Sports
Panthers score late, hold off Saints to avenge season-opening rout
Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) reaches for the pylon as New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay (6) defends in the second qarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Chuba Hubbard ran 16 yards with 2:18 remaining for his second touchdown as the Carolina Panthers pulled out a 23-22 victory against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C., to end a five-game losing streak.
Carolina’s two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Saints picked up only one first down before a failed fourth-down play near midfield clinched Carolina’s first home victory of the season in four tries.
Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 171 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Panthers (2-7).
New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 155 yards on 29 carries and accounted for 60 receiving yards on six catches, but the Saints (2-7) suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who had missed the previous three games because of an oblique injury, was 18-for-31 for 236 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina got the ball at its 36-yard line following a New Orleans punt to begin the game-winning drive with 3:26 remaining in regulation.
The Panthers posted their first second-half touchdown by driving 86 yards on the opening possession of the second half. Hubbard ran in from 1 yard out, but their 17-13 lead didn’t last long.
New Orleans used 12 plays to set up Blake Grupe’s 51-yard field goal for a 17-16 deficit.
After a Carolina punt, the Saints marched 70 yards in 11 plays to take the lead on Carr’s 17-yard pass to Foster Moreau, though a two-point conversion pass failed.
Shemar Jean-Charles made his first career interception to get the ball back for the Saints, who then failed to convert for points.
New Orleans had the only first-quarter scoring on Grupe’s field goals from 29 and 33 yards out, but those came amid a scary stretch for the Saints.
Receiver Chris Olave was taken off the field on a backboard after attempting to make a catch across the middle and absorbing hits from a pair of Carolina defenders. Olave, a former first-round draft pick, was treated at a nearby hospital, but the Saints reported that he was moving all extremities and out of the hospital prior to the end of the game.
The Panthers went ahead with Young’s 3-yard hook-up with Xavier Legette. The Saints regained the lead when Taysom Hill ran 7 yards for a touchdown.
Carolina completed the first-half scoring on Eddy Pineiro’s 48-yard field goal 38 seconds before halftime.
It was a rematch of the Saints’ 47-10 season-opening victory at home on Sept. 8.
–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.
Our Current Best Offers
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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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Sports
Canadiens D Noah Dobson game-time decision for Game 7
Apr 11, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (53) skates during the warmup before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson is considered a game-time decision for Game 7 of the team’s Eastern Conference first-round series versus the host Tampa Bay Lightning.
Dobson has been sidelined with an upper-body injury after blocking a shot against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 11.
“He’s been a big player for us this year,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “I’m confident that if he plays, he’s going to bring something.”
Dobson, 26, recorded 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) and averaged 22:29 of ice time in 80 games during the regular season.
The Canadiens acquired Dobson in a sign-and-trade agreement with the New York Islanders on June 27, 2025, as he agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract.
In return, the Islanders received forward Emil Heineman and both of Montreal’s first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 17) in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Islanders used those selections on Swedish right winger Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson of Barrie (OHL).
Dobson has totaled 277 points (62 goals, 215 assists) in 348 career games since being selected by the Islanders with the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
Best NBA Bets Today: Game 7 Picks for Cavs vs Raptors, Magic vs Pistons
