your own draft picks to properly execute the rebuild.
Take some time. Watch the postseason. Really watch it. Realize how far the Phoenix Suns still are from their destination. The path to eventually getting there is going to take time, care, and a commitment to the direction the organization is trying to build toward. Stabilizing the franchise has been paramount, and if you want to create a winning culture like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have built, it requires patience.
It also takes some luck. Both organizations absolutely hit on transformational players in Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. At the end of the day though, you still make your own luck.
And maybe that’s the hardest reality for people to accept, because patience feels boring when you’ve spent the last few years chasing shortcuts. Watching these playoffs, you can clearly see the difference between teams that were constructed and teams that were cultivated. Oklahoma City and San Antonio didn’t arrive here overnight. They built identities, developed talent internally, and allowed continuity to harden into culture.
The Suns are finally trying to move back in that direction after years of operating in fast forward. It might not produce immediate gratification, and it might never end in a championship. Although for the first time in a while, it at least feels like Phoenix is trying to build something sustainable instead of simply trying to survive its own expectations.
Twitter celebrates Shai Gilgeous Alexander winning another NBA MVP Award
Former Kentucky star and current Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had Big Blue Nation celebrating across social media after it was reported that he won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Following ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania’s report, Kentucky fans quickly took to Twitter/X to praise Gilgeous-Alexander’s. Many fans reflected on his breakout 2017-18 season at Kentucky, where he transformed into a lottery pick by the end of the year under former head coach John Calipari.
Fans across social media congratulated Gilgeous-Alexander on the achievement and praised how well the former Kentucky star has performed on the NBA stage. Many Kentucky fans celebrated his rise from Lexington to becoming one of the league’s biggest superstars while continuing to represent the program at the highest level.
With the help of Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder posted the best record in the NBA with a 64-win season, and Gilgeous-Alexander also posted historic numbers to show that he deserved the award. The superstar guard averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game while helping lead the Thunder into championship contention.
For Kentucky fans, the moment served as another reminder of the program’s long history of producing NBA stars at the highest level.
Here’s how Twitter celebrated the big news!
Spurs vs Thunder Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 1
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The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will push each other to the limit in the Western Conference Finals, starting tonight. Coverage begins on NBC at 8:30 p.m. ET
My Spurs vs. Thunder predictions for Game 1 anticipate a low-scoring affair. However, these defenses won't be able to bottle up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama altogether.
Here are my best free NBA picks for Monday, May 18.
- UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Spurs vs Thunder Game 1 prediction tonight
Who will win Spurs vs Thunder Game 1?
Spurs: The Spurs gave the Thunder fits in the regular season and finished as the only team with a winning record against OKC. The Spurs have the defensive personnel to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, and with Jalen Williams still banged up, the Thunder will have a tough time getting buckets. Oklahoma City is a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs, but it faced an overachieving Suns team and a Lakers squad missing Luka Doncic.
Spurs vs Thunder best bet: Under 219 (-110)
The San Antonio Spurs boast the best defensive rating in the playoffs at a paltry 102.2, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rank sixth at 109.3.
The Spurs have surrendered just 102.5 points per game, while the Thunder have given up 104.6. Opponents are shooting just 40.5% against the Spurs, the lowest mark in the NBA.
Oklahoma City ranks second in opponent turnovers and third in steals, and they can disrupt San Antonio’s rhythm and potent scoring attack.
I’ll take the Under as these powerhouses trade blows and make life difficult for one another on offense.
COVERS INTEL: At home in the playoffs, the Thunder have allowed just 97 points per game and forced 20 turnovers, both Top 2 marks in the Association.Spurs vs Thunder Game 1 same-game parlay
The Spurs have won and covered seven of their last 10 games, and all three of their losses came by five points or fewer. The Thunder are 5-3 ATS in the postseason, but they haven’t yet faced a team that is this familiar with them. The Spurs can keep things close on the road.
Victor Wembanyama has recorded 14+ rebounds in five of his last six games with at least 20 minutes played. Game 1 against the Thunder should be close, and Wemby’s rebounding will be needed against the Thunder’s two-headed monster of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Spurs vs Thunder SGP
- Under 219
- Spurs +6.5
- Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: MVP matchup
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second straight NBA MVP as the overwhelming favorite over Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. Wemby should have a little extra fire after getting snubbed, and he can will his team to victory.
Wembanyama scored 25+ in four of his last eight games with 20+ minutes, and he reached that mark in two of his last three road contests.
Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 29.1 points in the playoffs, but the Thunder have cruised thus far. Monday’s tilt against the Spurs should be highly competitive, and he’ll be needed for 30+.
Spurs vs Thunder SGP
- Spurs moneyline
- Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points
Spurs vs Thunder odds for Game 1 tonight
- Spread: Spurs +6.5 (-110) | Thunder -6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Spurs +195 | Thunder -240
- Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) | Under 221.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Spurs and Thunder hit the Under in all three head-to-head matchups at Paycom Center this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Thunder.
How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 1 tonight
| Location | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK |
| Date | Monday, May 18, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
Spurs vs Thunder latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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Former Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins back-to-back NBA MVP Awards
Former Kentucky and current Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially won back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player awards, according to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania.
The NBA’s official MVP announcement is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET, where Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama were named finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander delivered one of the most dominant seasons in recent NBA history, leading the Thunder to an NBA-best 64 wins despite Oklahoma City dealing with the third-most games missed due to injuries across the league. The former University of Kentucky standout averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game while continuing to establish himself as one of basketball’s elite superstars.
The accomplishment places Gilgeous-Alexander in rare company. He became the first player to win consecutive MVP awards since Nikola Jokic won in 2021 and 2022 and the first guard to accomplish the feat since Stephen Curry did so in 2015 and 2016. He also became the first guard in NBA history to average 30 points per game while shooting at least 55% from the field in a single season.
Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to average at least 30 points, five assists, and 50% shooting over four consecutive seasons. Even more impressive, he did not score below 20 points in a single game this season, joining only Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor in accomplishing that milestone.
Before becoming an NBA MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander starred for Kentucky during the 2017-18 season under John Calipari. He earned All-SEC Second Team honors and helped lead the Wildcats to an SEC Tournament championship while averaging 14.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. His breakout postseason performances quickly elevated him into lottery-pick status before eventually being selected 11th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
NetsDaily Off-Season Report – No. 4
Things are bad, objectively bad. The Nets have lost 118 games in two years, having missed the post-season three straight seasons. There’s not an All-Star, past or current, on the roster. No matter what you believe, their decision to draft five rookies in the first round continues to be excoriated. Going back further, they haven’t won more than 45 games in any of the last ten seasons. They’ve won a single playoff series in that stretch.
Then, there’s this non-fun fact from Nets Insider if you want to go wayway back…
Well, something didn’t give on Lottery night so going into the 2026-season, a couple of Nets losses and Timberwolves wins and Brooklyn moves to the top of that list. Ugh.
While the plan to get into the top three of lottery odds succeeded, the tank ultimately failed Sunday when the Nets fell to No. 6 in the Draft, three spots lower than what they had hoped for. The effect on everyone from the owner to lowest fan was devastating.
Read what Bucks beat writer Mike Owczarski, the Bucks beat writer who was in the Draft Room, wrote about Joe Tsai’s reaction when, by just one ping pong ball, the Nets’ season-long hopes were dashed.
The most expressive reaction, however, came Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai who slumped in his chair and stared dejectedly at the board.
Fans, of course, did more than slump in their chairs. They threw them.
Of course, the palpable fan anger is about more than Lottery luck. The drop has become the most recent manifestation of the team’s history of not just bad luck, but bad losses, bad trades, bad picks and now a growing reputation as a cursed franchise. It is the cumulative effect. (When NBA writers see your team as cursed and pitiable, that’s pretty bad.)
Plans for the coming season may have to be adjusted, too. After all, the Nets had hoped that getting a top three or four pick would improve their ability to snag free agents or players unhappy with their current situations.
And so, fans want the GM fired and/or the owner to sell, a new start! This week we saw this being marketed…
Not very flattering. The reality is there’s no indication that Sean Marks is in trouble. Tsai has been telling people he is patient as an owner and just two days ago, the Nets hired a third assistant GM, Makar Gevorkian, after going with two for well over a decade. That’s a commitment to the current front office.
Falling from a top three or four pick to the sixth isn’t necessarily devasting, as history shows. Hell, it looks like the NBA Finals may feature lead guards who were picked 11th (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and 33rd (Jalen Brunson.) Plus the drop was bad luck. You can recover from that. The next five picks or so are seen as solid prospects if not franchise-changers. And it will be years before we know just how lucky or unlucky the Nets were in Chicago.
They could still succeed. They have plenty of money and play in New York. Also, the Nets could wind up with a terrific player at No. 6 or move up or down or add a second first round pick, get a steal in the second round.
But all the positives that the Nets enjoy — money, picks, location, etc,, respected performance and medical teams, .— are not likely to assuage anyone at the moment. Fans are neither naive nor stupid. They want wins and considering their loyalty, they (aka we) deserve them.
Performance now
So, our next chance to gauge success in this Draft and the rebuild will be the two, count ’em, two Summer Leagues, which start July 4 with a back-to-back-to back holiday weekend at the California Classic in Sacramento. Then, after a three-day respite, they’ll move to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League which will run from July 9 through 19. The Nets will play a minimum of five games there.
So at the least, the front office, pundits and fans will have eight games to measure all the Nets youngsters which will likely include whoever they take in the Draft plus the Flatbush 5 and some but not all of the various two ways and 10-days who played for them last season, players like Chaney Johnson, E.J. Liddell, Malachi Smith, Tyson Etienne, maybe Grant Nelson. Of the group, all but Etienne are 25 or younger. He turns 27 in September.
Yes, Egor Demin has suggested that his situation is uncertain, but we’d be surprised if he doesn’t play. After all in their March medical update on his plantar fascia issue, the Nets stated they expected him to be “a full participant in the summer development program.”
Don’t expect Josh Minott or Ochai Agbaji to play. They are approaching their fifth career years. Also, Minott has a player option and Agbaji will be restricted free agent.
Sounds like a lot and certainly it could be … but that’s why you play in two leagues. With two leagues comes the possibility of slightly different rosters and rotations, as well as minutes.
Bottom line: we’ll be able to gauge the readiness of who they picked in the Draft and what improvements last year’s players had made. It’s a lot of basketball. Hopefully good basketball.
We may see different coach or coaches, too. Steve Hetzel who handled Summer League last season, is a serious candidate for the head coaching job in New Orleans. We should know more about that this week.
Draft Sleeper of the Week
Despite the fall, Tankathon still ranks the Nets current draft picks at Nos. 6, 33 and 43 the fifth best in the NBA, behind the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder. We could speculate that there’s no better partner for the Nets in various scenarios than OKC with the 12th, 17th and 37th picks and apron issues, but that’s a discussion for a different day and one unlikely to have much relevance for a month or so.
We’ve written this week about both Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown Jr. who sit at around No. 6 in most mock drafts. So what about Keaton Wagler, the 6’6” Illinois combo guard. In our latest survey of mock drafts, written two days after the Lottery, he finished second to Acuff with three out of 10 sites liking him as a future Net. NBADraft.net wrote this:
Brooklyn continues its long-term rebuild by adding one of the premier upside swings in the class in Wagler, a dynamic scoring guard with outstanding pace, shot-making ability, and offensive creativity. At No. 6, the Nets can afford to prioritize talent and star upside, and Wagler offers the type of offensive centerpiece potential the franchise has lacked in recent years. His ability to operate both on and off the ball gives Brooklyn lineup flexibility moving forward, while his advanced feel and shot-making instincts allow him to impact games.
Of course, there are others who warn that despite his height, his smarts and his maturity, Wagler has issues with his athleticism particularly if you pair him with Egor Demin who while 6’9.5” in shoes and a great volume shooter for his age, is not known for his atheticism.
Troubling to some was this stat…
He hit 36.0” in that vertical leap. Overall, his combine numbers were only okay but as our Collin Helwig noted in his excellent break down among the five lead guard prospects, he was fifth and last in the shuttle run, the three-quarter court sprint and max vertical leap. Among the 70 Combine participants, his worst performance was in the shuttle run, he finished 50th. Surprisingly, he finished last in spot-up shooting (44%) but first among the five in shooting off the dribble (83%) which was the second best overall at the Combine.
Compared to historical numbers, that’s not awful, as Billy Reinhardt pointed out…
But like any prospect, his game is not about his numbers. He is a smart, poised, mature player who has overcome whatever physical deficits he may have. Take this breakdown from Sam Vecenie’s Game Theory.
Wagler has his advocates, chief among them Albert Ghim of No Ceilings. He absolutely loves Wagler:
I believe Keaton Wagler could be a future MVP candidate. I think he’s going to make multiple All-Star teams and All-NBA teams if all breaks right.
His excitement about Wagler is based on his basketball history so far:
The quick synopsis is that he went to public school in Kansas, played AAU for a non-shoe-sponsored program, and wasn’t even a Top 100-ranked prospect coming out of high school. Kansas and Kansas State didn’t even recruit him, even though he played in-state. He committed to Illinois, had a ridiculous freshman season that led the Fighting Illini to the Final Four, and was named a consensus All-American and won the Jerry West Award, just to name a few of his accolades.
Ghim even compares Wagler favorably to Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton.
Sounds ever so Sean Marks-ey. He met with the Nets in Chicago on Thursday.
Another set of numbers
Stefania Rizzo was a veteran member of the Nets performance staff for years, in charge of rehabilitation therapy among other things. She was also a founder of the NBPTA, the National Basketball Physical Therapists Association, which tries to point up the value of their craft. This week, they looked at what physical theorists look for at the Combine…
While the scouts have their stopwatches out at the NBA Combine, we’re looking at a different set of numbers.
Beyond the vertical jump and the lane agility times, a Physical Therapist’s eye is tuned to the subtle durability markers that often fly under the radar. We aren’t just watching how high an athlete jumps: we’re watching how they land, how they decelerate, and how they manage asymmetrical loads.
Scouting for movement means identifying the biomechanical patterns that translate to a long, healthy career versus those that might signal future risk. It’s about bridging the gap between elite performance and sustainable health.
Whether it’s ankle dorsiflexion during a squat or pelvic control during a change of direction, these details are the foundation of professional success.
The point being that the draft process is more detailed and complex than most fans understand. It all feeds into the team database and their discussions.
Final Note
Jordi Fernandez is still head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
Where to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons Game 7 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Sunday, May 17
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons meet in a winner-take-all Game 7. The winning team will advance to the Eastern Conference finals to face the New York Knicks. The Pistons are favored by 4.5 points. Detroit forced the decisive final game with a 115-94 victory in Game 6.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
TV Channels: Amazon
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Odds
Spread: Detroit Pistons -4.5
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons -186 (62.3%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +154 (37.7%)
Over/Under: 206.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Game 2:Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
Game 3:Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109
Game 4: Cavaliers 112, Pistons 103
Game 5:Cavaliers 117, Pistons 113 (OT)
Game 6:Pistons 115, Cavaliers 94
Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17, 8 p.m. ET, Amazon)
Game #46 GameThread: Jays @ Tigers
Game Three with the Tigers and then the Jays head off for four games in New York against the Yankees.
And Adam Macko is up with the team. He told reporters that he rushed around to buy ‘collared shirts’ to wear on the team bus, saying that he only had hoodies. It seems that I’ve been following his journey up the ladder forever. He was drafted by the Mariners in 2019 from Vauxhall high school here in Alberta (a 2.5 hour driving time from Calgary), and we got him in trade for Teoscar Hernandez.
Vlad is in the two-spot today. I’m all for moving guys around when they are slumping. It likely won’t do much, but you never know.
GO JAYS GO.
Round Three Preview: How Colorado and Vegas’ forward groups stack up
The Colorado Avalanche have successfully reached the conference final for the first time since the 2022 cup season and will host the Las Vegas Golden Knights for game one on Wednesday evening at Ball Arena.
We should get a feel for the matchup before the much-anticipated series begins, and with the benefit of time and importance, we will be able to bring you a preview piece for each position group, like old times!
Let’s start with two star-studded, accomplished forward groups on each side and see how they compare, what advantages they offer, and ultimately who I think has the edge!
Golden Knights Projected Forwards:
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner
Brandon Saad — Tomas Hertl — Colton Sissons
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar — Mark Stone
Vegas brings its own Stanley Cup pedigree, with past champions like Jack Eichel and a wounded Mark Stone still on the roster. In fact, the Golden Knights currently roster 11 players who were a part of their 2023 Stanley Cup achievement.
It’s the sort of experience and talent in the top group that can actually rival the Avalanche, but with a slightly different approach. Attrition and forechecking are the focus for the Golden Knights, and although not as flashy as Colorado’s, it’s an approach that has proven plenty effective.
Ivan Barbashev is coming off a standout regular season and has followed it up with a great tournament performance, accumulating nine points in eleven playoff games so far, and a playoff-leading 54 hits through two rounds.
For Vegas, the story is Mitch Marner and his playoff success. Despite what we’ve heard from Toronto fans for years, Mitch Marner is a gamer, and he has proven it already this postseason, reaching a point in the bracket Toronto hasn’t reached since 2002.
This series will be won and lost in the neutral zone, as it’s likely to be John Torterella’s point of emphasis to muddy the waters, disrupt Colorado’s attack, and effectively deploy a counterstrike.
Avalanche Projected Forwards:
Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Nicolas Roy
Valeri Nichushkin — Nazem Kadri — Logan O’Connor
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta — Artturi Lehkonen
The Avalanche are capable of a measured approach, but are at their best when they can work their transition game and active defenders.
Nathan MacKinnon is on an absolute tear this postseason, and if he continues that trend, it’s hard to imagine the Avalanche losing many games.
Marty Necas has officially brought the party to the postseason with a beautiful and patient assist of the series-clinching game winner that left the stick of Brett Kulak.
The Avalanche have also been the benefactors of a downright effective Gabe Landeskog. Last postseason, he spoke about riding on adrenaline, but this time around, he has the legs, the frame, and the work ethic to thrive.
All things considered, these top six groups are talented and, although different in approach, highly competitive in their own right.
The status of Artturi Lehkonen and Mark Stone will be worth monitoring as we get closer to puck drop.
Both teams have already practiced some misdirection or tactic regarding the reporting of certain players’ health status.
Bednar iced both Malinski and Lehkonen in the morning skate to pull them from the lineup at puck drop against the Wild, and Vegas is catching fines for avoiding the press altogether. Wish us luck!
Bottom Six Depth
The kicker in this series could be the bottom six, as both teams have groups that have contributed timely goals and gutsy effort. Vegas’ Brett Howden is currently sporting a ridiculous shooting percentage (40%), and additions Colton Sissons and Nic Dowd have fit right in.
The Avalanche got a game-winner from Parker Kelly in the second round and saw the third and fourth lines at their best against the Wild in general.
How these groups match up will be interesting, with both sides capable of some shuffling in the middle six. In a series that’s Torts vs. Bedsy, I’m thinking the focus will be on coverage and limiting the opposition, so expect a similar series to Avs vs. LA but with Vegas having actual scoring potential.
Advantage: Nathan MacKinnon’s Revenge
This one is hard to give to either side because, although I think the Avalanche have a better forward group both in terms of top-end talent and depth, I feel that Vegas is equally effective with who they have and what they aim to accomplish.
Colorado’s roster is more like a cup champion, but Vegas-style is the kind that can win any game on any given night, no matter who their opponent is.
When I look for the kicker, I see Nathan MacKinnon and Mitch Marner as the best candidates for each side, and I’ll have to defer to the talents of Nate. I have nothing but respect for Mitch Marner, but this Nathan MacKinnon we have seen in the postseason feels unstoppable.
Let us know what you think in the comments!
LeBron James says it’s been ‘amazing’ to watch Austin Reaves grow throughout his career
The career Austin Reaves has had so far has been special. Not only has he gone from being a kid from Oklahoma to a superstar in Los Angeles, but the progression of his career has been a dream.
Every year, Reaves’ role has increased, and his production has continued to grow alongside it. His minutes played, points and rebounds per game have gone up every single season. Reaves has gone from being an undrafted player back in 2021 to one who is set to earn a huge payday this summer.
One person who has been along for every step of Reaves’ Lakers journey has been LeBron James. Having played more basketball than anyone ever, LeBron has seen the start and end of many careers and is well aware of how special Reaves’ journey has been.
“Just seeing AR grow over these five years, it’s been nothing short of amazing,” LeBron said in his exit interview. “I mean, he’s just a hard worker. He loves the game. He wants to get better and he’s not afraid of constructive criticism, and, and I kind of knew that. I saw the talent, but I also saw that he was willing to put the work in and he wasn’t afraid of the moment.
“To see where he is today’s, it’s awesome. I knew he could be a big-time player for our ball club. I knew if he just got the opportunity and also he gained the confidence in himself that he knows he belongs in this league that he could do some special things in this league. He’s, obviously, showed that.”
It’s got to feel great for Reaves to get such a glowing endorsement from not only a teammate, but a player who’s in the argument for the greatest of all time. LeBron has seen all of Redick’s great moments, like his “I’m Him” game to his game-winner against the Warriors on Christmas.
What’s even more important than those moments, though, is the work LeBron is talking about that we don’t see. Reaves is willing to get coached hard and he puts in the work in the gym to get better.
LeBron is notorious for his physical regimen, and even his podcast “Mind The Game” focuses on the details of the sport. If he appreciates the time you’re putting into your craft, that says a lot about you as a player.
While Reaves is already a leader, LeBron has remained a guide for him. After Reaves missed his game-tying shot against the Thunder in Game 4, LeBron was the first to encourage him.
The LeBron-Reaves journey has been an incredible one. Over five years, LeBron has seen every moment of Reaves’ career, and hopefully, there are more seasons together to come.
But, even if they never step on the court together again, it’s been an amazing journey.
Reaves has more years left in his career, and LeBron will most certainly be rooting for him, whether he’s playing with him or not.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
New York Yankees @ New York Mets: Elmer Rodríguez vs. Freddy Peralta
The Yankees are not playing their best baseball at the moment, winning just two of their last eight games to fall several games back of first. That three of those losses have come against a pair of struggling teams in the Orioles and Mets makes the Bombers’ deficiencies appear all the most glaring — and they’re at risk of their third consecutive series loss. All the same, they can get back in the series win column with a good performance in the rubber game against their crosstown rivals this afternoon.
Elmer Rodríguez got the call up after Max Fried was placd on the IL with a bone bruise in his pitching elbow. Lauded for his command in the high minors, the walks have been the biggest issue in his first two MLB starts, though it is worth commending him for settling down and tossing 3.2 scoreless after a three-run first threatened to derail his last start against the Rangers. In those two starts, both against Texas, Rodríguez has given up five runs on ten hits and eight walks across 8.2 innings.
Freddy Peralta has performed largely as advertised since the Mets acquired him from Brewers over the winter to be their long-sought-after ace of the rotation. The whiffs and strikeouts are down as he has lost about one mph off all of his pitches, but he is doing a much better job of keeping the ball off the barrel of the bat than in his previous three seasons. In nine starts, Peralta is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA (128 ERA+), 3.66 FIP, and 50 strikeouts in 49.1 innings.
The Yankees lineup has been one of the principal culprits in the recent downturn in form, scoring three or fewer runs in six out of the last eight games. Austin Wells is probably their most struggling player and he gets the day off after the night game with J.C. Escarra taking his place behind the plate. It has been nice to see Jazz Chisholm Jr. get the bat going of late, while Anthony Volpe has been getting on base despite not registering a hit since making his season debut.
The Mets meanwhile field the worst offense in MLB, yet still managed to push six runs across last night. They make a pair of changes to their lineup, MJ Melendez coming in to play left, moving Juan Soto to DH and Austin Slater to the bench. Hayden Senger takes over catching duties from Luis Torrens.
How to watch
Location: Citi Field – Flushing, NY
First pitch: 1:40 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, SNY
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App 92.3 HD2 (NYM)
Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)
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