It’s 2:15 a.m. in Las Vegas as I write this. I’m just getting back from a 12-hour Kentucky Derby party, which is about how long it took me to get over what happened in the race.
Golden Tempo won the Derby at 23-1, storming from last to first in a wild finish, just ahead of Renegade.
👉 Watch the replay →
Golden Tempo won the Derby at 23-1, storming from last to first in a wild finish, just ahead of Renegade.
👉 Watch the replay →
🏀 NBA Playoffs: Two more Game 7s
One Game 7 down, two more to go.
Sunday’s NBA menu:
Magic (+8.5) at Pistons, 3:30 ET (ABC). Total: 202.5. Series tied 3-3.
Raptors (+8.5) at Cavs, 7:30 ET (NBC). Total: 211.5. Series tied 3-3.
👉 Steve Makinen’s NBA Analytics Report →
👉 NBA player prop projections from Opta AI →
👉 Check standings & picks in the VSiN / KillerSports Challenge →
Sunday’s NBA menu:
Magic (+8.5) at Pistons, 3:30 ET (ABC). Total: 202.5. Series tied 3-3.
Raptors (+8.5) at Cavs, 7:30 ET (NBC). Total: 211.5. Series tied 3-3.
👉 Steve Makinen’s NBA Analytics Report →
👉 NBA player prop projections from Opta AI →
👉 Check standings & picks in the VSiN / KillerSports Challenge →
🧠 Zach Cohen’s NBA Report: Sixers exorcise the demons
Philadelphia hadn’t beaten Boston in a playoff series since 1982, and this Celtics core has given Joel Embiid fits. The Sixers also hadn’t exactly built a reputation for winning Game 7s in the Embiid era, but this one felt different. Embiid looked healthy, Paul George had turned back the clock and Tyrese Maxey finally had help.
A few hours before tip, the Sixers got a big break. Jayson Tatum, dealing with left knee stiffness, was downgraded to questionable and then ruled out. That moved the line from Celtics -8.5 to -4.5, and it still wasn’t enough. Behind 64 combined points from Embiid and Maxey — plus another 23 from rookie VJ Edgecombe — the Sixers won 109-100 at TD Garden.
Philadelphia now gets the Knicks in what feels like a true toss-up, assuming Embiid is healthy. Late in Game 7, Maxey fell into Embiid’s knee, and while Embiid stayed in the game, it looked like a mild hyperextension. Given his history, that’s worth monitoring closely.
It was strange seeing Tatum in street clothes for the final game of Boston’s season, but it was probably the right call. Still, the offseason gets interesting now. Boston likely needs some tweaks, the center position remains a weakness and Joe Mazzulla is about to hear plenty of chatter.
Sunday Game 7s
In Detroit, we’ll see whether Orlando can recover from one of the ugliest playoff collapses in recent memory. The Magic had Game 6 won, then completely unraveled in the second half.
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers are the more talented team, but they’re also carrying the pressure. Toronto is playing with house money, and there’s going to be some real nervous energy in that building.
👉 Zach’s Best Bets →
A few hours before tip, the Sixers got a big break. Jayson Tatum, dealing with left knee stiffness, was downgraded to questionable and then ruled out. That moved the line from Celtics -8.5 to -4.5, and it still wasn’t enough. Behind 64 combined points from Embiid and Maxey — plus another 23 from rookie VJ Edgecombe — the Sixers won 109-100 at TD Garden.
Philadelphia now gets the Knicks in what feels like a true toss-up, assuming Embiid is healthy. Late in Game 7, Maxey fell into Embiid’s knee, and while Embiid stayed in the game, it looked like a mild hyperextension. Given his history, that’s worth monitoring closely.
It was strange seeing Tatum in street clothes for the final game of Boston’s season, but it was probably the right call. Still, the offseason gets interesting now. Boston likely needs some tweaks, the center position remains a weakness and Joe Mazzulla is about to hear plenty of chatter.
Sunday Game 7s
In Detroit, we’ll see whether Orlando can recover from one of the ugliest playoff collapses in recent memory. The Magic had Game 6 won, then completely unraveled in the second half.
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers are the more talented team, but they’re also carrying the pressure. Toronto is playing with house money, and there’s going to be some real nervous energy in that building.
👉 Zach’s Best Bets →
🏒 NHL Best Bets
Jonathan Davis already has his Best Bets up for today’s Game 7.
Sunday’s NHL menu:
Canadiens (+130) at Lightning (-155), 6 ET (TNT). Total: 5.5. Series tied 3-3.
Wild (+154) at Avalanche (-184), 9 ET (TNT). Total: 5.5. Game 1.
👉 JD’s top plays →
Sunday’s NHL menu:
Canadiens (+130) at Lightning (-155), 6 ET (TNT). Total: 5.5. Series tied 3-3.
Wild (+154) at Avalanche (-184), 9 ET (TNT). Total: 5.5. Game 1.
👉 JD’s top plays →
⚡ Smart Edge: Don’t miss the moves
Sunday markets move fast — especially in Game 7.
From injury news to sharp buyback, timing matters. Tracking real-time screen movement can be the difference between +8.5 and +7 — or +130 and +115.
👉 Track real-time line movement from DonBest →
👉 Start your free trial — use code VSIN10 for 10% off
From injury news to sharp buyback, timing matters. Tracking real-time screen movement can be the difference between +8.5 and +7 — or +130 and +115.
👉 Track real-time line movement from DonBest →
👉 Start your free trial — use code VSIN10 for 10% off
⚾ MLB Best Bets
Greg Peterson’s Sunday card is already live.
👉 Greg’s MLB Best Bets →
Adam Burke and Josh Appelbaum will file this morning, along with Steve Makinen’s Analytics Report.
👉 More MLB coverage →
👉 MLB player prop projections from Opta AI →
👉 Greg’s MLB Best Bets →
Adam Burke and Josh Appelbaum will file this morning, along with Steve Makinen’s Analytics Report.
👉 More MLB coverage →
👉 MLB player prop projections from Opta AI →
🏁 NASCAR
Steve Makinen’s final simulation projects Denny Hamlin as the winner for today’s Würth 500.
But Steve warns: Over the last three races at Texas, 28 drivers failed to finish — an average of 9.3 per race — earning the speedway a handicap-ability grade of D-.
Steve’s projections:
Top 5: Larson, Byron, Hamlin, Buescher, Briscoe
Top underdogs: Hocevar, Gibbs, Chastain, Suarez
Favorites to struggle: Logano, Bowman, Elliott, Blaney
👉 More NASCAR coverage →
👉 Simulation + odds hub →
But Steve warns: Over the last three races at Texas, 28 drivers failed to finish — an average of 9.3 per race — earning the speedway a handicap-ability grade of D-.
Steve’s projections:
Top 5: Larson, Byron, Hamlin, Buescher, Briscoe
Top underdogs: Hocevar, Gibbs, Chastain, Suarez
Favorites to struggle: Logano, Bowman, Elliott, Blaney
👉 More NASCAR coverage →
👉 Simulation + odds hub →
In Memoriam
Chris Piper, a 2021 Circa Survivor co-champion, died in April, his family confirmed Saturday. The cause of death was likely a respiratory infection, according to a family member.
Piper was a professional bettor from Las Vegas and finished fifth in the Circa Friday Football Invitational in 2023.
Piper was a professional bettor from Las Vegas and finished fifth in the Circa Friday Football Invitational in 2023.
