DENVER, CO – MAY 04: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets celebrates towards the bullpen after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets opened their series against the Rockies with a 4-2 win, scoring all four of their runs in top of the sixth inning and allowing Colorado’s only two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Things seem to work out much better when the Mets use an opener—or multiple openers—in front of David Peterson this year, as was the case today.
Huascar Brazobán started the game and threw a scoreless bottom of the first, and Austin Warren followed that up with two scoreless innings of his own. Those three innings were crucial in this one, as the Mets didn’t score through the first five innings of the game as they faced Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano.
With the game still scoreless in the sixth, though, they broke through. Carson Benge hit a home run to right-center field to lead off the inning, and designated hitter Francisco Alvarez ripped a double before catcher Luis Torrens doubled to bring him home. The Mets had a 2-0 lead, and Sugano hadn’t recorded an out yet. Juan Soto drew a walk, and after Bo Bichette grounded out to advance both baserunners, the Rockies went to their bullpen.
MJ Melendez struck out, but with two outs and two runners in scoring position, the suddenly-hot Mark Vientos smoked a single to center field to bring them both home. That hit proved to be the difference in the game.
David Peterson had come into the game in the top of the fourth and began his outing with three scoreless innings, but a mistake by Benge, who had made a fantastic catcher earlier in the game, led to Peterson giving up a pair of runs that officially go down as earned runs. With two outs and a runner on first, Jordan Beck hit a fly ball deep to center, and Benge fell down. The runner scored, and Beck wound up on third base with a triple. Kyle Karros singled to score Beck, cutting the Mets’ lead in half in the process.
Luckily, Craig Kimbrel worked around a one-out triple in the eighth despite the fact that he really didn’t have his best velocity, and Devin Williams retired the Rockies in order for the save in the ninth.
The second game of the series is scheduled for 8:40 PM EDT tomorrow, but the forecast in Denver makes it look nearly impossible to play baseball there until at least Wednesday afternoon. For now, though, the Mets have won three of four, and beating up on teams that were supposed to be bad when the season got underway isn’t something to take for granted, especially when you’ve been worse than those teams to start the year.
A 27-year-old man was stabbed to death at Busch Stadium on Monday morning. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Daniel Shirey via Getty Images
A man was stabbed to death early on Monday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis after an alleged dispute between members of a cleaning crew at the Cardinals’ ballpark.
Police were called to a block outside of the stadium just before 3 a.m. on Monday and found the victim, a 27-year-old man, according to KSDK in St. Louis. Specifics of the incident are not yet known, but police took a 65-year-old man into custody. An investigation is ongoing.
Both police and the team said the two people involved were third-party contractors.
“We are aware of an isolated altercation that occurred between two on-site contracted individuals during the overnight hours on Monday morning,” the Cardinals said in a statement. “St. Louis metropolitan police were dispatched to investigate and our security team is cooperating with the department in its investigation.
“The safety and security of our fans, guests and employees remains our highest priority and we are confident our stadium security measures were in no way compromised last night.”
The incident took place hours after the Cardinals fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 at Busch Stadium. That wrapped up a three-game series with the Dodgers. The Cardinals’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at Busch Stadium started as scheduled, too.
“Let me be very clear, this could have happened anywhere,” police spokesperson Mitch McCoy said on Monday, via KSDK. “This could have happened anywhere, but what happened tonight was a dispute between two people. Unfortunately, it happened at a treasured St. Louis staple.”
A 27-year-old man was stabbed to death at Busch Stadium on Monday morning. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Daniel Shirey via Getty Images
A man was stabbed to death early on Monday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis after an alleged dispute between members of a cleaning crew at the Cardinals’ ballpark.
Police were called to a block outside of the stadium just before 3 a.m. on Monday and found the victim, a 27-year-old man, according to KSDK in St. Louis. Specifics of the incident are not yet known, but police took a 65-year-old man into custody. An investigation is ongoing.
Both police and the team said the two people involved were third-party contractors.
“We are aware of an isolated altercation that occurred between two on-site contracted individuals during the overnight hours on Monday morning,” the Cardinals said in a statement. “St. Louis metropolitan police were dispatched to investigate and our security team is cooperating with the department in its investigation.
“The safety and security of our fans, guests and employees remains our highest priority and we are confident our stadium security measures were in no way compromised last night.”
The incident took place hours after the Cardinals fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 at Busch Stadium. That wrapped up a three-game series with the Dodgers. The Cardinals’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at Busch Stadium started as scheduled, too.
“Let me be very clear, this could have happened anywhere,” police spokesperson Mitch McCoy said on Monday, via KSDK. “This could have happened anywhere, but what happened tonight was a dispute between two people. Unfortunately, it happened at a treasured St. Louis staple.”
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, returning 10 days after hyperextending his left knee.
Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series in San Antonio, but the 6-foot-4 guard expedited his rehabilitation to play in the opener.
“He’s in,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said 90 minutes before scheduled tipoff.
Finch said Edwards will be on a minutes restriction, but said he was unsure if the 24-year-old will start or come off the bench.
‘Obviously, the way he’s moving and just what percentage of himself does he look like,” Finch said in regards to the player’s minutes. “Of course, obviously, but he’s looked really pretty good and I’m sure he’ll be a little winded at times, but I know he’s excited and we’re proud to have him back.”
Edwards was cleared to participate in team activities Saturday and upgraded to questionable on Sunday’s injury report. He was a full participant in the morning shootaround and was cleared to play following pre-game workouts Monday.
“It will be fun to compete against him,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “I’m glad he’s playing.”
The Timberwolves also lost Donte DiVincenzo in Game 4 to a torn right Achilles tendon, but won the next two games against the Nuggets to advance.
Edwards was not in attendance during Game 6 while receiving treatment for his injury.
“He loves to play the game,” Finch said. “We dodged a bullet when it happened. He’s done an incredible job. Our medical staff has done an unbelievable job of getting him to this point. And he was super motivated by the fact that we were able to get that first series. I think that was kind of a little bit of an inspiration for him too, just gave him something to work towards.”
Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 games during the regular season. He averaged 36.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds in three games against San Antonio this season.
The Spurs were preparing to play against Edwards leading up to the series opener, even though his status was in doubt.
“A player that level in a way takes a lot of the thinking out because you know there is only a handful of players in this league to that level, so you know their game,” Johnson said.
The Timberwolves were 2-1 against the Spurs during the regular season.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, named the Defensive Player of the Year on April 20, missed the opening game against Minnesota during the regular season with a left calf strain. Wembanyama averaged 34 points and 8.0 rebounds in two games against the Timberwolves, including 39 points in a 126-123 victory on Jan. 17 in the regular-season finale between the clubs.
San Antonio will be without rookie forward Carter Bryant, who sprained his right ankle during practice leading up to the series.
Minnesota will be without Ayo Dosunmu, who is out with right calf soreness.
The Mets opened up their three-game series with the Colorado Rockies on Monday with a 4-2 win.
Here are the takeaways…
— Through the first five innings of the game both teams combined for just one hit. How did they get there? Well, Huascar Brazoban pitched a scoreless inning to open up the game and Austin Warren went two innings without allowing a run and struck out three.
That allowed David Peterson, whose numbers have been astronomically better this season as a reliever, to enter the game in the fourth inning where he continued New York’s excellent pitching.
— On the other side, Tomoyuki Sugano held the Mets hitless over five innings and had faced the minimum thanks to a double play after a walk in the third. All of that turned on a dime in the sixth inning, though, when the Mets had three straight extra-base hits to take a 2-0 lead.
— Carson Benge started things off by crushing a leadoff homer 436 feet to right-center, before Francisco Alvarez hit one 404 feet off the left-center field fence for a double. Luis Torrens then snapped an 0-for-13 skid with an opposite-field double and New York was suddenly in business.
— Later in the inning, with runners on second and third and two outs Mark Vientos, who had 815 feet worth of flyouts to the warning track in left field over his first two at-bats, a day after hitting two monster home runs, came up to the plate.
Facing reliever Jaden Hill, Vientos lined one up the middle and was finally rewarded for his efforts with a two-run single to double the Mets’ lead and cap their four-run inning. Vientos has six RBI in his last two games.
— Staked to a 4-0 advantage, Peterson followed up New York’s big inning with a shutdown inning of his own by striking out the side, including two via the ABS system. He ran into trouble in the seventh after retiring the first two, but a single and a long triple by Jordan Beck got Colorado on the board. Kyle Karros singled in another run and cut the Mets’ lead to two.
Peterson’s final line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 K on 69 pitches (52 strikes). He lowered his season ERA to 6.29.
— New York finished off a great day of pitching with Craig Kimbrel leaving a runner stranded at third base in the eighth and Devin Williams closing things out with a perfect ninth for the save.
— Defensively, Benge made another great catch, this one in center field, in the third inning.
— After an 0-for-5 performance on Sunday to end an 18-game on-base streak, Juan Soto, batting leadoff for the first time as a Met and just the third time in his career, didn’t look quite right once again and finished 0-for-3 with a strikeout, although he did walk and score a run in New York’s four-run sixth inning. In his first at-bat, Soto popped out on the first pitch of the game.
Game MVP: Mark Vientos
Vientos gets the honor for the second game in a row as he continues to swing a hot bat. His two-run single was also the difference in the game.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 27: Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on July 27, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers aim for their 10th win on the road this season, opening a three-game series against the Astros.
Yainer Diaz has been scratched from tonight’s lineup due to a left abdominal injury.
Updated Lineup:
Carlos Correa SS Yordan Alvarez DH Isaac Paredes 3B Christian Walker 1B Jose Altuve 2B Brice Matthews CF Cam Smith RF Zach Cole LF Christian Vázquez C Steven Okert LHP https://t.co/EHm6uh2M9M
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 29: Gabe Speier #55 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The already injury-plagued Mariners took another hit today as it was announced lefty Gabe Speier is going on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. LHP José Suarez, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Braves, has reported to the club to take his place. Additionally, the Mariners recalled lefty Josh Simpson from Tacoma and sent RHP Cole Wilcox to Triple-A.
Speier, 31, hasn’t been objectively bad, but nor has looked like the dominant reliever he was last year. While his numbers look fine on the surface, his expected metrics have been rough: his line of a .261 xBA, .466 xSLG, and .337 xwOBA are all career-highs, and all up about a hundred points over where he ended last year.
Curiously, Speier has been leaning on his slider more heavily this season than his fastballs, throwing the pitch 35% of the time, but he’s had trouble landing it with the consistency he did in 2025. On the left is his 2025 heat map for the pitch; on the right, this season.
For whatever reason, he’s had trouble getting the slider to the bottom of the zone consistently, and when the slider leaks into the middle and up on the plate, bad things happen.
No further details are yet available about the grade of severity of Speier’s shoulder inflammation; we will update this story when we know more.
With Speier down, the Mariners are going for a double-barreled approach to replacing the lefty in the bullpen. Josh Simpson, 28, has again been recalled from Triple-A Tacoma after being previously recalled on May 1. As we wrote about Simpson the last time, he’s got a big nasty sweeper and some legit strikeout potential, but he struggles to throw strikes. So far that’s not been an issue that’s worked itself out at Triple-A Tacoma, so expect Simpson to have a short leash if he can’t solve his strike-throwing issues on the fly in the big leagues. Quite an ask. To make room for Simpson, the Mariners sent another arm with command issues, Cole Wilcox, back to Tacoma, which makes me sad because I believe in Wilcox’s stuff, but at the end of the day, you have to throw strikes. Wilcox will have an opportunity to work on that with Tacoma and work his way back up to Seattle – soon, hopefully.
The other lefty the Mariners are going with is new acquisition José Suarez, who we also wrote up recently. The former AL West foe has had a bumpy start to his 2026 season with Atlanta after a successful 2025 after signing there as a free agent. Suarez has also had issues throwing strikes, and has less bat-missing ability than Simpson, but he has more neutral platoon splits rather than being a lefty specialist and as a former starter has length to cover innings if one of the Mariners starters goes short, a troubling trend of late. While neither of these relievers are a perfect replacement for peak Speier, each one now has a shot to try to carve out a role in the Mariners pen and make a case to be kept around even after an IL stint ends.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls hired Atlanta Hawks executive Bryson Graham to lead their front office on Monday, hoping he can turn around a struggling franchise.
Graham takes over as Chicago’s executive vice president of basketball operations after the organization fired Arturas Karnisovas a month ago. He spent this season as Atlanta’s senior vice president of basketball operations after a 15-year run in New Orleans’ front office that saw him rise from intern to general manager. He had a hand in the Pelicans drafting Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Dyson Daniels in recent years.
Graham reunited with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in July when Atlanta acquired him from Minnesota. He averaged 20.8 points and was the NBA’s Most Improved Player. The Hawks went 46-36 before losing to New York in the first round of the playoffs and posted their highest win total since the 2015-16 team finished 48-34.
“This is one of the most storied franchises in the history of professional basketball, and I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to deliver results for this city and these fans,” Graham said in a statement. “My entire career has been built on the belief that sustained success starts with finding the right players and developing an all-around impactful culture.”
The Bulls fired Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley in early April after six years and one postseason appearance. They went on to finish 12th in the Eastern Conference at 31-51 while missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Graham will need to hire a new coach. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf had hoped to retain Billy Donovan. But the Naismith Hall of Famer opted to resign after six seasons, avoiding a potentially awkward situation with new management.
“He has worked his way up through basketball operations from the ground level, and that experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build and sustain a successful organization,” Michael Reinsdorf said. “He is an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who truly connects with players and people. He understands today’s league, today’s players, and what it takes to develop talent and build a winning culture. Just as important, Bryson is committed to building a high-level group around him.”
Graham inherits a team with two promising young stars in Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, two first-round draft picks and the salary-cap space to make big moves this offseason. But the Bulls haven’t been serious contenders in the Eastern Conference since Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the opener of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia.
Chicago’s lone playoff appearance under the previous regime was during the 2021-22 season, when the team led by Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan finished sixth in the Eastern Conference at 46-36 and got knocked out by Milwaukee in the first round. The Bulls lost point guard Lonzo Ball to a knee injury during that season, and he missed the next two years.
Chicago’s most recent all-star was DeRozan in 2023.
Karnisovas refused for years to launch a major rebuild and give the Bulls the best shot at the No. 1 pick, stressing patience and not skipping steps, before pulling the trigger this year. He made seven trades prior to the deadline, dealing Nikola Vucevic to Boston, Kevin Huerter to Detroit, Coby White to Charlotte and Chicago product Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota.
The Bulls mostly got second-round draft picks in return. They also acquired Jaden Ivey from Detroit, only to waive him following anti-LGBTQ+ comments about religion he made in videos posted on his Instagram account.
Graham, who’s from San Antonio, played at Texas A&M from 2006 to 2009 before joining the Aggies’ staff as a graduate assistant. He was hired as an intern in New Orleans by then-GM Dell Demps prior to the 2010-11 season.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 03: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros catches a fly ball hit by Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (14-21) will wear their City Connect uniforms tonight as they welcome in the rival Los Angeles Dodgers (21-13) for the first game of a three-game series at Daikin Park.
Veteran reliever LHP Steven Okert (0-0, 4.20 ERA) will get the start for the Astros as an opener tonight opposite the Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.87 ERA).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP Steven Okert, a nine-year MLB veteran, will be making his fifth Major League start as an opener and his second as an Astro (also, Aug. 5, 2025 at MIA).
The often-used lefty reliever had made 17 relief appearances in 2026, which ranks tied for fourth in the AL.
VS. THE DODGERS: The Astros and Dodgers will forever be connected by the 2017 World Series, which was won by Houston in a thrilling seven games. Since that 2017 season began, the Astros and Dodgers have been the two top clubs in baseball, in terms of regular season wins and playoff wins.
Since the 2017 World Series, the Astros are 11-9 against the Dodgers in the regular season and have won six of the last seven games.
In their last meeting, the Astros swept the Dodgers in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium (July 4-6, 2025), outscoring the Dodgers 29-6 in the three games.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH!: Announced earlier today, OF Yordan Alvarez was named the AL Player of the Month for March/April for his third career AL Player of the Month Award.
For the months of March and April, Alvarez batted .356 (42×118) with nine doubles, 12 home runs, 27 RBI, 21 walks, 25 runs scored and a 1.199 OPS (.462 OBP/.737 SLG).
MILB PLAYERS OF THE MONTH: Earlier today, the Astros named RHP Brandon McPherson and C Jason Schiavone the Astros Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Month for April.
McPherson, 26, went 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA (6ER/16.2IP) in four starts in April with Double A Corpus Christi.
Schiavone, 23, hit nine home runs and recorded 23 RBI, with 22 walks, seven stolen bases and a 1.050 OPS in 20 games in April with High A Asheville.
HIT PARADE: The Astros, who lead the AL in batting average (.269), have reached double-figures in hits in each of the last six games, hitting .316 (71×225) in that span.
The last time the Astros reached double-figures in hits in six straight games was Aug. 6-12, 2024. The club record is eight straight games, done several times (last, June 1018, 2018).
Yesterday marked the 17th game in which Houston reached double figures in hits in 2026.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have recalled OF Zach Cole and designated OF Daniel Johnson for assignment.
Additionally, the club has reinstated OF Zach Dezenzo from the Injured List and optioned him to Triple A Sugar Land.
FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM: The Astros have 13 players on the Major League IL.
• RHP Ronel Blanco (rt. elbow surgery) continues his bullpen progression in West Palm Beach.
• RHP Hunter Brown (rt. shoulder sprain) is progressing through his throwing program and is now up to throwing from 120 ft.
• RHP Tatsuya Imai (rt. arm fatigue) is scheduled to make his second rehab start tomorrow at Triple A.
• RHP Cristian Javier (rt. shoulder strain) will begin a throwing progression this week.
• LHP Josh Hader (lt. biceps tendinitis) is scheduled to make his first minor league rehab appearance this week at Triple A Sugar Land.
• RHP Nate Pearson (rt. elbow surgery) is scheduled to make his third minor league rehab appearance tomorrow at Triple A Sugar Land.
• LHP Brandon Walter (lt. elbow surgery) continues his throwing progression this week in West Palm Beach.
• RHP Hayden Wesneski (rt. elbow surgery) continues his bullpen progression in West Palm Beach.
• IF Nick Allen (mid-back spasms) played in two minor league rehab games over the weekend at Double A Corpus Christi, going 2×7 with a double and two RBI.
• OF Joey Loperfido (rt. quad strain) has started light running and light baseball activity.
• OF Jake Meyers (rt. oblique strain) has started swinging a bat and doing running and throwing activities.
• SS Jeremy Peña (rt. hamstring strain) continued baseball activity in Boston over the weekend. He continues to increase the intensity of his workouts.
• OF Taylor Trammell (left groin strain) has begun a running progression and light baseball activity.
THE ORDER: The Astros have used 35 different batting orders in their 35 games so far this season. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the lineup (second).
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER:Christian Walker is hitting .426 (20×51) in his last 12 games (since April 20) with four homers and 10 RBI.
For the season, Walker ranks tied for fourth in the AL in RBI (26), fifth in SLG (.579) and sixth in OPS (.975).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With 238 career homers as a second baseman, Jose Altuve needs one more to tie Lou Whitaker for seventh place all-time in MLB history among second basemen.
Altuve also needs three RBI to become the fifth player in franchise history to reach 900.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1975 – Astros great 1B Bob Watson makes history, as he scores the 1,000,000th run in Major League history in Game 1 of an Astros doubleheader in San Francisco.
He crosses the plate at approx. 12:32 p.m. in the afternoon, scoring from second base on a three-run homer by C Milt May. The Astros lose the opener, 8-6.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, May 4, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Lakers center Deandre Ayton shoots over Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason in Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena on April 29. The Lakers hope Ayton can deliver against the Thunder like he did against the Rockets. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers center Deandre Ayton bounced across the court after practice Monday wearing all black, his chains swaying, his mood jovial as he approached the media to talk about his role in the Western Conference semifinals.
“Everything has been pretty solid, just staying in my role and just doing more in my role,” Ayton said. “This is the playoffs, so everybody can do more, everybody has another level. And this is the second round coming in, so I think we all deserve that little bit of increase of confidence from what we’ve done so far and the outcome from the adversity we’ve faced.
“I feel like that’s where we are right now and I think that’s what’s motivating me, as well, coming into these games. Just seeing, listening and being dialed in and seeing the results of it.”
There were times Ayton was a force against the Houston Rockets in the first round. He had double figures in rebounds in four of the six games and had three double-doubles in the series. He averaged 11.8 points and his 10.8 rebounds are third-best in the postseason.
“DA’s had a great season,” Redick said. “He was instrumental in us getting past Houston. I think his baseline of who he is every day for the last two, two-and-a-half months has been awesome. And I know his teammates, certainly the staff, we’ve all embraced him all season long. Again, he’s the person that changes our ceiling the most.”
Both Ayton and Marcus Smart came to the Lakers last summer, giving them a much-needed center and a defensive-minded guard. Smart said he didn’t know Ayton before they became teammates, but the two of them have bonded.
Lakers teammates Marcus Smart, left, and Deandre Ayton celebrate during Game 6 against the Houston Rockets on May 1. (Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images)
They sit next to each other in the locker room and Smart is the first to always encourage Ayton, to push him, to expect more out of him.
“Not his big brother, but I’m just somebody who he respects,” Smart said. “He sees [me] go out there and not only preaching, I’m actually doing what I’m preaching. I’m not just preaching, I’m out there with him, in the midst of it, battling with him, going through adversity with him, right? I think that drives a lot of respect for one another in that aspect, when you’re going to battle with somebody. You’re struggling while they’re struggling right there with you, trying to help you get through yours.”
The 7-foot Ayton will be going up against 7-1 Chet Holmgren and 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein. Holmgren averaged 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in the first round and Hartenstein averaged 11.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.
Ayton will have to hold his own against them and still be the force the Lakers have leaned on in the postseason.
“Playing bigger. … Just being relentless on the glass, you know, protecting the rim as much as possible and not letting them in my paint,” Ayton said. “It’s gonna be big with me protecting that paint in this series. They really generate and touch the paint. … Them having 50-plus points in the paint, you know they’re a really unstoppable team. So, I’m really just looking forward to protecting the paint as best as I can and staying on the floor as long as possible. That’s about it.”
Being on the road and in a hostile environment is something that Ayton also is looking forward to. He knows the crowd in Oklahoma City is like a college atmosphere and that he and the Lakers can’t get rattled.
“Yeah, you can’t hear yourself,” Ayton said. “It’s definitely the ‘Thunder’ for a reason, you know? Their fans are thunderous. You know, you can hear the floor shaking, the bleachers, you can’t even hear a play call. And you gotta be super dialed in.
“They’re the defending champs and you know their fans have been in atmospheres and hype games and you know they’re ready for their team to do their thing. So, we just gotta come in super prepared and just dial out all the noise and just come in and play together.”
