NBA
Spurs force Game Seven with blowout win
The 2026 Western Conference Finals will be decided in a Game Seven on Saturday night after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday, 118-91. Three-point efficiency was the difference in the game, with the Spurs hitting 37% of their shots from beyond the arc, while OKC only made 25% of its three-pointers.
My take: The Spurs showed a lot of guts with their backs against the wall, but that game was played in San Antonio. They probably won't have the same level of success on the road in what will be this core's first Game Seven.
Knicks' Robinson plans to play in Game One despite finger injury
Less than 24 hours after it was revealed that the New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson suffered a broken right pinky, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that the 28-year-old center had surgery on the injury, and he plans to play in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals. Robinson is expected to wear a brace on his injured hand.
My take: Robinson provides crucial defensive minutes when Karl-Anthony Towns isn't on the court. Considering how good OKC and San Antonio's frontcourts are, the Knicks will need all the help they can get protecting the rim, so it'll be good to have Robinson available, even if it's in a limited capacity.
Board of Governors approves new draft lottery system
The NBA's Board of Governors approved a new draft lottery system that aims to combat tanking. The "3-2-1 Lottery" expands the lottery to 16 teams and flattens the odds amongst teams that do not qualify for the NBA Playoffs or NBA Play-In Tournament.
The odds of a team winning the NBA Draft Lottery based on record from worst in the league to 16th are as follows:
1st: 5.4% | 9th: 8.1% |
2nd: 5.4% | 10th: 8.1% |
3rd: 5.4% | 11th: 5.4% |
4th: 8.1% | 12th: 5.4% |
5th: 8.1% | 13th: 5.4% |
6th: 8.1% | 14th: 5.4% |
7th: 8.1% | 15th: 2.7% |
8th: 8.1% | 16th: 2.7% |
Under this system:
Teams cannot win the Draft Lottery two years in a row.
Teams cannot win a top-five pick in three consecutive seasons.
This system will only run through the 2029 NBA Draft.
My take: This system is terrible. It punishes the worst teams, ensuring they have an even lower chance of actually winning the lottery, while middle-of-the-road teams are rewarded for being mediocre instead of terrible. Teams like the Kings and Nets have no shot of getting any better because now they can't attract free agents OR win the NBA Draft Lottery. Thankfully, it seems this system is temporary. The league needs to develop a better plan after 2029.
MLB
Owners propose hard salary cap as part of the next CBA
Major League Baseball owners proposed a hard salary cap for the league's next collective bargaining agreement with the MLBPA. Under this proposed deal, teams must maintain a payroll between $171.2 million and $245.3 million starting next season.
The current CBA is set to expire on December 1st. If the league and the MLBPA do not reach an agreement before then, owners are expected to "lock out" players until a new deal comes to fruition, which could impact the 2027 season.
My take: The last time the commissioner suggested the idea of implementing a salary cap, the Phillies' Bryce Harper cursed him out. The players are not going to go for a salary cap, but the owners probably won't budge on this issue. In all likelihood, there will be a work stoppage, and games will be cancelled during the 2027 season.
NFL
49ers' Nick Bosa says he could be ready for training camp
As he continues to recover from a torn ACL in his right knee, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said he is progressing well and thinks he could be back in time for the start of training camp or soon after it begins.
"I'm pretty far along," Bosa told reporters on Thursday. "[I'm] out on the field doing a lot of stuff, trying to just take it slow because I tend to push things quicker. I got injured pretty early last year, so there's plenty of time for me to really kind of lay the groundwork to be ready for a long season. It's going really well, and I plan on being ready."
My take: This is good news, whether you're a 49ers fan or not. You always want guys to make a full comeback from season-ending injuries. The Niners will need Bosa for the entirety of the 2026-27 campaign after San Fran finished last year with the fewest sacks in the NFL. That certainly won't be the case if Bosa can stay healthy.
WNBA
Valkyries join Lynx atop the standings after beating the Fever
The Golden State Valkyries improved to 5-2 on the season after they beat the Indiana Fever 90-88. Good defense by the Valkyries caused Fever forward Aliyah Boston to miss what would've been a go-ahead basket with five seconds to go in the game. Though Indiana got the ball back with .08 seconds left on the clock, Aliyah Boston missed a game-tying field goal attempt, as the Valkyries held on to join the Minnesota Lynx as the two teams with the best records in the WNBA.
My take: Not many people expected the Golden State to be this good. They already have wins over title contenders like the Fever and the New York Liberty. They're going to make the postseason if they can continue to beat up on bad teams and play competitively against playoff-caliber opponents.
NHL
Claude Lemieux's death ruled a suicide by police
Four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux died yesterday at the age of 60 by suicide, according to TMZ Sports. This comes just three days after Lemieux was the ceremonial torch bearer ahead of the Montreal Canadiens' Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community," said Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. "A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today, we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day."
During his illustrious 21-year career, Lemieux played for six NHL teams, including the Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks. He famously won the Conn Smyth Trophy after recording 13 goals and three assists for the Devils in the 1995 postseason. He played in 1,215 regular-season games, accumulating 379 goals and 407 assists for 786 career points. In 234 playoff games, he scored 80 goals, while tallying 78 assists for 158 points.
If you or a loved one is struggling, know that you are not alone and that help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or call 1-800-662-4357 to reach the SAMHSA's National Helpline.
