TL;DR

Thunder reach NBA Finals; Panthers to Stanley Cup; Clark, Hyman, Blanco out with injuries.

Highlights

• Thunder dominate Timberwolves 124-94, win West Finals 4-1; Gilgeous-Alexander named WCF MVP; OKC is youngest NBA Finals team ever1.
• Florida Panthers eliminate Hurricanes 5-3, reach third straight Stanley Cup Final; await Oilers or Stars2.
• Oilers’ Zach Hyman out for playoffs after upper-body surgery10.
• Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark out at least two weeks (quad); Fever ticket prices drop up to 71%3.
• Astros’ Ronel Blanco to have Tommy John surgery, out for 2025; Houston rotation hit by multiple injuries4.
• Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1 to win Europa Conference League, completing all four major UEFA trophies; Palmeiras’ Estêvão scores in Allianz farewell before Chelsea move818.
• SEC meetings: no decision on 8- or 9-game schedule; playoff expansion, portal timing, and NIL under debate5.
• Texas Senate passes bill for direct NIL payments to athletes, with $20.5M NCAA cap pending6.
• FIFA bans Pumas, Atlas, Atlético Morelia, and Cancún FC from registering players due to administrative issues7.
• Qualifier Matteo Gigante upsets Tsitsipas at Roland Garros; faces Ben Shelton next9.
• Rams keep door open for Jalen Ramsey trade; Dolphins await June 1 cap relief, no recent talks11.
• Brazilian Senate advances bill restricting betting ads; bans athlete/influencer participation and limits TV hours14.

Commentary

Oklahoma City’s decisive win over Minnesota secures their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent production (31.4/8.2/5.2 series averages) driving both fantasy and betting interest1. Bettors should note OKC’s youth and pace as the Finals approach. In the NHL, the Panthers continue their postseason run2, but Edmonton’s loss of Zach Hyman (surgery, out for playoffs) is significant for DFS and series odds if the Oilers advance10.

Caitlin Clark’s quad injury removes a major fantasy and betting contributor from the WNBA for at least two weeks, impacting Fever game lines and DFS values, while also causing a sharp drop in ticket prices3. In MLB, Houston’s rotation is further depleted with Ronel Blanco joining multiple Astros pitchers on the IL; this materially affects Astros futures and daily matchup projections4.

Chelsea’s Conference League win, combined with Palmeiras’ Estêvão set to join, signals fresh attacking options for the Blues818. Meanwhile, FIFA’s registration ban on several Mexican clubs will limit Liga MX transfer activity, affecting squad depth and betting markets for the Apertura7. In tennis, Matteo Gigante’s upset over Tsitsipas is a reminder to monitor qualifiers and emerging players for value in early Grand Slam rounds9.

The SEC’s indecision on schedule and playoff format, plus Texas’ new NIL bill, highlight ongoing volatility in college football roster and playoff structures56. Direct NIL payments and portal timing debates will drive roster movement and future odds. Regulatory changes in Brazil restricting betting ads may influence sponsorship and market exposure in the region14.