Sports
Devils, Predators each stand at crossroads with trade deadline looming
Jan 27, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Connor Brown (16) shoots the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images Two teams caught in the crossroads of mediocrity, the Nashville Predators and the New Jersey Devils need to figure things out fast with the NHL trade deadline approaching.
The Devils already began their parting of pieces on Tuesday when they dealt veteran forward Ondrej Palat and draft picks to the New York Islanders in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov.
The Predators, losers of four of their past five (1-3-1), will be eyeing an opportunity to get back on track when they travel to Newark, N.J. to face the Devils on Thursday.
After collecting a trio of wins, New Jersey has now fallen in two consecutive contests itself.
Consistent stretches of winning hockey has been hard to come by for the Devils, playing to a 5-5-0 record over their past 10 games, most recently losing to the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on home ice Tuesday.
The Devils were trailing 4-1 late in the second period before Jesper Bratt buried a power-play goal. That was followed by captain Nico Hischier’s third-period goal to make it a one-goal game with 1:46 left.
Unfortunately for New Jersey, time ran out before the Devils could find an equalizer.
“Disappointment,” Hischier responded when asked what he takes from Tuesday’s failed comeback effort. “I think it’s more disappointing the way we played in the second. Some old habits were there again and that cost us the game. We gave up way too (many) easy chances for them.”
Bratt also picked up an assist on Hischier’s late tally, while Jack Hughes brought his season total up to 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) across 35 games with a two-assist performance.
After a 17-8-0 stretch which firmly implanted the Predators back into the playoff race in the Western Conference, they have sunk back into the proverbial no man’s land with their recent string of results. Nashville enters this game four games and two other teams back of the final wild-card spot and 16 points back of third place in the Central Division.
The Predators’ latest defeat came at the hands of the Boston Bruins when David Pastrnak found the back of the net just 15 seconds into overtime to claim a 3-2 win for the host squad on Tuesday.
Roman Josi and Nick Blankenburg scored in the losing effort, while Juuse Saros compiled 25 saves.
“It’s hard to say (it’s) one thing because every game is different,” Josi said of his team’s recent play following the defeat in Boston. “There have been some games when we didn’t start on time and that inconsistency has crept in a little bit, just not playing our style for 60 minutes.”
Due to fluttering results, the Predators could expect to see some trade action of their own in the near-future, with veteran standouts Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos the subjects of plenty of trade buzz across the league.
Just weeks from his 35th birthday, O’Reilly has 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) across 52 games to put him on pace to pass his career-best points total of 77 (28 goals, 49 assists), which he collected while a member of the St. Louis Blues’ miraculous 2018-19 Stanley Cup-winning team.
Stamkos has rediscovered his scoring touch after a slow start to this season, with the two-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner tallying 25 goals, including four over his past three games.
Both Stanley Cup-winning veterans could bring in a hefty return for the Predators if they choose to swing a deal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Best NBA Bets Today: Game 7 Picks for Cavs vs Raptors, Magic vs Pistons
Feb 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Two Game 7’s take place on Sunday in the NBA playoffs for the right to advance to the second round.
Both do-or-die contests feature Eastern Conference squads, starting with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons returning home to battle the Orlando Magic.
The night affair showcases the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking to avoid an early exit against the injury-riddled Toronto Raptors. The winners of each of these games face each other in the conference semifinals.
We’ll break down two plays for the Sunday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.
Here are the free NBA picks for Sunday, May 3. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.
Best NBA plays today
- Magic/Pistons Over (201.5)
- Cavaliers (-8.5) vs. Raptors
Magic/Pistons Over (201.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET
Orlando’s offense disappeared in the second half of Friday’s 93-79 home loss to Detroit, preventing the Magic from advancing. The Magic led by 22 points at halftime, but were outscored in the second half, 55-19 as Detroit forced a Game 7 back at home.
How bad was Orlando’s offense in the second half of Game 6? The Magic missed 23 consecutive field goal attempts at one point and finished 4-of-37 in the final 24 minutes.
Will things turn around in Game 7 back in the Motor City? The total closed at 209.5 in Game 6 and never threatened the Over. Sunday’s total has dipped to 202.5, as two games in Detroit finished with 213 points (Game 1) and 225 points (Game 5).
The teams combined for 51 points in the first quarter of Game 6 before Orlando outscored Detroit, 35-12 in the second quarter. It’s unlikely the Pistons will have another quarter like that and the Magic certainly won’t put up 19 points in a half again.
As long as these teams avoid a major cold spell, this game can hit the Over on Sunday afternoon.
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Cavaliers (-8.5) vs. Raptors – 7:30 p.m. ET
The Raptors stunned the Cavaliers in the final seconds of overtime in Game 6 on Friday behind R.J. Barrett’s go-ahead 3-pointer. Toronto returns to Cleveland for Game 7 on Sunday night as the home team owns a perfect 6-0 record in the series.
Toronto’s leading scorer Brandon Ingram missed Game 6 with a heel injury and is questionable for Game 7. Barrett has stepped up to be the Raptors’ top scoring option at 24.3 points per game, while posting at least 22 points in each of the three games in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers have not covered in the last four games since cashing in each of the first two wins at home. Cleveland squandered late leads in two of the losses in Toronto with the only bad performance coming in the 22-point Game 3 loss.
Since the 2023 playoffs, nine of the last 11 Game 7 winners have advanced with a victory margin of at least 10 points. Chances are Cleveland won’t win a close game here, so we’ll lay the points with them to grab a blowout and advance to the second round.
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Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
