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Deadspin | Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) suffers setback Sep 20, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) looks on during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will have an MRI following another setback in his recovery from a right hand injury. The former No. 1 overall draft pick was removed from Triple-A Norfolk’s game against Memphis on Tuesday after he experienced discomfort during a swing. Holliday, 22, has been working his way back to the majors since fracturing a hamate bone in batting practice in February. This is the second time in a week that he has experienced soreness in his hand and wrist. “We’re getting him up to Baltimore for an MRI,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said following the team’s 6-5 loss at Kansas City on Tuesday. Holliday played 11 rehab games at Norfolk from March 27 to April 12 and two games at High-A Fredericksburg on April 18-19 before returning to Norfolk on Tuesday. He is batting a combined .176 (9-for-51) with no homers and four RBIs in 14 games. Holliday, the top pick in 2022 and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, batted .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 149 games with the Orioles in 2025. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Orioles #Jackson #Holliday #hand #suffers #setback

Deadspin | Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) suffers setback
Deadspin | Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) suffers setback Sep 20, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) looks on during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will have an MRI following another setback in his recovery from a right hand injury. The former No. 1 overall draft pick was removed from Triple-A Norfolk’s game against Memphis on Tuesday after he experienced discomfort during a swing. Holliday, 22, has been working his way back to the majors since fracturing a hamate bone in batting practice in February. This is the second time in a week that he has experienced soreness in his hand and wrist. “We’re getting him up to Baltimore for an MRI,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said following the team’s 6-5 loss at Kansas City on Tuesday. Holliday played 11 rehab games at Norfolk from March 27 to April 12 and two games at High-A Fredericksburg on April 18-19 before returning to Norfolk on Tuesday. He is batting a combined .176 (9-for-51) with no homers and four RBIs in 14 games. Holliday, the top pick in 2022 and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, batted .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 149 games with the Orioles in 2025. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Orioles #Jackson #Holliday #hand #suffers #setbackSep 20, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) looks on during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will have an MRI following another setback in his recovery from a right hand injury.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick was removed from Triple-A Norfolk’s game against Memphis on Tuesday after he experienced discomfort during a swing.

Holliday, 22, has been working his way back to the majors since fracturing a hamate bone in batting practice in February. This is the second time in a week that he has experienced soreness in his hand and wrist.


“We’re getting him up to Baltimore for an MRI,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said following the team’s 6-5 loss at Kansas City on Tuesday.

Holliday played 11 rehab games at Norfolk from March 27 to April 12 and two games at High-A Fredericksburg on April 18-19 before returning to Norfolk on Tuesday. He is batting a combined .176 (9-for-51) with no homers and four RBIs in 14 games.

Holliday, the top pick in 2022 and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, batted .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 149 games with the Orioles in 2025.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Orioles #Jackson #Holliday #hand #suffers #setback

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Sep 20, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) looks on during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will have an MRI following another setback in his recovery from a right hand injury.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick was removed from Triple-A Norfolk’s game against Memphis on Tuesday after he experienced discomfort during a swing.

Holliday, 22, has been working his way back to the majors since fracturing a hamate bone in batting practice in February. This is the second time in a week that he has experienced soreness in his hand and wrist.

“We’re getting him up to Baltimore for an MRI,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said following the team’s 6-5 loss at Kansas City on Tuesday.

Holliday played 11 rehab games at Norfolk from March 27 to April 12 and two games at High-A Fredericksburg on April 18-19 before returning to Norfolk on Tuesday. He is batting a combined .176 (9-for-51) with no homers and four RBIs in 14 games.

Holliday, the top pick in 2022 and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, batted .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 149 games with the Orioles in 2025.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Nolan Schanuel, Jose Soriano help Angels defeat Blue Jays Apr 22, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout (27) runs after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Nolan Schanuel homered and also had a three-run, go-ahead double and Jose Soriano continued his historic start to the season with five more shutout innings as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif. Soriano extended his scoreless inning streak to 24 2/3 innings while lowering his ERA to 0.24, the lowest ERA in a pitcher’s first six starts to a season since earned runs became official in both leagues (1913) with a minimum of 30 innings pitched. Soriano, who allowed seven hits and struck out four, has allowed just one run – a home run by Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin – in 37 2/3 innings. He also became the first pitcher since at least 1900 to allow one total run (or fewer) in his first six starts to a season. Mike Trout homered, walked twice and scored twice and Logan O’Hoppe and Bryce Teodosio each had two hits for Los Angeles. Brent Suter (1-1) picked up the win, striking out two during one inning of hitless relief. Ernie Clement went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Nathan Lukes and Andres Gimenez each had a double and two hits for Toronto, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Tommy Nance (0-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Jo Adell’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly, driving in O’Hoppe who had singled. Schanuel made it 2-0 in the fourth when he led off the fourth with his third home run and first since March 28, a 371-foot line drive just over the fence in right-center. Trout extended the lead to 3-0 in the fifth when he drilled a 428-foot homer to the back of the bullpen in left, his eighth of the season. It was the 796th extra-base hit of Trout’s career, tying the team record set by the late Garret Anderson. Toronto parlayed a walk and three hits, including an RBI double by Lukes and an RBI single by Clement, into three runs in the seventh to tie it, 3-3. The Angels answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead, 7-3. Trout walked, stole second and went to third on a single by Adell. One out later, Yoan Moncada walked to load the bases. Schanuel then followed with an opposite-field double into the left field corner to clear the bases and give Los Angeles a 6-3 lead. Vaughn Grissom drove in Schanuel with a bloop single to right. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Nolan #Schanuel #Jose #Soriano #Angels #defeat #Blue #JaysApr 22, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout (27) runs after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

Nolan Schanuel homered and also had a three-run, go-ahead double and Jose Soriano continued his historic start to the season with five more shutout innings as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif.

Soriano extended his scoreless inning streak to 24 2/3 innings while lowering his ERA to 0.24, the lowest ERA in a pitcher’s first six starts to a season since earned runs became official in both leagues (1913) with a minimum of 30 innings pitched. Soriano, who allowed seven hits and struck out four, has allowed just one run – a home run by Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin – in 37 2/3 innings. He also became the first pitcher since at least 1900 to allow one total run (or fewer) in his first six starts to a season.

Mike Trout homered, walked twice and scored twice and Logan O’Hoppe and Bryce Teodosio each had two hits for Los Angeles. Brent Suter (1-1) picked up the win, striking out two during one inning of hitless relief.

Ernie Clement went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Nathan Lukes and Andres Gimenez each had a double and two hits for Toronto, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Tommy Nance (0-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief.


Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Jo Adell’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly, driving in O’Hoppe who had singled.

Schanuel made it 2-0 in the fourth when he led off the fourth with his third home run and first since March 28, a 371-foot line drive just over the fence in right-center.

Trout extended the lead to 3-0 in the fifth when he drilled a 428-foot homer to the back of the bullpen in left, his eighth of the season. It was the 796th extra-base hit of Trout’s career, tying the team record set by the late Garret Anderson.

Toronto parlayed a walk and three hits, including an RBI double by Lukes and an RBI single by Clement, into three runs in the seventh to tie it, 3-3.

The Angels answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead, 7-3. Trout walked, stole second and went to third on a single by Adell. One out later, Yoan Moncada walked to load the bases. Schanuel then followed with an opposite-field double into the left field corner to clear the bases and give Los Angeles a 6-3 lead. Vaughn Grissom drove in Schanuel with a bloop single to right.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Nolan #Schanuel #Jose #Soriano #Angels #defeat #Blue #Jays">Deadspin | Nolan Schanuel, Jose Soriano help Angels defeat Blue Jays Apr 22, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout (27) runs after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Nolan Schanuel homered and also had a three-run, go-ahead double and Jose Soriano continued his historic start to the season with five more shutout innings as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif. Soriano extended his scoreless inning streak to 24 2/3 innings while lowering his ERA to 0.24, the lowest ERA in a pitcher’s first six starts to a season since earned runs became official in both leagues (1913) with a minimum of 30 innings pitched. Soriano, who allowed seven hits and struck out four, has allowed just one run – a home run by Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin – in 37 2/3 innings. He also became the first pitcher since at least 1900 to allow one total run (or fewer) in his first six starts to a season. Mike Trout homered, walked twice and scored twice and Logan O’Hoppe and Bryce Teodosio each had two hits for Los Angeles. Brent Suter (1-1) picked up the win, striking out two during one inning of hitless relief. Ernie Clement went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Nathan Lukes and Andres Gimenez each had a double and two hits for Toronto, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Tommy Nance (0-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Jo Adell’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly, driving in O’Hoppe who had singled. Schanuel made it 2-0 in the fourth when he led off the fourth with his third home run and first since March 28, a 371-foot line drive just over the fence in right-center. Trout extended the lead to 3-0 in the fifth when he drilled a 428-foot homer to the back of the bullpen in left, his eighth of the season. It was the 796th extra-base hit of Trout’s career, tying the team record set by the late Garret Anderson. Toronto parlayed a walk and three hits, including an RBI double by Lukes and an RBI single by Clement, into three runs in the seventh to tie it, 3-3. The Angels answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead, 7-3. Trout walked, stole second and went to third on a single by Adell. One out later, Yoan Moncada walked to load the bases. Schanuel then followed with an opposite-field double into the left field corner to clear the bases and give Los Angeles a 6-3 lead. Vaughn Grissom drove in Schanuel with a bloop single to right. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Nolan #Schanuel #Jose #Soriano #Angels #defeat #Blue #Jays

Hidden Storylines You Might Have Missed So Far in 2026 NBA Playoffs | Deadspin.com Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after three point attempt during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images While the surprisingly competitive NBA playoffs have stolen the headlines – and rightfully so – two of the biggest names in the league have seen interesting stories get buried this week.Here’s what I’ve observed both on and off the court from my seat thousands of miles away …Thunder, Celtics are Two of TwoCan we just fast-forward to a Thunder-Celtics finals? Yeah, I know the 76ers have stolen a game in Boston. It’s why they play seven. Without Joel Embiid, they won’t win again. Here’s hoping for seven SGA-Jaylen Brown head-to-heads in the Finals.Competitive games in most first-round series only serve to lead to this conclusion: The good teams aren’t as good as people think. San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, New York … We’ve barely tipped off the postseason and already we’re asking: Who’s the third-best team in the NBA, the one who could possibly deny an Oklahoma City-Boston showdown? There really isn’t one.Where Big Man Comes Up Small Apr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Watching Victor Wembanyama get hurt, I guess it answers my question: Why is the most unstoppable force the league has seen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing 30 feet from the basket, dazzling us with his ballhandling (but not with his 3-point shooting)?Wemby is quickly headed down the Giannis Antetokounmpo path. You know, the guy who can dunk pretty much anytime he wants, but who has an ego larger than his wingspan, so he feels obligated to show us what a great perimeter player he is. Wemby could average 50 points a game – he really could – if he just walked block to block, caught lob passes and dunked from 10 feet away. He can do it. It’s amazing. His 3-point shooting isn’t.Jaden McDodoIt has now become clear why Anthony Edwards talks so much. It’s to keep the microphones away from Jaden McDaniels.How ignorant do you have to be when, five seconds after you’ve stunned a vastly superior opponent, you blast every one of their players for being poor defenders? Label me Mick Cronin, but I’d have the loudmouth sitting at the end of the bench wearing a dunce cap for Game 3. Aaron Gordon, the guy who will match up with McDaniels next game, is a bad defensive player? Well, I guess we’ll see.What’s The Guy Gotta Do?Wemby was a unanimous choice as Defensive Player of the Year. That was easy. This wasn’t: Leaving Jaylen Brown, the league’s best midsized defender on the perimeter, off every single line of every single ballot. He didn’t even get a second- or third-place vote. Not one.If the NBA had a Most Underappreciated Award, Brown probably wouldn’t get any votes, either. That would just show how underappreciated he is. The Celtics were a better team without Jayson Tatum this year, and an unhandcuffed Brown was the reason. He should be an MVP candidate and certainly an All-NBA first-teamer, but the league has now allowed Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic back into the mix, which likely will come at Brown’s expense. Do you think they’d have changed the rules if their posterboy – Tatum – were the candidate?Kerr Could Strike Gold Again Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Warriors coach Steve Kerr left to a group hug with fellow old-timers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the Warriors bowed out of the play-in tournament, leading to speculation that he might retire now that his contract has expired. Frankly, that would be unfortunate.Kerr has a rare opportunity this off-season to use a trumpeted return to rally new forces and create a one-season superteam the likes of which the NBA has never seen. He already has Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler returning, with the possibility of keeping Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, all Kerr has to do is what he helped accomplish at the Olympics – talk modern-day Dream Teamers like LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and maybe even VanVleet into joining a historic farewell tour. Just like Paris.Wouldn’t you love to see it? Better yet, wouldn’t you love to see him try to make it happen?Nothing Clutch About Clutch CriteriaShai Gilgeous-Alexander was a remarkable fourth-quarter player this season. Just as he was in the first, second and third quarters. He certainly has the numbers to make him a legitimate NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Or at least the number we’ve been given.You see, the NBA defines a “clutch game” as one in which the difference in the score is five or fewer points at any point of the final five minutes of the fourth period. It could be 99-94 with five minutes left, then 109-94 a minute later, yet all points scored through the end of the game go down as “clutch.” Or it could be a 110-85 blowout with five to go, without a single truly clutch second among the final 300 even though the final score might turn out to be 116-111, the product of three late, meaningless 3-pointers.While the Thunder were blowing everyone out, teams like the 76ers and Nuggets had to duel to the bitter end more times than not. It’s not surprising then that Tyrese Maxey led the NBA with 15 field goals in the final minute with a chance to tie or take the lead. Jamal Murray had 14. Those are clutch performers. SGA had 11, which made him – barely – an All-Clutch Second Teamer. #Hidden #Storylines #Missed #NBA #Playoffs #Deadspin.comApr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after three point attempt during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

While the surprisingly competitive NBA playoffs have stolen the headlines – and rightfully so – two of the biggest names in the league have seen interesting stories get buried this week.

Here’s what I’ve observed both on and off the court from my seat thousands of miles away …

Thunder, Celtics are Two of Two

Can we just fast-forward to a Thunder-Celtics finals? Yeah, I know the 76ers have stolen a game in Boston. It’s why they play seven. Without Joel Embiid, they won’t win again. Here’s hoping for seven SGA-Jaylen Brown head-to-heads in the Finals.

Competitive games in most first-round series only serve to lead to this conclusion: The good teams aren’t as good as people think. San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, New York … We’ve barely tipped off the postseason and already we’re asking: Who’s the third-best team in the NBA, the one who could possibly deny an Oklahoma City-Boston showdown? There really isn’t one.

Where Big Man Comes Up Small

Apr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn ImagesApr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Watching Victor Wembanyama get hurt, I guess it answers my question: Why is the most unstoppable force the league has seen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing 30 feet from the basket, dazzling us with his ballhandling (but not with his 3-point shooting)?

Wemby is quickly headed down the Giannis Antetokounmpo path. You know, the guy who can dunk pretty much anytime he wants, but who has an ego larger than his wingspan, so he feels obligated to show us what a great perimeter player he is. Wemby could average 50 points a game – he really could – if he just walked block to block, caught lob passes and dunked from 10 feet away. He can do it. It’s amazing. His 3-point shooting isn’t.

Jaden McDodo

It has now become clear why Anthony Edwards talks so much. It’s to keep the microphones away from Jaden McDaniels.

How ignorant do you have to be when, five seconds after you’ve stunned a vastly superior opponent, you blast every one of their players for being poor defenders? Label me Mick Cronin, but I’d have the loudmouth sitting at the end of the bench wearing a dunce cap for Game 3. Aaron Gordon, the guy who will match up with McDaniels next game, is a bad defensive player? Well, I guess we’ll see.

What’s The Guy Gotta Do?

Wemby was a unanimous choice as Defensive Player of the Year. That was easy. This wasn’t: Leaving Jaylen Brown, the league’s best midsized defender on the perimeter, off every single line of every single ballot. He didn’t even get a second- or third-place vote. Not one.

If the NBA had a Most Underappreciated Award, Brown probably wouldn’t get any votes, either. That would just show how underappreciated he is. The Celtics were a better team without Jayson Tatum this year, and an unhandcuffed Brown was the reason. He should be an MVP candidate and certainly an All-NBA first-teamer, but the league has now allowed Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic back into the mix, which likely will come at Brown’s expense. Do you think they’d have changed the rules if their posterboy – Tatum – were the candidate?

Kerr Could Strike Gold Again

Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn ImagesApr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Warriors coach Steve Kerr left to a group hug with fellow old-timers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the Warriors bowed out of the play-in tournament, leading to speculation that he might retire now that his contract has expired. Frankly, that would be unfortunate.

Kerr has a rare opportunity this off-season to use a trumpeted return to rally new forces and create a one-season superteam the likes of which the NBA has never seen. He already has Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler returning, with the possibility of keeping Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, all Kerr has to do is what he helped accomplish at the Olympics – talk modern-day Dream Teamers like LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and maybe even VanVleet into joining a historic farewell tour. Just like Paris.

Wouldn’t you love to see it? Better yet, wouldn’t you love to see him try to make it happen?

Nothing Clutch About Clutch Criteria

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a remarkable fourth-quarter player this season. Just as he was in the first, second and third quarters. He certainly has the numbers to make him a legitimate NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Or at least the number we’ve been given.

You see, the NBA defines a “clutch game” as one in which the difference in the score is five or fewer points at any point of the final five minutes of the fourth period. It could be 99-94 with five minutes left, then 109-94 a minute later, yet all points scored through the end of the game go down as “clutch.” Or it could be a 110-85 blowout with five to go, without a single truly clutch second among the final 300 even though the final score might turn out to be 116-111, the product of three late, meaningless 3-pointers.

While the Thunder were blowing everyone out, teams like the 76ers and Nuggets had to duel to the bitter end more times than not. It’s not surprising then that Tyrese Maxey led the NBA with 15 field goals in the final minute with a chance to tie or take the lead. Jamal Murray had 14. Those are clutch performers. SGA had 11, which made him – barely – an All-Clutch Second Teamer.

#Hidden #Storylines #Missed #NBA #Playoffs #Deadspin.com">Hidden Storylines You Might Have Missed So Far in 2026 NBA Playoffs | Deadspin.com Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after three point attempt during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images While the surprisingly competitive NBA playoffs have stolen the headlines – and rightfully so – two of the biggest names in the league have seen interesting stories get buried this week.Here’s what I’ve observed both on and off the court from my seat thousands of miles away …Thunder, Celtics are Two of TwoCan we just fast-forward to a Thunder-Celtics finals? Yeah, I know the 76ers have stolen a game in Boston. It’s why they play seven. Without Joel Embiid, they won’t win again. Here’s hoping for seven SGA-Jaylen Brown head-to-heads in the Finals.Competitive games in most first-round series only serve to lead to this conclusion: The good teams aren’t as good as people think. San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, New York … We’ve barely tipped off the postseason and already we’re asking: Who’s the third-best team in the NBA, the one who could possibly deny an Oklahoma City-Boston showdown? There really isn’t one.Where Big Man Comes Up Small Apr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Watching Victor Wembanyama get hurt, I guess it answers my question: Why is the most unstoppable force the league has seen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing 30 feet from the basket, dazzling us with his ballhandling (but not with his 3-point shooting)?Wemby is quickly headed down the Giannis Antetokounmpo path. You know, the guy who can dunk pretty much anytime he wants, but who has an ego larger than his wingspan, so he feels obligated to show us what a great perimeter player he is. Wemby could average 50 points a game – he really could – if he just walked block to block, caught lob passes and dunked from 10 feet away. He can do it. It’s amazing. His 3-point shooting isn’t.Jaden McDodoIt has now become clear why Anthony Edwards talks so much. It’s to keep the microphones away from Jaden McDaniels.How ignorant do you have to be when, five seconds after you’ve stunned a vastly superior opponent, you blast every one of their players for being poor defenders? Label me Mick Cronin, but I’d have the loudmouth sitting at the end of the bench wearing a dunce cap for Game 3. Aaron Gordon, the guy who will match up with McDaniels next game, is a bad defensive player? Well, I guess we’ll see.What’s The Guy Gotta Do?Wemby was a unanimous choice as Defensive Player of the Year. That was easy. This wasn’t: Leaving Jaylen Brown, the league’s best midsized defender on the perimeter, off every single line of every single ballot. He didn’t even get a second- or third-place vote. Not one.If the NBA had a Most Underappreciated Award, Brown probably wouldn’t get any votes, either. That would just show how underappreciated he is. The Celtics were a better team without Jayson Tatum this year, and an unhandcuffed Brown was the reason. He should be an MVP candidate and certainly an All-NBA first-teamer, but the league has now allowed Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic back into the mix, which likely will come at Brown’s expense. Do you think they’d have changed the rules if their posterboy – Tatum – were the candidate?Kerr Could Strike Gold Again Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Warriors coach Steve Kerr left to a group hug with fellow old-timers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the Warriors bowed out of the play-in tournament, leading to speculation that he might retire now that his contract has expired. Frankly, that would be unfortunate.Kerr has a rare opportunity this off-season to use a trumpeted return to rally new forces and create a one-season superteam the likes of which the NBA has never seen. He already has Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler returning, with the possibility of keeping Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, all Kerr has to do is what he helped accomplish at the Olympics – talk modern-day Dream Teamers like LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and maybe even VanVleet into joining a historic farewell tour. Just like Paris.Wouldn’t you love to see it? Better yet, wouldn’t you love to see him try to make it happen?Nothing Clutch About Clutch CriteriaShai Gilgeous-Alexander was a remarkable fourth-quarter player this season. Just as he was in the first, second and third quarters. He certainly has the numbers to make him a legitimate NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Or at least the number we’ve been given.You see, the NBA defines a “clutch game” as one in which the difference in the score is five or fewer points at any point of the final five minutes of the fourth period. It could be 99-94 with five minutes left, then 109-94 a minute later, yet all points scored through the end of the game go down as “clutch.” Or it could be a 110-85 blowout with five to go, without a single truly clutch second among the final 300 even though the final score might turn out to be 116-111, the product of three late, meaningless 3-pointers.While the Thunder were blowing everyone out, teams like the 76ers and Nuggets had to duel to the bitter end more times than not. It’s not surprising then that Tyrese Maxey led the NBA with 15 field goals in the final minute with a chance to tie or take the lead. Jamal Murray had 14. Those are clutch performers. SGA had 11, which made him – barely – an All-Clutch Second Teamer. #Hidden #Storylines #Missed #NBA #Playoffs #Deadspin.com

The good teams aren’t as good as people think. San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, New York … We’ve barely tipped off the postseason and already we’re asking: Who’s the third-best team in the NBA, the one who could possibly deny an Oklahoma City-Boston showdown? There really isn’t one.

Where Big Man Comes Up Small

Apr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn ImagesApr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Watching Victor Wembanyama get hurt, I guess it answers my question: Why is the most unstoppable force the league has seen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing 30 feet from the basket, dazzling us with his ballhandling (but not with his 3-point shooting)?

Wemby is quickly headed down the Giannis Antetokounmpo path. You know, the guy who can dunk pretty much anytime he wants, but who has an ego larger than his wingspan, so he feels obligated to show us what a great perimeter player he is. Wemby could average 50 points a game – he really could – if he just walked block to block, caught lob passes and dunked from 10 feet away. He can do it. It’s amazing. His 3-point shooting isn’t.

Jaden McDodo

It has now become clear why Anthony Edwards talks so much. It’s to keep the microphones away from Jaden McDaniels.

How ignorant do you have to be when, five seconds after you’ve stunned a vastly superior opponent, you blast every one of their players for being poor defenders? Label me Mick Cronin, but I’d have the loudmouth sitting at the end of the bench wearing a dunce cap for Game 3. Aaron Gordon, the guy who will match up with McDaniels next game, is a bad defensive player? Well, I guess we’ll see.

What’s The Guy Gotta Do?

Wemby was a unanimous choice as Defensive Player of the Year. That was easy. This wasn’t: Leaving Jaylen Brown, the league’s best midsized defender on the perimeter, off every single line of every single ballot. He didn’t even get a second- or third-place vote. Not one.

If the NBA had a Most Underappreciated Award, Brown probably wouldn’t get any votes, either. That would just show how underappreciated he is. The Celtics were a better team without Jayson Tatum this year, and an unhandcuffed Brown was the reason. He should be an MVP candidate and certainly an All-NBA first-teamer, but the league has now allowed Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic back into the mix, which likely will come at Brown’s expense. Do you think they’d have changed the rules if their posterboy – Tatum – were the candidate?

Kerr Could Strike Gold Again

Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn ImagesApr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Warriors coach Steve Kerr left to a group hug with fellow old-timers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the Warriors bowed out of the play-in tournament, leading to speculation that he might retire now that his contract has expired. Frankly, that would be unfortunate.

Kerr has a rare opportunity this off-season to use a trumpeted return to rally new forces and create a one-season superteam the likes of which the NBA has never seen. He already has Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler returning, with the possibility of keeping Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, all Kerr has to do is what he helped accomplish at the Olympics – talk modern-day Dream Teamers like LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and maybe even VanVleet into joining a historic farewell tour. Just like Paris.

Wouldn’t you love to see it? Better yet, wouldn’t you love to see him try to make it happen?

Nothing Clutch About Clutch Criteria

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a remarkable fourth-quarter player this season. Just as he was in the first, second and third quarters. He certainly has the numbers to make him a legitimate NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Or at least the number we’ve been given.

You see, the NBA defines a “clutch game” as one in which the difference in the score is five or fewer points at any point of the final five minutes of the fourth period. It could be 99-94 with five minutes left, then 109-94 a minute later, yet all points scored through the end of the game go down as “clutch.” Or it could be a 110-85 blowout with five to go, without a single truly clutch second among the final 300 even though the final score might turn out to be 116-111, the product of three late, meaningless 3-pointers.

While the Thunder were blowing everyone out, teams like the 76ers and Nuggets had to duel to the bitter end more times than not. It’s not surprising then that Tyrese Maxey led the NBA with 15 field goals in the final minute with a chance to tie or take the lead. Jamal Murray had 14. Those are clutch performers. SGA had 11, which made him – barely – an All-Clutch Second Teamer.

#Hidden #Storylines #Missed #NBA #Playoffs #Deadspin.com">Hidden Storylines You Might Have Missed So Far in 2026 NBA Playoffs | Deadspin.com
Hidden Storylines You Might Have Missed So Far in 2026 NBA Playoffs | Deadspin.com Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after three point attempt during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images While the surprisingly competitive NBA playoffs have stolen the headlines – and rightfully so – two of the biggest names in the league have seen interesting stories get buried this week.Here’s what I’ve observed both on and off the court from my seat thousands of miles away …Thunder, Celtics are Two of TwoCan we just fast-forward to a Thunder-Celtics finals? Yeah, I know the 76ers have stolen a game in Boston. It’s why they play seven. Without Joel Embiid, they won’t win again. Here’s hoping for seven SGA-Jaylen Brown head-to-heads in the Finals.Competitive games in most first-round series only serve to lead to this conclusion: The good teams aren’t as good as people think. San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, New York … We’ve barely tipped off the postseason and already we’re asking: Who’s the third-best team in the NBA, the one who could possibly deny an Oklahoma City-Boston showdown? There really isn’t one.Where Big Man Comes Up Small Apr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Watching Victor Wembanyama get hurt, I guess it answers my question: Why is the most unstoppable force the league has seen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing 30 feet from the basket, dazzling us with his ballhandling (but not with his 3-point shooting)?Wemby is quickly headed down the Giannis Antetokounmpo path. You know, the guy who can dunk pretty much anytime he wants, but who has an ego larger than his wingspan, so he feels obligated to show us what a great perimeter player he is. Wemby could average 50 points a game – he really could – if he just walked block to block, caught lob passes and dunked from 10 feet away. He can do it. It’s amazing. His 3-point shooting isn’t.Jaden McDodoIt has now become clear why Anthony Edwards talks so much. It’s to keep the microphones away from Jaden McDaniels.How ignorant do you have to be when, five seconds after you’ve stunned a vastly superior opponent, you blast every one of their players for being poor defenders? Label me Mick Cronin, but I’d have the loudmouth sitting at the end of the bench wearing a dunce cap for Game 3. Aaron Gordon, the guy who will match up with McDaniels next game, is a bad defensive player? Well, I guess we’ll see.What’s The Guy Gotta Do?Wemby was a unanimous choice as Defensive Player of the Year. That was easy. This wasn’t: Leaving Jaylen Brown, the league’s best midsized defender on the perimeter, off every single line of every single ballot. He didn’t even get a second- or third-place vote. Not one.If the NBA had a Most Underappreciated Award, Brown probably wouldn’t get any votes, either. That would just show how underappreciated he is. The Celtics were a better team without Jayson Tatum this year, and an unhandcuffed Brown was the reason. He should be an MVP candidate and certainly an All-NBA first-teamer, but the league has now allowed Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic back into the mix, which likely will come at Brown’s expense. Do you think they’d have changed the rules if their posterboy – Tatum – were the candidate?Kerr Could Strike Gold Again Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Warriors coach Steve Kerr left to a group hug with fellow old-timers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the Warriors bowed out of the play-in tournament, leading to speculation that he might retire now that his contract has expired. Frankly, that would be unfortunate.Kerr has a rare opportunity this off-season to use a trumpeted return to rally new forces and create a one-season superteam the likes of which the NBA has never seen. He already has Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler returning, with the possibility of keeping Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, all Kerr has to do is what he helped accomplish at the Olympics – talk modern-day Dream Teamers like LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and maybe even VanVleet into joining a historic farewell tour. Just like Paris.Wouldn’t you love to see it? Better yet, wouldn’t you love to see him try to make it happen?Nothing Clutch About Clutch CriteriaShai Gilgeous-Alexander was a remarkable fourth-quarter player this season. Just as he was in the first, second and third quarters. He certainly has the numbers to make him a legitimate NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Or at least the number we’ve been given.You see, the NBA defines a “clutch game” as one in which the difference in the score is five or fewer points at any point of the final five minutes of the fourth period. It could be 99-94 with five minutes left, then 109-94 a minute later, yet all points scored through the end of the game go down as “clutch.” Or it could be a 110-85 blowout with five to go, without a single truly clutch second among the final 300 even though the final score might turn out to be 116-111, the product of three late, meaningless 3-pointers.While the Thunder were blowing everyone out, teams like the 76ers and Nuggets had to duel to the bitter end more times than not. It’s not surprising then that Tyrese Maxey led the NBA with 15 field goals in the final minute with a chance to tie or take the lead. Jamal Murray had 14. Those are clutch performers. SGA had 11, which made him – barely – an All-Clutch Second Teamer. #Hidden #Storylines #Missed #NBA #Playoffs #Deadspin.comApr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after three point attempt during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

While the surprisingly competitive NBA playoffs have stolen the headlines – and rightfully so – two of the biggest names in the league have seen interesting stories get buried this week.

Here’s what I’ve observed both on and off the court from my seat thousands of miles away …

Thunder, Celtics are Two of Two

Can we just fast-forward to a Thunder-Celtics finals? Yeah, I know the 76ers have stolen a game in Boston. It’s why they play seven. Without Joel Embiid, they won’t win again. Here’s hoping for seven SGA-Jaylen Brown head-to-heads in the Finals.

Competitive games in most first-round series only serve to lead to this conclusion: The good teams aren’t as good as people think. San Antonio, Denver, Detroit, New York … We’ve barely tipped off the postseason and already we’re asking: Who’s the third-best team in the NBA, the one who could possibly deny an Oklahoma City-Boston showdown? There really isn’t one.

Where Big Man Comes Up Small

Apr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn ImagesApr 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a call by an official during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Watching Victor Wembanyama get hurt, I guess it answers my question: Why is the most unstoppable force the league has seen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing 30 feet from the basket, dazzling us with his ballhandling (but not with his 3-point shooting)?

Wemby is quickly headed down the Giannis Antetokounmpo path. You know, the guy who can dunk pretty much anytime he wants, but who has an ego larger than his wingspan, so he feels obligated to show us what a great perimeter player he is. Wemby could average 50 points a game – he really could – if he just walked block to block, caught lob passes and dunked from 10 feet away. He can do it. It’s amazing. His 3-point shooting isn’t.

Jaden McDodo

It has now become clear why Anthony Edwards talks so much. It’s to keep the microphones away from Jaden McDaniels.

How ignorant do you have to be when, five seconds after you’ve stunned a vastly superior opponent, you blast every one of their players for being poor defenders? Label me Mick Cronin, but I’d have the loudmouth sitting at the end of the bench wearing a dunce cap for Game 3. Aaron Gordon, the guy who will match up with McDaniels next game, is a bad defensive player? Well, I guess we’ll see.

What’s The Guy Gotta Do?

Wemby was a unanimous choice as Defensive Player of the Year. That was easy. This wasn’t: Leaving Jaylen Brown, the league’s best midsized defender on the perimeter, off every single line of every single ballot. He didn’t even get a second- or third-place vote. Not one.

If the NBA had a Most Underappreciated Award, Brown probably wouldn’t get any votes, either. That would just show how underappreciated he is. The Celtics were a better team without Jayson Tatum this year, and an unhandcuffed Brown was the reason. He should be an MVP candidate and certainly an All-NBA first-teamer, but the league has now allowed Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic back into the mix, which likely will come at Brown’s expense. Do you think they’d have changed the rules if their posterboy – Tatum – were the candidate?

Kerr Could Strike Gold Again

Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn ImagesApr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on before the start of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Warriors coach Steve Kerr left to a group hug with fellow old-timers Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the Warriors bowed out of the play-in tournament, leading to speculation that he might retire now that his contract has expired. Frankly, that would be unfortunate.

Kerr has a rare opportunity this off-season to use a trumpeted return to rally new forces and create a one-season superteam the likes of which the NBA has never seen. He already has Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler returning, with the possibility of keeping Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Now, all Kerr has to do is what he helped accomplish at the Olympics – talk modern-day Dream Teamers like LeBron, Kawhi Leonard and maybe even VanVleet into joining a historic farewell tour. Just like Paris.

Wouldn’t you love to see it? Better yet, wouldn’t you love to see him try to make it happen?

Nothing Clutch About Clutch Criteria

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a remarkable fourth-quarter player this season. Just as he was in the first, second and third quarters. He certainly has the numbers to make him a legitimate NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Or at least the number we’ve been given.

You see, the NBA defines a “clutch game” as one in which the difference in the score is five or fewer points at any point of the final five minutes of the fourth period. It could be 99-94 with five minutes left, then 109-94 a minute later, yet all points scored through the end of the game go down as “clutch.” Or it could be a 110-85 blowout with five to go, without a single truly clutch second among the final 300 even though the final score might turn out to be 116-111, the product of three late, meaningless 3-pointers.

While the Thunder were blowing everyone out, teams like the 76ers and Nuggets had to duel to the bitter end more times than not. It’s not surprising then that Tyrese Maxey led the NBA with 15 field goals in the final minute with a chance to tie or take the lead. Jamal Murray had 14. Those are clutch performers. SGA had 11, which made him – barely – an All-Clutch Second Teamer.

#Hidden #Storylines #Missed #NBA #Playoffs #Deadspin.com
Deadspin | Brooks Koepka partners with Shane Lowry to take on Zurich Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Brooks Koepka tees off on the ninth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images Brooks Koepka knows a little something about team golf. Granted, he did not play much four-ball or foursomes while with LIV Golf, where team scores are simply cumulative stroke-play totals. But in his first season back on the PGA Tour, Koepka decided to play the tour’s only team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and joined Shane Lowry to create the most fascinating pairing of the week. Seventy-four teams will tee off Thursday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. Lowry played the past two Zurich Classics alongside Rory McIlroy, the longtime LIV critic. They won the tournament in 2024, but McIlroy is skipping the event this year amid a stretch of majors and other signature events. Enter Koepka, who’s grinding to qualify for those signature events. He and his brother Chase tied for fifth at the Zurich in 2017. He’s also played on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams opposite Lowry’s Team Europe. “I’ve known Brooks a long time, back from his European days playing the European Tour,” the Irishman said, revealing he texted Koepka’s caddie with the idea at first. “… I said, ‘Are we going to tee it up in New Orleans?’ He said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ “We’re here. To the outside, it might not look like it makes sense, but you know, to us it does. … We do have a good relationship. We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there.” Koepka was enthusiastic about the team-up. “I think the way Shane drives the ball, the way my iron play has been lately, and then Shane’s short game, I mean, I think it’s a pretty good combination,” Koepka said. “I like the way we’re going with him hitting off certain holes and me hitting off the other holes.” The field will play four-ball (best ball) on Thursday and Saturday and switch to foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Sunday. A 36-hole cut will whittle the field down to the top 33 teams and ties. Lowry and McIlroy winning in 2024 was an exception at a tournament where rank-and-file players have a better chance to break through, like Nick Hardy and Davis Riley in 2023. Last year, Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak pulled off a one-stroke win; it was both players’ first win on tour, but Griffin catapulted into the top 10 in the world with two more victories and made the Ryder Cup team. “Everyone has their breakthrough moments,” Griffin said. “Fortunately for me, it was here last year. Now look at me now. I was a (nominee) for the Player of the Year last year. Going into this tournament last year I wasn’t talking to any media. … Every single week can change your career.” Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick rose to a career-best No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking by winning last week’s RBC Heritage, his second trophy of 2026. For the fourth straight year, he will play with his brother, Alex Fitzpatrick. They have yet to finish better than T11 and missed the cut last year. But there’s one major difference now: After years of grinding away, Alex Fitzpatrick won his first European Tour title last month at the Hero Indian Open. “I think it’s changed over time,” Matt Fitzpatrick said of their expectations for this event. “I think the first year we played, I’d also won the Heritage the week before. You come in feeling good about your game and in a more relaxed way. Then the last two years it’s been probably a bit more of, well, we’re playing OK, nothing great, but also trying to enjoy it, but maybe a little bit more pressure. “I feel like this year, yeah, our expectations are higher given the form that we had shown this year, but if anything, I think because of that form, we’re probably allowed to enjoy it a little bit more.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Brooks #Koepka #partners #Shane #Lowry #ZurichApr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Brooks Koepka tees off on the ninth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

Brooks Koepka knows a little something about team golf.

Granted, he did not play much four-ball or foursomes while with LIV Golf, where team scores are simply cumulative stroke-play totals.

But in his first season back on the PGA Tour, Koepka decided to play the tour’s only team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and joined Shane Lowry to create the most fascinating pairing of the week. Seventy-four teams will tee off Thursday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La.

Lowry played the past two Zurich Classics alongside Rory McIlroy, the longtime LIV critic. They won the tournament in 2024, but McIlroy is skipping the event this year amid a stretch of majors and other signature events.

Enter Koepka, who’s grinding to qualify for those signature events. He and his brother Chase tied for fifth at the Zurich in 2017. He’s also played on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams opposite Lowry’s Team Europe.

“I’ve known Brooks a long time, back from his European days playing the European Tour,” the Irishman said, revealing he texted Koepka’s caddie with the idea at first. “… I said, ‘Are we going to tee it up in New Orleans?’ He said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’

“We’re here. To the outside, it might not look like it makes sense, but you know, to us it does. … We do have a good relationship. We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there.”

Koepka was enthusiastic about the team-up.


“I think the way Shane drives the ball, the way my iron play has been lately, and then Shane’s short game, I mean, I think it’s a pretty good combination,” Koepka said. “I like the way we’re going with him hitting off certain holes and me hitting off the other holes.”

The field will play four-ball (best ball) on Thursday and Saturday and switch to foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Sunday. A 36-hole cut will whittle the field down to the top 33 teams and ties.

Lowry and McIlroy winning in 2024 was an exception at a tournament where rank-and-file players have a better chance to break through, like Nick Hardy and Davis Riley in 2023. Last year, Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak pulled off a one-stroke win; it was both players’ first win on tour, but Griffin catapulted into the top 10 in the world with two more victories and made the Ryder Cup team.

“Everyone has their breakthrough moments,” Griffin said. “Fortunately for me, it was here last year. Now look at me now. I was a (nominee) for the Player of the Year last year. Going into this tournament last year I wasn’t talking to any media. … Every single week can change your career.”

Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick rose to a career-best No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking by winning last week’s RBC Heritage, his second trophy of 2026. For the fourth straight year, he will play with his brother, Alex Fitzpatrick.

They have yet to finish better than T11 and missed the cut last year. But there’s one major difference now: After years of grinding away, Alex Fitzpatrick won his first European Tour title last month at the Hero Indian Open.

“I think it’s changed over time,” Matt Fitzpatrick said of their expectations for this event. “I think the first year we played, I’d also won the Heritage the week before. You come in feeling good about your game and in a more relaxed way. Then the last two years it’s been probably a bit more of, well, we’re playing OK, nothing great, but also trying to enjoy it, but maybe a little bit more pressure.

“I feel like this year, yeah, our expectations are higher given the form that we had shown this year, but if anything, I think because of that form, we’re probably allowed to enjoy it a little bit more.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Brooks #Koepka #partners #Shane #Lowry #Zurich">Deadspin | Brooks Koepka partners with Shane Lowry to take on Zurich Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Brooks Koepka tees off on the ninth hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images Brooks Koepka knows a little something about team golf. Granted, he did not play much four-ball or foursomes while with LIV Golf, where team scores are simply cumulative stroke-play totals. But in his first season back on the PGA Tour, Koepka decided to play the tour’s only team event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and joined Shane Lowry to create the most fascinating pairing of the week. Seventy-four teams will tee off Thursday at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. Lowry played the past two Zurich Classics alongside Rory McIlroy, the longtime LIV critic. They won the tournament in 2024, but McIlroy is skipping the event this year amid a stretch of majors and other signature events. Enter Koepka, who’s grinding to qualify for those signature events. He and his brother Chase tied for fifth at the Zurich in 2017. He’s also played on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams opposite Lowry’s Team Europe. “I’ve known Brooks a long time, back from his European days playing the European Tour,” the Irishman said, revealing he texted Koepka’s caddie with the idea at first. “… I said, ‘Are we going to tee it up in New Orleans?’ He said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ “We’re here. To the outside, it might not look like it makes sense, but you know, to us it does. … We do have a good relationship. We’re going to have a good bit of fun out there.” Koepka was enthusiastic about the team-up. “I think the way Shane drives the ball, the way my iron play has been lately, and then Shane’s short game, I mean, I think it’s a pretty good combination,” Koepka said. “I like the way we’re going with him hitting off certain holes and me hitting off the other holes.” The field will play four-ball (best ball) on Thursday and Saturday and switch to foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Sunday. A 36-hole cut will whittle the field down to the top 33 teams and ties. Lowry and McIlroy winning in 2024 was an exception at a tournament where rank-and-file players have a better chance to break through, like Nick Hardy and Davis Riley in 2023. Last year, Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak pulled off a one-stroke win; it was both players’ first win on tour, but Griffin catapulted into the top 10 in the world with two more victories and made the Ryder Cup team. “Everyone has their breakthrough moments,” Griffin said. “Fortunately for me, it was here last year. Now look at me now. I was a (nominee) for the Player of the Year last year. Going into this tournament last year I wasn’t talking to any media. … Every single week can change your career.” Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick rose to a career-best No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking by winning last week’s RBC Heritage, his second trophy of 2026. For the fourth straight year, he will play with his brother, Alex Fitzpatrick. They have yet to finish better than T11 and missed the cut last year. But there’s one major difference now: After years of grinding away, Alex Fitzpatrick won his first European Tour title last month at the Hero Indian Open. “I think it’s changed over time,” Matt Fitzpatrick said of their expectations for this event. “I think the first year we played, I’d also won the Heritage the week before. You come in feeling good about your game and in a more relaxed way. Then the last two years it’s been probably a bit more of, well, we’re playing OK, nothing great, but also trying to enjoy it, but maybe a little bit more pressure. “I feel like this year, yeah, our expectations are higher given the form that we had shown this year, but if anything, I think because of that form, we’re probably allowed to enjoy it a little bit more.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Brooks #Koepka #partners #Shane #Lowry #Zurich

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