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Mets' Brandon Nimmo on injury scare vs. Diamondbacks: 'I think we dodged a bullet'

Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo had an injury scare in Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

In the fourth inning, Nimmo chased down a double down the left field line hit by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The ball caromed off the corner and Nimmo seemingly tweaked his knee changing directions. Manager Carlos Mendoza and the club trainer went out to Nimmo, who stretched and massaged his knee and jogged a few feet. Nimmo convinced his manager to let him stay in, and the outfielder finished the entire game.

“I don’t know if the spike got stuck there with the turf, and Nimmo hyperextended the knee there. We’re going to have the doctor take a look at him," Mendoza said after the game. "He was able to manage. He was stable and played through it, obviously, finished the game... As of right now, I’m not too concerned, but let’s see what the doctor says."

The knee Nimmo tweaked was his left, not the right knee he injured during spring training. That's a plus, but Nimmo looked compromised in left field shortly after the injury scare. He was cautious running down balls, and looked in pain when slowing down to catch fly balls. But in his final at-bat, he looked in good spirits, smiling and talking with the home plate umpire.

"He’s smart, he knows himself better than anybody," Mendoza said of Nimmo. "He’s not going to risk it. The trainer checked him, and he finished the game."

“[Knee is] good, for the most part. I think we dodged a bullet, that’s great," Nimmo said after the game. "Felt it hyperextend when I went over to get the ball and was fortunate to get off of it pretty quickly and prevent more damage from being done.

"We’ll see how it is in the next 12 hours or so. I expect to be good to go to play."

Nimmo said his footing as he tried to figure out how the ball was going to carom off the wall caused him to feel like he double-bounced on a trampoline. But the veteran outfielder was evaluated by the team doctor, and the conclusion is that his knee feels stable.

"[The doctor] just said, watching the replay and looking at the knee, we dodged a bullet," Nimmo said. "Could have been much worse. We’re going to take it as a good thing. Dodged something that could have been a lot worse."

The Mets finish their three-game series with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon.

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From the Pocket: Fremantle still look good on paper – but since when has that mattered?

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A few days after they’d been trounced by an All-Indigenous team in February, Fremantle’s president addressed the faithful at Crown Perth. “This morning’s event is not just another routine AFL season launch,” Chris Sutherland said. “I think we are as ready as we’ve ever been to chase that cup. We definitely feel like the foundation is sound and we certainly think we’ve got nearly all the pieces in place. May the season be filled with moments of courage, connection and success. I’ve kept this speech very short because I’m actually done with talking. It’s time for action.”

The speech was short, but the message was clear – we’re ready, no more excuses, no more loser’s limp. It echoed thoughts of the CEO, the coach, the players and the wider commentariat. They were confident they had the right coach, the right list, the right age profile, and the right recruits.

This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions

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Mets' offense goes cold in 5-1 loss to Diamondbacks

The Mets' lineup was flummoxed by Zac Gallen again, picking up just four hits in their 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Mets' patience got them on the board in the third inning. After an inning-ending double play was overturned, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso worked long at-bats and walked to push across a run off of Gallen.

Gallen, who allowed just two hits and struck out eight Mets last week at Citi Field, settled down after the third. He retired 11 straight Mets after walking the three straight that pushed across a run. He pitched seven innings on a season-high 101 pitches (64 strikes), allowing the one run on two hits, three walks, and striking out six.

The only knocks Gallen allowed were a third-inning single from Francisco Alvarez and a Mark Vientos single in the seventh.

-David Peterson was cruising, getting through the first three innings without allowing a hit, before Randal Grichuk doubled on a ball that went through Vientos' legs. A walk and a passed ball later, the Diamondbacks got on the board after a Josh Naylor fielder's choice. Lindor then made a great stop to get Geraldo Perdomo out at first, but Naylor scored on the play.

The southpaw had trouble locating his pitches, pitching from behind in the count more often than in his previous outings. It came back to bite him in the sixth after walking Naylor, Peterson -- trying to get ahead in the count -- threw a 90 mph fastball over the heart of the plate and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. deposited it 383 feet over the left field wall (108.5 mph off the bat). It was only the third home run Peterson has allowed this season -- the first two coming on his first start of the season.

Peterson had moments of dominance, but ran out of gas by the end. He pitched six innings on a season-high 104 pitches (69 strikes), allowing four runs on five hits, and four walks while striking out six. It wasn't a bad outing, but his mistake to Gurriel sunk the Mets.

-Jose Butto pitched the seventh and allowed an unearned run thanks to a Tyrone Taylor error. Errors and defensive miscues led to three of Arizona's five runs. The right-hander finished the eighth, giving the Mets bullpen a reprieve with his two innings of work.

-The Mets offense did threaten in the ninth, getting two runners on with one out on a walk and a Starling Marte bloop single, but Brandon Nimmo lined out and Vientos popped out to end the game.

-Nimmo seemingly tweaked his knee playing a double down the left field line in the fourth inning. Trainers came out to help him, but Nimmo talked his way to staying in the game. He finished 0-for-4. He's now hitless in his last 14 at-bats.

Alvarez was the only one who could solve D-backs pitching, going 2-for-3, the only Met with a multi-hit game on Tuesday. Alonso, who entered the game with an NL-leading .349 average, went 0-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and three strikeouts. He did extend his on-base streak to 18 games, but his average dipped to .341.

Game MVP: Zac Gallen

Gurriel had himself a game, but Gallen gave the Diamondbacks exactly what they needed after Monday's loss. Gallen has now dominated the Mets this season, allowing just two runs on four hits in 13 innings across two starts.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets complete their three-game series with Arizona on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:40 p.m.

Kodai Senga (3-2, 1.38 ERA) will take the mound and be opposed by Merrill Kelly (3-1, 4.06 ERA).

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Stephen Curry leaves game with hamstring strain, will not return

Golden State Warriors v Minnesota Timberwolves - Game One

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 6: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBAE via Getty Images

Stephen Curry walked off the court midway through the first quarter of Game 1 of the Warriors series against the Timberwolves and was soon ruled out for the remainder of the night with a strained hamstring.

It's a potentially devastating injury that could change the course of this series (although the Warriors have held on through three quarters of Game 1 because of their strong defense and a rough offensive night from Minnesota). Even a Grade 1 hamstring strain means a player misses at least a week, and usually more like 10 days, to recover. That's a lot of time off in a series where the games come every other day.

Curry appeared to injure the hamstring making a sharp change of direction while defending Mike Conley. He was grabbing at his hamstring for a minute while continuing to play, then when he came out went straight to the locker room.

Curry had 13 points and had knocked down three 3-pointers before exiting the game.

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Pacers vs. Cavaliers Game 2: Haliburton step-back game winner completes comeback, Indiana up 2-0

NBA: Playoffs-Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers

May 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (center) celebrates the game-winning three-point basket with forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and center Myles Turner (33) after game two of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

David Richard-Imagn Images

Donovan Mitchell understood the assignment. With Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (thumb) all out for Game 2 Tuesday night, and the Cavaliers down 0-1 and desperately needing a win, it all fell to Mitchell — and he dropped 48 points. Behind Mitchell, the Cavaliers led by as many as 20 a couple of times, including midway through the third quarter.

However, scoring is only half the game.

Cleveland could not get a stop when it mattered, giving up 36 points in the fourth quarter. Despite that, the Cavaliers led by seven with 48 seconds left — and gave up an 8-0 run, capped off by Tyrese Haliburton getting the offensive rebound on his own missed free throw, stepping back and hitting the game-winning 3-pointer.

Indiana comes all the way back to get the win on the road, 120-119, and now leads the series 2-0 heading home. The Pacers are in total control of this series, especially if the Cavaliers can't get healthy fast.

This win had echoes of the Pacers' comeback and win in Game 5 to close out the Bucks.

"Obviously, we got lucky. Ty hit another amazing shot to win the game," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "You don't see this very often, let alone twice in one week. Tyrese, he came through again. We're very fortunate."

The Pacers came out of the locker room lacking the defensive pressure or urgency seen in Game 1, and that had Mitchell and the Cavaliers racing out to a 32-15 lead after one quarter. Indiana also could not buy a bucket.

Bennedict Mathurin's play in the second half helped the tide for the Pacers, as he scored 19 points off the bench for Indiana. For the game Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith led the way with 23 points each, while Haliburton finished with 19 points and nine assists.

As much as the Pacers played great late, the Cavaliers faded.

"I feel like we outplayed them for the majority of the game and then towards the end we had our mental lapses. They capitalize on every single mistake that we made," said Jarrett Allen, who had an impressive game with Mobley out playing elite defense, scoring a 22 with 12 rebounds.

By the end, Mitchell looked worn down from carrying the offensive load and shot 2-of-6 in the fourth quarter (but got to the line for eight free throws. With no other point guard to turn to, the Cavaliers had trouble getting the ball over the half-court line or inbounding it against the Pacers' pressure. In the face of Indy's defense, Cavaliers not named Donovan shot 3-of-12 in the fourth quarter. Through two games in this series, Ty Jerome is 1-of-14 — Cleveland needs better from all its guys.

However, what they really need is for Garland and Mobley to be healthy by Game 3, or this series will be all but over.

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The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reacting To Hurricanes' Comeback Win Over Capitals

Andrei Svechnikov (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus, Michael Augello and Ryan Henkel react to the Carolina Hurricanes beating the Washington Capitals 2-1 in overtime to take a 1-0 series lead.

Capitals vs Hurricanes Game 1 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsCapitals vs Hurricanes Game 1 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

They also take a look at the Vegas Golden Knights facing the Edmonton Oilers and other news around the league.

Check out the show right now.

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Dodgers' bullpen fatigue leads to extra-innings loss to Marlins

Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez (50) pours ice water on Jesús Sánchez after he hit a walk off single during the 10 inning of baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
The Marlins' Agustín Ramírez pours ice water on Jesús Sánchez after the right fielder hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning. (Marta Lavandier / Associated Press)

Most of Tuesday’s game went according to plan for the Dodgers.

Tony Gonsolin produced a solid five-inning outing in his second start back from Tommy John surgery, giving up just two runs.

Shohei Ohtani posted another monster stat line at LoanDepot Park, hitting a tying, second-deck home run in the sixth and a tying double in the seventh in what he calls "one of my favorite stadiums” to play in.

Late in a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Miami Marlins, however, one of the Dodgers’ few early-season concerns finally caught up with them.

The team’s bullpen, quite simply, has been overworked through the first month-plus of the year, leading the majors by a wide margin with 157 innings pitched. And in a game that hung in the balance until the very end, the toll of that strain was unmistakably evident, with manager Dave Roberts turning to two of his lowest-leverage relievers in two of the night’s most critical sequences.

Trying to protect a one-run lead in the sixth, Roberts summoned right-hander Luis García — who promptly gave up two runs that put the Marlins ahead.

Read more:Dodgers place Teoscar Hernández on IL with groin injury, call up James Outman

With the score tied in the bottom of the 10th inning, Roberts turned to recent waiver claim JP Feyereisen — who yielded a bases-loaded walk-off single to Jesús Sánchez.

“We had a few guys that were down, and so that's kind of the cost of it,” said Roberts, who has warned of the danger of the unit’s rising usage over the last several weeks.

“Absolutely not [do] we want to lead the league in bullpen innings."

The Dodgers’ bullpen workload hasn’t gotten out of control by design. Injuries to the starting rotation have thrown a wrench into their early-season pitching plans. A lack of consistent length from those who have pitched (the Dodgers are dead last in innings from starting pitchers) hasn’t helped either.

Nonetheless, it has forced their most trusted arms to accrue significant mileage to this point. Kirby Yates and Alex Vesia are tied for the major league lead with 19 outings. Tanner Scott (18) and Anthony Banda (17) are right behind them. Evan Phillips entered the night having pitched in seven of the 14 games the team had played since his late April return from the injured list. And Blake Treinen appeared in eight of their opening 17 contests before going down last month with a forearm injury, currently residing on the injured list alongside another big name in Michael Kopech (who has been sidelined all season by a shoulder problem).

In the interest of having those arms available for the stretch of the season, many of them have been “redlined” now, as Roberts termed it, to try and keep their inning counts under some semblance of control. On Tuesday, it was Yates and Phillips who were both evidently unavailable, each having pitched full innings the night before.

Thus, even with the Dodgers (24-12) holding just a 3-2 lead at the start of the sixth, Roberts had to look elsewhere and called upon García, a right-hander signed this offseason to a minor-league contract before making the club coming out of spring training.

Granted, García had been decent while handling his own robust workload this season, the 13-year veteran entering the game with a 3.78 ERA over 17 outings. 

Read more:Mookie Betts overcame illness early in the season. Why his swing took time to catch up

But on Tuesday, his execution finally faltered. Designated hitter Agustin Ramírez led off with a first-pitch double. Connor Norby doubled him home on a two-strike line drive to left field that just evaded a leaping effort from Michael Conforto. Matt Mervis singled on a hanging slider. Just like that, the Marlins had a 4-3 lead.

But after Vesia, Banda and Scott posted zeroes to get the game to extras — Banda’s outing required a bases-loaded 5-2-3 double-play to end the eighth — Roberts was forced into another unappealing pitching decision in the bottom of the 10th.

Claimed off waivers last week from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Feyereisen entered to begin his second stint as a Dodger. In 10 outings with the team last year, he posted an 8.18 ERA.

Roberts tried to get creative, intentionally walking the leadoff man before setting up a five-man infield when a line-drive single loaded the bases.

But Sánchez blasted the second pitch he saw right through the defense, ending the game in walk-off fashion.

The Dodgers’ fears about their mounting bullpen workload had been finally realized.

They bore the inevitable cost that comes with trying to manage it.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Yankees' offense turns corner as 10-run seventh inning fuels 12-3 comeback win over Padres

The Yankees' offense turned a corner when they exploded for the best inning of their 2025 season with a 10-run frame in Tuesday's 12-3 win over the San Diego Padres to snap a three-game skid.

Takeaways

  1. New York's bats needed a jolt and got one in the seventh inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into a nine-run lead. The Yankees' younger players -- Austin Wells (five), Ben Rice (two) and Anthony Volpe (one), among others -- notably led the charge with a combined eight RBI in the frame. Not to be overlooked, Jasson Dominguez's leadoff double sparked the frame and Trent Grisham's bases-loaded walk with one out were key moments in the inning. New York needs more production in general beyond Aaron Judge, and it not only got that but did so from its youth movement.
  2. The seventh changed the narrative of what was a tight game, but Judge's earlier home run to get the Yankees on the board is worth noting. Judge tied the MLB lead with his 12th long ball of the early season when he homered off former Yankee Michael King on a 2-2 count in the fourth inning. The solo shot gave New York life before the eventual outburst, a move that should be expected from the captain as he builds on his MVP start to 2025 while slashing .412/.503/.772 through 36 games.
  3. On both sides, the seventh inning was a jaw-dropping one. The Padres' bullpen allowed 10 runs in the frame after yielding only 26 over the previous 128.2 IP. Meanwhile, the Yankees' 10 runs scored in an inning are the most since July 28, 2015, when they totaled 11 in the second of a 21-5 win at the Texas Rangers.
  4. It should be noted that Clarke Schmidt's start was solid. The right-hander gave the Yankees a chance to win in his fourth start of the season as he scattered two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one over six innings. Schmidt (4.79 ERA) threw 53 strikes on 85 pitches.

Who's the MVP?

Wells, who tied the game on a seventh-inning single through the right side with none out and delivered the exclamation point later in the frame when he launched his two-out grand slam off former Yankee Wandy Peralta.

Highlights

What's next

Ace southpaw Max Fried (6-0, 1.01 ERA) takes the mound Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. as the Yankees (20-16) and Padres (23-12) play the rubber match. Right-hander Dylan Cease (1-2, 5.61 ERA) gets the ball for San Diego.

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LIVE BLOG: Oilers Game 1 In Second Round Rematch vs. Golden Knights

Evander Kane Warming Up (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

EDMONTON – It's time to settle the score.

The Edmonton Oilers are seeking retribution for their second-round series loss to the Vegas Golden Knights two years ago. They have a chance to exorcise their playoff demons on Tuesday night.

Calvin Pickard and Adin Hill are the expected starters for tonight's game. Alex Pietrangelo will not suit up for Game 1.

This story will be updated throughout the game. Please bookmark this page and refresh it regularly to get the latest updates on what is happening in Game 1. Also, be sure to join the conversation in the comments section below.

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Third Period

Four unanswered goals set them up with a 4-2 win. This puts the Oilers up 1-0 in this seven-game series.

1:27 - Golden Knights pull Hill for the extra attacker.

GOAL (1:46) - Connor Brown looking like Connor McDavid on that marker. 4-2 Oilers now.

GOAL (3:00) - Hyman gives the Oilers their first lead of the night. 3-2 Oilers.

4:15 - Oilers' fourth line getting good zone time in Golden Knights end.

10:21 - Frederic with a great scoring opportunity off the rush. 

12:10 - Pickard makes his best save of the game on a point-blank shot from Hertl.

14:02 - Brown called for Goalie Interference. Golden Knights on the powerplay again.

15:34 - Faceoff in the Golden Knights' end. Oilers are pushing since the Draisaitl tally.

GOAL (19:02) - Draisaitl evens up the hockey game with a backend shot after the puck sailed through the air. 2-2 game.

Second Period

McDavid fires a quick shot off the faceoff in the dying seconds of the second period. Still a 2-1 game in favor of the Golden Knights.

1:27 - Walman breaks up that dangerous play in the Oilers' end.

4:03 - Important clear from the Golden Knights after McDavid's line gets a couple chances of their own.

6:10 - Golden Knights are getting their fair share of opportunities now.

8:51 - Oilers really applying pressure on this powerplay. Hill is coming up with some big saves.

9:28 - The Bouch-bomb narrowly misses on the powerplay. Still a minute left of the man-advantage.

10:14 - Oilers granted another powerplay after Whitecloud gets his stick in the skates of Hyman.

12:55 - Golden Knights successfully kill the Oilers' powerplay.

15:06 - Roy went off for a 2-minute Holding penalty.

First Period

Chaos in front of the Oilers' net just before the first period ends. The Oilers had solid pressure for a few minutes before that happened.

GOAL (3:34) - Corey Perry scores a beauty of a goal. Assist from McDavid. 2-1 Golden Knights.

4:15 - Puck deflected out of play after a great scoring opportunity for the Golden Knights' Howden.

4:27 - Extracurriculars after the whistle. Podkolzin and Arvidsson in the mix.

4:56 - Golden Knights clear the puck out of their zone after the Oilers had around a minute of offensive zone time. 

6:35 - Brown makes a great defensive play to break up a Golde Knight 2-on-1

*After looking at the play, no penalty was called on the play.

9:18 -Looks like there will be another powerplay for the Golden Knights. It appears that Barbashev was hit with a high-stick.

GOAL (10:57) Stone rips the puck at the right side of the slot through the pads of Pickard. 2-0 Golden Knights.

11:41 - Icing called on the Golden Knights after some pressure from the Oilers.

14:45 - Frederic has a shot hit the post. Evander Kane follows it up with several chances on Hill.

16:50 - Janmark passes the puck to Brown on a shorthanded two-on-one. Puck deflected out of play.

GOAL (17:47) Puck is deflected by Karlsson and past Pickard. 1-0 Golden Knights.

18:27 - Nugent-Hopkins called for a high-sticking penalty against Hertl. *The penalty is a 4-minute, double-minor.

19:43 - Pickard freezes the puck after a shot from the Golden Knights.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.  Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

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Golden Knights Veteran Defenseman To Miss Game 1 Of Western Conference Semifinal

<i>Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) celebrates with teammates left wing Brandon Saad (20) and center Brett Howden (21) after scoring against the Minnesota Wild in the first period in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on April 24, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images</b></i>

LAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo did not take the ice for pregame warmups before Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Edmonton Oilers.

Pietrangelo played in all six games against the Minnesota Wild in the first round, tallying three points (1 goal, 2 assists) over the first three games.

Coach Bruce Cassidy did not indicate after the morning skate that Pietrangelo could miss the game.

The team, however, tweeted that he is out with an illness.

Kaedan Korczak, who played in 40 games during the regular season, was paired with Nic Hague during warmups and will make his playoff debut. Korczak had 10 points, all assists, for the Vegas during the regular season.

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Cutting Justin Tucker allows the Ravens and NFL to use 'football decision' as a shield

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Justin Tucker’s release by the Baltimore Ravens offers a glimpse into the team's culture and how the NFL tends to handle uncomfortable or controversial situations — especially when legal or personal conduct issues are involved.

From the "Inside Coverage" podcast, Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Jori Epstein discussed the complexity of the decision and what it really says about the Ravens and, by extension, the league. 

The trio agreed: this situation will be quietly swept under the rug, and once Tucker is out of sight on the field, he’ll quickly be out of mind for the league and most fans. It’s a process we've seen before, and, barring any criminal developments, the Ravens and the NFL will likely move on with little more said.

The Ravens were very deliberate in labeling Tucker’s release a “football decision,” repeating that language in their official statement. As Epstein pointed out: "When people actually make football decisions, they don’t usually say this is a football decision." This suggests the organization was using that phrase to avoid directly addressing the serious off-field allegations against Tucker (multiple accusations of improper conduct from massage therapists, which is being investigated by the league). 

Epstein also highlighted that the Ravens have a history of employing players with sexual assault or domestic violence allegations. This paints a picture of a team that often chooses to manage and sidestep these issues rather than taking a clear moral stance.

Schwab noted the “coldness” and legal calculation behind the Ravens’ language, emphasizing they want to avoid liability or being caught in denial if it turns out they knew something.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 01: Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens watches the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Justin Tucker is no longer with the Ravens. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
G Fiume via Getty Images

The "Inside Coverage" trio's conversation points out that the team and league generally prefer to “dance around” these topics and rarely confront them head-on unless absolutely forced. As Schwab says, the playbook is to “skate from this without ever having to really deal with the allegations,” and Fitz adds that the league's investigation and eventual press releases likely will be “buried on a Friday afternoon when nobody’s paying attention.”

The crew also brought up the comparison to Deshaun Watson, noting the selective outrage and scrutiny based on position and value to a team. There's a cynicism around who the NFL chooses to protect and for how long, suggesting that stars get more leeway than role players or aging veterans.

Ultimately, both the Ravens’ move and the NFL’s likely course of action highlight that, when the calculus tips toward distraction or diminished value (and especially if a player’s performance is declining), teams and the league will cut ties swiftly and quietly. Pride in “no distractions” outweighs almost every other consideration.

Tucker's release is a microcosm of how the Ravens — and the NFL as a whole — prioritize their business interests and public image over transparency. These situations are usually handled with strategic PR, legal maneuvering, and an eye on minimizing controversy rather than addressing the root problem or making any sort of example for better conduct.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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How the Knicks can take Game 2 from Celtics in Eastern Conference semifinals

A hot shooting night and swarming second-half defense helped guide the Knicks to a 108-105 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics.

Monday night’s win was progress for the Knicks, who dropped all four games to the Celtics in the regular season. Game 1 highlighted some ways that the Knicks can attack Boston and further a series lead in Game 2.

Top of the mind from the series opener is Boston’s record-breaking night. The Celtics went 15-for-60 (25 percent) from beyond the arc. The 60 three-point attempts and 45 misses were both NBA playoff records. That doesn’t seem like something that the Knicks can rely on happening again. But still, New York’s defenders showed they could get out and contest shooters.

The second half was a masterclass on defense for the three-headed monster of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. The trio of wings flew all over the floor, defending their one-on-one matchups, helping and recovering, and being a general nuisance to Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

All three players covered a considerable amount of ground and propped up two shaky defenders in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson. Expect Boston to emphasize attacking the paint more. The Celtics settled at times in the opener, and 60 threes in a playoff game is an extreme. The Knicks will have to be prepared to defend the paint.

For the Knicks to have a chance in this series, they need to continue to have an aggressive mindset on the defensive end. Defensive stops and forced turnovers are paramount to creating transition opportunities, which will make it easier to score. In the first half, the Knicks had zero fastbreak points. They had 10 fastbreak points in the second half.

Getting out in transition and finding easier looks will help the Knicks generate better looks. New York hasn’t been as effective in the halfcourt. It was also hot from three, making two more treys than Boston, but attempting 23 fewer three-pointers.

Brunson and Anunoby led the way for the Knicks on offense with 29 points apiece. Brunson found a groove in the third and fourth quarters, scoring 20 points. He had some success going against Celtics veteran Al Horford on switches.

On the margins

Kristaps Porzingis’ health will be important going forward. The former Knick was limited to just 13 minutes due to an illness. He is listed as probable for Game 2.

Miles McBride was bound to recover. After a disastrous first-round series, McBride scored 11 points in 19 minutes on Monday. As I highlighted at the start of the series, the Knicks need McBride to be active on both sides of the ball.

There’s a lot the Knicks can work on even in the win. It won’t always be pretty. Towns and Brunson will be out on an island guarding Boston’s top scoring options often. But it will be about helping them on the backline.

Towns played just 31 minutes as he was hampered by fouls all game. Some of the fouls came when he switched on Tatum or Brown. The big man needs to be more disciplined on defense so he can stay on the floor.

The Celtics had seven more offensive rebounds than the Knicks. It helped Boston win the possession battle as they attempted 10 more shots. If the Knicks lose the possession battle, it will be hard to consistently defeat the Celtics. New York managed to win despite that, but it should be a focus for the rest of the series.