Holiday's latest win: Celtics guard wins NBA Sportsmanship Award

Holiday's latest win: Celtics guard wins NBA Sportsmanship Award originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jrue Holiday’s trophy case keeps growing.

The Boston Celtics guard has won the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award, the league announced Thursday. The award, first introduced during the 1995-96 season, honors the NBA player who “best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.”

This is the second NBA Sportsmanship Award for Holiday, who earned the honor with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Holiday is the first Celtics player to receive the award and is just the fifth player to win the award multiple times, joining Mike Conley, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd and former Celtic Kemba Walker.

Holiday also has won the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award three times in his career (2020, 2022 and 2024) and is finalist for the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion Award. The 16-year veteran has won two NBA championships (2021 with the Bucks and 2024 with the Celtics) in addition to a pair of gold medals with Team USA in 2020 and 2024.

The last time Holiday won the league’s Sportsmanship Award, his team won an NBA championship, so he and the Celtics will be looking to continue that trend as they await their second-round opponent in the NBA playoffs.

The Lakers’ Luka-LeBron era begins with a stumble, not a statement

Luka Dončić and LeBron James have plenty to consider in the offseason.Photograph: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Dorian Finney-Smith slams his hand in frustration against an empty chair on his way to the shower. The locker room is so silent you could hear a pin drop. In spite of every expert prediction, it was not “Lakers in five,” or, at least, not on the right end of five. The LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and JJ Redick-led Lakers were sent packing by the Minnesota Timberwolves on their home court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, in a five-game series whose final tally doesn’t tell the whole story.

Minnesota were decidedly the better team in the series, but with the exception of a decisive Timberwolves win in the opener, it was a sequence of games won on the margins. The final game between the two teams felt, for the most part, like a competition where neither opponent particularly felt like giving their all, which played into Minnesota’s hands as the roster with far more depth and, thus, margin for error. But, in all likelihood, the series was won and lost in Game 4, a classic, hard-fought battle that came down to the final buzzer. While it wasn’t technically the end of the series, it’s the kind of loss that’s almost impossible to come back from, both emotionally, and historically: teams who go up three games to one in a seven-game series go on to win 95% of the time.

Related: NBA playoffs: Haliburton’s ‘disrespectful’ father sparks fracas as Pacers seal Bucks’ fate

Those margins were, in large part, decided by the glaring holes in the Lakers’ roster construction that were illuminated in fluorescent light by the Timberwolves’ massive frontcourt. In short (as it were): the Lakers are not big enough, they were demolished on the boards by a Minnesota team who have size in spades. The small-ball-by-necessity style that secured the Lakers the three seed in a stacked West proved to be not quite resilient enough for a postseason that’s determined by depth and matchups more than ever. Los Angeles learned the hard way that a roster without a center making more than the league minimum can only take you so far, even on a team with the high-end talent of Dončić and James.

There was also, of course, the head coach factor. JJ Redick was damned impressive through 82 games and showed plenty of promise in his first season coaching basketball above the youth level, especially considering all the roster upheaval and, it’s worth noting, the fact that he lost his home in the Pacific Palisades fire in January. But the playoffs are a different animal, and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch looked every bit the veteran opposite Redick, a contrast that was notable on multiple occasions throughout the series.

Perhaps the clearest example of Redick’s learning curve, and undoubtedly the one that will keep him awake at night this summer, was his decision to ride with his most successful five-man lineup of James, Dončić, Finney-Smith, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura for all 24 minutes of the second half of Game 4 – the first time any NBA head coach has done so in the playoffs in the tracking era. While not having much faith in his bench, which proved to be even thinner than many thought heading into the playoffs, resulted in an understandable gamble, it did not pay off: the quintet clearly had run out of gas by crunchtime, scoring only 19 points combined in the fourth quarter. That fatigue very well may have contributed to the Game 4 loss that effectively cost the Lakers the series.

Clear coaching growing pains and glaring roster deficiencies aside, it’s ultimately extremely rare for a dramatic roster move like swapping Anthony Davis (who, ironically, would have come in extremely handy for the Lakers in this series) for Dončić midseason, to pay dividends in its first year. James said as much in his exit interview on Wednesday night: “Anytime you make a big acquisition in the middle of the season, it’s always going to be challenging,” he said. “Not only for me, but for [Austin Reaves] and the rest of the group.”

James added that all things considered, the group came together well, and that there’s reason for optimism moving forward: “For the time we had, I thought we ended the regular season very well, to be top three in the West, and obviously, how tough the West is. I thought that was a good test for us. We had some challenges, but I think ultimately having a guy like [Dončić] is very dynamic for any franchise.”

The “Nico Harrison is somewhere smiling” memes were aplenty after a less-than-stellar (by his standards, at least) showing for Dončić, in his first postseason as a Laker, but it’s far too early to call the Dončić/James experiment a bust. There is, clearly, plenty of work to be done on both the supporting cast and Dončić’s conditioning (and defensive intensity, which was lackluster to say the least) in the offseason. And there is, of course, the question of 40-year-old James’s future: if he’ll even return to play another NBA season, let alone with the Lakers, is still up in the air.

But assuming James does come back for at least one more campaign in LA, there is plenty of cause for optimism as to what a full offseason and training camp, a head coach with a full season of experience under his belt, and a retooled roster could do for the pairing of two of the brightest basketball minds the world has ever seen. While the Lakers’ first round-exit is undoubtedly disappointing given all the hype and expectations around them heading into April, there is still plenty of meat left on the bone.


Brewers at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 1

It's Thursday, May 1 and the Brewers (16-15) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (7-23). Chad Patrick is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Sean Burke for Chicago.

Milwaukee scored three runs in the top of the 8th inning yesterday to beat Chicago, 6-4, to guarantee a winning series against the White Sox. The Brewers won Game 1, 7-2, so today Milwaukee goes for the sweep. Milwaukee has won three straight, while Chicago has lost three straight.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Brewers at White Sox

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 2:10 PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, CHSN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (-181), White Sox (+150)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Brewers at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Chad Patrick vs. Sean Burke
    • Brewers: Chad Patrick, (1-2, 2.46 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • White Sox: Sean Burke, (1-4, 6.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the White Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Brewers -1.5:

"If you're looking for +100 or better plays today, Milwaukee would be a lean of mine. The Brewers have won three straight, while the White Sox dropped three consecutive games and this is a chance for the series sweep in favor of Milwaukee.

The Brewers only had one chance at a three-game series sweep so far this season and they lost that in Colorado, 7-2. You can't lose out on the sweep to both of those teams, right? I could only lean toward Milwaukee on the ML or run line."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Brewers and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at White Sox

  • The Brewers have won their last 3 road games, while the White Sox have lost 8 in 10 at home
  • The Over is 12-7-1 for the White Sox's and the Brewers' last 10 games combined
  • The Brewers have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games at the White Sox

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

San Antonio Spurs 2024-25 fantasy basketball season recap: Future is bright in Alamo City

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

Next up in the series are the San Antonio Spurs. Key injuries have been a theme among the bottom teams, but the Spurs boast one of the most encouraging outlooks in the Association heading into next season.

San Antonio Spurs 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 34-48 (13th, West)

Offensive Rating: 113.5 (19th)

Defensive Rating: 116.3 (25th)

Net Rating: -2.8 (22nd)

Pace: 100.08 (13th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 6.6 percent chance of winning the lottery via their own pick and an unprotected pick owed to them from the Hawks via the Dejounte Murray trade; Pick No. 38

Don’t let the 13th seed in the West trick you into thinking the Spurs weren’t a wildly improved team in 2024-25. San Antonio’s win total improved from 22 wins in each of the last two seasons to 34. The win total is tied for the best mark over the last six seasons, and the Spurs are on the rise.

San Antonio went 21-25 with Victor Wembanyama available and just 13-23 without him. Losing Wemby after the break and losing De’Aaron Fox for the end of the campaign certainly hurt the team’s record, and the Spurs could have easily been a .500 team with Wemby and Fox available.

Number four pick Steph Castle won Rookie of the Year, joining Wemby as back-to-back winners on the same team. Castle came on strong to end the campaign, and the Spurs now sport a strong young core featuring Castle, Wemby and Fox, with an excellent fourth option in Devin Vassell.

With plenty of cap space to address some needs (most glaringly in the front court), the Spurs are locked and loaded to take the next step in 2025-26 and compete as a legitimate playoff threat in the loaded Western Conference.

Let’s recap last season’s fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26.

Fantasy Standout: Victor Wembanyama

Surprise, surprise. If anyone could dethrone Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as fantasy’s top player, it had to be Wemby. The second-year man has apparently never heard of a sophomore slump as he averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 3.1 triples and 3.8 swats.

For the second straight season, he comfortably led the NBA in blocked shots, deriving significant fantasy value from his dominance in that category. He set new career-best marks in points, boards, triples and blocked shots and improved his shooting across the board.

Wembanyama knocked down 47.6% of his attempts from the field, 83.6% from the charity stripe and 35.2% from beyond the arc. Most notably, his free throw attempts dropped from 5.2 to 4.1 while his three-point attempts ballooned from 5.5 to 8.8.

Wemby finished with a number of new career highs, including a 50-point game against the Wizards on November 13 in which he nailed eight triples. He set a new career-best mark in assists when he handed out 11 in a 34/14/11 game against the Kings to record his second career triple-double. He also grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds against the Nuggets on January 4.

Unfortunately for Wemby, he didn’t return after the All-Star break due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. He appeared in 46 of the team’s first 52 games before missing the remainder of the season. After undergoing surgery on March 27, he’s expected to be ready for training camp, and fantasy managers can target him with the first overall pick in 2025-26 drafts.

As crazy as it sounds, the best is still yet to come for the phenomenal Frenchman.

Fantasy Revelation: Stephon Castle

Castle finished the season ranked just inside the top 300 in per-game fantasy value, but he was absolutely a revelation in his inaugural campaign.

Castle averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists across 26.7 minutes as a rookie, but his numbers were better as a starter, and he closed out the 2024-25 campaign with some monster counting stats.

Across 47 starts, he averaged 16.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists, including averages of 19.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists over the final 18 games of the season.

Castle took things to a new level over the final eight games of the season, and his 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.5 assists vaulted him into the top 120 in per-game fantasy value during that span.

The UConn product posted two 30-point games, including a career-high 33 points at Charlotte on February 7. He corralled 15 rebounds against Denver on April 2, and he dished 14 assists against the 76ers on March 21.

Castle’s versatility as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator were on full display over the final month of the season, and his outlook is bright. His poor shooting percentages from the field and the charity stripe dragged his overall fantasy value down, but rookies and efficiency don’t always go hand-in-hand.

The reigning Rookie of the Year can boost his fantasy stock considerably with improvements as a shooter and a small bump in defensive contributions. He’s got a monster ceiling heading into 2025-26.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

De’Aaron Fox:

Fox came over to San Antonio in early February by way of a three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine to Sacramento and multiple players to Chicago.

In 17 games with the Spurs, Fox averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 dimes, 1.5 steals and 1.5 triples. His scoring dropped, but his assists increased after averaging 25 points and 6.1 dimes with Sacramento before the trade.

Fox had a strong Spurs debut, going for 24/5/13 in a 126-125 win over the Hawks, and he nearly triple-doubled in his final game of the season, as he posted 32/9/11 against the Mavericks in a 126-116 victory.

Fox should be healthy to start the 2025-26 campaign after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair tendon damage in his left pinky on March 13. Numbers similar to those he produced in his first 17 games with the Spurs wouldn’t be surprising, and fantasy managers can confidently draft him as a mid-round PG.

Devin Vassell:

Vassell missed the first nine games of the season and 14 of the first 18 due to a foot injury, but he enjoyed a productive season once he returned.

Vassell averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 dimes, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.7 triples. He shot 45.2% from the floor, 85.1% from the charity stripe and 38.5% from beyond the arc and committed just 1.2 turnovers.

He finished as a top 80 per-game fantasy player for the third straight season, and he’s been a top-100 guy in each of the last four. Vassell posted career highs in points and boards with a 37/11/5/4/1 performance against the Nets on March 4.

As a key contributor for the up-and-coming Spurs, expect strong production moving forward and another top-100 finish in 2025-26.

Chris Paul:

The veteran shocked NBA fans and fantasy managers alike when he appeared in all 82 games for the first time since 2014-15 and just the second time in his career.

Paul finished 83rd in per-game fantasy value behind averages of 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 triples while committing just 1.6 turnovers. He shot just 42.7% from the floor but canned 37.7% of his tries from long distance and sank 92.4% of his attempts from the charity stripe.

CP3 was a worthwhile fantasy option and strong veteran presence for an emerging Spurs squad. He’s played for three teams in as many seasons, and he turned 40 in May. It’s unclear if he’ll return for another season, but if he does, he makes sense as a late-rounder in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Harrison Barnes:

A model of durability, Barnes appeared in all 82 games for the third straight season, averaging 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 triples across 27.2 minutes.

Barnes’ minutes were his fewest since his rookie campaign in 2012-13, though he was highly efficient with his reduced playing time. The veteran shot 50.8% from the field, 80.9% from the charity stripe and a career-high 43.3% from beyond the arc.

As usual, Barnes had some random big games, as he scored at least 20 points in five of the Spurs’ final eight and sunk a game-winning three against his former team, the Golden State Warriors on April 9.

Barnes will be available, so managers looking for stability can draft him late. On a per-game basis, he’s not going to offer strong production.

Jeremy Sochan:

Injuries limited Sochan to just 54 games (23 starts), and he logged a career-low 25.3 minutes per game. He averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 “stocks” while shooting 53.5% from the floor. He knocked down only 69.6% of his free throws and 30.8% of his three-pointers.

The 22-year-old provided numbers similar to Years 1 and 2, and his outlook for Year 4 looks to be about the same. The Spurs’ top producers will be Wemby, Fox and Castle, with Vassell offering solid numbers as the No. 4. For everyone else, they’ll fill the rotational minutes without a ton of upside. That’s true of Sochan, who is a strong on-court defender but doesn’t offer a ton to fantasy managers in the box score.

Julian Champagnie:

Champagnie enjoyed the most productive run of his young career, averaging 23.6 minute across 82 appearances and averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.2 triples. He shot 41.5% from the floor but knocked down 90.4% of his free throw attempts and 37.1% of his tries from long range.

Champagnie started 29 games and saw modest improvements in his counting stats while running with the first unit. He’s missed just eight games over the last two seasons and proven his reliability as a floor-spacer and offensive sparkplug. He’ll likely earn rotational minutes next season, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in San Antonio, so Champagnie is not someone to draft in leagues of most sizes.

Keldon Johnson:

Johnson’s role diminished significantly in Year 6, as he logged just 23.9 minutes per game, his fewest since his rookie campaign in 2019-20. He averaged 12.7 points, 4.8 boards, 1.6 dimes, 0.6 steals and 1.1 triples while shooting 48.2/77.3/31.8 splits.

For the first season of his career, Johnson didn’t start a single game, and he finished outside the top 200 in per-game fantasy value. With Steph Castle still ascending and De’Aaron Fox ready to play his first full season with San Antonio, don’t expect more playing time or touches for Johnson in Year 7. He’s not a draftable option in 2025-26 fantasy basketball.

Restricted Free Agents: Harrison Ingram, David Duke Jr., Riley Minix

Unrestricted Free Agents: Chris Paul, Jordan McLaughlin, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Charles Bassey, Bismack Biyombo

Club Option: None

Player Option: None

Report: Athletics call up top pitching prospect Gunnar Hoglund

Report: Athletics call up top pitching prospect Gunnar Hoglund originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Gunnar Hoglund can nearly smell his MLB debut.

The Athletics are calling up their No. 14 prospect for his big league debut, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday, citing sources.

Hoglund was drafted in the first round twice and now will provide pitching support to the Athletics, who are 16-15 and in the mix of a tight AL West about one month into the 2025 MLB season.

The 25-year-old was the No. 19 overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. He landed with the Athletics in the trade that sent Matt Chapman to Toronto.

Through six starts with Triple-A Las Vegas, Hoglund has posted a 2.43 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings.

He has overcome injuries, including a lengthy rehab from Tommy John surgery, but has flashed his sky-high potential when healthy.

Cardinals at Reds prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 1

Its Thursday, May 1 and the Cardinals (14-17) are in Cincinnati wrapping up a four-game series against the Reds (16-15).

Matthew Liberatore is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati.

St. Louis hammered Cincinnati yesterday taking both games of their doubleheader by a combined score of 15-1. The Cardinals scored all nine of their runs in the first three innings of their 9-1 win in the nightcap. Wilson Contreras smacked a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone for the Cards.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Cardinals at Reds

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 12:40PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, FDSNOH

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cardinals at the Reds

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (+102), Reds (-122)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Matthew Liberatore vs. Andrew Abbott
    • Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 3.19 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 vs. Milwaukee - 6IP, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 4Ks
    • Reds: Andrew Abbott (2-0, 3.60 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 at Colorado - 4IP, 4ER, 5H, 5BB, 4Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cardinals at Reds

  • The Under is 5-2 in the Cards' last 7 games
  • The Under is 6-2 in the Reds' last 8 games
  • Elly De La Cruz is riding a 14-game hitting streak during which he is 19-54 (.352)
  • Wilson Contreras has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (.356)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Cardinals and the Reds

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Cardinals and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the St. Louis Cardinals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

NHLPA Hires Ex-NFLPA Boss Scebelo to Lead Business Affairs

The NHL Players’ Association has made a crucial business-related hire at a pivotal time, given the NHL and the NHLPA are in discussions for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Former NFLPA executive Steve Scebelo has been named the chief commercial officer for the NHLPA, a newly created role expected to lead the organization’s business approach and help drive commercial growth. While CBA negotiations take place, Scebelo has already started exploring ways to not only bolster current revenue streams but also create additional ones.

“It’s fertile ground,” Schebelo said in a phone interview. “We want to work on our core sponsorship and licensing areas to start. There’s going to be some good potential growth and then there’s a lot of areas to get creative and go beyond those cores [sectors]. First things first, that’s building revenue in our core areas.”

Schebelo, who will report to NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh, understands though that achieving his revenue goals hinges on growing the profiles and marketability of the league’s current stars, from Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard to older legends like Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The former president of NFLPA’s for-profit marketing and licensing arm (NFL Players Inc.) wants to get more hockey stars involved in various activations. He referenced former New York Rangers star Mark Messier whose popularity soared after his team won the Stanley Cup in 1994.

“He was the face of all these different campaigns,” Schebelo said. “We know that it can happen. These players are dynamic, and we have to give them the opportunity to shine off the ice, either with products or experiences.”

Schebelo, a licensing veteran who most recently worked as the founder of consulting firm REP Worldwide, looks to grow the NHLPA’s business across consumer products, sponsorships, advertising and individual player endorsements. As part of getting his internal team into a more progressive mode, Schebelo also floated the union potentially investing in early-stage companies that are native to the hockey industry.

“Just being open to it is something as a practice that hasn’t been part of the NHLPA’s business in the past,” he added.

Schebelo previously led various business initiatives at the NFLPA, which included overseeing nine years of consecutive revenue growth. “We’re going to dig into the NHLPA’s numbers and see if that’s something that we can do,” he said. “We need to make sure that we have a reasonable timeline and that the [internal] team is energized, asking ourselves ‘what’s it going to take to double this business?’ ”

The NHL, which is projecting a significant salary cap increase over the next three seasons, is experiencing a wave of momentum following a strong viewership showing in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. There’s also growing anticipation for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where NHL players will be on the Team USA roster for the first time since 2014. Focused on growing revenue in the U.S. specifically, Schebelo believes it’s critical for the NHLPA to capitalize on this moment and better demonstrate to its commercial partners how it can add value.

The NHLPA wants to build around its core U.S. partners, which include Fanatics, Upper Deck and EA Sports, but also tap into new global markets and opportunities abroad as it represents players from more than 20 countries. The overseas interest comes as the NHLPA and the NHL recently jointly partnered to bring the World Cup of Hockey back in 2028.

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Diamondbacks at Mets prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 1

Its Thursday, May 1 and the Diamondbacks (16-14) are in Queens to take on the Mets (21-10) in the series finale.

Zac Gallen is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Kodai Senga for New York.

These teams have split the first two games of this series with Arizona winning yesterday 4-3. The Diamondbacks scored two in the seventh and two in the ninth to earn the win. Pinch-hitter Geraldo Perdomo drove in those seventh inning runs, and Corbin Burnes won his first game for the Diamondbacks allowing one run on four hits over six innings.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at Mets

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, SNY, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the Mets

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+128), Mets (-152)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Zac Gallen vs. Kodai Senga
    • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (1-4, 5.57 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 vs. Atlanta - 5IP, 3ER, 4H, 2BB, 6Ks
    • Mets: Kodai Senga (3-1, 1.26 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 at Washington - 6IP, 2ER, 6H, 2BB, 5Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Diamondbacks at Mets

  • The Mets have won their last 3 home games Kodai Senga has started
  • This season Kodai Senga has an ERA of 1.28 and a WHIP of 0.98
  • Betting the Mets on the Run Line with Kodai Senga starting has returned a 1.00-unit profit in 2025
  • Francisco Alvarez is 4-21 (.190) since his return from the disabled list

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Mets

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Diamondbacks and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Mets -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Stephen A defends Brooks, Rockets for attacking Steph's injured thumb

Stephen A defends Brooks, Rockets for attacking Steph's injured thumb originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Stephen A. Smith saw no issue with the Houston Rockets going after Steph Curry’s injured thumb during their first-round Western Conference playoff series with the Warriors.

The outspoken ESPN analyst had a harsh response to Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s comments about Rockets forward Dillon Brooks swiping at Curry’s hand under the NBA’s “idiotic” rules.

“In case you don’t know, I think Steve Kerr is one of the top-six greatest coaches in the history of basketball,” Smith said Thursday on ESPN’s “First Take.” “I think he’s phenomenal. And I think he’s a good man, very contentious. But sometimes this Goody Two-shoes sanctimonious approach, it really rakes my nerves. Like he’s so above the fray. This man is a champion. Champion in Chicago. Champion in San Antonio. Champion as a coach in Golden State. He knows what comes with it.

“If you have a hurt thumb, hurt ankle, whatever debilitating issue you have, it’s going to be attacked. The man’s thumb is compromised on his shooting hand. The greatest shooter that ever lived might be compromised. And somebody’s not going to try to exploit that? Stop.”

Curry has been dealing with a thumb injury since January, re-aggravating it at the end of the regular season. Since the start of the series, it has been clear that Houston knows this and is going after Curry’s thumb whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Fellow ESPN analyst Jay Williams seconded Smith’s opinion, as the former NBA player explained how attacking a player’s injury is just part of the game. 

“I love it, it’s basketball,” Williams said. “First off, look. Stephen A. and I are supposed to play a one-on-one game. I heard him talk about how his elbow is hurting. I’m attacking the elbows then. Last year it was the shoulder. I’m attacking the shoulder. Whenever you hear about weaknesses that people have, you go at them.”

The Rockets have played a tough and physical series with the Warriors so far, utilizing their length and youthfulness to stymie Golden State’s shooters on every possession. After Wednesday night’s 131-116 blowout loss to the Rockets, the Warriors can ill-afford another off game when the series returns to Chase Center on Friday for Game 6.

All eyes will be on Curry’s wrapped thumb as he and Golden State look to close out the series against Houston and move on to the Western Conference semifinals.

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Cubs at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 1

Its a Paul Skenes Thursday. Its May 1 and Skenes and the Pirates (12-19) and the Cubs (18-13) wrap up a series in Pittsburgh.

Colin Rea is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Skenes for Pittsburgh.

These teams have split the first two games of this series with the Bucs winning yesterday, 4-3. Andrew McCutchen drove in a pair of runs to pace the attack for Pittsburgh.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Cubs at Pirates

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 12:35PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MARQ, SNP

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cubs at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (+134), Pirates (-159)
  • Spread:  Pirates -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Colin Rea vs. Paul Skenes
    • Cubs: Colin Rea (1-0, 0.96 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 vs. Philadelphia - 5IP, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 7Ks
    • Pirates: Paul Skenes (3-2, 2.39 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 at Dodgers - 6.1IP, 0ER, 5H, 0BB, 9Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Pirates

  • The Cubs have won 4 of their last 5 road games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 4-0-1 in the Cubs' last 5 matchups against NL Central teams
  • Kyle Tucker is in a funk with just 2 hits in his last 22 ABs (.091)
  • Paul Skenes has struck out 39 opposing batters in 37.2 innings

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cubs and the Pirates

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Cubs and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Phillies trade for reliever Daniel Robert, option him to Triple A

Phillies trade for reliever Daniel Robert, option him to Triple A  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies announced Thursday morning that they acquired right-handed relief pitcher Daniel Robert and optioned him to Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

The club sent 20-year-old righty Enrique Segura to the Rangers in exchange for Robert. Segura is a Dominican starter who went 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA this year at Single A Clearwater. 

Robert, 30, made his MLB debut last season. The former 21st-round draft pick was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in four appearances. Robert threw his sweeper on nearly half of his pitches. The Auburn product’s fastball averaged 94.9 mph.

Robert started 2025 at Triple A Round Rock. He’s pitched in 10 minor-league games this season and has a 1.54 ERA. Robert’s numbers were good for Round Rock in 2024, too — 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 13 walks. Triple A batters hit .144 against him.

Relief pitching has been an early-season weakness for the Phillies, whose 5.03 bullpen ERA ranks 27th in MLB.

Phillies trade for reliever Daniel Robert, option him to Triple A

Phillies trade for reliever Daniel Robert, option him to Triple A  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies announced Thursday morning that they acquired right-handed relief pitcher Daniel Robert and optioned him to Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

The club sent 20-year-old righty Enrique Segura to the Rangers in exchange for Robert. Segura is a Dominican starter who went 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA this year at Single A Clearwater. 

Robert, 30, made his MLB debut last season. The former 21st-round draft pick was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in four appearances. Robert threw his sweeper on nearly half of his pitches. The Auburn product’s fastball averaged 94.9 mph.

Robert started 2025 at Triple A Round Rock. He’s pitched in 10 minor-league games this season and has a 1.54 ERA. Robert’s Triple A numbers were good for Round Rock in 2024, too — 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 13 walks. Triple A batters hit .144 against him.

Relief pitching has been an early-season weakness for the Phillies, whose 5.03 bullpen ERA ranks 27th in MLB.

11 NHLers On Swedish Roster At Last Pre-Worlds Tourney

William Eklund (left) and Alexander Wennberg of the San Jose Sharks. © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images 

The NHL contingent on the Swedish national team has now risen to 11 as the team approaches its last tune-up before the IIHF World Championship, and that’s the Czech Hockey Games this weekend – the final leg of the 2024-25 Euro Hockey Tour.

In addition to those who played in the NHL this season, the roster this weekend also includes Boston University defenseman Tom Willander, a Vancouver Canucks prospect. It does not include Filip Hållander of Timrå IK, who has been in the team’s camp and recently signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Find the roster below.

“A lot of work remains before the World Championship premiere on May 9 in Stockholm,” said coach Sam Hallam. “Now we are looking forward to having the opportunity to hone our game and come together as a group. It will also be inspiring to work together with (assistant coach) Anders Sörensen and some new players.”

The Swedes play on Thursday night against Switzerland in the Zurich suburb of Kloten, conveniently where the airport is located. The team then flies to Brno, Czechia to face the Czechs on Saturday and Finland on Sunday before heading home to start the Worlds next Friday.

Pastrnak Will Play For Czechs In Worlds, But Not This Weekend In Euro Hockey TourPastrnak Will Play For Czechs In Worlds, But Not This Weekend In Euro Hockey Tour Multiple Czech media outlets reported on Monday that David Pastrňák has finally agreed to play for his home country in this year’s IIHF World Championship. Czech national team GM Jiří Šlégr confirmed the news after the team’s practise.

Goaltenders: Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Arvid Söderblom (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Arvid Holm (Rögle BK).

Defensemen: Rasmus Andersson (Calgary Flames, NHL), Tom Willander (Boston University, NCAA), Adam Larsson (Seattle Kraken, NHL), Gabriel Carlsson (EV Zug, SUI), Marcus Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Tim Heed (HC Ambri-Piotta, SUI), Andreas Borgman (HC Fribourg-Gottéron, SUI), Simon Edvinsson (Detroit Red Wings, NHL).

Forwards: Alexander Wennberg, William Eklund (both San Jose Sharks, NHL), Anton Bengtsson, Felix Nilsson (both Rögle BK, SWE), Isac Lundeström, Leo Carlsson (both Anaheim Ducks, NHL), Max Friberg (Frölunda HC, SWE), Marcus Sörensen (HC Fribourg-Gottéron, SUI), André Petersson (HV 71, SWE), Christoffer Ehn (Linköping HC, SWE), Oscar Lindberg (Skellefteå AIK, SWE), Oskar Steen (Färjestad BK, SWE), Sebastian Hartmann (Timrå IK, SWE), Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers, NHL).

 

USA Names First 18 Players To World Championship RosterUSA Names First 18 Players To World Championship Roster USA Hockey has named the first 18 players to its roster at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, which runs from May 9 to 25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning Denmark. The USA plays in Group B in Herning.

Canadiens: Season Of Progress Comes To An End

Apr 30, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) scores a goal on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) in the first period in game five of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

This year's objective was for the young Montreal Canadiens to be in the mix and play meaningful hockey in March. That was more than accomplished; in fact, the Habs came one day short of playing meaningful hockey in May, and that’s quite an accomplishment, especially for a team that didn’t get any reinforcements at the trade deadline.

Special Teams Key To Canadiens’ Survival
Canadiens' Farm Team To Start Quest For Calder Cup
Canadiens: Gallagher’s Thank You Gift

Montreal was the last team to qualify for the playoffs. However, Martin St-Louis’ men still battled well against the Washington Capitals, especially considering Alexander Ovechkin and co. were the best squad in the Eastern Conference.

Capitalizing On Opportunities

The Habs started game five well; they peppered Logan Thompson with shots but could not find the back of the net. After nine minutes of play, Ovechkin scored on the power play to give the Caps a 1-0 lead, but at that point, shots were 8-2 for Montreal.

In the remaining 11 minutes, the Canadiens only managed one more shot on goal, while Washington found a second lamp lighter to take a 2-0 lead and finish the frame with an 11-9 edge in shots.

Dominating early is a momentum maker unless you capitalize on one of those many shots. Then, they have the opposite effect: They plant the seed of doubt, which eats at you.

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over

Down 3-0 early in the third, the Canadiens didn’t give up. Like they did all year, they worked tirelessly to mount a third-period comeback. Emil Heineman created a spark with his first playoff goal thanks to a nice tip off a puck Joel Armia had put towards the net, and it seemed to send shockwaves through the team’s collective body.

When they finally manage to fix their consistency issue and provide that kind of effort for whole games, the Canadiens will be a force to be reckoned with, especially when more of their young guys graduate to the NHL.

In the end, the Canadiens lost both game five and the series 4-1, but they’ve shown fantastic progress throughout the year, and we’ll have plenty to dissect over the coming months.

It’s not over for the Laval Rocket, though. Pascal Vincent’s men won game one of their series against the Cleveland Monsters 3-2, and they’ll be fun to watch in the coming weeks.


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Clippers search for answers against Nuggets in critical Game 6

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, fouls Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard James Harden, drawing a foul during Game 5, has been slowed by Christian Baun and the Nuggets' team defense. Coach Tyronn Lue says finding a way to utilize the All-Star guard in Game 6 is critical. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

In 2021, the Clippers lost Game 5 in the first round of the playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks to go down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series but won the next two games and eventually advanced to the franchise’s first conference finals.

Here the Clippers stand again, having lost Game 5 of the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets to fall behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and face a must-win Game 6 on Thursday night at Intuit Dome to stave off elimination.

Clippers center Ivica Zubac was a part of that group in 2021 and he’s a major part of this squad now. He recalled the mental fortitude it took for the Clippers to fight back.

After the Clippers were blown out in Game 5 in Denver on Tuesday night, Zubac said it will probably take even more from them this time because the Nuggets are far more formidable with transcendent superstar Nikola Jokic, with All-Star guard Jamal Murray and home-court advantage.

“We got to win,” Zubac said late Tuesday night in Denver. “We got to win both. Take it one game at a time. It’s an elimination game for us. So, we can’t start out like this. We got to leave everything out there, play hard, whatever it takes, whatever we have to do. We got to be better. We got to be ready to do whatever it takes. Treat it one game at a time. Win a Game 6, give yourself a chance to come back here [to Denver] and try to force a Game 7.”

The Clippers have lost the last two games to the Nuggets and in both defeats James Harden hasn’t been a factor.

Read more:Clippers falter against Nuggets and are one loss away from end of season

He has averaged 13 points per game in the two losses, shot 40% from the field and 25% from three-point range.

It’s become clear that the Nuggets have focused their defense on Harden, making sure that Christian Braun is with Harden every step he takes on the court. Harden hasn’t talked to the media after the last two games so it was left up to Clippers coach Tyronn Lue to explain what’s happening with his All-Star guard.

“I think Denver made their mind up, they are going to try to take him out of the series after the first two or three games,” Lue said late Tuesday night in Denver. “They are doing a good job. I got to do a better job of just finding ways to get him open, to get him space and provide more [isolations], just because they are blitzing him so much and trying to beat him to his spots.”

With their season on the line, Lue also talked about the three-point shooting and the effects that has had on the series.

When the Clippers blew out the Nuggets in Game 3 by 34 points, they shot 18 for 39 (46.2%) from three-point range. When the Nuggets blew out the Clippers in Game 5 by 16 points, they made 17 of 33 (51.5%) from three-point range, and that effort was led by Murray, who shot eight for 14 from three.

“I mean, we got to respond,” Lue said. “We blew them out in Game 3 and they came back and responded in Game 4. So, we got to do the same thing. I mean, I don’t know what changes you can make. They made shots. Like I said, making 17 threes and they blew us out. We made 18 threes and we blew them out. So, the three-point line is going to be the most important thing. We got to make sure we are taking care of that, which we didn’t do a good job of tonight. But going back home, Intuit will be rocking. We’ll be fine.”

Starting slowly is another problem the Clippers have dealt with.

In Game 4, they got down by 20 points in the fourth, took a one-point lead and then lost on a buzzer-beating dunk by Aaron Gordon. In Game 5, the Clippers got down by 22 in the fourth, cut the deficit to eight points and then faded.

“Just try to get out to a better start early,” Kawhi Leonard said Tuesday night. “I think pretty much the whole series they probably got out to a great start on us. Just trying to stay in the game early instead of trying to make the heroic comebacks. That’s all we can do. We got to fight, man.”

In the end, the Clippers win or go home for the summer.

“We got to figure it out,” Zubac said. “We got to be better in Game 6.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.