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Timberwolves need Naz Reid and their bench to show up more than they did in Game 1

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Timberwolves need Naz Reid and their bench to show up more than they did in Game 1


The Athletic has live coverage of Timberwolves vs Thunder in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference finals.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Naz Reid may be the most beloved sixth man in the league. Maybe ever. Tattoos with his name adorn the calves, wrists, fingers and even the inside of lower lips of fans all over Minnesota. A beach towel with his name on it is one of the most treasured giveaways the Timberwolves have ever promoted. Wolves fans use his name as a greeting, a farewell, a congratulation or a battle cry.

Naz Reid.

The church of Naz was built upon a divine development story. From undrafted rookie free agent to Sixth Man of the Year. From a 265-pound plodder to a 240-pound panther. His combination of outside shooting, low-post footwork and a handle that belongs on the old And1 mixtapes means that Anthony Edwards is the only Timberwolves player who can rival his popularity in the market.

That is the Naz Reid the Timberwolves need in their return to the Western Conference finals. That is the player who gave the Oklahoma City Thunder so many problems in the regular season, averaging 22.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in the four games. That is not the player the Wolves got in Game 1.

Reid scored just four points in nearly 28 minutes, going 1 of 11 from the field, 0 of 7 from 3-point range and turning it over three times in Minnesota’s 114-88 loss to the Thunder. The Wolves were outscored by 21 points when Reid was on the floor.

There were myriad other reasons the Wolves fell flat in the opener, from Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combining to shoot 6 of 25 from the field (including 5 of 21 from 3), the Thunder defense refusing to let Julius Randle beat them and limiting Edwards’ role, 19 Wolves’ turnovers that led to 31 points for OKC and the frustrating whistle granted to Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

We start with Reid because of how important he is to these Wolves. There is a different sizzle about them when Reid is rolling, his braids trailing behind him like a cape as he weaves his way to the rim. Edwards may be the most confident player on the team, but Reid gives them their swag with his deep bag of tricks that he goes to when he enters the game, usually midway through the first quarter.

The Wolves went 8-2 in the first two rounds of the playoffs in part because Reid was largely on his game. He shot 43.5 percent from deep against the Golden State Warriors in the second round and 50 percent on 3s against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, giving the Wolves that scoring punch off the bench that they sorely needed. He figured to be an antidote when the Thunder went smaller with a five-out lineup that would put pressure on Wolves center Rudy Gobert. Reid did grab eight rebounds and dish out four assists, but that was nothing compared to what the Wolves are used to seeing from him.

“Just a rough night,” Reid said. “I don’t remember the last time I shot like that. It comes and goes. I’m not too concerned. As long as I impact the game in other categories as well, that’s how you stay on the floor.”

The Wolves’ bench has been one of their biggest strengths all season. Coach Chris Finch likes to say that he has eight starters, with DiVincenzo and NAW rounding out the trio. Finch’s faith in them has been validated by this trip to their second conference finals in as many seasons. But the bench failed them in Game 1. DiVincenzo was 3 of 12 on 3s. Alexander-Walker was 2 of 9 from deep.

They are going to get open looks in this series because the Thunder prefer to load up on the paint to keep Edwards out of there. They all have to hit shots at a high clip to open driving lanes for Edwards and Randle.

“We had good looks. We just have to make shots,” DiVincenzo said. “Myself, I have to make a couple shots and it loosens up the defense for Ant. It’s a domino effect. But for the most part we got the looks that we wanted, and we just have to take care of the ball and limit them to one shot.”

The Wolves were one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the league during the regular season, hitting 37.7 percent. But the Thunder’s defense sped them up considerably, forcing them to shoot earlier in the clock and rush their mechanics to avoid the intense defensive presence on the perimeter. Minnesota became the first team in conference finals history to attempt at least 50 3s in a game. But it made only 15 of them. Randle was 5 of 6 on 3s while the rest of the team went 10 of 45.

“There are a lot of good shots out there. We gotta clean things up a little bit,” Finch said. “Sometimes the passes were late. Sometimes we weren’t quite shot-ready. Sometimes we need to turn them into other plays. But I did think we got a number of really good looks and couldn’t connect when the game was turning against us.”

The Wolves led 48-44 at halftime but were outscored 70-40 in the second half. A game that felt winnable early quickly disintegrated, and now they have to recalibrate much like they did after losing Game 1 to Golden State in the second round. The one major difference: The Thunder did not lose their best player the way the Warriors lost Steph Curry.

“They were aggressive. That’s who they are,” Reid said. “That’s kind of their identity. We knew that going into the game. We just let it get the best of us today. We know better. We’ve got to be better. The beauty of it is, you play in two days.”

Some other takeaways from Game 1:

OKC’s defense smothers Randle in the second half

The game was playing out much like the rest of the playoffs for the Wolves in the first half. Minnesota struggled to get going offensively, but Randle made enough shots to keep it afloat. He erupted for 20 points in the first half, going 5 of 6 from 3 while his teammates went 5 for 22.

But Oklahoma City ramped up the pressure in the second half and really made it difficult for Randle and Edwards to get clean looks. The Thunder were willing to live with DiVincenzo or Reid or Alexander-Walker beating them from 3 if they got hot. They just loaded up on Randle in the second half, holding him without a field-goal attempt for the first seven minutes of the third quarter. He took just five shots in the second half and scored eight of his 28 points.

“That’s on me. I gotta get him the ball,” Finch said. “I gotta get him more involved to start the second half.”

Edwards went a quiet 5 of 13 from the floor. He left the game briefly with what appeared to be a sprained ankle but returned and gutted it out. Edwards said the ankle did not affect him, but it looked like his mobility was not quite what it has been.

“I’ve definitely gotta shoot more,” said Edwards, who finished with 18 points. “I only took 13 f—ing shots. But I would say probably just get off the ball a little more, play without the ball. I think that will be the answer.”

Randle (five turnovers) and Edwards (four) combined for nine of the team’s 19 turnovers. The Thunder scored 31 points off the mistakes, which cannot happen in a series like this.

“I’m always going to hold myself accountable,” Randle said. “Five turnovers, it’s way too much. I can’t do that. We can say it’s misses and makes and it is a miss-and-make league, but regardless, we’ve got to defend at a high level and especially on the road. Especially on the road.”

Gobert plays sparingly

This series sets up as an intriguing one for Gobert. For the first time in these playoffs, the Wolves are playing a team with legit size in the frontcourt. The Lakers and Warriors both very much preferred to play small. When they tried to go big with a traditional center like Jaxson Hayes or Quentin Post, it didn’t last long.

Gobert was able to thrive in those series with his defense. There were stretches where he did not play, but he came up big in both closeout games, including 27 points and 24 rebounds to send the Lakers packing in Game 5. On Tuesday night, Gobert played just 21 minutes and picked up two points and three rebounds, shockingly terrible statistics for such an important player.

Part of his paltry playing time was attributable to two fouls in the first two minutes of the game. Finch said he thought the second foul was questionable, but it forced him to sit Gobert for the remaining 10 minutes of the quarter. When he returned, he could not find a place in which to be effective against Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

“I just wanted to go with a more small and skilled lineup when we got down to see if I could change the complexion of the game,” Finch said.

Gobert’s absence opened the floodgates for the Thunder, who shot 62 percent from the floor and were 8 of 13 from 3 in the second half to pull away. The Wolves also managed just 20 points in the paint, their lowest season total, and were out-rebounded 46-42.

Gobert needs to punish the Thunder on the glass if the Wolves are going to stick with him. Three rebounds won’t cut it.

The frustration of SGA’s game

The Wolves did a phenomenal job on Gilgeous-Alexander in the first half, holding him to 2-of-13 shooting. But SGA shot seven free throws in the first four minutes of the game, a display of foul-baiting that frustrated the Wolves to no end.

The Timberwolves know all about Gilgeous-Alexander’s … tactics. Target Center invented the “Free Throw Merchant!” chant earlier this season and Edwards wasn’t having it in the first quarter when SGA was consistently falling to the ground. After one of several stumbles, Edwards tossed the ball at Gilgeous-Alexander while he was on the ground, picking up a technical foul.

Jaden McDaniels fouled out of the game, and Finch and assistant Micah Nori were in regular dialogue with officials James Capers, Tyler Ford and Mark Lindsay. Even Mike Conley, who has never been assessed a technical foul in his 18-year career, was making his voice heard.

“I got out of character a couple of times,” Conley said. “And we talked about that at length throughout the playoffs, keeping our heads, keeping our focus on the game. We’ve got to be better. We expected it. We know what’s to come. It’s going to be those kinds of games where you feel like you didn’t do something, and they did the same thing and it just wasn’t called the same. But it happens, and we’ll be better.”

Finch has shown a willingness to be critical of officiating in the past, but he said after the game that the Wolves just have to find a way to play through it.

“There was a lot of frustration out there,” Finch said. “We talked about that before the series started. We have to be able to put that to the side and get on with a next-play mentality.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the craftiest players in the league, and one of the league’s biggest foul-baiters.

Gilgeous-Alexander is going to get calls. He’s going to fall to the floor. That’s part of his game. As frustrating as it can be to experience, the Wolves have to find a way to better channel their emotions. The Thunder, albeit the younger team, showed more maturity in handling calls they did not like. It wasn’t the difference in the game, but it will be something that has to improve the rest of the way.

(Photo of Naz Reid and Chet Holmgren: Nate Billings / AP)





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These Knicks were built in Jalen Brunson’s image

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These Knicks were built in Jalen Brunson’s image


NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson’s trophy room is not robust. Somewhere, hanging around the home, is the game ball from his career-best 60-point performance last season. His parents collect the rest of his awards.

Brunson’s Clutch Player of the Year trophy — an elegant, glass prize that looks like a vase with a gold jump shooter floating in the middle — arrived from the NBA weeks ago with an error: His name wasn’t engraved in it. The New York Knicks had to send the award back to fix the mistake. Brunson has since received the corrected version of it, with “Jalen Brunson” properly etched onto the keepsake.

Of course, it’s unclear if Brunson will keep it. Even in its infancy, it’s already laying around, not displayed prominently at the Brunson household.

It is Brunson’s brand not to care about the awards. And yet, the two-time All-Star can identify one piece of prime memorabilia hanging on the wall at his parents’ place, an item that never actually belonged to him.

“Whenever I’m at the house I see the finals jersey hanging up on the wall,” Brunson said. “And it’s pretty cool to see.”

The proprietor of that jersey is Brunson’s father, Rick, a player for the Knicks the last time the team made the NBA Finals, an eventual loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. Now, Jalen has the same organization four wins short of the playoffs’ last round. And once again, the same team stands in the way.

When the Knicks take the court Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers, they will play their first conference finals game since 2000. That time, the Pacers beat them in six games. The season before, the year of Brunson’s finals jersey, remains a chapter out of Knicks lore: A six-game victory over Indiana that included the famed Larry Johnson four-point play to become the first No. 8 seed to make the Finals.

Today, Brunson is a series away from returning the Knicks, one of the league’s least successful franchises over the better part of two decades, to the big stage. This — not the Clutch Player of the Year or the fifth-place MVP finish in 2024 or the 40- or 50- or 60-point games — was the plan all along.

Brunson signed a three-year extension last summer not for the money. The new contract does not kick in until 2025-26, but had Brunson waited until the upcoming summer to re-sign after the expiration of his current deal, he could have received max money in free agency. Instead, he took a cheaper extension, which locked in long-term security for both sides.

The All-Star point guard could guarantee direct deposits for three seasons beyond this one, protecting against any extreme (though unlikely) circumstances that could have hurt his open-market value. Meanwhile, the Knicks hold onto the greatest free-agent signing in franchise history, the man who came over from the Dallas Mavericks in 2022 — and they do it on a team-friendly number.

Effects of the new collective bargaining agreement are already rippling across the NBA. The Denver Nuggets have struggled to build around their core because of second-apron fears. The Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns are too expensive to improve substantially, and are facing the prospect of potentially dealing off stars. The Boston Celtics, because of one injury to Jayson Tatum, have to rethink their entire future, just because of the severe restrictions on expensive teams nowadays.

The Knicks don’t have to worry about that, at least not for a couple of years.

Brunson pointed to reasons other than money after signing the deal. He had studied the CBA and understood its ramifications. New York’s best chance to win not just for a year or two but to extend a championship window would come if its top-tier contributors could provide financial relief. So he did that.

He received the title of team captain upon his re-commitment, an intuitive decision. The Knicks go as Brunson does. Somehow, each New York squad ends up absorbing bits and pieces of his personality.

In years past, the locker room has soaked up his attention to detail, his dedication to marginal value.

“He’s a great student of the game,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said.

The Pacers, who beat an injured Knicks squad in the second round last season, won’t be an easy matchup. Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard is a physical, crafty defender used to manning tough assignments every night. Wing Aaron Nesmith is strong in the chest, long and battled Brunson after the Pacers started using him more on the point guard in Game 3 of last spring’s series.

Indiana doesn’t concede the 3-point arc. It plays with pace. Center Myles Turner is a chore in the paint.

Then again, Brunson rejoices in chores.

He lives in tight spaces, able to slither out of them with a pivot or a hesitation. He can barely dunk and isn’t an end-to-end sprinter but stops as fast as anyone else in the league, planting on a foot and changing directions as inertia carries defenders in other directions.

When the Knicks need a bucket, Brunson tends to walk into it.

Over the past month, this version of the Knicks has reclassified itself. A group that was inconsistent throughout the regular season now defines itself with an in-your-face mental fortitude, the same one that drips from Brunson.

During a hard-fought, first-round series against the Detroit Pistons, a six-gamer that felt like it went seven, the Knicks fought back from fourth-quarter deficits in all four of their wins. Come the final stretch, they rely on Brunson, who averaged a league-leading 41.5 points per 36 minutes during close-and-late situations (defined as games within five points with five-or-less minutes to go) in the regular season and has somehow upped that average to 46.1 in the playoffs.

“It’s great we have someone who has a calming demeanor like that, especially in those moments you’re talking about,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “J.B. was the Clutch Player of the Year for a reason.”

But that’s not the trophy Brunson cares about most.

He drained the first-round, series-winner over defensive menace Ausar Thompson against Detroit, crossing Thompson into Flint, Mich., before strolling into a 3-pointer. The Knicks throttled back from down 20 points during each of Games 1 and 2 against Boston. In Game 4, they overcame a 14-point, second-half deficit. Brunson caught fire that night, matching heroic shot for heroic shot with Tatum. But those Boston comebacks and the 38-point shellacking to end the Celtics’ season weren’t only because of Brunson’s late-game valiance.

Mikal Bridges has taken over crunch time. OG Anunoby has locked in defensively. Josh Hart has made games ugly, just how he likes it, hustling after every loose ball in existence. Mitchell Robinson is back to full health with an exclamation point. Miles “Deuce” McBride is a point-of-attack defender and shooter.

The Pacers are exhausting, owners of a top-10 defense since early December. They never stop moving, don’t turn the ball over, cut until they’ve fully scrambled a defense, boast depth down the bench and just wrecked the Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers to race to the conference finals. But as Celtics lead executive Brad Stevens said in his end-of-season news conference this week, the Knicks are “peaking,” too.

They have a chance to make a physical win over Detroit and a persistent one over Boston matter even more.  And if they do, maybe Brunson can keep a jersey for his wall.

(Photo illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)



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Detroit Tigers activate catcher Jake Rogers from 10-day IL

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Detroit Tigers activate catcher Jake Rogers from 10-day IL


May 20, 2025, 07:07 PM ET

ST. LOUIS — The Detroit Tigers activated catcher Jake Rogers from the 10-day injured list and designated catcher Tomas Nido for assignment ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 30-year-old Rogers has missed the last 38 games since being placed on the injured list with a strained left oblique on April 8.

Rogers is in manager A.J. Hinch’s lineup Tuesday night batting ninth and catching left-hander Tarik Skubal.

“It feels good,” Rogers said. “I’ve been missing the boys and missing the game. It felt good to get back into it last week down in Toledo and it feels good to be here in St. Louis.”

Rogers has four hits in 18 at-bats this season and went 5 for 15 in a five-game rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Toledo. Last season, he played in 102 games, finishing with 10 home runs, 36 RBIs and 22 walks.

Nido went 11 for 35 in 11 games with Detroit and pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in Monday night’s 11-4 loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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NBA Postseason Players Power Ranking: The 10 best players in conference finals

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NBA Postseason Players Power Ranking: The 10 best players in conference finals


Welcome to the NBA’s changing of the guard.

We’re down to four teams, the NBA’s conference finals, and the old guard is out. No LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant (his team didn’t even make the postseason), or even a Jayson Tatum in sight.

There is still plenty of star power — the next generation is rising. Here are the top 10 players still playing as the NBA conference finals begin.

1) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)

If he wasn’t going to be on top of these power rankings before, he cemented his grip on the top spot Sunday with 35 points to lead the Thunder in a close-out Game 7 — the best performer stepped up on the biggest stage.

” You know who this is? The MVP,” Chet Holmgren said, standing next to Gilgeous-Alexander in the team’s walk-off interview after the win.

SGA is averaging 29 points, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds a game in the playoffs, all while playing high-level defense and pitching in 1.5 steals a night. This is the best player on the best team remaining, and he is the best player left in the postseason.

2) Jalen Brunson (New York)

Sometimes a player wins one of the NBA’s postseason awards, then goes out in the playoffs and shows exactly why — Jalen Brunson was voted the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year and has more than lived up to that in these playoffs.

Brunson is averaging 28.8 points and 7.7 assists a game for the Knicks this postseason, he is the engine of their playoff offense. The Knicks’ offense falls off a cliff when Brunson is not on the court (New York has a 97.1 net rating when he is off the court this postseason, 18.7 points less than when he is on). Brunson has secured his Knicks legend status, which will only grow if he can lead New York to the NBA Finals.

3) Anthony Edwards (Minnesota)

We have been able to watch Edwards grow throughout these playoffs, to figure out the mental side of the game and take a step forward with each game. Golden State has a quality defense that threw different looks at him, and you could see him figuring out how to handle and attack them in real time. Edwards continues down the path to becoming one of the true faces of the league.

These playoffs, Edwards is averaging 26.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game, shooting 38.5% on 3-pointers (and taking 9.1 a game). Edwards is not done being tested by strong defenses — Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and the Oklahoma City Thunder are on another level, and Edwards being able to take care of the ball will be a key stat in that series.

4) Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)

The focus coming into the last round was all the stars on the Cleveland Cavaliers, but while they stumbled through the series it was Haliburton who was the best player on the floor. Through the playoffs, he is averaging 17.5 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds a game, but the numbers (especially his 33.8% shooting from 3) don’t tell the story — he is the conductor of a high-paced symphony of an offense. Also, he’s been as clutch as Brunson this postseason.

And don’t forget this one:

5) Julius Randle (Minnesota)

Minnesota is in the Western Conference Finals because Julius Randle outplayed Draymond Green in the last round.

“I lost my matchup,” Green said after the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors. “Julius was incredible. He played great basketball. Honestly, some of the shots he was taking were shots you want him to take, and he made them. He made the shots. At the end of the day, the game comes down to shotmaking and he made the shots. So I got to give Ju a lot of credit.”

Randle is averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game this postseason. It took most of the regular season for Randle and Rudy Gobert to figure out how to fit next to each other, but they do now and the Timberwolves are a threat because of it.

6) Karl-Anthony Towns (New York)

Towns has already had a strong playoffs, averaging 19.9 points and 11.3 rebounds a game. With Mitchel Robinson healthy, the Knicks have two dominant bigs on the floor, which has been a big part of what has fueled them to this point.

Towns’ biggest days may be ahead of him: He averaged 30.3 points and 12 rebounds a game against the Pacers this season, having some of his best nights of the regular season, including a 40-point, 12-rebound game after the All-Star break. He will need to do that again if the Knicks are going to advance.

7) Pascal Siakam (Indiana)

Siakam is arguably the most underrated player in the NBA, and he has experience on this stage that his team needs. Don’t forget that he has a ring from Toronto. Siakam knows what is required in order to win at this level, and how to do so next to a red-hot superstar.

Siakam is averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 rebounds a game these playoffs, numbers close to what he did during Toronto’s title run (19 points and 7.1 rebounds), plus he is a quality defender who gives Rick Carlisle options in slowing New York’s attack.

8) Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City)

Williams has been incredibly inconsistent this postseason, but when the Thunder have needed him most he has stepped up, like his 24 points and +35 performance in Game 7 against Denver. For the playoffs, Williams is averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists a game. The Thunder need Williams to be more consistent in this series and especially in the NBA Finals (if they advance).

9) Myles Turner (Indiana)

Myles Turner was tough against the Cavaliers. Going up against a physical and impressive front court of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, Turner was the best big on the floor — and often the most physical — in helping spark the Indiana win. Turner is averaging 16.5 points and 6 rebounds a game, but most importantly, 2.5 blocked shots a game. He has been a force in the paint and needs to be again when facing Brunson and friends.

10) Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

Much like Jalen Williams, Holmgren has not been consistent or efficient as the Thunder need this postseason (which is why this spot almost went to Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers), but he’s done just enough to earn it. Holmgren is averaging 15.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a game, plus 2.2 blocks a night in these playoffs. He’s a big presence in the paint who needs to have a big series against the size of Minnesota if OKC is to advance.





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Tina Charles’ Return Draws Clear Response From Connecticut Sun

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Tina Charles’ Return Draws Clear Response From Connecticut Sun


Tina Charles is back, and the Connecticut Sun didn’t hold back their feelings. The MVP took the court once again in a Sun jersey for the first time since 2013 on Sunday against the Washington Mystics.

After playing for UConn from 2006 to 2010, Charles was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2010 WNBA draft, selected by the Sun. She played for three seasons with the Sun before moving to the New York Liberty from 2014 to 2019. Then, she played for the Mystics in 2021.

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In February 2022, Charles signed with the Phoenix Mercury, in the hopes of winning a WNBA championship title, but the team struggled and wasn’t in title contention through the first 18 games of the 2022 season. In June of that year, she ended her contract with the Mercury and signed with the Seattle Storm.

Due to personal reasons, Charles took a break from the WNBA during the 2023 season, but came back in 2024 to play for the Atlanta Dream. Then in 2025, the center went back to the Sun.

New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud drives past Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles for a layup in the first quarter at Barclays Center.Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Connecticut opened its 2025 WNBA season with a narrow 90–85 loss to the Mystics at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday. Despite a strong performance from Charles, who posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, the Sun couldn’t hold off a late surge from the Mystics.

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On Sunday afternoon, 55 minutes into the game, the Sun’s official X account posted two candid pictures of Charles with the caption, “she’s back like she never left.”

The team and its fans are clearly excited about Charles’ return and eager to see what the 2025 WNBA season holds for her and the Sun.

Related: Tina Charles Earns Respect For Caitlin Clark Comments Before Fever-Dream



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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites to orbit on brand-new Falcon 9 rocket after abort (photos)

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SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites to orbit on brand-new Falcon 9 rocket after abort (photos)


A brand-new SpaceX rocket just earned its wings.

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Tuesday (May 20) at 11:19 p.m. EDT (0319 GMT on May 21), carrying 23 of the company’s Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO).

That was a day later than originally planned; SpaceX attempted to launch the mission on Monday night (May 19), but that try was aborted just before liftoff, for reasons that the company did not immediately explain.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 23 Starlink satellites from Florida on May 20, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX)

Tuesday’s launch was the first ever for this Falcon 9’s first stage, according to a SpaceX mission description. That’s a rarity for the company, which is known for its pioneering rocket reuse.



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Neal McDonough’s ‘The Last Rodeo’ Drops Final Trailer Ahead Of Release

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Neal McDonough’s ‘The Last Rodeo’ Drops Final Trailer Ahead Of Release


Neal McDonough’s new film ‘The Last Rodeo’ is set to hit theaters this Friday, May 23, and the final trailer has now been dropped ahead of its release.

McDonough, who also co-wrote and produced the film, plays the film’s protagonist in Joe Wainright, a retired rodeo legend who risks everything by entering a high-stakes bull riding competition as the oldest competitor ever to save his grandson. who needs life-saving surgery.

The film is an extension of real life for McDonough, who is is a familiar face at PBR events and is well-known for doing the “Sacramento Sip” to rile up fans in attendance.

And just last month, McDonough and his wife, Ruvé, became minority owners in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) team The Austin Gamblers. McDonough is entrenched in the PBR community, and speaking about it he said:

“There’s a brotherhood here in PBR that I’ve never seen in any other sport—and I’ve played a lot of them. Ruvé and I feel completely blessed to be part of this world, to tell these stories, and to now be part of the Gamblers family as we help bring this incredible sport to even more people.”

He added:

“Americans love Americana. That’s what we’re tapping into with our films and that’s what PBR has certainly tapped into. What I love so much about PBR more than anything else is that it’s for the whole family, and everyone is rooting for every guy to make it to 8 seconds.”

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DOJ opens investigation into Andrew Cuomo over NY nursing home deaths testimony: report

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DOJ opens investigation into Andrew Cuomo over NY nursing home deaths testimony: report


The Justice Department has reportedly opened a criminal investigation into former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for allegedly lying to Congress about the nursing home deaths in the Empire State during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The probe into the New York City mayoral frontrunner was launched about a month ago by the Washington, DC, US Attorney’s Office, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The office was led at the time by Ed Martin, who was replaced earlier this month by Jeanine Pirro.

Andrew Cuomo is under investigation by the Department of Justice over his testimony on COVID-19 nursing home deaths, according to a report. James Keivom

The Republican-led panel House Oversight and Government Reform Committee asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue criminal charges against Cuomo, a Democrat, for making “criminally false statements” during a June 11, 2024, interview with the House COVID subcommittee.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) charged that there was “overwhelming evidence” that Cuomo, 67, presided over a July 6, 2020, audit that undercounted the total number of deaths in New York senior care facilities during the pandemic by 46%.

In his testimony, the ex-governor was adamant that he had not drafted, reviewed, discussed or consulted people for “peer-review” on the nursing home report, which was published by the New York State Department of Health.

Comer previously referred Cuomo for prosecution last year, but his request was denied by former President Joe Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The former governor’s spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told The Post that he was unaware of any investigation — slamming the prospect of one as “lawfare and election interference.” 

“We have never been informed of any such matter, so why would someone leak it now?” he said in a statement. “The answer is obvious: This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple — something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against.

“Governor Cuomo testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the Subcommittee — but from the beginning this was all transparently political,” he added. 

The New York Times reported that the probe was launched last month. Getty Images

“The wheels of justice are finally beginning to turn,” Voices for Seniors said in a statement on X. “For over five years, our movement has been fueled by heartbreak and a single-minded demand for the truth.

“This investigation is not just justified, it’s overdue. The evidence paints a damning picture of a leader more concerned with image than integrity. Grieving families have waited long enough.”

“Thank God our fight has not been in vain,” cofounder Vivian Zayas, whose mom, Ana Martinez, died of COVID after a stint in a West Islip nursing home in 2020, told The Post.

She said nursing home families sent three letters to Bondi urging a criminal probe of Cuomo.

“We’re just elated this investigation of Cuomo is going forward. It’s a long overdue victory for the nursing home families and their loved ones,” Zayas added.

Attorney General Pam Bondi could pursue criminal charges against the former governor for allegedly making “criminally false statements.” AP

Daniel Arbeeny, a co-founder of We Care Memorial Wall for COVID nursing home victims, also applauded the probe.

“Cuomo should be held accountable. It’s that simple,” said Arbeeny, whose father, Norman, died from COVID.

“We need to know if Cuomo was lying about following federal guidelines. He forced nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients and thousands of nursing home residents needlessly died.”

The report Cuomo is accused of lying to Congress about downplayed the consequences of his infamous March 25, 2020, directive forcing recovering COVID patients into senior care facilities without mandated testing to see if they could still infect others.

By May 10, when Cuomo revoked the order, thousands of sick New Yorkers had been either admitted or readmitted into nursing homes.

Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s spokesperson, told The Post he was unaware of any investigation. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had acknowledged the risk of asymptomatic spread six days earlier — but media outlets had been reporting on the possibility of such infections since early April.

Cuomo told lawmakers last year that he did not “recall” even seeing the July 2020 nursing home report before its publication.

Emails obtained by subcommittee staff, however, show that Cuomo aides discussed his participation in the drafting of the audit — and the former governor’s own handwritten edits were also submitted as evidence to the DOJ.

Those edits included a note stating that by the date the nursing home mandate was rescinded, “the disease was already in the nursing homes” — and crossing out the word “death” to replace it with the approximate timeline it took for infections to become fatalities, among others.

“New York is 6,600?” Cuomo scrawled in the margins of one draft page — despite more than 9,000 perishing when counting those who were in hospitals. The final report cited just 6,432 fatalities.

The DOJ did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. Robert Miller

Pirro, who is handling the probe, is a former political rival of Cuomo’s who has been publicly critical of the ex-governor’s pandemic nursing home policy. 

“You cannot escape the consequences of your intentional and reckless acts,” Pirro, a former Fox News host, raged in a 2021 segment on the network about Cuomo, according to the New York Times. 

“You cannot escape your intentional coverup,” she added, arguing that Cuomo doomed seniors to “a death sentence.” 

Pirro further argued that New York prosecutors should consider manslaughter and negligent homicide charges against Cuomo over his nursing home policy. 

Pirro ran a failed campaign against Cuomo in the 2006 race for New York attorney general. 

The report of the investigation into the mayoral frontrunner comes one day after Cuomo released a new campaign ad touting his leadership during the pandemic. 

“It was the greatest health crisis in our history — and when New Yorkers were desperate for leadership — Andrew Cuomo delivered,” the narrator says in the 30-second spot, titled, “Crisis.” 

“He didn’t just provide information in those daily COVID briefings — he acted, building emergency hospitals and deploying first responders,” the ad continues. 

Cuomo defended his nursing home policy earlier Tuesday during an interview on the “Honestly with Bari Weiss” podcast. 

“When you now go back and look at the facts, everything New York state did followed federal guidance,” he asserted. 

Cuomo dismissed claims that he undercounted nursing home deaths as “so untrue” and the result of “politics.” 

“I get the politics. I understand why they were doing it and why they had their outlets echo it over and over and over — and then it was amplified by the nursing home families who just bought into all this conservative rhetoric,” he said.  

“Only 12 states did better” than New York in terms of preventing deaths during the pandemic, the mayoral hopeful insisted.

Democratic socialist Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — who is running second to Cuomo in the race — blasted the former governor and President Trump in a statement.

“Andrew Cuomo’s career has been defined by corruption and deceit and his lying to Congress about his COVID response is no exception. But Donald Trump cannot be trusted to pursue justice. While I believe New Yorkers should reject the disgraced ex-Governor at the ballot box, the Trump administration’s actions are dangerous.”

Other candidates soon joined the fray, with City Comptroller Brad Lander, writing on X that “New Yorkers can’t afford four more years of a compromised Mayor kissing Trump’s ass,” while Brooklyn Sen. Zellnor Myrie wrote, “We cannot trade one compromised mayor for another.”

The DOJ did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.



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Noteworthy Monday Option Activity: FUBO, AMD, ZS

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Noteworthy Monday Option Activity: FUBO, AMD, ZS


Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in fuboTV Inc (Symbol: FUBO), where a total of 128,984 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 12.9 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 63% of FUBO’s average daily trading volume over the past month of 20.5 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $3.50 strike call option expiring May 23, 2025, with 71,292 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 7.1 million underlying shares of FUBO. Below is a chart showing FUBO’s trailing twelve month trading history, with the $3.50 strike highlighted in orange:

Advanced Micro Devices Inc (Symbol: AMD) saw options trading volume of 269,520 contracts, representing approximately 27.0 million underlying shares or approximately 62.6% of AMD’s average daily trading volume over the past month, of 43.0 million shares.
Particularly high volume was seen for the $115 strike call option expiring May 23, 2025, with 11,367 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.1 million underlying shares of AMD. Below is a chart showing AMD’s trailing twelve month trading history, with the $115 strike highlighted in orange:

Loading+chart+—+2025+TickerTech.com

And Zscaler Inc (Symbol: ZS) options are showing a volume of 14,917 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 1.5 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 62% of ZS’s average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.4 million shares.
Particularly high volume was seen for the $200 strike put option expiring June 20, 2025, with 3,493 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 349,300 underlying shares of ZS. Below is a chart showing ZS’s trailing twelve month trading history, with the $200 strike highlighted in orange:

Loading+chart+—+2025+TickerTech.com

For the various different available expirations for FUBO options, AMD options, or ZS options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.

Today’s Most Active Call & Put Options of the S&P 500 »

Also see:

• Top Stocks Held By Prem Watsa
• Institutional Holders of CERY
• Funds Holding SBEV

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.



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Canada’s Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes qualify for U.S. Open

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Canada’s Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes qualify for U.S. Open


At least four Canadians will tee it up at the U.S. Open.

Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes locked up their spots at the third major of the season by virtue of sitting within the top 60 of the Official World Golf Rankings on Monday.

Taylor and Hughes will join fellow Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith in the field in June at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.

Both Taylor, ranked 42nd, and Hughes, ranked 48th, missed the cut at the PGA Championship but are otherwise enjoying solid seasons.

Taylor won the Sony Open in January in Hawaii and added another top-10 finish at the Genesis Invitational, a signature event, the next month.

Hughes enjoyed a stretch of three top-10s in four starts prior to the PGA Championship, including a playoff loss at the Myrtle Beach Classic a week prior.

Pendrith and Conners qualified for the U.S. Open after advancing to the Tour Championship last season.

Both placed within the top 20 at the PGA, with Pendrith’s fifth-place finish marking the best result for a Canadian at a men’s major championship since Mike Weir also placed fifth at the 2005 Masters.

Taylor and Hughes were among the 36 players now exempt from qualifying, also including Davis Riley and Joe Highsmith who both did well enough in the final round of the PGA Championship to move into the top 60 in the world ranking.

The U.S. Open is June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, where Dustin Johnson won his first major. Johnson played a practice round that week with Scheffler, who was 19 and making his U.S. Open debut. Scheffler opened with 69, then shot 78 and missed the cut.

LIV Golf added four more of its players to the field when Jinichiro Kozuma was among three players who made it through the Japan qualifier. Joaquin Niemann was added as the leading player on LIV points, while the top 60 in the world added Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed.

Sergio Garcia and Abraham Ancer were among players playing in the 36-hole qualifier in Dallas. Most of the final qualifying is scheduled for June 2 across the U.S. and in Canada.

The field of exempt players — not including the qualifying sites — was 85 players, a little higher than normal for a U.S. Open that strives to have about half the field (78 players) qualify.

Riley, Highsmith, Jhonattan Vegas and Si Woo Kim each moved into the top 60 in the world in the final week. Riley was in contention when he took a triple bogey on the seventh hole. He was 4 over for his round at that point, but played bogey-free the rest of the way to tie for second.

That was enough to move him from No. 100 into the top 60 at 53rd in the world. Ditto for Highsmith, who played bogey-free with three birdies over the final 12 holes to move up nine spots to No. 60.

That bumped Laurie Canter, though he became exempt for being the highest-ranked player on the European tour points list not already eligible.

The only other exempt spot available is the NCAA men’s individual champion, which will be decided May 26 at La Costa Resort in California.

The U.S. Open is immediately preceded by the RBC Canadian Open, which will be contested for the first time at TPC Toronto from June 5-8.



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