Last Night in Sports: May 18, 2026

Two conference finals openers and a Game 7 elimination set the tone for Monday night. Victor Wembanyama hung 41 and 24 as San Antonio stole Game 1 in Oklahoma City. The Canadiens ended Buffalo's 14-season playoff drought in overtime to take the East 2nd Round. MLB ran a full 14-game board with the Padres squeezing past the Dodgers 1-0 in a Petco Park gem.

NBA Playoffs — Spurs steal Game 1 in OKC

San Antonio Spurs, 122 — Oklahoma City Thunder, 115. San Antonio wins by seven on the road to open the West Conference Finals. Victor Wembanyama posted 41 points and 24 rebounds, with the MVP-honored Shai Gilgeous-Alexander underperforming by his own admission. SA leads series 1-0.

NHL Playoffs — Canadiens win Game 7 in OT

Montreal Canadiens, 3 — Buffalo Sabres, 2 (OT). Montreal wins by one on the road in Game 7 to take the East 2nd Round 4-3. Alex Newhook secured the overtime winner to end Buffalo's 14-season playoff drought. The Sabres' run drew a standing ovation as the Canadiens punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

MLB — 14-game Monday board, 1-0 nightcap in San Diego

Fourteen games, five double-digit scores, and a 1-0 pitcher's duel at Petco Park. The Marlins and Rays each cleared a dozen runs, the Yankees and Angels each survived one-run finishes, and Michael King's 2.31 ERA carried the Padres past the Dodgers in the West Coast nightcap.

Tampa Bay Rays, 16 — Baltimore Orioles, 6. Tampa Bay wins by ten at home.

Miami Marlins, 12 — Atlanta Braves, 0. Miami wins by twelve at home in the shutout.

Arizona Diamondbacks, 12 — San Francisco Giants, 2. Arizona wins by ten at home.

Milwaukee Brewers, 9 — Chicago Cubs, 3. Milwaukee wins by six on the road in the NL Central matchup.

Cleveland Guardians, 8 — Detroit Tigers, 2. Cleveland wins by six on the road in the AL Central matchup.

New York Mets, 16 — Washington Nationals, 7. New York wins by nine on the road.

Colorado Rockies, 7 — Texas Rangers, 6. Colorado wins by one at home.

New York Yankees, 7 — Toronto Blue Jays, 6. New York wins by one at home in the AL East one-run finish.

Seattle Mariners, 6 — Chicago White Sox, 1. Seattle wins by five at home.

Minnesota Twins, 6 — Houston Astros, 3. Minnesota wins by three at home.

Philadelphia Phillies, 5 — Cincinnati Reds, 4. Philadelphia wins by one at home.

Boston Red Sox, 3 — Kansas City Royals, 1. Boston wins by two on the road.

Los Angeles Angels, 2 — Oakland Athletics, 1. Los Angeles wins by one at home in the Freeway opener.

San Diego Padres, 1 — Los Angeles Dodgers, 0. San Diego wins by one at home, Michael King's 2.31 ERA leading the shutout in the NL West nightcap.

What to watch tonight

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals tips off at the Garden, the NHL goes dark before Wednesday's conference finals openers, and MLB runs a 15-game Tuesday. Full details in the Tonight preview.

• NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, 8:00 PM ET on ESPN. East Conference Finals Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.
• MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees, 7:05 PM ET on TBS. Dylan Cease vs Will Warren in a primetime AL East matchup.
• MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres, 9:40 PM ET on MLB.TV. NL West nightcap at Petco Park.