Sports
Vikings CB James Pierre Is Apparently a Demon in the Clutch
When the Minnesota Vikings embarked on free agency in March, their very first signing — one of the few — snagged cornerback James Pierre from the Pittsburgh Steelers. And for their troubles, Minnesota evidently acquired one of the league’s most clutch players, says Pro Football Focus.
PFF’s Bradley Locker identified the top 4th Quarter and Overtime performance across the business, and Pierre was included.
Pierre Brings Real CB3 Intrigue to Minnesota
PFF: Pierre Has the Juice with Games on the Line
Among names like Maxx Crosby and Colston Loveland, Locker tucked Pierre’s name into his analysis.
“Across 79 fourth-quarter coverage snaps, Pierre allowed just two receptions for 19 yards. He also recorded six of his nine pass breakups during fourth quarters. His fourth-quarter PFF coverage grade of 91.3 ranked first in the NFL and likely would have been even higher had he managed to keep both feet in bounds on a near interception against his current team, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 4,” he wrote.
“Among the receivers targeted while covered by Pierre in the fourth quarter were Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr. and Jerry Jeudy. None managed to record a catch against him.”
Locker also called out former Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave for his late-game prowess. Hargrave now works for the Green Bay Packers.
A Small Sample, but Vikings Will Take It
Seventy-nine snaps in the 4th Quarter isn’t much of a sample, but his gloriousness during those opportunities is certainly better than struggling in the 4th Quarter, for example. The Vikings will welcome all comers when it comes to clutch performance.
In fact, since the dawn of the Kevin O’Connell era in 2022, the Vikings have played 44 games decided by eight points or less, the second-most in the NFL behind the Atlanta Falcons. That’s right. Sixty-four percent of all Vikings games in the last four seasons have been decided by one score, going down the wire in one way or another.
If that trend continues, well, Minnesota now has a James Pierre to help close out opposing pass-catchers.
The Numbers As a Whole
Pierre’s appeal begins with what the Vikings truly needed from their CB3. Minnesota wasn’t searching for a flashy player or another cornerback requiring extensive creativity. They needed a seasoned professional capable of handling outside snaps, tackling effectively, communicating clearly, minimizing mistakes, and supporting the secondary, and to hedge the bet in case Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers miss time due to injury. Pierre meets all those requirements.
He logged nearly 400 defensive snaps last season and earned an impressive overall 86.8 PFF grade. Additionally, he allowed a passer rating of just 41.4, which Vikings fans will surely appreciate after the challenges with Jeff Okudah in 2025.
His background in Pittsburgh is another significant asset. Pierre spent six years under Mike Tomlin, and corners typically don’t last that long in Pittsburgh without good reason. The experience gives Minnesota solid confidence in his ability to adapt to Brian Flores’ defensive scheme.
While his ceiling is clear — he turns 30 in September, so we shouldn’t expect him to become a superstar at this stage in his career — if he can deliver one reliable season, it will justify the signing. Two or three would be a bonus. As a dependable veteran cornerback, he may be exactly what the defense needs.
Free Agent EDGE Joey Bosa Gets the Nod
Because Minnesota traded Jonathan Greenard, along with a 7th-Round draft pick, to the Philadelphia Eagles in April for two 3rd-Rounders, the club may need a free-agent EDGE rusher for depth before the summer ends.
Conveniently, Joey Bosa is available, and — also conveniently — Bosa earned a spot on the clutch PFF list.
“There may not have been a bigger gap between early-game and late-game performance in 2025 than the one displayed by Joey Bosa. After several injury-shortened seasons, it is fair to wonder whether his peak years are behind him, yet he still looked like a game-changing pass rusher once the fourth quarter arrived,” Locker explained about Bosa’s late-game heroics.
“Bosa earned a modest 59.5 PFF grade across the first three quarters of games last season before erupting for a 91.8 PFF grade in fourth quarters and overtime. Of Bosa’s 54 total pressures in 2025, 23 came during fourth quarters or overtime, along with three of his five sacks. His pressure rate jumped dramatically from 11.2% through the first three quarters to 22.6% once the fourth quarter began. Only Aidan Hutchinson generated pressure at a higher rate in those situations.”
In theory, Minnesota could ink Bosa to a one- or two-year deal and employ a duo of dazzling 4th Quarter demons.
Sports
GT’s road to IPL 2026 Final: Shubman Gill’s leadership, Jason Holder’s impact and hard length bowling | Cricket News
Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 to secure their third IPL final in five years of their IPL journey. One of the most dominant teams in the league, Gujarat are now on the verge of winning their second IPL title after lifting their inaugural trophy in 2022. Their IPL 2026 campaign has been a rollercoaster ride. After a tough start, they dominated the second half of the season to finish second on the points table.In the first phase of IPL 2026, they won only three of their first seven matches while losing four, and even began their campaign with a defeat against Punjab Kings. However, the real turnaround came after their loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Gujarat Titans never looked back, winning five matches in a row and finishing the league stage with nine wins in 14 matches.
The Success of Gujarat Titans: Three Major Factors
Opening Pair: Shubman Gill and Sai SudharsanEverything about Gujarat’s season revolved around the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.Against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, the duo stitched together a stunning 167-run opening stand while chasing 215. Gill smashed 104 off 53 balls, while Sudharsan blasted 58 off just 32 deliveries. Their partnership completely neutralized the pressure of a knockout game and effectively ended the contest before the death overs. Both batters crossed the 700-run mark this season, with Shubman Gill sitting second in the Orange Cap race with 722 runs, while Sai Sudharsan follows closely with 710 runs.Last season, GT reached the playoffs, where they lost to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. During that campaign, the duo scored 912 runs in 15 innings, the highest partnership tally of the 2025 season, with Sai Sudharsan finishing as the Orange Cap holder. This year, they have already accumulated 886 runs in 15 innings, and with one final match to go, they have a chance to surpass last year’s record tally.Jason Holder’s InclusionJason Holder has emerged as the transformative masterstroke for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2026, spearheading their rise to the top of the points table. After being acquired for Rs 7 crore at the IPL 2026 mega auction, he was benched during the first phase of the season. However, when GT brought him in as a replacement for Glenn Phillips, he helped turn their campaign around, with the franchise winning five of their next six matches following his inclusion.While his batting contributions have been limited, he has dominated with the ball. In 10 matches so far, he has taken 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54.In Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals, he delivered a match-winning spell of 2/27 in four overs, controlling the middle order and maintaining excellent economy. In Qualifier 1 against RCB, he produced a crucial breakthrough by dismissing both Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal in the same over. Throughout the league stage, Holder emerged as one of the tournament’s most economical bowlers, claiming 13 wickets in eight matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.34 despite batting-friendly conditions.Standing at 6’7″, Holder has effectively used his height to extract extra bounce, pairing seamlessly with Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj to dominate the death overs.Gujarat Titans’ Lethal Bowling PowerhouseWhile Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan’s opening partnership grabbed the headlines, Gujarat’s bowlers quietly won crucial moments throughout the season. In a tournament where bowlers have often been smashed for runs on batting-friendly pitches, GT’s bowling unit has dominated unlike any other side after a rough start to the campaign.Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj formed the most lethal new-ball bowling partnership of IPL 2026, carrying Gujarat Titans straight into the grand finale. Operating as a relentless opening duo, they terrorized top-order batters, restricted scoring opportunities, and made GT the most dominant powerplay side in the tournament.Rabada led the attack with 28 wickets, including a record 18 powerplay wickets, while Siraj contributed 17 wickets and bowled with exceptional control, delivering the most dot balls in the tournament. Together, they combined for 31 wickets and consistently dismantled opposition top orders.Their biggest performances came against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they reduced SRH to 34/4 before bowling them out for 86, against Chennai Super Kings, where they shared six wickets to secure an 89-run victory, and in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals, where early strikes reduced RR to 9/2 and set the tone for GT’s march into the final. Their relentless pressure and disciplined “Test-match length” bowling became the foundation of Gujarat’s success throughout the season.Gujarat Titans’ Season SummaryGujarat Titans’ first half of the season was disappointing, as they managed just three wins in seven matches while suffering four defeats. GT started their campaign with back-to-back losses against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings before making a comeback with three consecutive victories over Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders. They then lost their final two matches of the first half against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.The second half of the season provided the turnaround they desperately needed. GT won six of their seven matches during this phase, with their only defeat coming against Kolkata Knight Riders. They eventually finished second on the points table and qualified for Qualifier 1 against RCB.
| Match No. | Opposition | Venue | Match Summary & Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 4 | Punjab Kings | Mullanpur | GT 162/6 (20) vs PBKS 165/7 (19.1) | ❌ Lost by 3 wickets |
| Match 9 | Rajasthan Royals | Ahmedabad | RR 210/6 (20) vs GT 204/8 (20) | ❌ Lost by 6 runs |
| Match 14 | Delhi Capitals | Delhi | GT 210/4 (20) vs DC 209/8 (20) | ✅ Won by 1 run |
| Match 19 | Lucknow Super Giants | Lucknow | LSG 164/8 (20) vs GT 165/3 (18.4) | ✅ Won by 7 wickets |
| Match 25 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Ahmedabad | KKR 180 (20) vs GT 181/5 (19.4) | ✅ Won by 5 wickets |
| Match 30 | Mumbai Indians | Ahmedabad | MI 199/5 (20) vs GT 100 (15.5) | ❌ Lost by 99 runs |
| Match 34 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bengaluru | GT 205/3 (20) vs RCB 206/5 (18.5) | ❌ Lost by 5 wickets |
| Match 37 | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai | CSK 158/7 (20) vs GT 162/2 (16.4) | ✅ Won by 8 wickets |
| Match 42 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Ahmedabad | RCB 155 (19.2) vs GT 158/6 (15.5) | ✅ Won by 4 wickets |
| Match 46 | Punjab Kings | Ahmedabad | PBKS 163/9 (20) vs GT 167/6 (19.5) | ✅ Won by 4 wickets |
| Match 52 | Rajasthan Royals | Jaipur | GT 229/4 (20) vs RR 152 (16.3) | ✅ Won by 77 runs |
| Match 56 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ahmedabad | GT 168/5 (20) vs SRH 86 (14.5) | ✅ Won by 82 runs |
| Match 60 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kolkata | KKR 247/2 (20) vs GT 218/4 (20) | ❌ Lost by 29 runs |
| Match 66 | Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad | GT 229/4 (20) vs CSK 140 (13.4) | ✅ Won by 89 runs |
GT’s Playoff JourneyGujarat Titans’ road to the IPL 2026 final featured both heartbreak and redemption. In Qualifier 1, they suffered a heavy 54-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru after conceding 254 runs and collapsing to 51/5 during the chase, with Sai Sudharsan’s bizarre hit-wicket dismissal highlighting a forgettable outing.However, GT bounced back strongly in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals. Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj reduced RR to 9/2 early, and despite Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s brilliant 96, GT chased down 215 with eight balls to spare. Captain Shubman Gill led the charge with a magnificent 104 off 53 balls, guiding Gujarat into the final and setting up a blockbuster rematch against RCB for the IPL 2026 title.
Top 5 run getters for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026
| Rank | Player | Runs | Innings/Matches | Highest Score | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill | 722 | 15 innings | 104 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Sai Sudharsan | 710 | 16 innings | 100 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Jos Buttler | 507 | 16 innings | 60 | — | 4 |
| 4 | Washington Sundar | 327 | 16 matches | 55 | — | 2 |
| 5 | Rahul Tewatia | 183 | 15 matches | 68 | — | 1 |
Top 5 wicket getters for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026
| Rank | Player | Wickets | Matches | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kagiso Rabada | 28 | 16 | 9.43 | 3/25 |
| 2 | Rashid Khan | 19 | 16 | 9.29 | 4/33 |
| 3 | Mohammed Siraj | 18 | 16 | 9.06 | 3/26 |
| 4 | Jason Holder | 17 | 10 | 7.54 | 4/24 |
| 5 | Prasidh Krishna | 16 | 11 | 10.52 | 4/28 |
RALEIGH, N.C. — The horn sounded to give Carolina a long-awaited Eastern Conference Final breakthrough. And the Hurricanes immediately made their way across the ice to Frederik Andersen in the victorious crease.
Veteran forward Jordan Martinook gave Andersen a hearty hug, tapping the goalie on the helmet the entire time. Then came defenceman Jalen Chatfield. And coach Rod Brind’Amour followed with a long hug and shared some words, with Andersen pausing afterward to bend forward and collect himself before going through the traditional handshake line.
Andersen was steady again as the Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 on Friday night in Game 5 to send the Eastern Conference’s top seed on to the Stanley Cup Final to face Vegas. It came after an emotionally wrenching 36 hours for Andersen, whose agent — former NHL playing great Claude Lemieux — took his own life Thursday.
”It’s been a difficult couple days, but the way we showed up today and the last couple days for the team for each other, it’s been incredible,” Andersen said in a postgame interview with TNT. “I can’t talk enough good things about this team and the way they’ve supported me. It’s been awesome.”
Andersen’s play has been one of the biggest stories in the Hurricanes’ return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since hoisting the Cup in 2006, back when coach Rod Brind’Amour was the captain. He overcame a shaky start to the year as waiver-wire wonder Brandon Bussi seemed ready to run away with the starting job, had a rejuvenating stretch of playing for Denmark in the Milan Cortina Olympics, played well down the stretch of the regular season and has been a levelled-up version of himself throughout the post-season.
Now the 36-year-old veteran is headed to the Cup Final for the first time in his career.
He was coming off his third shutout of the post-season with Wednesday’s 4-0 road win as the Hurricanes asserted a tighter and tighter grip on control for the series. And that had come just two days after Lemieux had been the Canadiens’ torch bearer before Carolina’s 3-2 overtime win in Game 3.
Andersen didn’t mind Lemieux participating in the pregame Montreal mojo for the franchise where he won one of his four Stanley Cups in 1986 as a rookie.
“He’s like family,” Andersen told North State Journal afterward.
By Thursday, news had broken of Lemieux’s death, with Andersen set to start as the Hurricanes led 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
“To be honest, wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to play,” Brind’Amour said. “You just don’t know how that was going to shake out. Obviously, he shook it off and battled through it. You saw the emotion after the game. Yeah, that’s a tough time for him. But he made us all proud, that’s for sure.”
Andersen finished with 23 saves and, as he has throughout the entire playoffs, came up with just about every timely save the Hurricanes needed against a skilled but desperate Canadiens team. And just as in the previous three wins, the Hurricanes were largely on their game to play a suffocating style that routinely won puck battles and kept the pressure on Montreal in its own end rather than giving up chances going the other way or shots attempted at Andersen.
He carried the shutout well into the third period before finally giving up a goal to Cole Caufield on the power play, though with Carolina already up 5-0.
Andersen continues to lead the post-season in goals-against average (1.41) and rank among the leaders in save percentage (.931).
“I know we were playing for him as best we could,” captain Jordan Staal said. “And it’s a tough couple of days here for him. We’re just family here, and we all felt that hurt. We tried to share as best we could and playing well in front of him as best we could do tonight.
“I thought he played unbelievable.”
Sports
Shubman Gill on his haunches, Ravi Shastri asks ‘Where’s the fevicol?’ after Sai Sudharsan’s bizarre hit-wicket – WATCH
NEW DELHI: Not once. Twice. Same dismissal. Same reaction. Gujarat Titans batter Sai Sudharsan suffered a bizarre dismissal during the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur on Friday, getting out hit-wicket in almost identical fashion to his dismissal in Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala.
With the unusual dismissal, Sudharsan became the first batter in IPL history to be dismissed hit-wicket in back-to-back innings.
GT skipper Shubman Gill, batting at the non-striker’s end, was visibly stunned. The Gujarat Titans captain looked distraught and even collapsed to the ground in disbelief after watching his opening partner walk back in such unfortunate circumstances.
After Rajasthan Royals posted a formidable 214/6 in 20 overs, powered by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 96 off 47 balls, Gujarat Titans got off to a flying start. Openers Gill and Sudharsan stitched together a century stand and appeared to have the chase firmly under control.
Just when it looked like the duo would guide Gujarat Titans to victory, Sudharsan’s innings came to an abrupt end. Attempting to put away a low full toss from Brijesh Sharma through the off side, Sudharsan lost grip of his bat after making contact. The bat flew backwards and crashed into the stumps, resulting in a hit-wicket dismissal.
The crowd was left stunned, while Gill dropped to his haunches in frustration at the other end.
“Where is the fevicol? Where is the glue?” Ravi Shastri quipped on air.
Chasing 215, Gill and Sudharsan made light work of the target, adding 167 runs in just 12.5 overs before the unfortunate dismissal ended Sudharsan’s innings. Despite the setback, Gujarat Titans cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals.
After the match, Gill was asked about Sudharsan’s unusual dismissal.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything. No one’s seen anything like that, two matches, back to back in a row. The way he got out. I saw some video on social media that taping his hand, I think I’m going to have to do that in the next match,” Gill said.
With the win, Gujarat Titans set up a title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Sports
‘It hurts deeply’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shares Rajasthan Royals’ emotional post after IPL 2026 exit | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on Saturday shared an emotional Instagram Story originally posted by Rajasthan Royals after the franchise’s IPL 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end. A valiant effort from the 15-year-old, who scored a magnificent 96 off 47 balls in Qualifier 2, ultimately went in vain as Rajasthan Royals suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans and crashed out of the tournament.Sooryavanshi, who was seen wiping away tears in the dugout after the defeat, reposted Rajasthan Royals’ heartfelt message after the franchise fell short of a place in the final. “Still can’t believe how quickly emotions can change in 20 overs. Tonight hurts. It hurts deeply. There’s sadness, frustration, disappointment and a lot we’ll have to sit with. Credit where it’s due, Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans were outstanding tonight,” the post read.“To everyone who believed in this young team, stood by us, defended us, and cheered for us through all 16 games this season, thank you. We are grateful beyond words. But we are also sorry. Sorry we couldn’t give you the night you deserved. Sorry we let you down when it mattered most,” it read.“This one will stay with us. And we’ll carry it until we’re back and better, next season,” it further said.Sooryavanshi missed out on a century for the second successive match but once again showcased his class with a 47-ball 96, an innings featuring eight fours and seven sixes in New Chandigarh.His knock propelled Rajasthan Royals, who last won the IPL title in 2008, to a formidable 214/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Gujarat Titans chased down the target in 18.4 overs, powered by a century from captain Shubman Gill, to secure a place in the final.Sooryavanshi enjoyed a phenomenal first full IPL season, amassing 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.31.
Having taken apart the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins during the two-month competition, Sooryavanshi has only strengthened the belief that he is a rare talent capable of serving Indian cricket for years to come.After receiving endorsements from several former cricketers, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara also indicated that the young left-hander is ready for the highest level.Sooryavanshi’s performances against world-class bowlers in the IPL are proof that he is more than ready to represent India, Sangakkara said after Rajasthan Royals’ exit.“You never know if anyone’s ready until they play. And with everything Vaibhav’s shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he’s more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him. And I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soon,” said the Sri Lankan.“He’s batted with a lot of maturity, he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season,” he added.
Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Payton Burnham (12) throws a pitch during a Women’s College World Series softball game between the UCLA Bruins and the Arkansas Razorbacks at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Friday, May 29, 2026. UCLA blasted four home runs en route to an 11-0, five-inning run rule victory over Arkansas in an elimination game in the Women’s College World Series on Friday in Oklahoma City.
The Bruins blasted the game open with a nine-run second to quickly move into position for the run rule.
Three of their home runs came during that inning, including Megan Grant extending her NCAA record with her 42nd home run of the season.
Aleena Garcia led off the second with a homer to center on the first pitch she saw from Payton Burnham.
After an out, a hit-by-pitch and a single, Soo-Jin Berry delivered her fifth home run of the season to make it 4-0 and drive Burnham from the game.
Grant blasted a three-run shot on the first pitch she saw in her second-inning at-bat after Jolyna Lamar and Rylee Slimp drew back-to-back walks.
Kaniya Bragg later delivered a two-run double to cap the massive inning in which UCLA sent 14 batters to the plate.
UCLA added a run in the third on a wild pitch, then another in the fifth on Lama’s solo shot. The Bruins now have 206 home runs on the season, extending their NCAA record. Before this season, the NCAA record for home runs in a season was 161.
Taylor Tinsley went the distance for UCLA, allowing just three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
UCLA (53-9) will take on the loser of Saturday’s Texas Tech-Tennessee game in an elimination game Sunday.
–Field Level Media
IndigoFitness creates bespoke training spaces for commercial, education, public-sector, and specialist clients including the MoD and professional sports. From concept to completion, we combine gym design, 3D visualisation, premium equipment, performance flooring, custom racks, rigs and storage, personalisation, and expert installation. All tailored to maximise functionality and aesthetics.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
OKLAHOMA CITY — The last time Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder played a Game 7 it was the ultimate game of ultimate games, one that decided last season’s NBA championship.
And that’s why, as the NBA’s two-time Most Valuable Player spoke about the Game 7 that looms against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night to decide the Western Conference title, it might have seemed mildly surprising that he said these five words: “Biggest game of my career.”
READ: NBA Playoffs: Thunder’s Jalen Williams to miss Game 7 vs Spurs
“It’s the next game,” he quickly added. “And if I lose, my season’s over.”
Simple as that. Game 7. Spurs vs. Thunder. The winner goes to the NBA Finals to play the New York Knicks starting on Wednesday night, the loser goes home to lament what might have been. The Thunder went 2-0 in Game 7s last season on their way to the NBA title, while Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will be making his maiden appearance on the Game 7 stage.
“I know there’ll be a lot of added attention, a lot of eyes watching,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’ll be a hostile environment, but we’ve been saying this for a long time: We’ve had a lot of firsts. This one will be a little bit more important or higher-stakes than all the others. That’s the goal as you keep playing and the season gets longer.”
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) vie for a rebound in the first half of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
This will be only the second time in NBA history that two teams that won 62 or more games each during the regular season meet in a Game 7. The other was in 1981, when Boston beat Philadelphia 91-90 to win the Eastern Conference title.
READ: NBA Playoffs: Spurs crush Thunder to force Game 7 in West finals
And it could be easily argued that Wembanyama is about to play the biggest game of his career. Then again, he might take exception to that.
In the mind of the 7-foot-4 French star, who had 28 points in 28 minutes to lead San Antonio’s romp in Game 6 that staved off elimination and got the Spurs into Game 7, every game is Game 7. It’s the attitude that he’s taken to the court for as long as he can remember. It’s the approach that shaped him and probably helped him get to this moment.
“For me, winning in the NBA today isn’t any more important than winning a regional championship back when I was playing in the U-13 division,” Wembanyama said in his native French after the Game 6 win on Thursday night. “The competitive drive feels exactly the same.”
Game 1 was a double-overtime thriller, with neither team ever leading by more than 10 points before the Spurs eventually prevailed. And in Game 2, Oklahoma City’s biggest lead was 13 before the Thunder won by nine.
The gaps have grown as the series goes along. Both teams led by at least 15 points at times in Game 3 (a 15-point Thunder win), the Spurs led by as many as 25 before winning Game 4 by 21, the Thunder led by 20 before winning Game 5 by 13, and the Spurs led by 28 before winning Game 6 by 27.
So, the games themselves might not have all been classics. The series, as a whole, looks like one. And after all the ups and downs for both teams, it comes down to one game — the 12th between the teams this season, with San Antonio 7-4 in the previous 11.
“The one thing that we’ve learned more than anything is every game has a new life,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Every game is earned if you want to win it. Game 7 will be no different. This is obviously a quality opponent. We have to play a lot better than we did (in Game 6) and we understand that from a number of experiences. … We’ll get some rest and recovery, learn from the tape, take the lessons from (Game 6) that are relevant for Game 7 and be ready to go out there and throw our best punch.”
History shows that’s exactly what the Thunder know how to do.
Since the start of the 2025 playoffs, Oklahoma City is 9-0 in the game immediately following a playoff loss — winning those by an average of 15.4 points.
“We’re just a motivated group and we accept the challenge ahead,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Every game is going to present a different challenge and obviously when you lose, it hurts a little more and there’s a little extra motivation and we tend to fight a little bit harder.”
And given that this is Game 7, there will be plenty of fight on both sides.
Gilgeous-Alexander will be in his fourth Game 7. Wembanyama will be in his first. Most of the Spurs’ rotation players will be on this stage for only the first or second time. But everyone knows the stakes.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“I think there’s been a lot of legendary Game 7s and I feel like we’re a group that wants to be a part of that,” said Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, whose father — five-time champion Ron Harper — played in a pair of Game 7s. “We want to be a part of that kind of history of Game 7. We’re going to go out there swinging. No matter what, we just going to leave it all on the table.”
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -3.5; over/under is 212.5
Advertisement
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Series tied 3-3
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in game seven of the Western Conference finals. The Spurs defeated the Thunder 118-91 in the last matchup on Friday. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 28 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 15.
The Thunder are 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City ranks third in the league with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.
The Spurs have gone 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference with 47.0 rebounds per game led by Wembanyama averaging 11.5.
Advertisement
The Thunder’s 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs give up. The Spurs are shooting 48.3% from the field, 4.6% higher than the 43.7% the Thunder’s opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Holmgren is averaging 15.1 points over the last 10 games.
Stephon Castle is scoring 16.6 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 7-3, averaging 113.9 points, 41.2 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 10.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points per game.
Advertisement
Spurs: 6-4, averaging 116.7 points, 48.7 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 7.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (calf), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with
the launch of Farm Club, on 15 June.
AAMI Park will play host to Saturday’s
Round 13 NRL game between Melbourne Storm and
Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Melbourne Storm vs.
Sydney Roosters
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday May 30, 2026 at 7:35 pm
Where: AAMI Park
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Odds
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Preview
Melbourne faces another stern test at AAMI Park as the Roosters arrive with confidence and a forward pack capable of matching the Storm through the middle. Craig Bellamy’s side has been forced to lean heavily on experienced players amid injuries and Origin disruption, and signs of fatigue emerged during last week’s second-half collapse against Canterbury. Sydney’s approach has been far more direct in recent rounds, with the Roosters consistently generating momentum through powerful carries before shifting quickly to their dangerous edge threats. Much may depend on how both clubs manage their Origin contingent backing up from Wednesday night, but the Roosters’ recent form and physicality suggest they are well placed to challenge Melbourne’s traditionally formidable home record.
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Teams
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Sam Walker 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Salesi Foketi 17. Blake Steep 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Xavier Va’a
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Ata Mariota 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Trey Mooney 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Danny Levi 20. Noah Martin 21. Jed Stuart 22. Pasami Saulo
Discipline, Football and Moving Forward
Joy Behar insists that her hiatus from “The View” is 'not a hiatus'
Bitcoin Is Crashing and Exchanges Freezing Up
Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
US brings back mandatory military draft registration
Register Renaming | Hackaday
Bitcoin Is Crashing and Exchanges Freezing Up
John Law – The First Financial Engineer – A History of Paper Money and The Mississippi Bubble
Ederson Done? United Financial News. Baleba Price Issue? – Manchester United Transfer News
-
Business6 days agoNYT Strands Answers May 24 2026 Revealed for Puzzle No. 812 Theme Summer Essentials
-
NewsBeat3 days agoIsrael says it has killed new Hamas military leader in Gaza City airstrikes
-
Politics5 days agoBridgerton Season 5: Cast, Release Date And Everything We Know So Far
-
Business3 days agoSelena Gomez Reportedly Upset Over Benny Blanco’s Comments on Her ‘Terrible’ Diet
-
Crypto World7 days agoRobinhood crypto COO Tanya Denisova exits
-
Crypto World3 days agoMicron Crosses $1 Trillion Market Cap as AI Demand Reshapes Memory Sector
-
Tech5 days agoMicrosoft’s quiet Claude Code retreat and the real cost of enterprise AI
-
Business5 days agoBTS Sells Out Four Las Vegas Shows at Allegiant Stadium for ARIRANG World Tour
-
Tech4 days agoChina assigns ID codes to 28,000+ humanoid robots
-
Tech3 days ago
The Samsung pay deal is the moment Korean unions changed register
-
Tech1 day agoWaymo dominates autonomous vehicle registrations as Tesla trails behind
-
Tech3 days agoMillions of AI agents imperiled by critical vulnerability in open source package
-
Crypto World5 days ago
Brian Armstrong Outlines Crypto Vision for the Future Financial System
-
Tech5 days agoWestone Audio and Etymotic Acquired by Fidelity Collective in Major IEM Market Move
-
Crypto World5 days agoNvidia (NVDA) CEO Calls on Super Micro to Strengthen Export Controls Amid Smuggling Probe
-
Crypto World3 days ago
SpaceX’s $2 Trillion IPO: Why Tech Giants Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), and Microsoft (MSFT) May Face Pressure
-
Tech3 days agoNASA taps Blue Origin to deliver lunar rovers for Moon Base initiative
-
Entertainment4 days ago‘Breaking Bad’ Star’s Easy-to-Binge 6-Part Crime Series Spin-Off Is Finally Heading to Free Streaming
-
News Videos3 days agoXRP *JUST* SUCCEEDED!!!! CLARITY ACT EXPOSED!!! (SHE EXPOSED IT)
-
NewsBeat5 days agoHottest May day ever as London hits 34.8C in 2C leap from previous records
You must be logged in to post a comment Login