Manchester City star Phil Foden has struggled for form in recent months but has been backed publicly by his manager and now the club
Phil Foden is set to sign a new long-term deal that keeps him at Manchester City after a breakthrough in contract negotiations. The homegrown star will commit for at least another four years, ending uncertainty around his future with his current contract running out next summer.
Foden jointly holds the record as the club’s most decorated player, breaking into Pep Guardiola’s squad from the academy in the 2017/18 season and playing a major role in an unprecedented level of success. He was voted as the best player in the Premier League after guiding City to their fourth consecutive title in the 2023/24 season, although he has seen his form diminish sharply since.
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The player admitted to suffering from physical and mental burnout last season and appeared to be refreshed this season with excellent form shown between September and December, but his level has dropped again and the last league game he started was the disappointing draw with Nottingham Forest more than two months ago.
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Despite that, Guardiola has been adamant throughout that Foden will rediscover his best form and has regularly turned to him as a substitute in that time. The club have now shown their backing for the 25-year-old by handing him a new deal that ties him to the Etihad until 2023, with the option of another year.
As reported by the Athletic, the contract negotiations have been handled by Rafaela Pimenta – the super agent who represents Erling Haaland and agreed his nine-and-a-half-year contract extension last year. Foden is still hoping to be called into the England squad for the World Cup this summer, but faces a nervous wait as Thomas Tuchel weighs up his options.
The 2026 Truist Championship begins this week at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the PGA Tour tournament, including a full Truist Championship TV schedule, streaming information and complete tee times for the first and second rounds once they are released.
How to watch Truist Championship
Last year, the Truist Championship, formerly known as the Wells Fargo Championship, was played at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. But only for one year. Quail Hollow Club, the longtime home of the event, was busy preparing to host the 2025 PGA Championship.
This year, the Truist heads back to Quail Hollow in North Carolina, and while it’s not a major like last year’s PGA, it is a PGA Tour Signature Event with a $20 million purse. The player who won last year’s PGA at Quail Hollow, Scottie Scheffler, is not in the field this week. But many of the other top Tour stars are.
Joining McIlroy in the field is last week’s winner and newly minted World No. 3 Cameron Young, as well as the man he took that ranking from, World No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick.
CBS and Golf Channel will provide TV coverage of the 2026 Truist Championship, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer streaming coverage and featured group coverage all week long. Paramount+ will air simulcasts of CBS’s coverage.
You can find complete information about streaming or watching the tournament on TV below.
What: 2026 Truist Championship Where: Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C. When: Thursday-Sunday, May 7-10 Purse: $20 million ($3.6 million winner’s share)
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How to watch on TV
CBS and Golf Channel will air TV coverage of the 2026 Truist Championship this week. Check out the full TV schedule below.
Thursday, May 7: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Friday, May 8: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Saturday, May 9: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS) Sunday, May 10: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
How to watch online, streaming
You can watch the 2026 Truist Championship online via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, including exclusive early coverage starting at 7:30 a.m. ET all four days of the tournament. ESPN+ will also provide featured hole and featured group coverage for every round. You can stream CBS’s coverage on Paramount+.
This Saturday night, Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois go toe-to-toe in one of the most intriguing bouts in British heavyweight history, with the WBO crown at stake.
Ahead of the action, well-respected former trainer and fight analyst, Teddy Atlas, has made his prediction for how the contest will play out.
Wardley announced himself on the world stage with a knockout win against Justis Huni whilst behind on the cards, last summer. Then, in just his second outing beyond the domestic level, he halted Joseph Parker to claim the WBO Interim title.
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Oleksandr Usyk decided not to face Wardley and subsequently vacated the belt, allowing the Ipswich fan-favourite to be elevated to full world champion, but the 31-year-old has agreed to a difficult first defence against ‘Triple D’ – who lost his IBF strap to Usyk last time out.
As a result, Saturday night is sure to be telling for both men and, on his YouTube channel, Atlas explained why the similar strengths of both Wardley and Dubois make this fight so interesting.
“It might come down to who lands first. Both guys are big punchers and the punch that they deliver with the most frequency and knockout power is the right hand – and they both get hit with right hands. They both have been caught with right hands, so both of them are susceptible to the other guy’s forte, to the other guy’s strength.
“The mental is always important, where is a guy mentally? 75% of this is mental. That edge has to go, right now, to Wardley, who just won a heavyweight title, he is undefeated and Dubois is coming off a knockout loss to Usyk. So, mentally you gotta have the edge for Wardley, but Dubois has been here before.
“Dubois is much more experienced and I don’t mean [just] in the pro’s, I mean he had an amateur background. What makes Wardley so extraordinary, and makes his story so extraordinary, is that he had no amateur fights.”
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When it came to a prediction, Atlas believes the fight will last no longer than eight rounds and says he ‘cannot go against’ Wardley.
“It’s a very interesting fight. I am going to go with the under [8.5 rounds]. I think that Dubois has got a chance of winning this fight, I do, but I am not going against Wardley, not when he is on this magic carpet ride.”
The outlook for Saturday’s Group 2 Hollindale Stakes altered on Monday following Pride Of Jenni’s official entry into the $500,000 Group 2 prize.
This mare, popular with fans, appears in the 20 nominations for the Gold Coast race, which lists the last two Melbourne Cup winners Knight’s Choice and Half Yours.
For Pride Of Jenni, the 1800-metre test represents her first outing since placing fifth in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) at Randwick April 11, as owner Tony Ottobre revealed her recovery prompted the decision with trainer Ciaron Maher to venture to Queensland.
“It was never the plan, we were always going to give her the three runs in the autumn, which were some very high-level races,” Ottobre told SENTrack.
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“She came out of those three runs a treat so we thought it’d probably be wise just to keep her ticking over while she was semi-spelling at Bong Bong Farm, which is in New South Wales, and the news coming back to me was that she was pretty keen and happy to keep going.
“It would have been remiss of us not to take her to Queensland and let the Queensland public have a look at this fantastic, beautiful animal that’s won Horse of the Year go around and hopefully do her thing where she can get out to a margin and stretch them and make it all exciting.”
Subject to a performance in line with hopes this weekend, the mare targets the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 23 next.
She has raced in Queensland just once before, taking 10th in last year’s Doomben Cup.
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Coming into her Queen Of The Turf fifth was a tight second to Light Infantry Man in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), off a third on resumption in the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m).
Confirmation saw Pride Of Jenni pair with She’s A Hustler at $5 for second in Hollindale Stakes markets, behind Half Yours at $2.25.
Discover the betting sites offering competitive racing odds for the Hollindale Stakes.
Paul Seixas has announced that he will be competing in the 2026 Tour de France. At 19, he will be the youngest rider to start the Tour since 1937.
Also in this sports roundup:
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In football, Manchester City drew with Everton and saw Arsenal pull ahead at the top of the Premier League table. Chelsea lost their sixth consecutive league match. The French team has qualified for the round of 16 at the Men’s Team World Table Tennis Championships.
Whether you’re a red or a blue, there are huge discounts to be found at one major sport retailer – but only hours remain
Jake Hackney Senior Consumer Writer, Aidan McCartney and Kieran Isgin
11:30, 05 May 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
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Football fans can save up to 70% on kits, jerseys and other merchandise in a flash sale running today. The deals have just gone live at Kitbag, which has slashed the price of more than 2,000 items in its end-of-season clearance.
Throughout the sale, fans can findreduced home, away and third kits for men, women and children. Discounts are available on the 2025/26 kits for Man Cityand Man Unitedwith this season’s adult men’s jerseys reduced to £30 while kids kits are as low as £9.60.
To unlock the lower prices, fans simply need to enter the code SAVE at checkout. The sale won’t be around for long, however, with Kitbag confirming the code will expire tonight at 11.59pm (May 5).
With the World Cup now just weeks away, England supporters can also browse a range of Three Lions gear as alternatives to the new Nike kit, including the 2024 edition and some classic retro shirts. Kitbag also stocks jerseys and kits from numerous overseas clubs, including Spanish giants Real Madrid and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, with fans able to knock more than £60 off selected items during the sale.
For those browsing this weekend’s Kitbag end-of-season sale, the retailer has garnered thousands of glowing Trustpilot reviews, with customers commending the quality, value and service. One shopper writes: “Ordered two shirts, came two days later. All good, sweet as.”
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Another states: “Bought two kits for my grandsons. Great quality, price. Sizes spot on. Kept informed throughout the transaction arrived as stated with free postage.” One customer experienced a delivery problem but remained satisfied overall, writing: “Had an issue where my first item was messed up in delivery but they refunded and let me keep the item. I then re-purchased and it was amazing service.”
Kitbag has slashed up to 70% off football kits and merch in its end-of-season sale, including from Premier League clubs like Man United, Man City, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs and more.
Another glowing five-star review reads: “Excellent service, products and price. I ordered football kit for my grandson, the price was unbelievably good so I worried it would be fake. It is however the genuine kit. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Here’s a breakdown of some of our top picks in Kitbag’s major sale…
Manchester United adidas Home Minikit 2024-25 – From £45 to £9.60
The Manchester United 2024-25 home minikitis a complete three-piece set designed for young supporters, featuring a jersey and shorts that replicate the first-team look worn at Old Trafford. The design has a vibrant red gradient that transitions from light to dark, accented by the iconic white Adidas stripes and a heat-applied club crest.
Beyond its appearance, the kit is engineered for comfort and sustainability, coming with moisture-wicking AEROREADY technology to keep children cool and dry.
Manchester City PUMA Home Shirt 2024-25 – Kids – From £60 to £12
The Manchester City 2024-25 youth home shirtis a tribute to the city’s local identity, specifically featuring a unique 0161 area code graphic integrated into the collar and cuffs. The shirt is designed with a standard fit and short sleeves, making it a versatile choice for both young athletes on the pitch and fans in the stands.
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The jersey usesPUMA’s dryCELL technology, which is engineered to wick moisture away from the body to keep the wearer cool and dry. It is made from 100% polyester and features the official club crest alongside the PUMA logo and sponsor branding.
Manchester United adidas Home Shirt 2025-26 – From £60 to £30
The Manchester United 2025-26 youth home shirt features a design inspired by the “Theatre of Dreams.” The jersey stands out with an abstract sleeve graphic that uses multiple shades of red to represent various elements of Old Trafford, including the pitch, stands, and tunnel.
Functionally, the shirt is built with a regular fit and is crafted from 100% recycled polyester and incorporates AEROREADY technology to manage moisture and keep the wearer dry.
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Manchester City PUMA Fourth Shirt 2024-25 – From £60 to £12
The Manchester City 2024-25 youth fourth shirt, titled the ‘Definitely City’ kit, is a special-edition collaboration co-designed by legendary musician and lifelong fan Noel Gallagher. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Oasis’s iconic debut album Definitely Maybe, the jersey features a light straw-colored base inspired by the album’s cover art
The shirt is built with PUMA’s dryCELL moisture-wicking technology to ensure young fans stay dry and comfortable. The design also features a “Definitely City” sign-off on the back of the neck and a gold-colored club crest.
Manchester United adidas Third Shirt 2025-26 – From £85 to £44.63
The Manchester United 2025-26 Third Shirtfeatures a sleek black base with a subtle jacquard pattern of embossed Red Devil motifs woven directly into the fabric. The design is further elevated by the return of the iconic Adidas Trefoil logo and a modernised, shielded version of the club crest.
Technical details include a tricolour flat-knit crew neck and matching sleeve cuffs in yellow, black, and blue, adding a contemporary twist to the vintage aesthetic. The shirt is made from 100% recycled polyester and incorporates AEROREADY moisture-wicking technology to keep fans dry.
Mumbai Indians (MI) coach Mahela Jayawardene lavished praise on 33-year-old spinner Raghu Sharma after he picked up his maiden wicket in the Indian Premier League (IPL), highlighting the bowler’s journey from being a net bowler last season to making a mark on the big stage. Raghu’s breakthrough came during the Mumbai Indians’ six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium, where the hosts chased down a daunting 229-run target in 18.4 overs. The victory was powered by a 143-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma (84) and Ryan Rickelton (83), helping MI register their highest-ever successful chase at the venue.
Jayawardene revealed that Raghu’s rise has been built on relentless hard work and determination, recalling how the youngster pushed himself even during a training stint in Sri Lanka.
“You guys remember he was a net bowler last year, worked really hard, got into the squad, never stopped working hard. He came to Sri Lanka; some people don’t know he came for a 10-day camp. He wasn’t bowling well, so he worked even harder in Colombo in that hot sun,” Jayawardene said in a video released by the Mumbai Indians on X.
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In a match dominated by big scores with LSG posting 228/5 after Nicholas Pooran’s explosive 63 off 21 balls, Raghu made his moment count by claiming his maiden IPL wicket of Akshat Raghuvanshi, providing a key breakthrough in the middle overs. Raghu delivered a composed spell against the Super Giants, returning figures of 4-0-36-1.
The former Sri Lanka captain added that Raghu had made a promise to return stronger this season, something he has now begun to deliver on.
“And he promised one thing, he said, ‘I’ll be ready for this year’. So a lot of hard work, well deserved to be here, a strong mind and a big heart, well done,” he added.
After taking his first wicket, Raghu pulled out a chit from his pocket and celebrated by holding it. “A very painful 15 years. By the divine mercy of Gurudev ended today. Thanks, Mumbai Indians (Blue and Gold), for giving me this opportunity. Ever grateful,” Raghu’s note read.
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Raghu came in as a replacement for Vignesh Puthur in IPL 2025, but didn’t get a chance to play a game in that season. He made his debut on Saturday against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) but returned wicketless.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
The Vegas Golden Knights claimed Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 3-1 Monday night, but their game-winning goal in Monday’s series opener didn’t come without its share of controversy.
The goal in question — a Pavel Dorofeyev dish to Ivan Barbashev net-front to give Vegas a 2-1 lead late in the third — probably should never have happened, considering the play that launched it looked a lot like icing.
But it wasn’t called that way. Despite the fact that Barbashev hadn’t yet reached centre ice when he flipped the puck deep into Anaheim’s zone, officials deemed it no icing and allowed the play to continue.
An in-game explanation from ESPN’s rule analyst Dave Jackson pointed out that because it appeared Vegas forward Jack Eichel had a slight edge on Ducks defender Jackson LaCombe in the footrace to retrieve the puck, with LaCombe slowing, it was ruled not to be icing.
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Watch it again, and it’s hard to see how LaCombe didn’t have the edge there. On a call as subjective as this, the defender likely should’ve gotten the benefit of the doubt.
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville was absolutely incensed on the bench, and, well, he had a point. It was an extremely consequential call, given how tight this game was (it was tied 1-1 at the time, and getting dangerously close to overtime). Vegas went on to secure the win with an insurance empty-netter by Mitch Marner to take a 1-0 series lead and leave a bad taste in Anaheim’s mouth.
“Clearly, I disagreed with the call. And it was clearly icing,” Quenneville said, adding that the officials didn’t give him an explanation. “Their guy stopped skating, which really made me annoyed.
“We just scored, it was a huge call and it was an easy call.”
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Big-Game Brett stays true to his nickname
Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden is having himself a post-season. After a quiet start to the playoffs, the 28-year-old has gone on a scoring spree of late. He scored two short-handed goals against Utah in Round 1, including a double-OT winner, and now has at least one goal in four straight games thanks to his series-opening marker against the Ducks.
Howden’s chemistry with Marner has been on full display. And as impressive as Howden’s clutch goal-scoring has been, his goal against Anaheim was all Marner.
The centreman’s thread-the-needle pass to Howden was a special play, and a continuation of Marner’s playoff hot streak after scoring the game-winner to close things out against Utah on Friday.
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Ducks’ red-hot power play freezes up vs. Vegas
One of the biggest stories heading into the second-round series between Anaheim and Vegas was the state of the clubs’ special teams and how they stack up. In one corner, we’ve got a Ducks power play that capitalized on 50 per cent of its opportunities against the Oilers in Round 1, registering at least one PP marker in all six games. In the other corner, the Golden Knights’ penalty kill — a unit that not only shut down the Mammoth’s PP, but outscored it short-handed.
So far, with just one game’s worth of data to examine, the Golden Knights have the edge. In four power-play opportunities, Anaheim didn’t score with the man advantage. (The Ducks also held Vegas scoreless on two opportunities.)
Can Anaheim regain form for Game 2?
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Flyers bounce back, but can’t close out vs. Hurricanes
The Philadelphia Flyers learned some hard lessons Saturday night in Carolina. Turns out they’re quick studies — the squad that lost 3-0 in Game 1 got off to a flying start in Monday night’s Game 2 to change the tone of this series.
The Flyers came out doing everything right: hard forechecking, tons of pressure, finding shots. Everything head coach Rick Tocchett preached post-game on Saturday, they applied two days later. They were rewarded for the strong start, scoring twice early in the first frame, but then … the goals dried up.
Even despite the lack of scoring following the first period, the Flyers were still dictating much of the game. They lost their grip when Seth Jarvis tied things up in the third period, but bounced back yet again in overtime, dominating the offensive play.
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But all it takes is one good opportunity, and that’s what Carolina ultimately got as Taylor Hall buried the winner late in extra time to claim the 3-2 victory.
There are silver linings to be found in Philly’s outing, considering how well the Flyers adjusted their game, but silver linings don’t win you a series. Down 2-0 heading back home, the Flyers are already up against it.
Hall’s turning back the clock in Carolina
If you want to fall down a fascinating hockey rabbit hole, go give yourself a refresher on Hall’s career. Edmonton’s first-overall pick in 2010 and New Jersey’s Hart Trophy winner in 2018 became something of an NHL journeyman after his Devils tenure ended.
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The past few years have been defined by multiple stops and health setbacks, but this year in Carolina has felt different. In 80 games with the Hurricanes, he registered 18 goals and 48 points and looks right at home in Rod Brind’Amour’s system.
And this spring, he’s really heating up. Through six games of these playoffs, Hall has already hit a new career high in points in a single post-season with nine. (His previous personal best was eight in seven games with the 2022-23 Bruins.) The 34-year-old has registered at least one point in every playoff outing so far this year, with Monday’s overtime game-winner clearly the biggest.
His late-OT tally capped the Hurricanes’ three-goal comeback victory. Playing alongside Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, Hall has been one third of the club’s most electric, productive line — and his surge on the stat sheet has been a great story so far.
Flyers-Hurricanes is a tough one for power plays
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Elite as Carolina’s penalty kill is, the Hurricanes’ power play leaves something to be desired. Philadelphia’s has fared even worse all year, including in the post-season. So, imagine our surprise when both sides scored on their first power-play opportunity of the night.
Flyers defenceman Jamie Drysdale cashed in less than five minutes into Game 2, launching an offensive surge that saw Sean Couturier follow it up with an even-strength marker just 39 seconds later to take an early 2-0 lead.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first of the post-season midway through the first frame to get Carolina on the board.
Considering the flurry of first-period goals and special-teams action, you’d be forgiven for thinking we were in for a barnburner of an offensive showdown à la Sunday’s series opener between Minnesota and Colorado.
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But that’s not how this one played out at all. The Flyers and Hurricanes took turns going on the man advantage, with neither side able to build on the early success as goaltenders took over. The Flyers ended the matchup one-for-seven on the power players, with Carolina finishing one-for-six.
The second round of the 2026 NBA postseason began on Tuesday, and it gave severe “opposite day” vibes. The first matchup between New York and Philadelphia was supposed to be the start of what most expected to be the most competitive series of the round, a rematch of an epic 2024 series that went six games. Nope. New York blew the doors off of Philadelphia in a 137-98 Game 1 victory.
The second game, meanwhile, was the one we expected to be simple. The Timberwolves were hobbled. No Ayo Dosunmu. No Donte DiVincenzo. Anthony Edwards was playing on a minutes limit. Their first-round win over Denver was a tremendous accomplishment, but come on. They were seemingly built for Denver’s size. How would they react to the younger, deeper and more athletic Spurs team, playing at full strength in their home building? Well, we got our answer. Minnesota, a 9.5-point underdog, stole Game 1 in San Antonio.
Monday’s NBA playoff scoreboard
Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102
With half of the second round now underway, let’s pick some winners and losers from the two Game 1s we just witnessed on Monday.
Winner: Chris Finch
You could go in any number of directions for Minnesota. Mike Conley played 42 seconds in Minnesota’s Game 3 win over Denver, yet he started this game and made four 3s. Anthony Edwards hyperextended his knee and suffered a bone bruise nine days ago. He played 25 minutes, shot 8 of 13 and helped build the fourth-quarter lead that Minnesota carried across the finish line. Terrence Shannon gave them real minutes. The defense was spectacular. We’re not lacking for choices here.
But at a certain point, we have to extend some credit to the coach who’s making all of these playoff upsets possible. Something about Minnesota’s culture just seems more conducive to the postseason than the regular season. The Wolves are a team-wide playoff riser who has now won a playoff series as an underdog three postseasons in a row and just stunned one of the championship favorites on their home-court shorthanded.
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Some of that is cultural. Some of it is strategic. Finch coached an incredible Game 1 full of really creative wrinkles. He toyed with a three-big lineup against Denver featuring Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid and Julius Randle, and he had more success with it against San Antonio. For most of the fourth quarter, he played without Gobert on the floor so Minnesota could go five-out and draw Wembanyama away from the rim. They scored 35 in the final frame, their most of any quarter in the game. He managed Edwards carefully but effectively, allowing him to finish strong after a fairly light workload throughout the first three quarters.
Really, this is an organizational victory for Minnesota. They’ve had a lot of those recently. Somehow, the Timberwolves built a team that consistently outperforms playoff expectations. If we’re going to condense it to a single name, though, it has to be Finch.
Loser: Victor Wembanyama
Here’s how high of a standard Victor Wembanyama has set: entering tonight, the record for blocks in a single playoff game (at least since they were officially tracked dating back to the 1973-74 season) was 10. Wembanyama tied that record in the third quarter of his fifth playoff game. I struggle to imagine anyone breaking the new record of 12 he set on Monday — except, well, him. He finished the night with a triple-double (11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks), but his offense still underwhelmed.
Wembanyama’s 3-point attempt rate dipped from 47% last season to 32.4% this season. It was a welcome change. He shouldn’t cut triples out of his shot diet, but he’s so dangerous near the basket that the bulk of his shots should be inside. Denver’s struggles against Gobert in the first round were tied to Nikola Jokić’s poor 3-point shooting. The idea, clearly, was to drag Gobert away from the basket to open the rim up for everyone else, and the Spurs did score well at the basket. But Wembanyama missed all eight of his 3-point attempts.
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Now, it’s hard to blame him too much for a bad shooting night. That will turn. But Wembanyama did have success attacking Gobert in pick-and-roll and as a driver. When Minnesota went away from Gobert in the fourth quarter, they were very intentional about packing the paint with help whenever he had the ball. The Timberwolves game-planned Wembanyama out of the paint offensively, and that’s the problem the Spurs need to solve in Game 2.
Winner: Jalen Brunson
You could pick pretty much any core Knick as the Game 1 winner. Mikal Bridges seems back on track after a 7-of-10 shooting night in which he defended Tyrese Maxey very well. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to thrive as a top-of-the-key hub, racking up six more assists in a role opposing defenses haven’t cracked yet. OG Anunoby took his playoff 3-point percentage up to… checks notes… 63.75%. Josh Hart just did Josh Hart stuff all night. You can’t really go wrong.
But I’d like to point out that Jalen Brunson has now scored 35 or more points in five consecutive playoff games against the 76ers:
Game 3, 2024: 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting.
Game 4, 2024: 47 points on 18-of-34 shooting.
Game 5, 2024: 40 points on 15-of-32 shooting.
Game 6, 2024: 41 points on 13-of-27 shooting.
Game 1, 2026: 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting.
Guard defense was a well-known problem for the 76ers coming into this series, and Joel Embiid’s mobility in pick-and-roll defense isn’t great. Philadelphia could take Embiid off of New York’s big men and instead let him serve as a helper off of Josh Hart, but the Knicks have seen plenty of that over the past two seasons and seem more comfortable than ever in dealing with it. Besides, Embiid wasn’t particularly active defensively in this game regardless.
What’s so scary about this outburst, specifically, is the number of shots. Brunson got his points without completely monopolizing the offense. Three other starters scored at least 17. If New York can keep Bridges in a rhythm and maximize Towns as a weapon away from the basket without sacrificing Brunson’s individual offense, that’s probably checkmate for Philadelphia. The Knicks are at their worst when they’re a one-man band. They found the proper balance in the last three games against Atlanta and are absolutely humming thus far against the 76ers.
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Loser: Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid
Boston is a juicy matchup for Maxey and Embiid. Derrick White is a great defensive guard, but more so in a help role than straight up against stars. Maxey was too quick for him. Boston’s center rotation consists of two players making minimum money in Neemias Queta and Luka Garza and a career-long defensive liability in Nikola Vučević. Queta couldn’t stop fouling him, Vučević was too slow to contest Embiid’s pick-and-pop jumpers. It’s not terribly surprising that Philadelphia’s two best players thrived in that series.
The Knicks represent an entirely different set of problems. Philadelphia got Karl-Anthony Towns into foul trouble, but Mitchell Robinson is far more defensively capable than anyone Boston had. The Knicks have a number of quick reserve guards who can at least keep pace with Maxey, most notably Deuce McBride and Jose Alvarado, and Mikal Bridges had one of his better defensive games of the postseason as his primary matchup.
Embiid and Maxey still managed to get to the line. They almost always will. But they combined to shoot 6 of 20 from the field. The volume there is as concerning as the efficiency. They took between 40 and 44 field goals combined in Games 5, 6 and 7 against Boston, which is probably around where the Sixers would like them in any big game. But the Knicks are so much better equipped to guard them and were so stout in help on Monday that very few easy points were available to them. Philadelphia played a Game 7 two days ago. They’re at a rest and game-planning disadvantage against a Knicks team that closed its own series out far less stressfully two days earlier. There’s plenty of room here for the old “play better” adjustment, but if they come out this flat in Game 2, this won’t be much of a series.
Fans pack U.S. Bank Stadium as the Minnesota Vikings host the Atlanta Falcons, with Sep. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis capturing a high-energy atmosphere as supporters in purple and gold filled the stands and fueled momentum throughout a lively NFC matchup early in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings drafted four defensive players before the end of Round 3 in the 2026 NFL draft, the most such selections before the start of Round 4 in franchise history. Now, according to ESPN, two of those rookies have outside chances of winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award: defensive tackle Caleb Banks and linebacker Jake Golday.
Banks and Golday already have outside attention before playing a snap.
No Vikings player has won rookie of the year since 2009, when wide receiver Percy Harvin brought home the hardware.
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Minnesota’s Defensive Youth Movement Gets Early Buzz
Do you think Banks and Golday have a shot at DROY glory?
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks celebrates a takeaway during second-half action, with Nov 16, 2024 centered at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville as he secures a fumble recovery against LSU, energizing the defense and swinging momentum in a physical SEC matchup late in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
ESPN Names Banks a ‘Longshot” Contender for DROY
Ben Solak analyzed the Rookie of the Year chase at length last week, and on Banks, he noted: “No defensive tackle has won Rookie of the Year since Aaron Donald in 2014, and the only other tackle to do it this century was Ndamukong Suh. Banks is that sort of talent and an enticing bet accordingly. But he has a foot injury that’s impossible to overlook.”
“He also plays in a Brian Flores defense that doesn’t allow defensive tackles to play the sort of unhinged, penetration-oriented style that leads to sacks. Sure, the Vikings spent an early pick on Banks — but as head coach of the Dolphins in 2019, Flores used the No. 13 pick on Christian Wilkins, and he had two sacks as a rookie. It’s hard to see the path for Banks.”
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Banks broke a bone in his foot at the NFL Combine in late February, so fans will monitor whether he will be ready for Week 1, let alone contend for DROY.
Golday, Too
Calling Golday, a 2nd-Rounder from Cincinnati, an even longer long shot, Solak opined, “Golday is an off-ball/on-ball tweener who will be stuck behind established starters at both positions: Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner at outside linebacker; Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman at inside linebacker.”
“He will undoubtedly have flashy plays in subpackages, but he simply will not see enough snaps — barring injury — to contend for this award.”
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Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday works through contact drills during a spring session, with April 12, 2025 placed at Nippert Stadium as he strikes a pad in practice, focusing on technique, strength, and readiness while preparing for the upcoming college football season in a controlled training environment. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Many consider a Golday a “raw” prospect, and with the Vikings showcasing tremendous ILB depth, it’s unclear if Golday will carve out a meaningful role on defense as a rookie. Stay tuned.
The Other Contenders
From the Vikings’ rookie haul, four other men have outside chances of contending for OROY or DROY:
Domonique Orange (NT)
Jakobe Thomas (S)
Charles Demmings (CB)
Demond Claiborne (RB)
The league doesn’t typically acknowledge nose tackles for DROY, but in theory, if Orange logged 5-7 sacks as a rookie, he could move the needle. Thomas probably won’t win a starter’s job this summer, but if he pulled off that feat, he could, in theory, raise eyebrows.
On Demmings, if Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers fell injured this summer, Flores could tap him on the shoulder to start as a rookie, casting his profile into a national spotlight.
Overall, after Banks, Claiborne is probably the most likely Viking to contend for OROY. If one pretends that he barnstorms the summer, so much so that he cannot be denied the RB1 job, he could turn heads in an offense tailor-made for offensive creativity.
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On the whole, Banks is the favorite Viking to win the award, assuming his injured foot is ready for Week 1.
A Draft Class That Must Hit
The firing of former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January can be traced directly to the draft.
His draft success rate remained persistently low. Since 2022, only about 18% of Minnesota’s draft picks have proven successful, leaving too many gaps on a roster that desperately needs inexpensive, young talent. A stagnant draft pipeline forces reliance on costly free agency, which explains why the Vikings increasingly depended on older players to remain competitive.
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Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks speaks with media members during a pre-draft event, with Feb. 25, 2026 set inside the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis as he outlines preparation, mindset, and expectations while meeting with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine ahead of the upcoming draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The unsustainable approach eventually catches up. The next general manager, whether Rob Brzezinski or an external candidate, faces one critical mandate: the draft must yield results. Minnesota urgently needs an influx of starting-caliber players on rookie contracts to stabilize the roster and reset its long-term trajectory. The draft is only place in the NFL to find players for free.
The success of this strategy hinges on current prospects as well. Players such as Banks, Golday, Orange, Thomas, Demmings, and Claiborne must develop into legitimate contributors. If this group delivers, the roster will become younger, faster, and more sustainable. If not, the Vikings will remain trapped in the same cycle — absolutely required to win in free agency across the board to cleanse the draft sins. In 2024, that strategy worked. A year later, it flopped.
A fancy rookie of the year trophy would be the cake topper.
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