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Digital Sports Desk

The Squanderers

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New York’s Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 29 points as the visiting Knicks pulled-off a 108-105 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.

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The Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit in the third quarter and sealed the win when Mikal Bridges stole the ball from Jaylen Brown after Boston inbounded the ball with three seconds to play.

During the fourth quarter, Brunson tied the game at 89 with a 3-pointer and 91 on two free throws before giving the Knicks their first lead since the second. His 3-pointer put them up 94-91 with 4:07 to play, and his third triple of the period extended New York’s advantage to six points, but Boston responded with a 7-0 run to take a 98-97 lead.

It was 100-100 when Brunson missed a layup with two seconds left. After a timeout, Jayson Tatum missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer. The game went to overtime, where Anunoby’s dunk and foul shot and Bridges’ 3-pointer gave the Knicks the cushion they needed to finish the comeback.

Karl-Anthony Towns was in foul trouble for much of the game, but had 14 points and 13 rebounds in 31 minutes. Josh Hart had 14 points and 11 boards, and Bridges recorded eight points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals while playing 51 of the possible 53 minutes.

Brown and Tatum each tossed in a team-high 23 points for Boston. Tatum also had 16 rebounds, and Derrick White put up 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Kristaps Porzingis was scoreless in 13 minutes during the first half and didn’t play in the final two quarters with what the Celtics called an “illness.” Boston’s Sam Hauser also went to the locker room with an ankle injury with 28.5 seconds remaining in the third quarter and didn’t return to the game.

Boston led 26-25 after one quarter and outscored New York by 15 in the second quarter to take a 61-45 halftime lead. The Celtics scored the final eight points in the first half. The Knicks were 8-of-19 from the free throw line in the half.

Towns was called for his fourth foul and went to the bench with 7:07 left in the third quarter, but the Knicks made a strong run without him. New York was within six points before Al Horford made a 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds remaining in the quarter that gave the Celtics an 84-75 lead entering the fourth.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series will be played Wednesday in Boston.

–Field Level Media

Nuggets Shock OKC

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OKLAHOMA CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Denver’s Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to score 22 points and lift the Nuggets to a 121-119 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their second-round Western Conference playoff series.

With 9.5 seconds remaining and the Thunder up by one, the Nuggets’ Russell Westbrook fouled Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren missed both free throws, giving Denver an opening to finish off the comeback.

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Christian Braun grabbed the rebound, fed it to Westbrook, who barreled down the floor before finding Gordon for the game-winning three.

The Nuggets hadn’t led since the first quarter, trailing by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter. But they  ended the game with a 19-6 run to knock off the top seed in the Western Conference and take home court advantage in the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference semifinal series.

Nikola Jokic scored 18 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and eight free throws.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to lead the Thunder, who had not played in nine days.

Oklahoma City didn’t make it easy on Jokic, using several different players to defend him.

Jokic showed frustration multiple times with the way he was being guarded.

With less than seven minutes to play, Jokic elbowed Luguentz Dort in the jaw while Dort was guarding Jokic in the lane.

Dort remained down for several moments, and after a lengthy review, Jokic was called for a Flagrant 1 foul. It was Jokic’s fifth foul of the game.

But Jokic never picked up his sixth, and scored 16 points from that point on to help the Nuggets stay in it for Westbrook and Gordon to team up for the final play.

Jokic also added 22 rebounds, tying his career playoff high.

Westbrook, who was a longtime star with the Thunder, helped keep Denver in it.

With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, Oklahoma City led by 14 points.

But the Nuggets ended the quarter on a 17-8 run to cut the deficit to five before the end of the quarter.

Westbrook scored eight of his 10 third-quarter points during the stretch.

Oklahoma City missed its first 10 3-pointers before Alex Caruso’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter.

Caruso added 20 points for the Thunder.

–Field Level Media

 

NY Islanders Land No. 1 Pick

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Bruins Fall from No. 5 to No. 7 Pick

ELMONT – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Despite having the 10th-best chance of winning the draft lottery at 3.5 percent, the New York Islanders secured the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Monday.

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The Islanders will have the top overall selection for the first time since drafting John Tavares in 2009 and the fifth time overall. In 1972, the team selected forward Billy Harris, followed by Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin in 1973. In 2000, goaltender Rick DiPietro went No. 1 overall to the Islanders.

“The hockey gods smiled on us,” Islanders director of pro scouting Ken Morrow said at the lottery, not mentioning his connections to said gods via the 1980 Miracle on Ice team and four consecutive Stanley Cup championships thereafter. “And I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for Islander fans, for our ownership, for the entire Islander organization.

“It’s adding to the tradition that the Islanders have. A great fan base, a new arena, terrific ownership, and better days are ahead here.”

This year’s draft will be held in Los Angeles on June 27-28. Day 1 will feature the first round, followed by rounds 2-7 on Day 2.

The lottery only determined the top two picks, with the rest of the non-playoff team lottery field slotted by order of finish in the 2024-25 standings. The remaining selections (Nos. 17-32) will be ordered by playoff results.

Following the Islanders in the draft will be the San Jose Sharks, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Utah Hockey Club. The Sharks had the best chance to land the No. 1 pick at 18.5 percent. Utah won the drawing for the No. 2 pick, but rules state that a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots, so the franchise leapt from the would-be 14th spot to No. 4.

Rounding out the top 10 will be the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Seattle Kraken, Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have the No. 11 pick, followed by the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens.

As for whose name might be called first on June 27, defenseman Matthew Schafer of Erie in the Ontario Hockey League, center Michael Misa of Saginaw (OHL), Boston College center James Hagens, center Jake O’Brien of Brantford (OHL) and defenseman Radim Mrtka of Seattle in the Western Hockey League are the top five skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

On Central Scouting’s list of international skaters, center Anton Frondell and right wing Victor Eklund, who play for Djurgarden in Sweden’s second division, are ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively.

–Field Level Media

Can Knicks Reverse the Curse?

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Celtics will be looking to remain unbeaten against the visiting New York Knicks this season when the teams meet in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.

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The Knicks lost each of their four regular-season games against the Celtics — and the first three losses came by at least 13 points. Boston also beat New York 119-117 in overtime April 8.

“Obviously, (we have to) play better than we did (against them) throughout the regular season,” said Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. “Be better, ready to do it from the jump, knowing it’s going to be a game of runs, knowing that they’re capable of doing a lot of great things.

“I feel like we played better in that (fourth) game. We adjusted from the first three times we played them, obviously still not getting it done, but definitely played better and competed better than the first three games. So that’s something we can look at and build off of.”

Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum averaged 33.5 points on 53.5 percent shooting — 47.8 percent from 3-point territory — in the four regular-season games as Boston averaged 125 points per game against third-seeded New York, which advanced by beating Detroit in six games during the first round.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | May 4

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The 1999 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs in Milan

By TERRY LYONS. Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Earlier this week, Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs announced Popovich will transition from head coach to president of basketball operations. In 29 seasons as the Spurs head coach, Popovich amassed 1,422 regular season wins, the most in NBA history. During his tenure, the Spurs captured five NBA championships.

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“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” said Popovich. “I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me.”

After joining the Spurs in the summer of 1988, as an assistant coach on Larry Brown’s staff, Popovich enjoyed a 37-year career in the NBA as a coach and executive. He spent two seasons, from 1992-94, as an assistant coach for Don Nelson with the Golden State Warriors. His other 35 NBA seasons have all been in San Antonio with the Spurs, making him the longest tenured professional coach among the four major North American leagues.

Popovich’s pre-NBA career is, perhaps, more amazing than his run in the league. As noted in Military dot com, Popovich was born in East Chicago in 1949, the first child of Raymond and Katherine. His father, a steel-mill pipefitter, had served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

As a youngster, Popovich did well in school academically, but “was the biggest wiseass you ever saw, and all I gave a damn about was playing ball,” he told the U.S. Army Installation Management Command in a 2012 interview. He enrolled in the Air Force Academy, and played basketball for the Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado, just north of Colorado Springs.

Popovich majored in Soviet studies and graduated in 1970 after starting all four years for AF basketball where he was team captain and the leading scorer for the Falcons his senior season at the academy.

Then, it got very interesting.

Popovich served in the Air Force for the required five years of active duty, during which he toured Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union with the U.S. Armed Forces basketball team. After graduation, his first assignment put him with the 6594th Support Group at the Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) in Sunnyvale, California. In those years of service, he operated spy satellites monitoring Soviet missile launches under the top-secret facility, under command of the Space and Missile Systems Center.

Popovich continued playing basketball while touring Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces Team. As a member of an all-star team Goodwill Tour from April to May 1972, he traveled to the then USSR capital of Moscow, the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, and the Estonian capital of Tallinn.

“The opportunities I got in the military to travel with basketball really made me understand how much basketball is played around the world, how many good players there are,” Popovich told The New York Times in 2005.

By 1973, he was transferred to Diyarbakir Air Station in Turkey, an American-Turkish military base that tracked Soviet launches.

After months of service in Turkey, Popovich returned to Colorado to coach high school at the Air Force preparatory school — for which he received an Air Force commendation medal — and then coached college-aged cadets at the Air Force Academy. He also was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve until 1993, working his way up to the rank of major.

Popovich remained at the Air Force Academy for six years and served as an assistant for head coach Hank Egan, who later helped Popovich as an assistant coach with the Spurs.

In 1979, Popovich became the head coach of the Pomona-Pitzer men’s basketball team, but his biggest break came with his move in 1988 to the NBA as an assistant coach to Larry Brown with the Spurs.

Popovich became general manager of the Spurs in 1994, then head coach after Bob Hill was fired in 1996.

In 2015, Popovich was named head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team for the 2017-20 quadrennium, but the team suffered a tough loss to France in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Two years later, the USA men’s national team earned a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. (The 2020 Games were postponed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and staged in 2021).

While the biography remains stellar and Popovich’s work with the Spurs continues, his resume also includes a rather manipulative and cranky side. In many instances with his interactions with the media, he was an intimidating bully, one who was actually sending messages to the NBA league office and then-Commissioner David Stern.

Popovich detested doing in-game interviews and remained “old-school” throughout his coaching days, even as the NBA became more and more media savvy and the demands of TV partners mounted. Quite famously, Popovich gave the late Craig Sager of Turner Sports the hardest of times as Sager’s outside reporter duties called for him to interview Popovich on the basketball court at times when Popovich preferred to be with his club and not be bothered.

The one word answers – complete with a smirk or roll of the eyes – became legendary, the insults grew embarrassing and frequently Popovich crossed the line of sic human decency. But through it all, Popovich developed a sincere appreciation for Sager’s doggedness and tenacity, admiring Sager’s preparedness as well. Somehow, through it all – in years, not days or weeks – the two became solid friends.

When Sager was battling leukemia and the entire NBA and sports world were paying tribute to the broadcaster, Popovich led the way – often very subtly and behind the scenes and sometimes on camera – joking with Sager about his wildest sport coat, and breaking any tension that might’ve existed in the past.

That edge and manipulation factor were out-done by Popovich’s pure and honest humanity. The coach’s insights and generosity were seen more often and his commentary of current events, world politics and the state of the United States presidency remain legendary quotes and must-see TV.

So, in the TL take side of this column, I am not here to bury Gregg Popovich but to praise him. There were more than a few practical jokes he played on us, and we’d all get a laugh. And, he truly loves the game of basketball and – without a doubt – he’s the greatest NBA coach of all-time.

Do I wish there were fewer “cross the line” intervals with the NBA’s media contingent over the many years? Yes. Do I wish there were fewer (F-U) messages sent in code to the NBA league office and its Commissioner? Yes. Do I wonder what it was like for then rookie Tony Parker being crushed and degraded as a ballplayer to the point where longtime Spurs basketball GM R.C. Buford had to talk “Pop” off the ledge from cutting Parker? Yes.

But, like everything in his life, somehow Popovich would come full circle to see the results he envisioned, and thus the incredible rise of Parker to NBA Finals MVP level (2007).

The tail end of Popovich’s illustrious coaching career sadly will be remembered for the “mild stroke” he suffered on November 2, 2024 while at the Spurs facilities. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson was named the acting coach in Popovich’s absence and Johnson named the next full time head coach of the Spurs this week.

All-in-all and despite the abrupt end to Popovich’s on court coaching career, there have been too many wins, too many Hall of Famers coached to their highest potential, and too many NBA titles (5) to call his scope of work in the NBA anything other than fabulous – maybe even, FAN-tastic, a phrase to honor the coach and his contributions to San Antonio, the Spurs organization and the overall and worldwide game of basketball.

The Winningest Head Coaches in NBA History

  • Gregg Popovich – 1,388
  • Don Nelson – 1,335
  • Lenny Wilkens – 1,332
  • Jerry Sloan – 1,221
  • Pat Riley – 1,210

The other two coaches to be highlighted among the very best of all time were the two “Reds” – Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics and Red Holzman of the New York Knickerbockers.

  • Red Auerbach – 938 (coached Washington Capitals and Tri-Cities Blackhawks, too)
  • Red Holzman – 696

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday was named by the NBA as the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy for winning the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award. This is the second NBA Sportsmanship Award for Holiday, who also earned the honor in the 2020-21 season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Presented annually since the 1995-96 season, the NBA Sportsmanship Award honors a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. The trophy is named for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Joe Dumars, who won the inaugural NBA Sportsmanship Award and played his entire 14-year career with the Detroit Pistons.

Each NBA team nominated one of its players for the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award. From the list of 30 team nominees, a panel of league executives selected six finalists (one from each NBA division). Current NBA players selected the winner from the list of six finalists.

In addition to winning the NBA Sportsmanship Award twice, Holiday is a three-time recipient of the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award for his selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team. Holiday is also a finalist for the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion Award, marking the third time he has been a finalist for the honor in its five-year history.

A 16-year NBA veteran, Holiday is a two-time NBA All-Star and six-time Kia NBA All-Defensive Team selection. He has won two NBA championships (one each with Boston and Milwaukee) and two Olympic gold medals with the USA Men’s National Team.

Sadly, the glut of the “do good” awards has forced the hand of the Pro Basketball Writers Association and they have discontinued the annual J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award that was given annually by the writers from 1975 until 2024. (James) Walter Kennedy was the NBA’s second Commissioner (1963-1975) and his title was league President. He passed away in 1977 at the young age of 65. A native of Stamford, Connecticut, Kennedy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1981.

The NBA now recognizes:

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award
  • Jack Twyman-Maurice Stokes Teammate of the Year Award
  • Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award
  • Lifetime Achievment Award

While the Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes:

  • John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award (Highest basketball honor outside Induction/Enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame itself).
  • Manny Jackson Human Spirit Awards (usually recognizing three players)
  • Ice Cube Impact Award (presented to Ice Cube himself in its inaugural year)

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: TPC Craig Ranch is hosting The CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament for the fifth time, honoring the legacy of the tournament namesake, in the great Byron Nelson. It was the first PGA Tour event to be named in honor of a professional golfer. Nelson had 52 career PGA Tour wins including a record 18 event titles (11 straight) in 1945.

SOX: The Red Sox won 16 games during the month of April, trailing only the Detroit Tigers (18) for most in the American League … A streak of six straight quality starts by Boston pitchers ended Saturday when Sox RHP Hunter Dobbins missed earning a quality start by one batter. Dobbins did go 5.1 innings to extend Boston’s streak of 15 starting pitchers going at least 5 IP. That dates back to April 18.

For no reason at all, Boston broke out their yellow “Boston City Connect” (tribute to the Boston Marathon) uniforms on Saturday. Prior to Saturday’s afternoon game, delayed by rain, the Red Sox are 37-16 when they don the yellows. Boston is 22-12 in the uniforms since 2023.

Of late, the Red Sox have lost three of the last four games and six of their last 10. In MLB, the fans tend to do some scoreboard watching come September but sometimes the games of May or June determine the season.

When Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran faced Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran in the 9th inning at Fenway Saturday, it was Duran-Duran. Although Boston’s lead-off hitter was “Hungry Like the Wolf,” he grounded out to shortstop and must’ve “Come Undone.”

On Sunday, May 4, the good folks at Strat-O-Matic will “take over” the Mets House NYC at Union Square, in Manhattan from 11:00am through mid-afternoon for open Strat-O-Matic play, prize giveaways, meet-and-greets with Strat-O-Matic founder Hal Richman and other staffers. The latest simulated games (series) was between the current 2025 Mets and the 1986 Mets, one of the best and most likable teams in NYM history. In the decisive Game 7, the ‘86 club’s Ray Knight hit .375 and his teammates, Mookie Wilson and Keith Hernandez, both hit .333 as the ‘86 squad won the simulated series in seven, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the 10th to win, 4-3.

If you’re wondering how Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and the ‘69 Mets would fare, the simulation boards had the current 2025 team winning four straight. Red hot NYM 1B Pete Alonso hit .353, with two HR, and four RBI while SS Francisco Lindor batted a blistering .412, scoring five runs. On the hill, closer Edwin Diaz, appeared in four games, and earned three saves to close down the series against those pesky ‘69 Mets.

THIS JEST IN: Roger Clemens stopped by the Fenway Park press box on Friday night, but it was Saturday afternoon when the Rocket watched his son, Kody, hit his first homer of 2025, a 398 foot blast to right field. It was Kody’s first time ever facing the Red Sox and he has only the Baltimore Orioles remaining for teams he hasn’t played against. Kody is a 28 year old, 6-1, 190 lb infielder.

Here’s one for the ages. On Tuesday, Netflix will premier Untold: Shooting Guards (emphasis on the shoot). The promo reads: “What really went down between GilbertArenas and Javaris Crittenton? It continues, “This exposé unpacks how a gambling dispute led to guns drawn in an NBA locker room.”

NBC Sports commentator Mike Tirico was forced to sit out for the 2025 Kentucky Derby broadcast after suffering a nut allergy exposure.

John Skipper, the former head of ESPN and once most powerful man in sports, stepped down from his post at Meadowlark Media, a production company he founded with former ESPN host Dan LaBatard. In between ESPN and Meadowlark, Skipper was executive chairman at DAZN.

RIP: Stan Love, a 6-foot-9 forward and father of NBA star Kevin Love, passed away last week at the age of 76. Stan Love was a top-notch player for the University of Oregon, and was selected ninth overall in the 1971 National Basketball Association draft by the Baltimore Bullets, the predecessors of the Washington Wizards. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a game with modest playing time over four seasons with the Bullets and the Los Angeles Lakers of the N.B.A. and the San Antonio Spurs, then of the American Basketball Association. Stan was also the brother of the singer Mike Love of the Beach Boys and a onetime bodyguard and caretaker of the band’s brilliant but troubled leader, Brian Wilson

Sovereignty in Front

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LOUISVILLE – Horse trainer Bill Mott looked like he was gliding on air as he made his way into the infield at Churchill Downs early Saturday evening. Just moments before, his horse Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby.

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He displayed a beaming smile while working through the crowd of well-wishers to get to the winner’s circle with jockey Junior Alvarado, Godolphin LLC racing manager Michael Banahan and others connected to the winner of the 151st Run for the Roses.

Godolphin, a global racing giant, celebrated its first Derby win after 26 years of trying. It was the first win for Alvarado in the Derby or any Triple Crown race, and it was the second for Mott. However, he had good reason to treat this like his first.

Six years ago, the Kentucky Derby was in limbo for 22 minutes while stewards reviewed the race. Mott’s Country House finished second to Maximum Security, but he would be named the winner after Maximum Security was deemed to have interfered with other horses. The 2019 decision ranks as one of the most controversial outcomes in the century-and-a-half history of America’s biggest horse race.

That night, Mott called the outcome “bittersweet.” This time around, there was nothing bitter about it.

“This is better,” he told reporters Saturday. “I said afterwards I want to finish first, cross the line first.”

Red Sox Rally vs Twins

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Rafael Devers hit a key two-run single in the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox rallied for five late runs to beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 6-1 in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.

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Boston’s Alex Bregman (2-for-4) and Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers hit solo homers in the early innings and the game remained a 1-1 stalemate until Devers (3-for-5) knocked the deciding hit past the dive of Twins second baseman Edouard Julien in the hole.

Also for the Red Sox, David Hamilton went 3-for-4, driving in a run and scoring two more after his final two at-bats.

Justin Wilson (1-0) earned the win in relief of starter Brayan Bello, who struck out five and allowed one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Greg Weissert and Liam Hendriks preserved the score with scoreless innings thereafter.

Boston first baseman Triston Casas was stretchered off the field with an apparent serious leg injury after an awkward landing on the first base bag in the second inning. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said afterward that Cases sustained a “significant knee injury” and was at the hospital.

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With Louie Varland (1-3) relieving Minnesota starter Joe Ryan following six innings of four-hit ball with one run allowed and eight strikeouts, Connor Wong and Hamilton knocked back-to-back singles to start Boston’s seventh. After Ceddanne Rafaela’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Devers delivered the key hit.

Boston added on with three runs on five hits in the eighth. Trevor Story snuck a leadoff single up the middle and stole second before scoring on Romy Gonzalez’s double off the right-field wall.

Gonzalez followed with a theft of third and scored on Hamilton’s Green Monster-banging double. Jarren Duran knocked another RBI hit through the right side two batters later.

Bregman staked the Red Sox to a 1-0 lead when he socked a two-out homer out to center in the first, but the game quickly settled into a pitching duel from there, as Ryan did not allow another hit until the fifth.

Minnesota’s lone breakthrough against Bello was a Jeffers line-drive homer to lead off the third. The Boston righty induced a double play off the bat of Brooks Lee to erase a Byron Buxton single in the first and — similarly to his counterpart — allowed just one other hit besides the homer before the sixth.

The pitching duel continued well into the middle innings, with Boston squandering a two-on chance in the sixth. Devers hit a leadoff single before reaching third on Story’s two-out knock, but Ryan struck out Gonzalez to end the threat.

Popovich Retires as “Coach Pop”

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SAN ANTONIO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Gregg Popovich is stepping away as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and will become the team’s president of basketball operations, the Spurs announced.

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Popovich, 76, took over as the head coach in San Antonio 18 games into the 1996-97 season as led the Spurs to five NBA championships in 29 seasons. With 1,422 regular-season wins, he is the winningest coach in NBA history.

He missed most of the 2024-25 campaign, however, after suffering a mild stroke on Nov. 2. Interim coach Mitch Johnson was in charge the rest of the season and posted a 31-45 record with the young Spurs.

“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” Popovich said in a statement Friday. “I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me.”

The team has yet to announce who will serve as head coach in the 2025-26 season but ESPN reported that Johnson will get the job on a permanent basis.

The Spurs finished the 2024-25 campaign at 34-38 but have two of the brightest young stars in the game — Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, the last two winners of the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

The Spurs made the NBA playoffs for 22 consecutive seasons under Popovich but have not qualified in the past six. San Antonio won at least 50 games in 18 consecutive seasons.

The Spurs put out a tribute video Friday that featured him along with some of the greatest moments and greatest players of his era, writing, “Thank you, Coach Pop, for your brilliance on and off the court. We look forward to our next chapter together.”

Erik Spoelstra, who has guided the Miami Heat since the 2008-09 season, becomes the longest-tenured coach in the NBA.

Popovich began his NBA career in 1988 as an assistant to Spurs coach Larry Brown. In 1992, he moved to a similar role with the Golden State Warriors and returned to San Antonio after two seasons, first in a front office role before becoming head coach. In all, 35 of his 37 NBA seasons have been with the Spurs.

With the Spurs, he has a career record of 1,422-869 in the regular season (.621) and a postseason record of 170-114 (.599).

He has won three NBA Coach of the Year awards, tying Don Nelson and Pat Riley for the most all-time honors. He led the Spurs to titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014.

Popovich also led the 2020 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Tokyo. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Crochet to Dish in Toronto

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet aims to improve on his last start when he faces the host Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.

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The left-hander allowed four runs, five hits and a career-high five walks in five innings on Thursday in a 4-3 home loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Crochet took responsibility for the loss after the Mariners touched him for two runs in each of the first two innings.

“The game was the first two innings that I pitched,” he said. “That was really what lost us the game.”

The Blue Jays can look forward to Crochet reverting to a power pitcher from the beginning on Tuesday. He was trying to be a little too fine in the early innings against the Mariners.

“It became something where I was trying to pitch instead of just throwing,” he said after the start. “Once I started getting back to my roots and just being a power pitcher later in the game, the walks were still there, but I was at least able to get guys out.”

This will be the second time this season that Crochet (2-2, 1.95 ERA) will face the Blue Jays. He took his first loss of the season against them at Fenway Park on April 8 when he allowed four runs (one earned), five hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. In four career outings (two starts) against Toronto, he is 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.

He is expected to be opposed by right-hander Bowden Francis (2-3, 3.58) on Tuesday. Francis has not faced the Red Sox this season, but he has had success against them. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over in five career games (two starts) against Boston.

The Red Sox are coming off a 13-3 road victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Kristian Campbell was 2-for-2 with four runs, a double, three walks, two RBIs and a stolen base in what manager Alex Cora described as “all-around probably one of his best, if not the best, game of the season.”

Campbell helped Boston take two of three from Cleveland.

The Blue Jays are returning from a 1-5 road trip after being swept 11-2 and 5-1 in a doubleheader by the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Toronto won the opener of the series 4-2 on Friday followed by a postponement on Saturday.

The Blue Jays’ lack of hitting with runners in scoring position was again a problem, going 2-for-17 over the doubleheader. They scored seven runs over the three games at New York. Before that, they totaled two runs and nine hits when they were swept in a three-game series against the Houston Astros.

Manager John Schneider knows what the Blue Jays must do better when they open their six-game homestand.

“Better at-bats with guys on base and taking advantage of mistakes,” Schneider said. “Things that we talk about all the time. … We know that we have the guys in there that can do it.”

Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho is expected to return soon from his minor league rehabilitation assignment. He started the season on the injured list after offseason right rotator cuff surgery.

Toronto recalled outfielder Jonatan Clase to be their 27th player for the doubleheader on Sunday and he was returned to return to Triple-A Buffalo later the same day.

–Field Level Media

Way Too Soon NFL Draft Grades

by

GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – To properly judge an NFL Draft class, it probably takes about three or four years to determine the overall impact. This week, media throughout the land will be providing “grades” for the various NFL team front offices. Admittedly, it’s ridiculous. But, it’s done in fun, not seriously. Here are some of the team selection grades:

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Cleveland Browns:

Grade: B

Best Pick: Harold Fannin Jr., No. 67 Overall

What We Liked: Lots of talented guys made their way onto the Browns roster through this class. It’s a very productive group that isn’t lacking in potential. Defensive tackle Mason Graham (No. 5) plays with a fury that should scare opponents, the new running back duo of Quinshon Judkins (No. 36) and Dylan Sampson (No. 126) has a lot of athleticism and should create a nice one-two punch. Fannin adds a dynamic weapon to the receiving corps that can be used in a wealth of ways. The support system for whoever is playing quarterback is going to be boosted.

Not Sure About: There’s an old adage that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks. Forcing a Dillon Gabriel (No. 94) vs. Shedeur Sanders (No. 144) quarterback competition seems like a move that will ultimately cause distractions. It’s classic Browns, never able to quite solve the quarterback problem as they intend to, and always with more drama than necessary. Carson Schwesinger (No. 33) also got taken a little early for my liking, but the value at linebacker in the second round wasn’t there for anyone.

Tennessee Titans

Grade: B+

Best Pick: QB Cameron Ward, No. 1 Overall

What We Liked: An all-around good draft for the Titans, who are putting together a crack offense in an attempt to actually win some games this year. Ward was the clear QB1 this year. His confidence and ability to handle lots of responsibilities will make the lives of his coordinators easier. Wide receiver Elic Ayomanor (No. 136) and tight end Gunnar Helm (No. 120) will be great support for Ward and provide reliable hands to help him get his rhythm going at the professional level. Safety Kevin Winston Jr. (No. 82) headlines the defensive picks for me. Though he was injured last year, he gave his all in 2023 and kept a day three slot because of it.

Not Sure About: I’m still not convinced Oluwafemi Oladejo (No. 52) is a real edge rusher. He just feels like a square peg being pushed into a round hole. I’ve mentioned the idea of “positionless defenses” but this guy has a position: It’s just not the one he’s playing at the moment. It also felt like a stretch to take wide receiver Chimere Dike (No. 103) in the fourth round, another speedster who does not do a lot else to provide value to the team.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: B

Best Pick: CB/WR Travis Hunter, No. 2 Overall

What We Liked: That Travis Hunter trade was incredible. Getting two top-end weapons for the price of one is worth any amount of pick capital you have to pay to get up there. James Gladstone is making an incredible splash in his first year as a general manager with this trade and did lots of draft maneuvering that worked to his advantage. The pickup of guard Wyatt Milum (No. 89) solidifies the offensive line well, and running back Bhayshul Tuten (No. 104) should be a really strong dynamic duo with Tank Bigsby to take pressure off Trevor Lawrence.

Not Sure About: Hmm, lots of announcing guys who aren’t going to play the
position they did in college, shifting over to somewhere else. Caleb Ransaw (No. 88) played all slot corner last year and is looking to be used at safety; Jalen McLeod (No. 194) got announced as a linebacker when his natural fit is as an edge rusher; and Milum is likely shifting from tackle to guard. If these guys don’t do well at their next position, the Jaguars’ depth class is pretty much toast.

New York Giants

Grade: C-

Best Pick: Edge Abdul Carter, No. 3 Overall

What we liked: Carter is a great player. Pairing him with Brian Burns will turn a middling edge rusher unit into a force to be reckoned with. Focusing on the defensive trenches was a good decision for the Giants, who despite having lots of talent, really only felt like they were getting halfway decent results. Picking up defensive tackle Darius Alexander (No. 65) to supplement Dexter Lawrence should play out well, too. That defense could easily become a top-10 unit next year with the added talent.

Not Sure About: I know when you see a guy who could be a franchise quarterback on the board, you should do anything to get him, but is Jaxson Dart (No. 25) really that guy? Not only did the Giants take a quarterback propped up by an incredibly friendly system, they traded up to get him. After the first read, Dart often crumbled. I’m not sure I can see a world where Dart takes the Giants any further than Daniel Jones did. At least Jones could push the ball all the way downfield.

New England Patriots

Grade: A+

Best Pick: C Jared Wilson, No. 95 Overall

What We Liked: Lots of rock-solid picks building in Mike Vrabel’s first year as the head coach. The offensive line is molding into more of a unit than a series of disparate parts, the Patriots have a new running back in TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38) who can hopefully carry the workload. Wide receiver Kyle Williams (No. 69) gives quarterback Drake Maye one more weapon. This feels like a draft driven by logic and smart team-building.

Not Sure About: It was a little early for safety Craig Woodson (No. 106) for the liking. Woodson has trouble run-stopping and struck me as more of a developmental player than a solution to a safety problem. Other than that, nothing to complain about.

Las Vegas Raiders:

Grade: A+

Best Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, No. 6 Overall

What We Liked: The Raiders got a blue-chip guy at six, hard to argue with
that. Jeanty is a big-time impact player for a team that never really had an
offense that chugged. However, one great pick does not make an A+ draft
class. The Raiders knocked it out of the park with virtually every pick. Their
new wide receiver room combines high-floor prospects like Jack Bech (No. 58) with big-upside swings like Dont’e Thornton Jr. (No. 108). Their two offensive linemen picks are both big-time athletes who could start early. Darien Porter (No. 68) may be old for a draft pick, but he’s the perfect Pete Carroll corner. Raiders fans, get excited.

Not Sure About: The two late defensive tackle picks don’t really have any
special skills and have limited upside. I would expect them to be rotational
players at best. If JJ Pegues (No. 180) starts getting reps at fullback, then get worried about these being wasted picks. I personally would have added a safety earlier, but that’s a nitpick on a top-tier draft class.

New York Jets

Grade: B

Best Pick: OT Armand Membou, No. 7 Overall

What We Liked: The Jets hit home runs with their first three selections. Membou can bring his athleticism to an offensive line that really needed only one more piece and create a rushing powerhouse for quarterback Justin Fields and running back Breece Hall. Tight end Mason Taylor (No. 42) sets Fields up with a quick dump-off weapon and with with good run-after-catch ability. Cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (No. 73) does great work in both zone and man and should quickly become part of the rotation. It’s now up to the free agent class to make it work.

Not Sure About: The day three selections were nothing to write home about. Wide receiver Arian Smith (No. 110) is very fast, but when it’s not game-breaking and it’s your main trait, it’s hard to be too impressed. Safety Malachi Moore is also a good athlete, but he doesn’t quite have the mental finesse to keep pass-catchers in his view consistently. Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (No. 162) is good, but where will he play?

Carolina Panthers

Grade: B+

Best Pick: Edge Nic Scourton, No. 51 Overall

What We Liked: Getting two edge rushers (Scourton and Princely Umanmielen at No. 77) feels like a great maneuver to fill out the room. Especially adding Scourton to the mix, a crazy good power rusher whose hands will make waste to offensive lines across the southeast. The Panthers hit on all of their day three picks as well, especially Lathan Ransom (No. 122) and Cam Jackson (No. 140), who can make an immediate impact at safety and nose tackle. The depth on the team just got a lot stronger.

Not Sure About: It feels like the Panthers already have a lot of tall wideouts who can’t really separate consistently. Tetairoa McMillan (No. 8) does not add much to the room that quarterback Bryce Young doesn’t already have. Umanmielen doesn’t move me as an edge rusher, and while he isn’t a bad value in the third round, it doesn’t strengthen their bid for the NFC South. Running back might have been a higher priority.

New Orleans Saints

Grade: D

Best Pick: OT Kelvin Banks, No. 9 Overall

What We Liked: Banks is a good tackle who fits the mauling mold the Saints seem to look for. He feels a lot like Trevor Penning, but with more experience facing NFL talent and less frenzy. Jonas Sanker (No. 93) can fill a safety slot once their older guys age out, and he’s versatile enough where you can evaluate his strengths and slot a new guy in next to him pretty easily. Quincy Riley (No. 131) adds some speed to the cornerback room.

Not Sure About: Taking Tyler Shough (No. 40) is just begging to have the Brandon Weeden experience for yourself. If this is your plan at quarterback, you’ll be taking another big swing in 2026. It’s not like they have given him any support this year either. If the Saints had given him an earlier wideout, then perhaps it could be fine, but if the injuries return, it honestly could be an 0-17 season.

Chicago Bears:

Grade: A-

Best Pick: OT Ozzy Trapilo, No. 56 Overall

What We Liked: The Bears kept a good balance of need and overall player
value for much of the draft. Starting off with tight end Colston Loveland (No. 10) was a welcome surprise, as much of the buzz was around the inferior (sorry) Tyler Warren. Continuing to support Caleb Williams, the next two picks were another weapon in wide receiver Luther Burden III, who can really cook with the ball in his hands, and added protection from Trapilo. Their defensive picks mostly landed as well with defensive tackle Shemar Turner (No. 62) and cornerback Zah Frazier (No. 169) being high-floor prospects with decent athleticism and physicality.

Not Sure About: That pick of linebacker Ruben Hyppolite (No. 132) was an insane miscue. It was sort of like acing a history test and then writing gibberish on one of the essay questions. Does anyone outside of the Maryland fan base and obsessive pro day watchers like myself even know who Hyppolite is? Surely they could have gotten him later. The Bears don’t even really need a linebacker, which means they must have really loved this guy. Very odd pick from an otherwise very logical set of selections.

San Francisco 49ers:

Grade: C

Best Pick: LB Nick Martin, No. 75 Overall

What We Liked: Coach Mike Shanahan found some very good value outside of the first round. Martin was vastly underrated after getting injured early in the season, but he should bring sideline-to-sideline range that he couples with great instincts. Jordan Watkins (No. 138) has WR1 upside but at the very least projects as a WR2 for the offense. He was almost an Emeka Egbuka type in college who kept getting pushed by really impressive talents and not given a chance to shine.

Not Sure About: The first two rounds made me shrug. Edge Mykel Williams (11) is better on paper than on the field, but this isn’t a Strat-O-Matic game. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins (43) doesn’t have the strength or agility to be a game-wrecker, so the whole defensive line feels stagnant. There’s still a glaring hole at offensive tackle that needs more capital investment.

Dallas Cowboys:

Grade: C+

Best Pick: CB Shavon Revel Jr., No. 76 Overall

What We Liked: The Revel pick was impressive value for the spot. The once-incredible Cowboys cornerback room took a major step back, and Ravel should be able to make it afloat again. Guard Tyler Booker (No. 12) is a really good player who fits with the scheme of the Cowboys with his overwhelming power profile. The Cowboys addressed the majority of their needs and at least should have new competition at the spot.

Not Sure About: Can edge Donovan Ezeiruaku (No. 44) keep up his high production in the pros when he’s at an athletic disadvantage? The value is better in the second than his first-round projection, but it still is a worrying projection. Running back Jaydon Blue does not seem equipped to take on a bell cow role and feels like more of a special teams add.

Miami Dolphins:

Grade: C

Best Pick: DT Kenneth Grant, No. 13 Overall

What We Liked: Effort was made to replace the big-time players who have
left Miami for greener pastures. Grant is clearly meant to be the
next force up the middle, similar to how Christian Wilkins operated for the
Dolphins, and safety Dante Trader Jr. (No. 155) is kind of like if you got Jevon Holland from the 99-cent store: lots of strong play with a much lower paycheck attached. Guard Jonah Savaiinaea (No. 37) feels like one more step in the right direction to fixing an offensive line that has led to Tua Tagovailoa concussions. The needs are being addressed.

Not Sure About: Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (No. 143) was a prospect that got first-round hype early in the cycle, but that tapered off when everyone realized that rumors of his athleticism were greatly exaggerated. Even the fifth round feels out of the range I would want someone of his production caliber. Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. (No. 150) is a similar former high-upside project player who just never did much of anything. Miami needs some players who can actually make an impact —
outside of their offense, they lack star power.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: B+

Best Pick: RB DJ Giddens, No. 151 Overall

What We Liked: The Chris Ballard strategy of taking exclusively pure athletes seems to have cooled off, as now Ballard is taking guys who also play good football. After a few years of middling draft classes, this is a group of guys you can feel confident in. Tight end Tyler Warren (No. 14) will provide more ways to ease Anthony Richardson’s quarterback responsibilities, and edge JT Tuimoloau (No. 45) and cornerback Justin Walley (No. 80) are good enough athletes but really excel in technical skill. The best pick, though, is Giddens in the fifth round. He has a balanced skill set that could make him a great supplement to Jonathan Taylor and even potentially be a full-time starter.

Not Sure About: Tim Smith seems to have been picked because he’s an Alabama defensive tackle. Really just another body for that rotation. I’m not
in love with the Warren pick, either. As dynamic as he was at the
college level, I’m not sure an offense can really be built around him in the pros without his athletic limitations showing through. Adding Riley Leonard (No. 189) to the quarterback room when he mostly just runs feels underwhelming for a team that’s sorely missing an actual passer.

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: B-

Best Pick: S Xavier Watts, No. 96 Overall

What we liked: The selections were impressive values in comparison to consensus. Edge Jalon Walker (No. 15) was seen by many as a potential top 10 pick thanks to his explosive nature; the testing numbers of edge James Pearce Jr. (No. 26) make his potential impressive, and getting Watts at the back half of day two after a slide could change their secondary. The values on these guys was impressive, and the Falcons betting on upside is a great choice in a weak division where any team could cement itself as the front-runner for the next five years. If these players pan out along with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., they could be a perennial playoff team.

Not Sure About: Trading up with a future first-round pick for a player at a position you already took in the top 15 feels like a poor use of resources. That defensive line certainly needed sprucing up, but it only matters so much if they’re not getting any interior pressure, and they certainly did not invest in defensive tackle as many expected. Not only that, they doubled up on doubling up. They took two safeties too! There are more holes on the roster than that! Solve your other problems!

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: A

Best Pick: CB Will Johnson, No. 47 Overall

What We Liked: Everything. The Cardinals went for the best football player available at every turn, from ending the surprising fall to the second round for cornerback Will Johnson (No. 47) to their first pick of Walter Nolen (No. 16), who got some of the best production of any defensive tackle in the SEC.

Even their day two and three selections were great choices, taking edge Jordan Burch (No. 78), who performed admirably at Oregon, and Cody Simon (No. 115), who led the linebacker corps for Ohio State. I had Burch as a top 50 guy, and Simon as one of the most underrated linebackers in the class. It solves a lot of problems for them very quickly.