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The Stanley Cup Final on ABC is more than a quest for the Cup. It's 134 years of putting it all on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted. It's broken curses and broken hearts. But for those chasing it, it's everything. The only question is, who will take it? You just have to watch the Stanley Cup Final presented by Geico on ABC and the ESPN app. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. I'm in New York City with the night off. Tony, what should I do?
B
I'm Tony Kornheiser. I haven't been there in a While. Is Studio 54 still hopping? How about Elaine's? Elaine's still good.
A
Yeah. I think you're dating yourself by about 55 years in both cases.
B
I think so, yeah. I think that's true. But it's the only thing I can remember. I don't remember the last 55 years. I remember stuff that happened before that. Welcome to pti Sean Lee West.
A
I know you've been to Shun Le. I know you like that.
B
I have. That was your favorite place and Dick Schapp's favorite place as well. In today's episode, Mike Brown cries foul. The Big 12 is upset at Texas Tech and PK Suban joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with San Antonio going into Madison Square Garden last night and coming out with a much needed 115, 111 victory over the New York Knicks who had threatened to sweep the series. Victor Wembanyama had a bounce back game, getting 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks. His even younger teammates to find Castle had 23 points. San Antonio thus avoided losing three games in a row for the first time all season. And the Knicks winning streak ended at 13. Wilbon, you were there. What did you see out of the spurs last night?
A
Well, Tony, it wasn't just the spurs, but we'll start with them. Obviously. Victor Wembanyama, they established him early and low, meaning early and close to the basket, not early in 22ft from the basket, early and inside. And he scored early. He had, you know, five, then nine quick points and his teammates took it from there. And they didn't stand around just jacking up threes sort of sleepily like they had early in, you know, the first two games. So that, that to me it set the tone, Tony. And they said to Karl Anthony Towns, we're going to challenge you. We're not going to just back off and let you get the best of this setting. That tone worked. Ball movement, they had way more assists. But that ball movement also has to be compared and contrasted to the Knicks, who didn't have any ball movement, who only 18 assists, I think in 40 baskets. And Jalen Brunson, who's the most valuable Knick there is the last few years, he wasn't good last night. I told you that Jalen Brunson was going to be going against people who could defend him or at least try. And you got on me about that. Well, that's clear. Jalen Brunson is hit something like 31 out of 81 shots. He dribbled too much last night. He took too many shots last night. Og Anunoby and Carl Anthony Towns didn't have nearly enough shots and they were really good. And Jalen wasn't really good, not really efficient. So the Knicks have to address that. Mike Brown has to address that. But the spurs took advantage of it. They shot their made enough of their foul shots and they were the aggressor all night long and it paid off.
B
Yeah, I'm going to yield to you because you were at the game. I'll be more general in my comments. San Antonio had to win the game last night. If they had not won that game, the series would be over and they won the game. They went into an alien circumstance, not a hospitable circumstance, and they won the game. Right. They hadn't won a game. The spurs franchise had not won a game in Madison Square Garden since 2019, and they won the game. And their best player, Victor Wembanyama, goes out there and he gives them 32 points. This is what they asked of him and this is what he delivered. And by the way, I have heard this statistic that when Victor Wembanyama is playing defense on a particular Knicks shooter over the course of these three games, that those Knicks who are shooting are 9 for 41. That's terrible. Okay. The entire spurs team was involved in this because they had six different people in double figures. They obviously played some defense. You mentioned Karl Anthony Towns. He had no points in the fourth quarter. Knicks shot 7 of 27 in the fourth quarter. So obviously there's defense going on. Mike, I'll be brief on this. We have a series now. There are a lot of people who think that San Antonio has actually outplayed the Knicks in all three games. But I think that all of us would say it would not be a surprise if San Antonio won. The road teams have won the first three games. There's no reason they can't win a fourth and then you got a two, two series and a best of three. It's different that way. Let's go to what Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the game. Brown was stunned and angered that The spurs got 24 free throw attempts in the second half and the Knicks got only eight. Brown said, quote, I talked to the officials and they said, well, this is a foul. This is a foul. Maybe we did foul, but they fouled, too. Unquote. Wilbon, again, you were there. Is Mike Brown right to call out the refs?
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He's fine. You know, I never care when coaches call out refs. This is a tradition, a tradition like, you know, any, unlike any other. This is what coaches do. And Mike Brown was doing. He was like checking a box is what. Phil Jackson has done it. Pat Riley, Chuck Daly, Red Auerbach, all the great, great coaches have done this forever. Greg Popovich. So I. Yeah, they got bigger problems. They got to go back to the way they were playing after being down 2:1 to Atlanta, and they got to move the basketball. Karl Anthony Townsend, you mentioned in the previous story, he's got to have more than 10 shots. All right? He does. And Anunoby was fabulous. He was the best player on the floor. He's got to have more than 12 shots. And Jalen Brunson doesn't need to have between 25 and 31 shots, which he's had in this series. That's got to stop. So the Knicks have bigger fish to fry than complaining about the refs. You could do that publicly to. To try to get a leg up in whatever public perception that is. But you gotta address these deficiencies which crept in and keep them from happening. And. Tony, I'm busy for a second here. There was stuff last night that went on outside the Garden that disturbed me more than whatever happened with the officials, which to me was nothing. There reports out there substantiated reports that mainstream media that saw people in Knicks jerseys and paraphernalia attacking people in spurs jerseys and hats and gear. That stuff's unacceptable. 21 arrests, apparently, including aggression against police officers. They got to get a grip on this. And players on both teams. Spurs and Nick spoke out about it. They needed to. That cannot happen again Wednesday night for game four.
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I am with you on all of that. I want to give you. Go back to the game for a second. Give you something on Brunson, a statistic that I find hard to believe. Like, I would deny this statistic, but it is apparently true. When Brunson is off the Court, The Knicks are plus 20. When he's on the court, they're minus 13. So something is wrong there. We see that in terms of the officiating. Adam Silva was at the game last night. He's concerned about tanking. He's concerned about load management. I think he ought to be concerned about officiating in this regard. It looked like roller derby out there. I had three different guys come up to me this morning. Different guys say the same thing. Did you watch that game? What is going on? It was like hand to hand combat. And a lot of this stuff is not cold. Other things that are not cold. Victor Wembanyama takes four and five steps before he releases the ball. He could start at half court, pick up his dribble and just waltz down the middle of the aisle on that. And speaking of Wembanyama, and I know you saw this because everybody saw this in the first quarter last night, he appeared to put his hands on the back of Jalen Brunson's neck and push down as if to push him down into the floor, which sort of looked flagrant. There was no call. He had a flagrant two against him in Minnesota. No, I'm talking about in Minnesota where he elbowed the player.
A
Yeah.
B
Okay. And so this is sort of what I'm getting to. He's a great player. He's a fabulous interview. He's a totally sympathetic character. Is it possible he's a dirty player? Is that possible, building up these points?
A
Yeah.
B
I mean, you can go over the threshold and then you get suspended. Yeah. Okay.
A
Fair question. And criticism. If there's warranted, it is. And he's going to be hard to officiate his whole life. He takes some shots. And just because he's 75 doesn't mean he doesn't feel the shots and the retaliation out in the open. And the Brunson call should have been a one. Might be reassessed. He could get a one anyway after the fact. But yeah, but you know what, Tony? It is hand to hand relative to the day, relative to what you and I covered for 40 years previously. It's nothing.
B
Yes.
A
And so I don't know how to approach it. I look at it in my mind's eye. I don't see Rick Mahorn and Bill Lane beer. And then I don't. I don't see that. But you know, Knicks fans are upset about it today. I know that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been cleared to play by a Lubbock County Texas court and other schools are Furious about that, the Cincinnati transfer placed thousands of bets on sports, including 40 on his own team. While previously at Indiana, a Big 12 ad tells ESPN, we officially lost our soul. Close quote. And some conference ads are reportedly chatting about refusing to play the Red Raiders. Do you think, Tony, they'd follow through with that threat?
B
No. They might do it in golf or softball. They're not going to do it in football. Football is the big moneymaker. Big 12 schools aren't going to say we're not playing Texas Tech. What are you crazy? I don't want to hear about why schools don't want to play against Scoresby. And they don't, you know, when he comes back from this silly two game suspension where he misses a game against Abilene Christian in a game against Oregon State, they don't want to play against him because he's good. Texas tech's paying him $6 million this year because he's good. Get off this moral high horse. Every other school in that conference and in the SEC and in the Big Ten would look at taking a guy like Scoresby because he's a very good quarterback. I mean, I think we all have to appreciate that. Texas Tech went through legal motions here. They did what you're supposed to do. They did what a school in the Big Ten or the SEC would do. They tried to get an injunction to make sure the kid would play. They took it out in Lubbock where, you know, that's the home of Texas Tech. But a Tech guy, Tech grad, did not recuse himself from this. So somebody other than Tech grad did it. They went through legal motions. Mike, should he play? I don't. I'm not sure he should play. He bet more than $90,000 on football, college and pro. He's got obviously a gambling problem. I don't know that the solution is to play college football at the moment. Because here's the problem, Mike. There's betting all around. Every play he calls, somebody's going to say, is he calling that? Because he wants, you know, he's got a bet on that play. I don't know how it works. I don't have a solution.
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I know how this works. It's holier than thou. I hate it. It's so hypocritical because this. Every league, every sport, our bosses, they're in bed with gamblers, plain and simple. And so they wanted one way. And I know that every athlete is told, at least from college on up, if not high school on up, you can't gamble. You can't make these bets. You can't be on your own team. I get it. But what I'm sorry. So the kids, ultimately, he's a kid in this context, they're the only ones that are supposed to pay a price when, when again, all of these partnerships with gambling and gamblers.
B
Yes.
A
Are trumpeted, they're celebrated, they're endorsed, they're marketed every moment of every day. I'm sick of the holier than thou attitude. And they're not going to say because the slippery slope. What do you got going on at your school? We don't want to play you because you got this. And it's just, you know, batone, this is what we've got in college sports now. And there's no institution, there's no governance. Ed, what are you going to do?
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Mike it's not just college sports got in pro sports. People are banned from pro sports for doing the same thing. That happens. Let's take a break. Coming up, why have the Canes and Golden Knights been scoring so much? We're going to ask PK Subban.
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We'll also ask him why Mitch Marner is delivering for Vegas after frustrating fans in Toronto.
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It is it's a moral high ground that you have no right to.
C
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B
The Hurricanes and Golden Knights play a critical game for tonight, which makes it a perfect time for a visit from our great friend, ESPN hockey analyst P.K. suban, sweltering out in Las Vegas, where it's almost 100 degrees. Let's start with this. Brandon Bussey played so well for the Hurricanes in Game 3. What makes him different than Frederick Anderson?
D
I think he's a little bit more active. He's a goaltender that when you watch him play, his style of play, I think is going to complement the way that Carolina's got to play the latter part of this series. To have success, Carolina's going to have to get their defense more involved, which means they're going to have to open up the game a little bit. And it's not that they haven't been able to generate offense. Obviously they've been able to, but as this series shifts, the play on the ice and through the middle of the ice is going to change. You're going to have to need your D to get involved and that means that there's going to be more odd man rushes. They may be taking more chances on their breakouts. Brandon Bussy is going to have to make second and third saves. He's capable of doing that. He showed that in game three. Guys, you got to look out here. This is a guy that can come in and steal a game and put this game in a different feeling. Right now it's a must win for Vegas at home. But if this guy comes out and steals a game, we're back to square one again and he's capable.
A
Pk, how are two teams known for their defenses producing such high scoring games so far in this series?
D
It's so much pressure. Both teams are extremely good checking teams. So that's the key to defense, is you got to be able to forecheck. Well, no one's been better than Carolina over the past decade. I think in the league and Vegas, they have the personnel to create turnovers on their forecheck, applying all of that pressure. I was talking to someone yesterday about it that just watching this game, the puck is in, they get shots on net, it's broken out of the zone and it's back in. It's back and forth hockey. The margin for era, when there's a mistake on a breakout or there's a turnover in the middle of the ice, guys, it's coming back down your throat. So I think that both of these teams are such good checking teams that there's going to be mistakes out there. And we've seen that it's a game of mistakes right now, which makes it extremely exciting, unpredictable. Must watch tv.
A
When I ask about Mitch Marner, who's been terrific in these playoffs, 28 points so far. He, he's been great, but he struggled a lot when he was at the Maple Leafs. Pk what's the difference?
D
Well, I think that he's on a different team, he's in a different position. I think in Toronto, he just didn't have the team to back up the style of play that he could bring. He gets slotted into a team that does have heavy players, that's got a third and fourth line, that can grind teams down, that their star players on their team are six, one, six two, big body guys. If you look at that, Mitch Marner's teammates, they're all over 6, 2, 6, 3. But they also have the ability to read the game and think the game. Which means that Mitch Marner is playing a different game out there than everybody else. And when you put him in a position to be able to dictate the game and read the game, hockey IQ off the charts. That's the result that you get, right? So Braden McNabb, a guy that was an afterthought people didn't think was, look, he comes back into the game. Look at the difference that that made. Mitch Marner has the ability to make players better. McNabb looked like Bobby Orr last game. Mitch Marner knows how to find open space. He knows how to play the game on a different wavelength. Guys. It's just tremendous to watch. And last game, it was on the biggest stage for the whole world to see.
B
All right, pk, we'll get you out of here on this. Is there anything specific that you will be looking for tonight in game four?
D
Definitely. Annette Bussy. I believe that this is a pivotal moment for Carolina. You know, I don't think a lot of people. I'm not picking them to win this game tonight. To me, it's a must win game for Vegas. You do not want to go into Carolina with this series tied up to two. I think it's almost going to be an impossible game for them to win in Carolina. So I see this thing coming back here. Tonight's a must win for Vegas. But Buss sees the X factor. Make no doubt about it. We can look at all the players on Carolina's roster. If this guy comes out and plays the game of his life, guys, it's a different series again. So the eyes will be on Mr. Bussey tonight. It's his movie. We're all extras.
B
That's good. But we get paid residuals. Even if we're extras, we're still making money. Thank you, P.K.
D
there you go.
A
Enjoy the dry heat.
D
Thanks, guys.
B
Yeah, thank you.
D
Thanks, Tony.
B
I'm still getting residual. Wilbourne and I are still getting residuals. From Creed and Creed, too. We're happy. The point starts at 6pm Eastern on ESPN2 and the game is at 8 Eastern on ABC. So we'll take one last break. And still to come, what does last night's 11 home run game suggest about baseball in Las Vegas?
A
Dry heat, baby. I just told you the secret sauce. Serena Williams returns to the court in England. We'll tell you how she fared.
B
11 home runs, Mike. 11 home runs.
A
Launch pad Tommy Launching paddle. Remember when it was in the desert in Phoenix, Arizona? It was a dome.
C
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B
Happy time, people. Happy 38th birthday, Joe Kelly Kelly pitched for 13 seasons in the major leagues, mostly as a reliever. Pitched for the Cardinals, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, the White Sox, then back to the Dodgers. Over his career, Kelly pitched in 485 games. He had a 5438 record and an ERA of 398. That's solid career, but not the stuff of dreams. Except for this thing. Joe Kelly pitched on World Series champions with the Red Sox and the Dodgers. 2018 Red Sox, 2020 Dodgers Kelly was Mookie Betts, contemporaneously with Mookie Betts. In the Red Sox World Series win, Kelly had five appearances for six innings. He gave up four hits, no runs, no walks, and he struck out 10. Pretty good, huh, Tony?
A
I wonder if he just got tired of it because he's effective enough where he was that given the issues teams have with pitching, he seemed like he'd still be around making some of that big money.
B
Happy Anniversary, Larry Bird. On this day 48 years ago, Red Auerbach, the general manager of the Boston Celtics, selected Bird with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft. Though Bird still had a year of college eligibility, Bird did not sign with the Celtics and played his final season at Indiana State, leading the Sycamores to that memorable NCAA title game against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Bird reported to the Celtics in 1979. In 1980, Auerbach would trade Joe Barry Carroll and the number one pick to Golden State for Robert Parish and a draft pick that would become Kevin McHale. These two moves altered the NBA and they showed everyone once again what a smart, shrewd man Auerbach was.
A
You think Sam Presti's smart? And he damn sure is. Red Auerbach lapped the field at a time where resources, financial and intellectual were very uneven across a league. Red Auerbach took people's lunch money, did he not, Tone?
B
Yeah, he put together the greatest front court in NBA history. Happy trails to last night's game for the A's. The A's are playing this home stand at a Triple A ballpark in Las Vegas, and the ball was carrying last night. The brewers and A's combined for 11 homers as Milwaukee won 15, 14 in 12. Jake Bowers of the brewers hit one of the homers and said after the game, quote, I've never seen anything like that in Major League Baseball. But the guys up here that work in the clubhouse were telling me that they have games like that on a night basis in this yard, unquote. The A's will move from West Sacramento to Vegas full time when the new stadium is ready at the start of the 2028 season.
A
As you can see, this stadium's outdoors. This is a Sonoran Desert. As we approach summer, balls are flying out like golf balls. Tony. A wedge for me might be 130 yards out there. They're going to move in a dome full time when they get to Vegas. For real. Different deal, different ball flight.
B
I could clear the water if my ball would go that far if I played in Vegas. But there is no water. Let's go to the big finish. The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly closing in on hiring Mike Babcock as a new coach. Are you surprised?
A
He coached the Red Wings to a cup in 08, but he had some privacy issues in Columbus that got him fired. Christopher Sanchez gave up two earned but struck out 10 over seven and got the win over the Blue Jays last night. You still impressed?
B
Been impressed with him all year. Absolutely. Serena Williams won in her first doubles match back from retirement. Is that significant?
A
Yeah, because we know where this is going, or I feel it's going. It's coming to Serena playing again, which I'm sorry, I would love to see that. U.S. women's soccer plays a friendly down south, way south, against Brazil tonight. Big deal.
B
I think everything is overshadowed in soccer by the coming of the World Cup. I do. Last one. Angel Reese returns to Chicago to face the sky tonight. Are you intrigued?
A
Yeah. I mean, with Rakia Jackson's injury. We don't have a squad with Angel. Reese coming back. Yeah. To Chicago. Excited to see that we're out of time.
B
We'll try to do better the next time. And I'm Tony Kornheiser.
A
I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. When it's time to scale your business,
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Hosts: Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon
Special Guest: P.K. Subban (ESPN Hockey Analyst)
This episode dives into the San Antonio Spurs’ unexpected victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, halting a potential sweep and shifting the narrative of the NBA playoff series. Tony and Wilbon break down the implications for both teams, scrutinize Jalen Brunson's struggles, and discuss controversial officiating and fan behavior. They also examine the Texas Tech quarterback betting scandal and transition to hockey with guest analyst P.K. Subban, who previews the Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final matchup. The show rounds out with rapid-fire takes on Major League Baseball in Vegas, Serena Williams’ tennis return, and other sports news.
Recap of the Game:
Wilbon’s Analysis (Live from MSG):
Tony’s Perspective:
Knicks Coach Mike Brown’s Complaint:
Wilbon’s Take:
Wilbon’s Broader Concern:
Tony’s Stat:
Physical Play & Officiating:
Is Wembanyama Dirty?
The Issue:
Tony’s Take:
Wilbon’s Rant:
“Tonight’s a must-win for Vegas. But Buss(y) sees the X-factor. Make no doubt about it.” (17:23)
MLB Las Vegas Home Run Deluge (18:34–22:04):
Notable Anniversaries & Returns:
On Brunson’s struggles & ball hogging:
“Jalen wasn’t really good, not really efficient. So the Knicks have to address that.” – Mike Wilbon (01:47)
On coaches blaming refs:
“This is a tradition like, you know, unlike any other. … All the great, great coaches have done this forever.” – Mike Wilbon (05:04)
On the volatile fan situation at MSG:
“Knicks jerseys… attacking people in Spurs jerseys… That stuff’s unacceptable. … That cannot happen again Wednesday night for game four.” – Mike Wilbon (05:38)
On Wembanyama potentially being a ‘dirty’ player:
“Is it possible he’s a dirty player? Is that possible, building up these points?” – Tony Kornheiser (07:56)
On the hypocrisy of college sports and gambling:
“Every league… is in bed with gamblers, plain and simple. … I’m sick of the holier than thou attitude.” – Mike Wilbon (11:03)
PK Subban on Stanley Cup chaos:
“It’s a game of mistakes right now, which makes it extremely exciting, unpredictable. Must-watch TV.” (15:02)
On the nature of big-time sports:
“Big 12 schools aren’t going to say we’re not playing Texas Tech. What are you, crazy?” – Tony Kornheiser (09:32)
PK Subban on Game 4:
“It’s his movie, we’re all extras.” (17:23)
The discussion is lively, hard-hitting, and true to PTI’s blend of sports journalism and banter, with Wilbon providing on-scene reporting and Tony delivering wry, sometimes skeptical commentary. The tone is direct and irreverent but balances on-court analysis with off-court context and social commentary, notably regarding the gambling issue and fan behavior.
This summary provides a comprehensive, timestamped guide to the episode’s most important topics and commentary, capturing the voices and insights of the original broadcast.