Sports

May 19, 2025

Published 3 months ago

TL;DR

Thunder, Knicks advance to NBA Conference Finals; Phillies lose Alvarado to PED ban; Scheffler wins PGA.


Highlights

  • Thunder advance to Western Conference Finals with 125-93 Game 7 win over Nuggets; SGA scores 35 1.
  • Knicks reach first East Finals in 25 years, set to face Pacers; both teams feature deep rotations 18.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo to meet with Bucks on future amid trade rumors; cites Florida, New York interest 14.
  • Philadelphia Phillies closer JosĂ© Alvarado suspended 80 games for PEDs; rookie Mick Abel debuts with 6 scoreless innings, 9 Ks 511.
  • Los Angeles Dodgers DFA Chris Taylor to activate Tommy Edman; focus shifts to younger roster amid NL West race 12.
  • Florida Panthers rout Maple Leafs 6–1 in Game 7, reach third straight NHL East Final; Toronto drops seventh straight Game 7 3.
  • Scottie Scheffler wins PGA Championship at Quail Hollow by 5 shots, claims third major, $3.42M prize 2.
  • Max Verstappen wins Emilia-Romagna GP, his fourth straight at Imola; McLaren’s Norris, Piastri round out podium 4.
  • Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner for first Italian Open title; ends Sinner’s 26-match win streak 6.
  • Aaron Rodgers expected to join Pittsburgh Steelers soon; press conference likely this week as personal issues resolve 15.
  • Indy 500: Rookie Robert Shwartzman takes pole for Prema Racing; Team Penske withdraws two cars over technical violation 89.
  • Christopher Bell wins NASCAR All-Star Race, earning $1 million for Joe Gibbs Racing 10.

Commentary

NBA playoff brackets are set for high-stakes matchups: the Oklahoma City Thunder 's dominant Game 7 win over Denver, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, sets up a Western Conference Finals against Minnesota 1. The New York Knicks , returning to the East Finals for the first time since 2000, will face the Pacers in a series notable for its deep rotations and Kentucky alumni 18. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s upcoming meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks front office is a focal point for trade speculation, with potential league-wide impact if he seeks a move to Florida or New York 14.

In MLB, the Philadelphia Phillies ' bullpen outlook is complicated by JosĂ© Alvarado’s 80-game PED suspension, making him unavailable for the postseason 5. However, rookie Mick Abel’s debut—six scoreless innings and nine strikeouts—offers immediate fantasy and DFS relevance 11. The Los Angeles Dodgers ' decision to DFA Chris Taylor and activate Tommy Edman signals a commitment to younger talent as they navigate a close NL West race 12.

The NHL’s playoff picture sees the Florida Panthers advancing to their third straight Eastern Conference Final after a decisive win over Toronto, who continue their Game 7 struggles 3. In golf, Scottie Scheffler’s five-shot PGA Championship win at Quail Hollow further solidifies his status as a top fantasy and betting pick 2, while in tennis, Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Jannik Sinner in Rome positions him as a French Open favorite 6.

Motorsports saw Max Verstappen continue his dominance at Imola for Red Bull , while the Indy 500 qualifying was shaken up by rookie Robert Shwartzman’s pole and Team Penske’s technical infractions 489. NFL news is headlined by Aaron Rodgers’ expected move to the Pittsburgh Steelers , which could shift AFC North betting markets once finalized 15.

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