Video: Jalen Brunson stops Josh Hart from committing an outrageous postgame act
Jalen Brunson was not going to fall for it this time around.
As Brunson was about to be interviewed by ESPN’s Lisa Salters amid the Knicks’ celebration following their 130-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, the New York star point guard asked his teammate, Josh Hart, to get out of the frame.
Hart immediately obliged to leave, raising both his arms as he walked away to acknowledge what Brunson wanted.
It wasn’t clear why Brunson specifically wanted Hart to give him some space, but it’s possible it had something to do with Hart goosing the three-time NBA All-Star back in December, when the Knicks celebrated their NBA Cup title.
Here are the videos from the Knicks’ NBA Cup and the Eastern Conference Finals celebrations, featuring Hart and Brunson.
Jalen Brunson had flashbacks from the NBA Cup and told Josh Hart to back up while getting his ECF MVP trophy 💀 pic.twitter.com/eDgcTSZTX2
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 26, 2026
Brunson had not forgotten that act by Hart, apparently, and he was not going to let him do it again in front of a national audience.
With the Knicks clinching a spot in the 2026 NBA Finals with their Game 4 win at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Brunson may have to worry about Hart finding a way to execute his plan to goose him on the league’s grandest stage.
But the main focus for Brunson and the Knicks is clearly winning it all and bringing an NBA title to the Big Apple for the first time since 1973.
Donovan Mitchell shuts down a loaded LeBron James question
Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with heartbreak after their season came to a harsh end on Monday, when the New York Knicks completed a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cavs may have to make some big moves in the offseason to get over the hump, but does Mitchell want LeBron James to have another Cleveland comeback? The Cavaliers shooting guard would rather not talk about it.
“That is not for me. I am not trying to get a headline. That’s a [President of Basketball Operations] Koby Altman question, that’s a [General Manager] Mike Gansey question,” Mitchell said when asked about the potential of James’ return to Cleveland after the Cavs’ 130-93 Game 4 loss to the Knicks at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, via Danny Cunningham on Locked On Cavs.
James’ future amid his looming free agency status was probably the last thing on Mitchell’s mind after the game. The Cavaliers rolled into the Eastern Conference Finals with high hopes after pulling off a second-round upset against the Detroit Pistons, but a painful Game 1 meltdown against the Knicks seemed to deflate Cleveland’s morale as they failed to win a game in the series.
James’ future is unclear, but a potential farewell season with the Cavs would be a fitting outro to the four-time NBA MVP’s incredible career.
Josh Hart trolls a ‘broke’ teammate after clinching NBA Finals berth
The New York Knicks are going to the NBA Finals, but the team’s latest success is not changing Josh Hart’s trolling ways.
Among his targets after helping the Knicks win the Eastern Conference title was Jose Alvarado, whose photo with the Bob Cousy Trophy became a subject of one of Hart’s posts on Instagram Stories.
“Changed this broke boys [sic]” life,” Hart wrote as a caption for Alvarado’s photo.
Josh Hart on Instagram 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/5k43QZYeva
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 26, 2026
Despite the hilarious tone of Hart’s message, it is hard to deny that Alvarado’s move to the Knicks has significantly changed the course of his career. With the Knicks making the NBA Finals, Alvarado is just four wins away from becoming a part of something historic, as New York has not won a league title since 1973.
The Knicks are headed to the 2026 edition of the NBA Finals after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. That series concluded on Monday, with the Knicks blowing out the Cavs, 130-93, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
The former Georgia Tech star Alvarado played his first four-plus seasons in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans, who traded him in February to the Knicks with Latavious Williams in exchange for cash, Dalen Terry and a couple of future draft picks.
Carlos Mendoza issues a hard truth after loss to the Reds
It is not getting much better for the New York Mets, and manager Carlos Mendoza is also running out of words to express his dismay over what the club is going through.
After getting swept in a three-game series against the Miami Marlins, the Mets returned home and took another stumble on Monday, losing to the visiting Cincinnati Reds, 7-2, at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y.
“They’re all frustrating, especially when you’re not playing well,” Mendoza told reporters about the Mets’ losses, via SNY. “They’re all the same, to be honest with you. It sucks.”
No one probably had it worse in the Reds game than New York starter Nolan McLean, who gave up seven earned runs on five hits in just 3 1/3 innings. Cincinnati scored the first seven runs of the contest, and it was not until the sixth frame that the Mets’ offense put a run on the board.
Mendoza received some assurance about his job security as the Mets skipper in April, but his seat may be getting warmer again with the losses piling up for New York. Currently last in the NL East standings with a 22-32 record, the Mets are given just 16.6% chance to make the MLB playoffs by FanGraphs.
Luis Castillo had a dugout eruption after getting pulled from his start against the Athletics
Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo was not a happy man when he was pulled from Monday’s game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.
Castillo knew he was part of the Mariners’ piggyback plan with Bryce Miller, but he still didn’t seem to like being pulled amid a solid start against the A’s.
After a lengthy discussion with Seattle manager Dan Wilson in the dugout during the top of the fifth inning, Castillo took off his jacket and slammed it on the bench.
Here is a video of Castillo’s emotional outburst.
Another look at Luis Castillo after learning that his night was done.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 26, 2026
Can’t recall ever seeing this kind of frustration in his nearly four years with the Mariners.
"We knew that was part of the plan, and you've got to respect what his decision was." pic.twitter.com/goDRAmc262
The three-time All-Star Castillo just wanted to pitch a little bit more, as he was having a night on the mound.
In four innings of work, he allowed zero earned runs on two hits while issuing two walks and recording six strikeouts. It was his best outing in quite some time, so it was tough for him to surrender pitching duties to another pitcher after just 68 pitches, even if that was the plan all along.
“I was kind of asking, ‘Maybe one more inning?’” Castillo said through an interpreter, via Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
“He told me that Bryce was ready. But as a competitor, you kind of want to go out there and just continue. But at the same time, you’ve got to respect his position. We knew that was part of the plan, and you’ve got to respect what his decision was.”
The good news for Castillo and the Mariners is that Miller did not waste Castillo’s great start. Miller gave up two earned runs on five hits, but he struck out four Athletics hitters, as Seattle came away with a 9-2 win.
Jacob Misiorowski had the best response to his historic performance
Jacob Misiorowski’s arm is something else.
The hard-throwing ace of the Milwaukee Brewers had everyone buzzing again on Monday, as he recorded a record-breaking total of 57 pitches of 100+ 100 MPH during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.
Misiorowski bested the previous MLB mark of 47 by Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene back in 2022.
The 2025 MLB All-Star Misiorowski, however, made his performance sound like it was just another day at the office for him.
“That’s what I do,” Misiorowski said, via Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. “I throw hard.”
But Misiorowski is more than just about putting radar guns to the test.
In the 5-1 victory over the Cardinals, Misiorowski had 71 of his 96 pitches go for strikes, while allowing just an earned run on two hits with 12 punchouts in seven innings of work on the mound.
Misiorowski’s brilliance is a constant in what is turning out to be another overachieving season for the Brewers.
If he sustains his form, the 24-year-old righty could win a National League Cy Young Award in just his second season in the big leagues.
So far in the 2026 campaign, Misiorowski has a 5-2 record, 1.83 ERA and 100 strikeouts across 11 starts.
James Harden had comically bad take after getting swept by Knicks
James Harden took a page out of Kenny Atkinson’s book of questionable postgame takes after getting swept out of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers star was a no-show with his team’s postseason survival on the line in Game 4 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Harden scored 12 points on 2/8 shooting to go along with two assists and four rebounds.
In what is becoming Harden’s signature playoff stat, the former NBA MVP once again had more turnovers (5) than made field goals (2). His Cavs got blitzed from the first quarter onwards, losing 130-93 without putting up much of a fight beyond the first two minutes of the contest.
Despite that, Harden did not think the Knicks were better than his Cavaliers. The 11-time All-Star was asked about what the talent gap was between his team and the squad that beat them.
“I can’t even answer that question, honestly,” Harden said during his postgame press conference.
“Yeah, it’s 4-0, but I don’t think we had a chance as far as our best shot from a standpoint of the circumstances. Obviously, they dominated us 4-0, but I don’t know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely, I do feel like we are the better team.”
Harden did admit that his stance that his was the better team “didn’t show” in the series, which hilariously feels like Atkinson claiming the Cavaliers were “analytically” better than the Knicks in Games 1 through 3.
The Cavaliers did look like the better team through the first 3.5 quarters of the series, when Cleveland led Game 1 by 22 points midway through the fourth quarter. But the Knicks came roaring back with to win by 11 in overtime, and it’s been all downhill from there for Cleveland.
When your team gets swept with an average margin of defeat of 19.3, nobody is going to believe you had the better team.
Knicks set the most unreal record in run to the NBA Finals
The New York Knicks have reached levels of dominance the NBA has never seen before.
The Knicks emerged as the victors of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday in yet another massive blowout, throttling the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Thirteen different Knicks players scored in the contest, including six players in double figures for a New York team that has been absolutely rolling throughout the month.
The win marked the Knicks’ 11th straight in the postseason — 10 of those results came with a winning margin of at least 11 points. New York has outscored its opponents by 262 points during that span, which is the largest point differential across 11 games, not just in the playoffs, but throughout NBA history.
The Knicks have now outscored their opponents by 262 points across the last 11 games.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 26, 2026
That is the best point differential across 11 games in NBA history, regardless of whether it is regular or postseason play.
What an incredible month it has been in New York.
It’s one thing to beat up on a string of tanking teams in the regular season. It’s another to pulverize playoff-caliber squads to dust with the stakes elevated and the game-to-game planning heightened.
Nobody’s saying the Knicks are better than the 95-96 Chicago Bulls or the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors, but neither of those teams had a more dominant run of 11 games by the numbers. New York won those contests by an average margin of 23.8 points.
The Knicks have hit an unprecedented high, which bodes well for the team’s chances against either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder. While either Western Conference team would be favored and have homecourt advantage against the Knicks, the East champs have the look of the team of destiny, similar to last season’s Indiana Pacers, who took the Thunder to Game 7 in the NBA Finals.
After what they’ve seen so far this postseason, New Yorkers won’t be satisfied with just an “analytical” win in the NBA Finals.
Timothee Chalamet was living every Knicks fan’s dream in Game 4
Timothee Chalamet used his star power to his full advantage on Monday as the New York Knicks secured their spot in the NBA Finals.
Knick-fan celebrities were barred from getting courtside seats for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. But Chalamet was able to pull some strings to watch from up close as his Knicks laid the smackdown on the Cavaliers in the closeout game. It probably helped that his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, was once reportedly a billionaire.
#Knicks celebs weren’t allowed to sit courtside, but looks like Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet got an upgrade 👀 pic.twitter.com/CAE8nuZIf5
— Leah Doherty (@LeahDohertyTV) May 26, 2026
Chalamet watched intently as the Knicks cruised to a 130-93 victory over the Cavaliers, who looked like they quit before the game even began.
After the game, Chalamet was on the hardwood, taking pictures and cracking jokes with various Knicks players. He sounded like a textbook fan, even telling Mikal Bridges that he had the swingman’s jersey at home. But his status as an A-list celebrity had every Knick welcoming him like he was one of their own.
Pure elation for Timothée Chalamet after seeing his childhood team advance to the NBA Finals 🥺 pic.twitter.com/SQRQ1bsIxB
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 26, 2026
Chalamet and the contingent of New Yorker celebrities had to pick up the slack for the rest of the team’s fan base, celebrating hundreds of miles away.
THE CELEBS CAN'T BELIEVE IT 🥹
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 26, 2026
TRACY MORGAN IN TEARS SEEING HIS BELOVED KNICKS REACH THE FINALS ♥️ pic.twitter.com/79tOq9yrtI
The NYPD was arguably the biggest winner of the Game 4 result. Knicks fans were already going wild despite the contest happening in Cleveland. Who knows how unruly the celebration would have been had it happened in Madison Square Garden in Game 5?
Charles Barkley slams Cavaliers for ‘quitting’ in Game 4 vs. Knicks
Charles Barkley added insult to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ injury on Monday as they limped their way out of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cavaliers put on a miserable effort in the first half of Game 4 against the New York Knicks, in front of their home fans, no less, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs repeatedly got beaten in transition by a Knicks team that was looking to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Barkley was ready to pile on the Cavaliers at the halftime break, where they trailed 68-49.
“Kids at home, if you want to see what ‘quit’ means, to give up,” Barkley said as clips of the Cavaliers’ lackadaisical effort played in the background. “The verb of that is Ca-va-lie-rs. This is what you’re seeing. … Players aren’t going to say that they’ll quit. But you know what shows? Their actions.”
Charles Barkley RIPS the Cavs for quitting in the first half of game 4. pic.twitter.com/2EC9A07rOx
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 26, 2026
With every missed Cavalier three-pointer, the Knicks were racing down the floor to make their opponents pay. New York tallied 26 fastbreak points before halftime — the most by any NBA playoff team in a first half in the last 30 years. Cleveland just had the look of a team ready to take their ball and go home.
It didn’t get much better for the home team in the second half, as the Knicks still outscored the Cavaliers 62-44 to finish off a 130-93 drubbing. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the poor saps who paid thousands of dollars to watch the Cavaliers get clobbered to close their season.
Knicks fans, on the other hand, are riding high with their team making the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Everyone made the same joke after Knicks blitzed Cavaliers in Game 4
The New York Knicks dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half of Monday’s Game 4 by the traditional metrics. But fans still need to confirm what the analytics say.
The Knicks had four different players in double figures before halftime of the Eastern Conference Finals closeout game at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Landry Shamet led New York with 11 points, while Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns each had 10 to give their team a 68-49 lead at the break.
The Cavaliers, who entered Game 4 trailing the series 3-0, looked like they were all ready to plan their respective trips to Cancun. With Cleveland rolling over, fans made sure to poke fun at Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson by claiming his team could still win the “analytical” battle.
The Knicks are up 20 at half – analytically, they’re down 30. https://t.co/SoQwvmqazB
— james (@Jxmes_bd) May 26, 2026
Knicks up 25 in the first half but we don’t know the analytical scoreline
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) May 26, 2026
Cavaliers “analytically” winning series vs. Knicks https://t.co/UtCekssQ43
— 🎙 (@theaveragevoter) May 26, 2026
If you’re a Cleveland fan, you at least gotta feel good about being up 2-1 analytically. #Knicks
— Matt Osborne (@Matty_O) May 26, 2026
Atkinson dug his own grave after Game 3 when he claimed that the Cavaliers were “analytically” winning the series based on advanced statistics.
The analytics of Monday’s first half probably still had the Knicks winning. New York tallied 26 fastbreak points before halftime, which is the most by any playoff team in a first half over the last 30 postseasons.
The Knicks were running the Cavaliers out of the gym, both literally and analytically.
Update emerges on Lionel Messi after pre-World Cup injury scare
Lionel Messi will not be missing out on his last dance.
The Argentinian soccer superstar Messi, who plays at the club level for Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS), suffered a big injury scare on Sunday night. During Miami’s game against the Philadelphia Union at Nu Stadium in Miami, Fla., Messi asked to subbed off in the 73rd minute after taking a free kick.
Messi appeared to be grabbing at his left thigh and walked straight to the locker room under his own power.
Messi is headed straight to the locker room after getting subbed out in the 73rd minute pic.twitter.com/BIpKA4M3TW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 25, 2026
On Monday, Inter Miami shared an update on Messi’s status. The team said that Messi, after undergoing further medical testing, had been diagnosed with “an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.”
Leading soccer reporter Fabrizio Romano added that Messi suffered “no serious injury” during the match and is set to be available for Argentina at the World Cup.
The soon-to-be 39-year-old Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, had been expected to compete with his native Argentina at this year’s World Cup for a record-extending sixth time. Argentina is set to play in their first friendly against Honduras in less than two weeks and their first group stage match against Algeria in just over three weeks on June 16.
Messi led Argentina to victory at the last World Cup in 2022 as the Golden Ball winner for the most outstanding player of the tournament. He had been eyeing a potential sixth World Cup appearance for some years, and now it fortunately appears that he will be physically fit to compete this summer as well.
Chris Paul took a shot at referee Scott Foster during playoff game
Chris Paul has run out of hoots to give in retirement.
Veteran NBA referee Scott Foster served as the crew chief for Sunday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. San Antonio went on to win in a 103-82 blowout at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas to even the series at 2-2.
In the middle of the game, the retired 12-time NBA All-Star Paul took a shot at Foster in a post to his Instagram Story. Paul reposted a viral message from a fan page that read, “Scott Foster doesn’t know which team to favor, he’s trying to figure out which team CP3 is rooting for.”
“FACTS!!” Paul wrote in the repost, along with several laughing-face emojis. Take a look at a screenshot.
Chris Paul’s IG Story.pic.twitter.com/YODfLTgeSI
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 25, 2026
Paul famously feuded with Foster throughout much of his 21-year playing career. The two had numerous on-court run-ins with one another, which led to a perception that Paul’s teams did worse in games that were refereed by Foster (an assertion that was actually backed up by the numbers as well).
After one particularly heated incident with Foster in 2023, Paul even went so far as to tell reporters that their beef was “personal.” Now Paul is taking another swipe at Foster this week, which is line with the 41-year-old point guard’s very petty behavior ever since retiring.
Ex-UCLA standout is retiring at age 22
A former standout for the UCLA men’s basketball team will not be pursuing a professional career.
Ex-UCLA point guard Donovan Dent is retiring from the sport at age 22, he told the Albuquerque Journal this week. Dent said that he now plans to return to his home in New Mexico and become a personal trainer for youth basketball players, including hosting clinics.
The 6-foot-2 Dent played his first three collegiate seasons at the University of New Mexico. He was the Mountain West Player of the Year as well as an Honorable Mention All-American as a junior in 2025 after leading the conference with 20.4 points per game.
Dent then decided to transfer to UCLA for his senior year in 2025-26. He was a standout for the Bruins all throughout the season, averaging 13.3 points, 7.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
The former California Mr. Basketball Dent had his most memorable moment at UCLA during a game against No. 10 seed Illinois in February. Dent went coast-to-coast for the game-winning layup, Tyus Edney style, to give the Bruins an upset 95-94 victory as time expired.
Donovan Dent just did his best Tyus Edney impression to stun No. 10 Illinois in OT pic.twitter.com/EXuu6AquIE
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 22, 2026
Most talent evaluators had pegged Dent as a possible second-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft. But instead, Dent is calling it a career and following in the footsteps of this other 22-year-old athlete who just decided to retire too.
Jaylen Brown gives a theory on why he did not make All-NBA First Team
Jaylen Brown is feeling slighted once again.
The Boston Celtics star Brown was officially named this week to the 2025-26 All-NBA Second Team. It was the second such selection of Brown’s professional career after he also made the All-NBA Second Team in 2022-23.
As for the All-NBA First Team, those spots went to Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). Brown was not happy about missing the cut and let his feelings be known on a Twitch livestream this week.
During the livestream, Brown gave the theory that his snub had something to do with “how I use my platform.” Brown even added that he was “not the most liked player” in the media and among fans.
Jaylen Brown on making second-team All-NBA:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 25, 2026
“I’m surprised I win awards at all sometimes… I’m not the most liked player in the media.”
(h/t @BiggLynch) pic.twitter.com/b7Z5d4sxEA
Of course, there is probably a far less conspiratorial reason behind Brown’s snub — the sheer volume of talent on the All-NBA First Team. Brown did average a monster 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game for the Celtics this season, which were all career highs across the board. But he did not lead his team to the No. 1 seed in the East like Cunningham did, he did not lead the league in points per game like Doncic did, he did not lead his team to the best record in the NBA like Gilgeous-Alexander did, he did not average a triple-double like Jokic did, and he did not have the generational defensive impact that Wembanyama did.
Still, Brown clearly feels that he is being victimized by the public at large. After the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs earlier this month, Brown even crashed out over the referees supposedly being biased against him.
Lakers are being linked to a former All-Defensive player
The Los Angeles Lakers might be going for another player from Luka Doncic’s draft class.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III is gaining “buzz” as a potential target for the Lakers this offseason, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported this week during an appearance on “Sedano & Kap.” Marks also noted that Williams could be in line to receive a contract in the range of $12 million-$13 million per year this offseason.
Williams, 28, is undersized at 6-foot-9 but is known for his athleticism and strong defensive instincts, particularly as a rim protector. He was an All-Defensive selection with the Boston Celtics in 2022 and was a strong per-minute contributor for the Blazers this season, averaging 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in just 17.1 minutes per game off the bench.
But a major issue with Williams is his health. He has only played in 85 total games over the last three seasons, which will likely cap Williams’ market as he hits unrestricted free agency this summer.
As for the Lakers, they rotated Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes at the center position this season. However, that duo proved to be largely inconsistent, and we recently learned that the unpopular Ayton could potentially be moving onto greener pastures this offseason.
With his leaping ability, Williams is an ideal lob partner for the Lakers superstar Doncic and also has what it takes to potentially anchor the Lakers’ defense down low. That said, the Lakers could also turn to the trade market in an attempt to upgrade their frontcourt over the next several weeks.
Report: Thunder could trade up for 1 elite draft prospect
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder could be making another power move.
Oklahoma City may try to trade up into the top four of this year’s NBA Draft and pursue ex-Duke star Cameron Boozer, according to a report Monday by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel notes that the Thunder could potentially use their No. 12 and No. 17 picks in the 2026 draft (along with other assets) in order to trade up.
Boozer, 18, is not expected to last beyond the top four of next month’s draft. The National College Player of the Year in 2026, Boozer averaged a stout 22.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game for Duke last season.
The son of former All-Star Carlos Boozer, Cameron is regarded as perhaps the most NBA-ready prospect in this year’s class. Though he lacks the upside of an AJ Dybantsa or a Darryn Peterson and also came under fire during the NCAA Tournament for his poor defense, Boozer will be ready to make an impact from Day 1 in the league.
As for the Thunder, who are currently tied 2-2 with the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference FInals, they are locked into their core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren through at least 2030. But Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein have team options for next season, and Oklahoma City might have to part with one or both of those players in order to avoid the second apron of the luxury tax.
Building through the draft though will allow the Thunder to replace some of their role players with completely cost-controlled young talent. It remains to be seen however if the 6-foot-9 Boozer will be their primary target or if OKC can find a better fit for their dynasty-ready core instead.
Greg Sankey addresses College Football Playoff expansion talks
Rumors have swirled lately about the College Football Playoff expanding to a 24-team field.
With the SEC spring meetings set to take place in Miramar Beach, Fla., conference commissioner Greg Sankey addressed those discussions, but he doesn’t see anything coming to a decision soon.
“I don’t anticipate any decisions on the College Football Playoff, just so you’re clear. We’ll have an informed discussion,” Sankey said, via Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports.
Sankey even said, “If you could over-hype a spring meeting, I think that successfully happened.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey: "If you could over-hype a spring meeting, I think that successfully happened. … I don't anticipate any decisions on the College Football Playoff, just so you're clear. We'll have an informed discussion."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) May 25, 2026
According to Brett McMurphy of On3, the SEC is hoping for a 16-team field with each of the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC expressing interest in a 24-team playoff field.
On the other hand, the expansion conversations have drawn backlash, including Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal pushing back on the 24-team idea.
“I’m not for the 24 team thing, that’s a lot. Why play a regular season then? And I’m certainly not for automatic bids,” Cristobal said.
For now, it sure doesn’t sound like the SEC is going to discuss this in much detail, at least right now, although a change could be coming at some point in the future.
Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski set all kinds of records on Memorial Day
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski is firmly in the National League Cy Young race, and his latest start proved it even more.
On Memorial Day, Misiorowski went seven innings, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out 12 batters to take the MLB lead in that category.
In the process, Misiorowski set all kinds of records in the Brewers’ 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc.
The Misiorowski threw 57 pitches at 100+ MPH, passing the mark of 47 previously held by Cincinnati Reds hurler Hunter Greene.
JACOB MISIOROWSKI BREAKS MLB FLAME-THROWING RECORD 🔥
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 25, 2026
The Brewers pitcher threw 57 pitches at 100+ MPH vs. the Cardinals on Monday, passing Hunter Greene’s 47 in 2022 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gULDTlWiPc
The Brewers’ star also set the record for most 101.0+ mph pitches in a game.
most 101.0+ mph pitches in a game, pitch-tracking era (2008):
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 25, 2026
Jacob Misiorowski: 40, 5/25/26 thru 7 IP
Hunter Greene: 33, 9/17/22
Jacob Misiorowski: 29, 5/8/26
Jordan Hicks: 26, 5/19/19
Jacob Misiorowski: 24, 5/13/26
Ben Joyce: 24, 6/3/23
Jacob Misiorowski: 23, 5/1/26 https://t.co/705CgWkGdw
And, here are a couple of other marks Misiorowski set in the victory.
Most 100.0+ mph strikeouts in a game under pitch tracking (2008):
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 25, 2026
5/25/26 Jacob Misiorowski: 9 thru 7 IP
9/17/22 Hunter Greene: 9
4/25/26 Jacob Misiorowski: 8
10/3/22 Hunter Greene: 7 https://t.co/W5XEuRZZuo
Jacob Misiorowski has now had 6 consecutive starts with 8+ strikeouts and without allowing an extra-base hit.
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 25, 2026
No one else in MLB history has done that more than 4 games in a row.
It's completely ridiculous.
It marked the third time in the last four games that Jacob Misiorowski has struck out 10 or more batters.
Now, he has a 5-2 record with a 1.83 ERA and the MLB lead in strikeouts.
Orioles player hits walk-off home run in 2nd straight day
On Sunday, Colton Cowser hit a walk-off home run to give the Baltimore Orioles a 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Md, in Game 1 of the doubleheader.
On Memorial Day, Cowser hit another walk-off home run, this time giving the Orioles a 9-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in 13 innings.
The Orioles scored two runs to tie it before Cowser’s blast ended the game.
COLTON COWSER HITS A WALK-OFF HOMER FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT DAY! 🐮
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 25, 2026
(via @Orioles)pic.twitter.com/bm5ACMuwTI
In the top of the 12th inning, Tampa Bay took the lead as Jonathan Aranda had a sacrifice fly.
Then, the Orioles tied it up as Cowser scored at the plate on a perfect slide, although the call had to be reviewed as he was initially called out.
An INCREDIBLE slide from Colton Cowser ties things back up in the 12th after replay rules him safe!
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 25, 2026
Gunnar Henderson tried to advance to third base but was sent back to first pic.twitter.com/lmPa5K9SdB
Then, an inning later, Cowser played hero again with another walk-off blast.
Coming into the game, Cowser had just 2 home runs all season, but he now has two in two days to give Baltimore two wins in a bizarre turn of events.
