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USA Today
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jalen Brunson-Mariska Hargitay connection explained: Knicks and Law & Order fans unite
Jalen Brunson-Mariska Hargitay connection explained: Knicks and Law & Order fans unite Show Caption Hide Caption NBA Finals predictions: Are the Thunder and Knicks locks for the NBA Finals? The For The Hoops crew make their picks for the NBA Finals. The Thunder vs. Knicks seem to be a popular pick, but are we counting the Timberwolves and Pacers out too early? Madison Square Garden's coveted Celebrity Row would normally leave anyone starstruck, offering up plenty of A-list sightings from Spike Lee to Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Kylie Jenner, Bad Bunny and Timothee Chalamet. But New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson has only been left awestruck by one celebrity. That person is (don-don) Mariska Hargitay, longtime star of the hit TV show 'Law & Order: SVU." "I've never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, 'Oh, (wow),'" Brunson said during a May 4 episode of his 'The Roommates Show' podcast, which he hosts alongside teammate Josh Hart. "Then, the first time we met, it was awesome, we talked and everything." A friendship between Brunson and Hargitay has been brewing since he donned royal blue and orange. The two shared a hug after the Knicks' 108-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 11, which Hart called a rarity. ("I've seen you not hug your wife after some losses," Hart joked.) In February, Hargitay announced Brunson's All-Star selection with a special video, where she congratulated "one captain to another." (Hargitay has played Olivia Benson, captain of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit, since 1999.) "That's my favorite person ever," Brunson exclaimed after watching the video. Why is Hargitay Brunson's favorite? What's behind the Brunson-Hargitay connection? We got you covered. KNICKS-PACERS: 8 best (and infamous) moments of rivalry Jalen Brunson grew up watching 'Law & Order: SVU' Brunson's fandom dates back to his early days of watching TV with his father Rick Brunson, a former NBA player who serves as an assistant coach for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson recalled his dad used to blast the volume in the house. 'I remember my dad always watching the show and you just hear the iconic (theme song) 'don-don' all the time,' Brunson said. 'I always found myself watching the show. Honestly the older I got, the more I watched, the more I see now I'm like, 'I've seen that episode,' I've seen so many different episodes.' Brunson said he incorporates "Law & Order: SVU" into his pregame ritual, especially during his time with the Dallas Mavericks (2018–2022) when his schedule permitted. "At one point when I got into the league, I wanted to restart. So I started from Season 1 and watched all the way through," Brunson said. "It's like a pregame show for me. I watched it, before I took my nap. That's when I was in Dallas. ... I've always loved that show." Mariska Hargitay is Jalen Brunson's 'favorite' Brunson and Hargitay have shared numerous courtside interactions since he joined the Knicks in 2022. Most recently, Hargitay attended the Knicks' 115-93 Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics. (The Kicks went on to win the series, 4-2.) Brunson has repeatedly said she's the celebrity he's "most excited to see sitting courtside at (Madison Square Garden)." When asked which non-basketball related guest he would love to have featured on the podcast in April, Brunson responded without hesitation, "Mariska Hargitay." The feeling is mutual. During a sitdown with Interview Magazine in September, Hargitay recalled meeting Brunson at a Knicks game, admitting that's the last time her kids thought she was cool. "(My son) August and I were at a Knicks game, and after the game, Jalen Brunson beelined over to talk to me," Hargitay said. "The next time we went, we were going into the game and Jalen wanted to meet with me, and he gave me a jersey and signed it, and then he recently, I think in People, said that I was his favorite." Ben Stiller, other Knicks fans jealous of Mariska Hargitay Brunson's love of Hargitay has drawn the playful ire of other celebrity Knicks fans. Actor Ben Stiller, a Knicks superfan who frequents games at Madison Square Garden, was a guest on "The Roommates Show" podcast in early May and said 'the love that Mariska Hargitay gets from (Brunson) postgame is the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan." Brunson said the frequency in which he sees Hargitay in comparison to Stiller adds to it. 'I expect to see (Stiller) there all the time, but this is her first or second game this year. So I'm not going to see her for a long time, so I'm just going to say hi and go,' Brunson said."I guess I got to come to less games," Stiller responded, while Hart added, "Make him appreciate you more." The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marcus Meloni's brilliant winner for Sharjah in ACL Two final
Which teams will make it out of the Conference Finals? The For The Hoops crew make their picks for the NBA Finals. The Thunder vs. Knicks seem to be a popular pick, but are we counting the Timberwolves and Pacers out too early?
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers vs Timberwolves Game 5: Predictions, picks, odds for 2025 NBA playoff series
Lakers vs Timberwolves Game 5: Predictions, picks, odds for 2025 NBA playoff series Show Caption Hide Caption Best first-round NBA playoff matchups The For The Hoops crew discuss the most exciting first-round NBA playoff series, including Lakers vs. Timberwolves and Rockets vs. Warriors. First-round action for the 2025 NBA playoffs continues with a Game 5 showdown between the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves and No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. The Timberwolves can deliver the surprising knockout punch with a win. Minnesota won Game 4 116-113 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Anthony Edwards had an outstanding performance for the Timberwolves, scoring 43 points, while Julius Randle added 25 points. Despite the loss, Luka Doncic appeared to be recovered from a stomach bug, scoring 38 points. LeBron James contributed 27 points, along with 12 rebounds and eight assists. Now the Lakers face a must-win Game 5 in Los Angeles. Here are the current predictions, odds and details on how to watch the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. More: Ranking all 16 NBA playoff teams by odds to win championship Lakers vs. Timberwolves predictions: Game 5 picks Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports: Lakers Back home facing elimination, the Lakers will be tough to beat with Luka Doncic and LeBron James – as long as they get offensive help and find a way to limit Minnesota's Anthony Edwards. Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY Sports: Lakers LeBron James and Luka Dončić are too experienced and too talented to flame out in the postseason like this. The biggest issue, however, will be containing Anthony Edwards. Look for coach JJ Reddick to come up with defensive adjustments to prevent another meltdown in Game 5. ESPN: Lakers have a 61.1% chance to win According to ESPN's Matchup Predictor, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 61.1% chance to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5. Fox Sports: Timberwolves Staff writes: "Minnesota has been chosen as underdogs in 18 games this year and has walked away with the win eight times (44.4%) in those games. Minnesota has come out on top in five of its last eight head-to-head meetings with Los Angeles. The Timberwolves have an advantage against the spread as well (5-3) when squaring off against the Lakers." Lakers vs. Timberwolves Game 3 odds The Los Angeles Lakers are favorites to bounce back and win Game 5, according to BetMGM. BetMGM odds as of Monday, April 28 Spread : Lakers (-5.5) : Lakers (-5.5) Moneyline : Lakers (-240); Timberwolves (+200) : Lakers (-240); Timberwolves (+200) Over/under: 210.5 Lakers vs. Timberwolves series odds update The Timberwolves are -210 favorites to win their first-round series in the NBA playoffs. Series winner: Timberwolves (-210); Lakers (+170) Lakers vs. Timberwolves: NBA playoffs schedule, time, TV channel, live stream Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves will be broadcast nationally on TNT. All times Eastern. Watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves with Sling TV
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Stephon Castle wins Rookie of the Year for back-to-back awards for San Antonio Spurs
Stephon Castle wins Rookie of the Year for back-to-back awards for San Antonio Spurs Show Caption Hide Caption Best first-round NBA playoff matchups The For The Hoops crew discuss the most exciting first-round NBA playoff series, including Lakers vs. Timberwolves and Rockets vs. Warriors. The San Antonio Spurs continue to rebuild with promising young stars. Stephon Castle was named the NBA's 2024-25 Rookie of the Year, the second consecutive season a Spurs player has taken home the award. The No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Connecticut, Castle gives San Antonio back-to-back seasons with the league's top rookie after Victor Wembanyama won the award last season. Castle was clear cut one of the best rookies as he led the freshman class with 14.7 points per game and a rookie-high 74 steals this season. He was an iron man as he played 81 games in his first season, tied with Detroit's Ron Holland for the second-most among rookies after Washington's Bub Carrington played in all 82 regular season games. Castle was brought in to be a key piece of the backcourt as Wembanyama continued to establish himself as the future of a San Antonio team that hasn't been in the playoffs since the 2018-19 season. With solid size and the ability to play anywhere on the court, Castle showed flashes of potential in the early stages of his professional career, but he really showed how valuable he is after Wembanyama was ruled out for the season in February. After the All-Star break, Castle averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal per game as he forced his way into becoming a starter. Despite the loss of Wembanyaama, De'Aron Fox and coach Gregg Popovich due to health issues, Castle and San Antonio finished the season 34-48, the most wins in the past four seasons. Castle is the fourth Spurs player to win Rookie of the Year, joining Wembanyama, Tim Duncan in 1997-98 and David Robinson in 1989-90. The four rookie awards by San Antonio are tied with the Portland Trail Blazers and Wizards for the third-most in NBA history. However, the Spurs are the only team to have four rookie award winners in the past 35 years. It is the second time in the past 50 years a team had back-to-back rookie award winners, the last being in 2015 and 2016 when Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns did so for the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's the fourth time in league history as Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld won it with the Baltimore Bullets in 1968 and 1969 and Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio of the Buffalo Braves did it in 1973 and 1974.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets: TV channel, time and how to watch
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets: TV channel, time and how to watch Show Caption Hide Caption Clippers vs. Nuggets: Best supporting cast For The Hoops crew analyze whether the Clippers or Nuggets have a stronger supporting cast, excluding Kawhi and Jokic. After a thrilling finish to Game 4 of their NBA playoff series, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers will return to the hardwood on Tuesday night in the Mile High City. The series is tied at two games apiece after Aaron Gordon threw down a dunk one-tenth of a second before time expired to give the Nuggets a 101-99 win in L.A. on Saturday night. Per the NBA, it was the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in a playoff game in the play-by-play era (since 1998). There may also be some lingering bad blood between the teams after a scuffle at the end of the first half in Game 4 that resulted in six players receiving technical fouls. What could possibly be in store tonight? What time is Clippers vs. Nuggets? The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets will tip off at 10 p.m. ET, which is 8 p.m. in Denver. How to watch Clippers vs. Nuggets Game 5: TV, stream Stream: Sling TV, YouTube TV Time: 10 p.m. ET Location: Ball Arena; Denver, Colorado TV: TNT
