{"id":731594,"date":"2026-05-11T14:48:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:48:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/731594\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T14:48:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:48:36","slug":"the-knicks-and-canes-swept-their-way-into-the-final-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/731594\/","title":{"rendered":"The Knicks and Canes swept their way into the Final Four"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yahoo Sports AM<\/a> is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here<\/a> to get it every weekday morning.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 Headlines<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0\u00a0Wiz win lottery: The Wizards<\/a> won the NBA Draft Lottery<\/a> on Sunday, securing the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft. Joining them in the top five: Jazz<\/a>, Grizzlies, Bulls and Clippers<\/a> (via Pacers<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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\u26bd\ufe0f Bar\u00e7a on top: Barcelona secured its second straight La Liga title<\/a> (and 29th overall) with Sunday’s 2-0 victory over rival Real Madrid, marking the first time the club has clinched the league title in El Cl\u00e1sico.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0\u00a0Kerr inks new deal: Steve Kerr has agreed to a two-year contract with the Warriors<\/a> amid speculation about a potential split. The new deal will reportedly keep Kerr, who was earning $17.5 million annually, as the highest-paid coach in the NBA.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd4e\u00a0Bracket reveal: The SEC got six of the top eight seeds<\/a> in the NCAA Softball Championship when the 64-team field was revealed<\/a> on Sunday, including Alabama at No. 1 and defending national champion Texas at No. 2. Regionals begin on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u26f3\ufe0f Save that scorecard: Kristoffer Reitan posted a 2-under 69 on Sunday at Quail Hallow to win the Truist Championship by two strokes<\/a> and earn his first PGA Tour title, which came with a $3.6 million prize.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Knicks<\/a> keep it rolling, sweep Sixers<\/a>\"(Jesse<\/p>\n

(Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Knicks torched the 76ers, 144-114, on Sunday to complete the series sweep<\/a> and advance to the NBA’s Final Four, all while barely breaking a sweat.<\/p>\n

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Bully ball: New York has been utterly dominant this postseason, winning eight games by a combined 196 points \u2014 and losing two games by a combined two points.<\/p>\n

Round 1:<\/p>\n

Knicks 113, Hawks<\/a> 102 (+11)<\/p>\n

Hawks 107, Knicks 106 (-1)<\/p>\n

Hawks 109, Knicks 108 (-1)<\/p>\n

Knicks 114, Hawks 98 (+16)<\/p>\n

Knicks 126, Hawks 97 (+29)<\/p>\n

Knicks 140, Hawks 89 (+51)<\/p>\n

Round 2:<\/p>\n

Knicks 137, 76ers 98 (+39)<\/p>\n

Knicks 108, 76ers 102 (+6)<\/p>\n

Knicks 108, 76ers 94 (+14)<\/p>\n

Knicks 144, 76ers 114 (+30)<\/p>\n

Wild stat: In terms of point differential, the Knicks now have the best 3-game span in NBA playoff history, the two best 4-game spans, the three best 5-game spans, the two best 6-game spans, the best 7-game span, the best 8-game span, the best 9-game span, and the best 10-game span, as noted by Rodger Sherman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Minnesota<\/a>\u2026 Anthony Edwards<\/a> (36 points) and the Timberwolves<\/a> rallied to beat the Spurs, 114-109<\/a>, on Sunday following Victor Wembanyama’s first career ejection<\/a>. The series is now tied 2-2 as it heads back to San Antonio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfd2 The Canes can\u2019t lose\"(Bruce<\/p>\n

(Bruce Bennett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about parity. Close games. Tight series. Overtimes. Upsets. Nobody told the top-seeded Hurricanes, who didn’t drop a single game<\/a> en route to the Eastern Conference Final.<\/p>\n

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Round 1: Swept the Senators (4-0) while allowing five total goals<\/p>\n

Round 2: Swept the Flyers (4-0) while allowing five total goals<\/p>\n

Still perfect: The Hurricanes are the fifth team in NHL history to go 8-0 to start the postseason (1985 Oilers, 1969 Blues, 1960 Canadiens, 1952 Red Wings), and the first to sweep their opening two series since all four rounds became best-of-seven in 1987.<\/p>\n

The Canes, who are in the East Final for the third time in four years, are looking for their first Stanley Cup since 2006.<\/p>\n

They’re the 24th team in league history to win eight or more consecutive games during a playoff run. 18 of those teams won the Cup that year.<\/p>\n

What’s next: Carolina will have a lengthy wait (up to 11 days!) before playing the winner of the Buffalo vs. Montreal series. The Canadiens currently lead 2-1<\/a> after dominant wins on Friday and Sunday.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 NBA mock draft 5.0\"(Hassan<\/p>\n

(Hassan Ahmad\/Yahoo Sports)<\/p>\n

Here’s how the 2026 NBA Draft could play out now that we know the order, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O\u2019Connor.<\/p>\n

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Top 10:<\/p>\n

Wizards: AJ Dybantsa (BYU)<\/p>\n

Jazz: Darryn Peterson (Kansas)<\/p>\n

Bulls: Caleb Williams (UNC)<\/p>\n

Kings: Darius Acuff (Arkansas)<\/p>\n

Hawks: Aday Mara (Michigan)<\/p>\n

Mavericks: Mikel Brown (Louisville)<\/p>\n

Full mock draft: Picks 11-60<\/a><\/p>\n

Be sure to check out our\u00a02026 NBA Draft Guide<\/a>, which features full scouting reports for our top 60 prospects, player comparisons, and multiple big boards.<\/p>\n

\u26bd\ufe0f Another setback for Captain America\"Pulisic<\/p>\n

Pulisic ahead of an AC Milan match last month. (DeFodi Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Steven Goff, Yahoo Sports:<\/p>\n

Christian Pulisic is on the cover of Time magazine. He is in a Fox Sports promo and in commercials for deodorant, a sports drink and soccer shoes, among other things.<\/p>\n

He is undeniably the face of both the U.S. men’s national team and, with the World Cup on home soil, the sport as a whole in this country.<\/p>\n

One place you will not have found him in recent months, however, is in the scoring column. And on Sunday, amid the worst drought of his marvelous career, Pulisic was not even in his No. 11 AC Milan uniform.<\/p>\n

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Slated to start in a 3-2 home loss to Atalanta, the 27-year-old attacker was ruled out with a gluteal muscle strain. It’s unclear whether he will return for the last two Serie A matches before World Cup training camp opens May 27 in the Atlanta area.<\/p>\n

The injury is the latest downer in a campaign that began in style late last summer but turned sour in 2026.<\/p>\n

Now the question is whether he will regain his health and form before the biggest few weeks of his life.<\/p>\n

USMNT watch: How the rest of the roster contenders fared over the weekend<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa Watchlist: Monday, May 11\"(Adam<\/p>\n

(Adam Pantozzi\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0\u00a0NBA Playoffs<\/p>\n

The Lakers<\/a> (down 3-0) host the Thunder tonight (10:30pm ET, Prime) in what could be LeBron James<\/a>‘ final game in a Lakers uniform \u2014 and perhaps even his final game in the NBA should he decide to retire this summer following his 23rd season.<\/p>\n

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But first: The Cavaliers (down 2-1) host the Pistons (8pm, NBC) as they look to even the series following Saturday’s 116-109 victory<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfd2\u00a0NHL Playoffs<\/p>\n

The Wild (down 2-1) host the Avalanche (8pm, ESPN) in the evening’s only NHL action. Will Minnesota draw even with the top-seeded Avs? Or will Colorado bounce back from its first loss of the postseason?<\/p>\n

More to watch:<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfbe\u00a0Tennis: Italian Open (5am, Tennis) \u2026 Jannik Sinner, Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff headline the action in Rome.<\/p>\n

\u26be\ufe0f MLB: Giants at Dodgers (10:10pm, MLB) \u2026 NL West rivals clash in one of just six games<\/a> scheduled for today.<\/p>\n

\u26bd\ufe0f EPL: Tottenham vs. Leeds (3pm, USA) \u2026 Spurs are one spot above the relegation line with three matches left.<\/p>\n

Got plans tonight? Gametime\u00a0is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.\u00a0Get tickets now!<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc0 NBA trivia\"(Yahoo<\/p>\n

(Yahoo Sports)<\/p>\n

Barring a trade, the Wizards will make the No. 1 overall selection in the NBA Draft for the third time this century.<\/p>\n

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Question: Who did they select the other two times (2010, 2001)?<\/p>\n

Hint: J and K.<\/p>\n

Answer at the bottom.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf8 Photo finish\"(BravesVision)\"<\/p>\n

(BravesVision)<\/p>\n

Ouch.<\/p>\n

Eli White saved the Braves from a bases-loaded jam on Sunday with a ridiculous catch at the wall<\/a> \u2014 and paid the price for it.<\/p>\n

Trivia answer: John Wall<\/a> out of Kentucky (2010) and Kwame Brown out of Glynn Academy in Georgia (2001)<\/p>\n

We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM<\/a>, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here<\/a> to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":731595,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[375,7,7482,17047,559,2931,90728,568,677,292,423,1916,42824,304,185,307,18339,6,249,671,114,969,96,863,2152,308,693,255,683],"class_list":["post-731594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-anthony-edwards","tag-basketball","tag-caleb-williams","tag-cameron-boozer","tag-clippers","tag-dodgers","tag-eli-white","tag-getty-images","tag-hawks","tag-houston","tag-jazz","tag-john-wall","tag-keaton-wagler","tag-knicks","tag-lebron-james","tag-minnesota","tag-nate-ament","tag-nba","tag-nba-draft-lottery","tag-nets","tag-pacers","tag-san-antonio","tag-sixers","tag-steve-kerr","tag-the-lakers","tag-timberwolves","tag-victor-wembanyama","tag-warriors","tag-wizards"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116556498818564967","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=731594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/731594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/731595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=731594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=731594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=731594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}