A national power outage stopped play at the Madrid Open, with Britain's Jacob Fearnley among those forced off court.

Fearnley had saved a match point in his third-round encounter against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and was about to serve to stay in the match at 6-4 5-4 down when play was suspended on the main court.

The power cut meant the electronic line-calling system - which has replaced line judges - and scoreboards stopped working.

After a brief delay the umpire announced play would restart, with him making line calls in place of the system.

However, the spider camera which hangs low over the court had become stuck in place and was in the player's eyelines.

After further discussion the umpire led the players back to the locker room.

Home teams are on a tear in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, going 21-10 thus far. Will that trend continue Monday?

The early matchup is Game 4 of the Battle of Florida, and the festivities have become heated; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was given a major penalty for his hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2, and subsequently suspended for Game 3. In that game, Matthew Tkachuk leveled a hard hit on Jake Guentzel but did not receive the same punishment. What will transpire in Game 4?

In the nightcap, the clash of West titans continues, as the Colorado Avalanche look to keep the momentum going after their 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.

Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Sunday's games, and the Three Stars of Sunday Night from Arda Öcal.

Matchup notes

Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers
Game 4 (FLA leads 2-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN

Teams that hold a 2-1 series lead have gone on to win the best-of-seven matchup 69% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Panthers have won two out of three best-of-seven series when holding a 2-1 lead, and the Lightning are 6-7 all time when trailing 2-1.

Jake Guentzel had three points (goal, two assists) in Game 3, and his 40 career playoff goals are third most among active U.S.-born players, trailing Patrick Kane (53) and Chris Kreider (48).

With his win in Game 3, Andrei Vasilevskiy now has 67 for his postseason career, second most among active goaltenders (behind Marc-Andre Fleury, who has 92), and one behind Andy Moog for 11th on the all-time list.

Matthew Tkachuk scored his third goal of the series in Game 3, and became the third player in franchise history with 20 career playoffs goals (Carter Verhaeghe 26, Sam Reinhart 22); he is also the third Panther to record 50 playoff points for the club (Aleksander Barkov 62, Verhaeghe 54).

Aaron Ekblad's return from suspension didn't go so well. According to Stathletes, Ekblad and Gustav Forsling played 10:50 together at 5-on-5, and the Lightning scored three goals while they were on the ice.

Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

With the series tied 2-2, history is on the Stars' side: Colorado is 11-12 when a series is tied 2-2. Dallas has gone 18-14 in the same scenario.

Nathan MacKinnon is up to 52 career playoff goals, which is six away from tying Peter Forsberg for second in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history; Joe Sakic is first with 84.

Gabriel Landeskog made his return to the ice in Game 3 for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, and scored a goal in Game 4, the 28th playoff goal of his career.

Mikko Rantanen (formerly of the Avs, now of the Stars) has only one point (an assist) through four games, but it's not for a lack of trying; he has 12 shots on goal, which is second most on the team this postseason (Roope Hintz has 13).

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was pulled in Game 4, just the fourth time in 49 career playoff starts he has played 40 minutes or less. Since 2022, Oettinger has the second-most postseason wins (25), behind Sergei Bobrovsky (34).

Arda's three stars from Sunday night

1. Andrei Svechnikov
RW, Carolina Hurricanes

Svechnikov potted a hat trick to lift the Canes to a 5-2 win against the Devils in Newark, giving them a 3-1 series lead. Svechnikov is the only Hurricanes/Whalers player in franchise history (45 seasons, 205 playoff games) with a hat trick in the playoffs (he now has two).

2. Evan Bouchard
D, Edmonton Oilers

His two goals in the third period tied the game at 3, setting the stage for the Oilers to win in OT and tie up the series. Bouchard is now the fourth defenseman to have back-to-back multigoal games in Stanley Cup playoff history.

3. Jake Neighbours
LW, St. Louis Blues

After two points over the first three games of the series, Neighbors scored a goal and added two assists as the Blues emphatically tied the series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4.

Sunday's scores

St. Louis Blues 5, Winnipeg Jets 1
Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Wednesday

Although he is the overwhelming favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in the regular season, Connor Hellebuyck is not having a great time this postseason. He was pulled in the third period of this loss after giving up five goals on 18 shots. Winnipeg's Kyle Connor opened the scoring in this game, but the Blues charged back with five straight goals off the sticks of Jake Neighbours, Tyler Tucker, Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk and Robert Thomas. The home team has won every game in this series. Will that continue in Game 5 in Winnipeg? Full recap.

Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 2
CAR leads 3-1 | Game 5 Tuesday

After the Canes went up 3-0, the Devils punched back with two second-period goals, and Carolina starting goalie Frederik Andersen was knocked out after a collision with New Jersey's Timo Meier. However, that was as close as the Devils would get, as Brent Burns added a goal at 14:14 of the third, and Andrei Svechnikov finished off his hat trick with an empty-net goal to seal the deal. Full recap.

Washington Capitals 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
WSH leads 3-1 | Game 5 Wednesday

The Bell Centre was rocking again for this one. Washington's Dylan Strome started the scoring at 1:25 of the second period, but the Canadiens answered back with two power-play goals (from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield) to take the lead heading into the third. However, the Caps proved they were the better team, tying it 6:39 into the third, taking the lead 10 minutes later and then pumping in two empty-netters to put it out of reach. Full recap.

Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)
Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Tuesday

Another back-and-forth contest for these two teams. The Kings held a 3-1 lead heading into the third, thanks to goals from Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala. But the Oilers came back, thanks to a pair of goals by Evan Bouchard (both of which were assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid) to send the game to overtime. Draisaitl then scored the winner on the power play with just 1:42 left in the extra session. Full recap.

Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is hitting the nitty-gritty stage, as elimination games will be coming from all corners of North America this week.

The storylines are many, from goaltenders being pulled and trying to regain their form to heavy hits stirring emotions even more than they already were.

ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski identified their top takeaways as all 16 teams remain alive -- at least for the time being.

Read more:
Full schedule
Intel on all 16 teams
Top 50 players
Wyshynski's bracket
Contender flaws

Are Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets in trouble ... again?

Even with their Game 4 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Blues, the Winnipeg Jets are tied in their series as they look to get out of the first round for the first time in three seasons. But things aren't trending well for Winnipeg as two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck again received an early exit.

In Game 3, Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 25 shots before being pulled, then gave up five goals on 18 shots Sunday. Watching how Hellebuyck would respond to being pulled in Game 3 was clearly a point of interest.

Every Western Conference series has seen one goalie have an early departure. This started with Stuart Skinner being removed in Game 2 in the Oilers' 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, while Thursday saw both Hellebuyck and Vegas' Adin Hill get yanked in their team's defeats. It happened again Saturday with the Stars relieving Jake Oettinger to start the third period in their 4-0 loss to the Avalanche.

Hellebuyck's recent history with trying to bounce back from consecutive playoff defeats has been an issue. After he won the opening game in last year's first-round series, he and the Jets lost four straight. The same thing happened in 2023 when they faced the Golden Knights. In 2021, Hellebuyck lost all four of his starts against the Montreal Canadiens.

The last time Hellebuyck snapped a two-game losing streak in the playoffs came in 2019, when he guided the Jets to wins in Games 3 and 4 against, you guessed it, the Blues, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup that season. Hellebuyck needs to show he can turn things around -- in a hurry. -- Clark

There's been no better "salt in the wound" moment in the 2025 postseason than Blues fans chanting "WE WANT CONNOR!" after Hellebuyck was pulled from Game 4 in the third period, having given up five goals on 18 shots.

Superior trolling. Winnipeg fans would be proud.

Why wouldn't they want Hellebuyck back in the crease? He's just the seventh goalie in NHL history to allow four or more goals in six straight road playoff games, a streak that includes series losses to Vegas and Colorado. He became the second reigning Vezina Trophy winner ever to be pulled in consecutive playoff games, joining the Flyers' Ron Hextall in the 1988 divisional series.

Hellebuyck has a .817 save percentage and a 4.24 goals-against average in four playoff games. Over his last three postseasons, Hellebuyck has a 4-10 record with an .866 save percentage and a 4.27 goals-against average.

Over his last three NHL regular seasons, Hellebuyck has 121 wins in 187 games with a .922 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average. That guy hasn't even come close to showing up in the playoffs statistically.

Yet anyone that's watched the Blues' 16-goal parade against the Jets knows not all of this is Hellebuyck's fault. "You watch the replays of the goals that went in and there are deflections, screens, pucks bouncing off us and in," defenseman Luke Schenn said.

Screening Hellebuyck has been the path to success for teams in the playoffs. Around half of the Blues goals have come with traffic in front of him.

"If there's people getting to the net, we've got to get them out of there before they get their screens. We've gotta box out earlier. There's a lot of coverage stuff," Jets coach Scott Arniel said.

Hellebuyck is a victim of his own domination. We expect the guy considered to be the best goalie in the world to be able to fight through screens and cover for defensive breakdowns.

Arniel was clear that he's "100% confident" in Hellebuyck in the playoffs. "There are things that we have to do to help him and he knows he has to do things to help us," he said.

But Arniel also said that if Winnipeg is going to win two out of the next three games, "our best players have to be better than their best players." And there's no question that Jordan Binnington has been the better goalie in this series than Hellebuyck.

On Monday, the NHL will announce the finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy, which Hellebuyck has won twice and will probably win again in June. It's the award given annually to the best goalie in the regular season. Connor Hellebuyck is in real danger of having his career defined by what he's failed to do after those initial 82 games. -- Wyshynski

Ottawa has life -- until Toronto proves it can close

1-12.

That's the Toronto Maple Leafs' record in playoff elimination games going back to 2017.

It's an unflattering figure, just like the Leafs' 0-1 record in this series in attempting to close out the Ottawa Senators.

There's that old cliché that the final win of a series is the toughest to get. The Leafs have spent almost a decade proving that's true. And Toronto certainly had its chances to sweep the Senators into summer mode in Game 4 on Saturday night. The Leafs had a four-minute power play in overtime, albeit without John Tavares available after he exited earlier to be assessed for a possible injury.

Still.

Toronto was 5-for-9 with the extra man in the first three games of the series; the Leafs were 0-for-4 on the power play in Game 4. They gave up a shorthanded goal to Shane Pinto in the first period to boot. Not ideal.

Now, Ottawa is due ample credit for how it persevered to earn an overtime victory. The Senators went up 2-0 in the first period, only to see that lead evaporate by the second. David Perron put Ottawa up again and the Leafs tied it to force the extra frame. The Senators could have shrunk in the face of that daunting four-minute power play (with or without Tavares) and instead they stood tall. And Jake Sanderson's goal gave Ottawa the chance to play on.

Have the scales tipped in Ottawa's favor? The Senators have nothing to lose here; they have the luxury of playing loose. Toronto is saddled with expectations born of too many prior postseason disappointments. But this Leafs team is built differently, right? And so Toronto can't -- or won't -- let one demoralizing defeat turn into two, will it? -- Shilton

Maybe don't challenge, coaches?

In the regular season, coaches who challenged scoring plays for interference won more than they lost, with a 56% success rate on 126 challenges. Which means the risk -- getting a delay of game penalty if they're wrong -- was worth it.

That's an acceptable risk in an 82-game season. But in a seven-game playoff series, you've got to be sure -- and so far in the 2025 postseason, coaches would have been better off not challenging.

The first challenge was a somewhat desperate one from Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch in Game 1 against the Kings. Defenseman Jake Walman was ruled to have shot the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty. He was convinced that wasn't the case, and the Oilers -- trailing 5-3 at that point in the third period -- backed up Walman by challenging the call. It was ruled there was "no conclusive evidence" that the puck went off the glass "after a thorough examination of all available replays."

So Edmonton got a delay of game on top of a delay of game, although Los Angeles couldn't convert on the ensuing 5-on-3 power play.

The other coaches weren't as lucky. Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper unsuccessfully challenged goalie interference on Nate Schmidt's goal that gave Florida a 3-1 lead in Game 1. The league ruled Eetu Luostarinen was making a play on the loose puck in the crease before Schmidt's goal, which by rule isn't interference. The Lightning were given a delay of game penalty. Matthew Tkachuk scored 14 seconds into the ensuing power play to make it 4-1 and put the game out of reach.

But the most ill-conceived challenge of the playoffs was from Kings coach Jim Hiller in Game 3 against Edmonton, seeking to overturn an Evander Kane goal that made it 4-4 at 13:18 of the third period. I'm still trying to figure out what they saw that inspired the challenge, and why the Kings would gamble with giving Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl a chance to break the tie by handing them a power play -- which they did, when Draisaitl assisted on Evan Bouchard's eventual game winner.

"We got a good look at it. We took plenty of time. We felt it was goalie interference, so we challenged it. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose on those. Tonight we lost, and it cost us big time. No other way around it," Hiller said, stating the obvious.

So far in the playoffs, the cost has outweighed the benefit. -- Wyshynski

Are the Golden Knights about to turn the corner?

Being a franchise in a championship window that already has produced a title is naturally going to spark a conversation about what can be done to win a second. For the Vegas Golden Knights? The whole has been greater than the sum of their parts, not that the parts themselves are to be taken lightly.

The Golden Knights won a Stanley Cup in 2023 by receiving contributions throughout their lineup. That's exactly what happened Saturday in their 4-3 overtime win that was the difference between them being tied at 2-2 versus facing a consecutive first-round exit with an elimination game on home ice.

Look at how Vegas was able to win. Shea Theodore scored the opener on the power play with Nicolas Roy also scoring a power-play goal that tied it at 2-2. Adin Hill made the necessary saves that allowed the Golden Knights to navigate overtime before Ivan Barbashev scored the winning goal. All three goals were from players who hadn't scored in the first three games of the series, while Hill rebounded from allowing four goals on 21 shots in Game 4.

Everything Barbashev, Hill, Roy and Theodore did speaks to how the Golden Knights can tap into their depth. Could Game 5 lead to similar results for star Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone? Both players, who were held to no points entering Game 3, were also pointless in Game 4 but showed signs of promise considering they combined for 10 shots on goal. That's the same number of shots they had in the first three games combined. -- Clark

No love lost in the Battle of Florida

Of course it all starts with Matthew Tkachuk.

Florida's feistiest forward already was giving Tampa Bay fits in their first-round series with three goals in the first three games. Then came another crushing blow -- literally -- when Tkachuk smacked Bolts forward Jake Guentzel at center ice and earned a game misconduct as Florida fell 5-1 in Game 3.

Naturally, debate ensued over whether Tkachuk deserved supplemental discipline for the hit -- Guentzel was in the process of passing the puck and had released it when Tkachuk made contact. There will be no suspension for Tkachuk -- and how that decision will sit with the Lightning, well, we will find out in Game 4 on Monday night.

Players on both sides exchanged pleasantries following Tkachuk's hit on Guentzel, and it was clear the physical ante was upped in more ways than one. The Lightning played a statement game Saturday, scoring five unanswered goals to get themselves back in the series. Now we can only wonder how the bad blood will seep into the rest of it.

Discipline is key in a long playoff run; it's even more critical for Tampa Bay given the Panthers' strong power play (30%) so far in the postseason. The Lightning getting that win and now being further bonded by the way Tkachuk leveled their leading playoff goal scorer adds new layers of intrigue to what lies ahead in this bout of Atlantic Division rivals. -- Shilton

Everyone loves Tom Wilson (except those that hate him)

After their Game 4 win, Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson was asked how important teammate Tom Wilson was to the team's success. Wilson was seated next to Thompson, who turned and grinned widely at the hulking forward.

"No need to make his head any bigger," said Thompson, who then proceeded to further inflate it.

"He's been huge for us. The heart and soul of this organization, right? When he's making plays, big hits, we feed off that. Especially in our home rink, I think the whole building feeds off it. He's a huge part of this team. We love him," the goalie said, before expanding his arms to mimic Wilson's head filling with praise.

Wilson deadpanned: "That's it?"

Like Logan Thompson, there are many who love Tom Wilson. There are also legions of fans and opponents who loathe him for a history of injurious hits and other unsportsmanlike conduct. Montreal fans and players were not enamored with Wilson in Game 3 when he fought Josh Anderson in a brawl that spilled into the Capitals' bench and then pretended to sob while calling out an unidentified Habs player as a whiner.

"Things escalated," said Anderson after the game.

Wilson was more controlled in Game 4 -- by his own admission, he wanted to stay out of the box to make a difference on the ice and didn't take a penalty in the game. In the third period, his impact was felt quite literally: Wilson demolished Montreal defenseman Alexandre Carrier with a center-ice check moments before the Capitals controlled the puck and Brandon Duhaime scored to tie the game at 2-2 with 13:21 left in regulation.

"It's been a physical series both ways. Getting hit. Giving hits," said Wilson, who added an empty-netter in the 5-2 win. "It was a big hit. The boys were able to score right after. That's the way that hockey goes."

Wilson has played in the postseason for the Capitals since 2012-13. He's experienced the high of the Stanley Cup championship in 2018 and the lows of postseason collapses. It's to Washington's credit that they haven't given oxygen to a Montreal upset bid, thanks to their Game 1 OT win on an Alex Ovechkin goal and their third-period comeback in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 series lead.

"It's a group that's had different guys step up throughout the year. I don't think there's any panic when we're down a goal. We believe in ourselves," Wilson said. "We got it done. It's really fun to come to the rink."

No one's scarier when he's having fun than Tom Wilson. -- Wyshynski

More to Landeskog's Game 4 performance than just his goal

Any questions about how Gabriel Landeskog would fit into a Colorado Avalanche lineup that has dramatically changed since he last played nearly three years ago have been answered at various times this postseason. But in a 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday, he provided a clear reminder of what the Avs had been missing.

Landeskog scored 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games when he led Colorado to the third Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2022. His goal and assist in Game 4 against the Stars pushed his career totals to 28 goals and 69 points in 71 postseason contests.

Part of what has allowed Landeskog to consistently find success within the Avs' setup -- whether scoring himself or setting up his teammates -- is how he positions himself on the ice, from working in the corners to gain possession to finding a way to get in the slot. Those traits played a role in his one-timer from the slot, off a feed from Brock Nelson, that gave the Avs a 3-0 lead.

Yet the sequence that might have best summed up what Landeskog provides came on Samuel Girard's goal that gave Colorado a 4-0 advantage. Landeskog, who received a secondary assist, gave the puck to Nelson, who then found Girard. As Girard was getting ready to shoot, Landeskog went to the net front and battled with 6-foot-7 Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel to gain position and screen goalie Casey DeSmith.

Landeskog's presence not only helped the Avs knot the series as the scene shifts to Dallas, it is a key element that could push Colorado onward as the playoffs continue. -- Clark

Goalie clinic turned to controversy in Hurricanes-Devils

New Jersey's run might already be done if not for goalie Jacob Markstrom. Carolina could hardly be this commanding if not for netminder Frederik Andersen.

That's been a significant storyline in the series so far, how two top-tier goaltenders have held their respective teams in balance. In Game 4 on Sunday things took a turn, though, when Andersen was bowled over in his crease by Timo Meier and had to exit the game, being replaced by young Pyotr Kochetkov.

There was no penalty called on the play that sent Andersen to the locker room. And to add insult to injury, Meier turned around and scored on the incoming Kochetkov to narrow the Hurricanes' lead to 3-2. Ouch.

It's no secret Andersen has had a rough go with injuries. He missed 39 games in the regular season following knee surgery and was finally appearing at full strength -- and health -- for the playoffs. Now his status is murky, and the Devils can take advantage -- thanks in large part to the marvelous Markstrom.

New Jersey has had poor luck with its blueline health, playing without Brenden Dillon or Luke Hughes since Game 1 and losing Johnathan Kovacevic in Game 3, and it's Markstrom who has made up for his club's deficiencies. The veteran has stood tall against Carolina's attack to give New Jersey every opportunity to take a lead -- and hold it -- but the Devils' scoring woes (they had just five through the first three games) haven't exactly supported Markstrom's cause. No matter. The Devils goaltender has still produced an impressive .929 save percentage in the postseason, putting him just behind Andersen in that category atop the playoff leaderboard for starting goalies.

And Andersen has earned his place at the peak. He's been rock solid for Carolina and closed the door on New Jersey time and again. Andersen's heroics in Game 3 allowed the Hurricanes a chance to come back and win in double overtime. (His stop on Meier in the second period was particularly outstanding.)

The way these two have gone toe-to-toe is playoff goaltending at its best. We should be talking about who can sustain their excellence long enough to be the deciding factor in a series victory. Now it's a question of who will be available for the Hurricanes going forward -- Andersen or the upstart Kochetkov? The answer could have long-term implications for Carolina. -- Shilton

Can the Oilers beat the curse of the Western Conference?

OK. Maybe "curse" is too strong a word in this case. However, being the team representing the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final has come with its fair share of issues over the last few postseasons.

It started in 2020 when the Stars won the Western Conference playing in the Edmonton bubble. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning and failed to make the playoffs the following season. Of course, there was no Western Conference champion during the 2020-21 season because of the pandemic.

Fast-forward to 2022. The Avalanche won the West and the Stanley Cup. But a year later, they were eliminated in the first round. In 2023, the Golden Knights captured their first title only to get knocked out in the first round in 2024. Entering the weekend, the Oilers were trailing 2-1 in their series against the Kings after losing the first two games in Southern California.

The Kings-Oilers series has been bizarre beyond the fact this is the fourth straight time they've played in the first round. A last-minute goal in a 6-5 thriller in Game 1 was followed up by the Oilers giving up six goals for the second consecutive game in a 6-2 loss, which was followed by another high-scoring contest with the Oilers winning 7-4 in Game 3. It's a safe bet something else bizarre could happen, like the Oilers either falling prey to the curse or breaking it. -- Clark

Liverpool have confirmed a victory parade will take place in the city on May 26 when the club will celebrate winning the Premier League title with their fans.

Arne Slot's side beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield on Sunday to clinch the club's 20th league title. They are 15 points clear at the top of the table, with second-place Arsenal now unable to catch them, even with four games remaining this term.

As a result, the leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, has formally invited the club to take part in a victory parade on May 26, the day after Liverpool's final game of the season at home against Crystal Palace.

The 15-kilometre parade route will be the same one used following the club's 2019 Champions League triumph, as well as the parade to celebrate the team's Carabao Cup and FA Cup victories in 2022. The parade will start at Allerton Maze in the south of the city before travelling northbound on Queens Drive, towards the Fiveways roundabout and on to the Rocket flyover.

The parade is expected to last between three and five hours, with more information set to be issued by Liverpool City Council in the coming weeks.

"We're delighted to officially invite Liverpool Football Club to parade around the city on May 26. A Liverpool victory parade is more than football -- it's a celebration of our city's pride, passion and community spirit," Robinson said.

"A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes in preparation for an event of this size and scale, and there has already been months of careful planning taking place as the Team Liverpool approach -- which we saw work so well throughout Eurovision -- comes to the fore again.

"It's set to be an unforgettable Bank Holiday weekend as we give the team the celebration they deserve."

The 2025 NFL draft wrapped up Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The three-day event saw a record 30 defensive tackles selected -- the most for a seven-round draft (since 1994) -- and one of the most shocking draft slides in history when Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders -- the No. 1 QB prospect on ESPN draft analyst's Mel Kiper's board -- fell to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.

There are 257 new faces joining the league, but will they help solve teams' woes? What questions linger after the three-day player selection extravaganza, and what comes next?

We asked our NFL Nation reporters to tell us the most pressing question facing the teams they cover coming out of this weekend. Read their postdraft insights below.

Check out ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's grades for all 32 draft classes (ESPN+) and analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller's postdraft superlatives (ESPN+) for more insight into all seven rounds of the draft.

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Did they do enough to support quarterback Josh Allen?

The Bills waited until the seventh round to add a wide receiver, with general manager Brandon Beane emphasizing afterward that the team prioritized sticking to its plan of selecting the best player on the team's board. That resulted in the Bills taking defensive players with their first five picks for the second time in the common draft era (also 2006), and while addressing receiver earlier might have been wise, improving Buffalo's defense, especially the defensive line, is a form of supporting Allen. The Bills are showing confidence in reproducing last year's success -- the team also signed wideout Joshua Palmer in free agency -- and have a history of continuing to add free agents after the draft. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Miami Dolphins

What is the plan at cornerback?

Miami entered the draft with needs at defensive tackle, offensive guard and cornerback. It addressed the trenches in the first two rounds but didn't take a cornerback until Round 5. If the Dolphins trade cornerback Jalen Ramsey -- which they are trying to do -- they'll need to introduce two new starting corners before the season begins. General manager Chris Grier has suggested the team will look to the veteran free agent market to fill its remaining needs -- it's just a matter of which players are interested in signing. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

New England Patriots

How does the logjam at wide receiver shake out?

After signing veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency, and drafting Washington State's Kyle Williams in the third round, the Patriots have revamped their wide receiver room. Third-year slot DeMario Douglas is probably safe, which means veteran Kendrick Bourne, third-year player Kayshon Boutte and 2024 draft picks Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round) are among those vying for a role in a suddenly crowded position group. -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Did they leave themselves vulnerable in the middle of their defense?

A total of 30 defensive tackles were drafted over the weekend and, surprisingly, not one was picked by the Jets, who will rely on a trio of low-cost veteran additions to man the spot next to Quinnen Williams. It's a risky move for a team that struggled against the run last season. They hope to squeeze some production out of Derrick Nnadi, Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele. Maybe second-year DT Leonard Taylor III can make a giant leap. -- Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

Does drafting a kicker signal the end for Justin Tucker?

A month ago, Ravens president Sashi Brown said the team would wait for the NFL to finish its investigation on the allegations of sexual misconduct against Tucker before determining his future in Baltimore. But the Ravens made a historic move Saturday when they drafted a kicker for the first time in their 30-year history. When the Ravens selected Tyler Loop in the sixth round, it was the first sign that Baltimore is preparing for life after Tucker. -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

What does the draft mean for DE Trey Hendrickson?

The Bengals did not trade Hendrickson on draft weekend. And a couple of selections could give Cincinnati extra cap room that will help if it wants to give Hendrickson the long-term deal he's looking for. If second-round linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. supplants Germaine Pratt, who has already requested a trade, and third-rounder Dylan Fairchild starts over Cordell Volson at left guard, Pratt and Volson become more expendable. Cutting the two veterans would give Cincinnati $8.9 million in additional cap space for this season and more financial flexibility in 2025. Cincinnati currently has $23.3 million in cap space, per OverTheCap.com. -- Ben Baby

Cleveland Browns

Who will rise from a suddenly crowded quarterback room?

The surprise created by Cleveland's pick of quarterback Dillon Gabriel over Shedeur Sanders in the third round was soon surpassed when the team traded up to select Sanders two rounds later. They now join a quarterback room that also includes new additions Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett (Deshaun Watson is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season because of a right Achilles injury). Coach Kevin Stefanski said every player added to the quarterback room will be expected to compete for a starting opportunity, and each contender has traits that could lead to them emerging as QB1 this fall. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Pittsburgh Steelers

Will Aaron Rodgers sign with the Steelers?

The Steelers were disciplined in their approach to the draft, filling their most pressing needs with good value picks that will reinforce the team's physical identity. In making those picks, the Steelers passed on other quarterback options and waited to select Ohio State's Will Howard in the sixth round. That move clearly pays off if Rodgers fills the final quarterback spot, but if he doesn't, the Steelers might regret the decision to wait until Day 3 to take a signal caller. -- Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

Is the offensive line good enough?

Houston didn't go heavy on the offensive line in the draft, instead choosing to add only Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery in the second round. But is the revamped group -- led by tackles Cam Robinson, Blake Fisher, Ersery and versatile Tytus Howard, along with interior lineman Laken Tomlinson, Juice Scruggs, and Jarrett Patterson -- good enough to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud? The next few months -- as the group begins playing together -- will be key. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Indianapolis Colts

Have they done enough at linebacker?

Weak-side starter E.J. Speed left for the Texans in free agency, leaving middle linebacker Zaire Franklin as the only player in the unit with more than two career starts. Still, the Colts waited until the seventh round to draft Wisconsin's Hunter Wohler, who is a safety the Colts intend to convert to linebacker. This is a vulnerable area for the Colts, who already had challenges in coverage down the middle of the field last season. -- Stephen Holder

Jacksonville Jaguars

Why didn't they draft a defensive tackle?

The Jaguars gave up 5.9 yards per play (31st in the NFL) and were last in pass yards allowed and turnovers forced (nine), and a major issue was the play of the interior defensive line against the run and when rushing the passer. General manager James Gladstone said the team didn't want to reach for a player at the position. But it's also a sign the new regime feels good enough about young DTs Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson improving in Year 2, as well as the boost they hope to receive from moving Arik Armstead back inside from end. It might be a gamble, but Smith did come on strong at the end of last season (two sacks and three tackles for loss over the final three games) and they hope he can provide more interior rush to help out ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. -- Michael DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

Does Cam Ward have enough weapons to succeed in Year 1?

The Titans did not do much to give Ward a scary group of receivers. They waited until the fourth round to select wide receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor after remaining quiet in free agency outside of signing veteran wideout Tyler Lockett days before the draft. Lockett and Calvin Ridley are the only proven pass catchers on the roster, but perhaps the best favor Tennessee did for Ward was sign undrafted free agent Xavier Restrepo -- his top receiver at the University of Miami. -- Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Have the Broncos done enough at tight end?

Denver's tight end group lacked production in 2024, with Lucas Krull leading the group with 19 catches. The Broncos wined, dined and signed Evan Engram in free agency, but he'll turn 31 before the season starts and injuries (he sat out eight games last season) and his ability after the catch are concerns despite being a 100-catch player in 2023. If Engram is injured this season, the Broncos are largely back to the same cast as last season. They waited until the seventh round to finally add a player at the position -- a developmental pick in Caleb Lohner, who was a basketball player at Baylor, BYU and Utah who had four catches (four TDs) in one year of football. -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs

Did Kansas City solve its long-standing problem at left tackle?

Kansas City has tried to address its need at the position, signing Jaylon Moore in free agency and drafting Ohio State's Josh Simmons in the first round. But each comes with questions. Moore has been a career backup, so can he be a better-than-adequate starter? Simmons is coming off a torn patella, so can he overcome the injury to have a long and productive NFL career? If the answer to both of those questions is negative, it will be difficult for the Chiefs to continue overcoming a liability at a critical position. -- Adam Teicher

Las Vegas Raiders

How will the Raiders address the nickel cornerback spot?

After the draft, nickel cornerback remains a hole in Las Vegas' defense. The Raiders have Darnay Holmes, but he has started in 12 of 70 career games and made only one start for the Raiders last season. Meanwhile, Darien Porter -- Las Vegas' third-round pick -- was a starter for one season and played primarily on the outside. The Raiders probably will have to lean on free agency to address this need. Veteran slot cornerback Mike Hilton, who spent the past four seasons in Cincinnati, could be a potential option. He has started in 23 games since 2023. -- Ryan McFadden

Los Angeles Chargers

Why didn't they prioritize the offensive line?

The Chargers' interior offensive line was a major issue last season; their guards ranked 22nd in the NFL in run block win rate, hampering the rushing attack coach Jim Harbaugh promised to build in L.A. The Chargers upgraded at right guard with Mekhi Becton but don't have clear answers at left guard or center. L.A. drafted only one lineman, Pittsburgh's Branson Taylor, in the sixth round. The Chargers could look to make a trade for an interior lineman ahead of the season; for now, their issues up front appear the same after the draft. -- Kris Rhim

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Don't they need receiver help?

The Cowboys were prepared to select Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan in the first round before he went off the board to the Carolina Panthers. They did not draft a receiver after that. They say they like what they have on hand already -- from Jalen Tolbert's growth, KaVontae Turpin's big-play ability, the potential of Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy and a full offseason of Jonathan Mingo, who was picked up in a trade last season. CeeDee Lamb still put up big-time numbers last season, but Dallas needs to make his life easier by adding more receivers to deflect at least some attention. The Cowboys know it, but now they have to show it with either a trade or free-agent addition. -- Todd Archer

New York Giants

What's next for Jaxson Dart and the Giants' quarterback position?

The Giants drafted Dart in the first round and seem OK with him sitting and learning for a year. Coach Brian Daboll talked about how he'll get mostly third-team reps throughout the spring and summer. There will be a developmental plan similar to what they did with Josh Allen in Buffalo. In the meantime, Russell Wilson is the starter and Jameis Winston is the likely backup, with Tommy DeVito -- the veteran who knows the offense best -- entering his third season to provide support. -- Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

Will tight end Dallas Goedert be an Eagle this season?

Goedert, the team's leading receiver in the 2025 postseason, has been the subject of trade talks this offseason. At the conclusion of the draft, general manager Howie Roseman stopped well short of ensuring he is in the team's future plans. "Dallas is part of the team as we speak," he said. "Obviously, as we go forward, we're going to continue to address things on this team and right now nothing further." Philadelphia did not take a tight end in the draft. Grant Calcaterra is the top option on the current roster outside of Goedert. -- Tim McManus

Washington Commanders

Will the Commanders sign an edge rusher?

None of Washington's current edge rushers recorded more than 5.5 sacks last season after the Commanders let Dante Fowler Jr., and his 10.5 sacks, exit in free agency. But they didn't draft an edge rusher. Washington likes its depth at the position and beefed up its front to handle the run -- a bigger issue than the pass rush in 2024 -- but the Commanders also were interested in DeMarcus Lawrence and Joey Bosa in free agency. So, they could still seek more help, with veterans such as Za'Darius Smith and Von Miller, among others, still available. -- John Keim

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Have the Bears answered all of their offensive line questions?

After flipping the interior of their offensive line in free agency, the Bears went back to the trenches in the second round and drafted Boston College offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo. The 6-foot-8 tackle projects best as a right tackle even though Darnell Wright has held down that spot the past two seasons. Chicago says Wright has the ability to play on both sides of the line and is open to moving him to left tackle this offseason. If Wright supplants Braxton Jones at left tackle and Trapilo wins a job as a rookie, the Bears will have five new starters along the O-line entering Caleb Williams' second season at quarterback. -- Courtney Cronin

Detroit Lions

Why didn't the Lions prioritize drafting an edge rusher?

The Lions drafted an edge rusher, but it didn't happen until the sixth round, when Detroit took Boise State's Ahmed Hassanein. Lions general manager Brad Holmes prioritized selecting the best available players over drafting for positional needs and came away with a strong crop of players with the ability to contribute immediately on both sides of the ball. But that hasn't satisfied those wondering if the Lions will bring in more help at defensive end. Although Pro Bowl player Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport are returning from season-ending injuries, this year's draft class was viewed as a deep one for ends, and Detroit didn't land one until Day 3. -- Eric Woodyard

Green Bay Packers

What's going on in the cornerback room?

Jaire Alexander remains on the roster, but general manager Brian Gutekunst would not go so far as to say the former two-time All-Pro would be on the team at the start of the season. "No," Gutekunst said after the draft. "I'm just saying nothing's changed. No updates. We'll proceed as we go for right now, and we'll see how it goes." Earlier this offseason, sources said the team had decided to move on from Alexander and even Gutekunst said publicly he hoped to get something in return for Alexander if he's not going to be on the team. Though Gutekunst signed Nate Hobbs in free agency, he did not draft a cornerback until the seventh round, when they took Tulane's Micah Robinson. Whether the lack of additions changes anything with Alexander's situation remains to be seen. -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

Is J.J. McCarthy ready to take over as the starting quarterback?

The Vikings have spent the offseason building a championship-caliber team around their young quarterback, who has recovered from a torn right meniscus that sidelined him for his rookie season. They spent $106 million to add new center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries, while drafting new left guard Donovan Jackson in the first round. They also re-signed running back Aaron Jones and traded for a strong No. 2 runner in Jordan Mason. All that's left now is to find out, via OTAs and minicamp, if McCarthy can lock down the starting job heading into training camp. -- Kevin Seifert

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Will quarterback Kirk Cousins remain in Atlanta?

The Falcons got what they wanted out of the draft, boosting their defense with a pair of highly rated edge rushers in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., as well as safety Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., who will be a nickel corner in Atlanta. But what the team did not do is move Cousins, which some had anticipated. After the draft and its quarterback machinations, there doesn't seem to be a natural landing place for him at this moment and it seems realistic he continues being Michael Penix Jr.'s backup through the offseason. -- Marc Raimondi

Carolina Panthers

Did the Panthers improve enough to make the playoffs?

After seven straight losing seasons, it's the question most fans want to know, particularly for a team playing in a division that appears up for grabs. Adding a dynamic weapon for quarterback Bryce Young in the first round (wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan) should make an offense that finished 2024 strong more explosive. The upgrade at edge rusher in the draft (Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen) to go with improvements in free agency should make the league's worst defense in 2024 at least a top 20-25 unit. That might be enough to make a run despite a young roster and finishing 5-12 in 2024, but the full rebuild remains a year away. -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints

Who is the Saints' starting quarterback in September?

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said there was going to be a competition at quarterback. But when asked to clarify if that included 2024 starter Derek Carr if he's healthy, he said that Carr is the starting quarterback. The quarterback story will follow the Saints all summer: Does Carr, who has a shoulder injury, play again for the Saints? And if not, will there be a true competition between the remaining quarterbacks, including rookie Tyler Shough, who was selected with the 40th pick, and Spencer Rattler, who was a fifth-round selection last year. -- Katherine Terrell

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Did the Bucs do enough to address their needs on defense?

The Bucs wisely doubled up on cornerbacks and pass rushers, but they weren't able to address inside linebacker. It wasn't a great draft class at that position, but the role is an important one in Todd Bowles' defense. SirVocea Dennis is coming off shoulder surgery and 2025 could be veteran Lavonte David's final season. They did sign Anthony Walker Jr. in free agency and they brought back former Pro Bow player Deion Jones, who came on late in the season. -- Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Will the offense have enough firepower to make a significant jump in 2025?

The front office seems to think so, despite drafting only one offensive player -- a lineman -- over the weekend. Arizona might add a free agent here or there, but after six of the Cardinals' seven picks were on the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals head into OTAs and minicamp with largely the same offense as last season. General manager Monti Ossenfort said the decision to draft only one offensive player (guard Hayden Conner) was a product of how the Cardinals' draft board fell. And while Arizona's defense improved significantly, the draft still leaves the Cardinals with holes on offense -- namely another option at receiver and right tackle -- that could've helped them become a contender to reach the postseason. -- Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

Will the Rams add to the secondary after not drafting a cornerback?

After not signing an outside free agent at cornerback, the Rams did not address the position in the draft either. One option to add to the position could be a reunion with cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who the Rams traded to the Miami Dolphins in March 2023. In his predraft news conference, general manager Les Snead said he had talked with Miami about trading for Ramsey but the two sides "discussed getting through the draft."

"There are a lot of layers that would need to be worked out with a player of his magnitude and some of the different things that accompany that, but you would never eliminate the possibility of adding a total stud and a guy that can do a lot of different things," head coach Sean McVay said. -- Sarah Barshop

San Francisco 49ers

How close are the 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy to a contract extension?

This is the question that has loomed all offseason. But it seems, at least for now, that a resolution might be coming relatively soon. Niners general manager John Lynch generally prefers not to give incremental updates during contract negotiations, which is why it was notable when he said last week that there have been "substantive talks" and that things are "going in a good direction." With the draft now over, it wouldn't be a surprise if something gets done by the time the Niners begin organized team activities near the end of May. -- Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks

Have the Seahawks improved their O-line enough?

The most fretted-over position group among Seahawks fans received the upgrade it needed when general manager John Schneider took guard Grey Zabel with the No. 18 pick. Seattle added another guard (Bryce Cabeldue) in the sixth round and a tackle (Mason Richman) in the seventh. Zabel looks like a potential difference-maker, but he's the only one the Seahawks have added to what was a questionable interior. Barring the addition of a veteran cap casualty, they're prepared to let their in-house options battle it out at center and the other guard spot with the hope that new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's scheme can help the entire line in ways that previous OC Ryan Grubb's did not. -- Brady Henderson

BEFORE STEPHEN CURRY went out for his pregame ritual workout in Utah on Feb. 5, he emerged from the visitors locker room at the Delta Center to hug Andrew Wiggins as he was coming off the floor.

Wiggins had just learned that he was being traded to the Miami Heat in a five-team blockbuster deal that would send Jimmy Butler III to Golden State. Moments later, a heavyhearted Steve Kerr closed the locker room during pregame media access to inform the team of the trade and allow players and coaches to say their emotional farewells to Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and Lindy Waters III.

The short-handed Warriors ended the night with a 131-128 loss to the then 12-win Jazz, and were stuck at 25-25.

Curry, who scored 32 points and had to take 31 shots to beat the hapless Jazz, returned to what was left of the Warriors' locker room after the game. Four players were gone from a tight-knit roster. But superstar help was on its way.

An emotional Curry turned toward Draymond Green. His longest-tenured teammate noticed tears trickling from Curry's eyes, the emotion of the moment hitting the grounded superstar.

In the same building where Michael Jordan delivered the last shot of the Chicago Bulls' reign, Curry might have unknowingly given the final chapter of the Warriors' dynasty a fitting title.

"This is it," Curry told Green. "It's our last ride."

Curry had longed all season to play "meaningful" games again, wanting nothing more than a fifth championship ring. On Monday, Curry plays his 151st playoff game in Game 4 against the Houston Rockets. This one might stand out if Butler can be by his side.

After playing just eight minutes in Game 2 and missing Game 3 because of a deep gluteal muscle contusion, Butler hopes to return for his first playoff home game in front of an appreciative Chase Center crowd. Butler has the Warriors back in the postseason after a one-year absence and he has rejuvenated Curry and the last act of this dynastic run.

"How many more chances will we actually realistically have at chasing a championship?" Curry told ESPN in Houston ahead of Golden State's 95-85 Game 1 upset over the Rockets. "Not saying this is the last year, this run that we're going to have. Just focusing on what we can get out of it.

"Me and him [Green] have been through every battle for the last 13 years. Obviously, we are trying to recreate that magic."

Kerr has already tailored his offense for the best of both worlds, fusing Curry's motion and Butler's methodical isolation sets. But a fifth title run, 10 years after the first of the Curry era, will depend on whether Curry and Butler can continue to maximize and mesh their incredible but contrasting offensive talents to extend the Warriors' championship window.

"The exciting thing is Jimmy gives us the opportunity to extend this thing by a couple of years," Kerr told ESPN. "He's that good. He's also the kind of athlete who's going to age well because he's not relying on explosive leaping ability. It's more savvy and strength, and he's such a smart player.

"So, I think we're going to be really good for the next few years. But Steph's right, these next few years are the last round."

A LITTLE OVER a month after the Butler trade, Curry celebrated his 37th birthday at his home. By the end of the party, only three people remained into the early morning hours, playing poker and polishing off wine from Curry's cellar and a six-gallon bottle of Chateau Margaux that Butler brought.

Curry, Butler and Green were creating new memories and bonding off the court.

"Yeah, that's because we're all degenerate poker players," Curry said jokingly. "It was a fun time. All throughout the years, you have certain moments where you get everybody together, intentionally, and have a good time.

"It was a good kind of jump-off point for the rest of the year."

While Butler and Green have forged a tight bond over late-night games of dominoes on the road, Curry and Butler are also forming a relationship, even if their games are almost polar opposite.

While Curry operates off the ball on the perimeter, constantly moving and churning around screens to get open to hit backbreaking and breathtaking 3s in organized chaos, Butler has a more clocklike approach inside the arc with the ball, looking to create mismatches for himself or teammates. He drives to either create for a teammate, score or draw a foul, often while looking like he's trying to use as few steps as possible.

Butler said jokingly that "opposites attract" after his first game with Curry on Feb. 8 in Chicago.

"The way we play is vastly different," Kerr told ESPN of this team compared with past championship Warriors teams. "We don't have to generate as much off-ball movement now, and it's an incredible luxury because playoff defenses are so locked in and we've had plenty of series like Oklahoma City in '16, the Rockets with all their switching in '17 and '18 where teams have taken away a lot of our off-ball stuff. But with Jimmy, you don't need off-ball stuff.

"You can just get him the ball, get spaced and when you have to have a bucket, everyone's tired and the game's on the line, Jimmy is, to me, as good an option as anybody in the entire league. I'm talking LeBron [James], Luka [Doncic], Giannis [Antetokounmpo], I don't care, you name them, [Nikola] Jokic, the best players in the world. Jimmy is in that category and the fact that we can throw it to him without having to run eight different screens off ball for Steph or Klay [Thompson], it's given us a completely different dimension."

Butler, a big soccer fan, prides himself on taking care of the ball and always trying to get as many "shots on goal." But he also admits he loves the chaos that comes with Golden State's offense, even if the turnovers might frustrate Kerr and himself, sometimes.

"Sometimes, good things come out of this organized chaos that one player in particular loves and thrives in," Butler said after Game 1. "So, you got to take the crooked with the straight, sometimes. It's not going to be all good. It's not going to be all bad either, but we're fine.

"I'm great in the organized chaos. I know when I can see it coming," Butler said. "Let's get back just in case, but I mean [Curry's] incredible and out of that organized chaos, I think he gets an incredible shot or he makes an incredible shot for himself or he gets it for somebody else."

Including the regular season and playoffs, Curry has recorded a 76% effective field goal percentage directly off passes from Butler -- second best among combinations to record at least 50 shots together since Feb. 8, according to GeniusIQ. And when they aren't on the floor together, Butler has stabilized the crucial non-Curry minutes as the Warriors have a plus-17.8 net efficiency when both play in the game.

When Butler is on the bench, he watches Curry like the 18,000 other fans in the building, shaking his head in disbelief. He has become such a fan of his new teammate that he recently wore a custom No. 30 Warriors jersey with Butler III on the back during a workout.

"I think any team has a chance when I'm on the team," Butler said after the Warriors secured the seventh seed with their 121-116 play-in win over the Memphis Grizzlies on April 15. "But I know that every team has a chance if Steph is on the team.

"So, I get to play Robin. That's my Batman. We got all the villains over there: Two-Face, Joker, Riddler and everybody else in the Western Conference. We got a lot of games to win."

After Curry had 36 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds to beat the Rockets in Game 3 with Butler on the sideline, an appreciative Butler posted a picture on his Instagram of Batman's Bat-Signal, but in place of the Batman logo was Curry's signature Under Armour logo.

"Thanks Batman and team, excluding Buddy," wrote Butler, who loves to give Buddy Hield a tough time.

Hield, who had perhaps his most impactful game as a Warrior with 17 points and five 3-pointers, wants his own character in the Warriors' Dark Knight universe.

"I know Robin was out tonight, so I had to step up," Hield said after the win. "[Just] being Alfred tonight."

Since the trade, Curry loves what he has seen from Butler, including the custom jersey. Curry's new star teammate is all-in for this "last ride."

"The last 13 years, we had 'The Splash Brothers,'" Curry told ESPN. "We had me, Draymond and Klay, which we didn't really have a nickname per se, but we've been a part of lineup nicknames and all that type of stuff.

"Now, Jimmy taking the liberty to create a new nickname that he didn't run by me, which is beautiful because that means he's bought in, he's here."

SITTING AT A table in the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad in early March, Butler is asked about his more well-known nickname, a persona that seems equipped with super powers in the postseason that makes him more than just a mere sidekick.

Butler initially downplayed "Playoff Jimmy" but left no doubt about what he is willing to do at this time of the year.

"Man, I think it's a facade that people have created over the years," Butler told ESPN of "Playoff Jimmy." "I know what I'm capable of. I can tell you that. And I love it because everybody thinks I just take it up a notch and I don't really just take it up a notch. I just might have the ball a little bit more. I might be a tad more aggressive, looking to score.

"[But] you're talking about somebody that's going to do anything to f---ing win. That's some motherf---er right there. The person that they deemed as [Playoff Jimmy], he'll die out there. He really will. It's scary. He really will die out there."

The Warriors had their first true taste of "Playoff Jimmy" in their play-in win over the Grizzlies. If there was any doubt about what Butler can do for the Warriors at this time of the year, he delivered 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in 40 grinding minutes.

Since Butler's debut Feb. 8 in Chicago, the Warriors are 26-9, including the regular season, play-in and postseason. Golden State lost Game 2 after Butler was limited to eight minutes following a nasty fall after he was undercut by Amen Thompson on a defensive rebound. With him helping coach from the sideline, Curry and the Warriors gutted out Game 3 without him in uniform.

The Warriors were 10th in the West when Butler debuted and needed him to take his postseason form early, as he helped them make a furious push to climb the standings. He has helped Green lift the Warriors to the top of the league in defensive efficiency and top-three in half-court defensive efficiency, versus on-ball screens and in heavy contest rate during that span, according to ESPN Research.

"I don't know if it's the playoffs, I think that's who Jimmy is," said New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached Butler in Minnesota and Chicago. "Jimmy's a fierce competitor. I always felt that that was his biggest strength -- his competitiveness and his brain. ... That's what the playoffs are. You have to have the ability to think on your feet. You're playing the same opponent oftentimes seven straight times. So, you have to be able to make adjustments and read, and that's what he's great at."

Butler is one of 10 players to have higher career averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in the playoffs compared with the regular season (minimum of 100 playoff games), according to ESPN Research. Green is also on that list, so he knows something about raising it to another level in the postseason.

Out of Butler's 16 career 40-point games, eight have come in the playoffs. He is the only player to have half of his 40-point games occur in the postseason among players with at least five career 40-point games.

"Yeah, he's different," Green said when asked about the "Playoff Jimmy" nickname after the play-in win. "You can just see a whole intensity level and focus. I've watched it on TV for years. To see it up close and personal? Like it's a real thing. Sometimes, you get in the NBA, and these guys get these nicknames. And you're like, 'Man, stop it, they're not real.'

"That one is real. And I'm happy he's on our side."

Kerr has seen teams try everything to slow down Curry, including Houston, which has had multiple defenders grab, tug and even hug the point guard as he often tried to get free for a shot in Games 1 and 2. But for those times when defenses smother Curry, Kerr now has a counter for physical playoff basketball.

Since joining the Warriors, Butler has averaged 11.7 isolations per 100 possessions. No player has averaged 10-plus isos per 100 possessions in a regular season and playoffs under Kerr, according to Genius IQ.

ISO Jimmy seemed perfectly suited for a slugfest like the Warriors' Game 1 win, which Kerr likened to a playoff game from "1997."

Kerr and Green repeatedly said Butler "calmed" everything for the Warriors in Game 1. Houston cut a 23-point deficit to three in the fourth. When the Rockets were within seven, Butler scored on a putback and then milked the clock before drilling a turning stepback jumper over Alperen Sengun. Butler scored six of his 25 points in the final 1:43 to seal the win. He finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals -- the third time he has had at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a playoff game, matching Allen Iverson for the third most such games.

Without Butler for the final three quarters in Game 2, the Warriors looked a lot like the team that was 25-26 before he made his debut in Chicago. Houston loaded up on Curry and Golden State didn't look anything like it does with Butler. While role players such as Hield and Gary Payton II (16 points) stepped up to help Curry in Game 3, Curry pointed out that the Warriors are trying to win "14 more of these. We need Jimmy to do that."

Curry knew the trajectory of his season was changing on that February night in Utah. He and Green also felt the responsibility on their shoulders with Butler's arrival. It's why the two got so emotional.

The last ride is underway.

"Let's f---ing go then!" Green told ESPN what he said back to the teary-eyed Curry in Utah. "Let's do it!

"There's an appreciation that we felt and feel. We were sitting there and coming to that realization we got an obligation to uphold. ... They [traded for Butler] for us because they still believe in us."

ESPN Research's Matt Williams contributed to this report.

With the two-week Madrid Open reaching the halfway point, it is the perfect time to revisit a thorny issue in tennis.

Stretching several ATP and WTA tournaments across a fortnight has caused some controversy - and it's debatable how successful the move has been.

The thinking was the elongated events would have greater gravitas - essentially creating 'mini Grand Slams'.

According to ATP and WTA bosses, that meant increased financial opportunities for more players.

Another benefit would be players having days off between matches, allowing for better recovery and, in theory, more high-quality matches.

Fans, in turn, would be more engaged and media coverage would increase, creating a buzz around them like the existing four majors.

For many, it has not panned out like that.

The players are certainly divided. In Madrid, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek both responded positively when asked what they preferred.

Sabalenka said she enjoys the longer format because she can "rest" physically and mentally between matches, while Swiatek added she doesn't "think about it anymore".

But the top stars - the ones who go regularly deep in these draws - are the players more likely to benefit from the days off.

Others further down the chain have voiced concerns.

The recent lawsuit lodged by the Professional Tennis Players' Association - which claimed to be on "behalf of the entire player population" - said that "instead of providing professional tennis players more rest between tournaments to endure a longer season, the ATP and WTA have given them less".

It was also telling that Novak Djokovic, who co-founded the PTPA, gave a lengthy answer about the subject in his pre-Madrid news conference.

Asked about Carlos Alcaraz saying he felt like a "slave" to the game, Djokovic referenced the negative effect of the extended events.

"Now we essentially don't have four Grand Slams - we have maybe 12 Grand Slams. It's a lot," he said.

Seven of the nine ATP Masters are now played over a fortnight, along with six of the 10 WTA 1000s.

The first week of the combined Madrid Open - a mixture of qualifying and main-draw matches - felt like a slow burner.

The main stadiums at the Caja Magica were rarely full, although the grounds were swelled by hundreds of children on school trips.

For many of those further afar, the disjointed scheduling can seem illogical and difficult to follow.

Will anything change?

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi is committed to the format and, while the WTA insists the circuit is always under review, its chair Steve Simon also believes the structure does not increase workload.

It seems, as Swiatek basically said, everyone will just have to get on with it.