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The Sportsletter (5/14/25)

The Sportsletter (5/14/25)

Legends, Fate & Schedule Day

May 14, 2025

Hey Team 👋

The Sportsletter is switching technology platforms this week as we begin to ramp up for the next chapter. You might notice some glitches in the newsletter as we tweak the design to a new sending address. Here’s what you can do to help:

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Hold your breath for Monday (we should be in the clear by then).

Letter Rip!

< THE STARTERS >

The Fate of Flagg 🏳️

Photo: Lance King / Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks Win the NBA Draft Lottery With a 1.8% Chance

It has to be rigged, right? I don’t want to be a conspiracy theorist, but this is an unbelievable twist of fate. The Dallas Mavericks — after all the drama surrounding the trade of Luka Doncic — won the NBA Draft Lottery on Monday night with just a 1.8 percent chance. They became the fourth-largest underdog to win the lottery since it started in 1985. And with that No. 1 pick comes the right to select Duke’s freshman phenom, Cooper Flagg. GM Nico Harrison (who was raked over the coals for months after trading away Doncic) can breathe a sigh of relief. Watch the Mavs’ front office react.

🏳️ Capture the Flagg: Talk about the perfect landing spots for a rookie like Flagg. The positional fit with Dallas is seamless. He’ll have two veterans in Kyrie Irving (outside) and Anthony Davis (inside) to carry the load while he adjusts to life in the NBA. Flagg averaged 19.2 pts, 7.5 rebs and 4.2 ast in one season at Duke.

NBA Draft Lottery

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Houston Rockets

Complete Draft Order

FOX Sports: Mavericks Winning Flagg Sweepstakes Gives GM Nico Harrison a Second Chance

< GOLF >

The PGA Championship Primer ⛳️

Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

The 107th PGA Championship Tees Off at Quail Hollow on Thursday Morning

Major No. 2 of the PGA Tour season is about to tee off. Golf’s best are arriving in North Carolina for the PGA Championship’s fourth-ever trip to Quail Hollow. A long-and-narrow course that punishes short and wayward drives could play well for long-hitters. This test won’t be easy.

Players to Watch

Speaking of long hitters, Masters champion Rory McIlroy is coming off another good performance last weekend at the Truist Championship (-10). He has three wins so far in 2025 at the three biggest events. Could the Year of Rory continue? Bryson DeChambeau is also the longest hitter of them all, and he was right there until Sunday at Augusta. Justin Thomas also finished runner-up last weekend, and he was the previous winner of the PGA Championship the last time it was played at Quail Hollow (2017).

Odds to Win PGA Championship

Scottie Scheffler (+450), Rory McIlroy (+480), Bryson DeChambeau (+1000), Ludvig Aberg (+1900), Xander Schauffele (+1900), Jon Rahm (+2000), Collin Morikawa (+2100), Justin Thomas (+2100) | Full List of Odds

⛳️ Round 1 Tee Times (Thursday)

TV Coverage (12—7 pm ET, ESPN)

NBC Sports: Lack of Quail Hollow Experience No Worry for World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler

< HIGHLIGHTS >

Playoff Central (NBA & NHL)

Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images

Pacers Prevail, Thunder Storm Back & Stars Get ANOTHER Hat Trick

Recapping the nightly playoff highlights isn’t always easy in the newsletter format. Today’s “Playoff Central” combines both the NBA and NHL postseason games (7) into one section. The Pacers knocked out the Cavs in five to punch the first ticket to the NBA’s conference finals. OKC rallied to take the edge over the Nuggets, and there’s trouble in Boston with Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear. And yes, hockey. The Stars’ Mikael Granlund had a hat trick, and that’s the third hatty of the postseason for Dallas. Here’s the last 48 hours of playoff coverage: