Category: Sports

PHILADELPHIA — Defenseman Cam York fired home the overtime winner that sparked a Philadelphia celebration more than a decade in the making, then broke free from his celebrating teammates to hurl his stick high into the crowd.

York threw his stick skyward, watching it sail like a home run ball, though nobody knew exactly where it would land in the moment.

“I hope everyone’s OK,” York said with a laugh. “Definitely don’t want a lawsuit. Just honestly blacked out. I didn’t know what to do. I was so excited.”

How does a team mark their first playoff series victory in over a decade?

York wound up like he was throwing a boomerang. Philadelphia fans sounded horns and whistles throughout the arena while repeatedly chanting the opening notes of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” Forward Christian Dvorak’s celebration got a bit too intense — he suffered a cut above his right eye during the on-ice festivities, leaving blood running down his face.

It looked like he’d been in a boxing match.

More accurately, it was six demanding games against Sidney Crosby and a Pittsburgh squad that has claimed Stanley Cup championships and dominated their Pennsylvania rivals so frequently over the past 15 years that their meetings often seemed less like an intense rivalry and more like the Flyers serving as a minor obstacle during the regular season.

This year was different. This was in Philadelphia.

Not even when the rejuvenated Penguins threatened to make playoff history by rallying from a 3-0 series deficit and crushing the hopes of a Flyers squad that became the NHL’s first team to reach the postseason after sitting 10 points outside playoff position with 22 games or fewer left.

York and netminder Dan Vladar, who stopped 42 shots, had different ideas.

The Flyers’ 1-0 Game 6 overtime triumph over Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening provided early proof that general manager Danny Briere made smart moves in executing a long-overdue reconstruction, resulting in their first playoff series victory in a complete NHL campaign since 2012. Philadelphia exceeded their postseason expectations — largely thanks to the mid-season emergence of teenage star Porter Martone — and are essentially playing with bonus time as they prepare for a second-round matchup against top-seeded Carolina.

“We played a great series,” Flyers forward Travis Konecny said. “Now we get a chance to play again.”

Flyers coach Rick Tocchet and his players unanimously agreed when they held a 3-0 series advantage that Crosby and the experienced Penguins were too skilled and playoff-seasoned to surrender easily. Crosby dominated Pittsburgh’s 3-2 Game 5 victory and had the Penguins convinced they could join just the fifth NHL team ever to win a series after falling behind 3-0.

Vladar, a well-traveled goaltender turned Olympian who earned team MVP honors this season, stopped everything Pittsburgh sent his way throughout most of the series. He recorded his first shutout of the year with 27 saves in Game 2, overcame an undisclosed arm injury in Game 3, and carried the Flyers in Game 6 — outdueling the excellent Arturs Silovs — to stabilize a position that had been problematic for the organization since their Stanley Cup championship era with Bernie Parent.

Vladar managed to blank the NHL’s third-highest scoring offense from the regular season.

“There was never a doubt,” Vladar said. “Good things happen to good people, and we are good people here.”

Vladar also acknowledged the long odds Philadelphia faced just to reach this stage and noted teammates wearing their lucky clothing.

The Flyers celebrated in T-shirts featuring Parent’s 1970s mask design with “3.8 percent” printed on the sleeves, referencing their minimal playoff chances from two months earlier.

Vladar — the fifth goaltender in franchise history to record a series-clinching shutout — also made the fourth-most saves in a series-ending shutout victory over the last 70 years. Only Patrick Roy (63 saves in Game 4 of the 1996 Stanley Cup Final), Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Carey Price have made more.

“danvladar you are a BAADDDDD man!!” former Phillies World Series champion Jimmy Rollins posted on social media.

The Flyers remained euphoric long after the final buzzer.

Regarding York’s stick? It found its target and was enthusiastically caught by a fan in a white Flyers sweatshirt.

He celebrated with high-fives from surrounding fans and secured quite the playoff memento.

Philadelphia can only hope May brings much more excitement ahead.

The controversial LIV Golf league is working rapidly to secure its future after learning that its massive Saudi Arabian financial support will disappear following the 2026 season, officials announced Thursday.

Industry insiders revealed to Reuters Wednesday that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has provided over $1 billion annually since the league’s 2022 launch, plans to withdraw its backing when the current agreement expires.

In response to the funding crisis, LIV Golf announced Thursday it was moving away from its startup phase toward what it called a “diversified, multi-partner investment model.” The organization also revealed the formation of a new independent governing board headed by business veterans Gene Davis and Jon Zinman.

“LIV Golf has built something truly differentiated – a global league with passionate fans, world-class talent, and demonstrated commercial momentum,” stated Davis, who will serve as board chairman.

“The executive leadership team, along with Jon and I, see a clear opportunity to help the league formalize its structure, attract and secure long-term capital, and position the business for growth.”

The upstart golf organization shocked the professional golf community in late 2021 when it used Saudi billions to lure away top talent from the established PGA Tour circuit.

Notable champions including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed all signed lucrative deals to participate in the team-based format that offers substantial prize pools for events worldwide.

The organization now faces the challenge of convincing these high-profile athletes, who signed expensive multi-year agreements, that LIV Golf remains financially stable without Saudi funding backing it.

Several prominent players have already chosen to return to the traditional PGA Tour structure.

Koepka, a five-time major champion, has already rejoined through a special Returning Member Program this season, while former Masters winner Reed has announced plans to restore his PGA Tour membership beginning in 2027.

League officials claim they’ve achieved a 100% revenue increase compared to last year and believe their team-oriented approach will appeal to potential investors.

“We are now leveraging this momentum to engage in constructive, forward-looking discussions with prospective global investors and partners who share our vision for an inclusive and modernized game,” the organization stated.

“For our fans, players and partners, our commitment to world-class golf remains unchanged as this process unfolds.”

CLEVELAND — While James Harden received most of the spotlight when Cleveland made moves before the NBA trade deadline, it was Dennis Schroder who saved the Cavaliers from potential disaster Wednesday night.

The veteran guard delivered 11 crucial fourth-quarter points as Cleveland mounted a comeback to defeat Toronto 125-120 in their playoff matchup, putting the Cavaliers in prime position to advance.

“This guy’s played in huge games in the NBA and then on the international scene, so this type of game fits him,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I think it started with him getting to the rim and then that loosened up the jumper for him. And then I thought his defense on (RJ) Barrett really got under him, harassed him. He really was Dennis the Menace tonight.”

The guard, who came to Cleveland from Sacramento on February 1st alongside Keon Ellis, put up 19 points while shooting 7-of-11 from the field, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc in just 21 minutes of action. This marked Schroder’s 17th career playoff game with at least 19 points, matching his 20-point performance for Detroit against New York in last year’s postseason.

The scoring output represented Schroder’s third-highest total since joining the Cavaliers roster.

“I love big games, I love the playoffs. You’ve just got to embrace it,” Schroder said. “I’ve been through a lot of big games of my career, and I’ve seen it. I think experience matters, but at the end of the day, the urgency and the energy, you’ve got to have it.”

Perhaps Schroder’s most significant impact occurred during halftime, with Cleveland facing a 74-67 deficit. The 13-year NBA veteran delivered an extensive two-to-three minute analysis in the locker room, outlining exactly what the team needed to mount a successful comeback.

“I just wanted to see Cavs basketball, how we played when we first got here. We did a great job even throughout this season when we first got here, but I think we got a little bit away from that,” Schroder said. “We need the big guys. Jarrett (Allen) and Evan Mobley are the key to our team. We’ve got two superstars with Don (Donovan Mitchell) and with Uno (James Harden), but those two big guys, we’ve got to use them.”

Mobley responded by contributing six of his 23 total points in the final quarter, both coming from three-point range. His long-range shot with 10:21 left on the clock, set up by a Schroder pass, put Cleveland ahead 106-103 for good.

Schroder followed with a layup that pushed the Cavaliers’ advantage to five points.

“I was just trying to be aggressive. I just wanted to come out and bring the energy, try to help as much as I can to get the W,” Schroder said.

The guard remained on the court for the final 16 minutes of action. When coach Atkinson attempted to reinsert Mitchell and Mobley during the fourth quarter, Mitchell opted to let the successful lineup continue playing.

“Sometimes the best offense is just going to stand over there. There’s a trust level that I have, and we all have with this group,” said Mitchell, who finished with 19 points. “And like I said, it’s the playoffs, man. It doesn’t matter if it’s me, whoever it is, as long as we’re getting quality looks and figuring it out. And that’s what we saw throughout tonight.”

Schroder admitted he was unaware of Mitchell’s decision to remain on the bench until someone informed him after the game concluded.

“I’m the same way, though. When somebody is balling and even when the coach tells me to get in, I’m letting the guy cook. Whoever cooks, and I appreciate that from Don,” Schroder said. “That means a lot. He is a superstar. Not a lot of superstars do that who I’ve been around.”

The Cavaliers will attempt to wrap up the series when they travel to Toronto for Friday night’s game.

PITTSBURGH — A rookie outfielder is quickly building a reputation for spectacular defensive plays that change games.

Nathan Church, the 25-year-old left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, delivered another jaw-dropping moment Wednesday night when he leaped at the wall to snatch away what appeared to be a certain walk-off home run from Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales, securing a 5-4 Cardinals victory over the Pirates.

This marks Church’s third dramatic home run robbery this season. Just four days prior, he denied Seattle’s Mitch Garver a potential game-tying blast in the sixth inning during an 11-9 loss to the Mariners, a game where Church also achieved his first career two-home run performance.

His defensive heroics began on opening day when he made a spectacular grab at the wall’s peak against Tampa Bay’s Ryan Vilade, preventing what would have been a game-tying shot.

Wednesday’s catch was particularly impressive given the circumstances. Gonzales’ blast cleared the 6-foot wall by 373 feet from home plate and, according to MLB Statcast data, would have resulted in a home run at 27 of the 30 major league stadiums, with only PNC Park, Camden Yards in Baltimore, and Globe Life Field in Texas being exceptions.

Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien, who earned his eighth save thanks to Church’s heroics, stood on the mound with his arms raised and a look of disbelief as the young outfielder casually trotted away from the wall, ball securely in his glove.

Church, who was selected by the Cardinals in the 11th round of the 2022 draft, earned recognition for his exceptional defensive abilities throughout his minor league career. Currently experiencing his most productive offensive stretch, he’s batting .281 with four home runs over his last eight contests.

VANCOUVER, April 30 – Record-breaking ticket costs and travel expenses for this year’s World Cup are creating dangerous opportunities for cybercriminals to target soccer enthusiasts, according to a fraud prevention specialist.

The unprecedented high prices make fans vulnerable to fake ticket schemes as they search desperately for affordable options, warned Nuno Sebastiao, CEO and co-founder of Feedzai, a company that partners with global banks to combat financial crimes.

“Large gatherings like a World Cup are a scammer’s dream,” Sebastiao explained to Reuters. His firm specializes in identifying and stopping fraudulent activities for financial institutions worldwide.

“The cost of these events, it’s fairly high. And people are always trying to get a good deal somehow. And that’s what these criminals prey on,” he continued.

“A football fan is not a high-income person like you’d see in other sports. So there’s more propensity to be the victim of a scam because you really want to go, you really want to see the game, but you just don’t have the money.”

While fraudulent activities surround all major international sporting competitions, Sebastiao emphasized that this World Cup presents heightened risks due to its record-setting expense levels.

FIFA has not yet provided a response regarding protective measures for tournament attendees or safety recommendations for fans.

Research published this month by The Knoble, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting financial crimes, predicts the World Cup will generate over 28,500 questionable financial transactions worldwide.

Sebastiao identified ticketing fraud, travel scams, and online schemes as the primary threat categories. He noted that many operations are orchestrated by sophisticated criminal organizations, some with government backing.

“We’re talking about global network sponsored by … Iran, North Korea, where our system of justice cannot reach,” he stated.

“But we also see operations in Latin America, some African countries, some Eastern European countries that have familiarity with some of the languages spoken at these events.”

According to Sebastiao, cyber fraud surrounding major sporting events also contributes to serious human rights violations.

“There’s slave labour involved in these gigantic call centres,” he revealed.

“They take their passports and force them to work slave hours to commit phishing and scamming attacks.”

Criminal networks also exploit vulnerable individuals at event locations, particularly in commercial sex trafficking.

“When we see people being arrested some of them are themselves victims,” Sebastiao explained.

“They’re victims of human trafficking. They’re forced to do that because they’re illegal immigrants.

“Whenever there’s these large gatherings there are people that are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.”

During the Super Bowl held in northern California earlier this year, Santa Clara County’s Human Trafficking Task Force arrested 29 traffickers and rescued 73 victims of sex trafficking, including 10 children.

Law enforcement plans to implement similar anti-trafficking operations when the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium hosts six World Cup matches in June and July.

A group of Iranian soccer federation officials were denied entry into Canada this week at Toronto’s airport, preventing them from attending an important FIFA meeting in Vancouver ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The delegation included Iran’s football federation president Mehdi Taj, secretary general Hedayat Mombeni, and deputy secretary general Hamed Momeni. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the officials possessed valid visas but chose to return to Turkey after what they described as inappropriate treatment by Canadian border authorities.

The Iranian soccer federation released a statement explaining their decision to leave: “While Mehdi Taj, president, Hedayat Mombeni, secretary general, and Hamed Momeni, deputy secretary general of the federation, had travelled to Toronto with official visas to attend the FIFA Congress, they returned to Turkey on the first available flight due to the unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian nation’s armed forces.”

The controversy centers around Taj’s previous role as a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada classified as a terrorist organization in June 2024.

Canadian officials defended their immigration policies in response to the incident. “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” the Canadian government stated. “We have taken strong action to hold the IRGC to account and will continue to do so, while protecting the safety of Canadians and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.”

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree reinforced that Revolutionary Guard members were not welcome in Canada, though he could not discuss specific cases due to privacy laws.

The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights criticized Canada’s initial decision to grant Taj special permission to enter the country. “This case should have been straightforward. The decision to grant him entry at all was profoundly troubling. It undermines Canada’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity and contradicts our country’s commitment to combatting impunity for serious human rights abuses in Iran,” the organization stated.

This Tuesday incident highlights growing concerns about Iran’s ability to participate fully in the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The tournament represents the most politically sensitive issue FIFA faces, particularly given ongoing tensions involving Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated last week that while Iranian players would be permitted to compete in the World Cup, individuals with Revolutionary Guard connections would not be allowed to accompany them.

The Iranian delegation was traveling to attend Thursday’s FIFA Congress in Vancouver, an annual gathering that brings together representatives from all 211 member associations. This year’s meeting carries additional significance with the expanded 48-team World Cup scheduled to begin in less than two months.

FIFA has since reached out to the Iranian delegation to express disappointment over the situation and indicated that President Gianni Infantino would arrange a meeting at FIFA headquarters, according to Tasnim’s reporting. A FIFA Congress source told Reuters that the organization sent a representative to Toronto to help resolve the situation, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

The incident also prevented Iranian officials from participating in Tuesday’s Asian Football Confederation Congress, which took place in Vancouver.

One AFC Congress delegate, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the topic, expressed concerns about future travel: “If it’s like this in Canada where it’s supposed to be easy, how is it going to be for the World Cup in the U.S.?”

Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub told Reuters that visa complications have overshadowed the FIFA Congress. “No one knows whether they will issue visas for this or that,” he said. “Building a wall between politics and this world (of sport) is a benefit for everybody, including the three countries who are hosting the World Cup. Let us at least present something united to the world.”

Iranian officials in Tehran have been seeking assurances for their national team’s participation in the World Cup and have explored the possibility of moving their matches scheduled for the United States to alternative locations due to security and travel concerns.

FIFA has maintained its position against any schedule changes, emphasizing that all participating teams must follow the established match calendar.

The controversy raises broader questions about how geopolitical tensions will affect the tournament, particularly regarding the free movement of players, officials, and supporters across the three host nations during the competition.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves facing potential playoff elimination following yet another disappointing home defeat in the postseason.

Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy surrendered an unusual goal on the same day he earned a Vezina Trophy nomination, while Tampa Bay struggled in the faceoff circle and couldn’t capitalize on scoring chances in a 3-2 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday evening. The loss puts the Lightning down 3-2 in the playoff series.

Friday night’s Game 6 takes place in Montreal, where Tampa Bay must win to stay alive. The Lightning are working to prevent their fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit since coming up short in their Stanley Cup three-peat attempt in 2022.

“We got to drag them back here,” forward Corey Perry said. “You know it’s going to be a hostile environment. It’s loud but block it out and just go play. We found a way last game there. We got to do it again.”

While Tampa Bay managed to win Game 4 on Montreal’s home ice, they’ve now dropped 10 of their past 12 playoff contests at home.

Alexandre Texier netted the decisive goal just 1:06 into the final period with a slap shot from the left circle that deflected off Vasilevskiy’s glove and slipped past one of hockey’s elite goaltenders.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper pointed to defensive breakdowns as the root cause of the goal-against.

“It stems way before that. It doesn’t stem from when Texier gets down the ice. It stems from the change and how we went about it and the mistakes we made on the way there,” Cooper said. “Forever, all Vasy does is bail us out of those. The rare time sometimes he doesn’t. He should’ve never got that deep into our zone and he got a lot on it. It wasn’t like Vasy got beat. He had it and it took a Montreal bounce, unfortunately for us.”

Montreal controlled the faceoff battle decisively, capturing 66% of draws. In this tightly contested series where all five games have been decided by a single goal and the opening three required overtime, every possession carries weight.

“Possession is huge,” forward Brayden Point said. “There’s not a lot of room out there. Starting with the puck is massive.”

Tampa Bay fired 40 shots at rookie netminder Jakub Dobes but managed to solve him only twice, with goals from Dominic James and Jake Guentzel.

The Lightning saw shots clang off the goalpost and crossbar, while Nikita Kucherov watched the puck hop over his stick with an empty net beckoning.

“We need other guys to score and haven’t been able to do it,” Point said. “It is frustrating. Just got to keep doing the right things and keep working hard.”

Tampa Bay has now dropped their previous two elimination contests. Should they manage another victory in Montreal, they would return home for Game 7 on Sunday.

“I understand the next game is a potential elimination game but the last game we played there, we lose that one and we’re down 3-1 (and) you’re really chasing the series,” Cooper said. “They’ve been in that building twice now and have a pretty good feeling of what to expect. How it’s going to go? I can’t say for sure but I’ll bet we play better than we did tonight.”

DETROIT — When elimination loomed large, Cade Cunningham delivered the performance of his career. The Detroit guard exploded for a franchise playoff-record 45 points Wednesday night, leading the top-seeded Pistons to a crucial 116-109 victory over the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.

The victory keeps Detroit’s season alive, though they still face an uphill battle. Orlando maintains a 3-2 series lead and will have another opportunity to close out the series at home Friday night. Should the Pistons capture their first road victory of the series, a winner-take-all Game 7 would return to Detroit on Sunday.

“We dug ourselves a hole and now it’s time to climb our way out,” Cunningham said. “It’s possible.”

In a remarkable display of offensive firepower, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero matched Cunningham’s 45-point output, establishing a new playoff career high. However, Banchero’s struggles at the charity stripe proved costly, as he converted just 5 of 12 free throw attempts. His scoring effort fell just one point shy of the franchise playoff record held by Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard.

The Magic’s poor execution in key areas ultimately cost them the game. Orlando was dominated on the boards by 16 rebounds and managed only 16 successful free throws on 30 attempts.

“We got to be better on the glass and obviously, better on the free-throw line,” said Banchero, drafted No. 1 overall by Orlando in 2022. “If we make our free throws, we got a real chance of winning the game. We lost by seven, and missed 14 free throws. That’s the game.”

Cunningham’s explosive performance shattered a Detroit playoff scoring record that had endured since Dave Bing’s 44-point game in 1968. The previous closest approach came from Isiah Thomas, who scored 43 points in 1988.

The dual 45-point performances created NBA playoff history, marking only the second time two players reached that scoring threshold in the same postseason game. The only previous occurrence featured Utah’s Donovan Mitchell (51 points) and Denver’s Jamal Murray (50 points) in 2020.

Cunningham’s efficiency was remarkable throughout the contest. The 2021 first overall pick connected on 13 of 23 field goal attempts, drained a playoff career-best five three-pointers, and maintained perfect accuracy from the free-throw line at 14-for-14.

“We’re going to see this a long time,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He’s going to do a lot of special things.”

The 24-year-old guard had previously struggled in crucial late-game moments during this series and last year’s first-round matchup with the New York Knicks. However, he demonstrated remarkable composure when his team needed it most to extend their playoff run.

Detroit controlled the game from start to finish, never surrendering the lead. The Pistons built advantages of 17 points during the first half and 15 points early in the fourth quarter.

Orlando mounted a late charge, pulling within three points on Banchero’s sixth three-pointer with 1:09 remaining on the clock.

Following an offensive rebound scramble by Ausar Thompson, Cunningham delivered the decisive blow with a step-back 16-foot jumper that effectively sealed the victory.

“Not everybody is blessed with those opportunities to have pressure and have things on the line like that,” Cunningham said. “I’m just thankful for it and trying to make the most out of it.

“We’ve had a great season so far and none of us want it to end.”

Detroit hopes to replicate their historic comeback against Orlando from over two decades ago. The Pistons’ 2003 rally from a 3-1 deficit against the eighth-seeded Magic marked the first of seven such comebacks in NBA playoff history this century. Denver accomplished the feat most recently six years ago in the same series featuring Mitchell and Murray’s 50-plus point performances, becoming the first franchise to complete two such comebacks in a single postseason.

“You don’t want to put yourself in this situation, but this is what we expected,” Bickerstaff said. “When our backs are against the wall, we come out swinging. We come out kicking. We come out scratching, biting, clawing.”

McLaren Formula One team brought their racing legacy directly to Miami’s streets Wednesday, featuring championship-winning vehicles and both current and former racing champions in a spectacular public demonstration.

Current champion Lando Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri were joined by two-time champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi for the fan event, which was originally planned to commemorate what should have been the team’s 1,000th grand prix celebration. However, due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled, postponing this historic milestone.

The 1,000th race achievement, previously reached only by Ferrari, will now be officially recognized in Monaco this June – the same location where Bruce McLaren’s team from New Zealand made their debut in 1966.

“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it here,” Norris explained to Reuters before driving his 2025 vehicle – complete with dramatic spins – at Regatta Harbour in Miami’s historic Coconut Grove district. “It’s nice that I’ve played a small part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren. It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”

The 79-year-old Fittipaldi, who became McLaren’s inaugural champion in 1974, operated a V8-powered McLaren M23 that resembled the car which carried the late James Hunt to victory in 1976.

“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be here,” said Fittipaldi, whose initial championship came with Lotus in 1972.

Hakkinen, champion in both 1998 and 1999, created thunderous sounds with his V10-equipped MP4-14, while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s legendary three-time champion Ayrton, operated his uncle’s MP4/6 featuring its powerful V12 engine. Additionally, Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan, who won the 2013 Indianapolis 500, demonstrated an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.

“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” Piastri commented about the experience.

Both Norris and Piastri, with Piastri driving Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 championship car, performed together on the track, acknowledging the enthusiastic crowd before participating in stage interviews.

“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” Norris shared. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly… we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff. I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice day out.”

McLaren has claimed victory in the previous two Miami Grand Prix events – Piastri in the most recent race and Norris in 2024 – and Sunday’s competition could result in three consecutive wins, though Mercedes has shown dominance since the beginning of the current engine and regulations period.

Piastri remained cautious about making predictions for the upcoming weekend, which may include thunderstorms and will serve as the initial test following recent rule modifications.

“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so we’ll have to wait and see,” Piastri explained. “I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”

TAMPA, Fla. — Alexandre Texier netted the decisive goal just 1:06 into the final period as Montreal defeated Tampa Bay 3-2 on Wednesday evening, giving the Canadiens a 3-2 advantage in their first-round playoff matchup.

First-year goaltender Jakub Dobes made 38 saves to push Montreal one win away from their first playoff series victory since falling to Tampa Bay in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.

Brendan Gallagher found the net in his series debut while Kirby Dach contributed another goal for Montreal.

The series returns to Montreal for Game 6 on Friday night, where the clubs previously split their two contests. Each of the five games has been settled by a single goal, with the opening three requiring overtime.

Dominic James notched his inaugural playoff goal and Jake Guentzel added a score for the Lightning, who face elimination in the opening round for the fourth consecutive year with another loss.

The Lightning have dropped 10 of their past 12 postseason home contests despite selling out 460 straight games.

Texier received a lengthy pass from Lane Hutson, moved into the left circle and fired a shot that deflected off Andrei Vasilevskiy’s glove before crossing the goal line for the 3-2 advantage early in the third period.

Montreal struck first three minutes into the contest when Gallagher converted a rebound after Vasilevskiy deflected Alex Newhook’s backhand attempt. The 14-year veteran had been a healthy scratch for the first four games and spent his time mentoring younger teammates.

Moments after James fired a slap shot past Dobes on a 2-on-1 rush, Montreal answered back. Dach carried the puck down the left wing, maneuvered around a defender, lost possession, then kicked the puck from his skate to his stick before scoring in front of the net.

Following online harassment over a defensive mistake that led to Tampa Bay’s overtime winner in Game 2, Dach deactivated his Instagram account. He responded with a goal and assist in Montreal’s 3-2 overtime victory the following game.

Guentzel unleashed a slap shot through Dobes’ legs on another 2-on-1 opportunity to level the score at 2 late in the second period. Among American-born players, Guentzel holds the NHL’s best playoff scoring rate with 43 goals across 79 postseason games.

Tampa Bay successfully killed a four-minute penalty after Ryan McDonagh received a double minor for high-sticking in the opening period. Montreal managed only one shot during the extended power play.

The Canadiens created superior scoring opportunities during two Tampa Bay power plays in the second period, with Vasilevskiy denying Jake Evans on a short-handed breakaway.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers will welcome back guard Austin Reaves on Wednesday evening as they look to close out their first-round playoff matchup against the Houston Rockets in Game 5.

Reaves has been sidelined for nine consecutive games due to a strained oblique muscle, an injury he sustained on April 2. His absence included the Lakers’ final five regular season contests and all four games of their current playoff series. The guard had resumed practicing with the team last week and participated in pregame warmups during the previous two road games in Houston before being declared unavailable.

The injury occurred during the same contest where NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic suffered a right hamstring strain. Doncic remains sidelined with no clear timeline for his return.

Despite missing their leading scorer, the Lakers managed to win the opening three games of the series before Houston responded with a victory in Game 4, forcing the series to return to Los Angeles.

This season, Reaves posted impressive numbers with 23.3 points per game along with 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds. However, injuries limited him to just 51 games during the regular season. In addition to his current oblique issue, a left calf strain kept him out of action for 19 consecutive games spanning from Christmas through February.

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher Angel Zerpa has been sidelined with left forearm tightness, prompting the team to add him to the 15-day injured list on Wednesday.

The roster move was made effective Tuesday. To fill the roster spot, Milwaukee promoted southpaw Brian Fitzpatrick from their Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.

Zerpa, who joined Milwaukee through a winter trade with Kansas City, has struggled this season with a 0-2 record and two saves. The reliever posted a 6.39 ERA across 12 appearances, recording eight strikeouts and six walks in 12 2/3 innings of work.

Brewers skipper Pat Murphy expressed concern about the severity of the injury before Wednesday’s matchup with Arizona. “This looks like it could be serious. He’s not going to be back any time soon,” Murphy stated. “Big blow, but we’re kind of used to that.”

The 26-year-old Venezuelan pitcher’s most recent outing came Monday against Pittsburgh, where he surrendered three runs on one hit and a walk while striking out one batter in just 2/3 of an inning during Milwaukee’s 6-3 extra-inning defeat to the Pirates.

Throughout his professional career, Zerpa holds a 12-9 record with two saves and a 4.13 ERA. He has accumulated 158 strikeouts and 59 walks across 189 2/3 innings in 160 regular-season games (including eight starts) between Kansas City (2021-25) and Milwaukee. During Kansas City’s 2024 playoff run, he contributed with a 2-0 record and 2.25 ERA in five postseason appearances.

Fitzpatrick brings impressive Triple-A numbers to Milwaukee, posting a 1-1 record with a perfect 0.00 ERA in 10 relief outings for Nashville. The 6-foot-7 pitcher allowed just two unearned runs while striking out 11 batters and walking two in 10 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old has yet to make his major league debut.

In additional roster news, the Brewers announced that outfielder Luis Matos passed through waivers unclaimed and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville. The 24-year-old Matos batted .200 with four hits in 20 at-bats over nine games during his first Milwaukee campaign, following previous stints with San Francisco from 2023-25.

Television audiences for this year’s NFL Draft fell by 12% compared to 2025, with an average of 6.6 million people tuning in across the three-day event, Front Office Sports reported.

The decline from last year’s average of 7.5 million viewers still left the 2026 draft as the third most-watched since the NFL moved to its current three-day structure in 2010. Coverage aired on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus various streaming platforms.

The all-time viewership record remains with the 2020 draft, which drew 8.4 million viewers when it was conducted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

First-round coverage on Thursday saw a smaller decline of 3%, attracting 13.2 million viewers compared to 13.6 million who watched in 2025.

Though television numbers dropped, the event broke attendance records with 805,000 people gathering in Pittsburgh over the three days. This surpassed the previous in-person record of 775,000 attendees set in Detroit during 2024.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sat down with team owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy for a lengthy two-hour discussion on Monday regarding his future role with the organization, sources revealed Wednesday.

The conversation was described as constructive despite numerous unresolved issues remaining on the table. The trio plans to reconvene for another meeting in the coming week.

Kerr currently has no contract in place for the upcoming season. The 60-year-old coach has spent 12 seasons leading Golden State and delivered four NBA championships to the franchise in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. His regular-season coaching record stands at 604-353, a .631 winning percentage.

Despite his successful track record, the Warriors failed to reach the playoffs this year after falling to the Phoenix Suns in a play-in tournament game. This marks the second playoff absence in three seasons for the team.

The Warriors also struggled to a 37-45 record, finishing with a losing record for only the second time during Kerr’s coaching tenure.

Following Golden State’s elimination earlier this month, Kerr acknowledged the possibility that it could have been his final game leading the team.

“I still love coaching, but I get it,” Kerr said to 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.”

Complicating matters further are veteran stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who may be reluctant to enter a rebuilding phase under different leadership.

Another potential factor involves Kerr’s tendency to voice opinions on controversial political topics, often while positioned in front of the team’s official branding.

According to a SF Gate report from last week, senior organization officials have grown frustrated with Kerr’s ongoing commentary, including his criticisms of President Donald Trump. The report indicated these continued public statements have created “internal frustration” within the organization.

The Detroit Tigers suffered a double blow Wednesday when they moved pitcher Casey Mize and shortstop Javier Baez to the injured list following injuries sustained in Tuesday’s defeat against the Atlanta Braves.

Mize, age 27, was assigned to the 15-day injured list due to a right groin muscle strain. The 2025 All-Star showed signs of discomfort following a strikeout in the second inning and left the game in the third after making a throw to first base. His placement marks the eighth Tigers pitcher to land on the injured list and represents the second member of Detroit’s opening day starting rotation to be sidelined, alongside Justin Verlander who has been out since April 4 with left hip inflammation. Verlander participated in a bullpen workout on Wednesday.

“Probably the most optimistic news we can get on Casey, that it’s a Grade 1,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch told reporters before Wednesday’s game in Atlanta.

The three-time All-Star Baez was moved to the 10-day injured list after his right shoe got caught in the ground while sliding headfirst into first base during the fifth inning following a weak grounder. The 33-year-old veteran showed clear signs of pain and was removed from the contest.

“Javy’s (injury) is a pretty significant ankle sprain, so I don’t know what that means in terms of timeline, other than it’s a minimum of 15 days and if he’s back by then, that’s great. If it takes longer, it’s because of swelling and soreness,” Hinch said.

Through six outings in 2026, Mize holds a 2-2 record with a 2.90 ERA, recording 35 strikeouts against 11 walks with a 1.194 WHIP across 31 innings pitched. During his six-year tenure with Detroit, who chose him first overall in the 2018 amateur draft, Mize has compiled a 25-27 record with a 4.11 ERA across 95 appearances (93 as a starter). In 471 career innings, he has registered 400 strikeouts, 132 walks and maintains a 1.282 WHIP.

This season, Baez is batting .256 with two home runs and six runs batted in through 24 contests. Selected ninth overall by Chicago in the 2011 draft, he maintains a career .252 batting average with 195 home runs, 691 RBIs and 116 stolen bases spanning 13 seasons. Beyond his time with the Cubs (2014-21) and current stint with Detroit (2022-present), Baez also spent time with New York’s Mets in 2021.

With Baez unavailable, rookie Kevin McGonigle stands as the only healthy shortstop on Detroit’s active roster while Zach McKinstry recovers from left hip and abdominal inflammation. Prospect Hao-Yu Lee, ranked sixth in the organization by MLB Pipeline, represents another potential short-term solution during the absences of both Baez and McKinstry.

To fill the roster spots, Detroit promoted left-handed pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus and third baseman Jace Jung from Triple-A Toledo.

Jung, 25, entered Wednesday’s starting lineup against Atlanta as the designated hitter for his first appearance of the season, while McGonigle received the starting assignment at shortstop. A first-round selection (12th overall) by Detroit in 2022, Jung made his major league debut in 2024. Entering Tuesday’s action, Jung had posted a .190 batting average with six RBIs across 55 games over two seasons.

De Jesus, 29, earned a spot on the opening day roster as a relief pitcher, compiling a 1-0 record with a 10.13 ERA through six outings covering eight innings. He reached the majors for the first time in 2023 with Miami, recording an 11.37 ERA in two relief appearances with the Marlins.

Wide receiver George Pickens has put pen to paper on his franchise tag agreement with the Dallas Cowboys, securing a guaranteed $27.3 million payday for the 2026 season, the team announced Wednesday.

The 25-year-old pass-catcher is fresh off a breakout Pro Bowl campaign in 2025, his debut season in Dallas. Pickens hauled in 93 receptions from 137 targets, accumulating 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns across 17 games with 15 starts — marking personal records in every statistical category.

Cowboys management has made clear they have no plans to pursue a long-term contract with Pickens currently, and trading him is not under consideration. The receiver, who would have entered free agency without the tag, still has until the league’s July 15 deadline to negotiate an extended deal with Dallas if the organization reconsiders its position.

“We have no intention of moving George,” Cowboys chief operating officer and co-owner Stephen Jones stated during a press conference after the NFL draft’s opening day last week. “We’re fired up about him signing his (tag), because it means he’s ready to come in here and get to work. … We have zero intention of moving (him).”

The Cowboys applied the franchise designation to Pickens on February 27, marking the first time the organization had utilized the tag since 2022 when they tagged tight end Dalton Schultz.

Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft from the University of Georgia, Pickens spent his initial three professional seasons with the Steelers. Throughout his four-year career, he has accumulated 267 catches for 4,270 yards and 21 touchdowns across 65 games with 55 starts.

The Steelers dealt Pickens to Dallas on May 7, 2025, in a trade that also included a 2027 sixth-round selection in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick (which became the 76th overall selection used on quarterback Drew Allar) and a 2027 fifth-round choice.

FRISCO, Texas — Wide receiver George Pickens has officially put pen to paper on his $27.3 million franchise tag deal with the Dallas Cowboys, virtually guaranteeing the Pro Bowl player will attend required offseason activities as team leadership continues to insist they won’t consider trading CeeDee Lamb’s teammate.

The receiver notified Dallas of his intention to accept the one-year agreement just hours before the NFL draft began last week, which fueled rumors about a potential trade since executive vice president Stephen Jones had stated just one day prior that the organization wouldn’t pursue long-term contract negotiations with Pickens during this offseason.

The 25-year-old wideout, who came to Dallas through a trade with Pittsburgh last season, posted personal bests with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns as part of one of the NFL’s most productive offensive units. However, Dallas struggled defensively, ranking among the league’s worst units and finishing with a 7-9-1 record that left them out of playoff contention for consecutive seasons.

Pickens flourished playing opposite Lamb, who is entering his second season under a massive $136 million, four-year deal that places him third among NFL receivers with a $34 million annual average.

The franchise tag represented a significant financial motivation for Pickens, offering guaranteed compensation that dwarfs his previous earnings of $6.8 million over his entire rookie contract as a second-round selection from Georgia in 2022.

With the contract now signed, Pickens becomes eligible to join the voluntary offseason program that commenced this week.

Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones has consistently expressed throughout the offseason that the organization views Pickens as part of their long-term strategy. Jones indicated he wouldn’t have extended such a substantial offer under the franchise tag without confidence that Pickens will remain with Dallas beyond 2026.

The Cowboys have previously used the franchise tag with quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence over the past eight years, with both players eventually securing long-term agreements. Conversely, tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Tony Pollard each played under the tag before departing via free agency the following season.

Stephen Jones cited the “newness” of Pickens’ time with the Cowboys as a contributing factor in their choice to pursue a one-year arrangement rather than an extended contract at this time.

While Pickens demonstrated his abilities during three seasons in Pittsburgh, he also displayed concerning episodes of immature or disengaged conduct that prompted former coach Mike Tomlin to publicly question his development.

First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, following 25 years as an NFL assistant, has avoided publicly criticizing Pickens. However, both Pickens and Lamb faced discipline when they were benched for the opening series against Las Vegas after violating team curfew during a casino visit the previous evening.

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez was forced to leave Wednesday’s matchup with the Texas Rangers after taking a pitch to his left elbow that left him visibly injured.

The incident occurred during the fourth inning when Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi’s cutter, traveling at 89.1 mph, struck Dominguez in the elbow. The impact left the player doubled over in discomfort, though he initially remained in the game following treatment from New York’s medical staff.

Medical personnel conducted X-rays on Dominguez, and team officials plan additional examinations once the Yankees conclude their Texas series and return home to New York.

Max Schuemann took over Dominguez’s position when the Yankees returned to the field. The young outfielder had just been promoted from the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier this week and had appeared in two games as designated hitter before taking his first start in the outfield Wednesday.

The switch-hitting player made an impressive debut in September 2023, launching four home runs across eight contests before requiring Tommy John surgery on his elbow. During the previous season, Dominguez posted a .257 batting average while contributing 10 home runs and 47 RBIs over 123 games, though his appearances became less frequent following the All-Star break.

Thursday night brings pivotal moments for three NBA playoff series, as the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics each seek to eliminate their opponents with away-game victories, while the defending champion Denver Nuggets battle to extend their season against an injury-riddled Minnesota Timberwolves squad.

The Atlanta Hawks find themselves in a difficult position after dropping two straight games, prompting coaching staff to explore different defensive strategies and player rotations to counter New York’s potent offensive attack. While Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a triple-double performance in Saturday’s contest as Atlanta successfully contained Jalen Brunson, Tuesday’s game told a different story with Brunson breaking free for 39 points.

“Everyone’s going to make adjustments,” Towns said. “So just being prepared for whatever the defense throws at us and being able to react accordingly.”

New York’s defensive adjustments have effectively neutralized CJ McCollum, who had previously dominated Games 2 and 3 with crucial scoring performances. Atlanta’s leading scorers, Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, have been unable to match their regular-season production levels.

“Their defense never really let us establish consistently how we need to play to beat them,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said after Tuesday’s 126-97 loss. “We need to execute on who we are and what we’ve done to be a good team, and like I said, that’s hard against a team of their caliber.”

In the Eastern Conference’s other series, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid demonstrated his value to the team in just his second appearance following appendix surgery. The former MVP led all scorers with 33 points, powering Philadelphia to a convincing 113-97 victory on Boston’s home court.

“He (Embiid) was dominant, especially in the second half,” Tyrese Maxey said after the game. “He did a really good job of just inserting himself, and you know, I was proud of him tonight, man.”

Philadelphia enters Game 6 with renewed energy, hoping to level the series on their home floor, while Boston aims to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“It’ll take everything we’ve got,” Maxey said Tuesday. “It’ll take even more of an effort than it did tonight.”

Minnesota may have maintained their competitive spirit despite injuries to star player Anthony Edwards and key contributor Donte DiVincenzo, but their execution and concentration clearly suffered during Game 5’s loss in Denver. The Timberwolves trailed by as much as 27 points in the final quarter, with their 25 turnovers representing their most significant weakness.

While Edwards and DiVincenzo serve as the team’s premier three-point threats and offensive playmakers, Minnesota’s path to victory lies in rediscovering the suffocating defensive intensity that sparked their Game 2 comeback and dominant performances in Games 3 and 4.

“There’s no doubt that we miss Donte and Ant and all the things they do offensively and defensively, but we played a large part of Game 4 without those guys, so we still have really good defenders elsewhere,” coach Chris Finch said. “I didn’t like our attack mindset the other day. I thought we kind of waited on our heels a little bit too much. We’ve just got to be better getting back to what we know will work for us better.”

Game 6 between New York and Atlanta tips off at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN, with the Knicks favored by 2.5 points while holding a 3-2 series advantage. New York ranks second among all playoff teams in scoring at 113.2 points per game, shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.4% from three-point territory. Atlanta lags behind in each statistical category, averaging 102.6 points on 44.8% field goal shooting and 32.2% from beyond the arc.

Brunson’s 39-point explosion marked his finest offensive showing of the series, extending his franchise record to 22 career playoff games with 30 or more points. Towns has emerged as an improved facilitator, recording 16 assists across the last two contests and averaging 2.2 more assists per game compared to the regular season. Hawks guard Alexander-Walker has seen his scoring dip to 14.2 points per game in the postseason, down 6.8 points from his regular-season average.

Boston and Philadelphia square off at 8 p.m. EDT on Peacock, with the Celtics holding a 3-2 series lead and favored by 6.5 points. The Celtics lead all playoff teams with 84 made three-pointers and 47.6 rebounds per game. Jaylen Brown paces Boston’s scoring at 25.8 points per contest, while Jayson Tatum contributes across multiple categories with averages of 10.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Payton Pritchard established a postseason career-high with 32 points against Philadelphia on Sunday. Through two playoff meetings with Boston, Embiid has averaged 29.5 points primarily through field goals and free throws, connecting on just 1 of 11 three-point attempts while shooting 21 of 44 from the field overall. Maxey has logged over 40 minutes per game in the playoffs, contributing 25.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per contest.

The final game of the evening features Denver hosting Minnesota at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN, with the Nuggets favored by 5.5 points despite trailing 3-2 in the series. Ayo Dosunmu and Mike Conley Jr. received their first starting assignments of the series for Minnesota due to the Edwards and DiVincenzo injuries. Dosunmu leads the team in postseason scoring at 21.8 points per game, seven points higher than his regular-season average.

For Denver, both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are averaging more than 25 points per game, with Jokic adding team-leading totals of 14 rebounds and 9.4 assists per contest. The reigning Finals MVP has recorded two triple-doubles during the series.

Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo was forced to leave Wednesday’s matchup with the New York Yankees after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring.

The injury occurred during the fifth inning when Nimmo was advancing from second base to third on a ground ball hit by teammate Joc Pederson. Nimmo had reached base moments earlier with a single that deflected off Yankees first baseman Ben Rice’s glove. Sam Haggerty came in as a pinch runner to replace Nimmo and took over left field duties, while Alejandro Osuna shifted from left field to right field.

The injury happened just after Josh Jung delivered a two-run single that put Texas ahead 2-0.

The Rangers obtained Nimmo from the New York Mets in a November trade that sent Marcus Semien to New York. Through his first 30 games in a Rangers uniform, Nimmo has posted a .287 batting average along with four home runs and 12 RBIs.

While Nimmo dealt with frequent injuries during his early years with the Mets, he has been more durable recently, missing just 40 games total across the previous four seasons. During his last campaign with New York, Nimmo achieved personal bests with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs while appearing in a career-high 155 games.

The NHL Department of Player Safety issued its maximum allowable financial penalty to Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn on Wednesday following an illegal cross-checking incident against Minnesota Wild player Ryan Hartman.

The league imposed a $2,604.17 fine on Benn, representing the highest monetary punishment permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement for this type of infraction.

The 36-year-old team captain committed the violation during the closing moments of Tuesday night’s fifth game in their Western Conference opening round playoff matchup, striking Hartman twice with his stick – first targeting the ribs, then making contact with the head area.

Officials assessed Benn a two-minute cross-checking penalty during the game, while Hartman received an unsportsmanlike conduct citation for his role in the incident.

Minnesota claimed a 4-2 victory in Tuesday’s contest, giving the Wild a 3-2 advantage in the seven-game playoff series. The teams will meet for Game 6 on Thursday night in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka is demonstrating his dedication to maintaining competitive sharpness by entering lower-tier tournaments as he prepares for the remaining three major championships of 2026.

Following his recent departure from LIV Golf and swift re-entry to the PGA Tour via the newly-established Returning Player Program, Koepka faces restrictions that prevent him from receiving sponsor invitations to signature events in 2026. With two premier tournaments scheduled before the PGA Championship next month, Koepka has decided to participate in the upcoming Myrtle Beach Classic, an alternate-field competition.

The three-time PGA Championship winner will use Myrtle Beach and its $4 million prize pool as his final preparation while most elite players compete for $20 million at Charlotte’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow.

Victory at Myrtle Beach would offer Koepka an additional benefit: automatic qualification for the season’s final two signature tournaments, the Memorial and Travelers championships.

Koepka’s recent performance includes a missed cut alongside teammate Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic, though he posted a respectable tie for 12th at the Masters. He has recorded four top-20 results in his last five individual stroke-play tournaments and currently ranks 59th in FedEx Cup points.

Two weeks ago at the RBC Heritage, Koepka served as first alternate, waiting through opening-round tee times hoping for a withdrawal that would allow him entry. His participation will bring star power to the three-year-old Myrtle Beach event.

“Having Brooks Koepka commit to the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic is a tremendous moment for our tournament and our community,” tournament director Darren Nelson said, per the Post and Courier. “He’s one of the most accomplished players of his generation, and his presence speaks to the continued momentum of this event on the PGA TOUR calendar.”

The PGA Championship begins May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

Former NFL defensive back Justin Simmons has called time on his professional football career after nine seasons in the league, with the Denver Broncos making the announcement Wednesday.

The timing of the retirement news holds special significance, coming exactly a decade after Denver selected the Boston College product in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

While Simmons completed his career by starting all 16 games for Atlanta in 2024 and recording two picks, his most memorable achievements came during his eight-year tenure in Denver. The safety earned both of his Pro Bowl selections while wearing orange and blue, along with four second-team All-Pro honors.

“Being a Denver Bronco was more than just a team,” Simmons expressed in Denver’s social media statement. “It was my heart, my home and my story.”

Simmons continued: “I’m always going to be a Bronco, and I’m always going to be a Broncos fan. They took a chance on me, extended me. This is my home.”

Throughout his career, Simmons proved remarkably consistent in creating turnovers, recording no fewer than two interceptions in every season he played. His career total of 32 picks includes a league-best six during the 2022 campaign. The veteran defender appeared in 134 games over nine seasons, earning starting assignments in 124 of those contests.

Atlanta also shared congratulatory messages for their former player on social media platforms.

The NBA announced Wednesday that New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan has earned the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award for this season.

The honor, which has been given out each year since the 2012-13 season, celebrates the player who best demonstrates unselfish play, serves as a leader both during games and in the locker room, acts as a mentor and positive influence for fellow NBA players, and shows unwavering dedication to their team.

A group of league executives narrowed the field to 12 finalists, and active NBA players cast ballots to select the final winner.

The 37-year-old Jordan edged out Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, who had previously claimed the award three times. Jordan secured the victory with 66 first-place votes and accumulated 1,445 total points, just eight more than Holiday’s 1,437 points. Houston’s Jeff Green claimed third place with 1,420 points, while Toronto’s Garrett Temple finished fourth with 1,223 points, creating significant separation from the remaining candidates.

Throughout his distinguished career, Jordan has earned recognition as a three-time All-NBA selection, made two All-Defensive Teams, participated in the 2016-17 All-Star Game, and captured an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets during the 2022-23 season. This past season with New Orleans, he participated in 12 contests, starting seven of them, while contributing 4.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

During his 18-year professional career spanning eight different franchises, Jordan has compiled statistics of 8.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game across 1,123 total games, including 798 starts.

The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that three goaltenders have been chosen as finalists for this year’s Vezina Trophy, the prestigious award given to the league’s outstanding netminder.

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his nomination alongside New York Islanders goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin and Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman. The annual honor, determined by votes from NHL general managers, recognizes excellence in goaltending during the regular season, with the winner to be revealed at a future date.

The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy topped all goalies this season with 39 victories while recording a 2.31 goals-against average that ranked second league-wide. This marks his second time as a Vezina finalist, having claimed the trophy in 2019 with a 39-10-4 record, 2.40 GAA, and .925 save percentage.

Sorokin, age 30, compiled a 29-24-2 record this season while leading the NHL with seven shutouts, alongside a 2.68 GAA and .906 save percentage. Should he win, Sorokin would become the first Islanders goalie to capture the award since Hall of Fame member Billy Smith achieved the honor in the 1981-82 campaign.

The 27-year-old Swayman, earning his first Vezina nomination, finished with a 31-18-4 record, 2.71 GAA, and .908 save percentage. His standout statistic was leading all NHL goalies with 38 games started while maintaining at least a .900 save percentage.

Last season’s Vezina Trophy recipient was Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck, who also captured the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

The LIV Golf league announced it will delay its Louisiana tournament originally set for June, claiming the organization maintains “strong momentum” despite growing uncertainty about its financial future past 2026.

League officials told Field Level Media on Wednesday they plan to “explore” hosting a fall tournament in Louisiana instead, pointing to excessive summer temperatures, scheduling conflicts with other sporting events, and golf course conditions as reasons for the delay.

“In coordination with the Governor of Louisiana and Louisiana Economic Development, we have made the strategic decision to explore moving LIV Golf Louisiana to a new window later this fall,” the statement read. “This shift allows us to avoid the peak summer heat and the crowded global sports calendar while ensuring the course is in the championship condition our fans and players expect.”

The statement continued: “We are grateful for the continued partnership and flexibility of the state of Louisiana as we work together to deliver a world-class debut this fall. Our team is focused on maintaining the strong momentum of the 2026 season and we look forward to sharing finalized dates in the near future.”

The postponement follows recent reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund may withdraw financial support for the golf league. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil had previously assured staff in an email that the current season would proceed “exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.”

The cancellation of the June 25-28 New Orleans tournament creates a scheduling gap between LIV Golf Andalucia in Spain (June 4-7) and LIV Golf United Kingdom (July 23-26). The league plans to resume competition with LIV Golf Virginia this coming weekend.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry revealed Tuesday that the state has already disbursed $3.2 million from a $7 million contract. LIV Golf “is expected to return all state incentive funds” worth $1.2 million, while the remaining $2 million funded upgrades to Bayou Oaks at City Park golf course.

“We appreciate LIV’s good-faith efforts and look forward to maintaining our partnership as we continue conversations around an event later this year,” Landry said. “We are grateful for the work of our local partners and the collaboration that supported this effort.”

NOLA.com reported earlier this week that LIV officials were considering a scaled-down “exposition-style” event in New Orleans during the fall months. The league’s team championship in late August remains the final confirmed event on the schedule, with the Louisiana tournament now appearing without a date at the bottom of their website’s calendar.

Detroit Lions management chose different paths for their two 2023 first-round draft picks, according to reports that surfaced Tuesday evening. The team exercised the fifth-year contract option for running back Jahmyr Gibbs while choosing not to pick up linebacker Jack Campbell’s option.

Fox 2 Detroit first reported the news Tuesday night, with ESPN sources later confirming the information.

The decision means Gibbs will receive a guaranteed $14.29 million salary for the 2027 season. Had the Lions picked up Campbell’s option, the All-Pro linebacker would have earned approximately $21.925 million, which ESPN notes exceeds the current highest salary for any off-ball linebacker in the NFL.

According to ESPN’s reporting, Detroit’s front office plans to pursue long-term contract extensions with both Campbell and Gibbs. The organization also faces upcoming extension decisions for tight end Sam LaPorta and defensive back Brian Branch, though neither requires immediate action since they weren’t selected in the first round.

The choice regarding Gibbs appeared straightforward given his exceptional performance. The 24-year-old has accumulated 5,029 yards from scrimmage and scored 49 touchdowns across 49 games with 24 starts during his initial three NFL seasons. His consistent excellence earned him three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.

Campbell, age 25, delivered an outstanding 2023 campaign that included first-team All-Pro recognition and Pro Bowl honors. He achieved personal bests with 176 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles while starting all 17 games. Throughout his 51-game career spanning 46 starts, Campbell has recorded 402 tackles and 8.5 sacks.

Detroit selected both players during the 2023 NFL Draft, taking Gibbs with the 12th overall selection and Campbell at 18th overall.

The Minnesota Wild find themselves in a position they haven’t experienced in nearly a decade — one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Minnesota returns to their home ice Thursday evening holding a 3-2 series advantage over the Dallas Stars, seeking to eliminate their opponents and reach the second round for the first time since 2015.

“I think it’s important just to stay calm. You know, don’t overthink it,” said Mats Zuccarello, the veteran forward who has spent seven seasons with Minnesota during his 16-year NHL career. “Don’t read whatever you guys (media) say about we haven’t gotten out of the first round in a couple of years. Just calm and collected.”

The 38-year-old Zuccarello made his presence felt immediately upon returning from a three-game injury absence, netting the opening goal less than four minutes into Tuesday’s contest in Dallas. Minnesota capitalized on that early momentum to secure a 4-2 victory, marking their 12th playoff appearance across 14 seasons.

This represents only the second time in franchise history that Minnesota has held a 3-2 series advantage, with their previous occurrence coming during that successful 2015 campaign when they defeated St. Louis in six games. Since then, the Wild have endured nine straight playoff series defeats, including losses to these same Stars in both 2016 and 2023.

Forward Marcus Foligno, now in his ninth season, believes this team possesses different qualities than previous versions. “We’ve got to just look to control our emotions in Game 6 and in front of our home crowd, a place where we had a good feeling leaving last time,” Foligno explained. “I think it’s a little bit different. I think we have a lot of leadership and guys that are experienced. … It’s a close group but a really hard working group and a confident one right now.”

Among current roster members, only team captain Jared Spurgeon and defenseman Jonas Brodin participated in Minnesota’s last playoff series triumph. Spurgeon, then 25 years old and in his fifth season, has now spent all 16 of his NHL campaigns with the same organization. However, Brodin’s availability for Thursday’s potential series-clinching game remains questionable after he sustained a lower-body injury during Game 5.

Should Minnesota fail to close out the series on home ice — where they previously captured Game 4 in overtime — the teams would meet for a decisive seventh game Saturday back in Dallas.

The eventual series victor will face the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche in the Central Division, a well-rested opponent that completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Kings last Sunday.

Star forward Kirill Kaprizov contributed two assists during Tuesday’s victory, just two days following his 29th birthday celebration, before adding an empty-net goal in the final two minutes. That second goal of the series marked his 17th career playoff score, establishing a new franchise record by surpassing Zach Parise’s previous mark. Kaprizov also broke Parise’s record for most multi-point playoff performances with his ninth such game.

Rising star Matt Boldy, the 25-year-old forward, delivered the game-winning power-play goal in the second period’s closing minute, after officials had previously disallowed an earlier score due to goaltender interference.

Rookie netminder Jesper Wallstedt, the 23-year-old who has earned the starting role over Filip Gustavsson throughout this series, made 20 saves in Game 5. The young goaltender has been particularly effective in even-strength situations, allowing Dallas just three goals during five-on-five play across the entire series.

“We’re very confident of where we’re at. … Now we get to bring the series home,” Wallstedt said. “I’ve never played in a game of that type of magnitude. I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to it so much.”

For the first time since 2015, the Big Ten conference knocked the SEC off its throne in the opening round of the NFL draft, though the Southeastern Conference still managed to break records for overall player selections.

The Big Ten claimed 10 first-round selections, powered by recent national championship teams Indiana and Ohio State, ending the SEC’s streak of leading round one. The SEC managed just seven first-round picks — a dramatic drop from last year’s record 15 selections and their smallest first-round showing since 2015.

LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane became the first SEC player selected when Kansas City chose him sixth overall, marking the latest an SEC player has been picked to start a draft since 2018, when Roquan Smith went eighth to Chicago.

Where the SEC truly flexed its muscle was in the later rounds, demonstrating remarkable depth across the conference. The league dominated days two and three with 29 selections in rounds two and three, plus 51 additional picks in the final four rounds. Their total of 87 drafted players shattered previous records and easily surpassed the Big Ten’s 67 selections.

This marks two decades of SEC draft supremacy, with the conference leading total selections in every draft since the ACC topped the list in 2006. That period coincided with Florida’s national championship the following year, launching an era where SEC schools captured 13 of 17 national titles.

That championship dominance shifted when Michigan claimed the 2023 title, followed by Ohio State and Indiana winning their own championships recently.

The remaining power conferences trailed significantly, with both the Big 12 and ACC placing six players in round one and 38 total selections each.

Recent conference realignment, combined with relaxed transfer rules and NIL compensation, has increasingly concentrated top talent at major programs within the power conferences.

San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson stood as the lone exception among first-round picks, going 27th to Miami as the only player who didn’t complete his college career in a power conference or at Notre Dame.

Group of Six representation remained minimal, with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren selected 58th by Cleveland as the next non-power conference player chosen. Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst went 84th to Tampa Bay as the only other Group of Six player picked in the first two days.

Overall, just 14 Group of Six players heard their names called, with the American and MAC conferences leading with four selections each. ESPN reported that 39 additional draftees had transferred from Group of Six schools to power conferences.

FBS independents contributed seven players, including six from Notre Dame and one from UConn. Four players came from FCS programs, while Philadelphia selected Nigerian native Uar Bernard in the seventh round through the NFL’s International Pathway Program despite him never playing college football.

Running backs experienced a historic night in round one, with Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love becoming the first back selected in the top five in eight years when Arizona took him third overall. His teammate Jadarian Price closed out the round as Seattle’s final pick.

This marked just the sixth instance since 1967 of two running backs from the same school going in the first round of one draft, last occurring in 2008 with Arkansas teammates Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

The position became an afterthought afterward, with Indiana’s Kaelon Black becoming the next running back selected near the end of round three at 90th overall to San Francisco. This created the smallest group of running backs ever chosen in the first three rounds of the modern draft era.

Only 10 additional running backs were selected on the final day, bringing the total to 13 — the fewest in draft history.

Tight ends enjoyed a resurgence with 22 selections, matching 2015 for the most since that year, reflecting the NFL’s increased use of multiple tight end formations.

Traditional position priorities remained evident with teams selecting 51 defensive linemen and 50 offensive linemen. Defensive backs (46), wide receivers (36), linebackers (26), quarterbacks (10), and specialists (3) rounded out the selections.

Ohio State achieved historic draft success, becoming the third school ever to place four players in the top 11 selections. Carnell Tate, Arvell Reece, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs all went within those first 11 picks.

Only Michigan State in 1967 (four in the top eight) and Notre Dame in 1946 (four in the top 10) had accomplished similar early-draft dominance.

The Buckeyes continued their strong showing with seven additional selections, leading all schools with 11 total picks. Alabama and Texas A&M each had 10 players chosen, while Clemson, Miami, and Texas Tech contributed nine apiece.

Michigan and USC extended their remarkable consistency, each having at least one player selected for the 88th consecutive draft — the longest active streaks. Notre Dame has missed just one regular draft since 1938 (1977, though Al Hunter was picked in that year’s supplemental draft).

Wisconsin saw its streak of annual selections since 1979 come to an end.

The NFL streamlined the first round by reducing selection time from 10 to eight minutes, completing the opening round in 2 hours and 53 minutes Thursday night — 36 minutes faster than last year and 40 minutes quicker than the five-year average.

This efficiency represents a dramatic change from Commissioner Roger Goodell’s first draft in 2007, when 15-minute selection windows created a marathon 6-hour, 8-minute first round. The current format cuts that duration in half.

PHILADELPHIA — Don Mattingly had called it quits on his managerial career and was essentially finished with baseball after departing his bench coaching position with Toronto following the World Series.

Encouraged by his son, Mattingly chose to return to baseball one more time, accepting a bench coach position with Philadelphia during the winter to work alongside his longtime friend from their New York Yankees days, manager Rob Thomson.

But return to managing when the Yankees legend known as Donnie Baseball was approaching his 65th birthday?

“I don’t think I have the energy for that anymore,” Mattingly stated in January.

Mattingly appeared honest about his plans at the time since all indications suggested he was joining a powerhouse World Series contender in Philadelphia. Why even consider the possibility of managing again, particularly with an expensive, playoff-experienced roster loaded with stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler?

Four months later, the Phillies’ season has reached this point: Mattingly’s final opportunity to capture his first World Series championship after more than four decades in baseball begins with leading one of the National League’s poorest performing teams.

Mattingly has taken over as manager for the remainder of the season, accepting the interim position Tuesday just hours after the Phillies dismissed Thomson — and openly considered replacing him with former Red Sox skipper Alex Cora — with the firm conviction that a championship-caliber team exists within this disappointing roster.

The position comes with either an advantage or potential awkwardness, as Mattingly is also the father of his new supervisor, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly.

“I know how competitive he is,” Mattingly commented. “Him and I are a little different. He looks at things, he’s a little outside the box at times, which I appreciate. It’s helped me grow.”

Credit 11-year-old son Louis Mattingly with largely influencing his father’s decision to return during the offseason.

Mattingly — who sported a white pinstriped uniform in the 1980s Hit Man poster that decorated countless New York kids’ bedrooms — has started successfully in Philadelphia.

Thomson, who guided the Phillies to four consecutive postseason appearances, including the 2022 World Series, would likely still be employed if Philadelphia had consistently performed like they did in a 7-0 victory over San Francisco in Mattingly’s first game.

“I’m going to watch our game,” Thomson commented in a video conference with reporters before the contest. “I really am.”

Thomson undoubtedly appreciated the outcome — though it likely came with some irritation that the Phillies couldn’t deliver more steady performances throughout April.

Turner recorded the first four-hit performance by any Phillie this season. Jesús Luzardo, just two outings after the left-hander surrendered nine runs and 12 hits against the Cubs, delivered two-hit baseball, fanned eight batters and issued no walks across seven scoreless frames. He combined with two relievers for Philadelphia’s first shutout of the year.

The Phillies dropped 10 consecutive contests and 11 of 12 during Thomson’s final stretch of an otherwise productive tenure. Mattingly retained the existing coaching staff — including embattled hitting coach Kevin Long, who absorbed most criticism for the Phillies’ struggles — while third base coach Dusty Wathan received a promotion to bench coach.

“I don’t know if I’m a whole lot different from Rob, honestly,” Mattingly explained. “I trust players, I believe in players, I like players. But I want us to play better baseball.”

Mattingly, who led the Dodgers from 2011-15 and the Marlins from 2016-22, also appeared unbothered that he wasn’t Philadelphia’s primary managerial target.

Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, acknowledged Tuesday that Cora was his preferred candidate to replace Thomson. Dombrowski oversaw the front office in Boston when Cora led the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018. A Philadelphia reunion seemed logical, though Cora eventually declined.

“I came to the conclusion that if he took it, I would make a change. I thought he would take it,” Dombrowski explained. “Until Monday morning it was apparent from his perspective he wanted to take time with his family. He wanted to be a father first and foremost and so that’s what he had decided.”

The Phillies’ problems extend far beyond the manager position.

From former All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm to second baseman Bryson Stott, the Phillies have underdelivered for a franchise with a $284.7 million payroll. The Phillies are getting older and the starting rotation has been terrible — leading to the choice to release Taijuan Walker — all contributing to a team that used Tuesday’s victory to reach 10-19.

The Phillies have experienced this situation previously, particularly in 2022 when Dombrowski dismissed Joe Girardi following a 22-29 beginning and they finished 65-46 under Thomson. The upcoming schedule favors Mattingly’s chances to replicate that turnaround with nine of the next 13 contests at home, with only the Athletics (among three other opponents) possessing a winning record.

Mattingly believed he was finished. He’s now completely back in the game — and the Phillies’ World Series aspirations rest entirely on a manager who has never captured one.

“This is not about how I’m going to do,” Mattingly said. “It’s really about club.”

The Philadelphia Phillies delivered a dominant 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, capping off a dramatic day that began with the firing of manager Rob Thomson.

Philadelphia made the coaching change after struggling to a 9-19 record that matched the worst in Major League Baseball entering Tuesday’s game. Thomson, who had led the team for nearly four years, was replaced by bench coach Don Mattingly on an interim basis.

Mattingly’s first game as skipper proved successful thanks to an outstanding performance from pitcher Jesus Luzardo, who surrendered only two hits across seven innings of work. The left-hander struck out eight batters without issuing a single walk to improve his record to 2-3.

Philadelphia’s offense came alive in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to break the game open. Trea Turner led the offensive charge with a 4-for-5 performance that included two runs scored, while Adolis Garcia contributed two RBIs to the effort.

The victory marked just the second win for Philadelphia in their last 13 contests, providing some relief for a team that has struggled mightily this season.

Giants starter Tyler Mahle took the loss, falling to 1-4 after allowing five runs on six hits over five innings of work. San Francisco, which had won seven of their previous 10 games, struck out 12 times with Matt Chapman accounting for four of those strikeouts.

In other MLB action around the league:

The Miami Marlins edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 behind six shutout innings from Janson Junk (2-2). Otto Lopez collected three hits for Miami, while Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers each drove in runs. Shohei Ohtani (2-1) took the loss for Los Angeles despite allowing just two runs over six innings.

Toronto defeated Boston 3-0 as Trey Yesavage made a successful season debut, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing four hits to earn his first win. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and an RBI, while Kazuma Okamoto delivered a two-run single for the Blue Jays.

Tampa Bay squeezed past Cleveland 1-0 on Jonathan Aranda’s fifth-inning RBI single. Nick Martinez (2-1) worked seven-plus innings for the Rays, who improved to 18-11. The 2024 first overall draft pick Travis Bazzana made his major league debut for Cleveland, going 0-for-2 with two walks.

The New York Yankees beat Texas 3-2 as Cam Schlittler threw six shutout innings and Aaron Judge homered for the third consecutive game. The Yankees have now won 10 of their last 11 games.

Cincinnati routed Colorado 7-2 behind Elly De La Cruz’s 3-for-4 performance that included four RBIs. Spencer Steer added a two-run homer for the Reds, who have won eight of their last 10 games.

Kansas City extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 extra-inning victory over Oakland. Bobby Witt Jr. broke a tie with a three-run homer in the 10th inning.

Baltimore defeated Houston 5-3 as Shane Baz earned his first victory with the Orioles and Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer. The struggling Astros have now lost eight of their last 11 games.

Other winners included Atlanta over Detroit 5-2, St. Louis over Pittsburgh 11-7, Milwaukee over Arizona 13-2, the New York Mets over Washington 8-0, Chicago White Sox over the Angels 5-2, Seattle over Minnesota 7-1, and the Cubs over San Diego 8-3.

An Italian professional golfer is maintaining an optimistic outlook as he recovers from devastating injuries suffered in a shocking elevator accident in South Africa earlier this year.

Andrea Pavan, who has claimed victory twice on Europe’s DP World Tour, plummeted three floors down an empty elevator shaft in February while staying near Stellenbosch Golf Club. The 37-year-old athlete had summoned the elevator at his lodging when the doors opened to reveal nothing but an empty shaft.

The terrifying fall left Pavan with multiple broken bones in his spine and a severe shoulder injury that necessitated surgical intervention.

Speaking with the BBC about his recovery timeline, Pavan explained the medical milestones ahead. “Around three months we’ll see how well the bone has healed. Around six months it’s about where complete bone healing happens and we’ll see how the joint is moving by then,” he said.

“It depends on if there are other tissues that were damaged if I need a second surgery. And there’s the possibility of necrosis when the blood flow is not sufficient for the bones. There is that risk, but so far it seem like things are positive enough,” Pavan continued.

The golfer acknowledged the complexity of his shoulder rehabilitation, noting the joint’s demanding nature in his sport. “The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it’s a little less than a year that I can play with a full swing but it’s just so new and such a big injury there just a lot of unknowns,” he shared.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his recovery, Pavan remains determined as he heals at his residence in Texas. “But I’m hopeful and the only thing I can do is to try and improve and take it day by day,” he added.

World Boxing announced Tuesday that fighters from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to participate in competitions as neutral competitors, following the International Olympic Committee’s position established after Russia’s comprehensive military assault on Ukraine in 2022.

According to the new guidelines, competitors from both nations will participate under the designation of Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN), prohibited from displaying their country’s flags, national anthems, official emblems, or team uniforms, while undergoing mandatory screening procedures.

This decision comes after World Boxing’s executive board voted in March to accept membership requests from boxing organizations in Russia and Belarus, opening the door for their fighters to participate in sanctioned competitions.

The neutral athlete protocol will be enforced throughout all age divisions in competitions organized by World Boxing, European Boxing, and international tournaments hosted by national boxing organizations, extending to trainers, support personnel, and team management.

According to World Boxing officials, the new protocol became effective immediately, with the organization’s secretary general officially informing both the Russian and Belarusian boxing federations about implementation procedures for the new measures.

Miami Marlins pitcher Janson Junk delivered a stellar performance on the mound Tuesday night, throwing six shutout innings to help his team secure a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and tie their three-game series.

The visiting Marlins got offensive support from Otto Lopez, who collected three hits, while Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers each contributed RBI performances. The victory improved Miami’s record to 2-3 during their current six-game road swing through the West Coast.

Junk earned his second win of the season against two losses, surrendering just three hits while walking one batter and striking out four. The right-hander has now thrown back-to-back scoreless outings after struggling in his two previous starts, where he allowed nine runs with seven earned.

Tyler Phillips stepped up in relief to secure his second save of the season, throwing a clean ninth inning. Phillips got the save opportunity after regular closer Pete Fairbanks was placed on the injured list earlier Tuesday due to nerve irritation.

On the opposing side, Shohei Ohtani took the loss to fall to 2-1 on the season. The Japanese superstar allowed two runs, though only one was earned, on five hits across six innings of work. He issued three walks and recorded nine strikeouts while pitching on five days’ rest for the first time this season. Despite the loss, Ohtani maintains an impressive 0.60 ERA.

The Dodgers’ offense struggled without Ohtani in the lineup, marking just the second time in five starts that the two-way star didn’t bat when he pitched. Will Smith led Los Angeles with three of the team’s seven hits, as the Dodgers were limited to one run or fewer for the fourth time this season.

Miami struck first in the second inning through a combination of hustle and Los Angeles mistakes. Agustin Ramirez took a pitch to his left wrist, then stole second base and moved to third on an errant throw by Ohtani. Caissie brought him home with a sacrifice fly to give the Marlins a 1-0 advantage.

The visitors doubled their lead in the fifth inning when Christopher Morel drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Jakob Marsee’s one-out bunt. Stowers then delivered a clutch single to right field, scoring Morel for a 2-0 Miami lead.

Morel was making his first appearance in a Marlins uniform after signing as a free agent during the offseason. He had been sidelined with an oblique strain suffered during batting practice before the season opener.

Los Angeles managed to cut the deficit in half during the eighth inning. Freddie Freeman’s one-out single put runners on first and third base, setting up Smith’s RBI single to right field off reliever Michael Petersen that made it 2-1.

Joel Embiid delivered 33 points and distributed eight assists as Philadelphia defeated Boston 113-97 in Tuesday’s Game 5, keeping the 76ers’ playoff hopes alive in their Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

The star center, who sat out the series’ opening three games due to appendix surgery, briefly left the contest with what appeared to be a knee problem at the 4:35 mark of the third quarter, but made his way back onto the court with two minutes remaining in that period.

“Obviously he was very, very good,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “Give him credit. He worked really hard to get back through the procedure that he had. Played a lot of minutes. I was super-impressed with him on the defensive end tonight.”

Tyrese Maxey contributed 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, the series’ seventh seed, which trailed by one point heading into the final quarter before dominating Boston 28-11 in those closing 12 minutes. Paul George recorded 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the 76ers narrowed the best-of-seven series gap to 3-2.

Boston’s second-seeded squad got 24 points and 16 rebounds from Jayson Tatum, while Jaylen Brown contributed 22 points. Neemias Queta posted eight points and 14 rebounds. The Celtics managed just 36 successful shots on 89 attempts from the floor.

“I mean it’s disappointing,” Boston’s Payton Pritchard said. “Every game you lose in the playoffs is disappointing. But the playoffs is life of its own. You never know when you’re gonna get it done, so you gotta move on and get ready for (Game 6 on) Thursday. … We don’t have time to dwell on it. We’ve got to go to Philly tomorrow and get ready for Thursday.”

Boston claimed its first lead when Brown scored a layup making it 16-15 with 2:59 left in the opening quarter. The Celtics held a 23-21 advantage after one period.

The home team expanded their margin to 42-31 following a Tatum three-pointer, but Philadelphia rallied to within two points at 50-48 after Maxey connected from beyond the arc with 2:10 left before halftime. Boston responded with seven consecutive points and took a 57-50 lead into the break.

Early in the third quarter, the Celtics pushed their advantage to 13 points at 63-50, but a VJ Edgecombe three-pointer brought Philadelphia within striking distance at 66-65 with 6:37 remaining in the period. Boston maintained an 86-85 edge entering the fourth quarter.

The 76ers seized control with an 88-86 lead on George’s three-pointer early in the final period, eventually building their biggest advantage when Edgecombe hit another three-pointer for a 109-94 margin with 2:25 left on the clock.

Boston struggled mightily in the fourth quarter, converting only three of 22 field goal attempts.

“Just missed some shots,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought we got some good looks. Weren’t able to capitalize on them.”

“We were able to execute what we wanted to do defensively — weren’t blowing assignments and guarded hard,” Nurse said of his team’s fourth-quarter performance. “Everybody did a good job of guarding their man. … We knew we needed to do a better job on the defensive end.”

David Pastrnak netted a crucial breakaway goal 9 minutes and 14 seconds into overtime, giving the Boston Bruins a vital 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup on Tuesday evening.

The dramatic winner came less than two minutes after Boston netminder Jeremy Swayman made a critical save against Alex Tuch. Pastrnak took a lengthy pass from Hampus Lindholm as he crossed the blue line, breaking away to beat Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon with a shot that went past the keeper’s skate.

Elias Lindholm contributed the other goal for Boston, while Swayman delivered 24 saves overall, including four crucial stops during the overtime period to extend the Bruins’ playoff run. The victory sends the best-of-seven series back to Boston for Game 6 this Friday.

Boston has now captured two of three contests played in Buffalo. Rasmus Dahlin tallied the only goal for the Sabres, and Lyon made 27 saves for Buffalo, which is attempting to claim its first playoff series victory since 2007.

Oilers 4, Ducks 1

Leon Draisaitl found the net twice as Edmonton extended its playoff life with a victory over visiting Anaheim in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round matchup.

Anaheim maintains a 3-2 series advantage heading into Thursday’s Game 6 in Anaheim. Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also tallied for Edmonton, which knocked Anaheim netminder Lukas Dostal from the game after scoring three times in the opening 10:13. Evan Bouchard recorded three assists, while Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each contributed two helpers.

Connor Ingram turned away 29 shots for the two-time defending Western Conference champions after serving as backup to Tristan Jarry during Edmonton’s 4-3 overtime defeat at Anaheim in Sunday’s Game 4. Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks, who remain one win away from capturing their first playoff series triumph in nine years.

Wild 4, Stars 2

Kirill Kaprizov recorded one goal and two assists as Minnesota defeated host Dallas to grab a 3-2 series advantage in their Western Conference first-round playoff battle.

Matt Boldy contributed a goal and an assist, while Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron also found the back of the net for Minnesota. Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves for the Wild.

Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen each recorded a goal and an assist for Dallas. Jake Oettinger stopped 24 shots for the Stars.

De’Aaron Fox delivered when it mattered most, putting up 13 of his 21 total points during the final quarter as San Antonio eliminated Portland with a commanding 114-95 victory at home Tuesday night, wrapping up their Western Conference first-round series 4-1.

Victor Wembanyama dominated both ends of the court with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks, helping the second-seeded Spurs punch their ticket to the conference semifinals where they’ll face either third-seeded Denver or sixth-seeded Minnesota.

Julian Champagnie contributed 19 points for San Antonio, which reaches the playoff’s second round for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. Fox also facilitated the offense with a team-leading nine assists.

Portland got 22 points from Deni Avdija but struggled shooting the ball, connecting on just 35.1% of their field goal attempts compared to San Antonio’s 54.7%.

In other playoff action, Joel Embiid exploded for 33 points and eight assists as Philadelphia kept their season alive with a 113-97 road victory over Boston in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

Tyrese Maxey chipped in 25 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers, who now trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven contest. Philadelphia trailed by one entering the fourth quarter but dominated the final 12 minutes, outscoring Boston 28-11.

The Celtics got 24 points and 16 rebounds from Jayson Tatum plus 22 points from Jaylen Brown, but went ice-cold in the fourth quarter, making just 3-of-22 shots during that stretch.

Jalen Brunson torched Atlanta for 39 points as New York cruised to a 126-97 home win in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Knicks now lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and got additional help from OG Anunoby’s 17 points and 10 rebounds. New York controlled the glass with a commanding 48-27 rebounding advantage.

Atlanta received 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists from Jalen Johnson, while Dyson Daniels scored 17 points. The Hawks managed just four fast-break points in the loss.

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant pitching performance Tuesday evening, recording nine strikeouts during six innings of work for the Los Angeles Dodgers while sitting out of the batting lineup for the second time this season.

The 31-year-old dual-threat athlete allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits while issuing three walks in the matchup against Miami. Ohtani threw a season-high 104 pitches for Los Angeles, with 67 finding the strike zone, before exiting with his team down 2-0.

This marked the second occasion in three weeks where Ohtani focused solely on pitching duties rather than serving as the designated hitter in the batting order.

“It’s almost like a half-day for him,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “I think that in itself is a win for his mind and body.”

Dalton Rushing stepped into both the designated hitter role and leadoff spot in Ohtani’s absence from the lineup.

Los Angeles is implementing a strategic approach to managing Ohtani’s responsibilities during his inaugural full campaign as a dual-role player while the franchise pursues a third consecutive championship.

“Obviously having him do both duties, theory, practice, it’s great,” Roberts said. “But how sustainable is it without kind of taking a little bit off his plate? That’s the question and it’s not exact science.”

Despite occasional control issues, Ohtani surrendered his second earned run across 30 innings this year, causing his ERA to rise from 0.38 to 0.60.

The performance came with Ohtani working on five days of rest for the first time this season, departing from his typical six-day schedule.

Ohtani’s achievement places him alongside Fernando Valenzuela from 1981 and his own 2024 campaign as the only Dodgers hurlers to surrender just one run through their first five seasonal starts. This year, Ohtani accomplished the feat while pitching only 9 1/3 innings.

The superstar is expected to return to hitting duties Wednesday afternoon for the series conclusion.

Both men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments could see significant growth within the next few years, with news reports suggesting the field size may increase from the current 68 teams to 76 teams beginning in 2027, although the NCAA has pushed back on claims that anything is set in stone.

After several major sports news organizations reported Tuesday that expansion plans were moving toward approval by NCAA committees and could become official by May, the NCAA released a statement disputing that characterization.

“Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time,” the organization’s statement said.

According to CBS Sports, the proposed format would place 52 teams directly into the main tournament bracket, while the remaining 24 teams would compete in 12 preliminary games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday following Selection Sunday. The winners of those matchups would advance to complete the Round of 64. The current “First Four” designation would be replaced, with the preliminary contests becoming the “opening round” and the traditional Round of 64 renamed the “first round.”

ESPN reports that the NCAA is still working through contract discussions with its broadcasting partners, which must be completed before the proposal can go to various committees for votes, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, oversight committees, the Division I Cabinet, and the Division I Board of Governors.

This would represent the tournament’s first growth since 2011, when the field expanded from 65 to 68 teams through the creation of the First Four games. Prior to that change, the tournament had maintained either 64 or 65 teams since 1985.

Yahoo Sports previously reported that the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference have been the primary advocates pushing for tournament expansion. NCAA president Charlie Baker has also expressed his backing for the idea.

“I said all along that I think there are some very good reasons to expand the tournament,” Baker told ESPN in February. “So, I would like to see it expand.”

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has completed a scheduled follow-up surgery on his right ankle, according to NFL Network reports released Tuesday.

The 26-year-old signal-caller suffered a season-ending ankle fracture during Denver’s victory against the Buffalo Bills in their AFC divisional playoff matchup. He had initial surgery performed in Alabama just two days following the injury.

As Nix prepares for his third professional season, team officials expect his participation in voluntary offseason workouts and organized team activities to be limited, sources indicate. The Broncos organization intends to proceed cautiously with their quarterback’s recovery timeline, with NFL Network reporting the team will take things “very easy” with him.

Denver head coach Sean Payton addressed Nix’s condition during Saturday remarks, stating: “He had a recheck that was scheduled. He’s doing great. We’re excited about his progress. These guys will be coming in here. … He’s here.”

World soccer’s governing body announced Tuesday it will distribute nearly $900 million to teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, marking a significant boost in financial support for participating nations.

During a FIFA Council meeting held in Vancouver before the organization’s 76th Congress, officials approved a 15% bump in resources that will be shared among all 48 member associations taking part in next year’s expanded tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The enhanced financial package totals $871 million, with each qualifying team now set to receive $2.5 million in preparation funds, an increase from the previous $1.5 million allocation.

Teams will also see their qualification bonuses grow from $9 million to $10 million, while FIFA announced additional support including subsidized delegation expenses and expanded ticket allocations worth more than $16 million combined.

“FIFA is proud to be in its most solid financial position ever, enabling us to help all our Member Associations in an unprecedented way,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.

“This is one more example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested back into the game.”

The financial boost addresses concerns raised by some participating countries about the challenges of competing in a tournament spanning North America, where teams face extensive travel distances, varying tax systems and complex logistical demands.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA had conveyed worries from several member nations that teams might struggle financially unless they advance far into the competition.

The upcoming tournament represents a historic milestone as the first men’s World Cup to include 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format, and will take place across three North American countries.

FIFA’s increased payouts reflect expectations for the most commercially successful World Cup ever, with additional teams creating more matches and expanded opportunities for ticket sales, sponsorship deals and broadcasting revenue.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday that left-handed pitcher Justin Steele has experienced a setback in his comeback from Tommy John surgery and has been forced to stop throwing.

The 30-year-old pitcher, whose last appearance on the mound came on April 7, 2025, had been progressing toward a potential return in the final weeks of May or beginning of June. However, a left elbow flexor strain has now halted his throwing routine entirely.

Medical staff will reassess Steele’s condition in approximately four weeks, though the exact timeline for his eventual return remains uncertain. This development further depletes Chicago’s pitching depth, as the team is already missing right-handed pitcher Cade Horton, who is also recovering from Tommy John surgery.

This marks Steele’s second Tommy John procedure throughout his baseball career. His first surgery occurred years ago while he was developing in Chicago’s minor league system.

When healthy, Steele has proven to be a reliable performer for Chicago. The pitcher earned All-Star recognition in 2023 and placed fifth in National League Cy Young Award balloting that same year. Throughout his major league career spanning 102 appearances with 91 starts, he has compiled a 32-22 win-loss record alongside a 3.30 earned run average.

The Houston Rockets will face another must-win situation without their marquee player, as the team confirmed Tuesday evening that Kevin Durant will be sidelined for Wednesday’s Game 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

This marks Durant’s fourth absence in the five-game first-round playoff series so far.

The veteran All-Star, who has been selected to 16 All-Star teams, was initially held out of Game 1 due to a right knee contusion. He then missed both Games 3 and 4 after suffering a left ankle sprain and bone bruise that failed to improve sufficiently for team medical staff to approve his return for Wednesday’s contest.

Durant’s only action in the series came during Game 2, where he contributed 23 points but struggled with ball security, committing nine turnovers in a losing effort.

The Lakers have capitalized on Durant’s limited availability, establishing a commanding 3-1 series lead. However, Los Angeles has also battled significant injury concerns, as their top two offensive weapons, Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), have yet to take the court in this series. Reaves may return for Wednesday’s game.

After falling behind 3-0 in the series, Houston staved off elimination with a dominant 115-96 win on Sunday.

Durant, now 37 years old, is playing in his 18th NBA campaign. The accomplished forward earned MVP honors in the 2013-14 season, captured four scoring titles, and earned All-NBA recognition 11 times while winning two championship rings. This marks his inaugural season wearing a Rockets uniform.

The White House has defended President Donald Trump’s receipt of FIFA’s first-ever Peace Prize amid mounting international criticism from soccer officials and human rights organizations.

FIFA presented Trump with the inaugural honor during December’s World Cup draw ceremony, citing his efforts in “promoting peace and unity around the world.” The decision sparked immediate backlash from human rights advocates and soccer organizations leading up to the World Cup.

This week, Australian soccer star Jackson Irvine criticized the award, stating it undermines FIFA’s Human Rights Policy. Meanwhile, Norway’s soccer federation has called for FIFA to eliminate the prize altogether.

In response to the criticism, White House officials pointed to Trump’s “Peace through Strength foreign policy” approach, claiming it successfully concluded eight conflicts within a year.

“There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA’s first ever Peace Prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” stated White House spokesman Davis Ingle.

The controversy comes as the United States prepares to co-host the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19. However, military actions have continued since the award ceremony, including a strike on Venezuela one month after the tournament draw and coordinated airstrikes with Israel targeting Iran beginning February 28.

President Trump has repeatedly highlighted his role in resolving global disputes and has publicly suggested he deserves recognition with the Nobel Peace Prize on multiple occasions.

World-ranked golfer Patrick Cantlay has pulled out of this week’s Cadillac Championship in Miami after becoming ill, tournament officials announced Tuesday.

Michael Thorbjornsen will step in to fill Cantlay’s spot in the tournament field.

The 34-year-old Cantlay, currently sitting at 32nd in world rankings, has been playing strong golf recently with a seventh-place finish at the Valspar Championship, followed by a 12th-place showing at the Masters and an eighth-place result at the RBC Heritage.

Cantlay’s absence adds to a growing list of high-profile players skipping this week’s event at Trump National Doral, including second-ranked Rory McIlroy, third-ranked Matt Fitzpatrick, ninth-ranked Xander Schauffele, 12th-ranked Robert MacIntyre, and 14th-ranked Ludvig Aberg.

The unexpected opening creates a valuable chance for Thorbjornsen, the former Stanford standout who continues pursuing his first PGA Tour victory. The young golfer showed promise with strong performances at The Players Championship and Texas Children’s Houston Open, finishing tied for 22nd and 14th respectively, before missing the cut at the Valero Texas Open and placing tied for 33rd at the RBC Heritage.

This week’s Cadillac Championship marks the season’s fifth signature tournament, offering players a chance at a $20 million prize fund and enhanced FedExCup points. Another signature event, the Truist Championship, follows next week before the PGA Championship begins.

The PGA Tour returns to Trump National Doral for the first time since 2016, when Adam Scott claimed victory at the Miami venue.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize was forced to exit Tuesday’s matchup against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning after experiencing tightness in his right groin, according to team officials.

The injury occurred when Mize, who was selected first overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, appeared to show signs of discomfort while fielding a ground ball hit by Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin. After making an underhand toss to first base for the out, Mize visibly winced.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and the team’s medical staff quickly came out to evaluate the right-handed pitcher before pulling him from the contest.

Mize, who earned his first All-Star selection last year, has been performing well this season with a 2-1 record and a 2.66 earned run average through six outings. During his abbreviated appearance against the Braves, he gave up two runs on three hits while recording three strikeouts and issuing one walk.

The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety has scheduled a disciplinary hearing for May 4 to review an incident involving Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, who threw a punch at an opposing player during playoff action.

Officials announced the hearing on Tuesday but did not indicate it would take place in person, suggesting any potential suspension would not exceed five games. According to The Ottawa Citizen, the proceedings will be handled via telephone.

The 23-year-old player received a roughing penalty after striking Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker during Saturday’s Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup. Carolina captured that contest to complete a sweep of the series, eliminating Ottawa from postseason contention, meaning any disciplinary action would carry over to the upcoming season.

The confrontation happened during a play stoppage in the middle portion of the second period in Game 4. Walker had been engaged in a physical altercation with Warren Foegele when Greig joined the fray and delivered what appeared to be a high punch that sent Walker tumbling to the ice surface.

Greig wrapped up his fourth NHL campaign with 13 goals and 22 assists, totaling 35 points across 77 regular season contests. His assist and point numbers represented personal bests, while his goal total matched his output from the previous two seasons. He also accumulated 83 minutes in penalties during the regular season.

Throughout the first-round playoff series against Carolina, he contributed one assist while serving two penalty minutes.

An Ethiopian distance runner accomplished something extraordinary at the London Marathon, yet it wasn’t enough to secure first place. Yomif Kejelcha managed to complete the 26.2-mile course in less than two hours during the April 26th race in London, England, but crossed the finish line as the runner-up.

Despite the second-place finish, Kejelcha maintains a positive outlook about his historic performance. In an interview with NPR, the Ethiopian athlete expressed his determination to improve even further, stating his goal is to complete his next marathon one minute faster than his sub-two-hour time.

The achievement represents a significant milestone in marathon running, as breaking the two-hour barrier has long been considered one of the sport’s ultimate challenges. While Kejelcha’s time was groundbreaking, another runner managed to finish ahead of him in what must have been an exceptionally competitive race.

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers face uncertainty about their star captain Connor McDavid’s availability as they prepare for a critical Tuesday night matchup against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their opening playoff round.

The NHL’s leading scorer this season was absent from Tuesday morning’s practice session before what becomes a do-or-die contest for Edmonton.

Edmonton finds itself in a challenging position, needing to overcome a 3-1 series disadvantage in the best-of-seven format to keep their season alive. The franchise made consecutive Stanley Cup final appearances over the past two years, ultimately falling to the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch indicated that both McDavid and forward Jason Dickinson’s participation would be determined closer to game time, while confirming Connor Ingram will handle goaltending duties.

The 29-year-old superstar has appeared to struggle with mobility issues following an ankle injury sustained during Game 2’s second period after a collision with teammate Mattias Ekholm.

Despite the injury concerns, McDavid, who topped the league with 138 points this season, found the net for his initial goal in Game 3 and recorded multiple-point performances in both the third and fourth contests played in Anaheim. He also missed Saturday’s optional practice session while in Anaheim.

On Tuesday, McDavid received recognition as a nominee for the Ted Lindsay Award alongside San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. This honor recognizes the league’s top performer as chosen by fellow NHL players, with McDavid having claimed the award four times previously.

Ingram will return between the pipes for Edmonton after Tristan Jarry recorded 34 stops in Game 4’s 4-3 overtime defeat. Ingram handled the first three games of the series, capturing a 4-3 victory in the opener before surrendering 11 goals across two straight losses behind Edmonton’s struggling defensive play.

“Nothing against Jarry,” Knoblauch said. “I thought he had a solid game the other night, but going down this last few weeks or months, Ingram’s been our starter. He’s been our guy. Now that our season’s on the line, we felt that we would go with our guy.”

Dickinson missed the second and third contests due to injury after scoring twice in Edmonton’s series-opening victory and contributing an assist on the Oilers’ initial goal in the Game 4 setback.

The National Basketball Association took another step Tuesday toward implementing significant changes to its draft lottery system, advancing a proposal designed to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to secure better draft positioning.

League general managers examined the “3-2-1 Lottery” concept, which would expand the current 14-team lottery to include 16 franchises while dramatically reducing the draft advantages for clubs with the poorest records. The proposal requires additional discussion before reaching the Board of Governors for a decisive vote anticipated next month.

Should the plan receive approval, it would take effect following this year’s draft lottery scheduled for May 10, marking the final use of the existing system.

Thursday’s competition committee meeting will feature further deliberation on the proposal, which aims to encourage competitive play even among teams eliminated from playoff and play-in tournament contention.

Under the suggested framework, all 16 participating teams would receive between one and three lottery balls, creating the system’s “3-2-1” designation. The distribution would work as follows:

Teams losing the No. 7 versus No. 8 play-in matchups in each conference would receive one lottery ball apiece.

The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds entering play-in competition would each obtain two lottery balls.

The remaining 10 franchises missing both playoffs and play-in tournaments would all receive three lottery balls, except for the three teams with the worst regular season records. These bottom-dwelling clubs would face “draft relegation,” losing one lottery ball as punishment for poor performance.

The league expressed significant frustration this season regarding teams that clearly prioritized draft positioning over victories, including levying a $500,000 fine against the Utah Jazz “for conduct detrimental to the league” after two key players were benched during fourth quarters of consecutive games.

This season witnessed an unprecedented race toward futility, with five franchises—Washington, Indiana, Utah, Memphis and Brooklyn—posting winning percentages below .180 following the All-Star break. No previous NBA season had featured so many teams losing at such rates during the campaign’s final stretch.

“The incentives are not necessarily matched here,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated in February regarding the correlation between poor records and favorable lottery positioning. “I think the tradition in sports where the worst-performing team receives the first pick from their partners, when any economist comes and looks at our system, they always point out you have the incentives backwards there. That doesn’t necessarily make sense.”

Silver has committed to addressing the tanking problem before next season, noting the league has modified its lottery structure multiple times throughout recent decades.

The proposed system would give teams with the three worst records identical 5.4% chances of securing the No. 1 pick, with those clubs unable to drop below the 12th selection.

However, the seven other teams missing playoffs and play-in tournaments would receive the best odds at 8.1% each for the top pick.

Play-in tournament seeds No. 9 and No. 10 would also have 5.4% chances, while teams losing the No. 7 versus No. 8 play-in games would each possess 2.7% odds.

This season’s three worst performers—Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn—currently have 14% lottery odds and guaranteed top-seven selections under the existing system. Indiana’s pick would transfer to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls fifth or sixth due to a previous trade agreement.

The new system would reduce those teams’ chances to 5.4% while allowing them to fall as low as 12th overall. These clubs would face a 72% probability of landing outside the top five picks.

“This is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level,” Silver explained earlier this year. “It has business implications, has basketball implications, has integrity implications for the league. It’s one that we take very seriously. We are going to fix it, full stop. I want to say that directly to our fans. … Incentives need to be fixed. We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”

Additional components of the 3-2-1 proposal include:

Preventing teams from winning consecutive No. 1 picks or securing three straight top-five selections.

Eliminating trade protections for picks falling between positions 12 and 15.

Granting the league “expanded disciplinary authority” to combat tanking through measures such as reducing lottery odds or altering draft positions.

Establishing a sunset clause after the 2029 draft, requiring Board of Governors approval to continue or modify the system.

NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman firmly defended Tuesday the controversial decision to allow Anaheim’s overtime goal against Edmonton that secured their Game 4 playoff victory.

“It wasn’t a controversy, it was absolutely the right call,” Bettman stated during a meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors at NHL headquarters in New York City. “Because of the technology that we currently use and the cameras that we have inside the net, you could see it, knew for certain that it would be in and over the line.”

The commissioner’s comments followed Sunday’s extensive video review of Ryan Poehling’s disputed goal, which officials ultimately ruled had crossed the goal line in Anaheim’s 4-3 victory. The Ducks now hold a commanding 3-1 series advantage and could eliminate Edmonton with a win in Tuesday night’s Game 5.

While referees on the ice initially called the goal valid, debate arose over whether replay footage provided sufficient proof that the puck had completely crossed the line at 2:29 of the extra period.

Poehling’s shot from a difficult angle deflected off an Edmonton player’s skate before sliding underneath goaltender Tristan Jarry. The puck appeared to barely slip across the goal line through Jarry’s legs, though the goalie’s skate blade obscured the top portion of the puck from camera view.

Officials reviewing the play concluded there was insufficient evidence to reverse the original goal call.

“I thought I saw some white (between the puck and the goal line) when I was behind the net,” Poehling said. “Then everyone was celebrating. Did it go in? I’m like, ‘I think so?’ But yeah, I thought so right away.”

Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch remained skeptical of the decision.

“I can’t see it going in,” Knoblauch said. “I can’t see the line. … The (initial) goal call on the ice was probably about 60 to 90 seconds after (the shot), maybe even more. They huddled when they got to center ice and then they made the (initial) call that it was a good goal. I don’t know. Wasn’t very definitive.”

During Tuesday’s discussion, Bettman revealed that the league is currently evaluating new technological improvements designed to help replay officials make more accurate goal determinations. However, he declined to share specifics about the technology or when it might be implemented.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves remains uncertain about his availability for Wednesday night’s critical playoff matchup against the Houston Rockets, as he continues recovering from an oblique muscle strain that has kept him off the court for almost a month.

Speaking with media on Tuesday for the first time since sustaining the injury on April 2nd during a game against Oklahoma City, Reaves displayed measured confidence about his potential comeback. The Lakers’ second-highest scorer had been marked as questionable for the previous two playoff games but remained on the bench as Los Angeles managed to split those contests, securing a commanding 3-1 advantage in their opening-round series.

“I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves told reporters at the team’s practice facility. “I feel good. Trending in the right direction. I can’t wait to get up (Wednesday) and attack another day.”

Head coach JJ Redick remained tight-lipped regarding the team’s decision-making process surrounding Reaves’ status, stating his participation would be “based on whether he’s good to go. We’ll talk through that.”

The injury represents the second significant setback during what has otherwise been a stellar campaign for Reaves. Despite appearing in only 51 games this season, he posted impressive numbers with 23.3 points per game alongside 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds. His limited appearances stemmed from both the current oblique issue and a left calf strain that forced him to miss 19 consecutive games spanning from Christmas through February.

While Reaves managed to complete the Oklahoma City contest where he initially suffered the injury, he recognized its severity due to his typically high threshold for pain. Notably, NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic also departed that same game with a hamstring strain, and both prolific scorers have remained sidelined since that date.

Despite their absence, Reaves has been encouraged by his teammates’ performance during the playoff run.

“Basically the message from that day forward was that they were going to do everything as a team to give us an opportunity to come back and play, and they’ve done exactly what they said,” Reaves explained.

LeBron James and the supporting roster have exceeded expectations by capturing the opening three games of their first-round matchup, placing the favored Rockets on the edge of elimination. Their Game 3 overtime victory proved particularly dramatic, as they overcame a six-point deficit with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

“It’s been a lot of fun, just seeing the determination, the togetherness, and just the joy of them playing basketball together (and) competing every single possession,” Reaves observed. “It’s been a lot of fun. Me and Luka talk about it every time we’re watching — just how hard we’re playing, the attention to detail and the togetherness.”

Doncic remains far from returning to action, potentially leaving both squads without their leading scorers for Game 5. Houston’s star Kevin Durant has been absent for three of the four series games due to his own injury concerns and did not participate in Tuesday’s practice session in Houston before the team’s flight to Los Angeles.

The Edmonton Oilers could be forced to battle for their playoff survival Tuesday evening without their superstar captain Connor McDavid, whose status remains uncertain due to an ankle problem.

McDavid hurt his right ankle during Game 2 of the series and has continued playing despite obvious limitations from the injury.

The 29-year-old team leader has recorded four points in the current series with one goal and three assists, following a dominant regular season where he topped the NHL with 138 total points on 48 goals and 90 assists across 82 games.

Edmonton, winners of the Western Conference in back-to-back seasons, finds themselves trailing 3-1 in their opening-round matchup against Anaheim. The Ducks will travel to Edmonton Tuesday evening seeking to close out the series and claim their first playoff series victory in nine years.

The Ducks have rattled off three consecutive wins following their 4-3 series-opening loss on April 20, where they surrendered a late advantage.

Edmonton may also be missing center Jason Dickinson, who sat out Games 2 and 3 with a lower-body ailment before making his return in Game 4. Dickinson’s availability for Tuesday’s contest also remains undetermined.

Golfers competing in this summer’s Women’s Open championship will battle for an unprecedented $10 million prize pool as the tournament celebrates its golden anniversary, officials from The R&A revealed Tuesday.

The prize money represents a $250,000 boost from the previous year’s total, continuing an upward trajectory that has defined the major championship in recent seasons.

R&A CEO Mark Darbon emphasized the organization’s dedication to growth, stating: “This is the sixth consecutive year that the AIG Women’s Open prize fund has been increased. These consistent and sustainable investments in the prize fund clearly demonstrate The R&A and AIG’s commitment to elevating the Championship on the global stage.”

The tournament’s financial evolution tells a remarkable story since its debut in 1976, when competitors vied for a modest 500 euro total purse. Prize money has climbed dramatically, especially during the last twenty years.

When Sunningdale hosted the championship in 2008 — the same venue selected for the 2028 tournament as announced Tuesday — players competed for $2.1 million total.

A decade later, during the most recent Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England — this year’s host course for the July 29 through August 2 competition — the total prize fund reached only $3.25 million. The current $10 million purse represents a threefold increase from that 2018 amount.

The championship now joins two other LPGA major tournaments offering eight-figure prize pools, though it trails the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s PGA Championship, which each feature $12 million in total prizes.

The recent Chevron Championship nearly reached the $10 million threshold this past weekend, with organizers boosting the purse by $1 million to a record $9 million just two days before play began. Nelly Korda captured the winner’s check of $1.35 million.

Television coverage will also expand significantly, with 34 hours of programming scheduled across the four-day event.

AIG chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino highlighted the company’s broader mission Tuesday, saying: “The AIG Women’s Open reflects our commitment to advancing women in business, sports and society, which is core to AIG’s values. In partnership with The R&A, we are making important strides in elevating the women’s game by continuing to increase the Championship purse and extending live broadcast coverage that will reach an even wider global audience of fans.”

A former NBA player and assistant coach has become the first defendant to accept a plea agreement in a sweeping federal gambling investigation that resulted in more than two dozen arrests.

Damon Jones, 49, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud during a Tuesday hearing in federal court in Brooklyn, New York. His plea comes just one day after prosecutors announced additional charges against former Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.

“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones stated during his brief courtroom appearance.

The former player admitted his involvement in what federal authorities dubbed “Operation Royal Flush,” serving as a “face card” in at least three fraudulent poker games spanning from October 2020 through September 2023. Jones acknowledged participating in two Miami-based games while knowing they were rigged.

Prosecutors presented evidence placing Jones at all three games through witness statements, recovered text messages from confiscated phones and iCloud accounts, and wire transfer activity showing interstate fund movements. The investigation uncovered sophisticated technology that enabled undetectable cheating, according to prosecutors.

Jones is scheduled for sentencing in January 2027.

The guilty pleas were entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo in two separate federal cases naming Jones: U.S. v. Earnest and U.S. v. Aiello.

Court documents indicate a sentencing range of five years to 78 months was established prior to his arraignment last year. As part of Tuesday’s agreement, Jones consented to forfeit at least $38,000 in winnings obtained through the scheme.

During his 11-season NBA career, Jones played alongside LeBron James in Cleveland and Miami before transitioning to an unofficial coaching role with the Lakers. Prosecutors alleged he provided confidential information, including details about James’ injury status for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, to benefit a professionally-connected gambling operation.

The maximum sentence for that case is 27 months.

After initially entering a not guilty plea in December, Jones could receive up to two years credit for accepting the plea agreement.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a strategic move to maintain their connection with Aaron Rodgers while protecting their interests should the veteran quarterback choose to play elsewhere.

On Monday, Pittsburgh filed an unrestricted free-agent tender on the four-time MVP, ensuring they would receive a compensatory draft pick should the 42-year-old decide to join a different team during the 2026 campaign.

Both General Manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy continue to express strong confidence that Rodgers will return following his role in securing the team’s AFC North championship last season.

Communication between the organization and Rodgers has remained consistent since the season concluded, with Khan stating after the NFL draft that selecting former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round has no bearing on their desire to retain Rodgers.

The tender arrangement doesn’t prevent Rodgers from joining another franchise or provide Pittsburgh with matching rights for any offers he might receive before July 22.

However, it does provide the Steelers with compensation should he depart before training camp begins in late July. Once camp starts, Pittsburgh would hold exclusive negotiating privileges with Rodgers.

The tender also establishes Rodgers’ potential earnings, entitling him to a 10% increase over his 2025 compensation should he return for what would be his 22nd NFL season.

In January, Rodgers indicated he would make his decision “down the line.” While the Steelers hoped for clarity before the draft, that timeline didn’t materialize.

Pittsburgh’s voluntary organized team activities begin May 18, with mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 2-4.

Last year, Rodgers bypassed OTAs completely, ultimately signing his one-year contract with the Steelers shortly after minicamp concluded.

The Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, has earned his second NBA Executive of the Year recognition in a three-year span, the league announced Tuesday.

Under Stevens’ leadership, the Celtics posted an impressive 56-26 record during the 2025-26 season, claiming the Eastern Conference’s second-best mark and earning a top-two playoff position for the fifth consecutive year since he took over the front office role.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable considering Boston lost key veterans Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday during the offseason, while star forward Jayson Tatum was limited to just 16 games as he worked back from an Achilles injury.

Stevens previously claimed this honor during the 2023-24 campaign, making him the 12th NBA executive to win the award multiple times since the recognition began in the 1972-73 season.

In the voting conducted by fellow NBA executives, the 49-year-old Stevens collected 11 first-place ballots and accumulated 69 total points. Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh finished as runner-up with 41 points, narrowly edging Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon by a single point.

Stevens spent eight seasons as Boston’s head coach before transitioning to the front office, compiling a 354-282 coaching record. Throughout his 13 years with the organization, the Celtics have reached the playoffs in 12 of those seasons.

Boston currently holds a commanding 3-1 advantage over the Philadelphia 76ers in their opening playoff round, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday evening at home.

HOUSTON (AP) — While Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant is showing signs of improvement with his left ankle injury, his availability for Wednesday evening’s pivotal Game 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers remains doubtful.

The veteran forward was absent from Tuesday’s team practice session before the Rockets departed for California, where they face elimination trailing 3-1 in their first-round playoff series. However, Durant was observed working out on an anti-gravity treadmill as his teammates concluded their preparation before traveling.

When Head Coach Ime Udoka was questioned about the possibility of Durant suiting up for Game 5 after being sidelined for the previous two contests due to a sprained left ankle and bone bruise, he remained cautiously optimistic.

“We’ll see,” Udoka said. “It is day to day, game to game. But we’ll have to get on the court and do some things, and he didn’t participate in practice today. But he’s doing the conditioning and other aspects to try to get back.”

Durant’s absence has been felt throughout the series, having missed three total games after sitting out the series opener with a bruised right knee. The 37-year-old managed to return for the second game, contributing 23 points over 41 minutes in a 101-94 defeat, but sustained the ankle injury in the closing moments of that contest.

Houston managed to stave off elimination in Game 4 with an impressive 115-96 victory, even without their star player on the court.

The injury setbacks come after Durant logged heavy minutes during the regular season, accumulating 2,840 minutes to rank second league-wide. This marks his debut season with Houston following an offseason trade from Phoenix.

Durant, who holds the distinction of being the NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer, will be crucial if the Rockets hope to mount an unlikely comeback in the series.

CHICAGO — Baseball’s National League Central division is making headlines as the sport’s only division where every single team maintains a winning record this season.

The division boasts an impressive roster of talent, from reigning NL Cy Young Award recipient Paul Skenes to emerging rookies including Sal Stewart, Konnor Griffin, and JJ Wetherholt. The mix also features rising stars such as Elly De La Cruz alongside established veterans like Christian Yelich.

“I think it’s a really good division,” Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman commented. “Obviously, good pitching, good offenses, and all the teams have gotten off to a good start. So we know that we’ve got our work cut out for us in this division.”

As of Tuesday, this marks only the second-latest point in any season where all NL Central teams have maintained records above .500, according to Sportradar data. The latest occurrence was May 29, 2004, when the division included six teams and each held records of 23-22 or better.

Division-wide performance shows the NL Central and NL West both posting 80-61 composite records, while the AL East follows at 73-69. The remaining divisions — NL East (64-79), AL Central (66-79), and AL West (66-80) — all show losing records collectively.

This success becomes even more remarkable considering four NL Central teams ranked among baseball’s 12 lowest payrolls on opening day.

“There are good athletes in the NL Central. The style of play is interesting,” St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol observed. “You see how collectively they play the game and where their record’s at right now.”

Cincinnati leads the division at 18-10, driven by performances from Cruz and Stewart. Chicago trails by 1.5 games, while Pittsburgh sits third at 16-13. St. Louis holds a 15-13 record, and Milwaukee rounds out the standings at 14-13.

Milwaukee captured the division title in 2025 for three straight years, while both Chicago and Cincinnati earned wild card playoff berths.

“We had three teams in the playoffs last year. We were the only division in the National League to have three,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy noted. “In previous years, we’ve never had respect. … The (division) has been very good and last year was evidence. This year is not surprising.”

While Chicago made a splash by signing Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, and both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh added significant pieces during the offseason, much of the division’s success stems from an influx of talented young hitters.

At 22 years old, Stewart paces all of baseball with 29 RBIs across 28 games for Cincinnati. Fellow 22-year-old Moisés Ballesteros maintains a .387 batting average through 25 games with Chicago. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Wetherholt has launched solo home runs in his previous three consecutive games.

Griffin, who inked a nine-year, $140 million deal with Pittsburgh on April 8, appears to be finding his rhythm after a sluggish beginning. He celebrated his 20th birthday Friday by hitting his first career home run.

“A ton of young talent in the division, and I feel like that’s really exciting,” Bregman said.

The Central’s success also reflects a disciplined approach at the plate throughout the division.

Chicago leads the National League with 130 walks, followed closely by Milwaukee at 126 and Cincinnati at 119. Pittsburgh ranks fifth with 110 walks, while St. Louis has drawn 103 free passes.

“It’s about trying to put together quality at-bats and those are leading to walks,” Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell explained. “It’s part of our identity, putting together quality at-bats.”

The true test awaits as division rivals begin facing each other more frequently. St. Louis played its first divisional matchup Monday night, rallying for a 4-2 victory at Pittsburgh. Cincinnati, Chicago, and Milwaukee have each completed only three division games so far.

“It’s a lot of really good teams,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “When you look at the way we got three teams into the playoffs last year and the way we’ve started out this year with all five teams playing good baseball, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s cool to see the division be so strong. There’s going to be a lot of really good games.”

When Luke Prokop revealed his sexual orientation to his mother Nicole, she welcomed her son’s honesty but expressed one particular worry.

“She was worried about my hockey career and how it might impact it,” Prokop remembered.

Trailblazers like Jason Collins in the NBA and Carl Nassib in the NFL publicly came out during their active careers. Prokop, now 23, made history in 2021 as the first NHL-drafted and signed player to come out publicly, although he hasn’t yet competed at hockey’s highest level. Similar to the NHL, Major League Baseball has not had an active player come out during their career.

The success of “Heated Rivalry,” a show depicting two gay hockey players, has generated discussion about how the NHL would embrace an openly gay athlete. Industry leaders acknowledge obstacles exist but believe professional hockey is prepared for such a breakthrough.

“I think people are ready for this,” stated Brian Burke, a veteran league and team executive whose son Brendan came out in 2009, making Burke a prominent LGBTQ+ rights advocate. “A player like that would be welcomed. Now, he’d face some hard right-wing criticism and social media abuse, but I think we’re ready for it.”

Collins made history in 2013 as the first active athlete in North America’s four major professional men’s sports to come out publicly. Nassib followed in 2021 — one month ahead of Prokop — becoming the NFL’s first. Several openly gay athletes compete in elite women’s leagues, including the WNBA and PWHL.

Burke, who served as executive director of the PWHL Players’ Association from 2023-25, expressed surprise that no player in the world’s premier men’s hockey league has come out yet.

Multiple factors contribute to this situation, ranging from worries about family and teammate reactions to hockey’s team-focused culture that discourages individual attention.

“Hockey players don’t want attention and they’re going to deem it as there’s a concern that a team would see it as a distraction because of all the attention it would get,” explained former goaltender Brock McGillis, who came out after retiring. “If you’re not a star and you’re a bubble (player), are you really going to risk that to potentially change the trajectory of your career? Maybe you get cut. Maybe you get sent down. Are you going to take that chance?”

McGillis views men’s hockey as among the most challenging sports for coming out “because of the language, behaviors and attitudes that are pervasive in the culture.” Anti-gay language remains part of the problem.

“When I played, homophobic language was acceptable,” Burke said, whose playing days in college and minor leagues occurred in the 1970s. “It was encouraged. There’s only a handful of words you could use to say something hateful, and those were it. Referring to homosexual acts, it was commonplace, and I’m ashamed to say I was one of those guys.”

Kurt Weaver, who leads the You Can Play organization advocating for LGBQT+ sports inclusion, noted that while anti-gay language continues in local facilities and games across age groups, the NHL has collaborated with his organization and others to dramatically decrease such slurs.

“There’s a massive reduction of homophobic language at the NHL level — in those locker rooms, in those organizations, in the front offices, coaches to players, players to coaches — in that environment,” Weaver explained. “If you would be sitting in a locker room in 2011 when we got started and then today, it is a vastly different environment as it goes toward homophobic, racist and other hateful language.”

Scott Laughton, a strong Pride supporter and inclusion advocate, has witnessed changes during his decade-plus NHL career with Philadelphia, Toronto and currently Los Angeles.

“It’s changed a lot,” Laughton observed. “A lot of it is language, the way you speak, and I think those (things) affect people a lot. I think it’s going in the right direction.”

Prokop’s journey demonstrates this progress. When the Canadian came out at 19, he described the reaction as “nothing but positive,” both with Calgary in the Western Hockey League and across six teams since.

“Everywhere I’ve gone, everyone’s been open, honest, really positive,” said Prokop, who currently plays for Bakersfield, California in the American Hockey League. “Every team I’ve gone to, all the guys have been fantastic about it, and I have no reason to think that it would be any different if a player would come out in the NHL, say, tomorrow.”

Initial anxiety about perception troubled Prokop, and McGillis revealed they communicated daily for months before the 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman made his decision. Selected by Nashville in 2020’s third round, the Predators’ management and coaching staff were among those informed. Their conversation eased many of Prokop’s concerns.

“They said it was the right thing to do, that they wanted to help in any way they could,” Prokop recalled. “They thought I was really brave for doing this, and they had my back every step of the way.”

Burke, 70, anticipates negative reactions from his generation and social media critics, similar to what Brendan faced before his death in a car accident in early 2010. However, he also expects overwhelming support. He wishes this milestone had occurred during his time as an NHL general manager.

“It didn’t happen,” Burke acknowledged. “But I think we are closer and closer to it.”

The NHL’s century-plus history means change typically occurs gradually. Controversy surrounding Pride nights and rainbow-colored warmup tape emerged as recently as 2023.

Commissioner Gary Bettman referenced the league’s established partnership with You Can Play and teams’ participation in Pride tournaments across North America as proof that an openly gay player would receive positive reception.

“We’ve always said, and I believe it would be the case, that if a player comes out, he would be welcomed,” Bettman stated. “We have fully embraced being a welcoming sport on and off the ice, no matter who you are.”

Prokop believes “hockey gets a bad rap” — sometimes justifiably — but his personal experience revealed the sport’s best qualities. McGillis thinks fans would be accepting and players generally tolerant, based on his speaking experiences.

“They’re engaging with me … and it would be easy for them not to,” McGillis noted. “I’m the gay hockey dude, you know what I mean? But they are. I go into youth locker rooms across North America and in some of the most red areas of America, and it’s very progressive in terms of the way they engage with me.”

McGillis, who wishes he had come out earlier to people in his life, finds hope in hockey’s team-first mentality that could eventually help a player feel comfortable enough to come out.

“It might end up being one of the more supportive environments if a player did come out of any of the major team professional sports,” McGillis suggested. “I don’t think ‘Heated Rivalry’ is the reason for that. I think that’s always been the case.”

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies dismissed manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday after a devastating stretch that saw the club lose 11 of their last 12 contests, leaving them in a tie for the worst record in Major League Baseball.

The organization elevated bench coach Don Mattingly to serve as interim manager for the rest of the season, while third-base coach Dusty Wathan received a promotion to bench coach.

Thomson compiled a 355-270 record during his tenure and guided a star-studded roster featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner to back-to-back division championships. The 62-year-old skipper, who received his first managerial opportunity in 2022, had recently signed a contract extension that would have kept him in Philadelphia through 2027 and was anticipated to once again lead the franchise’s World Series pursuit.

However, the Phillies and their payroll exceeding $300 million have become one of baseball’s most disappointing teams this season, enduring a 10-game losing streak before ace pitcher Zack Wheeler helped secure a victory against Atlanta on Saturday. Philadelphia then suffered another defeat to the Braves on Sunday, dropping their record to 9-19 and creating a tie with division rival New York Mets.

Thomson becomes the second skipper dismissed this season, following Boston’s decision to part ways with Alex Cora and five coaching staff members on Saturday.

Dave Dombrowski, Philadelphia’s president of baseball operations, had expressed confidence in Thomson just last week during the team’s struggles. Dombrowski praised Thomson’s managerial abilities and defended his performance since he replaced Joe Girardi in 2022.

Thomson guided Philadelphia to the 2022 World Series after assuming control from Girardi, though they fell to the Houston Astros in six games. The franchise has experienced postseason disappointment since that run, falling in the NL Championship Series in seven games during 2023, followed by NL Division Series exits in four games during both 2024 and 2025.

Known by the nickname “Topper,” Thomson joined the organization during the 2018 campaign as bench coach under former manager Gabe Kapler.

His baseball career included a lengthy stint with the New York Yankees from 1990-2017, which featured 10 seasons on the major league coaching staff serving as bench coach (2008, 2015-17) and third base coach (2009-14). He earned his moniker within the Yankees system for his meticulous attention to detail.

Thomson achieved the rare distinction of becoming just the fourth manager in major league history to reach the postseason during each of his first four complete seasons, joining Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone, and Mike Matheny. He also became only the third manager in Phillies history to capture consecutive division titles, alongside Charlie Manuel and Danny Ozark.

The Phillies have struggled tremendously during what was expected to be a milestone season with the franchise scheduled to host the All-Star Game and related events. The team has faltered across all areas, with regulars Alec Bohm and Schwarber both batting below .200, while starting pitchers Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter all carry ERAs above 5.00.

The organization recently released expensive acquisition Taijuan Walker during the final year of his four-year, $72 million contract, and parted ways with outfielder Nick Castellanos in February as he entered the last year of a five-year, $100 million agreement.

Philadelphia’s last World Series championship came in 2008, and they hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2011 until Thomson orchestrated their surprising 2022 World Series appearance during “Red October,” which reinvigorated the fan base and established 90-plus win seasons as the standard.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will take his turn on the pitcher’s mound Tuesday evening against the Miami Marlins but won’t appear in the batting order, manager Dave Roberts confirmed following Monday’s 5-4 victory.

This marks just the second occasion this season where Ohtani has been limited to pitching duties only. The right-hander will take the ball with five days of rest between starts.

Roberts revealed the decision regarding Ohtani’s role after the team’s series-opening win on Monday evening.

Ohtani’s previous pitching-only appearance for Los Angeles came on April 15, when he recorded 10 strikeouts in an 8-2 triumph over the New York Mets. That decision followed a pitch that hit him in the back of his right shoulder during the preceding week.

The last time Ohtani was absent from the designated hitter spot while starting as a pitcher dates back to May 28, 2021, during his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles will be without Ohtani’s offensive production on Tuesday, particularly notable given his impressive 10-game hitting streak against Miami that began in September 2024.

During Monday’s contest, Ohtani delivered his second straight three-hit performance, going 3-for-5 with a ground-rule double, two singles, two runs scored, and one RBI.

PHOENIX — The Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff opening-round mastery rolled on Monday night as they completed another flawless series performance.

With tougher challenges awaiting in upcoming rounds, the reigning champions appear fully prepared to pursue another title defense.

Oklahoma City capped off a complete four-game series victory over Phoenix with Monday’s 131-122 win, pulling clear during the final quarter. The Thunder have now claimed victory in all 12 first-round contests across the last three playoff seasons.

“It’s a really good feeling,” guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of the sweep. “Just for our confidence as a group, it’s good to get the playoff run started the right way. You never know what can happen — and usually the later you go, the better the teams, and the series won’t go like that. You want to give yourself as many days as possible to rest.”

The 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander demonstrated why he earned Most Valuable Player honors throughout the series against Phoenix, posting 33.8 points per game while connecting on 55.1% of his field goal attempts. His finest performance came in the third game when he tallied 42 points on an exceptional 15-of-18 shooting display.

Monday’s series clincher saw him contribute another strong showing with 31 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Oklahoma City’s offensive attack reached peak efficiency in the final game, getting 24 points from Chet Holmgren and 22 from Ajay Mitchell.

The Thunder connected on nearly 54% of their field goals while draining 17 of 34 three-point attempts for a 50% success rate from beyond the arc.

“We played the right way, nothing out of the usual,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Guys were out there making aggressive plays and playing for each other. We have a formula we try to play with and we try to impose it every night.”

Oklahoma City will next meet either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, with the Lakers currently ahead 3-1 following Houston’s Game 4 victory.

Despite the series sweep, the Thunder faced some challenges when starter Jalen Williams suffered a hamstring injury during the second game. Oklahoma City’s roster depth proved sufficient to overcome the determined but outmatched Suns, who secured their playoff spot by defeating Golden State in the play-in tournament.

Mitchell seamlessly transitioned into the starting role replacing Williams and displayed growing confidence, especially in the final game. He recorded 22 points and six assists, proving capable of handling increased responsibilities during postseason play.

The 6-foot-4 guard, selected in the second round of the draft from Santa Barbara, has rapidly established himself as a crucial rotation player.

“Ajay is one of the toughest dudes in the league,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Mentally, he’s never shaken. He’s never afraid of the moment. Ajay can be having the worst day ever and you would never know because he’s so solid.”

Oklahoma City’s size advantage proved decisive against Phoenix, who played without starting center Mark Williams due to a foot injury. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren and 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 24 rebounds in Monday’s game, including nine offensive boards.

Holmgren noted that Phoenix employed a guard-heavy lineup that emphasized smaller lineups. He expects future opponents to use varying strategies but believes Oklahoma City is prepared for any approach.

“We’re going to see different teams match up in different ways,” Holmgren said. “Some are going to go big and some are going to go small and play with more pace and open the floor. But I think we’ve seen a lot of what we could see at this point. Now it’s just about going out and executing.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The moment perfectly captured what Pittsburgh’s entire season has looked like.

Sidney Crosby was hobbling toward the tunnel during Monday night’s Game 5 matchup with Philadelphia, his left knee aching from taking a hard shot fired by his own teammate Ryan Shea from the blue line.

While Pittsburgh’s veteran leader was getting treatment in the locker room, Philadelphia managed to even the score. What had been a game largely dominated by the Penguins suddenly shifted momentum. The inexperienced Flyers, many playing their first playoff series, began to take control. It appeared Pittsburgh’s remarkable season might end with a swift postseason departure.

Then Crosby’s recognizable No. 87 jersey appeared back on the bench. Moments later, he was back on the ice. Before long, he was setting up a play by sending the puck to Pittsburgh defender Kris Letang at the edge of Philadelphia’s defensive zone.

Crosby wasn’t watching when Letang’s seemingly harmless shot from the point missed wide of the Philadelphia goal. Flyers netminder Dan Vladar was positioned for a big rebound that never materialized.

Instead, the puck bounced off Vladar’s left leg, then his right, before slowly crossing the goal line for what became the decisive score in Pittsburgh’s 3-2 win that staved off elimination and likely planted some uncertainty in Philadelphia’s minds. The Flyers’ once-commanding 3-0 series advantage doesn’t seem quite as secure following Pittsburgh’s victory.

Wednesday’s Game 6 takes place in Philadelphia, where the Penguins will arrive carrying both momentum and confidence in their undisputed captain, who appeared to rediscover his championship form after a surprisingly quiet series start.

Apart from his brief medical timeout, Crosby was a constant presence. He set up Connor Dewar’s second-period goal, earned another primary assist on Letang’s second consecutive game-winning goal, and nearly scored himself when his desperate attempt at an empty net in the closing minutes hit the left goalpost.

Age 38 seemed irrelevant on Monday night as Crosby delivered a classic performance.

“When things get hard and your back is against the wall, there is no doubt in my mind that he’s going to lead the charge in terms of elevating and finding a way to do everything possible to help us win this game,” first-year Penguins coach Dan Muse said.

Throughout his career, Crosby has accumulated 21 points across 24 elimination games. His 100th career playoff victory resembled all the others, featuring Crosby contributing across all areas of the game, including absorbing a painful blow to his knee before returning as though nothing occurred.

“I feel good,” he said. “I mean, that’s stuff that happens sometimes and you try to go to the front of the net and it’s just one of those ones that found its way. Sometimes they hit you, sometimes they go by.”

Crosby took a direct blow from his own teammate’s shot and immediately recovered. This resilience has defined Pittsburgh’s unexpected season, consistently finding ways to recover just when circumstances appeared to be deteriorating.

Their current comeback attempt would surpass all previous achievements by a considerable margin. The statistics remain challenging — only four teams in history have recovered from a 3-0 series deficit — but the odds have improved since Game 4 began.

Crosby welcomes those chances, as does his entire team.

“I think the last couple games we found our stride a bit,” he said. “We should feel good about that … we’re playing good hockey and we’ve got to go in there and find a way to win again.”

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Detroit Pistons’ impressive 60-win regular season and top playoff seeding may not matter much longer.

Following a disappointing 94-88 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Monday evening, Detroit finds itself trailing 3-1 in their Eastern Conference opening round matchup and facing potential elimination.

Throughout NBA history, only six eighth-seeded teams have managed to knock out a top seed in playoff competition. Since the league switched to best-of-seven formats for all playoff rounds in 2003, this feat has occurred just four times.

Detroit’s performance was marked by poor ball handling and overall carelessness against Orlando, putting them on the brink of joining this exclusive group of upset victims.

“We have to take care of the basketball. We have to win the rebound battle. We just have to be in the moment of what this is. This is playoff basketball,” said Tobias Harris, who scored 20 points. “We have to be more ready to just go out and there and scrap up. We are a little too casual. Everyone knows that in our locker room. We have to be better every single guy. All of us have to be better. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and be better.”

The veteran leader’s comments reflected the team’s frustration with their current predicament.

While Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 25 points, he also contributed eight of the team’s problematic 20 turnovers. In contrast, Orlando managed to limit their giveaways to just 12.

“We did so many positive things but 20 turnovers and give up 16 offensive rebounds. That’s hard to overcome and that’s what it comes down to,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’re sending a lot of bodies to (Cunningham). We have to help him by giving him more space so he has room to operate, set screens, be more physical, get the guys off of him but, again, we have to do a better job taking care of it.”

Detroit hasn’t reached the second round since their Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2008. After enduring five consecutive losing campaigns, Bickerstaff arrived last season and guided the franchise to 44 victories before falling to New York in six games.

This matchup differs from typical 1-versus-8 scenarios. Orlando showed strong play before struggling late in the regular season and needed to survive an elimination contest in the play-in tournament to reach this point.

Detroit climbed to the conference’s summit while second-seeded Boston played without Jayson Tatum during the early portion of the season.

Beyond ball security issues, the Pistons have failed to establish consistent scoring threats outside of Cunningham and Harris throughout this series. Detroit connected on only 6 of 30 three-point attempts (20%) in Game 4 and shot 31 of 82 (37.8%) from the field overall.

“Back’s against the wall. Whatcha gonna do? You’re gonna fight,” Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart said. “You have to fight until the end so let’s get back to the crib, protect the crib and take it one game at a time. The series is not over. We’re gonna keep fighting.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — During Monday night’s Yankees victory over Texas, Aaron Judge made sure Ben Rice’s home run total stayed behind his own by just one swing of the bat.

The powerful duo has now achieved a milestone for the New York Yankees that hasn’t been seen since Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra did it decades ago.

Rice launched a two-run blast 404 feet to left field in the Yankees’ 4-2 victory on Monday evening, marking his 10th home run of the campaign. Judge wasted no time responding, crushing a full-count curveball 414 feet to claim a share of the MLB lead with his 11th homer.

“After he hit his, he said, ‘I’m not going to let Benny catch me,’” Rice said with a smile. “Just trying to keep him honest, keep him motivated.”

The pair became only the second set of Yankees players to both reach double-digit home runs within the team’s first 29 games, matching the achievement of Mantle and Berra from 1956.

“I’m glad that I don’t have to face them, let’s just put it that way,” said Yankees pitcher Max Fried (4-1), who delivered six shutout innings for New York (19-10).

“Benny’s off to an amazing start. Judgie, ho-hum, 11 homers already,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s a pretty good combo there.”

The 27-year-old first baseman Rice is batting .322 with 23 RBIs, while Judge sits at .252 with 19 RBIs.

“Just consistent at-bat after consistent at-bat. Like it’s must-watch TV at this point,” Judge said of Rice. “He’s going to put something in play hard or he’s going to take his walk and pass the baton. It’s just impressive to watch, and I get a front-row seat. … And, makes my job easier when he does that.”

Rice connected on a 95 mph first-pitch fastball from Jack Leiter, sending it into the Yankees bullpen in left-center field for a 2-0 lead with two outs in the third inning. The blast was Rice’s sixth long ball in 11 contests.

Judge followed by driving his shot into the left-field seats, with the ball landing near the same area where he hit his American League record-setting 62nd home run on Oct. 4, 2022. He also collected two doubles and was hit by a pitch in his other trips to the plate.

“Maybe his best game of at-bats. … On all four times, stings two doubles, smokes the homer where he just rides out the curveball,” Boone said.

The performance came just one day after Judge also went yard on his 34th birthday.

Judge has connected for 260 of his 379 career home runs since the beginning of the 2021 season and already boasts four 50-homer campaigns.

Rice has tallied 43 home runs in 216 career games since making his debut in June 2024.

Following their explosive starts in 1956, Mantle went on to lead the majors with 52 home runs while Berra concluded the season with 30.

When Rice was questioned about whether he could maintain this pace alongside Judge throughout the entire season, he expressed his appreciation for the current moment.

“Yeah, I don’t know how long this is going to last, but I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying it right now being this close,” Rice said before considering the historical significance he now shares with three former MVPs: Judge and two Hall of Fame legends.

“It’s pretty cool. I definitely would not have anticipated something like that,” he said. “But obviously the three names I’m surrounded with there are pretty big ones, so definitely very humbling.”

The St. Louis Cardinals delivered one of baseball’s most dramatic comebacks Monday night, rallying from a near no-hitter to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 with a spectacular four-run ninth inning at PNC Park.

Jose Fermin delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double that completed an extraordinary turnaround for St. Louis, which had entered the final frame trailing 2-0 and managed just one hit through eight innings.

The Cardinals faced an uphill battle against Pittsburgh reliever Dennis Santana, who entered the game boasting impressive numbers – two saves, a 0.69 ERA, and just one earned run surrendered across 13 outings this season.

Those stellar statistics quickly crumbled as backup catcher Pedro Pages and rookie JJ Wetherholt connected on consecutive home runs off Santana (2-2), knotting the score and setting the stage for Fermin’s heroics.

Pages launched his third homer of the campaign and second in his past two contests, while Wetherholt extended his power surge with his third straight game going deep and sixth long ball this season.

The victory snapped a four-game skid for St. Louis, which had dropped five of its previous six contests before Monday’s turnaround.

Pittsburgh received RBI contributions from Ryan O’Hearn and Jake Mangum but suffered its second consecutive defeat.

In other Monday action, the New York Yankees topped Texas 4-2 behind Max Fried’s six shutout innings and home runs from Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. The Yankees captured their ninth victory in 10 games while Fried (4-1) recorded his fourth scoreless outing this season.

Tampa Bay edged Cleveland 3-2 as Ryan Vilade’s eighth-inning RBI single broke the tie. Steven Matz worked seven strong innings for the Rays, who overcame a 2-0 deficit with three unanswered runs.

Boston dominated Toronto 5-0 as Ranger Suarez nearly threw a no-hitter, allowing just one hit over eight innings while striking out 10 batters. The Red Sox broke open the game early against Dylan Cease.

Minnesota crushed Seattle 11-4 behind Kody Clemens’ five-RBI performance, snapping a five-game losing streak with the lopsided victory over the Mariners.

A former NBA player and assistant coach is scheduled to admit his guilt Tuesday in federal court for his role in elaborate gambling schemes involving rigged card games and insider sports betting information.

Damon Jones, 49, is expected to become the first defendant to enter a guilty plea in a massive federal investigation that resulted in arrests of more than 30 individuals, including suspected organized crime members and basketball industry figures.

The scheduled plea hearing will take place in Brooklyn federal court before Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo, where Jones is anticipated to admit guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges.

Federal authorities allege Jones profited from fraudulent poker games and provided confidential player injury details to sports gamblers, including information about his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James.

While Jones prepares to change his plea, other defendants in the case have not indicated any intention to accept responsibility. Prosecutors announced Monday they plan to file additional charges against co-defendant Terry Rozier, a former Miami Heat player.

Jones had initially entered not guilty pleas to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges, both carrying potential 20-year prison sentences. He continues to remain free while awaiting sentencing.

His attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, refused to provide comment on the pending plea agreement.

The arrest occurred last October alongside Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and several others, including a bettor accused of using inside injury information for gambling purposes.

During his playing career from 1999 to 2009, the Galveston, Texas native earned over $20 million while competing for 10 different franchises across 11 seasons. Jones and James were teammates in Cleveland between 2005 and 2008, and Jones later worked as an unofficial assistant coach with James’ Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 campaign.

According to federal prosecutors, Jones sold or attempted to sell confidential information to gamblers about injuries to James and former Lakers forward Anthony Davis, including whether they would miss games or have limited playing time.

In the poker conspiracy, authorities say Jones helped recruit unsuspecting players into games that were manipulated through doctored shuffling equipment, concealed cameras, specialized eyewear, and even X-ray technology embedded in gaming tables.

Court documents reveal Jones received $2,500 for participating in a rigged game in the Hamptons, where he was directed to cheat by carefully observing other conspirators. When uncertain about his actions, prosecutors say Jones was instructed to fold his cards.

In response to those instructions, according to federal authorities, Jones sent a text message stating: “Y’all know I know what I’m doing!!”

New York Yankees power hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been placed on the injured list due to a minor strain in his right calf muscle.

The slugger left last Friday’s game against Houston when he felt tightness in his calf while running bases and sat out the next three contests, including Monday’s 4-2 victory against Texas.

Manager Aaron Boone disclosed the MRI findings following Monday’s game.

“It doesn’t look too serious, but enough to not want to wait a couple of more days,” Boone said.

When questioned whether Stanton might return immediately after his 10-day injured list stint ends, Boone indicated it was a possibility but declined to establish any specific timeline.

The team brought up outfielder Jasson Domínguez from their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Monday’s contest. The switch-hitting prospect recorded one hit in four at-bats with one strikeout while serving as designated hitter in his first major league appearance this year.

New York had a roster opening after sending right-handed pitcher Luis Gil back to Triple-A following Sunday’s defeat to Houston. Gil’s record dropped to 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA across four starts this season.

The five-time All-Star Stanton is batting .256 this year with three homers and 14 RBIs across 24 appearances.

Injuries have consistently troubled him, and he hasn’t completed an entire campaign since his debut Yankees season in 2018. His injury history includes problems with his elbows in 2019, left hamstring issues in 2020, 2023 and 2024, a left quadriceps injury in 2021, and right ankle plus left Achilles problems in 2022.

The Denver Nuggets face a must-win situation in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves without one of their essential players, as Aaron Gordon has been declared unavailable due to a calf injury.

Denver officials announced Monday night that Gordon would sit out the crucial matchup at home. The Timberwolves currently hold a commanding 3-1 advantage in their first-round playoff matchup after defeating Denver 112-96 on Saturday. During that contest, Gordon took the court but appeared hampered by his injury, managing just 9 points on 4-of-11 shooting and connecting on only one of five three-point attempts.

The veteran forward, who has played 12 seasons in the NBA, first hurt his calf during Game 2 of the series and was unable to participate in Game 3.

Throughout the regular season, Gordon contributed 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest.

Both teams will be dealing with significant absences Monday night, as Minnesota will play without guard Donte DiVincenzo, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season during Game 4. The Timberwolves will also be missing star player Anthony Edwards, who hurt his knee and suffered a bone bruise in the same game.

Should Minnesota move forward in the playoffs, Edwards is expected to be sidelined on a week-to-week basis.