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Deadspin | 90th Masters primed to be major challenge at firm, fast Augusta National Apr 7, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin talk while walking the no. 17 fairway during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images AUGUSTA, Ga. — Patrick Reed said this week that there are “10 to 12 guys who have a really legitimate opportunity to win the green jacket.” It doesn’t take math major to determine that would eliminate more than 85% of this week’s 91-player field from winning the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament. Told of Reed’s assessment, Bryson DeChambeau quipped, “I hope I’m one of those 12. That would be nice.” Unlike Reed, DeChambeau has yet to claim a Masters title, but it’s still safe to assume he was among Reed’s short list. The bigger point is that heavy underdogs rarely win at Augusta National. The first major of the year is the only one that is played at the same course every year. It’s a stiff test that lends itself best to those who are not only immensely talented with their ability to hit a variety of shots, but have experience with the different winds, course conditions and nuances that make Augusta National one of the most unique tests in golf. And Reed explained that 10 to 12 are more players than he typically believes enter a Masters with a legitimate chance of winning. “I just feel like with how deep golf has been, especially this past year to two years, that the fields are obviously getting a lot stronger,” he said. “I feel like the field this week is really strong like always. I feel like it used to be five or six, maybe seven guys. “It just makes this event a little bit more special and even more fun going out there and playing against the best.” Three of the past four Masters have been won by the current top two players in the world: Scottie Scheffler in 2022 and 2024 and Rory McIlroy last year, when the Northern Irishman completed the career grand slam in a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose. Included in that stretch was the 2023 victory by former world No. 1 Jon Rahm. The last player to win the Masters in his first attempt was Fuzzy Zoeller, who overcame a six-shot deficit and beat Ed Sneed and Tom Watson in a playoff 47 years ago. On Thursday, McIlroy will begin his quest to become only the fourth player in history to win consecutive Masters. If successful, he would join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-02). “It’s arguably maybe not the largest field in golf, but it’s the strongest,” McIlroy said this week. “There’s so many great players and so many players with so much experience on this golf course, it’s not quite like some of the other major championships. It seems like you get a lot of the same guys contending year in and year out.” The conditions could serve to increase that likelihood this year. Augusta National has not seen a drop of rain this week. After some chilly and breezy conditions on Thursday morning, the forecast calls for mostly sunny — and completely dry — skies throughout the tournament. That includes temperatures in the mid-80s over the weekend. That’s an equation for a firm and fast Augusta National, which will demand precision with all elements of players’ games. “The forecast looks great,” Scheffler said. “It’s going to get firm and fast. I would imagine they would like the greens to get fast. I think that increases the challenge of the golf course. “I’m excited to see how it plays this week. We might get a little bit of wind, too. The golf course is shaping up nicely.” –Derek Harper, Field Level Media #Deadspin #90th #Masters #primed #major #challenge #firm #fast #Augusta #National

Deadspin | 90th Masters primed to be major challenge at firm, fast Augusta National
Deadspin | 90th Masters primed to be major challenge at firm, fast Augusta National Apr 7, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin talk while walking the no. 17 fairway during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images AUGUSTA, Ga. — Patrick Reed said this week that there are “10 to 12 guys who have a really legitimate opportunity to win the green jacket.” It doesn’t take math major to determine that would eliminate more than 85% of this week’s 91-player field from winning the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament. Told of Reed’s assessment, Bryson DeChambeau quipped, “I hope I’m one of those 12. That would be nice.” Unlike Reed, DeChambeau has yet to claim a Masters title, but it’s still safe to assume he was among Reed’s short list. The bigger point is that heavy underdogs rarely win at Augusta National. The first major of the year is the only one that is played at the same course every year. It’s a stiff test that lends itself best to those who are not only immensely talented with their ability to hit a variety of shots, but have experience with the different winds, course conditions and nuances that make Augusta National one of the most unique tests in golf. And Reed explained that 10 to 12 are more players than he typically believes enter a Masters with a legitimate chance of winning. “I just feel like with how deep golf has been, especially this past year to two years, that the fields are obviously getting a lot stronger,” he said. “I feel like the field this week is really strong like always. I feel like it used to be five or six, maybe seven guys. “It just makes this event a little bit more special and even more fun going out there and playing against the best.” Three of the past four Masters have been won by the current top two players in the world: Scottie Scheffler in 2022 and 2024 and Rory McIlroy last year, when the Northern Irishman completed the career grand slam in a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose. Included in that stretch was the 2023 victory by former world No. 1 Jon Rahm. The last player to win the Masters in his first attempt was Fuzzy Zoeller, who overcame a six-shot deficit and beat Ed Sneed and Tom Watson in a playoff 47 years ago. On Thursday, McIlroy will begin his quest to become only the fourth player in history to win consecutive Masters. If successful, he would join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-02). “It’s arguably maybe not the largest field in golf, but it’s the strongest,” McIlroy said this week. “There’s so many great players and so many players with so much experience on this golf course, it’s not quite like some of the other major championships. It seems like you get a lot of the same guys contending year in and year out.” The conditions could serve to increase that likelihood this year. Augusta National has not seen a drop of rain this week. After some chilly and breezy conditions on Thursday morning, the forecast calls for mostly sunny — and completely dry — skies throughout the tournament. That includes temperatures in the mid-80s over the weekend. That’s an equation for a firm and fast Augusta National, which will demand precision with all elements of players’ games. “The forecast looks great,” Scheffler said. “It’s going to get firm and fast. I would imagine they would like the greens to get fast. I think that increases the challenge of the golf course. “I’m excited to see how it plays this week. We might get a little bit of wind, too. The golf course is shaping up nicely.” –Derek Harper, Field Level Media #Deadspin #90th #Masters #primed #major #challenge #firm #fast #Augusta #NationalApr 7, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin talk while walking the no. 17 fairway during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Patrick Reed said this week that there are “10 to 12 guys who have a really legitimate opportunity to win the green jacket.”

It doesn’t take math major to determine that would eliminate more than 85% of this week’s 91-player field from winning the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament.

Told of Reed’s assessment, Bryson DeChambeau quipped, “I hope I’m one of those 12. That would be nice.”

Unlike Reed, DeChambeau has yet to claim a Masters title, but it’s still safe to assume he was among Reed’s short list.

The bigger point is that heavy underdogs rarely win at Augusta National. The first major of the year is the only one that is played at the same course every year. It’s a stiff test that lends itself best to those who are not only immensely talented with their ability to hit a variety of shots, but have experience with the different winds, course conditions and nuances that make Augusta National one of the most unique tests in golf.

And Reed explained that 10 to 12 are more players than he typically believes enter a Masters with a legitimate chance of winning.

“I just feel like with how deep golf has been, especially this past year to two years, that the fields are obviously getting a lot stronger,” he said. “I feel like the field this week is really strong like always. I feel like it used to be five or six, maybe seven guys.

“It just makes this event a little bit more special and even more fun going out there and playing against the best.”

Three of the past four Masters have been won by the current top two players in the world: Scottie Scheffler in 2022 and 2024 and Rory McIlroy last year, when the Northern Irishman completed the career grand slam in a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose.


Included in that stretch was the 2023 victory by former world No. 1 Jon Rahm.

The last player to win the Masters in his first attempt was Fuzzy Zoeller, who overcame a six-shot deficit and beat Ed Sneed and Tom Watson in a playoff 47 years ago.

On Thursday, McIlroy will begin his quest to become only the fourth player in history to win consecutive Masters. If successful, he would join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-02).

“It’s arguably maybe not the largest field in golf, but it’s the strongest,” McIlroy said this week. “There’s so many great players and so many players with so much experience on this golf course, it’s not quite like some of the other major championships. It seems like you get a lot of the same guys contending year in and year out.”

The conditions could serve to increase that likelihood this year.

Augusta National has not seen a drop of rain this week. After some chilly and breezy conditions on Thursday morning, the forecast calls for mostly sunny — and completely dry — skies throughout the tournament.

That includes temperatures in the mid-80s over the weekend. That’s an equation for a firm and fast Augusta National, which will demand precision with all elements of players’ games.

“The forecast looks great,” Scheffler said. “It’s going to get firm and fast. I would imagine they would like the greens to get fast. I think that increases the challenge of the golf course.

“I’m excited to see how it plays this week. We might get a little bit of wind, too. The golf course is shaping up nicely.”

–Derek Harper, Field Level Media

#Deadspin #90th #Masters #primed #major #challenge #firm #fast #Augusta #National

Sports news

Apr 7, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy and Tom McKibbin talk while walking the no. 17 fairway during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Patrick Reed said this week that there are “10 to 12 guys who have a really legitimate opportunity to win the green jacket.”

It doesn’t take math major to determine that would eliminate more than 85% of this week’s 91-player field from winning the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament.

Told of Reed’s assessment, Bryson DeChambeau quipped, “I hope I’m one of those 12. That would be nice.”

Unlike Reed, DeChambeau has yet to claim a Masters title, but it’s still safe to assume he was among Reed’s short list.

The bigger point is that heavy underdogs rarely win at Augusta National. The first major of the year is the only one that is played at the same course every year. It’s a stiff test that lends itself best to those who are not only immensely talented with their ability to hit a variety of shots, but have experience with the different winds, course conditions and nuances that make Augusta National one of the most unique tests in golf.

And Reed explained that 10 to 12 are more players than he typically believes enter a Masters with a legitimate chance of winning.

“I just feel like with how deep golf has been, especially this past year to two years, that the fields are obviously getting a lot stronger,” he said. “I feel like the field this week is really strong like always. I feel like it used to be five or six, maybe seven guys.

“It just makes this event a little bit more special and even more fun going out there and playing against the best.”

Three of the past four Masters have been won by the current top two players in the world: Scottie Scheffler in 2022 and 2024 and Rory McIlroy last year, when the Northern Irishman completed the career grand slam in a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose.

Included in that stretch was the 2023 victory by former world No. 1 Jon Rahm.

The last player to win the Masters in his first attempt was Fuzzy Zoeller, who overcame a six-shot deficit and beat Ed Sneed and Tom Watson in a playoff 47 years ago.

On Thursday, McIlroy will begin his quest to become only the fourth player in history to win consecutive Masters. If successful, he would join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-02).

“It’s arguably maybe not the largest field in golf, but it’s the strongest,” McIlroy said this week. “There’s so many great players and so many players with so much experience on this golf course, it’s not quite like some of the other major championships. It seems like you get a lot of the same guys contending year in and year out.”

The conditions could serve to increase that likelihood this year.

Augusta National has not seen a drop of rain this week. After some chilly and breezy conditions on Thursday morning, the forecast calls for mostly sunny — and completely dry — skies throughout the tournament.

That includes temperatures in the mid-80s over the weekend. That’s an equation for a firm and fast Augusta National, which will demand precision with all elements of players’ games.

“The forecast looks great,” Scheffler said. “It’s going to get firm and fast. I would imagine they would like the greens to get fast. I think that increases the challenge of the golf course.

“I’m excited to see how it plays this week. We might get a little bit of wind, too. The golf course is shaping up nicely.”

–Derek Harper, Field Level Media

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KKR vs LSG Head-to-Head, IPL 2026: Stats, Most Runs & Wickets <div id="content-body-70838132" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Kolkata Knight Riders faces Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.</p><p>Kolkata’s previous encounter against Punjab Kings was abandoned to due rain, helping it get its first points whereas Lucknow on the other hand, won its first game this season in a close encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad taking it to sixth in the points table.</p><p>In the 2025 season, LSG edged out KKR by four runs in a high scoring thriller at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.</p><h4 class="sub_head">KKR v LSG head-to-head record in IPL</h4><p>Matches played: 6</p><p>KKR won: 2</p><p>LSG won: 4</p><h4 class="sub_head">MOST RUNS IN KKR vs LSG IPL MATCHES</h4><div class="article-table my-3"><table class="table"><tr><td> Player </td><td> Innings</td><td> Runs</td><td> Average</td><td> Strike Rate </td><td> HS</td></tr><tr><td> Quinton De Kock</td><td> 5</td><td> 243</td><td> 60.75</td><td> 169.93</td><td> 140*</td></tr><tr><td> Nicholas Pooran</td><td> 4</td><td> 200</td><td> 66.66</td><td> 188.67</td><td> 87*</td></tr><tr><td> Rinku Singh</td><td> 5</td><td> 167</td><td> 55.66</td><td> 198.8</td><td> 67*</td></tr><tr><td> Sunil Narine</td><td> 6</td><td> 161</td><td> 32.2</td><td> 203.79</td><td> 81</td></tr><tr><td> KL Rahul</td><td> 4</td><td> 132</td><td> 44</td><td> 133.33</td><td> 68*</td></tr></table></div><h4 class="sub_head">MOST WICKETS IN KKR vs LSG IPL MATCHES</h4><div class="article-table my-3"><table class="table"><tr><td> Player</td><td> Innings</td><td> Wickets</td><td> Average</td><td> Economy</td><td> BBI</td></tr><tr><td> Harshit Rana</td><td> 5</td><td> 6</td><td> 26.33</td><td> 9.77</td><td> 3/24</td></tr><tr><td> Moshin Khan</td><td> 5</td><td> 6</td><td> 16.33</td><td> 7</td><td> 3/20</td></tr><tr><td> Ravi Bishnoi</td><td> 6</td><td> 6</td><td> 30.66</td><td> 8.49</td><td> 2/23</td></tr><tr><td> Andre Russell</td><td> 6</td><td> 6</td><td> 24</td><td> 12</td><td> 2/17</td></tr><tr><td> Sunil Narine</td><td> 6</td><td> 5</td><td> 30.4</td><td> 6.6</td><td> 2/28</td></tr></table></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 09, 2026</p></div> #KKR #LSG #HeadtoHead #IPL #Stats #Runs #Wickets

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India will need bigger contributions from its leadership duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana and its middle order as it seeks to clinch the three-match T20I in the deciding fixture at Taunton on Tuesday.

The series stands locked at 1-1, with each fixture exposing different issues with the Indian batting order. In the first T20I, openers Smriti and Shafali Verma were dismissed in the very first over. But Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia, who is back in the T20I setup after a recurring injury issues, did well to stabilise the Indian innings and help post a competitive score.

In the second fixure, however, India squandered a positive start with Harmanpreet and Yastika struggling to break free from a mid innings rut.

Harmanpreet, who did not feature in the opening game, returned to her usual no.4 slot in the 2nd T20I, which meant Yastika was brought up to No.3 in place of Jemimah who was pushed to no.5. The disruption didn’t work as Jemimah, slotted into a finishing role, strayed from her natural game and holed out trying to send the ball to the fence.

With the series locked at 1-1, a victory in the decider will not just be another overseas bilateral win but a shot in the arm for either team before the start of the Women’s T20 World Cup later this month.

India was ahead of England in the chase at the end of the PowerPlay (49/1 against England’s 35/1) with the required rate of 8.57. That soon climbed to 9.10 at the halfway mark and to 12.00 by the 14th, prompting India to retire out a struggling Yastika who never really got going. Harmanpreet’s own scoring rate — she has a tendency to take time to settle before exploding — wasn’t great as the pair piled on the dots.

One would have thought Richa Ghosh might be the candidate to send in place of Yastika to infuse some urgency into the chase. But it was Jemimah who was sent ahead of her. Richa was dismissed for another single digit score a few deliveries later.

Harmanpreet’s return and Yastika’s retention meant Bharti Fulmali had to warm the bench, but given India’s finishing troubles, the side might want to keep her in the mix. That said, all of this only points to a highly unsettled batting order, worrying signs with a World Cup around the corner.

For England, too, batting has been a concern, as Amy Jones’ 67 is the only half-century across two games while most of the other seasoned batters got starts but couldn’t carry on with the momentum for sustained periods of time.

Published on Jun 01, 2026

#INDW #ENGW #3rd #T20I #eyes #Smriti #Mandhana #middle #order #ahead #decider #Taunton">IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: All eyes on Smriti Mandhana, middle order ahead of decider in Taunton India will need bigger contributions from its leadership duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana and its middle order as it seeks to clinch the three-match T20I in the deciding fixture at Taunton on Tuesday.The series stands locked at 1-1, with each fixture exposing different issues with the Indian batting order. In the first T20I, openers Smriti and Shafali Verma were dismissed in the very first over. But Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia, who is back in the T20I setup after a recurring injury issues, did well to stabilise the Indian innings and help post a competitive score.In the second fixure, however, India squandered a positive start with Harmanpreet and Yastika struggling to break free from a mid innings rut.Harmanpreet, who did not feature in the opening game, returned to her usual no.4 slot in the 2nd T20I, which meant Yastika was brought up to No.3 in place of Jemimah who was pushed to no.5. The disruption didn’t work as Jemimah, slotted into a finishing role, strayed from her natural game and holed out trying to send the ball to the fence.With the series locked at 1-1, a victory in the decider will not just be another overseas bilateral win but a shot in the arm for either team before the start of the Women’s T20 World Cup later this month.India was ahead of England in the chase at the end of the PowerPlay (49/1 against England’s 35/1) with the required rate of 8.57. That soon climbed to 9.10 at the halfway mark and to 12.00 by the 14th, prompting India to retire out a struggling Yastika who never really got going. Harmanpreet’s own scoring rate — she has a tendency to take time to settle before exploding — wasn’t great as the pair piled on the dots.One would have thought Richa Ghosh might be the candidate to send in place of Yastika to infuse some urgency into the chase. But it was Jemimah who was sent ahead of her. Richa was dismissed for another single digit score a few deliveries later.Harmanpreet’s return and Yastika’s retention meant Bharti Fulmali had to warm the bench, but given India’s finishing troubles, the side might want to keep her in the mix. That said, all of this only points to a highly unsettled batting order, worrying signs with a World Cup around the corner.For England, too, batting has been a concern, as Amy Jones’ 67 is the only half-century across two games while most of the other seasoned batters got starts but couldn’t carry on with the momentum for sustained periods of time.Published on Jun 01, 2026 #INDW #ENGW #3rd #T20I #eyes #Smriti #Mandhana #middle #order #ahead #decider #Taunton

Deadspin | Mets, Mariners each surging entering series in Seattle May 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation. However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked. Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings. The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park. The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games. “Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach. “The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.” Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.” Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single. The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam. “The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said. Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored. The Mets scored 25 runs in the series. “We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.” The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s. The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #Mariners #surging #entering #series #SeattleMay 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images

With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation.

However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked.

Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings.

The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park.

The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games.

“Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach.

“The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.”


Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.”

Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single.

The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam.

“The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said.

Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored.

The Mets scored 25 runs in the series.

“We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.”

The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s.

The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #Mariners #surging #entering #series #Seattle">Deadspin | Mets, Mariners each surging entering series in Seattle May 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo (58) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images With 13 games over the next 14 days, the Seattle Mariners plan to shelve their Bryce Miller/Luis Castillo piggyback experiment for a six-man rotation. However unpopular the piggyback might have been for those involved, there’s no denying it worked. Miller and Castillo each threw 71 pitches over five innings Sunday as the Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings. The American League West-leading Mariners, winners of six in a row, will play host to the New York Mets in a three-game interleague series beginning Monday at T-Mobile Park. The duo combined for a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings across three games. “Both these guys deserve a huge pat on the back for the way they’ve approached it and just been selfless in a lot of ways,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. Miller, who allowed one hit and no runs Sunday, tried to take a big-picture approach. “The piggyback thing hasn’t been ideal for all of us so far, but it’s also like it could be a blessing in disguise, saving us a few pitches here and there, a few innings here and there,” Miller said. “Hopefully it works out (where) at the end of the year, we’re feeling fresh and ready to go into the postseason.” Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “There were a couple obstacles, but the good thing for me is that we were able to overcome them. The important thing for me is that I’m healthy and we’re throwing the ball right.” Cole Young and Dominic Canzone hit solo homers for Seattle and Victor Robles drove in the winning run in extra innings with an infield single. The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of Miami and have won four straight overall. New York won 10-1 Sunday as Juan Soto hit a grand slam. “The whole lineup came ready to attack,” Soto said. Carson Benge hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. Every Mets starter reached safely and eight of nine scored. The Mets scored 25 runs in the series. “We had a tough series against the same team last weekend, when basically we didn’t do anything offensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “For us to make that adjustment quickly and put up that type of performance the whole weekend, it was just good to see.” The Mets plan to give right-hander Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA) his first career start Monday, likely as an opener before using Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56) as a bulk reliever. Warren is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle; Manaea is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) versus the M’s. The Mariners will counter with right-hander Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78). He anchored a 4-1 victory against the Athletics last Tuesday, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings. Hancock will meet the Mets for the first time. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #Mariners #surging #entering #series #Seattle

The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.

Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.

The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

#Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals">Knicks vs. Spurs instant prediction for 2026 NBA Finals The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship. #Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

#Knicks #Spurs #instant #prediction #NBA #Finals">Knicks vs. Spurs instant prediction for 2026 NBA Finals

The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.

Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.

The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

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