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  • AZ Cardinals Recap and notes

    • Cardinals’ Walter Nolen: Will not practice to begin OTAs

      Nolen (knee) did not participate in the Cardinals‘ OTA on Monday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

      Nolen’s absence for the start of OTAs comes after the 22-year-old suffered a non-contact knee injury in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. The second-year starter still faces an unclear timetable for his return, but time will tell if Nolen is ready for the start of the 2026 campaign.

    • Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett: Not present for voluntary OTAs

      Brissett was not present for the start of voluntary OTAs on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

      The veteran quarterback has stayed away from the team this offseason, as he’s seeking a raise for the 2026 campaign. Coming off a career year in 2025, which saw Brissett complete 315 of 485 passes (64.9 percent) for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, the 33-year-old is looking for more money and possibly more years on his contract. Brissett currently is scheduled to collect $5.44 million in 2026, which would put him 26th at the quarterback position. There’s been no indication that Arizona is actively discussing a new deal with Brissett. The Cardinals are in a full-blown rebuild and used a third-round pick on Carson Beck last month after signing Gardner Minshew in free agency. Even if Brissett opens the season as Arizona’s starter, there’s a good chance Beck makes rookie-year starts.

  • Dbacks recap and notes

    • Diamondbacks’ Ryan Waldschmidt: Productive performance in big win

      Waldschmidt went 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, two runs scored, two steals and a walk in Monday’s win over the Giants.

      Waldschmidt turned in the best offensive performance of his young career, tallying a pair of doubles as part of his first three-hit effort in the majors. The 23-year-old also turned it loose on the basepaths, recording the first multi-steal game of his career. The early returns through 10 contests have been promising, as Waldschmidt is slashing .313/.371/.438 with four doubles, six RBI, three runs and three stolen bases.

    • Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno: Goes yard in lopsided win

      Moreno went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday’s victory over the Giants.

      Moreno joined the scoring onslaught with a 105.7 mph, two-run blast off Robbie Ray in the fifth inning. The backstop has been locked in at the plate of late, recording four consecutive multi-hit performances. Overall, Moreno is slashing .261/.309/.409 with two homers, seven doubles, 14 RBI, 13 runs and two stolen bases across 97 plate appearances.

    • Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado: Swats grand slam

      Arenado went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Monday’s victory over San Francisco.

      Arenado opened the scoring in a big way, blasting a grand slam off Robbie Ray in the first inning to help fuel a blowout victory. After an ice-cold first two weeks of the season, the veteran third baseman has raked to the tune of a .320/.417/.598 slash line with seven homers, 22 RBI, 21 runs and a stolen base over his past 30 games. After posting a career-worst .666 OPS in 107 games with St. Louis in 2025, Arenado has enjoyed a resurgent 2026 campaign in Arizona with an .810 OPS through 44 contests.

    • Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen: Earns second win Monday

      Gallen (2-4) earned the win Monday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over six innings against San Francisco. He struck out five.

      Afforded ample run support, Gallen turned in his second quality start of the campaign en route to his second victory. It was a much-needed positive performance for the right-hander, who had surrendered 14 earned runs across 14.1 innings over his previous three starts. The 30-year-old will carry a 4.78 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 34:15 K:BB across 49 innings (10 starts) into his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday against Colorado.

  • MLB Scores

    FINAL
    R H E
    Braves32-16
    		 0 4 0
    Marlins22-26
    		 12 10 0
    loanDepot park, Miami, FL
    Highlights: Braves at Marlins (5/18)
    0:49
    • W: M. Meyer  (4-0)
    • L: J. Ritchie  (1-1)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 M. Meyer MIA P6.0 IP, 3 H, 6 SO, 2 BB
    player headshot
    		 X. Edwards MIA 2B2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Orioles21-27
    		 6 12 1
    Rays31-15
    		 16 18 1
    Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
    Highlights: Orioles at Rays (5/18)
    0:20
    • W: S. McClanahan  (5-2)
    • L: T. Rogers  (2-5)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 J. Caminero TB 3B2-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
    player headshot
    		 Y. Diaz TB DH4-5, 4 R, 4 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Reds24-24
    		 4 6 1
    Phillies25-23
    		 5 5 0
    Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
    Highlights: Reds at Phillies (5/18)
    0:46
    • W: O. Kerkering  (2-0)
    • L: G. Ashcraft  (1-1)
    • S: J. Duran  (8)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 A. Painter PHI P6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 SO, 2 BB
    player headshot
    		 J. Duran PHI P0-01.0 IP, 2 SO
    FINAL
    R H E
    Guardians27-22
    		 8 9 0
    Tigers20-28
    		 2 5 0
    Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
    • W: S. Cecconi  (3-4)
    • L: F. Valdez  (2-3)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 S. Cecconi CLE P7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 SO, 2 BB
    player headshot
    		 J. Ramirez CLE 3B3-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Mets21-26
    		 16 18 0
    Nationals23-25
    		 7 12 4
    Nationals Park, Washington, DC
    Highlights: Mets at Nationals (5/18)
    0:58
    • W: H. Brazoban  (3-1)
    • L: P. Schultz  (0-1)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 B. Bichette NYM 3B3-6, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
    player headshot
    		 C. Benge NYM RF3-6, 3 R, 3 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Blue Jays21-26
    		 6 9 2
    Yankees29-19
    		 7 11 0
    Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
    Highlights: Blue Jays at Yankees (5/18)
    1:00
    • W: P. Blackburn  (2-1)
    • L: Y. Rodriguez  (0-1)
    • S: D. Bednar  (11)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 E. Clement TOR 2B1-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
    player headshot
    		 P. Goldschmidt NYY 1B2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Red Sox20-27
    		 3 9 0
    Royals20-28
    		 1 6 0
    Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
    • W: S. Gray  (5-1)
    • L: S. Lugo  (1-4)
    • S: A. Chapman  (11)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 S. Gray BOS P6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 9 SO, 1 BB
    player headshot
    		 A. Chapman BOS P1.0 IP, 1 SO
    FINAL
    R H E
    Astros19-30
    		 3 7 0
    Twins22-26
    		 6 9 0
    Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
    • W: E. Orze  (2-1)
    • L: T. Imai  (1-2)
    • S: T. Rogers  (1)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 J. Bell MIN DH3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI
    player headshot
    		 E. Orze MIN P1.1 IP, 1 SO
    FINAL
    R H E
    Brewers27-18
    		 9 13 0
    Cubs29-19
    		 3 7 0
    Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
    Highlights: Brewers at Cubs (5/18)
    0:43
    • W: S. Drohan  (2-1)
    • L: S. Imanaga  (4-4)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 S. Drohan MIL P4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 SO
    player headshot
    		 J. Bauers MIL 1B2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Rangers22-25
    		 6 10 2
    Rockies19-29
    		 7 7 0
    Coors Field, Denver, CO
    • W: J. Quintana  (2-2)
    • L: M. Gore  (3-4)
    • S: J. Mejia  (3)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 J. Foscue TEX 2B3-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
    player headshot
    		 J. Quintana COL P5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 SO, 1 BB
    FINAL
    R H E
    Athletics23-24
    		 1 7 0
    Angels17-31
    		 2 2 1
    Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
    • W: C. Silseth  (1-0)
    • L: J. Ginn  (2-2)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 J. Ginn ATH P8.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 10 SO, 1 BB
    player headshot
    		 W. Urena LAA P6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 SO, 2 BB
    FINAL
    R H E
    White Sox24-23
    		 1 6 1
    Mariners23-26
    		 6 8 0
    T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
    • W: B. Woo  (4-2)
    • L: N. Schultz  (2-3)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 B. Woo SEA P6.0 IP, 3 H, 8 SO, 2 BB
    player headshot
    		 J. Naylor SEA 1B3-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
    FINAL
    R H E
    Dodgers29-19
    		 0 5 0
    Padres29-18
    		 1 4 1
    Petco Park, San Diego, CA
    • W: M. King  (4-2)
    • L: Y. Yamamoto  (3-4)
    • S: M. Miller  (15)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 M. King SD P7.0 IP, 4 H, 9 SO, 2 BB
    player headshot
    		 Y. Yamamoto LAD P7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 8 SO, 2 BB
    FINAL
    R H E
    Giants20-28
    		 2 8 3
    Diamondbacks23-23
    		 12 16 0
    Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
    • W: Z. Gallen  (2-4)
    • L: R. Ray  (3-6)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    player headshot
    		 Z. Gallen ARI P6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 SO, 1 BB
    player headshot
    		 R. Waldschmidt ARI CF3-3, 2 R, 1 RBI

  • Arenado’s grand slam in the 1st inning helps power the Diamondbacks to a 12-2 win over Giants

    AP

    PHOENIX (AP) Nolan Arenado hit his seventh career grand slam, Gabriel Moreno added a two-run homer, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Francisco Giants 12-2 on Monday night.

    Arizona matched season highs with 12 runs and 16 hits. Every Diamondbacks player had at least one hit. Ryan Waldschmidt led the way with two doubles and a single. Corbin Carroll hit his fifth triple of the season.

    Zac Gallen (2-4) had his second quality start and the ninth overall for the Diamondbacks May 5. He threw six innings and struck out five while allowing four hits and two runs.

    The first four batters reached for Arizona, capped off by Arenado’s 403-foot grand slam to left field. They added two more runs in the second, one in the third, and five in the fifth.

    Moreno hit a 398-foot homer as the second batter of the inning, and Waldschmidt and Ketel Marte each drove in another run. Marte scored on an error, ending the scoring for the inning.

    Robbie Ray (3-6) took the loss for the Giants, allowing 11 hits and 10 runs, nine earned, in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out one and walked two.

    Willy Adames had a 388-foot solo homer in the second inning, and Luiz Arraez hit a sacrifice fly in the third.

    Giants RHP Landen Roupp (5-4, 3.49 ERA) faces Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.40) in the second game of the series. —

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

    Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

    Expert Picks
    Prop Bet Guy
    Prop Bet GuyDoug
    #2
    +805 (70%)
    Last 23 MLB Player Props
    Under 5.5-113
    Robbie Ray • Hits Allowed • Player Prop
    Picked May 18 @ 8:24 pm, 1 unit on DraftKings
    LOSS
    DraftKings. Robbie Ray has remained under this hits allowed prop in seven of nine starts this season. In fact, he’s only allowed even five hits in just three outings. Regularly atop the xBA leaderboard, Ray’s aresnal is not only one of the harder to hit amongst starting pitchers, but his low zone% raises his pitch count (as he’s reliant on a high chase rate). Arizona is a high-end left handed hitting team, but are due for some regression.

    Prop’s Pick

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

    20-28

    		 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 3

    23-23

    		 4 1 2 0 5 0 0 0 X 12 16 0
    • Chase FieldPhoenix, AZ
    • W: Z. Gallen (2-4)L: R. Ray (3-6)S: (0)
    • HR: SF – W. Adames (3), ARI – G. Moreno (1), N. Arenado (6)
    PLAYERS OF THE GAME
    HITTERS AB R H RBI AVG
    J. Lee RF 2 0 1 0 .268
    W. Brennan RF 2 0 1 0 .091
    L. Arraez 2B 2 0 0 1 .324
    D. Gilbert LF 1 0 0 0 .217
    C. Schmitt LF-SS 4 0 1 0 .295
    R. Devers 1B 4 0 0 0 .240
    W. Adames SS 1 1 1 1 .238
    a- J. Rodriguez PH-2B 2 0 0 0 .200
    M. Chapman 3B 4 0 0 0 .218
    B. Eldridge DH 4 0 2 0 .143
    H. Bader CF 4 1 2 0 .171
    E. Haase C 3 0 0 0 .240
    • a-grounded out for Adames in the 6th
    HITTERS AB R H RBI AVG
    K. Marte 2B 4 2 2 2 .222
    C. Carroll RF 4 1 2 0 .284
    J. Barrosa RF 1 0 0 0 .190
    G. Perdomo SS 4 1 1 0 .227
    N. Arenado 3B 4 1 1 4 .272
    J. McCann 1B 1 0 1 0 .203
    A. Del Castillo PR 0 0 0 0 .185
    J. Loaisiga P 0 0 0 0 .000
    I. Vargas 1B-3B 5 2 2 0 .335
    G. Moreno C 5 2 2 2 .261
    J. Fernandez DH-1B 3 1 1 0 .276
    T. Tawa LF 4 0 1 2 .160
    R. Waldschmidt CF 3 2 3 1 .313
    BATTING
    • 2B – H. Bader 2 (4)
    • HR – W. Adames (4)
    • SF – L. Arraez (3)
    • RBI – L. Arraez (17), W. Adames (14)
    • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – H. Bader, E. Haase
    BATTING
    • 2B – R. Waldschmidt 2 (4)
    • 3B – C. Carroll (5)
    • HR – N. Arenado (7), G. Moreno (2)
    • SF – K. Marte
    • SH – J. Fernandez (2)
    • RBI – K. Marte 2 (17), N. Arenado 4 (25), G. Moreno 2 (14), T. Tawa 2 (8), R. Waldschmidt (6)
    • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – K. Marte, G. Perdomo, N. Arenado, I. Vargas
    BASERUNNING
    • SB – J. Fernandez (6), R. Waldschmidt 2 (3)
    • CS – T. Tawa (2)
    FIELDING
    • DP – (Chapman-Rodriguez-Devers)
    • E – W. Adames (7), M. Chapman (6), E. Haase
    FIELDING
    • DP – (Marte-McCann)
    PITCHERS IP H ER BB SO ERA
    R. Ray(L, 3-6) 4.1 11 9 2 1 4.28
    J. Brubaker 1.2 3 1 0 1 3.80
    R. Borucki 2.0 2 0 0 1 3.93
    PITCHERS IP H ER BB SO ERA
    Z. Gallen(W, 2-4) 6.0 4 2 1 5 4.78
    R. Thompson 1.0 1 0 0 1 2.81
    B. Garcia 1.0 2 0 0 1 1.35
    J. Loaisiga 1.0 1 0 0 0 2.95
    PITCHING
    • Pitches-Strikes – R. Ray 84-51, J. Brubaker 29-21, R. Borucki 22-14
    • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – R. Ray 11-5, J. Brubaker 3-3, R. Borucki 3-1
    • Batters Faced – R. Ray 26, J. Brubaker 9, R. Borucki 7
    PITCHING
    • Pitches-Strikes – Z. Gallen 81-55, R. Thompson 18-10, B. Garcia 16-13, J. Loaisiga 17-11
    • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – Z. Gallen 9-6, R. Thompson 2-0, B. Garcia 2-0, J. Loaisiga 2-1
    • Batters Faced – Z. Gallen 23, R. Thompson 4, B. Garcia 4, J. Loaisiga 4

  • Newhook scores in OT to lift Canadiens over Sabres 3-2 in Game 7

    AP

    BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Alex Newhook scored his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason, this time 11:22 into overtime in the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.

    Newhook drove up the left wing and as he approached the circle snapped a shot through a screen that beat goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen inside the far post. Newhook also scored the decisive goal, breaking a 1-1 tie 11:07 into the third period, in Game 7 of Montreal’s first-round series win over Tampa Bay.

    “It’s a crazy feeling,” Newhook said of scoring back-to-back Game 7 winners. “It’s fun. It’s why you play the game. I think we played well enough to win, so we’re looking forward now.”

    Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc also scored for the Canadiens and Jakub Dobes finished with 37 saves.

    Rasmus Dahlin forced overtime by tying the game 6:27 into the third period. Jordan Greenway also scored. Luukkonen finished with 22 saves.

    The Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference finals, where they’ll face the well-rested Hurricanes in a series set to open at Carolina on Thursday. The Hurricanes have swept each of their first two series, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9.

    Carolina’s 11-day break between playoffs games is the longest in NHL history.

    The Canadiens advance to the NHL’s semifinal round for the first time since facing Vegas in the COVID-altered 2021 playoffs, in which Montreal eventually lost the Stanley Cup Final in five games to Tampa Bay.

    “It’s got to be electric. I’m sure everywhere in Montreal is going nuts right now,” Newhook said. “We owe them a lot of credit. They showed up for us all series long, and can’t wait to get back to the Bell Centre for Game 3.”

    This is the first playoff meeting between the two teams since Carolina beat Montreal in six games of a 2006 first-round series. The Hurricanes also beat Montreal in 2002, after going 0-5 against the Canadiens when the franchise was based in Hartford, Connecticut.

    The Canadiens continue their upward trajectory a year after being eliminated in the first round by Washington.

    “We’re a confident group,” Newhook said. “We’ve added some pieces, and I think everyone’s kind of come together to play together and play their role to the best of their ability this far in playoffs. We’ve got to keep it rolling.”

    Buffalo dropped to 1-7 in Game 7, including 1-3 in overtime.

    The Sabres enter their offseason following a breakout year in which they won their first Atlantic Division title and ended an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought. Buffalo’s turnaround began in early December, when the team went from last in the East standings to finish second by going 39-9-5 over its final 53 games.

    The Sabres’ first-round win over Boston was their first since 2007, and the team returns a young and talented group that reflects a promising future in Buffalo.

    Trailing 2-0, the Sabres cut Montreal’s lead 13:19 into the second period when Mattias Samuelsson’s shot grazed off Greenway and into the open left side past a screened Dobes. Dahlin then tied it after being set up by Owen Power to the left of the Montreal net, and fired a shot in before Dobes could get across.

    Game 7 followed the series script in which each of the opening goals have been scored within the first seven minutes.

    For only the second time, though, it was the Canadiens scoring first 4:30 in. Danault was parked in front and had Kaiden Guhle’s shot from the left circle deflect in off his skate.

    Bolduc followed 10 minutes later with a one-timer from the right circle in which he beat Luukkonen high on the short side. Captain Nick Suzuki set up the goal with a cross-ice feed from the far corner.

    —

    AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

    Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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    1 2 3 OT T

    4-3

    		 2 0 0 1 3

    3-4

    		 0 1 1 0 2
    • KeyBank CenterBuffalo, NY
    • Game 7MON wins 4-3
    STARS OF THE GAME
    SKATERS G A +/- SOG
    J. Anderson RW 0 0 0 3
    Z. Bolduc C 1 0 -1 2
    A. Carrier D 0 1 0 1
    C. Caufield RW 0 0 0 5
    K. Dach C 0 0 -1 1
    P. Danault C 1 0 -1 2
    I. Demidov RW 0 0 1 0
    N. Dobson D 0 0 -1 1
    J. Evans C 0 0 1 0
    K. Guhle D 0 1 0 1
    L. Hutson D 0 1 -1 1
    O. Kapanen C 0 0 0 1
    M. Matheson D 0 0 1 1
    A. Newhook C 1 0 1 2
    J. Slafkovsky LW 0 0 0 3
    N. Suzuki C 0 1 0 1
    A. Texier LW 0 1 0 0
    A. Xhekaj D 0 0 1 0
    SKATERS G A +/- SOG
    Z. Benson LW 0 0 -1 2
    B. Byram D 0 0 -2 1
    R. Dahlin D 1 0 0 5
    J. Doan RW 0 0 1 3
    J. Greenway LW 1 0 1 2
    K. Helenius C 0 0 -1 3
    P. Krebs C 0 0 1 1
    B. Malenstyn LW 0 1 1 1
    R. McLeod C 0 1 1 2
    Z. Metsa D 0 0 0 0
    J. Norris C 0 0 -1 1
    O. Power D 0 1 1 1
    J. Quinn RW 0 0 -1 2
    M. Samuelsson D 0 1 1 2
    T. Thompson C 0 0 -1 5
    C. Timmins D 0 0 0 3
    A. Tuch RW 0 0 1 5
    J. Zucker LW 0 0 -1 0
    GOALIES SA GA SV SV% TOI
    J. Dobes 39 2 37 0.949 71:22
    GOALIES SA GA SV SV% TOI
    U. Luukkonen 25 3 22 0.880 71:22

  • Wembanyama has 41 points, 24 rebounds and Spurs top Thunder 122-115 in 2OT to open West finals

    AP
    May 19, 2026

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Victor Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds, Dylan Harper finished with 24 points and a team playoff-record seven steals, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime classic to open the Western Conference finals Monday night.

    Wembanyama sealed it with a pair of dunks in the final minute, one of them leading to a three-point play as the Spurs stole home-court advantage and beat the Thunder for the fifth time in six meetings this season.

    Stephon Castle had 17 points, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson each scored 13 and Julian Champagnie added 11 for the Spurs, who were without De’Aaron Fox because of ankle stiffness.

    “A great effort – from everybody,” said Wembanyama, who, at 22 years, 134 days, became the youngest player with at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 22 years, 343 days when he had a 40/20 game in the 1970 NBA Finals.

    Alex Caruso scored 31 points, the second-highest scoring game of his career, off the bench for the Thunder – whose nine-game playoff winning streak dating to Game 7 of last season’s Finals was snapped.

    Jalen Williams returned from a six-game absence caused by a hamstring strain and scored 26 points for the Thunder, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – on the night he got his second straight Most Valuable Player trophy – had 24 points and 12 assists but shot 7 for 23.

    It was the sixth Game 1 in NBA playoff history to go into double overtime – the first since a Spurs-Warriors game in 2013.

    And as the clock ticked toward midnight, Wembanyama decided enough was enough.

    Game 2 is Wednesday at Oklahoma City.

    “It was a war of wills,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The levels of mental toughness exuded by both teams … we needed every second from everybody that played.”

    The Spurs were up by 10 with 9:10 left in regulation, wasted it all, then survived a frantic final stretch where the lead changed hands twice and the game was tied three times in a span of less than two minutes.

    Wembanyama had an off-balance chance to win it on the last play of regulation, but Chet Holmgren swatted it away. In overtime, Wembanyama more than atoned – connecting on a tying 3-pointer from well behind the arc with 28 seconds left to tie the game and send it to a second OT.

    “We have to get better from this game,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

    Gilgeous-Alexander had his worst first half, shooting-wise, in nearly three years – 1 for 5 from the field, four points. It was the first time since Oct. 29, 2023, a span of 270 appearances including playoffs, that he didn’t have at least two field goals before halftime.

    Meanwhile, Wembanyama was doing whatever he wanted – dunking over trios of defenders, flexing at times, finishing the half with 14 points and 10 rebounds, looking perfectly comfortable in his debut on this stage.

    And the Spurs’ lead was only seven at the break, 51-44.

    Gilgeous-Alexander got a couple shots to fall in the third, and the Thunder even briefly reclaimed the lead. But the Spurs were unfazed and the margin was still seven. San Antonio was ahead 80-73 going into the fourth.

    —

    AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

    Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
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    Zack CiminiContrarian with Chutzpah
    +500 (67%)
    Last 18 NBA Player Props

    Over 16.5-103
    Stephon Castle • Points • Player Prop
    Picked May 18 @ 7:46 pm, 1 unit on DraftKings
    WIN
    During the five regular season matchups against the Thunder, Stephon Castle scored 19 or more points in four games. Castle may be a first time postseason player, but he has elevated his play. Through the first two rounds he is averaging 20 points in the playoffs, and this is while averaging just 32 minutes. The Thunder are a great defensive team, but look for Castle to be one of the Spurs not impacted. Take his over.
    Zack’s Pick

    Larry HartsteinThe Maestro
    #1
    +2307 (62%)
    Last 133 NBA Player Props

    Over 3.5-128
    Dylan Harper • Rebounds • Player Prop
    Picked May 18 @ 7:15 pm, 1 unit on FanDuel
    WIN
    Dylan Harper continues to play a big and important role for the Spurs. He cleared this prop total in all six games of the Timberwolves series. I would play this up to -135.
    Larry’s Pick

    1
    2
    3
    4
    OT
    2OT
    T

    2 Spurs 1-0
    27
    24
    29
    21
    7
    14
    122

    1 Thunder 0-1
    27
    17
    29
    28
    7
    7
    115
    Game 1
    SA leads 1-0
    Paycom Center Oklahoma City, OK
    TOP SCORERS

    V. Wembanyama C
    41PTS
    24REB
    3AST

    A. Caruso PG
    31PTS
    2REB
    1AST

    Spurs
    STARTERS
    PTS
    REB
    AST
    PF
    V. Wembanyama
    41
    24
    3
    4
    D. Harper
    24
    11
    6
    3
    S. Castle
    17
    6
    11
    3
    D. Vassell
    13
    6
    2
    2
    J. Champagnie
    11
    9
    1
    3
    BENCH
    PTS
    REB
    AST
    PF
    K. Johnson
    13
    0
    0
    1
    C. Bryant
    3
    2
    1
    2
    H. Barnes
    0
    0
    0
    0
    L. Kornet
    0
    3
    1
    1
    B. Biyombo
    –
    –
    –
    –
    K. Olynyk
    –
    –
    –
    –
    M. Plumlee
    –
    –
    –
    –
    J. McLaughlin
    –
    –
    –
    –
    L. Waters III
    –
    –
    –
    –
    H. Ingram
    –
    –
    –
    –
    E. Miller
    –
    –
    –
    –
    Total
    122
    61
    25
    19

    Thunder
    STARTERS
    PTS
    REB
    AST
    PF
    J. Williams
    26
    7
    3
    2
    S. Gilgeous-Alexander
    24
    3
    12
    3
    C. Holmgren
    8
    8
    0
    3
    L. Dort
    5
    3
    1
    4
    I. Hartenstein
    2
    2
    2
    2
    BENCH
    PTS
    REB
    AST
    PF
    A. Caruso
    31
    2
    1
    3
    C. Wallace
    8
    6
    0
    0
    J. McCain
    7
    2
    1
    3
    A. Mitchell
    4
    4
    5
    5
    I. Joe
    0
    0
    0
    0
    A. Wiggins
    0
    0
    0
    0
    J. Williams
    0
    3
    0
    1
    K. Williams
    –
    –
    –
    –
    N. Topic
    –
    –
    –
    –
    Total
    115
    40
    25
    26

  • Dbacks Ref and Notes

    • Diamondbacks’ Jose Fernandez: Snags fifth steal

      Fernandez went 1-for-3 with one RBI and one stolen base in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Rockies.

      Fernandez started all three games of this weekend series against the Rockies, going 4-for-12 with two RBI and two steals. Two of those starts came against right-handed pitchers, though Ketel Marte serving as designated hitter Saturday before resting Sunday likely factored into Fernandez’s usage in the field. Through 127 plate appearances this year, Fernandez is hitting .275 with a .693 OPS, three home runs, five steals, 14 RBI and 20 runs scored. He’ll play regularly against left-handed pitchers, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be strictly platooned when his hitting is good.

    • Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno: Gets on base four times

      Moreno went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Rockies.

      Moreno logged his third multi-hit effort in a row, a span that also includes his two steals this season. His bat looks to be coming around — prior to this hot stretch, he went 0-for-16 over a six-game span. The catcher is hitting .253 with a .677 OPS, one home run, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored and seven doubles across 92 plate appearances this season.

    • Diamondbacks’ Paul Sewald: Secures 10th save

      Sewald walked one and struck out none in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Sunday’s 8-6 win over Rockies.

      Sewald took his first blown save of the season Wednesday versus the Rangers, and he didn’t pitch for three days after that. He bounced back well Sunday, throwing 11 of 16 pitches for strikes to pick up his 10th save in 11 chances this year. Aside from Wednesday, Sewald has mostly taken care of business when closing, but his struggles have been more prevalent when in non-save situations. He’s at a 4.41 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 16.1 innings this season, and he’s allowed three home runs.

    • Diamondbacks’ Michael Soroka: Strikes out eight in win

      Soroka (6-2) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Sunday.

      Soroka escaped a Coors Field start without allowing a homer, and the eight strikeouts were his most in any of his last six outings. He’s now allowed two runs or less in seven of his nine starts this season, including in each of his last three, though he came up an out short of a quality start. For the season, he has a 3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 55:14 K:BB through 49 innings. Soroka is projected to make his next start at home in a rematch with the Rockies.

    • Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel: Clouts first homer in win

      Gurriel went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday’s 8-6 win over Colorado.

      Gurriel had a run-producing single in the third inning and then belted a solo home run in the fifth. It was the first homer of the season for Gurriel, who’s had a slow start since being activated off the 60-day injured list in April; however, the bat has showed recent life. He’s knocked in at least one run in four of his last five games and is 6-for-20 with three extra-base hits and five RBI during that span.

  • Two Steppin’ into Supers: No. 19/19 Softball slides into the Austin Super Regional

    Arizona State set to make its 11th all-time NCAA Super Regional appearance, first since 2022

    Two Steppin’ into Supers: No. 19/19 Softball slides into the Austin Super Regional

    Brooklyn Ulrich (left) prepares to slam her foot down on home plate to end Arizona State’s 9-1 win over Texas A&M in College Station on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

    by Chris Brown contributing 
    Box Score

    COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 19/19 Sun Devil Softball program popped the bubble of excitement inside Davis Diamond prior to Sunday afternoon’s NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional championship game as Arizona State did not need the ‘if necessary’ game after knocking out the No. 15 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament Texas A&M Aggies, 9-1, to advance to next weekend’s NCAA Super Regional round.

    Rolling with ground ball specialist Meika Lauppe to begin Sunday’s contest, the junior right-hander set the tone by retiring the top of Texas A&M’s lineup in order, before capping the top of the first with a swinging strikeout by Mya Perez.

    Tanya Windle took the momentum from Lauppe into the bottom of the first as the senior designated player singled the third pitch of her first-inning plate appearance into centerfield. Two batters later, Arizona State was already in the run column when Samantha Swan, a Georgetown, Texas native, singled a 2-2 pitch back into center field to bring home Windle from third. The one-run lead was extended two batters later when Katie Chester was credited with a sacrifice fly as Kaylee Pond, who squeezed in a double between Windle and Swan’s singles, scored from third.

    Despite the Aggies (38-19) stringing together three consecutive two-out singles to cut their deficit to one during the top of the second, the Sun Devils answered right back with a three-run, four-hit bottom of the second with Swan delivering another run-scoring hit, this time a one-out double to score Tiare Ho-Ching from second.

    Looking to capitalize on three consecutive left-handed Aggie batters to begin the third, left-handed pitcher Aissa Silva was brought in from the bullpen. However, after back-to-back walks to begin the frame and momentum beginning to tilt, the Big 12 Softball Tournament Most Valuable Player Kenzie Brown took over in the pitching circle.

    Brown (17-6) immediately struck out Perez on four pitches, before retiring Micaela Wark, who hit a two-run home run off Brown during Saturday’s contest, and Ariel Kowalewski, who hit a grand slam during Texas A&M’s Friday afternoon game against UConn, to strand the pair of Aggie base runners.

    Brown and Kate Munnerlyn traded scoreless third and fourth innings as Arizona State took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

    It took the Sun Devils just 12 pitches from two different Texas A&M pitchers to seal the outcome:

    Chester reached first on a throwing error to begin the inning.

    Yazzy Avila singled on the first pitch of her at bat.

    Yannixa Acuña pushed a 2-2 pitch through the left side of the diamond for a single.

    With the bases loaded and no outs, Texas A&M opted to bring in its third different pitcher of the game, Sydney Lessentine.

    After watching the first two pitches go outside of the strike zone, first-year Sun Devil and Mesai, Ariz., native Brooklyn Ulrich turned on the third pitch and sent it over the center field fence for her ninth home run on the season and bring an end to the NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional.

    GAME NOTES

    • Kaylee Pond’s double during the first inning marked the 100th double of the season for the Sun Devils, the first time an Arizona State team has reached the 100-double plateau in a season since hitting a single-season program record 107 throughout the 2008 campaign.
    • Arizona State’s Meika Lauppe and Kenzie Brown combined to strikeout Texas A&M’s Mya Perez twice during the game’s first three innings, snapping a streak of 95 consecutive games played without striking out multiple times in a single game.
      • It’s the first time Perez has struck out multiple times in a game since March 1, 2025, when Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady did so twice.
    • Brooklyn Ulrich’s game-ending grand slam was the first game-ending home run for Arizona State to mercy rule an opponent since Feb. 7, 2026, when Samantha Swan hit a game-ending, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Sun Devils to an 8-0 win over Northwestern in Tempe.
    • With the win, Arizona State is now 7-0 all-time against Texas A&M during the NCAA Tournament.
      • In fact, the Sun Devils are now 17-1 against the Aggies over their last 18 matchups dating back to a neutral site game in San Jose Calif., on March 18, 1989.
    • By advancing out of the Bryan-College Station Regional, Arizona State becomes the 13th consecutive Big 12 Softball Tournament champion to reach a NCAA Super Regional.
      • Every Big 12 Softball Tournament champion – when the tournament has either been held (the league did ot hold a tournament from 2011 to 2016 or 2020; or the regular season champion with the tournament was canceled (Oklahoma, 2019) – has advanced to a NCAA Super Regional since 2007.
    • Sunday’s result also marked the first road NCAA Regional win for Arizona State since 2010, when the Sun Devils swept through the Amherst Regional hosted by UMass.

    UP NEXT

    Arizona State (44-16) will now travel to Austin, Texas to play No. 6/3 Texas (45-10) in a three-game NCAA Super Regional series that is slated to begin at 6 p.m. MST on Friday, May 22.

    AUSTIN SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE

    • Friday, May 22 | 6 p.m. MST | ESPN2
    • Saturday, May 23 | 4 p.m. MST | ESPN
    • Sunday, May 24 | TBD | TBD

    FOLLOW US

    For the latest information on the team, follow @SunDevilSoftball on X, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @TheSunDevils on X, Instagram and Facebook.

  • Mitchell scores 26 and the Cavaliers rout the Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 to reach the East finals

    • AP
    • May 18, 2026

    DETROIT (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

    The fourth-seeded Cavaliers ousted the East’s top seed and will face the third-seeded New York Knicks. Game 1 of that series tips off Tuesday in New York.

    Evan Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in team history. It’s their deepest run since LeBron James’ final season with the franchise.

    “We didn’t just come here just to win a goal,” Mitchell said about making the conference finals for the first time in his career.

    “Even last year. when we lost to Indiana, we had our goals set on getting to the (NBA) Finals. We’re just one step closer. It’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue. … As a team, we can breathe a little bit, but the same token, we can only breathe for about 12 hours, and then get right back to it.”

    Daniss Jenkins scored 17 points, and Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson each finished with 13 for the Pistons, who fell one win shy of their first conference finals appearance since 2008 after forcing the deciding game with a Game 6 victory Friday night.

    “That game sucked,” said Cunningham, who was held 16 points under his playoff average. “Being back home, wanted to get this win in front of our fans. It reminded me of last year, losing on home court. It’s not a great feeling.”

    The Cavs dictated the pace from the opening tip and never allowed the Pistons to gain traction, then blew open a convincing Game 7 performance when Mitchell scored 15 in the third quarter.

    Detroit was outscored in the paint 58-34 and made only 35.3% of its field goal attempts, compared to Cleveland’s 50.6%

    “When we play with force, it’s really a key. Like, force on both ends with our talent, we’re really hard to beat,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The question we got to answer, we talked about it a lot, is we can’t have force letdowns like Game 6, where we were not the forceful team. But tonight we were, that was a whole difference, our force on both ends.”

    Cleveland capitalized on cold shooting by the Pistons in the opening quarter, turning missed shots into transition baskets while building an early advantage. The Cavs led 31-22 going to the second, and after Detroit had the first two baskets, Cleveland quickly seized control with a 24-9 run. The Pistons’ offensive struggles only deepened and the Cavs continued to shoot efficiently as they built a commanding 64-47 lead into halftime.

    The Cavs kept rolling in the second half and led by as much as 35 points. The closest the Pistons were able to get in the half was within 17 in the third quarter.

    “We knew that start was monumental, the start that they knew that we were here, and that we were going to give them some problems,” Atkinson said. “The beginning of the game, that was key, and then coming out of halftime was the same message: ‘We got to win this first five minutes to put them on their on their heels.’”

    —

    AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

    Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

    Expert Picks

    View all 9 picks

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    Prop Bet Guy
    Prop Bet GuyDoug
    #3
    +1141 (71%)
    Last 28 NBA Player Props
    Over 11.5-122
    Jarrett Allen • Points • Player Prop
    Picked May 17 @ 7:25 pm, 1 unit on DraftKings
    WIN
    DraftKings. Jarrett Allen has cleared this points line in four of the last five games. Noticeably, he’s been able to capitalize on the Pistons hedging a bit harder on pick and rolls and dribble drives – he’s received 20 paint touches and 15 offensive rebounds combined over his last two games. He’s been solid this series, and doesn’t run much risk of being played off the court for smaller lineups.

    Prop’s Pick

    Zack Cimini
    Zack CiminiContrarian with Chutzpah
    +400 (65%)
    Last 17 NBA Player Props
    Over 3.5+121
    Dean Wade • Points • Player Prop
    Picked May 17 @ 7:06 pm, 1 unit on DraftKings
    WIN
    Game seven we know is all about the star players raising their play for their respective teams. One role player that has seen his production drop to season lows is Dean Wade of the Cavaliers. The prop market recognized this and still he has went under his points prop in four straight games. He even went scoreless in games four and five. This has had nothing to do with Wade shooting poorly, but just not shooting at all. After just three shots in three games, look for Wade to get a few extra looks tonight. Take his over.

    Zack’s Pick

    1 2 3 4 T

    4 Cavaliers 4-3

    		 31 33 35 26 125

    1 Pistons 3-4

    		 22 25 26 21 94
    Game 7
    CLE wins 4-3
    Little Caesars Arena Detroit, MI
    TOP SCORERS
    		D. Mitchell SG 26PTS 7REB 8AST
    		D. Jenkins PG 17PTS 3REB 5AST

  • Man of the Hours: Aaron Rai’s unseen work pays off as Englishman outshines stars at PGA Championship

    Rai spent years practicing in the shadows after major championships, all in preparation for his closeup in Pennsylvania

    By 
    aaron-rai-flag-pga-g.jpg

    Getty Images

    NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Aaron Rai has been around late on Sundays at major championships before; you just haven’t seen him. That’s not because television broadcasts ignored him or your interests were focused elsewhere but rather because Rai was not present on the golf course. Rather, he was working in the practice area, showing off his greatest skill, unbeknownst to anyone else.

    Working on his putting on the back end of the ninth green that doubled as the practice putting area at the 2025 U.S. Open, Rai studied short-range putts as his father watched the final groups pass through. While players on the course faced two hours that could alter the trajectory of their golfing lives, Rai went about his business in the far corner away from the action — out of sight and out of mind. His week ended with a respectable T33 finish hours earlier.

    Rai operated similarly at the 2026 Masters. Rory McIlroy raced through the walkway from the 9th green to the 10th tee in the final pairing at Augusta National. Eyes were fixated on the eventual back-to-back champion as he started his second nine charge to another green jacket. Rai was behind the scenes surveying putts.

    Hours that may otherwise have been seen as meaningless in the grand scheme of a tournament week were actually quite meaningful. They personified a tale as old as time: to be great, you must love the work.

    “Rarely do you feel like people work way harder than you. … I feel like I’ve played a pretty good amount of time, and Aaron is always there,” Xander Schauffele said. “He’s always in the gym. He’s always on the range.

    “At the Scottish [Open], I’m staying right on site there. I thought it was fun for Austin [Kaiser] and I to go putt. Aaron is finishing up his little putting session at 9 p.m. and going to the gym at 9:45 p.m. This was three years ago. I think that’s what it’s about to be a major champion. You put the work in when nobody’s looking.”

    Sunday at the 2026 PGA Championship, eyes were darting in every different direction around Aronimink Golf Club. One of the most jam-packed leaderboards in major championship history brought a loaded list of potential outcomes for everyone to pontificate about the night prior.

    Could a final pairing consisting of two players who have combined for zero wins on the PGA Tour fend off a ferocious chasing pack? Could McIlroy possibly take the second leg of a season-long grand slam into the U.S. Open? Could Jon Rahm grab the third leg of his career slam? Would Scottie Scheffler rise up the leaderboard once again on a Sunday?

    The stars lined up one after another — Rahm, McIlroy, Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed — yet none of them were able to work their way to the top. Instead, it was a 31-year-old Englishman with one PGA Tour win to his name who saw decades of hard work pay off.

    “My dad was with me every day, practice-wise, and he really instilled the importance of work and dedication and trying to consistently build just good, strong habits around the game,” Rai said. “My mom worked extremely hard away from golf. She worked a couple of jobs at one time, at a point in time, and she did a lot of work around the house. My sister took a massive role as well at a young age. She had a job from the age of 14, 15.

    “So, there was a lot of consistent messaging of hard work, and that was generally the environment that was there at the house. And that was at the golf course as well. So, I think it’s been something I’ve just grown up with, and I guess as I’ve got older, something that I’ve really valued and tried to continue to move forward with.”

    Rai made his own work difficult across the first eight holes of his final round. On a day that saw Kurt Kitayama turn at 5-under 30 in the morning wave and Smith turn in 32 just before him, Rai was on the wrong side of par on the side of the golf course, which played easier all championship long.

    His fortunes flipped, however, with an eagle on the par-5 9th. Rai was the lone player inside the top 20 to pencil two circles onto his scorecard on that hole. One of the shortest drivers on the PGA Tour flew into the mix courtesy of the big bird.

    Then, Rai did not miss a single shot over the final two hours of his PGA Championship. Statistics detail a couple of missed greens in regulation, but tidy up-and-downs relieved any stress. As the stars were trying to push hole by hole off their plates, Rai asked for seconds.

    He located the back pin from the front greenside bunker on the drivable par-4 13th, something neither accomplished by Smith nor Thomas, two players often regarded as two of the best around the greens. He went fairway wood, fairway wood into the long par-4 15th, a move some thought peculiar given his lack of pop off the tee. He held the fairway on the par-5 16th to set up a towering left-to-right 5 iron that gave him a crucial birdie with Rahm running behind.

    And then the moment finally came.

    As Rai stalked his birdie attempt from 68 feet on the par-3 17th, murmurs continued to vibrate from the grandstand on the other side of the water. His caddie asked those around the green to quiet down as his man stepped over his putt. The Englishman had done this countless times before. Hours spent on the putting green leading to this moment.

    Rai took his blade back just as a soda can cracked. He never noticed. What happened next was impossible to miss.

    It was a delayed reaction from Rai after a putt that not even he seemed to believe had dropped. A couple shakes of the fist, a high five from his bag man and knuckles and a slap on the back from his playing partner all ensued. Cheers flooded the green and continued as he marched up to the last green with the Wanamaker Trophy in hand.

    To most, Rai realized a dream in a span of 10 holes played in 6-under fashion amid the most exacting PGA Championship conditions in recent memory. That’s missing the point.

    It would be missing the long hours spent practicing when no one was looking, the work ethic instilled by his upbringing, the sacrifice, the sweat and the tears required to become a major champion. It would be missing all that was unseen that ultimately made Rai the man to be seen at Aronimink Golf Club.