Anthony Edwards’ old quote about Draymond Green, Warriors resurfaces
Anthony Edwards’ playoff clash against Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors has apparently been years in the making.
On Sunday, the Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals after beating the Houston Rockets in a decisive Game 7 victory. Their reward is a grueling second-round series against Edwards’ Timberwolves.
Fans unearthed an old clip of Edwards trying to manifest a postseason matchup against the Warriors before the 2023-24 season. The Timberwolves star was asked what he was looking forward to entering his then-fourth campaign in the NBA.
“Definitely going back to the playoffs and going further in the playoffs,” answered Edwards.
“I want to play the Warriors. I want to get to the Warriors. Wherever they’re at, I want to get to them. … Because Draymond talks so much trash. That’s pretty much the only reason.”
Anthony Edwards said he wanted to face the Warriors in the Playoffs
— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) May 5, 2025
Now he's got his chance 👀pic.twitter.com/ubCVIarV6t
Edwards’ wish came true one year later than he was expecting. But with a few playoff series wins now under his belt, Minnesota’s franchise player is arguably more equipped than ever to take on Golden State. He averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across five playoff games against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ant-Man also has a chance to knock out Steph Curry and LeBron James in consecutive series. Buzz surrounding Edwards as the future face of the NBA would be deafening if he pulls off the feat.
Edwards is not the only Timberwolves All-Star with a vendetta against Green. The Warriors star has given Rudy Gobert plenty of reasons to hold a grudge against him over the years.
Aaron Rodgers sparks married seculation with wedding ring
Aaron Rodgers has sparked speculation that he is married thanks to the ring he was seen wearing over the weekend.
Rodgers attended the Barnstable Brown Gala on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. He was dressed in a suit for a red carpet event and had a ring on the ring finger of his left hand.
Wait so Aaron Rodgers got married??
— Portersburgh (@PortersBurgh) May 4, 2025
Was that the hold up all along?
pic.twitter.com/r5VnQ2zREt
The look and location of the ring made many think the quarterback may have gotten married.
Rodgers has been clear this offseason that his focus has been on off-the-field matters, such as a relationship he described as “serious.”
“I’m in a different phase of my life. I’m 41 years old. I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention,” Rodgers told Pat McAfee during a show in April. “I have personal commitments I made, not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year, that are important to me. And I have a couple people in my inner, inner circle who are really battling some difficult stuff.
“So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention — and have, beginning in really January — away from football. That’s been where I’ve been focusing most of my attention on.”
There is no evidence as to whether or not Rodgers got married. But when you couple him saying he was in a serious relationship with the presence of the ring on his finger, it’s hard not to put two and two together.
Rodgers remains a free agent, though the Steelers seem to be keeping a spot open for him.
H/T TMZ Sports
Buddy Hield has great message for Jimmy Butler after outshining him in Game 7
Buddy Hield played a starring role Sunday in the Golden State Warriors’ Game 7 first-round victory over the Houston Rockets. He made sure to let Jimmy Butler know it.
Hield led all scorers with 33 points on a scorching-hot 12/15 from the field in the Warriors’ 103-89 win at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The Bahamian guard also tied an NBA playoff record with nine three-pointers in a Game 7, matching Donte DiVincenzo’s total from last postseason.
One of Hield’s threes even got Steph Curry to do his signature “Night Night” celebration with just over two minutes left in the contest.
With his confidence level at an all-time high, Hield playfully talked trash to Butler during the latter’s postgame press conference. As Butler fielded questions from the media, Hield demanded that the All-Star swingman relinquish his title as the self-proclaimed “Robin” to Curry’s “Batman.”
“Tell them you’re not Robin no more!” Hield said to Butler. “Tell them you’re not Robin no more! You’re Alfred. His name’s Butler.”
Buddy Hield welcomes Jimmy Butler to the podium and the two go back-and-forth
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 5, 2025
Hield: “Tell them you’re not Robin no more.” pic.twitter.com/vBj5NSE4Rl
After the Warriors outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament, Butler said he would happily “play Robin” next to Curry for this playoff run and beyond.
The Warriors forward did have a decent game in his own right, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists on 7/13 shooting. But for at least one night, Butler fittingly settled into the “Alfred” role as Hield put on the Robin mask.
Ime Udoka addresses big question heading into Rockets’ offseason
The Houston Rockets have several decisions to make this offseason. One of the biggest revolves around Fred VanVleet’s future with the team.
The Rockets guard signed a three-year, $130 million deal with Houston two seasons ago. The Rockets hold a $44.9 million player option for next season, the final year of VanVleet’s deal.
After the Rockets’ season came to an end Sunday against the Golden State Warriors, Houston head coach Ime Udoka was asked if he expects VanVleet to return for the 2025-26 campaign.
“I think both sides want to be here and want him here,” said Udoka. “From Day 1, I’ve talked about the importance of him at the point guard position, leading us in a lot of ways. … Obviously, I’d love to have him back — and I think the feeling is mutual.”
Based on VanVleet’s response to a similar question, the feeling is indeed mutual. During his postgame press conference, the veteran guard firmly stated that Houston is where he “wants to be” long term. He also called the Rockets a “family situation.”
The Rockets’ signing of VanVleet in 2023 drew mixed reviews from fans and media members alike. Some believed it to be a gross overpay for a small guard with clear limitations. But Houston banked on his championship pedigree to provide a veteran presence for a young Rockets team that aspired to become a playoff contender.
Despite Sunday’s Game 7 loss, VanVleet has clearly helped the Rockets become a threat in the West. The 30-year-old guard has averaged 15.9 points and 6.9 assists through two Houston seasons.
It’s sounding more and more like there’s going to be a third.
Steph Curry goes ‘Night Night’ on Rockets to close out Game 7
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry put the Houston Rockets to bed in Game 7 of their first-round series.
Curry delivered a fourth-quarter flurry that quieted the capacity crowd inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Steph scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead Golden State to a 103-89 win on the road.
The two-time MVP hit an early dagger three to put the Warriors up 91-74 with under three minutes remaining. Buddy Hield hammered the final nail in the Rockets’ proverbial coffin with another triple one possession later. With the game out of reach, Curry brought out his signature celebration to wish Houston goodnight.
NIGHT. NIGHT.
— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2025
CURRY & HIELD GO BACK-TO-BACK!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google pic.twitter.com/KNP1FYbleE
Curry led the way for the Warriors in the fourth quarter. But it was Hield who carried Golden State’s offense for most of the game. The Bahamian sharpshooter erupted for a playoff career-high 33 points via 9 three-pointers. His triple tally tied the NBA playoff record for most threes made in a Game 7.
With NINE made tonight, Buddy Hield has tied the NBA record for most threes in a Game 7🔥 pic.twitter.com/dkYLEC8Ni2
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 5, 2025
Hield may have etched his name in NBA history books, but getting Curry to do the ‘Night Night’ celebration was arguably a greater honor for Hield.
Over the last few years, Steph has used the celebration to mark some of the most iconic moments of his career. Add Sunday’s double-barreled barrage with Hield in Game 7 to the growing list.
Former Steelers 1st-round pick arrested for assault
Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Devin Bush was arrested Sunday by the Bell Acres Police Department on Pennsylvania on two charges.
Pittsburgh radio host Colin Dunlap shared images of the arrest documents. According to the documentation, Bush was arrested on charges of simple assault and harassment. The assault charge is considered a misdemeanor, while the harassment charge is considered a summary offense. Bush was fingerprinted and advised of his right to an attorney.
Former Steeler Devin Bush was arrested today by Bell Acres Police. pic.twitter.com/rw4gNrWXzG
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) May 4, 2025
Bush was the No. 10 overall pick by the Steelers in 2019 out of LSU. He had 109 tackles as a rookie, along with two interceptions and a sack. The Steelers let Bush go as a free agent after four seasons. He played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023 and had 37 tackles in 13 games. Bush spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and had 76 tackles and a sack. The Browns re-signed Bush in March on a 1-year, $3.25 million deal.
Further details surrounding his arrest have not yet become available.
Winnipeg Jets score wild game-tying Game 7 goal with 1.6 seconds left
The St. Louis Blues were a defensive stand away from advancing to the second round of the 2025 NHL Playoffs. Cole Perfetti had other ideas.
Perfetti’s Winnipeg Jets trailed the Blues 3-2 with under two minutes left in their Game 7 first-round matchup at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. The Jets emptied their net to sell out for the game-tying goal.
Perfetti was at the right place at the right time during a mad scramble in the closing seconds of the final period. The Jets had time for just one final shot at goal. Forward Nikolaj Ehlers zipped a pass to Kyle Connor, who flicked it inside to Perfetti for a tip-in goal with 1.6 seconds left.
WITH 1.6 SECONDS TO GO. 🤯
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 5, 2025
COLE PERFETTI‼️ pic.twitter.com/kgZU95vurH
Perfetti’s goal made history as the latest game-tying goal in an NHL playoff Game 7. Sunday’s Game 7 was just another reminder that a game is never truly over until it’s over.
Texas Rangers make big change to coaching staff
The Texas Rangers made a big change to their coaching staff on Sunday.
The Rangers have fired Donnie Ecker, who had been serving as the team’s offensive coordinator. The team’s lack of scoring had been a persistent concern for general manager Chris Young.
Texas Rangers GM Chris Young, who said last week that he was running out of patience, has fired Donnie Ecker. He was their offensive coordinator and in charge of game planning for the hitters. The Rangers have scored 3 or fewer runs in 15 of their last 22 games.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 4, 2025
They lost 8 times…
The Rangers won on Sunday 8-1 against the Seattle Mariners to improve to 17-18. However, the team’s offense has been an issue.
Texas’ batting average (.224) ranks 13 out of 15 teams in the American League. Their .636 team OPS is similarly 13th. The Rangers had also been on a big slide over the last few weeks. Since beginning the season 14-9, they have gone 3-9, which had been weighing negatively on Young.
Prior to Sunday’s game, the Rangers had gone 10 out of 11 games without scoring more than three runs in a game.
“After lengthy discussions and deliberations, we feel now is the appropriate time to provide our hitters with a new voice as we pursue goals of winning the division and reaching the postseason,” Young said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful to Donnie for all that he has accomplished here with the Rangers.”
Ravens get huge injury update on Zay Flowers
The Baltimore Ravens got some positive news on the team’s top wide receiver Zay Flowers.
Flowers missed the Ravens’ 2025 playoff run after suffering a knee injury in a Week 18 contest against the Cleveland Browns. There was talk of Flowers potentially returning during the Ravens’ Divisional Round matchup against the Buffalo Bills. But the 24-year-old’s injury ended up being more severe than initially anticipated.
On Sunday, Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh gave an update on Flowers’ injury progression — one that bodes well for his return to the field. According to Harbaugh, Flowers will not have to go under the knife to get back to full health.
“It did not go to surgery,” Harbaugh said, via Clifton Brown of the Ravens’ team website. “Actually, he was doing a little dance in the weight room this last week and said he’s feeling great, his knee’s back. He did it with rehab.”
Flowers’ injury was a huge blow for Baltimore during its postseason run. The Boston College alum had career highs in targets (116), catches (74), and receiving yards (1,059). He led the Ravens in all three categories.
Warriors share rough news about Gary Payton II before Game 7
The Golden State Warriors shared some rough news about Gary Payton II before Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke with the media prior to Game 7 and revealed that Payton woke up sick on Sunday and would not be able to play in the series-deciding game at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Kerr added that Payton has not even been able to eat.
Steve Kerr said Gary Payton II woke up sick, hasn’t been able to eat and “no way he can play” per Steve Kerr. He said coaching staff is in the middle of discussing rotational impact/lineup combination options pregame.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 4, 2025
Payton had played in all six previous games of the series, averaging 16 minutes per contest while making one start. He averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game and often played defense against Fred VanVleet.
Some Warriors fans were not worried about the loss, citing Payton’s negative defensive stats in the series.
Gary Payton II is out for Game 7.
— GSW Ball Report (@GSWBallReport) May 4, 2025
He’s had the worst defensive rating on the Warriors this series (123.5), worst net rating (-17.7), and one of the 10 worst offensive ratings on the team.
He’s been a clear negative this series. pic.twitter.com/avcYTsgDa7
The Warriors had initially taken a 3-1 series lead before Houston won the next two games to force a Game 7 at the Toyota Center.
Caitlin Clark makes ridiculous 35-foot three-pointer against Brazil
Caitlin Clark is picking up where she left off.
Clark’s Indiana Fever on Sunday played their second game of the preseason. This one was against the Brazil national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, which is the same venue where Clark played her college games for Iowa. And just like she did in college, Clark was draining shots from long distance.
Late in the third quarter of the game, the Fever were leading Brazil 87-32. Clark pulled up from about 35 feet away and nailed a ridiculous three-pointer.
CAITLIN CLARK 35 FOOTER ARE YOU KIDDING ME
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) May 4, 2025
Record breaker De Ja Vu pic.twitter.com/JCm66UGmJT
Clark made that three-pointer from just a foot or so behind the spot where she shot the ball on her record-breaking basket that set the NCAA points record.
Indiana won the preseason game 108-44. Clark finished with 16 points on 6/10 shooting, including four three-pointers.
Oscar Piastri does Justin Jefferson’s TD dance after winning Miami Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri captured his third consecutive victory by winning the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, and there was one moment during the ensuing celebration that looked quite familiar to NFL fans.
Piastri spent some time with Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson before the Miami Grand Prix this week. The two chatted about their respective sports, and Jefferson decided to teach Piastri the Pro Bowl wideout’s patented touchdown celebration.
A video that was shared by Bleacher Report showed Jefferson teaching Piastri how to do “The Griddy.” Piastri reluctantly agreed to do the dance the next time he won a race, with Jefferson promising that it would become a viral moment.
Justin Jefferson teaching Oscar Piastri the Griddy before the F1 Miami Grand Prix 🤣… And Mike Gesicki chimes in. pic.twitter.com/P3wkf6qv7V
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 3, 2025
After he beat teammate and Miami Grand Prix runner-up Lando Norris on Sunday to extend his championship lead to 16 points, Piastri kept his word. The driver gave “The Griddy” his best shot.
.@OscarPiastri stayed true to his word 🫡@JJettas2 @LAHGRIDDY2x
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 4, 2025
📺: @f1 pic.twitter.com/lBMsRRTr4I
Jefferson was, of course, stoked.
OSCARRRRRR!!! LETS GOOOOO @OscarPiastri https://t.co/V6jJe0oUMY
— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) May 4, 2025
A lot of NFL players have done “The Griddy” after scoring, but Jefferson has made it part of his identity. Opponents even use the dance to mock the Vikings star because he does it so frequently.
Piastri has officially brought “The Griddy” to Formula One.
Oscar Piastri wins his third straight at Miami Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri on Sunday won the Miami Grand Prix for his third straight win this year, helping McLaren to a strong finish.
Thanks to Piastri’s win, McLaren becomes the first constructor to finish both the sprint and race in P1 and P2. Lando Norris finished second in the race, while Norris and Piastri finished first and second in the sprint respectively.
As a result Piastri now widens in lead over his teammate Norris to nine points in the drivers’ standings.
In stark contrast to McLaren, Red Bull’s weekend could be summed up as disastrous. After being in a competitive spot for a podium finish in the race, a mistake by the Red Bull pit crew led to an unsafe release that resulted in a 10-second penalty for Max Verstappen and zero points. Similarly, in the race on Sunday, despite starting from pole position, Verstappen was easily eclipsed by both Piastri and Norris, and eventually George Russell. Verstappen finished fourth.
Verstappen now trails Piastri by 19 points and lead Russell by 11 points for third place in the drivers’ standings. Despite the result in Miami, not all was bad for Verstappen, as he welcomed his first child, Lily on Thursday.
With Red Bull showing a surprising large lack of pace compared to McLaren on the Miami Grand Prix circuit, the Spanish Grand Prix cannot come soon enough; a new set of technical regulations could lead to some form of pace advantage for Red Bull.
Tony Vitello gets his money’s worth after being ejected
Tony Vitello got ejected from Tennessee’s baseball game against Auburn at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sunday, and he sure got his money’s worth.
Vitello got tossed as Auburn had the bases loaded with one out leading 6-0 in the top of the fifth inning in the rubber match of a three-game series between the schools. Tennessee pitcher Brayden Krenzel walked in two runs in a row, and Vitello went onto the field to sound off over some of the calls, including a check swing call he didn’t like. He had words for all the umpires — two of whom had called balls and strikes in previous games of the series.
Tony Vitello: Our hero pic.twitter.com/2aFFKax3oT
— Austin Brown (@Austin_Vols) May 4, 2025
Vitello even tossed down a folding chair when he returned to the dugout. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, that was Vitello’s first ejection since 2023 and the fifth of his career.
Vitello is known for being a fiery leader and led Tennessee to the national championship last year. He was hoping to inspire his team on Sunday, but that did not work out as they fell 8-1 for their third straight series loss.
2 interesting former head coaches now being linked to Suns job
The Phoenix Suns currently have the only head coaching vacancy in the NBA, and it looks like their search will be a very comprehensive one.
Veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Sunday that two interesting new names have surfaced in connection to the Suns job — former NBA head coaches James Borrego and Dave Joerger. Stein notes that Phoenix is pulling candidates into their search who have prior experience at the helm.
Borrego, 47, was a two-time champion assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich and then went on to serve as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018-22. While Borrego only compiled a record of 148-183 (.447) with zero playoff appearances before being fired by Charlotte, he has now returned to a prominent role as the associate head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Meanwhile, Joerger, 51, was head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2013-16 and then of the Sacramento Kings from 2016-19. He has a career record of 245-247 (.498) and three total playoff appearances (all with Memphis). But Joerger has not been a head coach for over a half-decade now, particularly in light of a 2021 health scare. That said, Joerger is now an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and helped lead them to the NBA Cup title this season.
As for the Suns, they are looking for a new head coach after firing Mike Budenholzer in the wake of a 36-46 season during which they failed to qualify for a 20-team postseason (despite having an NBA-high payroll). Phoenix’s next head coach will be their fourth one within a roughly two-year span (after Budenholzer and his predecessors Monty Williams and Frank Vogel).
The Suns could go in a lot of different directions with their hire. On top of having Borrego and Joerger as options, they have been linked to a currently active NBA head coach as well as to a figure who might help appease their disgruntled star forward Kevin Durant.
Jordan Spieth has sobering take on Scottie Scheffler
Jordan Spieth offered a sobering take on Scottie Scheffler on Sunday.
Scheffler was mowing down the competition at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas over the weekend. He shot a 10-under 61 in the first round; an 8-under 63 in the second round; and he shot a 5-under 66 in the third round. He was nine under through 16 holes in his fourth round on Sunday at the time this was published, which had him nine strokes ahead of the next closest golfer.
Spieth had a nice event and shot 62 on Sunday to put him in fourth place. But Spieth recognizes he’s a step below Scheffler, which was a tough admission.
“What he’s been doing is inspiring, given it wasn’t that long ago I was definitely better than him — and now I’m definitely not,” Spieth said after his round Sunday, via Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend. “I hate admitting that about anybody, but I just watched it those first two rounds, and like I’ve got to get better. It’s very inspiring.”
Jordan Spieth on his friend and fellow Longhorn Scottie Scheffler.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) May 4, 2025
"What he's been doing is inspiring, given it wasn't that long ago I was definitely better than him — and now I'm definitely not.
"I hate admitting that about anybody, but I just watched it those first two…
Spieth is 31 and from Dallas, Texas. Scheffler is 28 and grew in the Dallas area, so the two were top high school golfers in the state. Spieth also experienced extreme success early in his professional career as he had won three majors by the end of 2017. Scheffler’s success came later, as he didn’t win his first major until 2022.
Scheffler is currently No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Spieth is No. 58. Few things can be a bigger gut punch than shooting 19 under for a tournament and still finishing more than 10 strokes behind the winner.
Key Warriors player missing for Game 7 against Rockets
The Golden State Warriors’ uphill climb to win a Game 7 on the road just got even steeper.
Warriors guard Gary Payton II was ruled out for his team’s do-or-die Game 7 on Sunday against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston, Tex. Payton was a late addition to the team’s injury report earlier in the day on Sunday due to an illness.
He was ultimately then ruled out for the contest roughly three hours before tip-off. That would presumably mean that Payton’s illness is serious enough that he couldn’t even make it to warmups to try to give it a go on Sunday.
Payton, 32, is Golden State’s single most impactful perimeter defender (with Draymond Green largely sitting back in the defensive scheme). While his numbers do not pop off the page (6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game this season), Payton is integral to the Warriors’ gameplan and was a key member of their 2022 NBA championship.
In Game 6 against Houston on Friday, Payton even drew the start for Golden State instead of Brandin Podziemski. Overall on the series, Payton posted averages of 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in a mere 16.0 minutes per game (including hitting 40 percent of his three-pointers).
With Payton now out of commission for Game 7, Podziemski will likely re-enter the starting lineup for the Warriors and be tasked with replicating Payton’s hustle, 3-and-D play. It could also mean more minutes off the bench for Moses Moody as well as Golden State potentially being forced to turn to their forgotten weapon.
Patrick Mahomes’ half-brother getting notable opportunity with Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is having his LeBron James moment this offseason.
Graham Walker, the half-brother of the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Mahomes, has received an invite to the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp this week, according to multiple reports. Footage also emerged of Walker participating on Sunday in the event, which is effectively a tryout.
You can see that footage at the link here.
Walker, who is 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, plays at the tight end position. He had a total of 127 receptions for 1,496 yards and 15 touchdowns over three collegiate seasons at Brown University. Walker then transferred over to Rice University for his senior year in 2024, catching 24 passes for 252 yards and zero touchdowns. He is a native of Hinesburg, Vt. and attended Avon Old Farms (a boarding school in Avon, Conn.).
As for his exact connection with the the three-time Super Bowl MVP Mahomes, Walker is Mahomes’ half-brother through their father Pat Mahomes Sr. The former MLB journeyman pitcher Mahomes Sr. had Walker following his divorce from Randi Martin, who is the mother of both Patrick and Jackson Mahomes. Walker goes by the surname of his mother Jessamyn Walker.
It may be difficult for Walker to separate himself from the pack at Chiefs’ rookie minicamp since nearly 90 players are taking part (60 of whom are doing so on a tryout basis). But Walker is at least the single most well-known participant (and is definitely making the news for a better reason that Mahomes’ siblings usually do).
Shota Imanaga suffers injury during hustle play
Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga left Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after suffering an injury.
For the second time in as many starts, Imanaga was forced to leave the game early due to a lower-body injury. The Cubs and Brewers were in a 0-0 game in the bottom of the sixth inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc., when Imanaga had to sprint to cover first base for a potential double play.
Imanaga came up lame as he ran toward the first-base bag. He still caught the throw, but Christian Yelich was safe. Imanaga immediately grabbed at the back of his left leg.
Shota Imanaga left the game after an apparent injury following this play. pic.twitter.com/dZJXzSeEoS
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 4, 2025
Imanaga exited the game following the play. He ended up allowing just 4 hits and 2 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
The Cubs announced after the game that Imanaga was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain.
Imanaga exited his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night after 5 innings due to leg cramps, but that did not turn out to be a significant issue.
Imanaga has pitched well in his second season with the Cubs. He entered Sunday with a 3-2 record and 2.82 ERA. The Cubs have been overly cautious with the 31-year-old in the past, so it would not be a surprise if he misses some time.
Gregg Popovich providing tips to 1 NBA team still in playoffs
Gregg Popovich may now be officially retired as a head coach, but he is still making his presence felt in this year’s NBA postseason.
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported over the weekend that the former San Antonio Spurs head coach Popovich called Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka on Friday in order to provide him with some pointers. The call from Popovich reportedly came in the hours ahead of the Rockets’ showdown against the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif.
Popovich is said to have offered some “X’s and O’s thoughts” to Udoka on the series against the Warriors. With the Rockets facing elimination in Game 6 and ultimately winning 115-107 to keep their season alive, Popovich’s tips were apparently able to make a difference.
For context, Popovich and Udoka have a deep, pre-existing connection. Udoka played for Popovich on the Spurs from 2007-09 and then again from 2010-11. Udoka then went on to begin his NBA coaching career as an assistant on Popovich’s staff in San Antonio from 2012-19.
Now that Udoka is in his third career season as a head coach (and his second with Houston after previously coaching the Boston Celtics), he is obviously still plenty close with his longtime mentor Popovich. Earlier in the week, the 76-year-old Popovich announced that he was finally retiring as a head coach himself after nearly three decades in his post with the Spurs.
With Game 7 between the Rockets and the Warriors set to be played on Sunday evening, perhaps Popovich will this time around provide some tips to Golden State head coach Steve Kerr (another one of his close mentees).
