The Bucks brought in Jrue Holiday to form an unconventional Big Three with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton — and it’s paying off.

On Wednesday, Holiday pulled off one of the greatest final minutes in NBA postseason history, hitting a game-tying three, blocking Boston’s final shot, and then stealing the ball on the Celtics’ last possession to seal the win.

After signing Holiday to a four-year, $135 million extension, the Bucks are getting the best from the two-way guard when it matters most.

• He’s the first player over the last 25 seasons to record a block and steal in the final 10 seconds of a postseason fourth quarter.
• With Middleton still out, Holiday has stepped into the role of second star, averaging 19.1 PPG with a 108.4 offensive rating.
• Holiday is making $32.4M this season, the Bucks’ third-highest salary — which will be second-highest ($40.2M) behind Giannis when he has a player option in 2024-25.

The Bucks brought in Holiday via a four-team blockbuster trade in 2020 precisely for moments like this, and if he can keep up this production in support of Giannis’ world-conquering heroics, the Bucks have a legitimate shot to repeat as NBA champs. 

They have the third-best odds (+300) with a closeout game at home on Friday and an 82% chance at winning the series.

Fernando Tatis Jr. may be absent from the Padres lineup, but Manny Machado has kept them in contention in the NL West — a feat which could land him his first MVP Award.

Machado’s two hits Wednesday upped his MLB-leading total to 46, and even with a loss, San Diego (20-12) remains in second place, 1.5 games behind the Dodgers. 

After four top-10 finishes in MVP voting with Baltimore (9th in 2013, 4th in ’15, 5th in ’16) and San Diego (3rd in 2020), Machado has his best chance to win this year — he’s the current favorite (+425) to win the NL award. 

• The 29-year-old leads the NL in runs (27), average (.383), OBP (.460), slugging (.625), OPS (1.085), OPS+ (222), and total bases (75).
• Machado has seven HRs (T3 in NL), 22 RBI (7th), and six steals (T3).
• The five-time All-Star has a 1.000 fielding percentage, handling 73 total chances at third base without an error.

The Padres won the Machado sweepstakes in 2019, signing him to a 10-year, $300 million deal that at the time was the biggest free-agent contract in American sports history. They’re arguably getting their money’s worth.

With Tatis Jr. slated to return from his wrist injury in mid- or late-June, the sluggers’ one-two punch could deliver the Padres their first World Series title. They are currently tied for the eighth-best odds (+1700).

On Wednesday, the Panthers erased a three-goal deficit and scored five straight to beat the Capitals 5-3, bringing them within a win of their first playoff series victory in 26 years.

Florida, who dominated the NHL in scoring (4.11 GF/G) and won the Presidents’ Trophy, has made a habit of epic come-from-behind victories.

The Panthers led the league with 29 comeback wins, and last night was their sixth three-goal comeback (regular season and playoffs), the most in a single season ever.

Carter Verhaeghe — a No. 82 pick who’s currently making only $1 million — was a big reason.

• Verhaeghe scored two goals in the win and notched a point on all five, setting a new franchise record.
• The 26-year-old is the first player in franchise history to score five goals in a playoff series and is tied with Colorado’s Cale Makar for most points this postseason (10).
• He notched career highs across the board in the regular season (24 G, 31 A, 55 P).
• He is already outperforming the three-year, $12.5 million extension ($4.2M AAV) he signed last summer that kicks in next season.

Verhaeghe was a minor contributor to the Lightning’s 2020 title run before leaving for the other Florida-based team, but he’ll have a huge hand in anything the Panthers do in these playoffs.

His chances to win a championship with the Panthers are looking good: They have the second-best odds (+500) to lift the Cup behind the Avalanche (+200).