​Lucas Herbert has broken away from the field after 36 holes at Maaden LIV Golf Virginia, leaving him in position to chase his first league victory – and a potential spot in next month’s U.S. Open. Herbert backed up his opening 8-under 64 with an even better round on Friday, a bogey-free 9-under 63 to move to 17 under, giving the youngest Ripper GC member a commanding six-shot lead over Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia. It’s the largest 36-hole lead since LIV Golf switched to a 72-hole format this season and ties for the second-largest lead after any second round in league history. Garcia and Cleeks GC veteran Richard Bland are the only players within 10 shots of the lead, with Garcia at 11 under after shooting a 67 while the 53-year-old Bland shot a bogey-free 66 to move to 7 under. Garcia certainly isn’t ready to concede the trophy to Herbert, but he knows the tournament is now in the hands of the 30-year-old Australian. "If he keeps playing like that, it's going to be very difficult [to catch him]," Garcia said. Crushers GC teammates Charles Howell III and Paul Casey are tied for fourth along with Southern Guards GC’s Dean Burmester at 6 under. LIV Golf’s top three players in points – Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Thomas Detry – are in a five-way tie for 7th. Asked for his strategy in reeling in Herbert, Casey replied: "Nothing you can do. This is going to sound wrong. Am I worried about Lucas? Of course I am, he's leading by 10. Am I worried about Lucas? No, because he's so far ahead, he's leading by 10, so what can I do?" Detry entered this week in position to earn the U.S. Open exemption that goes to the top-3 player in the standings who is not otherwise exempt. But Herbert is now projected to claim that exemption with a win unless Detry can finish solo 4th or better. Herbert’s performance through 36 holes is even more impressive considering he battled the flu earlier this week, limiting his practice time. Until Thursday’s first round, he had not seen the front nine at Trump National Washington D.C. Fully familiar with the course, Herbert found the zone on Friday with a flawless display of iron play, bunker saves and mid-range putting. He produced a string of four consecutive birdies to end his front nine and finished with birdies on his final two holes. Herbert picked up 8.596 strokes on the field – his second-best total in LIV Golf history next to the 10.426 strokes he gained in shooting 61 last year in Mexico City. Garcia managed to stay close to Herbert with four birdies in his final five holes, while Bland also finished strong with birdies in three of his final six holes. Led by Herbert, Ripper GC has command of the team leaderboard at a cumulative 21 under, six shots better than the Cleeks and Crushers. The Rippers entered this week as the leader in points and are seeking their third tournament win of the season. Leaderboards Individual Top 10 1. Lucas Hebert (17-under)2. Sergio Garcia (11-under)3. Richard Bland (7-under)T4. Dean Burmester (6-under)T4. Paul Casey (6-under)T4. Charles Howell III (6-under)T7. Marc Leishman (5-under)T7. Bryson DeChambeau (5-under)T7. Thomas Detry (5-under)T7. Graeme McDowell (5-under)T7. Jon Rahm (5-under) Team Top 3 1. Ripper GD (21-under)T2. Crushers GC (15-under)T2. Cleeks Golf Club GC (15-under) This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. New users on Kalshi can receive a $10 trade bonus when they use promo code FOXSPORTS as both playoff series hit critical turning points. The Knicks hold a 2-0 lead, but now the series shifts to Philadelphia, where the 76ers are desperate to respond and avoid falling into a 0-3 hole. Out West, the Spurs and Timberwolves are deadlocked as the matchup heads to Minnesota for Game 3 with momentum completely up for grabs. Can the 76ers protect home court and finally slow down New York’s momentum? And in Minnesota, will Anthony Edwards push the Timberwolves ahead, or can San Antonio steal one on the road and swing the series back in its favor? New users can click here to take advantage of the $10 bonus after trading $10 with Kalshi's promo code FOXSPORTS. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus Kalshi Odds *Odds/Probability are subject to change* No. 7 PHILADELPHIA (+600) vs. No. 3 NEW YORK (-900) NYK leads 2-0 What to know: In Game 2, the Sixers took the floor without Joel Embiid, and kept things close for a majority of the evening, leading by one going into the fourth quarter. But New York held Philly to 12 points in the fourth, and emerged with a 108-102 victory. Starter, OG Anunoby, is dealing with a hamstring injury and could be out for Game 3. New York Knicks – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: New York has won five of its last seven postseason games and continues to control tempo offensively behind Brunson’s shot creation and Towns’ versatility. The Knicks scored at least 108 points in both semifinal games against Philadelphia while maintaining strong defensive pressure late in games. Philadelphia 76ers – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: Philadelphia rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Boston to reach the semifinals, but the offense has cooled against New York. Maxey remains the primary perimeter scorer and playmaker, while the 76ers have struggled defensively after allowing 137 points in Game 1 of the series. No. 6 MINNESOTA (+275) vs. No. 3 SAN ANTONIO (-350) Tied 1-1 What to know: The Wolves went into San Antonio and won a Game 1 nail-biter. Game 2 went more the Spurs way, winning 133-95. Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. Still, Minnesota got the split and heads back to its home arena, where it has yet to lose this postseason. San Antonio Spurs – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: San Antonio has won five of its first seven playoff games while holding opponents to 100 points or fewer in four victories. Wembanyama continues to dominate defensively and on the glass, while Castle and Harper have provided consistent perimeter scoring and secondary playmaking throughout both rounds. Minnesota Timberwolves – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: Minnesota opened the postseason by eliminating Denver in six games, but consistency has become an issue against San Antonio. The Timberwolves have allowed at least 114 points in three postseason losses, while Randle has continued to lead the offense with steady scoring and rebounding production. Read More

​This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. New users on Sleeper can receive a $20 no-deposit bonus when they use the promo code FOXSPORTS as home court advantage shifts and teams look to use their home crowd. The pressure shifts to Philadelphia and Minnesota tonight as both playoff series hit crucial turning points. The Knicks carry a 2-0 lead into a hostile road environment, while the 76ers desperately need a response to avoid falling into a nearly impossible hole. Out West, the Spurs and Timberwolves are tied heading into Game 3 in Minnesota, with momentum completely up for grabs in a series that’s quickly becoming one of the most competitive matchups of the postseason. New users can claim $20 free with Sleeper promo code FOXSPORTS ahead of Knicks vs. 76ers and Spurs vs. Timberwolves as Game 3 shifts to Philadelphia and Minnesota. Sleeper Fantasy How to Sign Up and Claim the Sleeper Fantasy Promo Code No. 7 PHILADELPHIA (+600) vs. No. 3 NEW YORK (-900) NYK leads 2-0 What to know: In Game 2, the Sixers took the floor without Joel Embiid, and kept things close for a majority of the evening, leading by one going into the fourth quarter. But New York held Philly to 12 points in the fourth, and emerged with a 108-102 victory. Starter, OG Anunoby, is dealing with a hamstring injury and could be out for Game 3. New York Knicks – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: New York has won five of its last seven postseason games and continues to control tempo offensively behind Brunson’s shot creation and Towns’ versatility. The Knicks scored at least 108 points in both semifinal games against Philadelphia while maintaining strong defensive pressure late in games. Philadelphia 76ers – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: Philadelphia rallied from a 3-1 deficit against Boston to reach the semifinals, but the offense has cooled against New York. Maxey remains the primary perimeter scorer and playmaker, while the 76ers have struggled defensively after allowing 137 points in Game 1 of the series. No. 6 MINNESOTA (+275) vs. No. 3 SAN ANTONIO (-350) Tied 1-1 What to know: The Wolves went into San Antonio and won a Game 1 nail-biter. Game 2 went more the Spurs way, winning 133-95. Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. Still, Minnesota got the split and heads back to its home arena, where it has yet to lose this postseason. San Antonio Spurs – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: San Antonio has won five of its first seven playoff games while holding opponents to 100 points or fewer in four victories. Wembanyama continues to dominate defensively and on the glass, while Castle and Harper have provided consistent perimeter scoring and secondary playmaking throughout both rounds. Minnesota Timberwolves – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Postseason Performance) Trend Note: Minnesota opened the postseason by eliminating Denver in six games, but consistency has become an issue against San Antonio. The Timberwolves have allowed at least 114 points in three postseason losses, while Randle has continued to lead the offense with steady scoring and rebounding production. Read More

​When making futures bets, it pays to have patience. An outcome could be weeks or months away. But it can also pay to know when to say when. A FanDuel Sportsbook customer believes that point has arrived for the Lakers and got a five-figure payday for bailing out early. More on that wager and other notable futures bets on NBA and NHL playoffs, along with some WNBA action, as that league’s 2026 season tips off. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Take a Free Ride This story begins on April 4, when Illinois met UConn and Michigan faced Arizona in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. The FanDuel bettor, who goes by @Indiana_Cers on X, put together a three-leg parlay, starting with those NCAA Tourney tilts: UConn moneyline +136 vs. Illinois, Michigan moneyline -111 vs. Arizona. But those two outcomes would’ve gotten only a nominal payout. So, to make it far juicier, the bettor added Lakers +50000 to win the NBA title. That’s 500/1, in easier-to-digest terms. Better still, the customer utilized a $250 bonus bet for the transaction. Granted, those types of promotional bets are earned over time — and surely some losing wagers — but still, this parlay was basically a free ride. At huge odds of +224654 — just shy of 2247/1 — the potential payout was a massive $561,635. UConn beat Illinois 71-62, and Michigan pounded Arizona 91-73. Then began the wait to see what the Lakers would do. Los Angeles was shorthanded in the first round, with no Luka Dončić and mostly no Austin Reaves. But LeBron James & Co. had enough to beat Houston 4-2 in a best-of-7 series. However, that led to a second-round date with the defending NBA champion Thunder, who went a league-best 64-20 in the regular season and swept the Suns 4-0 in the first round. In Game 1 on Tuesday, the Lakers tumbled 108-90. That was L.A.’s fifth game this season vs. Oklahoma City, and the Lakers lost all five by an average margin of 27 points. So it was decision time — take a chance on the Lakers somehow making this series interesting or accept FanDuel’s cashout offer of $12,599.26. Said the bettor on X: "The white flag was waived." So a bonus bet that took nothing out the customer’s pocket became a nice five-figure boost to the bank account, which looked like an even smarter move after the Lakers dropped Game 2 125-107 on Thursday. Knicks of Time Entering the NBA playoffs, the Celtics had the best NBA championship odds of any Eastern Conference team, in the +500 to +600 range. But Boston bowed out early, blowing a 3-1 lead vs. the 76ers in losing the best-of-7 series 4-3. So that leaves the Knicks (+750) with the best title odds of the four remaining teams from the East. That has a DraftKings Sportsbook customer in a potentially pretty good position. The bettor put a relatively modest $67 on a seven-leg parlay that combined a bundle of sports: three MLB games, a hockey game, a soccer match, and of all things, a snooker match on the pool table. The first six legs are in, including Shaun Murphy over John Higgins in what was apparently a dramatic snooker battle. So now it’s down to the Knicks, who already have a 2-0 second-round lead over the 76ers. Granted, there’s a long way to go and should New York reach the NBA Finals, there’s the probable issue of either the Thunder or Spurs waiting on the other side. But if somehow the Knicks run the table, with that ticket’s odds of +82937 (just beyond 829/1), that 67 bucks turns into $55,634.79. Even right now, the bettor could cash out for a few thousand dollars. That cashout amount will surely grow if the Knicks do as oddsmakers expect and reach the Finals. We’ll keep you posted. Hockey Hopes The Canadiens were +195 underdogs to beat the Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But by stealing Game 1 on the road 4-3, Montreal certainly upped its chances to advance. The two teams traded victories over the first six games, setting up Game 7 in Tampa on Sunday. And the Canadiens claimed a second road win, 2-1, to close out the series. That’s got a high-rolling BetMGM customer in a better-than-expected position. Before the first round, the bettor put $25,000 on Canadiens +1100 to win the Eastern Conference. At the moment, Montreal trails Buffalo 1-0 in a best-of-7 second-round series. That bet certainly has life, though. If the Canadiens manage to reach the Stanley Cup Final, then the bettor bags $275,000 profit (total payout $300,000). WNBA Plays The WNBA kicks off its 2026 campaign Friday, drawing some bettors to championship futures and player awards futures. At DraftKings, the New York Liberty are +220 favorites to win the title, followed by the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at +390. The Aces have won three of the last four WNBA crowns. Behind Caitlin Clark, Indiana is the +450 third choice in WNBA futures odds. But one DraftKings customer looked further down the board a few weeks ago, to a potentially up-and-coming squad. On April 4, the bettor put $1,200 on the Dallas Wings +8000 (80/1). Leading the way for Dallas is Paige Bueckers, the 2025 Rookie of the Year. And the Wings took Azzi Fudd, another UConn standout, with the No. 1 overall pick in the recent WNBA Draft. So since that bet was made, the Wings have cut their odds by more than half, now sitting at +3000, the co-seventh choice to win it all. If Dallas indeed lifts the trophy, then the bettor profits $96,000 (total payout $97,200). Related, a DraftKings customer put $1,000 on Bueckers +2000 to win the MVP award. That bet could profit $20,000. Read More