Sports

June 13, 2025

Published 2 months ago

TL;DR

Oilers tie Cup Final in historic OT; Pacers up 2–1 NBA Finals; Durant trade talks intensify.


Highlights

  • Oilers erase 3–0 deficit, beat Panthers 5–4 in OT to tie Stanley Cup Final 2–2; Draisaitl sets NHL OT record1.
  • Pacers take 2–1 NBA Finals lead over Thunder; OKC favored by 6.5 for Game 42.
  • Suns accelerate Kevin Durant trade talks; Spurs listed as favorites before June 25 NBA Draft5.
  • Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck wins Hart (MVP) and Vezina trophies; first goalie MVP since 20153.
  • J.J. Spaun leads U.S. Open after bogey-free 66; Scheffler, McIlroy seven shots back; Patrick Reed hits rare albatross417.
  • Tigers’ Tarik Skubal posts 1.99 ERA, sets modern strikeout-to-walk record; Mets sweep Nationals but lose Kodai Senga (hamstring)616.
  • Angels promote top prospect Christian Moore (.350 AVG in Triple-A) to address second base7.
  • NASCAR holds first Cup Series points race outside U.S. in Mexico City; Denny Hamlin out, Ryan Truex subs for No. 111112.
  • Max Verstappen enters F1 Canadian GP one penalty point from race ban, says he won’t change approach13.
  • Napoli signs Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City; Liverpool open to Luis DĂ­az transfer talks with Barcelona89.
  • Knicks target Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins for head coach after Thibodeau firing10.
  • U.S. runner Nico Young breaks national 5,000m record; Karsten Warholm sets 300m hurdles world record in Oslo2014.

Commentary

Thursday’s results and transactions signal shifting dynamics for key playoff series and player markets. The Oilers’ comeback to even the Stanley Cup Final resets series odds and spotlights Leon Draisaitl’s postseason impact, with Edmonton regaining home-ice for a now best-of-three1. In the NBA, the Pacers’ Game 3 win gives them a statistical edge, but bookmakers still favor the Thunder for Game 4, reflecting market skepticism despite Indiana’s momentum2.

On the transaction front, the Suns’ push to trade Kevin Durant ahead of the draft could reshape NBA futures and fantasy value, with the Spurs currently leading betting markets for his destination5. Meanwhile, the Knicks’ coaching search has pivoted to Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins after multiple interview denials, suggesting a move toward experienced, available candidates10.

In MLB, Tarik Skubal’s dominance and record-setting efficiency make him a top fantasy and Cy Young target6, while the Mets’ sweep is tempered by Kodai Senga’s injury—his MRI status will impact rotation depth and betting lines16. The Angels’ call-up of Christian Moore is a notable fantasy development for a team with one of MLB’s weakest second-base productions7.

Golf and motorsports offer volatility for bettors: J.J. Spaun’s U.S. Open lead and Patrick Reed’s albatross shake up live odds417, while NASCAR’s Mexico City debut introduces logistical variables and a substitute driver for Joe Gibbs Racing1112. In F1, Max Verstappen’s disciplinary risk is a key consideration for outright and fantasy plays13. Soccer transfer news—De Bruyne to Napoli, Díaz possibly to Barcelona—signals potential shifts in European club dynamics89.

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