Category: Sports

The future remains uncertain for basketball legend LeBron James following his team’s playoff exit. The 41-year-old superstar faces several paths forward as he contemplates what could be the end of an unprecedented 23-year NBA career.

James finds himself at a crossroads with multiple possibilities ahead. The veteran could remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, explore opportunities with a different franchise, or choose to retire altogether, bringing closure to the longest tenure in professional basketball history. While he recognizes these options exist, the four-time champion admits he hasn’t reached a decision yet.

The Lakers’ season concluded Monday evening following their elimination by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now James must weigh his personal desires against his family’s wishes and determine the best course for everyone involved, knowing his playing days may be numbered.

The Thunder completed their playoff sweep of Los Angeles with a hard-fought 115-110 victory in Game 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 35 points, while Chet Holmgren delivered the decisive basket with 32.8 seconds remaining. Ajay Mitchell contributed 28 points, including 10 crucial points in the final quarter, as the Thunder maintained their perfect 8-0 playoff record in what proved to be their most challenging victory yet. James finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds but couldn’t convert a crucial driving attempt with 20 seconds left that could have given the Lakers the lead.

In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell orchestrated one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent playoff memory. After managing just four points in the opening half against Detroit, the Cavaliers guard exploded for 39 second-half points, matching the NBA playoff record for points in a single half. His remarkable performance powered Cleveland to a 112-103 triumph over the Pistons in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup.

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs will square off September 14 in the opening Monday Night Football contest on ESPN. The venue for this divisional clash remains undetermined as the league continues finalizing details before Thursday’s complete schedule announcement. Questions surround the availability of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered torn ACL and LCL injuries in his left knee on December 14. Broncos signal-caller Bo Nix should be ready for training camp despite breaking an ankle bone during the AFC playoffs.

The Colorado Avalanche rebounded from their recent struggles with a commanding 5-2 victory over Minnesota Wild in Game 4, pushing them within one win of the Western Conference finals. Ross Colton and Parker Kelly each netted their first postseason goals during the decisive third period. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first playoff start after coming in relief during Game 3’s disappointing loss. The Wild received goals from Danila Yurov and Nico Sturm but now trail the series 3-1.

A significant ruling emerged in college athletics as an arbitrator sided with the College Sports Commission in a dispute involving Nebraska football players. The decision upheld the CSC’s rejection of third-party name-image-likeness agreements between the university’s multimedia partner Playfly and student-athletes. Commission CEO Bryan Seeley expressed hope the ruling would strengthen confidence in the new organization’s enforcement capabilities, though he stopped short of calling it precedent-setting.

Los Angeles prepares to welcome the World Cup for the third time, with eight matches scheduled including Team USA’s opening game against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium. The city offers visitors its trademark sunshine, beaches, celebrity culture, and diverse culinary landscape spanning Latin American, Asian, and Middle Eastern options alongside classic American fare. However, tourists should expect to encounter the ongoing homelessness situation and elevated fuel costs. FIFA’s Fan Festival runs June 11-14, with ten additional fan zones operating through July 19.

Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium has undergone extensive renovations to meet FIFA standards for World Cup hosting duties. The Chiefs’ home venue will stage six group stage matches beginning next month, plus a round of 32 encounter and quarterfinal game. Argentina faces Algeria in the stadium’s World Cup debut on June 16. The 1972-built facility required substantial modifications including seat removal and field improvements to satisfy international requirements. Limited parking will necessitate shuttle transportation from remote lots, while existing signage has been removed to prevent sponsorship conflicts.

At Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, players are discovering the primary challenge for the PGA Championship lies in the putting surfaces. The expansive greens feature dramatic slopes that will test even the most skilled professionals. Keegan Bradley, who captured the 2018 BMW Championship at the venue, noted that while driving accuracy isn’t the main concern, the undulating greens present significant difficulties. Matt Fitzpatrick questioned whether tournament officials can locate sufficient pin positions given the severe contours. Jordan Spieth played nine preparation holes as he pursues his tenth attempt at completing the career Grand Slam, with only the PGA Championship missing from his collection.

Tiger Woods faces a legal hearing in Florida as his attorney and prosecutors debate access to the golf icon’s prescription medication records. The Tuesday morning session in Martin County circuit court centers on the state’s subpoena requesting all prescription drug documentation from January through March, following Woods’ arrest on suspected driving under the influence charges. The defense argues constitutional privacy protections should shield the medical information, while also seeking a protective order to limit any potential disclosure. Woods has entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

Basketball superstar LeBron James faces a crossroads in his legendary career after the Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the playoffs Monday evening by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 41-year-old veteran, who just completed his 23rd NBA season, finds himself with multiple paths forward – remaining with the Lakers, signing elsewhere, or hanging up his sneakers for good.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,” James stated following the elimination.

With Father Time undefeated, James likely has limited seasons remaining, if any at all. He now faces the challenging process of weighing his personal desires against his family’s wishes and determining the best course for everyone involved.

Former teammate and close friend Dwyane Wade, who served as an analyst during the Thunder-Lakers series on Amazon Prime, shared his perspective on James’s decision-making process.

“That’s the question,” Wade commented. “And I think if we all know LeBron James, he’s going to take some time off and go drink some wine, go yacht a little bit around the world. He’s going to spend some time with his family. He’s going to sit down and try to make the best decision for the James family at the end of the day.”

Wade continued his analysis, noting the competitive factor: “And then from there, you’ve got to look at the picture of the Lakers. LeBron, Year 24 coming back next year if he does, he wants to play for something. So, are they in a position that he can play for something and compete for something?”

Financial considerations will also play a role. James earned approximately $53 million this past season and could potentially secure around $60 million for another campaign. While he has the financial freedom to take a discount for team flexibility, Wade doesn’t expect that scenario.

“History shows that Mr. James ain’t taking a lot of discounts, right? I don’t think no one knows,” Wade observed. “I think one of the things that him and his entire team have been great at is they hold their cards close to their chest. Decisions are made by LeBron, and they all respect it. And they wait on him to decide what he wants to do.”

Several scenarios could unfold for the NBA icon:

**Retirement** appears unlikely despite James posting his career-low scoring average of 20.933 points per game – barely below his rookie season average of 20.937. Critics point to his declining numbers, which have dropped from 30.3 points in 2021-22 to this season’s 20.9 average. However, his reduced role as the Lakers’ third scoring option behind teammates explains much of this decrease.

**Staying with Los Angeles** presents mixed prospects. While reaching the second round isn’t catastrophic, especially against the defending champions, the Lakers’ playoff performance during James’s eight-year tenure has been mediocre. The team holds the seventh-best regular season record during his time there, but playoff success has been limited – just 16-26 in postseason games since their 2020 championship run.

**Returning to Miami** remains a possibility, given James’s lasting relationships with Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, and the Heat organization. His jersey will eventually hang in Miami’s rafters, and he captured two championships there. However, James has no unfinished business with the franchise.

**Cleveland homecoming** offers sentimental appeal. Northeast Ohio remains close to James’s heart, and any lingering resentment from his 2010 departure was erased when he delivered the city’s 2016 NBA title. A return would likely depend on the Cavaliers maintaining championship-caliber talent.

**New York Knicks** have pursued James unsuccessfully before but now offer compelling attractions – a competitive roster and the allure of Madison Square Garden, a venue James has always respected. The bright lights of New York wouldn’t intimidate the superstar.

**Golden State Warriors** present an intriguing option following James’s Olympic gold medal experience in Paris alongside Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr. James holds tremendous respect for both, and the Warriors would undoubtedly find ways to make the finances work despite salary cap challenges.

**San Antonio Spurs** offer perhaps the most fascinating possibility – pairing basketball’s greatest scorer with defensive phenom Victor Wembanyama. James has called the young center an “alien” with deep admiration, and his respect for the Spurs organization and Gregg Popovich is well-documented.

Whatever James decides, the basketball world will be watching as one of the sport’s greatest players determines his next chapter.

NEW YORK — ESPN’s Monday Night Football will kick off the 2026 season with a showdown between Kansas City and Denver on September 14th, the network announced Tuesday morning.

The venue for this AFC West rivalry matchup remains to be determined, as league officials continue working out final details before releasing the complete 2026 schedule this Thursday evening.

A major question mark surrounds Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his availability for the season opener. The two-time MVP suffered torn ACL and LCL injuries to his left knee during the closing moments of Kansas City’s December 14th defeat to Los Angeles Chargers, a loss that knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention. Mahomes has set a goal of returning by the first week of the season.

Denver’s Bo Nix should be healthy for training camp after sustaining a fractured right ankle bone on January 18th during the AFC playoffs. The Broncos concluded their 2025 campaign with a loss to New England in the AFC championship game.

Additional prime-time matchups will be unveiled over the next several days.

Tuesday’s announcements coincided with upfront advertising presentations by NBC, Fox, and Prime Video. Buffalo will christen their new stadium against Detroit on September 17th for Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football opener.

Dallas features prominently in the other revealed games, traveling to face the New York Giants for NBC’s Sunday Night Football debut on September 13th, then hosting Philadelphia on Fox’s traditional Thanksgiving Day broadcast November 26th.

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff elimination on Monday night, superstar LeBron James declined to commit to any specific plans regarding his basketball career moving forward.

Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Lakers 115-110 on the road, completing a clean sweep of their Western Conference semifinal matchup. James contributed 24 points and led all players with 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

At 41 years old, James has now concluded his historic 23rd NBA campaign and faces unrestricted free agency as the league’s all-time scoring champion.

Following Monday’s elimination, James expressed uncertainty about his path ahead. “What my future (holds), I don’t know, obviously,” he stated. “I mean, this is obviously still fresh from obviously losing and I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now tonight.”

The veteran star indicated he plans to take time for reflection with his loved ones before announcing any decisions. “I got a lot of time to sit back like I think I said last year after we lost, I think to Minnesota, to go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them and then when the time comes, I’ll obviously you guys will know what I decide to do.”

Despite his age, James earned selection to his 22nd straight All-Star Game while adapting to a different role than usual this season. Luka Doncic served as the Lakers’ primary scoring option, topping the NBA with 33.5 points per game. Austin Reaves finished second on the team with 23.3 points per contest, while James averaged 20.9 points per game.

James also recorded 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game during the regular season.

Both Doncic and Reaves dealt with significant injury issues. Doncic missed the entire postseason due to a hamstring problem, while Reaves was sidelined for the final five regular season contests and first four playoff games because of oblique injuries.

Throughout the playoffs, James posted averages of 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Despite the disappointing finish, James expressed satisfaction with his individual performance and adaptation to new circumstances. “Obviously we fell a little short, but I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure,” James commented. “I was put in some positions I never played in my career before, actually in my life. I’ve never been a third option in my life.”

James praised his ability to excel in an unfamiliar supporting role before resuming leadership duties when circumstances required it. “So, to be able to thrive in that role for that period of time and then have to step back into the role that I’ve been accustomed with over my career or my life playing this sport and be able to thrive under that and then just my teammates allowing me to lead them under extreme circumstances, I thought that was pretty cool for me at this stage of my career.”

Reaves, 27, also faces an important career decision. The guard holds a $14.9 million player option that he’s anticipated to decline in favor of unrestricted free agency.

Following Monday’s defeat, Reaves reflected on the season’s challenges and his team’s resilience. “It’s been fun. It’s been a joy. It’s been a grind,” Reaves said. “A lot of things didn’t go our way this season and there were a lot of opportunities for us to quit, and you know, that’s not who we got in the locker room or the organization. Everybody stuck together.”

Reaves emphasized his team’s determination despite adversity. “I’ve been around the NBA for five years now. I know a lot of teams would have given up (due to late-season injuries), and that wasn’t the case with this team.”

Third-seeded American tennis player Coco Gauff pulled off a dramatic comeback Monday at the Italian Open in Rome, rescuing herself from a match point before defeating 18-year-old compatriot Iva Jovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in their Round of 16 clash.

Jovic appeared poised for victory when she broke Gauff’s serve in the second set and stepped up to serve for the match leading 5-3. The teenager reached match point at 40-30, but Gauff managed to stay alive by claiming the next point. After battling through three deuces, Gauff secured the game and began her remarkable turnaround.

The momentum shifted further in Gauff’s favor when the less experienced Jovic required medical attention for a finger injury during a timeout. Gauff capitalized on the situation, forcing a decisive third set that she controlled completely, capturing the final four games consecutively to seal her advancement.

“Honestly on that match point my head was almost to the locker room, to be honest. I was (thinking), ‘Well, I’m going to hear a lot about this one,’” Gauff said with a smile post-match. “Then after, I don’t know, I was able to get through it. I think she maybe dropped a little bit her level when she had the lead. It was able to help me get back into the match.”

Gauff’s victory came through aggressive return play, as she converted eight of 13 break point chances while also capitalizing on Jovic’s 10 double faults throughout the encounter.

In the quarterfinals, Gauff will square off against eighth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva, who advanced with a straight-sets triumph over Belgium’s 21st-seeded Elise Mertens, 6-3, 6-3.

Other notable Round of 16 results saw fourth-seeded Polish star Iga Swiatek dominate 15th-seeded Naomi Osaka of Japan 6-2, 6-1. Osaka struggled significantly in the opening set, committing 20 unforced errors that gave Swiatek complete control of the match.

Swiatek’s next challenge will come from fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who advanced by defeating Austria’s Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (6), 6-2.

A compelling quarterfinal matchup will feature two former Rome titlists as second-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine both won in straight sets to set up their encounter.

Rybakina dispatched Czech player Karolina Pliskova in just 58 minutes with a commanding 6-0, 6-2 performance, while Svitolina defeated another Czech competitor, Nikola Bartunkova, 6-2, 6-3.

“We know each other well,” Rybakina said of Svitolina, whom she leads 4-3 overall in their career head-to-head. “I will try to do my best. I’ll try to serve well, stay aggressive as always, recover and hopefully it’s going to go my way.”

The final quarterfinal pairing emerged from a pair of surprising upsets. Unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko overwhelmed 22nd-seeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2, while Romanian 26th seed Sorana Cirstea eliminated Czech 13th seed Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-4.

The Oklahoma City Thunder punched their ticket to the Western Conference finals Monday night with a nail-biting 115-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, wrapping up a dominant four-game sweep that may have marked the end of LeBron James’ tenure in Los Angeles.

Leading the charge for Oklahoma City was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who put up 35 points in the series-clinching performance. The Thunder received strong support from Ajay Mitchell, who contributed 28 points, while Chet Holmgren chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds. Jared McCain rounded out the scoring effort with 13 points as Oklahoma City extended their perfect playoff record to 8-0.

“I mean, we’ve done our job so far,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s all it really means. Gone out there, we’ve executed, we played at a high level, and been able to win eight tough games against really good opponents. That’s all it really means and nothing’s guaranteed.”

The defending NBA champions will now await their next opponent, either the Minnesota Timberwolves or San Antonio Spurs. Oklahoma City shot an impressive 51.9% from the field while holding Los Angeles to 50.7% shooting. The Thunder dominated the season series against the Lakers, winning all eight matchups including regular season contests.

For Los Angeles, Austin Reaves led the scoring with 27 points while Rui Hachimura contributed 25 points and five rebounds. The Lakers now face an uncertain offseason with potential major roster changes on the horizon.

“For the things that we set out to do and build our championship habits and build our championship communication, I thought we were darn close to doing that,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “It doesn’t mean you’re going to win a championship, but I take a lot of pride in our players and what they all individually went through, what we collectively went through, and what we turned out to be.”

The 41-year-old James finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in what could be his final appearance as a Laker. After 23 seasons in the NBA, James is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me obviously as it stands right now tonight,” James said. “I got a lot of time to sit back like I think I said last year after we lost.”

Jaxson Hayes provided additional scoring for the Lakers with 18 points. Los Angeles played the entire playoff series without Luka Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury during an April 2 game against Oklahoma City.

The game’s decisive moments came in the final seconds when Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down two free throws with 12.2 seconds left to give the Thunder a 113-110 advantage. Reaves had a chance to tie the game with a three-point attempt at the 8.3-second mark but came up short. Mitchell sealed the victory by converting two free throws with 6.4 seconds remaining.

The contest featured several momentum swings throughout the evening. Los Angeles overcame a 12-point third-quarter deficit with a 22-9 run, taking a 76-75 lead with 2:03 left in the period after Reaves scored seven straight points. The Lakers carried an 84-80 advantage into the final quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Lakers built a 92-87 lead before Mitchell sparked an 8-0 Thunder run, capping it with a three-point play to put Oklahoma City ahead 95-92 with 6:14 on the clock.

The final minute was filled with dramatic plays as Hachimura connected on a four-point play, followed by a three-point play from Marcus Smart that gave Los Angeles a 110-109 edge with 40.9 seconds left. Holmgren answered with a crucial dunk to restore the Thunder’s lead at 111-110 with 32.8 seconds remaining.

James missed a potential go-ahead floater over Isaiah Hartenstein with 20.3 seconds left, and both Reaves and Smart were unable to connect on late three-point attempts that could have changed the outcome.

“They threw a lot of (defensive looks) at us,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said of the Lakers, “and I think we’re a better team at the end of the series than we were at the beginning, and that’s a credit to them.”

Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ crushing 115-110 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday evening, basketball legend LeBron James remains uncertain about his professional future after contributing 24 points in what could potentially be his final NBA appearance.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is following his familiar pattern from previous offseasons by avoiding any immediate declarations about his plans following the Lakers’ postseason elimination.

James left all possibilities open, neither confirming retirement nor guaranteeing his return to Los Angeles, while also staying silent on potential moves to other franchises as he considers an historic 24th campaign in the league.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old superstar explained. “I’ve got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

James’ historic 23rd campaign concluded with the devastating defeat, marking a complete four-game elimination by the reigning NBA champions. The Lakers entered postseason play missing key contributors due to injuries, yet James guided the team to a surprising first-round victory over Houston before encountering the league’s top-performing squad.

Thunder star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander expressed admiration for James’ continued excellence despite his advanced age in basketball terms.

“It’s amazing what he’s doing out there at this age,” Gilgeous-Alexander commented. “It’s very impressive. It’s hard to put it to words. He’s not very old in the grand scheme of life, but for the NBA, he’s pretty old, and he doesn’t seem like it out there. He was a force. He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I’m not sure we’ll see anything like that again, his longevity and his greatness.”

Despite holding every major longevity record in professional basketball, James has consistently avoided setting definitive timelines for his career conclusion.

He reiterated his standard approach of making decisions during the offseason while consulting with his family over the coming months.

“Nobody has any idea what the future holds, and I don’t either,” James stated. “I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future, and when I get to that point, everyone will know.”

Throughout his 23rd season, James demonstrated minimal decline in his performance, maintaining elite-level versatility during the Lakers’ productive regular season campaign.

Health issues created his primary challenges: a back condition sidelined him for training camp and the season’s opening 14 contests, while additional injuries cost him eight more regular season games, preventing his inclusion on All-NBA teams for the 22nd straight year.

With teammates winning the scoring championship and emerging as elite offensive threats, James embraced a secondary role as the team’s third scoring option, which proved effective for the organization.

His season average of 20.9 points represented his lowest output since his debut year, primarily due to decreased three-point shooting efficiency at 31.7%, while his 33.2 minutes per contest marked a career low. Nevertheless, he contributed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds while delivering consistent performances and elevating his play when needed most.

“It was so many different seasons in one season with our ballclub,” James reflected. “Obviously injuries played a big part in it, but as far as our identity, I thought it was super-resilient.”

James earned his 22nd All-Star selection and established a new record as the oldest player to achieve a triple-double during the season. He also surpassed Robert Parish’s mark for most regular season appearances in league history during late March.

Los Angeles gained momentum during the regular season’s final stretch, capturing 16 victories in 18 games entering April and generating optimism about potentially challenging top teams in the playoffs. However, major injuries to key players derailed those hopes by sidelining both contributors indefinitely.

James responded to the setback by resuming primary offensive responsibilities for the Lakers. Despite widespread predictions of early playoff elimination, James and his available teammates shocked observers by defeating the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets in six games, advancing Los Angeles to just their second conference semifinal since 2020.

“For our group to have the moment that we had when Luka goes down with the hamstring and AR goes down with the oblique and we’re staring down the barrel of a playoff series with Houston, I thought our guys responded and were just super-resilient,” James said. “To win that series was big-time for the group that went out there.”

Multiple factors could influence James’ decision to continue his career in Los Angeles.

He has spent recent seasons playing alongside his eldest son Bronny James, who serves as a reserve guard for the Lakers. The pair shared meaningful playoff minutes this season, fulfilling another of LeBron’s personal aspirations.

His family has established roots in Southern California, and despite his sons’ independence, James frequently discusses his desire to support his 11-year-old daughter Zhuri’s competitive volleyball career.

Additionally, the Lakers’ strong finish suggests they could compete among the NBA’s elite teams with full health for their core players, including one expected to sign a significant contract extension this summer.

James must evaluate whether the Lakers can realistically pursue a championship next season, though finding a legitimate title contender at this career stage would prove challenging given the apparent superiority of teams like Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

For now, James plans to step away from basketball’s demanding schedule that has enabled his unprecedented career longevity, and if he chooses not to return, he appears satisfied with his final season’s conclusion.

“I left everything I could on the floor,” James concluded. “I control what I can control, and I can leave the floor saying even though I hate losing, I was locked in on what we needed to do.”

Following Sunday’s 4-3 defeat in Anaheim that leveled their Western Conference semifinal matchup at two games apiece, the Vegas Golden Knights maintained their composure and confidence as they prepare for Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 showdown with the Ducks in Las Vegas.

The Pacific Division champions have solid reasons for their positive outlook. Vegas faced identical circumstances during their opening round against the Utah Mammoth, where they responded to a 2-2 series tie by capturing a thrilling 5-4 double-overtime victory in Game 5 on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal, ultimately claiming the series in six games.

That triumph contributed to Vegas’s impressive 5-2 all-time record in Game 5 contests when best-of-seven series are deadlocked 2-2. The 2023 Stanley Cup champions boast a flawless 5-0 series record when they emerge victorious in Game 5 under those circumstances.

“They’ve been through so much as a team,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said Monday. “Gone through all the processes, all the things you go through in a playoff series. So they’re experienced at it.”

Howden, who leads the team with seven playoff goals, expressed optimism about their prospects. “We’re feeling good about our game, and we feel like we have another step, too, so looking forward to (Tuesday) night,” he said.

After dominating Game 3 with a 6-2 victory, the Golden Knights weren’t content with merely earning a road split and reclaiming home-ice advantage.

“I think going in you’re not looking to split,” Howden explained. “Not satisfied with just getting the one win after winning the first game. We were really looking to win the next game, but that’s the way it went, and now we’ve got a best-of-three series and we’ve got home ice.”

When asked about his team’s performance through the first four games, Tortorella acknowledged room for improvement.

“I think our game’s growing, yes, but it’s going to have to grow some more,” Tortorella stated. “It’s not complicated. It’s big plays … guys stepping up at certain times. The stakes are high now when you’re getting to the short strokes of the series.”

Vegas received encouraging news from Sunday’s loss when Tomas Hertl ended a lengthy 29-game scoring slump that stretched back to March 4. Hertl, who recorded 24 goals and 34 assists during the regular season, finally found the back of the net.

“You know with goal-scorers, an empty-netter, 6-on-5, it doesn’t matter,” Tortorella observed. “Hopefully it releases him a little bit. He’s been close for quite a while. He bangs one in and hopefully that will help him as we move forward.”

On the Anaheim side, Cutter Gauthier delivered a breakthrough performance. The winger, who paced the team with 41 goals and 69 points in the regular season, had been scoreless in the Vegas series until contributing three assists in Game 4.

“In the first three games, I wasn’t getting enough shots,” Gauthier reflected. “Getting in the middle of the ice is always a big emphasis, trying to get in front of guys, get in front of the goalie and stir some things up. Fortunately, the guys were able to bury it when I made a couple passes.”

The Ducks, who converted 8-of-16 power-play opportunities in their first-round victory over Edmonton, broke an 0-for-11 slump against Vegas by scoring twice with the man advantage in Game 4. Beckett Sennecke netted a power-play goal for an early 1-0 Anaheim lead, while Alex Killorn added another power-play marker in the second period to give the Ducks a 3-2 advantage they never relinquished.

Anaheim also outmuscled Vegas with a 34-27 advantage in hits during the physical battle and forced 14 turnovers by the Golden Knights.

“It’s playoff hockey, and it was a man’s game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said simply.

Anaheim forward Troy Terry praised his team’s resilience. “It was probably the first time where we were really backs against the wall. No matter what the situation’s been, I’ve loved how we’ve responded,” Terry noted.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon left the ice with blood pouring from his nose Monday night after a puck fired by his own teammate Devon Toews struck him directly in the face during the closing minutes of the second period in Game 4 of their NHL playoff matchup with the Minnesota Wild.

Toews had attempted to clear the puck from near the goal line toward the corner boards, but the wayward shot found MacKinnon’s face instead. The regular season’s top goal scorer dropped to his knees in agony before team medical staff rushed over with a towel to stem the bleeding and escort him from the rink.

The injury left blood splattered across the ice and covering the inside of MacKinnon’s face shield as he headed to the locker room just before the second period ended. Despite the gruesome scene, MacKinnon emerged for the final period and even managed to find the back of the net on an empty goal during Colorado’s 5-2 victory.

“If he was going to be able to get out there, he was going to be out there,” coach Jared Bednar said. “I just felt for him because I just went through that. It doesn’t feel very good.”

Bednar spoke from experience, having required hospitalization last month for facial fractures and damage to his cornea after a puck flew into the coaching area and caught him in the right cheek during a game, forcing him to miss two road contests.

MacKinnon has compiled 12 points on six goals and six assists through eight postseason contests this year for Colorado, which now holds a commanding 3-1 series advantage over Minnesota heading into Wednesday’s Game 5.

CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell experienced his most challenging opening half in any playoff contest since becoming a Cleveland Cavalier in September 2022.

The All-Star shooting guard made up for it with what ranks among the greatest 24-minute performances in NBA postseason history on Monday evening.

Following a meager four-point showing in the opening half, Mitchell exploded for 39 points after intermission, matching the NBA playoff record for points scored in a single half as Cleveland mounted a comeback to defeat Detroit 112-103 in the fourth game of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup.

“It’s pretty impressive. I’m not sure I’ve seen in the playoffs a turnaround like that where a guy is struggling and just absolutely turns the switch and complete opposite of the first half,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Mitchell matched Eric “Sleepy” Floyd’s mark when he converted a free throw with 27.6 seconds left on the clock. He had an opportunity to surpass the record, established in 1987 when Floyd’s Golden State Warriors battled the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, but failed to connect on his second free throw attempt.

“Everybody let me know that I missed a free throw to break the record, though,” Mitchell said. “I will say that, but we’re two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do and that’s all that matters.”

Mitchell remained scoreless until converting a free throw with 4:19 left in the second quarter. He also failed to connect on his initial six field goal attempts before sinking a three-pointer from the left corner with 2:48 remaining in the opening half.

Even with Mitchell’s early difficulties, Cleveland found themselves trailing by just four points, 56-52, at the break. James Harden and Evan Mobley helped keep the Cavaliers competitive during the first two quarters, contributing a combined 26 points.

“I airball the first layup and was missing shots short,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes it’s natural, right? I wasn’t really trying to get in there and force it and then just doubling down on the defensive end, trying to take whoever I’m guarding, take them out of the equation. I’m not tripping, we were down four at half.

“I always tell y’all it’s not just about the scoring, it’s about your overall impact on the game. And for me, it was just like, ‘OK, now I have an opportunity to try to get downhill’ and then started going in.”

Mitchell connected on 12 of 18 field goal attempts during the second half, including three shots from beyond the arc, while making 12 of 13 free throw attempts. Cleveland’s previous franchise high for points in a half belonged to Mitchell with 31 during Game 7 of the team’s opening round series against Orlando in 2024.

Mitchell equaled a franchise record for points in any quarter with 21 during the third period as the Cavaliers took command, outpacing the Pistons 38-21 in that frame. He contributed 15 points during Cleveland’s 24-0 scoring surge that spanned from the final 12 seconds of the first half through the opening six minutes of the third quarter.

The 24-0 scoring streak represented the longest in any NBA playoff contest since Minnesota also recorded 24 consecutive points in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It also marked the longest such run by Cleveland in a postseason game since detailed statistics began being tracked in 1997-98. The previous franchise playoff high was 19 points straight in an Eastern semifinal series game against Boston.

“Donovan Mitchell was killing us, and that’s pretty much it,” Pistons center Paul Reed said.

This marked Mitchell’s eighth playoff game reaching at least 40 points, with four of those coming as a Cavalier. He has now scored 30 or more points in three consecutive games as the series moves to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday with the teams deadlocked at two victories each.

Cleveland continues searching for their first road playoff victory this season and will require at least one away win to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.

“We’ve had two good games to build off of, but it’s going to be a hostile environment,” Mitchell said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. And I think I know we’re ready for the challenge.”

Buffalo Bills fans will witness history on September 17, 2026, when their team inaugurates the brand-new Highmark Stadium in a Week 2 Thursday Night Football showdown against the Detroit Lions, the NFL revealed Monday.

Amazon Prime Video will have exclusive streaming rights to the contest, though local Buffalo viewers will be able to watch on a television channel that has yet to be announced.

The state-of-the-art venue comes with a $2.1 billion price tag and features an open-air design with a protective canopy shielding 64% of spectators from the elements, ESPN reports. Players will compete on natural grass equipped with heating technology rather than artificial turf, and fans sitting in the front row along one sideline will enjoy seats positioned 54 feet nearer to the action.

Before the regular season kicks off, the new stadium will host summer activities, including Buffalo’s Blue & Red training camp practice session.

Buffalo’s football team has called their previous venue home since 1973, when it was known as Rich Stadium before receiving the Highmark Stadium designation in 2021. The Bills have successfully captured victory in each of their past four season-opening home contests.

Last season saw Buffalo compile a 12-5 record before falling to Denver in an overtime AFC Divisional Playoff battle, while Detroit concluded their campaign at 9-8 and missed postseason play.

Football fans can expect the complete 2026 NFL schedule to be unveiled Thursday evening at 8 p.m. ET during a special two-hour broadcast on ESPN and NFL Network.

STUART, Fla. — A Florida courtroom will be the scene of a legal battle Tuesday as Tiger Woods’ defense team fights to keep the golf legend’s prescription medication records private following his DUI arrest in March.

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Martin County circuit court, located just north of Palm Beach County. State prosecutors have issued a subpoena demanding access to all prescription drug records for Woods from a Palm Beach pharmacy covering January through the end of March. Woods’ defense lawyer Doug Duncan filed court documents last month arguing that his client has constitutional privacy protections regarding his prescription medications.

Should the judge rule that the medication records are required for the case, Duncan has requested a protective order that would restrict access to only prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, state experts and Woods’ legal team.

The golf superstar has entered a not guilty plea to the DUI charges. According to the sheriff’s department report, officers discovered two pain medication pills in Woods’ possession and observed signs of impairment after his vehicle struck a truck’s trailer and overturned.

The incident occurred on Jupiter Island, where Woods was driving at excessive speeds on a residential beachside road with a posted speed limit of 30 mph when his Land Rover caused $5,000 in damage to the truck, according to the incident report. While Woods consented to a breathalyzer test that detected no alcohol, he declined to take a urine test, officials reported.

Craig Morton, the veteran quarterback who made NFL history by becoming the first signal-caller to lead two different franchises to Super Bowl appearances, passed away Saturday at his Mill Valley, California home. He was 83 years old.

The Denver Broncos organization announced Morton’s death through his family members on Saturday.

Morton joins an exclusive group of just four quarterbacks who have started the championship game for multiple teams. Unlike the other three members of this club — Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner — Morton never captured a Super Bowl victory as a starter, though he did earn one championship ring serving in a backup role.

Morton’s initial Super Bowl appearance came during the 1970 season in a mistake-filled Super Bowl V, where the Dallas Cowboys fell to the Baltimore Colts 16-13. Despite the defeat, Morton achieved the milestone of throwing Dallas’s first-ever touchdown pass in a championship contest.

After an unsuccessful period with the New York Giants, Morton found himself facing his former Cowboys teammates seven years later in Super Bowl XII. The veteran quarterback managed just 39 passing yards while throwing four interceptions before coach Red Miller replaced him with Norris Weese in Denver’s 27-10 defeat, beginning the Broncos’ streak of four consecutive Super Bowl losses.

Morton built his reputation on a powerful throwing arm during his standout college years at California, where he played under head coach Marv Levy and assistant coach Bill Walsh before earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The Cowboys selected him fifth overall in the 1965 NFL draft, while Oakland also chose him in the AFL draft’s tenth round.

Upon joining Tom Landry’s Cowboys, Morton found himself behind established starter Don Meredith, appearing in only four contests during his rookie campaign. The following seasons saw Morton competing for playing time with emerging star Roger Staubach during 1970-71, culminating in the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl appearance.

The quarterback competition intensified during the 1971 season, with Morton and Staubach sometimes alternating on consecutive plays. However, Staubach eventually secured the starting position and guided Dallas to Super Bowl victory over Miami, 24-3. Staubach’s Super Bowl MVP performance essentially signaled the conclusion of Morton’s tenure in Dallas.

Dallas traded their veteran backup to New York in 1974, receiving a package that included a draft selection used to acquire Randy White, who later became both a Super Bowl MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

While Morton’s performance declined during his Giants years, he experienced a career revival after Denver acquired him prior to the 1977 campaign — a season that established the Broncos as a legitimate contender.

The experienced quarterback provided the missing element for Miller’s Broncos squad, which featured a formidable defense that earned the nickname “Orange Crush.”

Morton guided Denver to a 12-2 regular season record and postseason victories over Pittsburgh and Oakland. Remarkably, he spent the week hospitalized with a hip injury before leading the crucial playoff triumph against division rival Oakland.

Four years later, working under new head coach Dan Reeves — his former Cowboys teammate — Morton enjoyed his most productive statistical season in 1981, throwing for career-best totals of 3,195 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Morton’s career concluded after starting three games during the strike-affected 1982 season. Denver subsequently acquired John Elway, who would eventually surpass Morton as the franchise’s most celebrated number 7.

Over his 18-year professional career, Morton accumulated 27,908 passing yards with 183 touchdown passes and 187 interceptions. At the time of his retirement following the 1982 season, Morton ranked among the top 20 all-time leaders in both passing yards and touchdown passes.

The Broncos honored Morton’s contributions by inducting him into their Ring of Fame in 1988, alongside teammates Haven Moses and Jim Turner from the memorable 1977 squad.

The New York Mets plan to bring up promising young outfielder A.J. Ewing from their Triple-A affiliate before Tuesday’s matchup with the Detroit Tigers at home, multiple sources reported Monday.

The 21-year-old has impressed at two minor league levels this season. At Double-A Binghamton earlier this year, Ewing posted a .349 batting average across 18 contests, recording two home runs, seven runs batted in, and 12 stolen bases. After earning advancement to Triple-A Syracuse, he maintained strong performance with a .326 average through 12 games, adding four RBIs and five steals without a home run.

The Mets selected Ewing in the fourth round of the 2023 amateur draft. Throughout his four-year minor league career spanning five different Mets farm teams, he has compiled a .290 batting average while accumulating 101 stolen bases, 15 home runs, and 118 RBIs. His speed particularly stood out last season when he swiped 70 bases. This year, multiple prospect evaluation services recognized his talent, with Baseball America ranking him 83rd among top prospects, MLB.com placing him 97th, and Baseball Prospectus rating him 38th nationally.

Defensively, Ewing has demonstrated versatility by playing all outfield positions during his minor league tenure, though center field has been his primary spot with 150 total games and 145 starts there. He has also gained experience at second base, appearing in 53 games at that position.

The promotion comes at a crucial time for New York, which has endured a disappointing start to the season. Key injuries to Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. have contributed to the team’s struggles. As of Monday, the Mets owned baseball’s poorest record at 15-25 and trailed the division-leading Atlanta Braves by 12.5 games in the National League East standings. Their offensive production has been particularly concerning, ranking 29th in both runs scored with 139 and batting average at .222, while posting the league’s worst slugging percentage at .341.

LOS ANGELES — After spending five weeks on the sidelines with an oblique strain, Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts made his return to the starting lineup Monday night.

The All-Star veteran, who has earned eight selections to the midsummer classic, was slated to bat in the second spot, sandwiched between Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman for the opening game against their division rivals, the San Francisco Giants.

“We just have to make sure we swing at good pitches,” Betts said before the game. “Those guys are good, too. They drive nice cars, too. We just have to control the zone, swing at good pitches.”

Los Angeles has struggled recently, losing seven contests out of their previous 11 outings, and team officials hope Betts can provide the spark needed to energize their lackluster offensive production. During that rough stretch, the club managed to score three runs or fewer in eight games.

“I know I’m not the hero,” said Betts, the 2018 AL MVP. “It’s important for everyone to know it’s going to take all of us and not just one guy getting through their struggles or whatever it is.”

Before landing on the injured list April 5 with the right oblique strain, Betts was struggling at the plate, posting a .179 average with five hits in 28 at-bats and two home runs across eight games.

“I just didn’t really realize how long it takes for it to really heal,” he said. “I felt pretty good pretty fast actually. But just some of the movements I couldn’t do kind of lingered for a long time. I was trying to hurry but obviously the doctors were saying it just takes a month for it to heal.”

Manager Dave Roberts outlined plans for Betts to play shortstop Monday and Tuesday nights, followed by a rest day Wednesday.

“After seven days, six days, I think he’s going to want to be in there regularly, but we’ll kind of see,” Roberts said.

The 33-year-old had been performing exceptionally well during spring training, recording a .357 batting average and .786 OPS over five games before temporarily leaving for his third child’s birth. His performance declined during the season’s first two weeks before the injury occurred.

Roberts remains cautiously optimistic about Betts’ offensive readiness. The shortstop collected two hits in five at-bats during a pair of minor league rehabilitation assignments.

“Certainly two games of rehab, taking batting practice, a day of live at-bats, is not ideal,” the manager said, “but I think with Mookie you just don’t know. The hope is that he can kind of hit the ground running.”

To make roster space for Betts’ activation, the organization sent infielder Alex Freeland to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Freeland had compiled a .235 batting average with two home runs and eight RBIs over 33 games.

Team management elected to retain second baseman Hyeseong Kim rather than Freeland.

“What it came down to is Hyeseong has performed better,” Roberts said.

NEW ORLEANS — A dancer who disrupted this year’s Super Bowl halftime show by displaying a protest flag during Kendrick Lamar’s performance has been convicted of resisting an officer, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Monday.

Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, from New Orleans, was part of a group of dancers dressed in black during the hip-hop star’s February 9, 2025 show at the Caesars Superdome.

Though Nantambu had permission to be on the field as a performer, Louisiana State Police say he went off script when he displayed a Sudanese flag bearing the message “Sudan and Free Gaza” while standing atop a vehicle being used as a stage prop. Officials say he then leaped from the platform and began running across the field. When security officers and police pursued him and ordered him to stop, he ignored their commands, according to state police.

After an arrest warrant was issued, Nantambu turned himself in to authorities. He was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by disrupting a lawful assembly at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Chief Judge Juana Marine-Lombard found him guilty only on the resisting an officer charge, which is classified as a misdemeanor.

“We appreciate the chief judge’s careful consideration of the evidence and the decision to hold this individual accountable for resisting law enforcement officers who work every day to protect our communities,” Murrill said.

Nantambu’s sentencing is scheduled for June 1, according to the attorney general’s office. The misdemeanor conviction carries potential penalties of up to $500 in fines and as much as six months behind bars under state law.

The NFL has also imposed a lifetime prohibition on Nantambu attending any league events.

In an unrelated incident, Nantambu was the target of a shooting at a celebrity boxing match in Miami this past May.

Former NFL player Antonio Brown is facing attempted murder charges after police say he took a gun from a security guard at the boxing event and fired two rounds at Nantambu. According to investigators, Nantambu reported that one bullet grazed his neck.

Brown has claimed he was acting in self-defense. His trial is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

Professional golfer Jake Knapp will not compete in this week’s PGA Championship after pulling out due to a left thumb sprain injury.

The 31-year-old golfer officially withdrew on Monday from the year’s second major championship tournament. Tom Hoge has been selected from the alternate list to fill Knapp’s spot in the 156-player field at Aronimink Golf Club.

Knapp has been absent from professional tour competition since his 74th-place finish among 82 competitors at the RBC Heritage tournament. While he has not publicly discussed the injury, it appears the thumb problem likely developed during that Heritage event.

Following that tournament, Knapp has been forced to skip both the Cadillac Championship and Truist Championship, two high-stakes events worth $20 million each that served as preparation for the PGA Championship.

The injury setback comes at an unfortunate time for Knapp, who was experiencing a strong 2024 season with five top-10 tournament finishes from January through March, including an impressive 11th-place showing at the Masters.

Hoge, age 36, brings experience to the replacement role with his sole PGA Tour victory coming at the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Last year he failed to make the cut at three major championships, though he did achieve a ninth-place tie at the 2022 PGA Championship, marking his best major tournament performance to date.

With Hoge moving into the main field, Kevin Yu from Taiwan now moves up to become the tournament’s first alternate.

The NBA has decided not to suspend San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama following an incident where he elbowed Minnesota’s Naz Reid during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal matchup, a league source confirmed to The Associated Press. The individual requested anonymity since the NBA has not made public statements about their review process. Wembanyama will be available for Tuesday’s Game 5 in San Antonio, with the playoff series currently deadlocked at two victories each.

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys continue to command premium television exposure despite recent on-field struggles. League officials revealed Monday that Dallas will travel to face the New York Giants for NBC’s season-opening “Sunday Night Football” broadcast on September 13, and will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles for their traditional Thanksgiving Day game on November 26 via Fox. The complete schedule drops Thursday, though additional matchups will be unveiled gradually. These announcements give Dallas the timing for three of their 17 contests, adding to their previously confirmed Week 3 international game against Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro on September 27.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs have completed extensive renovations to Arrowhead Stadium in preparation for hosting World Cup matches, realizing a longtime vision of the Hunt family ownership. Six group stage contests are scheduled at the venue beginning next month, culminating with a round of 32 clash and quarterfinal match. Argentina and Algeria will kick off the action on June 16. The 1972-built facility required substantial modifications to satisfy FIFA standards, including seating adjustments and playing surface improvements. Nearly ten years of planning went into this collaboration. Spectators will utilize shuttle services from remote parking locations due to space constraints, while existing signage has been removed to prevent sponsor conflicts.

At Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, early practice rounds for the PGA Championship have highlighted the course’s defining characteristics: expansive greens with dramatic undulations. Keegan Bradley, who captured the 2018 BMW Championship at this venue, emphasized that driving accuracy takes a backseat to navigating the challenging putting surfaces with their severe slopes. Matt Fitzpatrick expressed concern about finding suitable pin placements on some greens. Jordan Spieth completed nine practice holes as he prepares for his tenth attempt at achieving the career Grand Slam, with the PGA Championship remaining his only missing major.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards continues to showcase remarkable resilience during the NBA playoffs despite battling knee issues. Edwards logged over 40 minutes for consecutive games and played the entire final quarter while contributing 36 points in the Timberwolves’ Game 4 victory over San Antonio in their second-round series. The dynamic guard returned just nine days after suffering a hyperextended left knee and deep bone bruising to help secure a Game 1 triumph, while also managing ongoing right knee discomfort throughout the season.

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey maintains his position favoring a 16-team College Football Playoff expansion, contrasting with the Big Ten’s preference for 24 teams. This disagreement means the playoff will proceed with 12 teams for now. Sankey outlined various logistical hurdles, including conference championship scheduling, non-conference commitments, and traditional games like Army-Navy.

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy remains in stable condition following a shooting incident at a Mississippi concert venue. University officials confirmed Hardy sustained gunshot wounds early Sunday morning and underwent surgical treatment later that day. The first-team Associated Press All-American and Doak Walker Award finalist was injured at an outdoor concert at a motorcycle club in Laurel, Mississippi. Local police Sergeant Macon Davis characterized the scene as chaotic, with three suspects currently in custody according to the Laurel Leader-Call.

In Premier League action, Tottenham earned a crucial point in their relegation battle with a 1-1 home draw against Leeds United. The result creates a two-point cushion over West Ham in the standings, with one of these clubs destined for Championship football alongside already-relegated Wolves and Burnley. Both teams have two matches remaining, but Spurs control their own fate. Mathys Tels opened the scoring for Tottenham before Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late penalty earned Leeds a valuable point. Championship news saw Hull defeat Millwall 2-0 to secure a playoff final berth against either Southampton or Middlesbrough, with promotion to the Premier League at stake.

United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso will miss the upcoming World Cup due to a right ankle injury requiring surgical intervention. His club team Atletico Madrid announced the procedure, which typically demands months of rehabilitation with the World Cup beginning in four weeks. The Spanish club has not provided a recovery timeline or surgery details. The 24-year-old Cardoso injured his ankle during Atletico training last week, having earned 23 caps for the national team since his 2020 debut.

Iron Honor enters as the 9-2 morning line favorite for this weekend’s Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, though the wide-open field lacks Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. The actual betting favorite may shift significantly before Saturday’s race. Taj Mahal (5-1), Chip Honcho (5-1), Incredibolt (5-1), and Ocelli (6-1) round out the early favorites in what could feature the largest Preakness field in 15 years. The last time 14 horses reached the starting gate was 2011.

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards continues to amaze teammates and coaches with his extraordinary ability to perform at an elite level while battling significant knee problems during this year’s NBA playoffs.

Edwards delivered a spectacular 36-point effort in Sunday’s Game 4 victory against the San Antonio Spurs, pouring in 16 of those points during the decisive fourth quarter to help Minnesota even their second-round playoff series at 2-2 with a 114-109 win.

“Honestly, I think he would just now be coming back if he was like a normal human being, but he’s not,” teammate Mike Conley said following the victory. “We’re thankful for what he’s sacrificing for us and putting us on his back. We expect it from him. He expects it. So we just try to keep him healthy, keep him going forward.”

The standout guard made his return just nine days after suffering a hyperextended left knee that resulted in a deep bone bruise. Edwards contributed 18 points off the bench in 25 minutes during the series opener on May 4, then returned to the starting five for Game 3 at home Friday, logging 41 minutes of action.

Sunday’s contest saw Edwards play 40 minutes, including the entire fourth quarter — a strategy coach Chris Finch employed only three times during the regular season. Edwards also played the final 12 minutes in the first-round series opener at Denver on April 18, just one week before his most recent injury.

“Man, I’ve been doing a lot of stuff to get in shape. I’ve got the best physical therapist in the world when it comes to my body, David Hines, so big shoutout to him,” Edwards said, crediting the team’s vice president of medical operations and performance. “He’s on a whole other level when it comes to that stuff.”

The young star was restricted to just 61 games during the regular season — a career low — primarily due to ongoing right knee discomfort. Prior to this season, Edwards had never missed more than three games in any campaign.

“We’re lucky to have him. He’s special, no doubt, especially given what he’s been fighting through over the last month and a half,” Finch commented.

Edwards shot an impressive 13-of-22 from the field Sunday, connecting on 3-of-5 three-point attempts. He capitalized on Victor Wembanyama’s surprising ejection by attacking the basket, including a critical finger-roll layup through traffic with 2:24 remaining that gave Minnesota a four-point advantage.

Despite his heroics, Edwards remained self-critical afterward, questioning his and the starting unit’s effort during a sluggish third quarter while admitting to physical fatigue.

“I was gassed a little bit,” Edwards said, “so I came out like super low on energy, just walking up and down the floor.”

However, Edwards’ performance transcended mere determination and physical toughness. Playing on Mother’s Day, the guard drew deep motivation from honoring his late mother, Yvette Edwards, who passed away from cancer in 2015 when he was only 13 years old. His grandmother also died later that same year.

“I couldn’t lose this game for her,” Edwards said before acknowledging the unwavering support he’s received from family and close friends in Atlanta throughout the decade since losing his mother and grandmother. “It’s not a bunch of people that’s just willing to do anything you say. These people really want to see me succeed, and they don’t let me take a day off. They stay on me.”

True to his private nature, Edwards quickly redirected attention away from personal matters during the postgame media session at Target Center.

“So I appreciate everybody that’s in my circle, but that’s enough about me,” he said. “Just ask about my team.”

The spotlight has shifted between two English golfing siblings, and the older brother couldn’t be happier about the change.

Matt Fitzpatrick, speaking Monday before this week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, acknowledged that the dynamics have changed significantly this year.

“I’m probably known as Alex’s brother now, as opposed to him being Matt’s brother,” the older Fitzpatrick explained.

This week near Philadelphia, Alex will compete in only his second major championship, while Matt pursues his second major victory in a setting that perfectly captures the spirit of the City of Brotherly Love.

The brothers’ journey together includes a memorable chapter from 2013, when Matt captured the U.S. Amateur at Brookline with Alex serving as his caddie. Nearly a decade later, Matt claimed his first major title at that same Massachusetts course, winning the 2022 U.S. Open.

During that earlier period, Alex’s professional career was still developing. He managed to make the cut in five of seven DP World Tour events, but it would take four years of persistent effort before he secured his breakthrough victory at the Hero Indian Open this past March.

The turning point came at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Competing as a team for the fourth consecutive year, both brothers performed at peak level and captured the championship, earning Alex his PGA Tour membership and qualification for this week’s major.

The rapid succession of victories has left little time for celebration, according to Matt, who also won the Valspar Championship and RBC Heritage this spring before the Zurich triumph.

“We’ve honestly not had much chance to kind of sit down and take it all in,” Matt said. “I think we are both off next week. So maybe we’ll do something next week. But neither of us are drinkers, so we won’t be doing anything crazy, I wouldn’t have thought.”

Alex has proven his PGA Tour credentials since the Zurich victory, finishing tied for ninth at the Cadillac Championship and placing fourth at Sunday’s Truist Championship after leading through three rounds.

Matt expressed genuine enthusiasm about discussing his brother’s success.

“Listen, I love talking about my brother,” Matt said. “It’s an amazing position to be in to have that privilege to talk about how well he’s doing. I’d so much rather have these questions, conversations, than the opposite of, you know, why is he not playing well and whatnot.”

“So it’s a fantastic position to be in, and I’ve said already, it’s his career. It’s his choice. I’ll be there to help him as much as I can, if he wants that. But at the same time, you know, I want him to be able to make his own decisions.”

The brothers’ parents had to adjust their travel arrangements following the Zurich victory. Originally planning to return to Europe, they decided to extend their U.S. stay through the PGA Championship to support both sons.

Matt indicated that his preparation routine will remain unchanged despite his brother’s presence.

“This is the second time we’ve shared a house at a major, when (Alex) qualified for The Open in ’23,” he explained. “It will be the same preparation for me. I’m going about it the same way. He’ll ask me when I’m playing and he’ll either join me or he’ll kind of fit in elsewhere.”

“I’m very strict on my routine. I want to do this and I need to see whoever at this time. If he wants to fit that in, that’s great, and obviously I always say, we want to play together. But yeah, I kind of, again, want him to be able to do his own thing.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Over 30 years ago, team owner Lamar Hunt and his son Clark walked onto the turf at Arrowhead Stadium with a bold vision: convincing FIFA that their football venue could serve as a host site for the 1994 World Cup in America.

That 1990 proposal was unsuccessful, but the Hunt family’s ambition never faded.

Today, following a multi-million dollar transformation of the 53-year-old facility to meet international soccer field requirements, the Hunt family’s vision is finally becoming reality. Arrowhead will welcome six group stage matches next month, plus a round of 32 contest and a World Cup quarterfinal game.

“Clark has been keen on really living that legacy, finding a way for Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium specifically to host World Cup matches,” said Matt Kenny, the Chiefs’ executive vice president of operations and events, during a Monday stadium walkthrough.

The opening match will showcase defending world champion Argentina taking on Algeria on June 16. Additional group stage games include Ecuador versus Curacao, Tunisia facing the Netherlands, and Algeria meeting Austria.

The elimination rounds are set for July 3 and July 11, after which the facility will return to its football configuration.

Kansas City’s first preseason game is expected approximately one month following the tournament’s conclusion.

While all American World Cup venues are NFL facilities — ranging from MetLife Stadium in New York to Levi’s Stadium near San Francisco and SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles — Arrowhead presents unique challenges. Constructed in 1972 during a different era of professional sports design, accommodating soccer was never part of the original blueprint.

To create space for the expanded playing field, multiple rows of fixed seating along the north sideline were eliminated and replaced with temporary seating units used during football season. These modular seats were subsequently removed as the venue prepared for its soccer transformation.

During World Cup competition, the facility will operate under the name Kansas City Stadium.

The most significant enhancement involved the playing surface itself. Team officials installed an underground air circulation system to improve the quality of the Bermuda grass field, which received new sod with modified crown shaping specifically for World Cup play.

“FIFA has some basic requirements in respect to playability. They want consistency with the way the ball bounces. Obviously, the width and the size of the pitch across venues,” Kenny explained. “It’s been the better part of 10 years from the bid to actually executing the matches here, and it’s been a massive collaboration.”

Construction activities continue despite teams arriving within weeks — Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria will establish training bases locally. Crews worked Monday removing advertising displays to prevent sponsor conflicts while installing fan festival areas, pavilions and supporting infrastructure across the stadium’s extensive parking areas.

Traditional tailgating experiences will be limited during the tournament. Most spectators will arrive via shuttle buses from remote parking locations, with only several thousand on-site parking spaces available.

“The challenges were really tied to us understanding exactly what FIFA needed, what we could do to balance our unique situation,” Kenny noted. “We’re hosting a quarterfinal match, so that’s a testament to our planning and the work that’s been done.”

Washington has secured the top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, with BYU forward AJ Dybantsa emerging as the overwhelming favorite to be chosen first overall by the Wizards.

Following the lottery results, Field Level Media’s Ethan Ward immediately placed Dybantsa at the top of his draft rankings. Betting markets have responded accordingly, with BetMGM listing the forward at -450 odds to be selected first after initially opening at +360. Dybantsa has captured 38.8% of all wagers on the top pick and commands 74.1% of the total money wagered.

Despite his status as the betting favorite, Dybantsa ranks as only the third-largest potential loss for the sportsbook as of Monday. Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. holds the top liability position, with North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson in second place.

Acuff’s position stems from attracting 28.1% of all bets and 7.0% of the money despite long-shot +1000 odds. Wilson carries much shorter +5000 odds to go first overall and has drawn 13.5% of bets but only 4.0% of the total money.

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who initially opened as the -325 favorite for the top selection, now sits at +350 following the draft order announcement. Ward projects Peterson to be selected second overall by the Utah Jazz.

The 2026 draft class features multiple players with star potential, creating anticipation for the June 23-24 event in New York. Duke forward Cameron Boozer has attracted the second-highest amount of money wagered on the first pick with 13.8%.

Dybantsa’s emergence as the top choice for Washington stems from his perceived fit alongside the Wizards’ mix of young players and veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis. The 19-year-old would not face immediate pressure to carry the team following his single collegiate season.

Utah would likely have strong interest in selecting the former BYU standout to keep him in the state. However, Peterson could provide an ideal complement to the Jazz’s large frontcourt with his versatility at both guard positions and ability to play without the ball.

Boozer represents one of the few top prospects whose odds have decreased since the market opened at BetMGM, moving from +875 to +1100 while receiving 11.8% of total wagers. He is commonly viewed as a potential selection for Memphis at third overall. The Grizzlies face decisions regarding Ja Morant, but Boozer is considered a safe prospect likely to become a reliable NBA scorer.

Beyond the top five selections, no other player has better than +25000 odds to be chosen first overall next month.

This marks Washington’s first time holding the top pick since 2010, when the franchise selected guard John Wall, who went on to become a five-time All-Star. The Wizards now own the first overall selection for the fifth time in team history.

The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa paced the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game and appears positioned to become one of the NBA’s top offensive players. The 6-foot-6 Peterson dealt with injury issues at Kansas but still averaged 20.2 points and may have been college basketball’s most talented player.

The University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California are working to restore their historic football rivalry, though fans may have to wait until 2030 to see the teams clash again, according to a Monday report from the Los Angeles Times.

The Fighting Irish and Trojans announced in December that their 2026 matchup was canceled, putting a temporary halt to a storied rivalry that first began in 1925.

Sources close to the negotiations told the Times they remain hopeful that both universities will reach a new agreement.

According to the report, Notre Dame has shown willingness to schedule the USC game earlier in the football season, which had been a major sticking point in previous discussions. USC had pushed for moving the game date to align with their other non-conference games, while Notre Dame preferred maintaining the traditional late-season timing that has defined the rivalry.

Near the conclusion of the 2025 season, both schools appeared close to striking a deal, with USC ready to accept keeping the game in its customary late-season position for the following two years. However, USC officials were unaware that Notre Dame had secured a special arrangement with the College Football Playoff guaranteeing them a playoff spot if they finished in the top 12 of the final rankings, the Times reported.

This revelation prompted USC to withdraw their proposal, though athletic director Jennifer Cohen made one final attempt with a December counteroffer. Notre Dame rejected this last proposal and subsequently announced a new home-and-home agreement with BYU to fill USC’s former spot.

“The fact is very, very clear, and this can all be settled very quickly — had Notre Dame lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere, we would be playing them the next two years and looking ahead after that and hopefully continuing the series,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said following a bowl game defeat in December. “They did not follow through on it. Thus, we are not playing them the next couple years.”

The Toronto Blue Jays have sidelined outfielder Addison Barger once again, placing him on the 10-day injured list Monday due to right elbow inflammation after he appeared in only one game following his recent return to action.

Toronto made several corresponding roster adjustments, bringing outfielder Yohendrick Pinango back up from Triple-A Buffalo while designating left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer for assignment and promoting right-hander Yariel Rodriguez from Triple-A.

Barger had just come back from bilateral ankle sprains and saw action Saturday versus the Los Angeles Angels, where he made a precise throw from deep right field during the second inning that helped nail Jorge Soler at home plate.

The outfielder has struggled offensively this season, managing just one hit in 22 at-bats across nine games, a stark contrast to his previous campaign when he launched 21 home runs and drove in 74 runs over 135 contests. During the 2025 playoffs, he posted impressive numbers with a .367 batting average, three homers, and nine RBIs in 17 games.

Since breaking into the majors in 2024, Barger has compiled a .223 batting average with 28 home runs and 104 RBIs across 213 games in a Blue Jays uniform.

The 24-year-old Pinango, who made his big league debut on April 26, had been performing well with a .423 batting average, one double, and four RBIs in 10 games for Toronto before his demotion.

Lauer, 30, posted a 1-5 record with a 6.69 ERA in eight outings this season, including six starts. The veteran pitcher carries a career 46-44 record with a 4.26 ERA over eight major league seasons with three different clubs, spending four years with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rodriguez, 29, is preparing for his 2026 major league debut after compiling a 4-10 record with a 3.83 ERA in 87 appearances over the past two seasons with Toronto, including 22 starts.

ROME — While world No. 1 players Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner have made headlines discussing potential boycotts, it’s Jessica Pegula working behind the scenes to unite tennis’s elite players in their fight for better compensation from Grand Slam tournaments.

The 2024 U.S. Open finalist brings unique perspective to the leadership role, having grown up in a family that owns both the Buffalo Bills NFL franchise and the Buffalo Sabres NHL team.

“I think it maybe does (come naturally) just because I feel like I’ve taken on a bit of a leadership role with it,” Pegula explained.

The world No. 5 player already heads a newly formed 13-member committee tasked with recommending changes to women’s tennis scheduling, ranking systems, and tournament participation requirements. Now she’s tackling the compensation disparity issue as well.

“I’m not afraid to go up to any type of player and go like, ‘Hey, are you interested in this or not?’” Pegula stated. “Some players, they don’t care, sometimes they’re not worried about it. Sometimes they’re like, ‘Yeah, for sure, I’m 100% in.’ I’ve been reaching out to players on the men’s and women’s side.”

Last week, Sabalenka suggested players might need to boycott tournaments to secure a larger portion of tournament revenues, while Sinner expressed frustration about the lack of respect shown to athletes.

“At the end of the day the players are the ones that have the big voices,” Pegula noted. “It’s been nice to see Aryna and Jannik kind of step out. I know a lot of other players feel the same way. But to have the two No. 1s very outspoken about it, that’s kind of what it takes to get them to listen.”

The compensation gap is striking when compared to other major sports. NFL and NHL athletes receive approximately 50% of total revenues, while tennis players at most tournaments earn less than half that percentage. According to a recent player protest statement, the upcoming French Open will allocate under 14.9% to competitors — a decrease from 15.5% in 2024.

French Open officials announced last month they were boosting total prize money by roughly 10% to 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), representing a 5.3 million euro increase from the previous year. However, players argue the underlying financial data reveals a different reality.

“It’s crazy. It’s an insane difference. Obviously they’re different sports. They’re run differently,” Pegula said when comparing tennis compensation to the NFL. “But tennis has been a very old-school sport. I think it’s one of the things that needs to change. Sometimes change is good. Sometimes that means fighting for things.”

This same player coalition sent correspondence to all four Grand Slam tournament directors last year requesting increased prize money and greater input in tournament decisions. Wimbledon responded by raising its 2025 prize pool 7%, the U.S. Open increased theirs by 20%, and the Australian Open boosted compensation by 16% this past January.

Despite these improvements, players maintain that Grand Slam tournaments still fall short of the 22% revenue share offered at regular ATP and WTA Tour competitions.

“The slams have kind of just gotten away with paying not that much because we’re a very individual sport,” Pegula observed. “It’s hard to get players to come together. We’re not on a salary where football players or basketball players can afford not to play.”

French Open organizers, whose tournament begins in less than two weeks, have not responded to media inquiries about the compensation dispute.

Wimbledon is expected to reveal its prize money structure next month, and Pegula said players have yet to receive any communication from the All England Club.

“We’re just going to kind of continue to talk amongst ourselves,” she said.

Tennis governance complexity stems from having seven different organizing entities: the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP, the WTA, and the International Tennis Federation.

“That’s what makes it so hard is that our sport is super fragmented. Hard to get everybody on the same page,” Pegula explained. “That’s why it’s been huge to actually have the top 10 men and women really come together. I’m hoping that will get the Slams’ attention.”

While managing her activist efforts, Pegula continues competing at the Italian Open, where she advanced to the quarterfinals Monday with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over Anastasia Potapova. She had previously dominated Rebeka Masarova 6-0, 6-0 in an earlier round.

Her next opponent will be either three-time Rome champion Iga Swiatek or four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.

Between matches and organizing player protests, Pegula has been frustrated by her inability to watch the Sabres’ historic playoff run — their first postseason appearance in 15 years — due to the time difference between Europe and the United States.

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 Sunday night, taking a 2-1 series lead in their second-round playoff matchup.

“My gosh, I am so upset that I have not been able to see any of the games,” Pegula said. “I would give anything to just be at a playoff game. … I love it so much. It’s my favorite thing.”

A groundbreaking figure in baseball broadcasting has passed away. René Cárdenas, who made history as Major League Baseball’s first full-time Spanish-language announcer, died Sunday at his Houston residence at age 96, the Astros announced Monday.

Cárdenas began his historic career when the Dodgers relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958. His pioneering work included being part of the inaugural Spanish-language broadcast of the World Series in 1959 and calling the All-Star Game in Spanish two years after that.

“We mourn the passing of René Cárdenas, who in 1958 with the Dodgers became the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB history and would ultimately spend 21 years behind the mic for Los Angeles,” the Dodgers said Sunday in a social media post.

The newly formed Houston Colt .45s brought Cárdenas aboard in 1961 for their debut 1962 season. He remained with the organization for 14 seasons, continuing his role when the team became the Astros in 1965 upon moving to the Astrodome.

“With yesterday’s passing of Rene Cardenas, we lost a true legend and pioneer in broadcasting,” the Astros wrote Monday in a statement on social media. “As the franchise first Spanish broadcaster, Rene had a tremendous impact on the success of the Colt .45s/Astros in Houston’s large Hispanic community and beyond. We send our heartfelt condolences to Rene’s family and loved ones.”

After returning to his homeland of Nicaragua in 1975, Cárdenas made his way back to Major League Baseball in 1981, becoming the Texas Rangers’ inaugural Spanish-language broadcaster, according to former Rangers public relations executive John Blake.

His second tenure with the Dodgers began in 1982 and spanned nearly 20 years. He also made another return to Houston, becoming the first broadcaster to call Astros games in Spanish on television in 2008.

Following his retirement from the booth, Cárdenas continued contributing to baseball through writing for the Astros’ Spanish-language website and La Prensa, a newspaper in Nicaragua.

Beyond baseball, Cárdenas covered major sporting events, including the 1971 heavyweight boxing bout between Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Ellis at the Astrodome.

His contributions to the sport earned him multiple honors: induction into the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000, the Broadcasters Wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Astros Baseball Media Wall of Honor in 2013.

According to ESPN reports released Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks are willing to entertain trade discussions involving superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as the NBA draft approaches this summer.

The franchise had previously considered moving the two-time Most Valuable Player before the regular season’s trade deadline but ultimately decided to keep their cornerstone player through at least the current offseason period.

Team co-owner Jimmy Haslam revealed to media members last week his desire to have Antetokounmpo’s future determined prior to the draft scheduled for June 23-24.

“Sometime over the next six or seven weeks we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he’s going to play somewhere else,” Haslam stated to reporters last Wednesday. “(General manager) Jon (Horst) and (new coach) Taylor (Jenkins), along with (co-owner) Wes (Edens) and myself, will make that call and we understand the gravity of that call.”

Sources indicate Milwaukee would seek proven young players and potentially multiple draft selections in any potential deal involving Antetokounmpo.

The veteran forward has compiled impressive career statistics across 13 seasons and 895 total games (830 as a starter) with Milwaukee, posting averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest. His leadership helped deliver the organization’s first championship in five decades during the 2021 season. The 31-year-old has earned 10 All-Star selections and nine All-NBA team honors.

This past season proved challenging for Antetokounmpo, who appeared in just 36 games due to various injuries affecting his groin, calf and knee. His final appearance came on March 15, though he expressed frustration in early April about being healthy but unavailable to compete.

“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo shared with reporters on April 3. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.”

He continued: “For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”

Antetokounmpo’s contract includes $58.46 million for the 2026-27 campaign and features a player option for the following season.

Sunday’s NBA draft lottery resulted in Washington securing the top selection, while Milwaukee received the 10th overall pick. The draft combine begins Monday in Chicago.

The NBA has decided not to impose additional penalties on San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama following his ejection from Sunday’s playoff matchup against Minnesota, according to a league source who requested anonymity.

The decision means Wembanyama will be available when the Spurs host the Timberwolves for Game 5 on Tuesday night, with their Western Conference semifinal series deadlocked at 2-2.

The incident occurred during Sunday evening’s contest when Wembanyama was thrown out of the game after striking Minnesota’s Naz Reid with his elbow. The contact happened early in the second quarter as players battled for a rebound, with Wembanyama becoming entangled with both Reid and Jaden McDaniels before swinging his arms and catching Reid in the face.

Game officials reviewed the incident and determined it warranted a Flagrant 2 foul, which automatically results in ejection. Television cameras captured Wembanyama on the sideline appearing confused about the ruling, seemingly asking his teammates to explain what a Flagrant 2 penalty meant.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson defended his star player following the game, stating that Wembanyama “gets hit on every play.”

“At some level, you have to protect yourself,” Johnson explained. “Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on him. I get it. We get it. That’s part of the game. At some stage, he should be protected and if not, he’s going to have to protect himself. And unfortunately, stuff like that happens.”

The ejection marked the first time in Wembanyama’s professional career that he had been thrown out of a game. Data from Sportradar indicates this was only the third flagrant foul assessed against the French big man, who earned unanimous recognition as this season’s Defensive Player of the Year and finished as a finalist for Most Valuable Player.

League protocol requires the NBA to examine all such incidents, with officials having the authority to modify, reduce, or eliminate flagrant and technical foul calls upon further review. However, the source indicated that Sunday’s ruling will remain unchanged.

Buffalo Bills management announced Monday they have added defensive end Mike Danna to their roster through a one-year contract agreement.

The organization did not reveal financial details of the agreement.

The 28-year-old pass rusher has played his complete professional career with Kansas City after the Chiefs selected him during the fifth round of the 2020 draft.

Danna achieved his most productive campaign during the 2023 season, earning starting positions in all 16 regular season contests and every playoff game as Kansas City captured the Super Bowl title. That year, he recorded personal bests with 50 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback pressures during regular season play, while contributing seven tackles throughout the postseason run.

During the 2024 campaign, he accumulated 25 tackles, one sack, and four quarterback hits across 15 appearances, starting 14 of those contests.

Throughout his six-year professional tenure, Danna has compiled 194 tackles, 25 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 21.5 sacks, 51 quarterback hits, and six forced fumbles over 87 regular season games with 49 starts, while earning two Super Bowl championship rings.

To create roster space, Buffalo released cornerback MJ Devonshire, who joined the practice squad last December before signing a two-year, $1.9 million reserve/future deal in January.

Washington’s NFL franchise made official Monday their decision to retain veteran defensive back Antonio Hamilton with a fresh one-year contract extension.

Financial details of Hamilton’s new agreement with the Commanders remain undisclosed by the organization.

The 33-year-old cornerback contributed to 15 contests during his inaugural campaign with Washington in 2025, making one starting appearance while compiling 18 defensive stops, breaking up two passes, and recovering a fumble.

Hamilton originally entered the NFL as an undrafted player from South Carolina State University and has spent a decade in professional football across multiple franchises, including stints with the former Oakland Raiders from 2016-2017, followed by time with the New York Giants through 2019, Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, Arizona Cardinals from 2021-2023, Atlanta Falcons in 2024, and most recently Washington.

Throughout his professional career spanning 124 games with 19 starting assignments, Hamilton has accumulated 197 total tackles, intercepted two passes, defended 27 pass attempts, recovered two fumbles, and recorded one tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — New York supporters brandished brooms outside the Philadelphia venue and created a thunderous atmosphere inside. Thousands of Knicks faithful flooded the arena and celebrated their team’s commanding playoff performance with repeated chants of “Knicks in four! Knicks in four!” during the final moments of another dominant victory.

Beyond that significant number of four games, the Knicks achieved something even more impressive: capturing playoff victories by an average margin of nearly 20 points per contest.

Led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with contributions from Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet, New York has continued their postseason dominance into the Eastern Conference finals for consecutive seasons.

Philadelphia proved to be merely a minor obstacle as the Knicks completed their series sweep and extended their overall playoff winning streak to seven games under head coach Mike Brown.

The lone concern following New York’s commanding 144-114 victory on Sunday may be the anticipated extended break before facing either Cleveland or Detroit in the conference finals. Detroit currently holds a 2-1 series advantage over Cleveland, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday.

“Yeah, you like the rhythm that you’re in,” Brown said. “But if we expect to be who we’re capable of being, we’ll find a way to stay consistent with what we’re doing, whether it’s the energy level, the effort level, or embracing-slash-focusing on the details that we have to be able to understand in order to get a win.”

New York completely grasped their mission and prevented Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and a confident Philadelphia squad—fresh off their remarkable comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against Boston in the opening round—from mounting any meaningful challenge for another stunning upset.

Regarding the upcoming break, New York could benefit from additional recovery time, particularly for injured forward OG Anunoby. Anunoby sat out Games 3 and 4 due to a strained right hamstring and his status remains uncertain daily. The 6-foot-7 defender, considered New York’s premier defensive player, has averaged 21.4 points during the postseason.

Such exceptional offensive output proves difficult to compensate for, and during an extended playoff run—which New York anticipates being part of this season—it could become problematic if Anunoby faces a prolonged absence. However, in this brief period, the Knicks flourished, particularly against a demoralized Philadelphia team facing elimination.

McBride, previously recognized primarily for his defensive abilities but now developed into a dependable perimeter shooter, filled in for Anunoby and essentially secured the series victory during the opening quarter. McBride connected on seven three-pointers, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 in the first quarter when New York made 11 of 13 attempts, finishing with 25 points. With Knicks supporters on their feet chanting “Deuuuce,” McBride sank four consecutive three-pointers for a 20-6 advantage, transforming the South Philadelphia venue into something resembling Madison Square Garden.

“I definitely knew the Knicks had crazy fans,” McBride said.

The excitement surrounding the Knicks supporters’ invasion of Philadelphia was genuine and reached its peak during Game 4.

Notable fans including Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet secured tickets for Friday evening’s contest in Philadelphia. During Game 4, supporters circumvented the 76ers’ alleged ticket-purchasing restrictions as effortlessly as New York hit three-pointers, clearly comprising the vast majority of the 19,746 attendees at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Embiid’s pre-series appeals for Philadelphia fans to avoid selling their seats to New York supporters went unheeded, resulting in thunderous cheers for the visiting team. Knicks fans cleverly created printouts showing Embiid being dunked on by Mitch Robinson from Game 3. These supporters waved the images at the frequently injured Embiid during his free throw attempts while taunting him with “Mr. Glass,” referencing a fictional movie character afflicted with fragile bones.

“I used to think Philly was a sports town, I don’t know if it is anymore,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said.

Having a home-court atmosphere, even while playing away, only provides limited playoff advantages.

The true difference typically appears in the statistical summary.

New York recorded 33 assists on 49 made shots in Game 4 and continued their pattern of transforming elimination games into decisive victories. Following their 51-point victory over Atlanta to close their first-round series, they built leads as large as 44 points in Game 4 against Philadelphia, ultimately winning by 30.

New York’s 19.4 points-per-game victory margin represents the largest through two playoff rounds since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 1984.

The Knicks haven’t appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven’t captured the championship since 1973. Nevertheless, they’ve transformed the postseason into their domain and are currently favored to emerge from the Eastern Conference, trailing only defending champion Oklahoma City and San Antonio in championship odds.

“We’re still writing out story,” Brunson said.

CHICAGO (AP) — Before a single name gets called at next month’s NBA draft, AJ Dybantsa is already making a bold declaration: The 2026 draft class will go down as one of the greatest in league history.

The draft hasn’t even happened yet, but the confidence level among the top prospects is unmistakable.

What unites the players projected to go early in next month’s selection process is their unwavering self-belief. These athletes know their abilities and aren’t shy about expressing their talent level. For the franchises positioned to select these elite players — Washington holding the No. 1 spot, Utah at No. 2, Memphis at No. 3 and Chicago at No. 4 — the coming weeks are filled with excitement and potential.

“Since I’m in this draft class, I’m going to say we’re one of the best draft classes,” said Dybantsa, who topped Division I men’s college basketball in scoring this past season. “We’ll see how that pans out and how our careers pan out, but if you ask me right now, I think we’re one of the best draft classes.”

That’s a reasonable assessment.

While an unexpected trade or medical examination results in the coming weeks could shake things up, current projections suggest Commissioner Adam Silver will announce these four names on June 23: BYU’s Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

These aren’t the only talented players available in this draft — not even close. However, there appears to be exceptional star quality among the top-tier prospects, which made Sunday’s draft lottery feel more significant than usual.

“I feel like it can be the best ever,” Wilson said when asked about the Class of 2026’s potential. “We have a deep draft and I feel like everybody wants to play hard and prove themselves. And it’s just a matter of time before we can do that.”

Indiana experienced disappointment after missing out on a selection despite posting the league’s second-worst record this season. The Pacers — who reached the NBA Finals last year — gave up the No. 5 pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the trade compensation for center Ivica Zubac, who will certainly benefit Indiana when Tyrese Haliburton returns from his torn Achilles.

Missing the opportunity to acquire some of this year’s available talent was painful for Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard.

“Today, it stings,” Pritchard said. “But wait ’til next season. Let’s give this group an opportunity to go compete for a championship, because they’ve proven they can do it.”

Wizards President Michael Winger appreciates the mathematics involved, understanding that a 14% probability wasn’t particularly favorable. However, it matched everyone else’s odds in the lottery, and ultimately proved sufficient to secure Washington’s No. 1 selection.

What made the difference?

“I don’t have a compelling answer for that. I think that ultimately it was just our time. I think it was time to get that pick,” Winger said. “Whether it’s because there’s a special athlete at the top of the draft that we want or organizationally we’re ready for a player like that, whatever the case may be … the basketball gods decided that this was our year.”

Washington emerged as the primary beneficiary, though they weren’t alone in celebrating.

Oklahoma City secured a lottery selection in this draft thanks to general manager Sam Presti’s years of accumulating both talented players and draft assets. This means the current champions — potentially repeat champions by draft time — will only strengthen their roster further.

The Clippers obtained a top-five selection, Memphis landed the No. 3 choice, Chicago’s rebuilding effort will see the Bulls add an exceptional talent, and Utah — which received a $500,000 fine this year for resting players during fourth quarters — sits at No. 2.

“Agree to disagree,” was Jazz owner Ryan Smith’s famous response when the NBA imposed that half-million-dollar penalty. The philosophy now might be patience; the Jazz possess considerable young talent and will add even more depth in that area.

Jazz guard Keyonte George attended Sunday’s lottery and mentioned that the Jazz are remembering everything — his way of indicating that Utah has noticed all the tanking criticism that followed the team this season.

“We’re going to make sure we go at our own pace, understand we’re a new group and we’re on our journey to something special,” George said. “But yeah, as a group, we’ll have a chip on our shoulder for sure.”

Plenty of basketball remains in the current season. New York has already advanced to the NBA’s final four, waiting for either Cleveland or Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals. Oklahoma City can return to the Western Conference finals on Monday, where they would face either San Antonio or Minnesota.

Nevertheless, draft discussions are gaining momentum. Considering the abundance of talent available, that enthusiasm makes perfect sense.

“A lot of people are saying we’re the best class in the last 10 years,” Peterson said. “So, we’re going to try our best to be that.”

Milwaukee’s victory over the New York Yankees, capped by Brice Turang’s ninth-inning home run that completed a three-game sweep, highlights a troubling pattern emerging across the American League this season.

The junior circuit is experiencing unprecedented struggles early in the 2024 campaign.

As Sunday’s games concluded, just three American League clubs maintained records above .500, with the Athletics sitting merely two games over the break-even mark. Only Tampa Bay (26-13) and New York (26-15) have shown truly strong performance, though the Yankees just encountered significant difficulty against Milwaukee from the National League Central division.

Should the current season conclude today, Chicago and Texas would claim the final two AL wild card positions despite their identical 19-21 records.

A staggering eleven American League franchises currently sit below the .500 threshold. According to Sportradar data, this represents the highest total through May 10 since divisional play began. Previous high marks included nine teams below .500 at this point in 2019 for the AL and in 2012 and 2010 for the NL.

The expanded interleague schedule contributes significantly to this situation. National League teams have compiled a 107-82 record against AL opponents this year, translating to a .566 success rate. While 2006 saw the AL achieve a superior .611 mark against the NL, that entire season featured just 252 interleague contests. This year has already witnessed 189 such matchups.

Increased interleague competition allows one league to establish greater dominance over the other. Even Tampa Bay, leading the AL East, holds an 8-10 record against NL teams while going 18-3 within their own league.

Baltimore fans are growing increasingly frustrated as their team stumbles through another slow start, following last season’s similar pattern. The Orioles stand at 18-23, positioned just 1½ games from playoff contention, but May included a devastating four-game sweep in New York where they were outscored 39-10.

The Yankees now travel to Baltimore for three games, followed by Tampa Bay visiting for a series beginning Memorial Day. Baltimore’s primary concern involves staying competitive through May’s remainder without creating an insurmountable deficit.

Detroit endured a particularly challenging week regarding their starting rotation, which was expected to provide significant strength. Tarik Skubal was removed from Monday’s scheduled start and faces extended absence due to loose bodies in his elbow. Framber Valdez struggled against Boston on Tuesday and received a five-game suspension for hitting Trevor Story with a pitch.

Jack Flaherty has also underperformed while Justin Verlander has managed only one start.

Despite their 19-22 record, the Tigers remain just half a game from wild card position and 1½ games behind in the AL Central race.

Milwaukee reliever Aaron Ashby has achieved a perfect 7-0 record this season. Pittsburgh’s Roy Face established the modern single-season relief victory record with 18 in 1959, while Hall of Fame knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm holds the career mark with 124 relief wins among his 143 total victories.

Andy Pages delivered three home runs and six RBIs during Los Angeles’ 12-2 victory over Houston on Wednesday. Pages, rather than stars like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, or Kyle Tucker, has provided exceptional offensive production for the defending champions. He maintains a .333 average with nine homers and 35 RBIs.

San Diego staged a dramatic comeback Sunday against St. Louis, with Nick Castellanos’ two-run homer tying the game with their final out. Manny Machado then secured a 3-2 victory in the tenth inning with a walk-off sacrifice fly.

St. Louis held a 95.4% win probability entering the bottom of the ninth, according to Baseball Savant data.

The Padres have recorded four walk-off victories this season, trailing only Chicago’s six. Neither team has suffered a walk-off defeat.

The National Football League revealed on Monday that the Dallas Cowboys will travel to face the New York Giants for the season’s inaugural Sunday night matchup on September 13, 2026.

The Week 1 clash between these NFC East division opponents will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. League officials plan to unveil the complete 2026 schedule on Thursday, with additional games being announced throughout the week.

These longtime rivals have now been paired for season openers eight times over the last 15 seasons, highlighting their marquee appeal.

The Cowboys consistently attract nationwide television audiences as “America’s Team,” while the Giants are expected to receive increased prime-time coverage featuring newly hired head coach John Harbaugh and established franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, who completed a notable first season. The game will mark Harbaugh’s coaching debut with New York.

Assuming both players remain healthy, this contest would represent the first significant meeting between Dart and Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Though both signal-callers participated in the January 4th season finale, their teams had already been eliminated from playoff consideration.

The matchup may also showcase the professional debuts of two former Ohio State teammates: New York linebacker Arvell Reese, selected fifth overall in the draft, and Dallas safety Caleb Downs, chosen 11th overall.

With Dallas visiting New York, neither franchise will travel to Seattle for the Wednesday night season opener on September 9th, when the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks will reveal their championship banner. The remaining candidates for that Wednesday matchup include Chicago, Arizona, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers, or a potential championship game rematch against New England.

While the Dallas Cowboys had hoped to secure the World Cup championship game for their home stadium, they’ve received the next best thing: hosting more tournament matches than any other venue across the tri-national event.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington will showcase nine World Cup games, topping all 16 locations selected for the tournament shared between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The venue’s schedule kicks off June 14 with Japan facing the Netherlands and reaches its peak with a semifinal contest on July 14.

Soccer powerhouses Argentina and England are both scheduled to play at the facility, which features a retractable roof and massive overhead video display in suburban Arlington.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area sits in America’s football heartland but brings World Cup experience from serving as a host city during the 1994 tournament.

While North Texas may not overflow with tourist destinations, visitors should consider two standout attractions: the JFK assassination site in downtown Dallas and the Fort Worth Stockyards north of the city center. The stockyards feature twice-daily longhorn cattle drives that represent authentic Texas culture.

Food enthusiasts will find abundant Tex-Mex and barbecue choices, from chain restaurants to family-owned establishments scattered across the region. Options extend from Frisco, located 30 miles north of Dallas, to Mansfield, 30 miles south of the city.

Fair Park, situated east of downtown Dallas, will serve as the designated fan headquarters. This 277-acre space houses the Cotton Bowl, which hosted World Cup games three decades ago. The main entertainment area centers around an amphitheater typically used for major musical performances, with extensive additional space for fan activities.

Transportation presents challenges since Arlington, a city of approximately 400,000 residents, lacks mass transit options. World Cup organizers have developed a bus connection system linking to the nearest Trinity Railway Express station. The TRE connects Dallas and Fort Worth city centers, with officials promoting a “GoPass” for optimal transportation access, including Dallas County’s DART light-rail network, though the stadium sits in neighboring Tarrant County.

The 80,000-capacity stadium may seem familiar to international visitors due to its standing-room areas at both ends, inspired by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ European stadium visits during the design phase. Globe Life Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers, sits adjacent to the World Cup venue, offering baseball game opportunities throughout the month-long tournament. Texas Live, a entertainment complex featuring bars and restaurants, operates just outside the baseball stadium.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The heartland city known for jazz music, championship barbecue, and NFL glory is gearing up for an unexpected role on the world stage. Kansas City will serve as headquarters for some of soccer’s biggest stars during the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament scheduled for June 11 through July 19.

Despite ranking as the smallest among America’s 11 World Cup host cities, Kansas City has secured commitments from three powerhouse nations – defending champion Argentina, England, and the Netherlands – to establish their tournament operations there.

This means the Missouri metropolis will temporarily house wealthy international athletes, passionate supporters from around the globe, and what British media calls “WAGs” – the fashionably dressed spouses and partners of players. The accommodations will certainly differ from their previous World Cup experience aboard a cruise ship in Qatar.

Three decades ago when America last hosted the World Cup in 1994, Kansas City’s hosting application was rejected. Since then, soccer has taken root in the region, with the city investing in multiple elite-level training complexes. Its geographic position in America’s center also appeals to teams seeking to minimize cross-country travel between matches.

The metropolitan area, locally called KC, sits where two rivers meet and spans both Missouri and Kansas state lines. The Missouri portion holds greater fame and population, and will stage six World Cup contests including a quarterfinal at Arrowhead Stadium, where the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs play. Current world champions Argentina will conduct training sessions on the Kansas side, while England’s squad will lodge at a nearby hotel.

Though the region cannot match New York’s entertainment districts, Los Angeles’ dining reputation, or Miami’s coastal attractions, residents believe international guests will discover pleasant surprises.

Visitors will likely queue for the signature “burnt ends” brisket or hickory-smoked pork at legendary barbecue establishments like Arthur Bryant’s or Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, a former gas station eatery that earned recognition on late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s “13 places to eat before you die” compilation.

Jazz enthusiasts can experience live jam sessions at The Blue Room within the historic 18th & Vine District, while cinema lovers willing to take a road trip can follow the yellow brick road to the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas.

“I think you come in and you expect Midwest cows walking down the street,” said Jake Reid, vice president of the Kansas City host committee. “But it’s got such a great arts and culture scene,” he said, and the people “just make you feel welcome.”

THE SWIFT EFFECT

Kansas City’s reputation centers on American football – the helmet-and-pads variety. The Chiefs have captured three recent Super Bowl titles, and their star tight end Travis Kelce is engaged to music icon Taylor Swift.

However, the metropolitan area has worked to brand itself as America’s “Soccer Capital.” It supports successful professional teams in both men’s and women’s leagues – Sporting Kansas City and KC Current – and has invested hundreds of millions over 15 years in cutting-edge training centers and stadiums.

Dani Welniak, communications vice president for the Current, credited Swift with boosting the city’s visibility. “We’re so excited that she’s a part of the Kansas City sports scene now, and I really hope and believe that she will show up for some of these World Cup matches because it is going to be a spectacle,” Welniak said.

The Netherlands, often considered the strongest nation never to claim a World Cup title, will use the Current’s training grounds for preparation. Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman announced in April after visiting the location that he considered it the “best option” for his squad.

“Sports culture in Kansas City is contagious,” said Kyra Carusa, a forward for the Current. “It’s exciting. It’s everywhere.”

‘COME PREPARED’

Argentina became the first nation in February to announce Kansas City as their tournament base, pointing to travel distances and available facilities. Superstar Lionel Messi, probably making his final World Cup appearance, and his teammates will launch their championship defense on June 16 against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium.

England won’t play any home games locally but will prepare at Swope Soccer Village – Sporting Kansas City’s former training ground – before traveling to Dallas, New York and Boston for their group stage encounters.

Teams headquartered in New York or Los Angeles “it’s going to be a little bit crazier, there’s probably a little bit more people hounding you,” said Reid. Kansas City, in comparison, “feels like home,” he said.

Visit KC, the city’s official tourism organization, projects approximately 650,000 people will arrive during the tournament period. However, hotel reservations are currently below projections according to an early May American Hotel and Lodging Association analysis.

At Joe’s Bar-B-Que, regular customer Camilla Thomas, 29, advised visitors to “come prepared,” as staff announced an order of pork spare ribs that completely filled the serving plate.

“It’s going to be much bigger portions than anyone in Europe is going to be used to,” she said.

The Minnesota Timberwolves capitalized on Victor Wembanyama’s early exit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 on Sunday night in Minneapolis, evening their Western Conference second-round playoff series at two wins each.

Anthony Edwards delivered a stellar performance with 36 total points, including a crucial 16-point outburst in the final quarter that helped secure the victory for Minnesota.

The turning point came when Wembanyama received a flagrant 2 foul and automatic ejection during the second quarter. The incident occurred when the Spurs center, while protecting a rebound from two Minnesota defenders, swung his right elbow and struck Naz Reid in the chin with 8:39 remaining in the first half.

Officials reviewed the play before upgrading the initial foul call. Crew chief Zach Zarba explained the decision, stating: “There was windup, impact and follow-through above the neck of an opponent.”

Reid, who absorbed the elbow to his chin, contributed 15 points and nine rebounds coming off the bench for the Timberwolves. Additional scoring support came from Jaden McDaniels with 14 points, Julius Randle with 12, and Rudy Gobert, who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu chipped in 10 points.

For San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox and reserve Dylan Harper each scored 24 points, while Stephon Castle added 20. Devin Vassell contributed 14 points. Wembanyama’s night was cut short after just 12 minutes, during which he managed four points and four rebounds with no blocks.

“We never expected them just to go away,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch commented. “They won a game in the Portland series without Wembanyama, so they’re very good, very good team.”

Despite losing their star player, the Spurs mounted a strong third-quarter rally, outscoring Minnesota 20-8 to start the period and taking a 76-68 lead after a Vassell basket with 4:33 left in the quarter.

“I thought offensively, we were really doing a lot of good things,” Finch reflected. “We lost our way a little bit, and gave them life.”

San Antonio maintained momentum into the fourth quarter, with Keldon Johnson’s driving layup giving them an 84-80 advantage entering the final period. Fox extended the lead to 94-86 with a three-pointer with 8:51 remaining.

However, Edwards sparked a game-changing 14-5 Minnesota run, personally scoring 12 points during that stretch. He began the surge with a jumper, then added five straight points through a short floater and long three-pointer to cut the deficit to three with 7:10 left. Edwards later sank two free throws with 5:51 remaining to bring Minnesota within 97-95, then connected on a three-pointer 39 seconds later to give the Timberwolves their first lead of the quarter.

Gobert sealed the victory with a powerful dunk that extended Minnesota’s lead to 107-101 with 1:56 remaining.

The Spurs made a late push, with Harper hitting two free throws with 29.1 seconds left and Julian Champagnie adding two more with 20.6 seconds remaining to narrow the gap to 112-109. But Dosunmu responded with two free throws with 9.8 seconds left to close out the win.

“Just small-time plays,” Edwards told reporters when asked about the key to Game 4. “Small-time plays win big-time games. That’s what we needed. Diving on the floor, offensive rebounds and it was a great sub by Finchie for putting in Ayo for that last minute-and-a-half.”

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended his player’s actions while clarifying his stance. “I’m glad he (Wembanyama) took matters into his own hands,” Johnson said. “Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that. I’m glad Naz Reid is OK and I didn’t want him to elbow him. But [Wemby’s] going to have to protect himself if no one else does for him. And I think it’s disgusting.”

“We had a chance to win,” Johnson added. “We didn’t close it out the way we wanted to. … Minnesota made some plays and finished the game.”

Minnesota shot 44.7% from the field and connected on 10 of 27 three-point attempts. San Antonio made 47.7% of their shots but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 6 of 26 three-pointers.

The series continues Tuesday night in San Antonio for Game 5.

The Montreal Canadiens dominated the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup Sunday night, seizing a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series behind a breakthrough performance from Cole Caufield.

Caufield snapped a five-game goal drought by netting the decisive power-play score, marking his first goal since Game 5 of the opening round series against Tampa Bay Lightning. The regular season’s 51-goal scorer also contributed an assist in the victory.

Alex Newhook found the back of the net twice, while Juraj Slafkovsky added his fourth playoff power-play goal. Zachary Bolduc and Kirby Dach rounded out Montreal’s scoring, with Lane Hutson providing two assists and goaltender Jakub Dobes turning away 26 shots.

“He does his job every night and every day,” Caufield said about Dobes in a Sportsnet interview. “I couldn’t be more proud of a guy like that. … Again, a special player.”

For Buffalo, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin each recorded one goal and one assist, while Alex Lyon made 31 saves in the losing effort.

Thompson, who called his Game 2 showing an “absolute disaster,” silenced the home crowd early when he capitalized on a fortunate bounce. After Dobes ventured out to challenge Dahlin’s shot that sailed wide and ricocheted off the end boards, Thompson pounced on the rebound and scored into an open net just 53 seconds into the game.

Montreal answered when Newhook evened the score at 15:31 of the first period, deflecting a shot off Buffalo defenseman Conor Timmins to tie the contest at 1-1.

Despite missing an easy scoring chance earlier in the second period, Caufield redeemed himself when Hutson worked through the left circle during a power play and set up Caufield for the go-ahead goal at 6:05, putting Montreal ahead 2-1.

“We have to be smarter,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “We took five (offensive) zone penalties. Our discipline for that wasn’t good enough. You let them operate 5-on-4 and we end up with a broken stick. You give them that much time and they’re going to get opportunities.”

Montreal’s fourth line extended the lead to 3-1 when Joe Veleno set up Bolduc with a pass, and Bolduc beat Lyon at 10:43 of the second period.

Following Beck Malenstyn’s interference penalty for a collision with Dobes, the Canadiens capitalized again on the power play. Hutson threaded a pass through the slot that deflected off Slafkovsky at 12:17, making it 4-1.

Dahlin responded quickly for Buffalo, scoring on the man advantage just 16 seconds after Dach was whistled for holding Josh Doan’s stick at 14:30.

Despite Buffalo mounting pressure with a strong power play and continued momentum in the third period, Montreal countered with a 2-on-1 break that resulted in Dach’s fourth playoff goal at 8:46, extending the lead to 5-2.

“Our puck play still isn’t to a level where I’d like it,” Ruff said. “… Montreal’s a good team. They made us pay for our mistakes.”

Newhook sealed the victory with his fifth postseason goal, awarded after being fouled on a breakaway toward an empty net at 15:14.

Detroit Tigers rookie Gage Workman made his team debut one to remember, launching his first major league home run at the perfect moment to lift his team past the Kansas City Royals 6-3 on Sunday night.

The rookie infielder came off the bench in the sixth inning and delivered a crucial two-run blast that broke the tie and helped Detroit end a frustrating five-game losing streak. Workman, who had appeared in just 12 games this season before Sunday, was promoted from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the day after Kerry Carpenter went on the injured list with a left shoulder sprain.

Matt Vierling contributed two RBIs for the Tigers, while Hao-Yu Lee and Wenceel Perez each drove in one run. Riley Greene reached base four times and crossed home plate once. Relief pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus (2-0) threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory, and Kenley Jansen closed out the game for his seventh save of the season.

For Kansas City, Maikel Garcia led the offensive effort with three hits, one run scored, and one RBI. Vinnie Pasquantino collected two hits and an RBI, while Bobby Witt Jr. added two hits and scored once.

Orioles 2, Athletics 1

Baltimore salvaged the series finale against Oakland as Dylan Beavers delivered a go-ahead single in the sixth inning, while four Orioles pitchers combined to limit the Athletics to just four hits.

Both Beavers and Gunnar Henderson recorded two hits for Baltimore. Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (3-2) dominated with six strikeouts while allowing only one run across six innings. Rico Garcia secured the save for the Orioles.

Oakland’s Luis Severino (2-4) surrendered two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz drew a walk in the eighth inning, extending his on-base streak to 34 games, currently the longest active streak in Major League Baseball.

Marlins 5, Nationals 2

Miami completed their series victory over Washington behind a decisive three-run eighth inning, highlighted by Heriberto Hernandez’s two-run single that sealed the rubber match victory.

Liam Hicks and Christopher Morel also contributed RBI singles for the Marlins, who received six solid innings from Sandy Alcantara before Josh Ekness recorded the final out for his first career save.

Washington’s Luis Garcia Jr. had a strong individual performance with a triple, double, one run scored, and one RBI. Nationals starter Cade Cavalli pitched effectively, allowing two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Rays 4, Red Sox 1

Tampa Bay built an early lead and never looked back, scoring three runs in the opening three innings while Nick Martinez dominated Boston’s lineup in a series finale victory.

Junior Caminero opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning, followed by a two-run second inning that established a lead the Rays never surrendered. Martinez (4-1) navigated around seven hits while striking out three batters to earn the victory, giving Tampa Bay their second win of the weekend series. Saturday’s game was postponed due to rain.

New Hampshire native Mickey Gasper had a career day for Boston, going 3-for-4 with his first three major league hits, including two doubles, and driving in the Red Sox’s only run. Boston starter Payton Tolle (1-2) allowed three runs on seven hits across five innings.

Angels 6, Blue Jays 1

Los Angeles exploded for six runs in the final five innings to salvage one game from their weekend series in Toronto, powered by Jose Soriano’s dominant pitching performance and Jo Adell’s two-homer game.

Soriano (6-2) was nearly untouchable, retiring 20 consecutive batters at one point while allowing just one run on five hits over 7 2/3 innings. Adell homered twice and added a double, Oswald Peraza contributed a two-run homer, and Vaughn Grissom delivered a two-run double for the Angels, who had managed only one run through the first 22 innings of the series.

Daulton Varsho went 2-for-4 and scored Toronto’s lone run. The Blue Jays received four scoreless innings from their first two pitchers before Eric Lauer (1-5) struggled, allowing six runs on five hits over five innings.

Phillies 6, Rockies 0

Philadelphia’s power duo of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper launched consecutive home runs in the opening inning, setting the tone for a dominant shutout victory over Colorado.

Schwarber finished with two home runs and three hits total, while Brandon Marsh collected four singles for the Phillies, who have now won 10 of 13 games since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager on April 28. Cristopher Sanchez (4-2) delivered seven strong innings, extending his scoreless streak to 21 1/3 innings. He hasn’t allowed a run since the first inning against San Francisco on April 30.

Colorado managed only six hits, with Ezequiel Tovar collecting two of them. The Rockies have now lost eight of their last 10 games.

Additional Games

Cincinnati defeated Houston 5-0 behind Andrew Abbott’s six-inning, three-hit performance and Elly De La Cruz’s three-hit game. Minnesota edged Cleveland 5-4 with Kody Clemens recording three hits including two doubles. Chicago White Sox beat Seattle 2-1 on Randal Grichuk’s eighth-inning homer and a walk-off sequence. Milwaukee swept New York Yankees with Brice Turang’s ninth-inning walk-off homer for a 4-3 victory. Texas shut out Chicago Cubs 3-0 behind Jacob deGrom’s 10-strikeout performance over seven scoreless innings. Atlanta defeated Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 with Bryce Elder lowering his ERA to a National League-best 1.81. San Diego edged St. Louis 3-2 in 10 innings on Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly. Arizona beat New York Mets 5-1 with rookie Ryan Waldschmidt driving in three runs. San Francisco outlasted Pittsburgh 7-6 in 12 innings on Jesus Rodriguez’s bases-loaded single.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter will miss at least 10 days after suffering a left shoulder sprain during Saturday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals.

The injury occurred when Carpenter crashed into the right field wall while attempting to prevent Bobby Witt Jr.’s inside-the-park home run during Kansas City’s 5-1 win over Detroit.

To replace Carpenter on the roster, Detroit promoted third baseman Gage Workman from their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo. The Tigers created space on their 40-man roster by moving veteran pitcher Justin Verlander from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list due to left hip inflammation. Verlander will be eligible to return on May 31.

The 28-year-old Carpenter remained in Saturday’s contest after the first-inning collision but was removed two innings later due to the AC joint sprain.

“Initial tests have shown no structural damage, but he has inflammation,” manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday. “And he’s obviously really sore.”

This season, Carpenter has posted a .216 batting average with six home runs and 17 RBIs across 37 games.

Carpenter previously dealt with a right shoulder injury in 2023 when he was hurt while making a spectacular catch to rob a home run.

Since joining Detroit in 2022, Carpenter has compiled a .264 career batting average with 76 home runs, 210 RBIs, a .299 on-base percentage and .451 slugging percentage over 403 regular-season contests.

In postseason action, he has hit .275 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 15 playoff appearances.

“Carp’s injury could be quick,” Hinch said. “It depends on the inflammation and how fast we can get him back to swinging freely. But in the meantime, we’re going to need to pick it up collectively.”

Detroit drafted Workman in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft from Arizona State, where he played alongside current Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Workman appeared in 12 games earlier this year as a Rule 5 Draft selection with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, batting .188 before returning to Detroit’s organization.

The 26-year-old Workman has been dominant at Triple-A Toledo this season, hitting .358 with four home runs, 28 RBIs, 15 doubles, a .413 on-base percentage and .590 slugging percentage.

“Gage has been killing it in Triple-A,” Hinch said. “He’s been a candidate this whole time to come up and join us when we’ve had these openings. Some have been short spurts. Gage has kept performing and kept playing.

“He’s made some improvements on defense, on his first step in getting to balls. He has crushed Triple-A pitching pretty much all season and has earned his right to be on a callup list whenever the opportunity came open.”

San Antonio’s star big man Victor Wembanyama found himself heading to the locker room early during Sunday evening’s postseason clash with Minnesota after striking Timberwolves player Naz Reid with his elbow in the face.

The incident occurred in the second quarter when Wembanyama secured a rebound and attempted to shield the basketball from a pair of Minnesota defenders during the fourth game of their Western Conference semifinal matchup. The towering center then swung his right elbow forcefully, connecting with Reid’s chin, drawing an initial foul call with 8 minutes and 39 seconds remaining before halftime.

Following a video review by the referees, the original foul was elevated to a flagrant 2 violation, which carries an immediate dismissal from the game.

Lead referee Zach Zarba explained the decision, stating: “After review, there was windup, impact and follow-through above the neck of an opponent. It was unnecessary and excessive contact by Wembanyama and it meets all the criteria and it has been upgraded to a flagrant foul penalty 2. Wembanyama has been ejected.”

At the moment of his removal, San Antonio was down 36-34, and Reid successfully converted both free throw attempts to extend Minnesota’s advantage to four points. Wembanyama’s stat line showed four points, four rebounds and zero blocks across his 12-plus minutes of action.

The ejection came just two days after Wembanyama delivered a dominant showing in the third contest, posting 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots during San Antonio’s 115-108 road triumph on Friday. His performance made him just the fourth player in league playoff history to achieve at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a single postseason game.

The Spurs currently hold a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

MINNEAPOLIS — The San Antonio Spurs suffered a major blow Sunday night when their franchise player Victor Wembanyama was thrown out of Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after delivering an elbow to the throat area of forward Naz Reid during the second quarter of their intense playoff matchup.

The 7-foot-4 center was initially called for an offensive foul when he made contact with Reid, who along with teammate Jaden McDaniels had aggressively defended the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year following a Spurs missed three-point attempt that Wembanyama had secured on the rebound.

Following an official video review, while Target Center erupted with chants of “Kick him out! Kick him out!”, referees determined the contact warranted a Flagrant 2 designation due to excessive force above the shoulders. This classification automatically results in ejection, potentially altering the trajectory of this crucial contest. San Antonio had gained a 2-1 series advantage following their 115-108 victory in Game 3 on Friday.

Upon hearing the ruling, Wembanyama seemed confused, reportedly asking teammate Harrison Barnes: “What does that mean?”

As the young star exchanged handshakes with his San Antonio teammates while exiting the court, with the arena’s speakers playing Michael Jackson’s “Beat it!”, Reid successfully converted both technical free throws to put Minnesota ahead 38-34. Wembanyama’s night ended with just four points, four rebounds and three personal fouls across 13 minutes of action.

Minnesota’s physical approach has featured the combination of Reid, Julius Randle and McDaniels pressuring Wembanyama throughout the series, though the talented center has largely answered their defensive intensity. He exploded for 39 points while shooting an efficient 13-for-18 from the field in the previous game.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Soccer fans across Argentina are gathering in public squares with a mission that has nothing to do with watching games and everything to do with completing their World Cup sticker collections as the tournament approaches in less than four weeks.

The tradition of collecting Panini World Cup stickers has captivated fans for more than fifty years, transforming schools, public plazas, and workplaces into bustling marketplaces where collectors hunt for elusive rare cards and swap their duplicate stickers.

Throughout South America, the act of exchanging stickers has evolved into something even more significant than simply gathering them, with dedicated WhatsApp groups, mobile applications, and online platforms emerging to help facilitate these trades between enthusiasts.

This past Sunday, crowds descended upon central Buenos Aires, carrying colorful collections of stickers featuring the world’s top soccer stars, with some collectors spreading their cards across tables like seasoned card dealers at a casino.

Young fans clutch their albums close, methodically placing each sticker in its designated spot with careful precision.

“This connects you with the world. Everyone does it,” explained Juan Valora, who was building his collection alongside his girlfriend. “And if this was virtual, you wouldn’t be face to face looking at the cards and trading them. I think you’d miss out a bit on the human touch.”

For this year’s tournament, Panini has released their most extensive sticker collection to date, reflecting the expansion from 32 to 48 participating nations. Individual packs hold seven stickers each and cost approximately $1.50 in both Argentina and Uruguay. These iconic sticker albums, which can command thousands of dollars on secondary markets, will conclude after the 2030 World Cup when Fanatics assumes control as FIFA’s exclusive sticker licensing partner.

Many collectors now bypass the traditional trading process entirely by purchasing bulk boxes containing up to 104 sticker packs for $180, often available through payment plans and bundled with the albums themselves. Even the highly sought-after “rare” stickers featuring superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Kylian Mbappé can be obtained through these packages.

“It’s a way to avoid spending extra money to finally complete it,” noted Matías Inglesi, who works in software development and is the father of 9-year-old Lucas. He invests roughly $20 weekly in this pursuit.

For countless children, finishing their sticker album represents an achievement more precious than watching their home country claim the World Cup trophy, prompting devoted parents to step in and assist their kids in reaching this milestone.

According to child psychologist Agustina Zerbinatti, this activity offers more than entertainment, helping young people strengthen their fine motor coordination while learning “from geography, knowing which languages ​​are spoken in each country, number sequencing and notions of cardinality and ordinality.”

Detroit has released updated injury information showing guard Kevin Huerter’s status has improved to questionable while teammate Caris LeVert’s availability has been downgraded to questionable for Monday’s fourth game versus Cleveland.

Huerter, who is dealing with an adductor injury, saw limited action in four contests during Detroit’s opening round series against Orlando. In those appearances totaling 42 minutes, he contributed six points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. The guard has not taken the court during the current semifinal series.

Following his midseason acquisition from Chicago, Huerter contributed 8.6 points per game over 25 regular season contests with Detroit. Throughout his career, he has connected on 36.8% of his three-point attempts.

LeVert, who is managing a right heel issue, has appeared in all but one playoff game for Detroit this postseason while averaging 3.0 points. The 31-year-old contributed 7.4 points per game across 60 regular season appearances.

A masterful display of road course racing unfolded Sunday at Watkins Glen International as Shane van Gisbergen orchestrated one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent NASCAR Cup Series history.

The Trackhouse Racing driver found himself in a seemingly impossible position with 24 laps remaining in the Go Bowling At The Glen, trailing race leader Ty Gibbs by a daunting 29 seconds after making his final pit stop. What followed was nothing short of spectacular.

Van Gisbergen, who had dropped all the way back to 22nd position following his green-flag pit stop, methodically began hunting down the leaders. The New Zealand native consistently shaved time off his deficit, eventually overtaking Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota with just eight circuits left on the clock.

By the checkered flag, the No. 97 Chevrolet had built a commanding 7.288-second advantage over second-place finisher Michael McDowell, capping off a truly dominant performance.

The victory marked van Gisbergen’s sixth triumph in seven road course events and his seventh overall Cup Series win in merely 62 career starts. Remarkably, every one of his victories has come on road courses. He also became just the second driver this season, alongside Tyler Reddick, to convert a pole position into a race win.

“We weren’t very good in practice, and then qualifying was amazing, good tweaks, and then today,” van Gisbergen explained after advancing to 16th in the championship standings. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to work, and then to run them down like that. Very special to do two (Glen wins) in a row.”

Despite controlling 74 of the race’s 100 laps, the fourth-year road course specialist downplayed the dominance of his performance.

“It’s not easy,” he emphasized. “Everyone’s really good. There was a lot of pressure there. I think McDowell was good. Connor was good. Tyler Reddick. There were some really good guys and a lot of pressure.”

“Just stoked for these guys in executing every facet of our game,” he added.

The final top-five consisted of Gibbs in third, followed by Chase Briscoe and Reddick.

Chevrolet’s triumph continued the manufacturer’s recent success at the Finger Lakes facility, marking their seventh victory in eight races at the venue and fourth win in 12 starts this season.

Van Gisbergen began the day from the pole position after earning the top qualifying spot on Saturday, which also happened to be his 37th birthday. He quickly established his dominance early, opening up more than a two-second gap over McDowell’s Chevrolet after the opening eight laps.

During the first stage, van Gisbergen made a strategic pit stop while leading after 18 laps, ultimately finishing eighth in the segment to collect valuable stage points. Ross Chastain from Trackhouse claimed the stage victory ahead of Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, while Chase Elliott opted to stay on track for points and ended up 12th.

The second 30-lap stage saw van Gisbergen and teammate Connor Zilisch pull away from the field, establishing a substantial five-second lead over McDowell by lap 38. The segment was briefly interrupted when debris – described as a black tent – found its way onto the racing surface on lap 40.

As the second stage wound down, Spire Motorsports teammates McDowell and Daniel Suarez held the top two positions with seven laps remaining, but both Chevrolet drivers lost ground in the final circuits. Van Gisbergen ultimately captured the stage win by less than a second over Reddick, with Gibbs, Austin Dillon, and Kyle Busch completing the top five.

The race’s third caution period occurred on lap 60 when Logano’s No. 22 Ford suffered a left front tire failure. Van Gisbergen and Reddick elected to remain on track to maintain their track position, while most other competitors headed to pit road for fuel and the opportunity to reach the finish line.

BOSTON — Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle stepped onto the Fenway Park field Sunday with emotions weighing heavily on his mind.

The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher made his start exactly two years and one day following the death of his mother, Jina, who lost her battle with colon cancer after fighting the disease for nearly eight years. In tribute to her memory on Mother’s Day, Tolle rolled up his uniform pants to display bright pink socks.

Saturday’s rainout gave Tolle additional time to contemplate the significance of taking the mound the following day.

“This week is really tough for me. I’m not going to lie to you,” he said, fighting back emotion following Boston’s 4-1 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays. “It’s a tough weekend. I think yesterday would have been just as hard. I try to … it’s tough.

“So, I try to get away from it as much as I can but at the same time it’s life,” he said. “It’s part of it. Some things are bigger than baseball in that aspect.”

Jina passed away on May 9, 2024, at age 48, and Payton had been saving a particular song for a meaningful moment.

During his warm-up routine before the game, he selected “Mother” by Danzig as his entrance music. While he has frequently switched his walk-out songs throughout his career, this selection held special significance as a tribute to his mother.

“There’s a little of a joke with my dad,” he said, managing a slight grin. “Just that song, I’ve had it in the back pocket for a long time, so I think it’s a pretty good walk-out song. You’ve got to roll with it.”

During the game, Tolle (1-2) allowed three runs over five innings of work, surrendering seven hits while recording four strikeouts. The performance followed his breakthrough first major league win in his most recent outing, when he limited Detroit to just one hit while striking out eight batters on Monday.

When asked what his mother might tell him about Sunday’s performance, Tolle responded with a grin.

“Suck it up and do better,” he said, smiling.

LOS ANGELES — Star outfielder Mookie Betts is expected to make his comeback Monday as the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a four-game matchup with the San Francisco Giants, following more than a month on the sidelines due to a strained right oblique muscle.

The veteran player’s last appearance came on April 4 during a 10-5 victory over Washington, where he sustained the injury. Despite struggling at the plate with a .179 batting average, two homers, and seven RBIs across eight contests before getting hurt, manager Dave Roberts plans to slot Betts into the second or third position in the lineup.

Roberts has not announced which player will be optioned to make room on the roster for the return of Betts, who captured American League MVP honors in 2018 and has four World Series rings. Players Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and Santiago Espinal have successfully shared duties in the middle infield during his recovery period.

“It’s a good problem in a sense of where we’re at, but it’s a potential tough conversation,” Roberts commented Sunday prior to wrapping up their three-game set against Atlanta.

The All-Star completed his minor league rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, collecting two hits in five at-bats along with a walk over two games.

Spain’s national soccer team faces mounting injury concerns after midfielder Nico Williams sustained a left leg injury during Athletic Club’s match against Valencia on Sunday.

The 23-year-old player was substituted out of the game in the 36th minute, visibly upset as he left the field. Williams spent the remainder of the match on the sidelines with ice applied to his left hamstring while his team fell to Valencia 1-0.

Williams has been a key contributor to Spain’s national squad, netting six goals across 30 international appearances since joining the team in 2022. This season with Athletic Club, he has recorded six goals and seven assists through 32 matches.

The injury compounds Spain’s existing concerns about midfielder Lamine Yamal, who suffered a hamstring tear last month during a Barcelona match and remains unavailable.

Spain finds itself in Group H for the upcoming World Cup in North America this summer. The team is scheduled to begin tournament play in Atlanta, taking on Cape Verde on June 15 followed by Saudi Arabia on June 21. Their group stage concludes against Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Washington Wizards struck gold during Sunday’s NBA draft lottery, securing the coveted first overall selection in what many consider a talent-rich draft class.

This stroke of fortune represents another significant step in the franchise’s rebuilding efforts, which included acquiring injured stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young through trades this past winter as they attempt to revive one of basketball’s most struggling organizations.

Washington hasn’t held the top draft position since 2010, when they selected point guard John Wall, who went on to earn five All-Star selections. Wall traveled to Chicago to represent the organization during Sunday’s lottery ceremony.

The draft order continued with Utah claiming the second selection, Memphis securing third place, and Chicago making a surprising leap to fourth position.

Each of the top three teams – Washington, Utah, and Memphis – entered the lottery with identical 14% odds of winning. Chicago’s rise proved particularly dramatic, as they overcame just 4.5% odds and jumped ahead of five other franchises to reach the top four.

This will mark Washington’s fifth time holding the premier draft position. The organization endured a dismal 17-65 campaign this past season, accumulating a terrible 50-196 record across the last three years while failing to reach the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.

Team president Michael Winger expressed optimism about the opportunity in an official statement: “Today is another encouraging day for Wizards fans and our entire organization. To choose first among this inspiring group of athletes is a welcomed opportunity, and challenge, for our group. We look forward to adding another high performing young player to our ascending team.”

The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23-24 in New York.

Two 19-year-old prospects are considered the leading contenders for the top selection: BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, both of whom completed just one collegiate season.

The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa dominated college basketball by leading all players with 25.5 points per game and appears destined to become one of the NBA’s premier scorers. Meanwhile, the 6-6 Peterson faced injury challenges at Kansas but still managed 20.2 points per contest and may have been college basketball’s most talented player.

Speaking before the lottery results were revealed, Dybantsa shared his thoughts on the possibility: “Obviously, wanting to be the No. 1 pick, working to be the No. 1 pick, I’ll be excited. It’s a great opportunity.”

Other prominent prospects include Duke’s Cameron Boozer, North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr.

The Los Angeles Clippers received the fifth pick through a trade deadline transaction with Indiana that sent Ivica Zubac to the Pacers and brought Bennedict Mathurin to the Clippers. Indiana’s selection was only protected if it landed in the top four.

Brooklyn will select sixth, followed by Sacramento, Atlanta, Dallas, and Milwaukee completing the top ten. Atlanta’s eighth pick resulted from a draft-night trade with New Orleans that moved Derik Queen to the Pelicans.

Golden State holds the 11th selection, while Oklahoma City owns the 12th pick acquired from the Clippers in the 2019 Paul George trade that also brought current MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Thunder.

Miami will pick 13th, with Charlotte claiming the final lottery position at 14th.

For the third day in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made changes to their pitching roster, bringing up right-handed reliever Wyatt Mills from their Triple-A Oklahoma City team on Sunday. The move comes as the team sent right-hander Paul Gervase back down to the minors.

The 31-year-old Mills is preparing for his first appearance in a Dodgers uniform after joining the organization as a free agent in August following his release from the Boston Red Sox. During his time with Oklahoma City this season, Mills posted a 3-2 record with a 3.26 ERA across 14 relief outings. He struck out 28 batters while walking just seven in 19 1/3 innings of work.

Mills hasn’t appeared in a major league game since the 2022 season and carries a career record of 0-1 with a 6.21 ERA through 38 relief appearances with both the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals. The right-hander was sidelined for two complete seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Gervase had just made his 2024 season debut with Los Angeles on Saturday, allowing one run across three innings while striking out five batters. Throughout his brief major league career spanning seven appearances over the last two seasons, he maintains a 3.97 ERA.

CHICAGO — After enduring their worst season in franchise history, the Washington Wizards have been rewarded with the top selection in this year’s NBA draft.

The Wizards claimed the first overall pick during Sunday’s draft lottery, earning them their initial opportunity to select first since they chose John Wall with the top spot in 2010. Wall served as the team’s representative during the lottery proceedings.

The franchise entered the lottery with 14% odds of securing the number one selection, sharing the highest probability with Brooklyn and Indiana. Washington faced roughly even chances of either landing a top-four selection or dropping to the fifth position.

However, three consecutive seasons of struggles — representing the franchise’s most difficult stretch across its 65-year existence — ultimately delivered results for the Wizards on Sunday. The team compiled a dismal 17-65 record this past season, including a game where they surrendered 83 points to Miami’s Bam Adebayo, the second-highest individual performance in league history.

Washington made significant moves last season by acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis through trades, and now possesses an opportunity to add another franchise-changing talent with their top selection.

The remaining top picks will see Utah selecting second, Memphis third, and Chicago fourth.

The Los Angeles Clippers secured the fifth pick through a previous trade with Indiana, followed by Brooklyn at sixth, Sacramento seventh, Atlanta eighth, Dallas ninth, Milwaukee tenth, Golden State eleventh, Oklahoma City twelfth, Miami thirteenth, and Charlotte fourteenth.

Draft proceedings begin June 23 in New York, while the combine in Chicago commences Monday.

Four prospects are widely viewed as leading candidates for the top selection, all departing college after their freshman campaigns:

— BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, who paced the nation with 25.5 points per game during his single collegiate season.

— Duke’s Cameron Boozer, the Associated Press player of the year who posted averages of 22.5 points and 10.1 rebounds.

— Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, who contributed 20.2 points across 24 appearances for the Jayhawks.

— North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, who recorded 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 58% from the field.

All four prospects, along with several other projected first-round selections, attended Sunday’s lottery announcement at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

“Standing here is kind of crazy,” Dybantsa said. “One of these teams is going to be home.”

This marked the eighth and potentially final year under the current lottery format, which gives the league’s worst teams a 14% chance at the top pick.

New anti-tanking measures received preliminary approval last month and await final ratification from the league’s Board of Governors in coming weeks, with general managers gathering in Chicago on Tuesday for likely final discussions.

Beginning next season under the proposed changes, the three worst teams would have just 5.4% odds of winning the lottery, while the following seven teams would each have 8.1% chances. The lottery field would expand from 14 to 16 teams if the plan receives expected approval.

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby will be sidelined for Sunday’s Game 4 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a right hamstring strain, despite earlier indications suggesting he might be available to play.

“He’s out for tonight but he’s the same thing, he’s day-to-day (moving forward),” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said Sunday.

With New York holding a commanding 3-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals series, the team can afford to take a conservative approach with Anunoby’s injury management.

This marks the second consecutive game Anunoby will miss, as he was also absent during Game 3 when New York secured a 108-94 win in Philadelphia. Sunday’s fourth game will also take place in Philadelphia.

Throughout eight playoff contests this season, the 28-year-old forward has posted impressive numbers, contributing 21.4 points per game along with 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks while maintaining exceptional shooting efficiency at 53.8% from beyond the three-point line and 61.9% from the field overall.

The Los Angeles Sparks have added guard Kate Martin to their development roster on Sunday, just three days following her release from the Golden State Valkyries.

Martin, who was teammates with Caitlin Clark during their time at Iowa, was chosen 18th overall in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces.

During her first professional season with the Aces, Martin appeared in 34 contests with two starting assignments, contributing 2.6 points per game while connecting on 35.5% of her three-point attempts across 11.5 minutes of action. The Valkyries selected her during their expansion draft, and she improved to 6.2 points per game in 42 appearances with four starts, playing 16.4 minutes per contest last season.

“Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball,” said Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley. “She’s confident in her shot, plays tenacious defense and is an unselfish, high-energy teammate. We’re eager to watch Kate develop within our system.”

During her collegiate career, Martin achieved a rare milestone by becoming the first women’s basketball player in Iowa history to record at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 120 steals and 60 blocks.

Development contracts allow WNBA franchises to maintain two additional roster positions that operate as internal training programs while staying outside salary cap restrictions. These players may be activated for as many as 12 regular season games.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was forced to exit Sunday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays after taking a pitch to his right hand during the opening inning. The ball was thrown by Rays pitcher Nick Martinez.

While Contreras managed to complete his trip around the bases, he did not take the field when the second inning began. Team officials initially described the injury as a contusion but announced plans to conduct medical imaging tests to fully evaluate the damage.

This marks the eighth time this season that Contreras has been struck by a pitch, placing him in a three-way tie for most in Major League Baseball alongside St. Louis players J.J. Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera.

The veteran player, who will celebrate his 34th birthday on Wednesday, currently paces Boston’s roster with eight home runs and 23 runs batted in while maintaining a .259 batting average across 39 games this season.

This marks Contreras’s debut campaign with the Red Sox after being selected as an All-Star three times during his career. Over 1,116 major league games spanning stints with the Chicago Cubs from 2016-2022, the St. Louis Cardinals from 2023-2025, and now Boston, he has compiled a .258 career batting average alongside 180 home runs and 571 RBIs.

Andruw Monasterio stepped in to take over first base duties and managed to collect hits during his first two plate appearances of the game.

Vegas Golden Knights team captain Mark Stone has been ruled out for Sunday’s Game 4 matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, head coach John Tortorella confirmed.

The team leader suffered a lower-body injury during the closing moments of the opening period in Friday night’s commanding 6-2 win against Anaheim. The Golden Knights currently hold a 2-1 advantage in the seven-game Western Conference second-round playoff series.

Veteran forward Brandon Saad will step into the lineup to replace Stone, who has contributed seven points through nine playoff contests this season with three goals and four assists.

Stone, who celebrates his 34th birthday this Wednesday, posted career-best numbers during the regular season with 73 points on 28 goals and 45 assists, along with a plus-26 rating across 60 games.

Throughout his NHL career spanning 766 games between Ottawa (2012-19) and Vegas, Stone has accumulated 707 points with 259 goals and 448 assists, maintaining a plus-167 rating.

The San Francisco Giants welcomed back left-handed pitcher Sam Hentges on Sunday after the 29-year-old spent almost two years recovering from multiple injuries.

Hentges hasn’t appeared in a professional game since July 10, 2024, when he was playing for the Cleveland Guardians. A shoulder injury sidelined him initially, and after two months of rehabilitation failed to resolve the issue, doctors performed surgery to fix his labrum and shoulder capsule.

The pitcher’s troubles continued as he missed all of the 2025 season and required additional knee surgery in August. He joined the Giants organization in December, but his rehabilitation process stretched into the current season.

Throughout his major league career with Cleveland starting in 2021, Hentges compiled a 7-8 record with a 4.18 earned run average across 168 games, including 12 as a starting pitcher.

The Giants also brought up right-handed pitcher Dylan Smith from their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, while sending Ryan Walker and Gregory Santos down to the minor leagues.

Both Hentges and Smith will be making their first appearances in Giants uniforms. Smith, age 25, has limited big league experience with seven games for Detroit last season. This year at Sacramento, he posted a 2.13 ERA with an 0-1 record in nine relief outings.

Walker, 30, struggled this season with a 6.46 ERA in 16 relief appearances, going 0-1 with three saves in six chances. Santos, 26, appeared in three games out of the bullpen with a 3.60 ERA.

The son of Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day has made his college decision, announcing Sunday via social media that he will play quarterback for Northwestern University beginning in 2027.

R.J. Day, currently a high school senior, selected the Wildcats after considering offers from multiple programs including Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati, and South Florida.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback has been a three-year starter at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio, where he has established impressive career statistics with 5,714 passing yards and 54 touchdown passes. During his junior season in fall 2025, Day broke single-season school records by throwing for 2,710 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Northwestern’s current roster under head coach David Braun includes eight quarterbacks for the 2026 season, featuring transfer Aiden Chiles from Michigan State and freshman Johnny O’Brien.

When Day arrives at Northwestern, he will work with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who is entering his first year in that role with the Wildcats. Kelly previously served as the offensive coordinator for Ohio State during their 2024 national championship season and also held the same position at New Hampshire when Ryan Day played quarterback there from 1998-2001, setting multiple school records. Kelly has also been a head coach at Oregon, UCLA, and with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies after missing most of Saturday’s game due to a migraine.

The veteran first baseman appeared fully recovered from the health issue that forced his early departure during the first inning of Philadelphia’s 9-3 win over Colorado the previous day.

Harper took his usual spot batting third and playing first base as the teams wrapped up their series in Philadelphia, with each club having won one of the first two contests.

The 33-year-old slugger is currently hitting .282 this season with nine home runs and 23 RBIs across 40 games played.

Harper brings an impressive resume to the field, having captured National League MVP honors twice in 2015 and 2021, along with eight All-Star selections. Throughout his major league career spanning time with both Washington (2012-18) and Philadelphia, he has compiled a .280 batting average with 372 home runs and 1,074 RBIs over 1,825 games. The former Nationals star also earned NL Rookie of the Year recognition in 2012.

The Carolina Hurricanes have achieved their goal of reaching the Eastern Conference final after years of playoff disappointments, setting themselves up for another chance to overcome a persistent obstacle.

The Hurricanes — who remain the sole unbeaten squad in this year’s NHL postseason — now face an extended waiting period before beginning their third-round matchup.

Carolina defeated Philadelphia 3-2 in overtime Saturday evening, making history as the first franchise to complete back-to-back sweeps in the opening two playoff rounds since the NHL adopted the best-of-seven format across all rounds in 1987. This achievement marks their fourth conference final appearance in eight playoff campaigns under head coach Rod Brind’Amour, and their third such appearance in the past four years.

The Hurricanes await the victor of the Montreal-Buffalo series, which continues through at least Thursday. As the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded team, Carolina enjoyed nearly a complete week of rest following their first-round sweep of Ottawa.

“I think it’s probably going to be an even longer break this time,” veteran forward Taylor Hall commented following Saturday’s victory in Philadelphia.

“The big positive is we’re on to the third round relatively unscathed and healthy. You don’t want to see injuries per se, but we hope these series go far and these teams have battles. That’s the advantage we’re going to have. … Rod, our strength staff, all of our staff, do a good job of making sure that we’re ready athletically to play. And from there, we get our footing pretty quickly.”

Carolina has executed this approach flawlessly since capturing their opening playoff contest on April 18. The team has already demonstrated their ability to emerge strong following extended breaks, dominating Philadelphia in the first period of their series opener en route to a 3-0 victory.

“We had a plan, and clearly it was OK,” Brind’Amour explained, “so we can follow that and run with it.”

The Hurricanes’ strategy centers on relentless effort and high energy: applying aggressive forechecking pressure to force opponent errors, maintaining offensive zone possession, and generating multiple scoring opportunities while limiting counterattacks.

This explains why the advantages of rested bodies and refreshed minds have outweighed concerns about potential rust.

Take veteran netminder Frederik Andersen as an example. The 36-year-old Danish goaltender had appeared in 32 playoff contests for Carolina over the previous three seasons, raising questions about his workload management alongside 31-game winner Brandon Bussi.

However, Andersen has emerged as the playoffs’ standout goaltender, posting a 1.12 goals-against average alongside a .950 save percentage. He’s recorded two shutouts and faced 25 shots or fewer in five of his eight appearances. The upcoming break will provide additional recovery time.

“You don’t really want to add extra games if you can avoid it,” Andersen noted.

Consider also defenseman Sean Walker’s situation.

Following Thursday’s Game 3 road victory, he received word from his wife Taylor in North Carolina that their first child was arriving. Walker caught an early morning flight home for his daughter’s birth, perfectly timed for Mother’s Day. After eating his pregame meal in the hospital cafeteria, he departed for Philadelphia around 2 p.m. Saturday ahead of the 6:15 p.m. start time.

“I didn’t want to get on the boys and tell them we better win tonight, but I’m really appreciative that everybody dug in,” Walker shared. “The sweep’s huge for everybody. But to take this time to just be with my family is going to be really special.”

Carolina has excelled on the penalty kill, a consistent strength, successfully defending 38 of 40 opportunities (95%) while scoring shorthanded in Game 3 at Philadelphia. Offensively, the second line featuring Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake has been exceptional, combining for 14 goals and 31 points across eight games.

This production has compensated for a slow start from the top line of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis, plus a power play converting just 5 of 37 attempts (13.5%) after ranking fourth during the regular season at 24.9%.

Despite these challenges, Carolina never fell behind in their initial five postseason contests and has won their last five games when positioned to eliminate opponents.

Now they face a familiar challenge.

Boston swept an inexperienced Carolina squad in the 2019 Eastern final after the Hurricanes ended a nine-year playoff absence in Brind’Amour’s inaugural season. Florida swept Carolina in 2023 with four one-goal victories, then eliminated them in five games last season.

The Hurricanes now have another opportunity.

“The season is so long and there’s that 82-game season we talk about that no one really gives much credit to, and yet this team’s played well for eight months,” Brind’Amour said. “They didn’t just get hot at the end. It’s been night in, night out like this. And that’s the biggest takeaway for me. Probably the thing I’m most proud of about this group is that.

“And now, here we are. We’ve got to find a way to get that next step.”

The Minnesota Twins made a pitching roster adjustment Sunday, bringing left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas back up from their Triple-A St. Paul affiliate while sending fellow southpaw Kody Funderburk down to the minor league team.

This marks Rojas’ second call-up to the major leagues this year. The young pitcher first appeared in the big leagues on April 22, where he threw two innings without giving up any runs against the New York Mets, though he surrendered two hits and issued three walks in what ended as a no-decision.

The 23-year-old Rojas has compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.20 earned run average across six outings for St. Paul, including two starts.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Funderburk heads back to the minors after posting a 1-1 record with one save and a 2.81 ERA through 19 relief outings this season for Minnesota. Since joining the Twins organization in 2023, Funderburk has appeared in 96 games and recorded three saves along with 20 holds.

The New York Yankees have activated left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon from the 15-day injured list on Sunday, ending his minor league rehabilitation assignment following elbow surgery.

The 33-year-old All-Star is slated to take the mound Sunday against Milwaukee as New York looks to prevent being swept in their three-game series with the Brewers.

To make room on the roster, the Yankees sent right-handed relief pitcher Kervin Castro down to their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Rodon underwent surgery on October 15 to remove loose particles from his left elbow and reduce a bone spur, just days after the Yankees’ 2024 season concluded.

The southpaw enjoyed a standout 2025 campaign, making a career-best 33 starts while compiling an 18-9 record and 3.09 ERA. His impressive season earned him All-Star recognition, and he ranked 10th in Major League Baseball with 203 strikeouts and maintained a 1.05 WHIP.

Data from Inside Edge showed opposing hitters managed just a .154 batting average against Rodon at home, the lowest mark in the majors.

However, he faced difficulties during the postseason, surrendering nine runs across 8 1/3 innings in two starts.

During his rehabilitation stint in the minors, Rodon completed three starts without earning a win or loss, posting a 3.38 ERA. His final tuning-up appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday proved challenging, as he gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings while throwing 83 pitches. He issued two walks and recorded four strikeouts.

“This being probably my third time through a lengthy rehab process, I have some experience, although most people don’t want to really say that,” Rodon told the New York Post on Saturday. “Just (leaning) back on those times and working on the craft and trying to get back here and help the team.”

Rodon has found success against Milwaukee throughout his career, holding a 2-1 record with a 2.42 ERA across five starts versus the Brewers. He has defeated Milwaukee in his single start against them in each of the past two seasons, surrendering just two combined runs on six hits over 11 1/3 innings.

The veteran pitcher is beginning his 12th major league season and fourth year with the Yankees organization.

As a three-time All-Star selection, Rodon brings a career record of 93-72 with a 3.73 ERA and 1.22 WHIP to the mound. The Miami, Florida native has accumulated 1,409 strikeouts and 477 walks across 1,282 innings in 231 appearances (226 starts).

Castro made just one appearance for New York, surrendering one earned run over two innings during Friday’s 6-0 defeat to Milwaukee.

The Colorado Avalanche’s flawless playoff journey came to an abrupt halt, and now they face a critical goaltending decision heading into Game 4.

Scott Wedgewood and the top-seeded Western Conference team had dominated their postseason run with six straight victories before encountering a determined Minnesota Wild squad that delivered a decisive 5-1 defeat on home ice during Saturday’s Game 3 of their second-round matchup.

The defeat itself was troubling enough, but equally telling was head coach Jared Bednar’s choice to remove Wedgewood from the net after Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman scored a power-play goal just 4:23 into the middle period, extending the Wild’s advantage to 3-0.

The 33-year-old Wedgewood had been between the pipes for every playoff minute until he was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood.

Throughout his eight-year NHL career, Wedgewood has primarily served as a backup netminder, but he appeared in a career-best 45 regular season contests for Colorado this year. During their opening playoff round, he was exceptional, surrendering only five goals as the Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in four games.

However, the second round has presented different challenges. Wedgewood gave up six goals in the series opener against Minnesota, though Colorado managed a wild 9-6 victory. He bounced back strongly in Game 2 on Tuesday, making 29 saves in a 5-2 Colorado triumph.

But by Saturday’s Game 3, Bednar had seen enough to make a change.

“I thought that Wedgie was playing hard, and I think maybe he looked a little too aggressive on a couple of those,” Bednar said. “Like the penalty kill, it ends up without a stint of getting aggressive coming across, and then they find the back of the net. The next one, gets a piece of Taser. I think it’s a pass, and it ends up an empty net. He’s out too far, and I just felt like from what I’ve seen out of Blackwood here recently, a rested guy and a guy that we trust, I felt like it was a good opportunity to get him in and see if it sparked our group.”

Before his removal, Wedgewood recorded nine saves while surrendering three goals. Blackwood then entered and made 12 stops, allowing just one goal over his 32:27 of ice time. Minnesota capped off their victory with an empty-net goal from Matt Boldy.

The goaltending tandem, known as “The Lumber Yard,” shared duties almost equally during Colorado’s outstanding regular season that produced 121 points with a 55-16-11 record. Wedgewood compiled a 31-6-1 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and .921 save percentage, while Blackwood achieved a 23-10-2 mark with a 2.51 goals-against average and .902 save percentage.

“We’ll have a decision to make, but there’s a decision to make every night,” Bednar said. “You know, some are easier than others. I thought Blackwood was good. … So, yeah, we’ll talk about it and make a decision.”

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona announced Sunday that rookie pitcher Rhett Lowder will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a shoulder injury affecting his throwing arm.

The 24-year-old right-hander underwent an MRI examination on Friday, which showed no significant structural damage. However, medical staff administered an injection to the AC joint in his right shoulder to address the issue.

“We’re going to place him on the IL,” Francona explained. “It’s not been done yet, but I think our thought was we’re trying not to put a Band-Aid on something. We want this kid to be able to pitch and pitch for a long time and not get interrupted. So hopefully a couple weeks down will do him a world of good.”

The injury comes after a difficult outing against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, where Lowder struggled through three innings in an 8-3 defeat. He surrendered three runs on a single hit – a home run – while issuing four walks, earning the loss in the process.

This season, Lowder holds a 3-3 record with a 5.40 earned run average across eight starting assignments. Over his brief major league career spanning 14 appearances, all as a starter, he maintains a 5-5 record with a 3.52 ERA for Cincinnati.

Jackson Blake found the back of the net 5 minutes and 31 seconds into overtime Saturday night, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The 22-year-old forward received a pass from Taylor Hall and fired a wrist shot that deflected off Flyers netminder Dan Vladar’s left shoulder before crossing the goal line. With the victory, Carolina achieved their second consecutive playoff series sweep and matched a historic feat not accomplished since the 1985 Edmonton Oilers – winning their first eight postseason contests.

“We’re getting some huge performances, but everybody is doing it,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “That’s how we have to get it done and, go down the list, every guy has had his hands in these two series wins.”

Carolina now moves on to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will have an extended rest period while waiting to learn their opponent. The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens remain deadlocked at one game apiece in their series, with Game 3 scheduled for Sunday in Montreal.

“There’s positives and negatives to it,” Hall said of the long layoff between rounds. “The big positive is we’re on to the third round relatively unscathed and healthy.”

Blake contributed two points in the opening frame and set up Logan Stankoven’s third-period tally. Hall recorded assists on all three Carolina goals, while Frederik Andersen turned aside 15 shots for the Hurricanes.

“We are playing well and it’s great to get the sweeps, but I think we do have another level to get to,” Stankoven said. “I’m sure if you asked any of the guys, they would agree with me.”

Philadelphia received goals from Tyson Foerster and Alex Bump, with Vladar stopping 37 shots in the losing effort. The Flyers managed just one power-play goal in 19 opportunities throughout the four-game series.

“We squeezed as much juice from this team. I can’t ask for more,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said. “We hung in there. That’s a good hockey team over there. They roll four lines, they were flying.”

Foerster opened the scoring with his first playoff goal at the 7:50 mark of the initial period, giving Philadelphia an early 1-0 advantage.

Porter Martone sent a pass up ice to Trevor Zegras, who used his speed advantage as both players entered the Carolina zone. Zegras positioned himself along the boards and delivered a pass through the slot to Foerster, who moved to the right hash marks before beating Andersen with a wrist shot.

Blake evened the score at 12:35 of the second period when his shot from above the right faceoff circle struck Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale in the midsection as he battled Stankoven near the crease, deflecting the puck into Philadelphia’s own net.

Carolina thought they had taken the lead when Mark Jankowski scored at 13:03 of the second period, but Philadelphia successfully challenged for goaltender interference on William Carrier, who had made contact with Oliver Bonk in the crease area.

Hall set up Stankoven during a 3-on-2 rush in the third period, with Stankoven redirecting the pass home for his postseason-leading seventh goal at 4:13, putting Carolina ahead 2-1.

Philadelphia responded quickly when Travis Konecny created a turnover behind the Carolina net and found Bump in front, who fired a one-timer from the slot area to tie the game at 5:52.

“Bumper, he makes a mistake on the second goal, he gets the tying goal,” Tocchet said. “He gets right back out there. That’s the stuff you want to see. He’s not on the bench sulking. He knew he made the mistake. He goes out there and, bang, it’s in the net. That’s the growth you like to see.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the first time during their playoff run, the Colorado Avalanche switched goaltenders mid-game Saturday night, benching Scott Wedgewood early in the second period after Minnesota scored three times in their second-round NHL playoff matchup.

Minnesota dominated the contest, winning 5-1 and giving Colorado their first defeat of the current postseason.

“I thought Wedgie was playing hard. I think maybe he looked a little like too aggressive on a couple of those,” coach Jared Bednar said. “It just felt like they had all the momentum and the steam early in that game, and we needed to do something to kind of get our guys fired up and going, and I was hoping that would be part of it.”

Wedgewood recorded nine saves before being replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood, who hadn’t seen game action since April 14. During the regular season, both netminders shared duties with Wedgewood earning 43 starts and Blackwood getting 36, leading to their team receiving the William M. Jennings Trophy for best goals against average.

Despite being a career backup, Wedgewood capitalized on Blackwood’s early-season injury and finished the regular season leading all goalies with a .921 save percentage and 2.02 goals against average. He entered Saturday’s game with a perfect 6-0 playoff record, posting a 2.12 goals against average and .923 save percentage.

However, defensive lapses and undisciplined penalties by his teammates created difficult situations for Wedgewood.

Kirill Kaprizov found the net during four-on-four play after Colorado’s Parker Kelly and Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman received matching roughing penalties for fighting.

A hooking penalty against defenseman Devon Toews then gave Minnesota extended four-on-three power play time, which Quinn Hughes capitalized on with a skillful toe-drag goal from the slot area, maneuvering from the left wing into open space in the middle.

Early in the second period, with Minnesota again on the power play following Kelly’s holding penalty against Hughes, Hartman deflected an airborne puck to make the score 3-0, prompting Bednar to make the goaltending change.

Blackwood, who started every game in last year’s first-round series when Colorado fell to Dallas in seven games, stopped 12 shots in relief.

Bednar remained noncommittal about his starting goaltender for Monday’s Game 4 in Minnesota.

“We’ll have a decision to make, but there’s a decision to make every night. Some of them are easier than others,” Bednar said.

Minnesota has also juggled their goaltending situation this postseason. After rookie Jesper Wallstedt led the Wild past Dallas in the opening round, he naturally started this series. Following a wild 9-6 opening game loss, coach John Hynes turned to Filip Gustavsson for Game 2.

Gustavsson, who served as the team’s main goaltender for three seasons and made 49 regular season starts compared to Wallstedt’s 33, struggled in Tuesday’s 5-2 defeat. This led Hynes to return to Wallstedt for Game 3, a decision that paid off as the rookie made 35 saves.

“I had no doubt he was going to be back — just kind of who he is,” Hynes said. “He’s a competitor. He’s got confidence. He’s been very solid, and I just thought he got right back to his game tonight. He’s proven throughout the playoffs that the moments don’t get too big for him.”

LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma City Thunder’s remarkable roster depth has become legendary throughout the NBA, serving as the foundation for their championship ambitions.

The latest player to emerge from that deep bench and capture national attention is Ajay Mitchell, a Belgian guard who has stepped into the spotlight while filling in for injured teammate Jalen Williams during the current playoff run.

Mitchell turned in a spectacular performance Saturday night, recording career-high playoff numbers of 24 points and 10 assists without a single turnover as the Thunder dominated the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108. The rising star has become another key piece in general manager Sam Presti’s championship puzzle, demonstrating he’s prepared to help Oklahoma City’s title pursuit.

His teammates, however, weren’t caught off guard by his excellence.

“Yeah, he’s a gamer,” said MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Works super hard. He’s never shaken by the moment. It might be a shock to the world, but it’s no shock to us. We knew who Ajay Mitchell was the day he stepped foot in our building, and he’s just showing it to the world.”

Oklahoma City remains perfect in postseason play, now holding a commanding 3-0 advantage in their second-round matchup and appearing destined for the Western Conference finals.

Mitchell’s contributions have been crucial to that success, as he quickly adapted to an expanded role following Williams’ hamstring injury five games ago. During this series against Los Angeles, Mitchell has also compensated for the Lakers’ focused defensive pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander, who has struggled to maintain his typical dominant form.

“I know what I can do, and when I go out there, I just want to compete and help this team win and play freely,” Mitchell explained. “Every time I step on the court, I want to be a winning player and help my team. That’s really what’s been on my mind every time I play.”

Mitchell’s impact was most evident in Saturday’s second half, where he tallied 18 points and seven assists while taking control at the beginning of both quarters. He spearheaded a decisive 21-6 Thunder surge coming out of halftime that led to another dominant victory.

Against the Lakers, Mitchell is posting impressive averages of 20.7 points per contest while shooting an efficient 53.3% from the field and committing just three turnovers total. He’s also contributed 20 assists while maintaining solid defensive play.

When Williams was sidelined during Game 2 of the opening round against Phoenix, Mitchell earned a starting spot for Game 3 but struggled initially, shooting just 5 for 20. His teammates continued supporting him, and Mitchell has been exceptional ever since that rough debut.

“He’s just finding his footing,” Gilgeous-Alexander noted. “It’s his first run in the playoffs, and it’s obviously a different ballgame. He’s just getting more and more comfortable as the game goes on, as the series goes on. … I was never worried that he wasn’t going to figure it out, and he’s shown that.”

Mitchell, who grew up in Europe, completed three college seasons at UC Santa Barbara, located about an hour from downtown Los Angeles, before being selected in the second round of the 2024 draft.

During his rookie campaign, Mitchell saw limited action, averaging 6.5 points across 36 regular-season games while earning early rotation minutes before a turf toe injury sidelined him for most of the season’s second half.

He played minimal minutes during last year’s playoff run, averaging just 8 minutes per game, but Presti and coach Mark Daigneault witnessed enough potential to offer Mitchell a three-year, $9 million extension — a contract that appeared valuable even before his current playoff breakout.

While Mitchell has demonstrated his ability as both a playmaker and scorer, he gained Daigneault’s confidence through his defensive contributions. Despite recognizing Mitchell’s postseason inexperience, Daigneault hasn’t hesitated to make him central to their game plan.

“He doesn’t have a ton of basketball (playing time) in the NBA,” Daigneault observed. “The growth curve of players young in their career is steep, and he’s a guy that’s hungry, (but) he’s also humble. So he grows from all of his experiences. He’s been great in the postseason so far, but he hasn’t been wholly efficient yet. I think that’s a little bit the intensity of the games, the physicality, the length. … And yet he stays aggressive and he just keeps playing.”

The Texas Rangers delivered a dominant 6-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in Arlington, bringing an end to Chicago’s remarkable 10-game winning streak.

Josh Jung and Justin Foscue provided the power for Texas, each connecting for solo home runs. Jung had an outstanding day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Alejandro Osuna contributed two hits and drove in two runs, while Joc Pederson added two hits and one RBI for the Rangers.

On the mound, Texas starter Jack Leiter worked through 4 2/3 innings, surrendering three hits while issuing a season-high five walks and recording six strikeouts. Jalen Beeks (2-1) took over and was flawless through the next 1 1/3 innings, allowing no baserunners.

The Cubs entered the game having won 20 of their previous 23 contests before being held scoreless for the fourth time this season. Chicago struggled mightily with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-13 in those situations and stranding 11 runners on base.

Chicago’s starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (3-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits across five innings, walking one and striking out six batters.

Braves 7, Dodgers 2

Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson each drove in two runs with singles during a big second inning as visiting Atlanta defeated Los Angeles, spoiling Blake Snell’s season debut.

Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider (1-0) was dominant in his second start of the year, allowing just one hit across six innings while striking out eight and walking two. The victory improved the Braves to 5-3 on their current nine-game road trip. Michael Harris II added an RBI double in the fifth, and Drake Baldwin contributed a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Snell (0-1) struggled in his return from shoulder fatigue, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits in three innings with five strikeouts and two walks. This marked his first appearance since throwing four outs in Game 7 of the World Series when Los Angeles beat Toronto. Andy Pages connected for a two-run homer in the ninth to prevent Atlanta’s shutout.

Reds 3, Astros 1

Chase Burns delivered six solid innings and Cincinnati capitalized on a crucial fifth-inning fielding mistake to defeat visiting Houston, ending a season-worst eight-game losing streak.

The victory sets up a decisive rubber match on Sunday in this three-game interleague series. Cincinnati broke through with three runs in the fifth against Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-1), who suffered his first loss in five starts this season.

Burns (4-1) only retired the side in order once during the third inning and matched his season low with two strikeouts. However, he induced Isaac Paredes to ground into an inning-ending double play in the first and successfully worked around runners in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

Blue Jays 14, Angels 1

Brandon Valenzuela capped a seven-run fifth inning with a three-run homer as Toronto crushed visiting Los Angeles.

Valenzuela finished with four hits while Ernie Clement recorded his second career five-hit performance, including a solo homer, as Toronto collected 20 hits to win their second straight in the three-game series.

Jesus Sanchez also went deep with a solo shot as the Blue Jays padded their statistics against infielder Adam Frazier, who was pressed into pitching duty during a four-run eighth inning for the Angels, who have now lost four of five games to Toronto this season.

Royals 5, Tigers 1

Michael Wacha scattered two hits across seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. raced around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park homer, and Michael Massey broke the game open with a three-run blast as host Kansas City defeated struggling Detroit.

Wacha (4-2), who will turn 35 in July and carries a 2.63 ERA, allowed only a single to Kerry Carpenter and a double from Spencer Torkelson to help the Royals claim the first two games of this three-game series. Kansas City, which secured its first series victory over Detroit since August 2024, has gone 12-5 since dropping eight consecutive games.

Riley Greene drove in a run with a double in the eighth for the Tigers, who managed just four hits while tying a season high with their fifth straight defeat. Detroit had swept a three-game home series during Kansas City’s extended skid last month but now faces the possibility of that favor being returned this weekend.

Athletics 6, Orioles 2

Brent Rooker launched a three-run homer and the Athletics captured their third consecutive victory by defeating host Baltimore.

Aaron Civale (4-1) continued his strong pitching with his third straight quality start, throwing five scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and three walks while striking out six. Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, and Joel Kuhnel each contributed one shutout inning, while Mark Leiter Jr. was responsible for Baltimore’s two runs.

Pinch hitter Colton Cowser delivered a two-run single for the Orioles, who dropped their third in a row and eighth in their last 10 games. Baltimore starter Shane Baz (1-4) lasted only 4 2/3 innings, charged with five runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Phillies 9, Rockies 3

Alec Bohm smashed two home runs and drove in four runs in his return to the lineup as host Philadelphia evened their weekend series with a victory over Colorado.

Bohm, who had been without a homer since March 26, led off both the third and fourth innings with solo shots before adding a two-run double in the eighth. Kyle Schwarber broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third with a three-run homer, his third in consecutive nights.

Willi Castro homered and Kyle Karros doubled in two runs for the Rockies, whose starter Kyle Freeland (1-4) was hammered for seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits over five innings.

Marlins 8, Nationals 7

Jakob Marsee belted a three-run homer in the eighth inning and host Miami held on to defeat Washington.

With the game knotted at 4-4, Kyle Stowers opened the eighth with a single off Mitchell Parker (2-1) and Connor Norby drew a walk. After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Marsee delivered his decisive blast. Xavier Edwards also homered, Andrew Nardi (3-2) threw a perfect inning, and John King recorded his first save.

Luis Garcia Jr. collected three hits and two RBIs, James Wood homered and doubled, and CJ Abrams drove in two runs for the Nationals, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

White Sox 6, Mariners 1

Miguel Vargas homered twice and Colson Montgomery also connected to power Chicago past visiting Seattle.

White Sox starter Anthony Kay (2-1) allowed three hits, all singles, and one run across five innings. Relievers Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson, and Tyler Schweitzer combined for four shutout innings to complete a four-hitter that ended Chicago’s three-game skid.

Mariners starter Luis Castillo dropped to 0-4 after giving up five hits and four runs in four innings. He surrendered two homers for the second time in three outings. Seattle’s lone run came on a Rob Refsnyder sacrifice fly.

Twins 2, Guardians 1 (11 innings)

Byron Buxton’s RBI double in the 11th inning delivered Minnesota a victory over host Cleveland in a game where each team managed only two hits.

Buxton accounted for both of the Twins’ hits, leading off the game with his 13th homer to snap Minnesota’s three-game losing streak. Cleveland’s only run came on consecutive fourth-inning singles, with Kyle Manzardo providing the RBI.

Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee allowed one run on one hit in six innings. Minnesota’s Joe Ryan surrendered one run and two hits across six innings.

Brewers 4, Yankees 3 (10 innings)

William Contreras delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to give Milwaukee a comeback victory over visiting New York.

The Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th before Fernando Cruz (3-1) entered for the bottom half. Automatic runner Garrett Mitchell reached third on a wild pitch and Luis Rengifo walked. After pinch hitter Gary Sanchez flew out, Jackson Chourio tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI infield single.

Tim Hill came in but threw wildly to third on Brice Turang’s grounder back to the mound, loading the bases. Contreras then lifted a fly ball deep enough to right field to score Rengifo and secure a series victory for the Brewers. Aaron Ashby (7-0) worked the final two innings for his major league-leading seventh win.

Pirates 13, Giants 3

Braxton Ashcraft pitched seven innings of one-run ball, catcher Joey Bart tied his career high with four hits, and Pittsburgh used a 20-hit offensive explosion to rout host San Francisco.

Nick Gonzales also collected four hits and Brandon Lowe drove in four runs for the Pirates, who have won six of their last eight contests. Oneil Cruz scored three times and had three hits, while Lowe and Spencer Horwitz each scored twice. Ashcraft (2-2) held the Giants to six hits, striking out six without issuing a walk.

Bryce Eldridge hit his first career home run to put San Francisco on the scoreboard in the fifth. Heliot Ramos had two singles and scored once for the Giants, who won Friday’s series opener 5-2. San Francisco has dropped nine of its last 11 games.

Padres 4, Cardinals 2

Ty France and Manny Machado went deep, while Fernando Tatis Jr. provided a go-ahead hit during a three-run fifth inning that carried host San Diego over St. Louis.

Starter Randy Vasquez (4-1) gave up six hits across five innings while allowing just one run. The right-hander issued no walks and struck out six before San Diego’s high-leverage relievers finished the job. Mason Miller earned his 12th save in 12 opportunities.

Right-hander Dustin May (3-4) pitched effectively for the Cardinals except for the fifth inning. He allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Diamondbacks 2, Mets 1

Ildemaro Vargas delivered a two-run single, Merrill Kelly turned in his sharpest start of the season, and Arizona defeated New York to split the three-game series in Phoenix.

Kelly (2-3) surrendered one run on three hits across seven innings in his fifth start since returning from an early-season back injury. Vargas’ bases-loaded single off Clay Holmes (4-3) in the third came after two-out singles by Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo and a walk to Adrian Del Castillo, providing Kelly with all the run support he needed.

The Mets (15-24) sit just one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels (15-25) for the worst record in the majors. They had won four of five games entering this contest. New York managed three hits, none after Tyrone Taylor’s two-out double in the fifth.

San Francisco Giants ace pitcher Logan Webb has been sidelined with right knee bursitis, ending an impressive streak of not missing a single start in five years.

The Giants placed Webb on the injured list Saturday, with the move backdated to Wednesday. His last outing came Tuesday when he struggled against the San Diego Padres, giving up six earned runs and seven hits over four innings before leaving with knee discomfort in a 10-5 defeat.

To fill the roster spot, San Francisco brought up right-handed pitcher Trevor McDonald from their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.

The 29-year-old Webb, who has been selected as an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, had started 157 consecutive games for the Giants dating back to his last injured list stint in July 2021.

“I haven’t missed a start in a long time, so it’s been eating at me a little bit,” Webb told reporters Saturday prior to the Giants’ matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates. “But I think it’s best for me, best for the team, best for the longevity of my career. That sort of thing. I’ve got a lot of good people in my corner that talked me into it, pretty much. But I’m glad I did.”

According to Webb, the knee problem has been ongoing and worsened during an April 30 contest against the Philadelphia Phillies when he had to cover first base on a play.

Giants skipper Tony Vitello acknowledged that Webb required some persuasion to accept the time off for his knee to recover.

“It’s a little bit more of a, I don’t want to say day-to-day thing, but a little bit more of a, give it a few days and then see where he’s at,” Vitello explained Saturday. “Better to keep the long run in mind.”

Through eight starts this season, Webb holds a 2-4 record with a 5.06 earned run average, having walked 15 batters while striking out 42 across 48 innings of work.

Over his career, Webb has compiled a 72-57 record with a 3.45 ERA, issuing 265 walks and recording 1,036 strikeouts across 1,110 1/3 innings in 188 regular-season appearances (185 as a starter). He earned the Gold Glove award for National League pitchers last year.

The 25-year-old McDonald brings a strong performance from his recent appearance, posting a 1-0 record this season with a 1.29 ERA and eight strikeouts in seven innings during a 3-2 victory over the Padres on Monday. The rookie has appeared in five games (three starts) since 2024 and carries a 2-0 record with three walks and 23 strikeouts over 25 total innings.

Additionally, the Giants promoted catcher Logan Porter from Sacramento after trading Gold Glove-winning backstop Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians earlier in the day.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has committed to a two-year extension with the franchise after spending over a decade at the helm, multiple media outlets including ESPN and The Athletic have confirmed.

The 60-year-old coach will continue to hold the distinction of being the NBA’s top-earning coach annually, building on his previous $17.5 million salary from this past season. Kerr’s previous contract had reached its conclusion during the recent offseason.

Over the past two weeks, Kerr engaged in extensive discussions with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy to hash out the terms of his new deal. According to ESPN’s reporting, financial considerations took a backseat to making the optimal basketball decision during these negotiations.

Throughout his tenure that began in the 2014-15 campaign, Kerr has led Golden State to four championship victories in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. His coaching record includes 604 wins against 353 losses during regular season play (.631 winning percentage) and a 104-48 mark in postseason competition (.684 winning percentage).

Despite this success, the Warriors failed to secure a playoff berth this year after falling to the Phoenix Suns in a play-in tournament matchup. This marks the second time in three years that the franchise has been excluded from the playoff picture.

The team also concluded the season with a 37-45 record, representing just the second time under Kerr’s leadership that Golden State finished with a losing record.

Following the team’s 111-96 defeat to Phoenix on April 17, Kerr acknowledged the possibility that it could have been his final game as the Warriors’ coach.

“I still love coaching, but I get it,” Kerr told reporters. “These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”

Kerr had previously indicated that if he continued coaching for another season, it would exclusively be alongside superstar point guard Stephen Curry and the Warriors organization.

“That’s part of the equation,” he said. “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right. Those are all discussions that will be had.”

Prior to leading the Warriors to their first championship in four decades during 2015, Kerr captured five NBA titles as a player with the Chicago Bulls from 1996-98 and the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 and 2003.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will continue leading the franchise after reaching agreement on a two-year contract extension, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

A person with knowledge of the talks confirmed to The Associated Press that while Kerr has agreed to the deal in principle, he has not yet put pen to paper on the contract. The source requested anonymity since the agreement still needs to be completed.

The contract extension comes after a disappointing season that saw Golden State fail to reach the playoffs for the second time in three years. The Warriors finished with the 10th seed in the Western Conference and were eliminated by Phoenix in the play-in tournament.

During his dozen years at the helm, Kerr has guided the Warriors to four NBA titles and six consecutive Finals appearances alongside stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Following the playoff loss in Phoenix, Kerr embraced both players, acknowledging afterward that he wasn’t certain if they would continue working together.

This past season proved challenging as the Warriors posted a 37-45 record while battling multiple injuries. The team lost Jimmy Butler for the remainder of the season in January due to a right knee injury, while Curry missed 27 games with his own knee problems.

ESPN was first to report news of Kerr’s contract extension.

The 60-year-old coach took over the Warriors in 2014-15 and immediately delivered the franchise’s first championship in four decades. The following season began with Kerr sidelined as assistant coach Luke Walton guided the team to a historic 24-0 start. Kerr missed the first 43 games while recovering from severe complications related to two back surgeries, and the Warriors went on to win a record 73 games. He later took additional time away in 2017, with Mike Brown stepping in while Kerr had a procedure to address a spinal fluid leak.

Green had speculated on his podcast after the season concluded that Kerr might not return to the team.

Beyond basketball, Kerr has consistently used his position to advocate on issues including gun violence and social justice. His father, Malcolm, who served as president of the American University of Beirut, was killed in Beirut when Kerr was an 18-year-old college freshman at the University of Arizona.

In March 2018, Kerr participated in the Oakland March for Our Lives event. That same month, he joined Democratic Representatives Ro Khanna and Mike Thompson — who chaired the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force at the time — along with local students at a Newark Memorial High School town hall focused on school gun violence, praising young activists across the nation.

Kerr has expressed that balancing his roles as both a basketball coach and public advocate comes naturally given current events.

“I think in some ways the balance is presented to us, given what’s happening around the country,” Kerr said. “I know that when I played, players and coaches were never — maybe not never — rarely asked about politics and voting.”

Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller is set to return from the injured list and take the mound Wednesday when his team faces the Houston Astros, according to manager Dan Wilson’s announcement to media on Saturday.

The right-handed pitcher has been sidelined since the beginning of the season due to an oblique injury he suffered during spring training.

At 27 years old, Miller had an outstanding 2024 season, recording a 2.94 earned run average, a 0.976 WHIP, and striking out 171 batters over 31 games started and 180 1/3 innings pitched.

His performance took a downturn during his injury-plagued 2025 season, though, as he managed only a 5.68 ERA, 1.406 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts across 18 starts covering 90 1/3 innings before being sidelined for more than two months with elbow problems.

Miller’s comeback will strengthen Seattle’s pitching staff, which currently holds the 12th-best team ERA in Major League Baseball at 4.00. Wilson informed reporters that the team plans to operate with six starting pitchers, at least initially, following Miller’s activation.

A former New York Jets linebacker is set to compete for a coveted UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series, according to multiple sports media outlets.

Anthony Wint, who transitioned from professional football to mixed martial arts, will step into the octagon seeking his shot at the premier fighting organization. The 30-year-old athlete originally played collegiate football at Florida International University, earning All-Conference USA honors three times during his college career.

Following his college success, Wint joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2018. During his brief NFL stint, he saw action in two games, registering one tackle and forcing a fumble before his football career ended.

The heavyweight fighter made his transition to combat sports in 2023 and has compiled an impressive undefeated record of 6-0. His victories include four knockouts and one submission, demonstrating his versatility in the cage.

Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 224 pounds, Wint is scheduled to face Matt Adams, who holds a 6-2 record, on August 11. The bout will take place at the Meta Apex venue in Las Vegas as part of the Contender Series program.

A UCLA senior made softball history this weekend by shattering a three-decade-old NCAA record with a powerful swing that sent the ball soaring into the record books.

Megan Grant launched her 38th home run of the 2026 season during Saturday’s matchup with Nebraska, surpassing the previous NCAA Division I softball record of 37 home runs that Arizona’s Laura Espinoza established back in 1995.

The remarkable achievement came in the third inning when Grant connected on a deep drive to left-center field. What makes the feat even more impressive is that Grant accomplished this milestone in just 55 games, compared to the 72 games it took Espinoza to set the original mark.

Mike Candrea, who served as Espinoza’s coach at Arizona, offered his congratulations to Grant. “Records are made to be broken,” Candrea shared with The Athletic. “It’s a pretty phenomenal record to be able to break, so tip my hat off.”

Despite Grant’s historic moment, Nebraska claimed victory in Saturday’s contest with a 7-2 win to secure the Big Ten championship.

Grant’s record-breaking performance capped off an incredible weekend for the Bruins’ offense. During Friday’s semifinal victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament, UCLA’s team reached 181 home runs for the season, breaking the previous team record of 161 that had been set in 2021. Grant’s Saturday blast pushed that total to 182.

The multi-sport star, who also contributed to UCLA’s 2026 NCAA basketball championship, reflected on her achievement with reporters. “When I first came into college, I wanted to put myself in the books as one of the best, and I didn’t really know how to at the time, but throughout my career, just more and more has gone on, and to be able to do that, it’s just, it’s surreal,” Grant explained. “I am just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with, and just to follow the people that were before me. It’s just honor.”

Grant’s path to the record included matching UCLA’s previous single-season mark during an April 18 doubleheader against Cal, when she tied Stacey Nuveman’s school record with her 31st homer. She then broke Nuveman’s UCLA record on April 24 in a game against Washington.

Both Grant and Nuveman now stand as the only Bruins players to reach 80 career home runs. While Nuveman, who finished her career in 2002, holds the program’s all-time record with 90, Grant currently sits at 85 career homers.

Grant has also made history alongside senior teammate Jordan Woolery, who has hit 33 home runs this season. The duo became the first teammates in NCAA softball history to each hit 30 or more home runs in the same season.

The Bruins, who finished the regular season with a 47-8 record, will learn their postseason placement during Sunday afternoon’s NCAA Division I Selection Show. UCLA is pursuing its first Women’s College World Series championship since 2019, which would be the program’s 13th NCAA title overall.

Following the college season, Grant plans to continue her softball career alongside teammates Woolery and Taylor Tinsley in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League this summer.

Hall of Fame baseball manager Bobby Cox, who transformed the Atlanta Braves into a dynasty during the 1990s and led them to their 1995 World Series championship, passed away Saturday at age 84 in Marietta, Georgia, the team announced.

Cox had been battling health issues since suffering a stroke in 2019. The legendary skipper guided the Braves through their most successful era, turning around a franchise that had been struggling in last place when he took control in June 1990.

Just one year later, Cox orchestrated one of baseball’s most remarkable turnarounds, leading Atlanta from worst to first and into the 1991 World Series, where they fell to Minnesota in a thrilling seven-game series. That dramatic season launched an unprecedented run of 14 straight division championships.

During his 25-year tenure with the Braves, Cox became synonymous with the franchise’s success before stepping down following the 2010 season. His contributions to the game were recognized in 2014 when he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In other sports news, the Cleveland Cavaliers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 116-109 victory over Detroit in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. James Harden delivered when it mattered most, nailing three crucial shots in the final two minutes, while Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points. The win cuts Detroit’s series advantage to 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday night in Cleveland.

Harden’s performance was a significant bounce-back after struggling in the previous two games, finishing with 19 points alongside Jarrett Allen’s 18. Mitchell reached a career milestone, becoming the fastest player to score 2,000 postseason points, achieving the feat in just 73 games. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham recorded his second career playoff triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, though he was hurt by eight turnovers.

The WNBA season kicked off with much fanfare as the highly anticipated matchup between Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever and Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings drew a sold-out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. After a 10-month wait to play at home, Clark and the Fever fell just short in a thrilling 107-104 loss to Dallas.

Arike Ogunbowale paced the Wings with 22 points, while Bueckers contributed 20 in the victory. Clark had a chance to force overtime with a deep three-pointer but came up short, finishing with 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and five turnovers. Kelsey Mitchell topped Indiana’s scoring with 30 points, and Aliyah Boston added 23.

In Major League Baseball transactions, the San Francisco Giants have shipped struggling catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for minor league pitcher Matt Wilkinson and the 29th selection in the 2026 draft. Despite winning two Gold Glove awards for his defensive prowess, Bailey’s offensive struggles prompted the move, as he was hitting just .146 with one home run and five RBIs.

The New York Giants began their rookie minicamp under new head coach John Harbaugh, who described the weekend sessions as a rehearsal rather than a competition. Top draft selections Arvell Reese and Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa participated in Saturday’s activities, with Harbaugh emphasizing preparation for upcoming workouts when veterans return.

UCLA’s Megan Grant made college softball history by launching her 38th home run of the season, breaking the Division I single-season record during the Big Ten Championship Game against Nebraska. The senior slugger connected on an 0-2 pitch from Jordy Frahm, sending it deep to left-center for a solo shot that gave UCLA a 2-0 lead in the third inning, though Nebraska ultimately won the conference title 7-2.

The Phoenix Mercury delivered a statement victory in their WNBA season opener, crushing the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 99-66 and spoiling their ring ceremony. Alyssa Thomas led the way with 20 points as Phoenix gained revenge for being swept by Las Vegas in last year’s finals. The 33-point margin represented the Mercury’s largest victory since August and marked the Aces’ most lopsided defeat since early last season.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s NBA draft lottery in Chicago, several teams are positioned to benefit from strategic rebuilding efforts. Washington is guaranteed a top-five selection, while Brooklyn and Utah could be rewarded for enduring historically poor seasons. The lottery will be determined by four ping-pong balls drawn in a secure room, with the resulting combination determining which team earns the coveted first overall pick.

Finally, Shane van Gisbergen celebrated his 37th birthday by capturing the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. The New Zealand driver, who has dominated road course racing with five wins in his last six attempts on road and street circuits, will start ahead of Michael McDowell and Austin Cindric when the green flag drops.

The New York Knicks received encouraging news regarding forward OG Anunoby’s availability for Sunday’s pivotal Game 4 matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, as the team upgraded his status from doubtful to questionable due to his hamstring injury.

The 28-year-old forward has been a cornerstone of New York’s impressive playoff run, contributing 21.4 points per game along with 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks while connecting on an outstanding 53.8 percent of his three-point attempts.

Anunoby delivered a strong performance in Game 2 against Philadelphia, recording 24 points and four steals before sustaining a strain to his right hamstring that sidelined him for the following contest.

Despite missing their key contributor in Game 3, the Knicks maintained their momentum with a commanding 108-94 victory over the Sixers, powered by Jalen Brunson’s exceptional 33-point, nine-assist showing.

New York now holds a commanding 3-0 advantage in the series and has the opportunity to complete a sweep when they travel to Philadelphia on Sunday.

Houston has acquired outfielder Rhylan Thomas through waivers after he was released by the Seattle Mariners, the Astros announced.

To make room on the roster, Houston moved right-handed pitcher Hunter Bown from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

The 26-year-old Thomas began his professional career when the New York Mets selected him in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Seattle acquired him in 2024 through a trade that sent veteran right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek to New York.

Thomas made his major league debut this season with Seattle, playing in three games where he collected one hit in eight at-bats, including a double, and drove in two runs while drawing one walk.

At the Triple-A level this year with Tacoma, Thomas has compiled a .260 batting average with a .313 on-base percentage and .328 slugging percentage over 31 games. During that stint, he has hit two home runs, driven in nine runs, and stolen six bases.

Iran’s football federation announced Saturday that the nation will “definitely” compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while demanding that host countries address Tehran’s concerns about player travel and treatment.

Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran president Mehdi Taj stated that “All players and technical staff, especially those who served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, should be granted visas without problems,” according to Iranian media reports.

The request comes as Iran maintains a delicate ceasefire with the United States following military conflicts that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, and while Iranian citizens face travel restrictions implemented during the Trump presidency.

Speaking to the state-run IRNA news agency on Friday, Taj outlined conditions for Iran’s participation, including visa guarantees, security assurances, and proper treatment of Iranian personnel. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic would compete “without retreating from our beliefs, culture and convictions.”

The visa issue gained prominence after Canadian officials blocked Taj’s entry last month prior to a FIFA Congress, allegedly due to his connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which both the United States and Canada classify as a terrorist organization.

Taj has consistently sought FIFA’s commitment to respectful treatment of Iranian officials, athletes, and national symbols throughout the tournament.

The visa concerns could impact key player Mehdi Taremi, Iran’s team captain and striker, who fulfilled his required military duty with the Guard. Iran’s conscription system randomly assigns service members to various branches including police, army, or the Revolutionary Guard.

Iran has been placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt, with their opening match scheduled against New Zealand in Inglewood, near Los Angeles.

The Iranian national team has secured World Cup berths in four straight tournaments and seven total appearances, though they have never progressed beyond group play. Currently holding the 21st world ranking, Iran suffered only one defeat during Asian qualification rounds.

Toronto FC made history Saturday night, welcoming their biggest crowd ever to BMO Field as nearly 45,000 soccer fans came out to witness Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in action. The match doubled as a crucial preparation exercise for Toronto’s upcoming role as a World Cup host city.

The stadium was packed with supporters wearing Miami’s distinctive pink and black jerseys alongside Argentina’s traditional blue and white colors, all eager to see the legendary eight-time Ballon d’Or champion in person. Messi delivered for the crowd, finding the net in Inter Miami’s 4-2 victory over Toronto FC.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledged the weekend’s significance on Friday, stating: “This weekend will serve as a real life test run with a number of high attendance sporting events in town.” The mayor was also referencing concurrent Toronto Blue Jays games and the Sporting Life 10K race happening in the city.

The attendance figure of 44,828 provided Toronto officials with valuable insights into crowd management, from stadium entry and exit procedures to public transportation coordination. Security personnel faced their own challenges when multiple fans attempted to storm the field in the final minutes, hoping to get close to the 38-year-old Argentine superstar.

Sharon Bollenbach, who leads the World Cup 2026 Toronto Secretariat, emphasized the event’s importance in a Reuters statement: “This weekend’s match is a valuable opportunity for city divisions, emergency services, transit agencies, venue operators and other partners to work together in a live event setting, to test and refine as required before the matches begin.”

City officials anticipate more than 300,000 visitors will descend on Toronto during the World Cup tournament. Saturday’s game marked Toronto FC’s last home appearance before the June 11-July 19 competition begins.

BMO Field underwent significant renovations worth $158 million, including the installation of 17,000 temporary seats positioned behind both goals to satisfy World Cup capacity requirements. These additional seats made their debut during Saturday’s match.

The towering temporary structures sparked safety concerns on social media back in March, with one user posting on X: “Just saw a photo of BMO’s temporary seating. Respectfully, you couldn’t pay me to climb, stand or sit on that.”

However, fans seemed comfortable with the new seating arrangements on Saturday. Many supporters in the uppermost sections chose to stand with their backs to the railings, taking in panoramic views of Lake Ontario after the final whistle.

Metrolinx, the agency operating the city’s GO train network, announced Wednesday it would treat the match as a “readiness test,” implementing increased service frequency to the station serving BMO Field along with enhanced safety protocols and crowd control measures.

The transportation authority expects roughly 500,000 additional passengers to use their services during the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Canada’s World Cup journey begins June 12 when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Stadium. The Canadian squad will also take on 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar and Switzerland as part of Group B competition.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is taking a measured approach as he settles into his new role, with his first meaningful game still more than four months away.

Saturday’s concluding rookie minicamp session intentionally avoided physical contact. Harbaugh emphasized to high draft selections Arvell Reese and Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa, along with other participants, that the weekend served as preparation for upcoming offseason workouts rather than a competitive evaluation.

“This is not a camp where you’re trying to go out there and make plays,” Harbaugh explained. “There really are no plays to be made. It’s a rehearsal type of camp. … We’re going to kind of do the dance, so to speak, of football. We’re not actually competing against one another.”

The real competition will emerge during organized team activities, mandatory minicamp, and training camp, which kicks off in late July at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Following an 18-year tenure with Baltimore, Harbaugh is implementing a methodical strategy for his fresh opportunity, with genuine evaluations still months ahead.

“The true competition comes in the preseason games,” Harbaugh noted. “That’s when you can say it’s the most competitive. I’d say it’s kind of a ramp up to that.”

Harbaugh’s credentials include a Super Bowl victory and 12 playoff appearances with Baltimore, plus six additional postseason trips as a Philadelphia assistant coach.

During his time with Philadelphia, Harbaugh coached defensive back Rod Hood. Now, the Giants selected Rod’s nephew Colton Hood, a Tennessee cornerback, in the second round. The rookie minicamp marked Colton Hood’s first chance to work under Harbaugh’s guidance.

“My uncle told me what to expect, and it was everything that I expected,” Hood commented after making Saturday’s standout play — an interception where he stripped the ball from tryout running back Miles Davis. “Just hard-nosed coach, old-school, but he loves his players. He wants them to be great, so it’s that tough love kind of thing.”

Given Harbaugh’s special teams expertise, the upcoming months will feature an intriguing kicking battle. The Giants signed Michigan’s Dominic Zvada as an undrafted free agent to challenge returning kicker Ben Sauls and newly acquired veteran Jason Sanders.

“We’ll kick field goals, I think, every other practice,” Harbaugh said. “We may be kicking them every practice because we’ve got three guys to kick, and we’ll just see how it shakes out.”

Zvada connected on 95.5% of his field goal attempts in 2024, leading the nation, but dropped to 68% the following season. Standing 6-foot-3, Zvada is “big for a kicker,” according to Harbaugh, who praised his leg strength.

“More than anything just the consistency,” Harbaugh said. “He does a nice job of getting downfield through the kick, and because of that he tends to kick a straight ball consistently. If you do that, you probably have a chance.”

Reese’s availability at the fifth overall pick caught some by surprise, and the organization is now working to optimize the Ohio State standout’s potential, as assistant general manager Brandon Brown described.

The team envisions Reese as a weak-side linebacker rather than an edge rusher like other franchises might, and his rookie minicamp debut left a positive impression.

“Picks things up really quick,” Harbaugh observed. “Very serious-minded, very diligent about the assignments. I don’t think he got one assignment wrong throughout the two days, which is great to see.”

Despite receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s workout with New York last month, no contract has emerged and may not materialize. Harbaugh revealed he spoke with Beckham multiple times recently while the 33-year-old trains in Arizona, though no deal appears close.

“It’s got to be right for both parties,” Harbaugh explained. “I’m pretty sure that he can make a team in the National Football League right now, but can he make a difference? It’s something he wants to do. Is his body going to hold up in the way he wants it to? And all those things are questions that need to get answered for anybody at that age.”

Beckham hasn’t appeared in an NFL contest since December 8, 2024.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At Tennessee’s storied Iroquois Steeplechase, while jockeys and horse owners vie for substantial prize money, the crowd’s beloved highlight remains the traditional foxhound parade that has charmed audiences for 85 years.

On Saturday, more than 20 foxhounds — specially bred to accompany horses and hunters — paraded across the grass course to launch race day festivities as thousands of fans cheered and captured the moment on camera.

The huntsman and his assistants, known as whippers-in, face the challenging job of guiding the pack along the proper route, particularly when the dogs become distracted by the massive crowd of spectators and their tempting tailgate spreads in the infield area.

Charles Montgomery, who serves as master and huntsman for the Mells Foxhounds — the hunting organization that provides dogs for the steeplechase — recalled one particularly social hound who abandoned her route for fan interaction. “She had the best time. She loved going into the beer tents,” Montgomery explained.

The dog enjoyed the experience so thoroughly that she made a beeline for the beer tent again the following year, resulting in her permanent exclusion from future races, Montgomery noted.

The Iroquois Steeplechase ranks among America’s top steeplechase competitions, offering $730,000 in total prize money on a grass course featuring hurdles. The venue opened in 1941 through a Works Progress Administration initiative, with the Nashville event established by members of the Hillsboro Hounds, a local fox hunting organization.

According to Stephen Heard, an Iroquois Steeplechase trustee and Mells Foxhounds member, steeplechase racing and fox hunting share deep historical connections. This tradition originated in the British Isles, where horses raced between church steeples and learned to clear obstacles like fences during hunting expeditions with dogs.

“Many of the horses that we use fox hunting are ex-steeplechase horses,” Heard noted.

With 25,000 attendees eating and drinking throughout tents and grandstands, the dogs require adjustment time to handle the overwhelming sounds and aromas.

“I took one dog last year and he heard the speakers and he said, ‘This is not for me,’” Charles Montgomery recalled.

“It’s high pressure,” explained Boo Montgomery, one of the whippers-in. She remembered when a child extended a fried chicken leg through the railings, creating irresistible temptation. “You couldn’t fault Brightly for stopping and having a snack,” she said, referring to one of the foxhounds.

Charles Montgomery typically brings experienced hunting dogs to mentor younger hounds along the course. On race morning, the eager dogs leaped from their trailer, ready to explore the grass, chew sticks, and roll in clover.

The hounds sport GPS-enabled collars during both hunting activities and racetrack appearances. This technology proved valuable last year when a frightened dog fled into the surrounding wooded parkland.

Despite the unfamiliar racetrack environment, the hounds appear to relish their role in launching the horse races, Boo Montgomery observed.

“It’s a great exposure for hunting to get to see these hounds and the horses,” Boo Montgomery said. “It’s nice to be able to show off.”

Former Major League Baseball star and Hall of Famer Wade Boggs has received the all-clear from doctors after his battle with prostate cancer.

The 67-year-old baseball legend shared the positive update following his participation in Friday evening’s celebration at Fenway Park, marking 125 years since the Red Sox played their first home game. Boggs joined fellow Red Sox legends David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, and Carl Yastrzemski in throwing ceremonial first pitches.

“I’m a cancer survivor now. Prostate cancer is null and void. Thank God,” Boggs stated on Friday, referencing his latest medical examination.

The former third baseman received his prostate cancer diagnosis in September 2024 and completed radiation therapy and hormone treatments in Florida. On November 13, 2024, he posted on social media platform X to announce the completion of his treatment regimen.

“Praise God! Had my last treatment this morning, now it’s in the hands of God 🙏,” Boggs wrote in his November post. “Can’t thank my family, friends and my fans for your continued support throughout this difficult time. Also my wonderful team at Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute 🙏🙏🙏.”

Boggs emphasized the importance of early detection in his successful treatment and urged men to prioritize regular health screenings.

“It’s a process that you have to go through, and I encourage all young men to get your PSA tests,” Boggs explained Friday. “Please go out there. Because mine, it wasn’t even on the radar. It was a 3.3, and they don’t even start talking about it until it gets to four. But I had the bad one, and we caught it early. … I had my checkup a month ago, and I’m completely cancer-free.”

During his 18-season MLB career, Boggs played for the Boston Red Sox from 1982 to 1992, the New York Yankees from 1993 to 1997, and finished with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1998 to 1999. Both the Red Sox and Rays organizations have retired his jersey number in his honor.

In 2005, Boggs earned first-ballot induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving recognition on 91.9% of submitted ballots.

His impressive career achievements include five American League batting titles, 12 All-Star Game selections, two Gold Glove Awards, and eight Silver Slugger Awards. He captured a World Series championship with the Yankees in 1996. Boggs concluded his playing days with a .328 batting average and membership in the exclusive 3,000-hit club, tallying 3,010 hits along with 1,513 runs scored, 118 home runs, and 1,014 RBIs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes through the waiver claim process from the Chicago Cubs, while simultaneously moving utility player Tommy Edman to the 60-day injured list to create space on their 40-man roster.

The 30-year-old Barnes had been placed on waivers by Chicago earlier this week. His only major league outing this season came on April 13 against Philadelphia, where he allowed four runs (three earned) across three innings. At the Triple-A level with Iowa, Barnes posted a 3-1 record and 3.04 ERA through seven games, including four starts.

Throughout his major league career, Barnes holds a 0-3 record with a 6.15 ERA across 10 appearances, eight of which were starts. His last MLB action came in 2021 with Minnesota, the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 draft.

For the past four seasons, Barnes played professionally in South Korea with the Lotte team, compiling a 35-32 record and 3.58 ERA over 94 starts.

The 31-year-old Edman had right ankle surgery in November, just after helping the Dodgers capture the World Series championship. He is expected to be cleared for return from the injured list before the end of this month.

Over seven major league seasons split between St. Louis and Los Angeles, Edman has maintained a .258 batting average with 72 homers and 291 RBIs across 730 games.

Baseball Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, who became synonymous with the Atlanta Braves during their dominant run in the 1990s and 2000s, passed away at 84 years old, the organization confirmed Saturday.

Throughout his managerial career with the Braves and Toronto Blue Jays, Cox amassed 2,504 wins, placing him fourth all-time in major league history. His remarkable achievements include leading teams to 15 division championships, five National League pennants, and the Braves’ 1995 World Series title.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper. Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform,” the Braves organization stated. “His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched.”

Cox entered the world on May 21, 1941, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before relocating to Central California at age three. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him as an infielder straight from Selma High School in 1959, with scout Red Adams making the discovery.

Following nearly ten years in the minor league systems of the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Braves, Cox’s playing career remained modest. He spent his inaugural major league season in 1968 with the New York Yankees, playing alongside Mickey Mantle during the legend’s final year. Cox recorded nine home runs and posted a .619 OPS across 220 games over two seasons with New York.

Yankees general manager Lee MacPhail subsequently presented Cox with a managerial opportunity at their Class A affiliate in Fort Lauderdale, where he spent six seasons before joining Billy Martin’s major league coaching staff as first-base coach for the 1977 World Series champions.

In the following season, former Braves owner Ted Turner provided Cox his initial big league managing opportunity, though he struggled with a 266-323-1 record during the franchise’s rebuilding phase. Turner dismissed Cox in 1981, later remarking about his replacement: “It would be Bobby Cox — if I hadn’t just fired him. We need someone like him around here.”

Cox continued his managerial journey with the Toronto Blue Jays for four seasons, leading them to their inaugural division championship in 1985.

Despite the earlier dismissal, Turner praised Cox as a “terrific manager and a terrific person,” which explained his decision to bring Cox back to the Braves organization in 1986 as general manager. Despite lacking front-office experience, Cox spent four years developing, acquiring, and selecting future stars including Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Steve Avery, and Chipper Jones, whom he selected first overall in the 1990 MLB Draft.

Cox returned to managing duties during the 1990 season and took full control the following year as the Braves launched their historic streak of 14 straight division titles. His teams captured five National League pennants during the decade, culminating with Atlanta’s first major professional sports championship in 1995.

After stepping down as manager following the 2010 season when the Braves earned a wild-card berth, Cox remained with Atlanta’s front office as a senior advisor.

Across 29 seasons of managing, Cox finished with a 2,504-2001 record and a .566 winning percentage, earning Manager of the Year recognition four times.

“Bobby was a favorite among all in the baseball community, especially those who played for him. His wealth of knowledge on player development and the intricacies of managing the game were rewarded with the sport’s ultimate prize in 2014 — enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” the Braves noted.

While earning widespread respect throughout baseball, Cox also established the record for most ejections in league history with 158 during regular season play and three more in postseason games, many featuring lengthy and animated arguments.

“And while Bobby’s passion for the game was unparalleled, his love of baseball was exceeded only by his love for his family,” the Braves added. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we send our sincerest condolences to his beloved wife, Pam, and their loving children and grandchildren.”

ATLANTA — Bobby Cox, the legendary Atlanta Braves skipper who transformed a struggling franchise into a National League powerhouse throughout the 1990s and delivered the city’s first major championship, passed away Saturday at age 84.

The Hall of Fame manager died in Marietta, Georgia, the Atlanta Braves confirmed. Cox had been battling health complications since suffering a stroke in 2019, including cardiac problems that hindered his recovery.

“Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched,” the team stated.

After inheriting a cellar-dwelling squad in June 1990, Cox orchestrated one of baseball’s most remarkable turnarounds, guiding the Braves from worst to first in 1991. Though they lost that World Series to Minnesota in seven games, it launched an unprecedented streak of 14 straight division championships — a professional sports record.

During his 25-year tenure with Atlanta, Cox delivered the franchise’s first World Series crown in 1995, stepped down following the 2010 campaign, and earned Baseball Hall of Fame induction in 2014.

“Bobby was a favorite among all in the baseball community, especially those who played for him. His wealth of knowledge on player development and the intricacies of managing the game were rewarded with the sport’s ultimate prize in 2014 — enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” the organization noted.

Cox’s statistical achievements place him among baseball’s managerial elite: fourth all-time with 2,504 victories, fifth with 4,508 games managed, first with 15 division crowns including that record 14-year run, first with 16 playoff appearances, and fourth with 67 postseason wins.

Only Connie Mack, John McGraw and Tony La Russa accumulated more regular-season victories than Cox. He also holds the record for most managerial ejections with 158.

“He is the Atlanta Braves,” former catcher Brian McCann said in 2019. “He’s the best.”

McCann characterized Cox as an “icon” and “one of the best human beings any of us have ever met.”

The Braves honored Cox by retiring his No. 6 jersey in 2011 and inducting him into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Across 29 major league seasons as a manager, including four years with Toronto, Cox guided 16 teams to the postseason. He brought traditional baseball values to the dugout, always sporting cleats and stirrups while earning fierce player loyalty through his paternal leadership style.

Milwaukee has added outfielder Brandon Lockridge to their 10-day injured list following a leg injury, with the team bringing up Blake Perkins from their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville, according to Saturday reports from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The 29-year-old Lockridge sustained his injury during Friday’s matchup with the New York Yankees when he collided with the wall while pursuing a foul ball in the fourth inning. Medical examinations ruled out fractures, but doctors found a deep cut that reached the bone.

This season, Lockridge has posted a .294 batting average across 28 games, recording four doubles and driving in 12 runs. Throughout his three-year major league career with San Diego and Milwaukee, he maintains a .251 batting average with one home run and 24 RBIs over 107 games.

The returning Perkins, also 29, struggled during his recent stint with Milwaukee, managing just five hits in 46 at-bats for a .109 average before being sent down to Nashville earlier this week. Over his four seasons with the Brewers organization, Perkins has compiled a .224 career average with 13 home runs and 87 RBIs in 261 games.