Category: Sports

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Questions swirled around Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres heading into their playoff opener against Boston, with critics pointing to the team’s absence of postseason experience.

It didn’t take long for those concerns to disappear — roughly 52 minutes of hockey, to be exact.

Relying on the resilient character that propelled them from the Eastern Conference basement in early December to their first Atlantic Division championship, the Sabres celebrated ending the NHL’s longest playoff drought in spectacular fashion.

Thompson found the net twice during Buffalo’s explosive four-goal rally in the game’s final 7 minutes and 58 seconds, leading the Sabres to a thrilling 4-3 Game 1 triumph on Sunday evening.

“I think eight years of adversity is enough experience to get you ready for something like this,” said Thompson, referencing the disappointment of his first seven Buffalo seasons without playoff hockey.

“There’s just a heightened feeling of hunger. You don’t want to let this opportunity slip,” added Thompson, who paced the squad with 40 goals this season. “I thought tonight was really important to make a statement and set our standard.”

The series continues with Game 2 at Buffalo on Tuesday evening.

Buffalo needed more than two complete periods to finally break through against Boston, despite controlling much of the offensive flow while trailing 2-0 after Elias Lindholm capitalized on a rebound just 68 seconds into the final frame.

The momentum shifted dramatically when Buffalo’s aggressive forechecking forced two Boston turnovers in their defensive zone, setting up Thompson’s pair of goals scored 3 minutes and 42 seconds apart to even the contest at 2-2 with 4:16 remaining in regulation.

Mattias Samuelsson struck 52 seconds later to give Buffalo the lead, while Alex Tuch added an empty-netter before Boston’s David Pastrnak tallied with seven seconds on the clock.

“I told them right after the game, ‘You want experience? You got it now,’” said Lindy Ruff, in his second season of his second tenure behind the Buffalo bench. “I mean, what an experience. If you’re going to say this was my first playoff game, you’ve got a great story to tell.”

Buffalo had gone 5,473 days between playoff appearances since dropping Game 7 of their 2011 opening-round matchup with Philadelphia.

In their playoff return, the Sabres joined just seven other NHL teams to overcome a two-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes and claim victory in regulation. Buffalo had previously accomplished this feat in playoff action only once before when trailing by two goals in the third period.

That previous comeback also came against Boston — Brad May’s series-winning overtime goal in a 6-5 triumph in 1993. Buffalo fans remember that contest as the “May Day!” game, which secured the Sabres’ first playoff series victory in 10 years and was immortalized by legendary Hall of Fame announcer Rick Jeanneret.

In a touching tribute, the Sabres honored Jeanneret, who passed away in 2023, by having his wife Sandra lead the pregame drum ceremony and “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chants. His family watched from the press box, where the team displayed a large framed photo of his signature sweater beside the broadcast booth.

Fans generated some of the evening’s loudest cheers when the video board showed spectators holding signs paying tribute to the beloved broadcaster known as “RJ.”

The electric pregame energy gave way to frustrated murmurs midway through the third period before Thompson’s breakthrough goal. The crowd maintained its intensity long after the final buzzer.

“It was probably the loudest I’ve ever heard in my life,” goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said. “The fans are the ones who have waited so long. And so I’m really happy that we grinded out a win tonight.”

Boston coach Marco Sturm struggled to explain the collapse.

“I thought we were in the perfect spot,” Sturm said. “Obviously, with the crowd behind them, they got some life and the game is done. Very unfortunate because my guys played really well. Really well. But that’s playoffs.”

Sturm had created controversy Friday by claiming the Bruins possessed superior size and strength compared to Buffalo.

He failed to anticipate the Sabres’ ability to outlast his squad in the game’s crucial moments.

“I think as a group, we thought we could crack them and roll from there,” Samuelsson explained, noting it required 31 shots before finally solving goaltender Jeremy Swayman.

“It’s just death by 1,000 cuts,” Samuelsson said. “You just keep wearing on him, wearing on him until you finally crack him. And we did.”

University of Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch found himself in legal trouble this weekend, getting arrested in Athens on dual misdemeanor obstruction charges.

Jail records from Athens-Clarke County show Branch was freed on Sunday after posting $39 bail for charges including blocking public sidewalks and streets, plus obstructing a law enforcement officer.

The weekend arrest creates unfortunate timing for Branch, happening just four days ahead of the NFL draft where analysts expect him to be chosen during day two of the selection process.

Athens-Clarke County Police provided The Associated Press with details about what happened. Officers responded around 12:20 a.m. after a large group assembled outside a local bar.

“The crowd was blocking the entrance, and individuals were attempting to enter the establishment despite it not being open for entry at that time,” the police statement explained.

“Officers issued multiple lawful commands directing the crowd to clear the sidewalk. Zachariah Branch was specifically given verbal commands to disperse but refused to comply. As a result, Mr. Branch was placed under arrest and charged with obstruction. He was also cited for obstructing a public sidewalk.”

Representatives from Excel Sports, who handle Branch’s affairs, have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Just one day before his arrest, Branch was spotted at Georgia’s G-Day spring football game held at Sanford Stadium.

Branch improved his draft prospects significantly by clocking a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash during the NFL scouting combine held in Indianapolis.

During his junior season in 2025, he topped Georgia’s receiving statistics with 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns after transferring from Southern California. His brother Zion Branch, who plays safety, also made the move from USC to Georgia.

According to ESPN’s Monday report, the Chicago Bulls have obtained clearance to conduct interviews with six individuals vying for the franchise’s top basketball operations position.

The organization will begin conducting meetings this week with several executives, including Matt Lloyd from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ general manager office, Detroit Pistons’ senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks’ senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers’ GM Mike Gansey, and San Antonio Spurs’ assistant GM Dave Telep, according to sources.

Additionally, the team plans to meet with Austin Brown, who serves as co-head of CAA’s basketball division in his role as an agent, ESPN’s sources indicated.

The Bulls made the decision to dismiss executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6, ending their six-year tenure that produced only a single playoff berth.

Following their disappointing 31-51 season, the organization hopes to finalize their new executive hire before the NBA Draft Combine takes place in Chicago from May 10-17.

Regardless of which candidate receives the position, head coach Billy Donovan appears secure in his role due to strong support from Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf.

“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf stated earlier this month. “If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”

One of college athletics’ most influential female executives announced Monday that she will step down from her leadership role with the Big East Conference.

Val Ackerman, 66, revealed her plans to retire as commissioner effective August 31st, concluding a 13-year tenure overseeing one of the nation’s premier basketball conferences. Conference officials said they will begin an immediate nationwide search to find her replacement.

“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said.

“… With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”

Ackerman took over as the conference’s fifth commissioner on June 26, 2013, during a pivotal restructuring period. She oversaw the integration of Butler, Creighton and Xavier with seven continuing schools – DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova – for the 2013-14 academic year. Her leadership also facilitated Connecticut’s return to the conference in 2020.

Under her stewardship, Big East schools claimed four men’s basketball national titles – surpassing all other conferences during that span. Villanova captured championships in 2016 and 2018, while UConn earned titles in 2023 and 2024.

“When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best,” said St. John’s president Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors.

“We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”

Throughout her career, Ackerman has earned recognition with inductions into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers officials finalized a lucrative two-year extension with elite left tackle Trent Williams on Monday, securing $50 million for one of their cornerstone players just days before the NFL draft begins.

Elite Loyalty Sports, representing Williams, confirmed the new deal features $37 million in guaranteed money plus a $22 million signing bonus. The veteran lineman was previously set to earn approximately $33 million in 2024 under his existing three-year, $82.3 million agreement signed prior to last season.

San Francisco completed negotiations on the opening day of their offseason workouts, just three days ahead of draft activities. With the 27th overall selection, the 49ers had been connected to potential tackle prospects, but this priority may shift now that Williams remains locked up through 2026.

Despite approaching his 38th birthday in July, Williams continues performing at an elite level following another Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro recognition.

The 49ers initially traded for Williams from Washington during the 2020 draft, surrendering third and fifth-round selections. They subsequently secured him with a massive six-year, $138.1 million extension the next offseason. Following a training camp holdout, both parties restructured that deal into a three-year agreement before the 2024 campaign.

This latest negotiation proceeded much smoother, with both sides reaching terms before offseason activities commenced.

Williams recently completed his record-setting 12th Pro Bowl campaign — more than any offensive tackle in history — and sits just two selections away from matching Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews’ record for offensive linemen.

After earning three consecutive All-Pro selections from 2021-23, Williams battled injuries during 2024 but remained healthy enough to appear in 16 games for the first time since 2013.

According to Pro Football Focus data, Williams surrendered 40 quarterback pressures last season — his highest total since his 2010 rookie year with Washington — yet maintained his status among the league’s premier left tackles in both rushing and passing situations.

Since acquiring Williams four years ago, San Francisco has avoided selecting any tackle during the first two days of the draft, leaving limited options for succession planning once Williams eventually retires.

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in limbo regarding their quarterback situation as the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers has yet to communicate his intentions for the upcoming season, with the 2026 NFL Draft set to begin Thursday.

While Rodgers has expressed interest in working again with Mike McCarthy, his former Green Bay coach who recently took over for Mike Tomlin as Pittsburgh’s head coach, the veteran quarterback remains silent on his future plans. General Manager Omar Khan had previously suggested the organization would receive clarity on Rodgers’ status ahead of the draft, and team owner Art Rooney II had also indicated expectations for a pre-draft decision.

However, according to NFL Network’s Monday report, the Steelers continue waiting for communication from Rodgers.

Following last year’s draft, Rodgers inked a one-year contract with Pittsburgh, citing Tomlin as a key factor in his decision to join the franchise. The quarterback has not revealed any alternative options he might be considering as a free agent.

During the 2025 season, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns while helping guide the Steelers to their AFC North championship.

Meanwhile, new head coach McCarthy reportedly has strong interest in Will Howard, the former Ohio State signal-caller who took first-team reps during Monday’s minicamp session.

The team has also bolstered its receiving corps by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis, adding him alongside primary target D.K. Metcalf.

Pittsburgh’s organized team activities are scheduled to commence in mid-May, followed by mandatory minicamp from June 2-4.

Following their recent trade of a key defensive lineman, the New York Giants appear set to retain defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, NFL Network reports.

The 25-year-old pass rusher is heading into his final year under his initial contract after New York selected him with the fifth pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

With new head coach John Harbaugh at the helm, the Giants shipped defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals on Saturday, receiving the 10th selection in the upcoming draft in return.

According to the report, New York has been receiving inquiries about Thibodeaux’s potential availability for several months, but Saturday’s Lawrence transaction makes it less probable they’ll make another significant move.

“No one is ruling anything out. But unlikely,” NFL Network stated in their coverage.

Throughout his four-year career spanning 53 starting appearances, Thibodeaux has recorded 23.5 sacks along with 55 quarterback pressures. Last season proved challenging as he managed just 2.5 sacks across 10 games, sitting out seven contests due to a shoulder ailment.

Should he remain in New York under his existing contract, Thibodeaux stands to earn $14.75 million through his fifth-year option in 2026.

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama has shown throughout his career that he’s nearly impossible to shake, much like trying to score against the towering 7-foot-4 sensation. But Sunday presented a moment that could test even his composure.

The young phenom was stepping onto the playoff stage for the first time, representing a Portland matchup for an organization and community desperate for postseason glory following six years without playoff basketball.

A sold-out Frost Bank Center buzzed with energy as fans donned vibrant Fiesta-colored shirts, while Spurs legends including coach Gregg Popovich, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and George Gervin watched from the stands.

Did the burden of carrying a city’s dreams alongside the expectations of basketball royalty overwhelm the 22-year-old sensation?

“I wouldn’t say weight. I would say it feels safe,” Wembanyama explained. “It feels like if you trip, there’s a lot of hands that’s ready to catch you.”

That sense of security mirrors exactly how San Antonio feels with Wembanyama commanding the floor.

The French star delivered 35 points during a dominant 111-98 triumph against the Trail Blazers, establishing a new Spurs record for most points in a postseason debut, eclipsing Tim Duncan’s previous mark of 32 from 1998. His 21 first-half points also created NBA history as the highest total in an opening half of any playoff debut since detailed statistics began in 1997.

“I thought he was ready,” commented San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson. “He probably settled in a little bit later when he made some shots and his talent popped, but I thought he really settled in there at a point when our defense kicked into another gear.”

Before tip-off, the team showcased a pregame video featuring Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off,” displaying the phrase “It’s not enough” over Wembanyama’s best moments. The message perfectly captured both the player’s and franchise’s mindset.

San Antonio hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2019, ending a six-year absence that followed an incredible run of five NBA titles and 22 consecutive postseason appearances.

Wembanyama ensured their return was memorable, connecting on 5 of 6 three-point attempts while shooting 13 of 21 overall from the floor.

“We put different guys on him,” explained Portland head coach Tiago Splitter. “He had an amazing game, of course. 35 points, 5 for 6 from 3s. It’s really hard to take him out of the paint. I think we did a good for the most part taking him out of the paint. Of course he rolled a couple of times with a small on him and that’s a bucket. But those five 3s really hurt us.”

The performance included several spectacular plays, though such moments have become routine during his three professional seasons. These highlights occur so frequently that Wembanyama sometimes struggles to recall specific instances when questioned.

“I don’t remember,” Wembanyama admitted. “Was it a two or a three?”

Even when reporters described his behind-the-back dribble past Avdija at midcourt, followed by a spin move and thunderous two-handed slam in the first quarter, the details didn’t register.

“Yeah. I have to look again,” Wembanyama responded.

Millions of fans likely will replay those moments, considering Wembanyama generated 2.43 billion social media views this season, trailing only Lakers superstar LeBron James’ 2.85 billion.

Wembanyama might review the footage simply to relive the electric environment of Sunday’s victory.

“It’s great to see this many people wear their shirts,” Wembanyama observed. “I love the animation (on the video boards) when they say, ‘Wear your shirt.’ Yeah, you should absolutely wear your shirt if you’re coming to the game. But now at first, I mean, the first time I stepped on the court for warmups, I felt the atmosphere was different. Everybody’s ready. I mean, the fans were ready. It’s probably the most excited I’ve seen this year in this arena.”

While spectators departed with complimentary T-shirts, the Spurs received upgraded attire courtesy of Kelly Olynyk, who marked his 35th birthday Sunday by giving his teammates a special present.

Wembanyama and the entire San Antonio roster arrived wearing identical custom black suits, all purchased by Olynyk.

“That’s Kelly,” Wembanyama noted. “Happy birthday, by the way. He took the initiative to make us all wear the same thing. That’s good. It’s a good team thing.”

The same description applies to Wembanyama himself.

Basketball standout Audi Crooks has revealed her decision to transfer to Oklahoma State, making the announcement Sunday evening through her social media channels after completing an exceptional career at Iowa State.

The 6-foot-3 center, who ranked as the country’s second-highest scorer during the 2025-26 season, brings impressive credentials to her new team with just one season of eligibility left to play. This past year, she earned second-team All-American recognition while posting remarkable numbers – 25.8 points per game on an outstanding 64.9% field goal percentage, plus 7.7 rebounds across 31 starting appearances for Iowa State.

Despite Crooks’ outstanding 37-point performance, the Cyclones finished their season with a 22-10 record but suffered an early exit in the Women’s NCAA Tournament, falling to Syracuse in the opening round.

Throughout her time with Iowa State, the Iowa native established herself as a dominant force, earning three consecutive All-Big 12 first-team selections. Over 99 games with the program, including 95 starts, she maintained averages of 22.8 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting an impressive 61.1% from the field.

Her transfer announcement came via a creative video posted to her X account, showing Crooks in an Oklahoma State uniform while dancing alongside her new head coach, Jacie Hoyt.

Crooks became one of the most sought-after players when she entered the transfer portal on April 2, with the two-week transfer window set to close Monday.

Oklahoma State, which posted a 24-10 record last season before falling to eventual national champion UCLA in the tournament’s second round, saw nine players enter the transfer portal this offseason.

Joining Crooks in Stillwater will be Florida transfer Liv McGill, a guard who ranked 11th nationally with 22.5 points per game. The Cowgirls have also added transfers Ellie Brueggemann, a guard from Lindenwood who averaged 14.0 points per game, and forward Nene Ndiaye from Rutgers, who contributed 14.8 points per contest.

Paolo Banchero poured in 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Orlando controlled the entire game to shock Detroit 112-101 in the opening contest of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup on Sunday.

The Magic demonstrated remarkable balance with all five starters reaching at least 16 points. Franz Wagner contributed 19 points along with five rebounds and four assists, while both Wendell Carter Jr. and Desmond Bane added 17 points and five assists each. Jalen Suggs rounded out the stellar starting performance with 16 points, four assists and three steals.

Detroit’s playoff struggles at home continued as they extended their losing streak in home playoff contests to 11 games, stretching back to the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.

Cade Cunningham put up a valiant effort for the Pistons with 39 points, but received little help from his teammates. Tobias Harris was Detroit’s only other player to reach double digits with 17 points. All-Star center Jalen Duren struggled significantly, managing just eight points and seven rebounds on only four shot attempts despite playing 33 minutes. Orlando connected on 48.9% of their field goal attempts while holding Detroit to a poor 40.3% shooting performance.

Thunder 119, Suns 84

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 25 points to lead Oklahoma City past Phoenix in a dominant Game 1 victory in their Western Conference first-round matchup.

Despite shooting just 5 of 18 from the floor, Gilgeous-Alexander made 15 of 17 free throw attempts and distributed a game-high seven assists. Jalen Williams chipped in 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in only 29 minutes of action, while Chet Holmgren added 16 points.

Phoenix struggled throughout, shooting only 34.9% from the field. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 23 points, while Dillon Brooks contributed 18 and Jalen Green scored 17. Oklahoma City capitalized on Phoenix’s mistakes, converting 19 turnovers into 34 points.

Celtics 123, 76ers 91

Jaylen Brown tallied a game-leading 26 points while Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as Boston dominated Philadelphia in their Eastern Conference first-round series opener.

Sam Hauser connected on 4 of 6 three-point attempts for 12 points to help the second-seeded Celtics, who maintained their lead throughout the contest. Neemias Queta battled foul issues but managed 13 points in just 15 minutes on the court.

The seventh-seeded 76ers got 21 points and eight assists from Tyrese Maxey and 17 points from Paul George. Philadelphia shot 38.9% overall and struggled from beyond the arc, making only 4 of 23 three-point attempts (17.4%). The 76ers also turned the ball over 15 times, allowing Boston to outscore them 22-3 in points off turnovers.

Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98

Victor Wembanyama exploded for 35 points in his first playoff appearance as San Antonio defeated Portland in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.

Wembanyama surpassed Tim Duncan’s franchise record of 32 points set in 1998 for a playoff debut. He scored 21 first-half points, establishing a league record for most points in the opening half of an NBA playoff debut since 1997 when play-by-play tracking began. Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox each added 17 points for San Antonio, with Devin Vassell contributing 15 and Luke Kornet scoring 10.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Scoot Henderson added 18 points, Robert Williams III scored 11, Shaedon Sharpe contributed 10, and Jrue Holiday dished out 11 assists while adding nine points.

The Chicago Cubs secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the New York Mets in 10 innings on Sunday, finishing off a three-game sweep at home while pushing the Mets’ devastating losing streak to 11 games.

Nico Hoerner delivered the decisive blow with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning that brought home the winning run for Chicago, which has now captured five consecutive games and six of their last seven contests.

The Cubs managed to force extra innings thanks to Michael Conforto, who ironically spent his first seven major league seasons with New York before joining Chicago. Conforto came through as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning, connecting for an RBI double against Mets closer Devin Williams to tie the game.

New York’s lone run came courtesy of MJ Melendez, who launched a home run in the fifth inning. However, that wasn’t enough to prevent the Mets from matching their longest losing streak since dropping 11 straight games from August 28 through September 8, 2004. The franchise hasn’t endured 12 consecutive losses since August 10-23, 2002.

In the crucial 10th inning, Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar (2-2) managed to strand two Mets runners before Chicago’s automatic runner Pete Crow-Armstrong advanced to third base on a wild pitch from Craig Kimbrel (0-1). After Kimbrel struck out Dansby Swanson, Hoerner stepped up and delivered a fly ball to medium right field that easily brought Armstrong home with the winning run.

In other Sunday action around Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees dominated the Kansas City Royals 7-0, extending their remarkable regular-season winning streak against Kansas City to 10 games. Aaron Judge and Ben Rice both homered off Cole Ragans in the opening two frames, while Trent Grisham added a three-run blast in the fifth.

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-2 behind Dillon Dingler’s outstanding 4-for-5 performance that included four RBIs and came just a triple short of hitting for the cycle. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves completed their own three-game sweep with a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, outscoring Philadelphia 16-3 across the entire series.

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3, with Mitch Keller throwing seven strong innings and the team recording three bunt singles in a single game for the first time since 1998. The Washington Nationals avoided a series sweep by shutting out the San Francisco Giants 3-0, while the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 behind Jose Ramirez’s franchise-record 28th multi-homer game.

Other notable results included the Miami Marlins snapping a four-game skid with a 5-3 win over Milwaukee, Cincinnati completing a sweep of Minnesota with a 7-4 victory in 10 innings, and Colorado handing the Los Angeles Dodgers their first back-to-back losses of the season with a 9-6 triumph.

DETROIT — The Motor City’s basketball hopes took an early hit as the Detroit Pistons stumbled in their playoff opener Sunday evening.

Entering the postseason as the Eastern Conference’s number one seed, Detroit had been vocal about surpassing expectations and capturing the organization’s fourth NBA title. However, their championship aspirations face an early test after falling 112-101 to the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic at home.

The defeat puts additional pressure on a franchise that could face another first-round elimination if their performance doesn’t improve dramatically.

“We’re sick about losing this one,” said Cade Cunningham, who delivered a playoff career-best 39 points but received minimal assistance from his supporting cast. “It’s a long series.”

The loss extends Detroit’s troubling postseason home record, as they’ve now dropped 11 consecutive playoff games on their own court — an NBA record. The Pistons will have another opportunity to break that streak when they welcome Orlando back on Wednesday evening.

Detroit hasn’t secured a home playoff victory since 2008, which coincidentally marks the last time the franchise advanced beyond the first round.

The Pistons appeared lethargic from the opening tip against Orlando, with rust potentially playing a factor after sitting idle for seven days.

“We didn’t come out with the right energy,” Cunningham acknowledged.

Detroit’s struggles continued into the third quarter, presenting a more concerning pattern for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“We were chasing them all night,” Bickerstaff explained. “We made some runs to get ourselves back in the ballgame.”

In contrast, Orlando appeared sharp and focused despite playing just 48 hours after eliminating Charlotte in a decisive playoff-clinching victory.

“They’ve been off and we’ve found a little bit of a rhythm,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley observed. “That always plays a part in it.”

The Pistons never held an advantage throughout the contest. Cunningham’s three-point shot briefly tied the game during the third quarter, but Detroit squandered the momentum by surrendering 14 of the following 17 points and couldn’t mount a comeback.

Detroit managed just 31 field goals for the entire game — a season low — while shooting a disappointing 40 percent from the floor. Tobias Harris contributed 17 points as the only other Piston to reach double figures besides Cunningham, though he struggled with accuracy, missing 10 of his 15 attempts.

All-Star center Jalen Duren, who averaged nearly 20 points during the regular season, was held to just eight points on four shot attempts.

“They packed the paint,” Bickerstaff noted. “They’re going to put a bunch of bodies in the paint to try to make it difficult on him.”

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has earned his first nomination for NBA Most Valuable Player, joining Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the three finalists, according to Sunday’s league announcement.

The NBA revealed its complete list of award finalists for the 2025-26 season during NBC’s coverage of the playoff opener between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons.

The 22-year-old Wembanyama, who is simultaneously competing for Defensive Player of the Year honors, posted career-high numbers with 25.0 points per game and 11.5 rebounds while topping the NBA with 3.1 blocked shots nightly. Should he claim the MVP trophy, Wembanyama would surpass Derrick Rose as the youngest recipient in NBA history, being several months younger than Rose was during his 2010-11 victory.

Standing in his path are the two most recent MVP winners: Gilgeous-Alexander, who captured his inaugural MVP title last season while averaging 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per contest, and Jokic, the 2023-24 champion who posted 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game for his third overall MVP honor.

Joining Wembanyama in the Defensive Player of the Year race are Detroit’s Ausar Thompson and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, though Wembanyama enters as the overwhelming favorite.

The Rookie of the Year competition features three players from the top four draft selections. Dallas’s Cooper Flagg, selected first overall, contributed 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe, the third pick, averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals. Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, chosen fourth, delivered 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while leading all players with 273 three-point field goals made.

The Most Improved Player finalists include Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland’s Deni Avdija, and Detroit’s Jalen Duren. Alexander-Walker’s first Atlanta campaign produced 20.8 points per game, representing a 9.8-point increase over his previous career high across six prior seasons. Avdija reached a personal best of 24.2 points per game, while Duren, like Avdija a first-time All-Star selection, jumped to 19.5 points after averaging just 11.8 last year.

Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr., Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., and San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson comprise the Sixth Man of the Year nominees.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Denver’s Jamal Murray, and Gilgeous-Alexander are vying for Clutch Player of the Year recognition. Each candidate would claim the award for the first time in what marks the fourth year of the honor’s existence.

Three coaches leading top-two seeded teams earned Coach of the Year nominations: Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. The eventual winner will be receiving the Coach of the Year award for the first time.

Award announcements begin this week during playoff telecasts, starting Monday with Defensive Player of the Year, followed by Clutch Player on Tuesday, Sixth Man on Wednesday, and Most Improved Player on Friday.

Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll left Sunday’s matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays in Phoenix after just four innings when lower back tightness forced him from the game.

However, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo provided encouraging news following the contest, indicating he anticipates the standout player will be ready for Tuesday’s game.

The 25-year-old Carroll showed visible discomfort during a third-inning strikeout and was seen stretching his back while positioned in right field during the fourth inning.

Arizona was down 10-1 when Carroll was pulled from the game. Jorge Barrosa took over in right field and contributed a two-run home run in the seventh inning, though the Diamondbacks ultimately fell 10-4.

“I went over to Corbin, and he was fine,” Lovullo said. “He felt like he was in a good spot. I just said, look, I’m going to start to layer in guys to get him off the field.”

When asked specifically about Carroll’s availability for Tuesday’s matchup with the Chicago White Sox, Lovullo responded, “He’s already in the lineup, yeah. He’s starting in right field on Tuesday.”

Carroll finished 0-for-2 with one strikeout, dropping his season batting average to .300 alongside a .390 on-base percentage and .600 slugging percentage. Through 20 games this season, he has recorded three home runs, 16 RBIs, six doubles, and leads the majors with three triples.

This marks the second time this season Carroll has dealt with physical discomfort, having missed two early April contests against the New York Mets due to left hip flexor tightness.

Following Sunday’s game, Carroll suggested his current back problems might be connected to the earlier hip flexor issue.

“It was enough where in a game like that, I’m fine getting out of there,” Carroll said. “But in a closer game, I definitely would have stayed.”

The outfielder expressed confidence about his condition, stating he feels good and “could go play right now.”

Carroll earned All-Star selections in both 2023 and 2025 and claimed National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2023. The Diamondbacks selected him with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft.

CHICAGO — The New York Mets’ losing streak has reached historic proportions, and star shortstop Francisco Lindor knows the criticism is about to intensify dramatically.

The noise around the struggling franchise is already deafening.

New York suffered its 11th straight defeat Sunday when closer Devin Williams surrendered a ninth-inning advantage in a 2-1 extra-inning defeat to the Chicago Cubs. The streak matches the franchise’s worst stretch since dropping 11 consecutive contests from late August through early September in 2004.

“We’ve just got to stick together and stay within ourself and fight,” Lindor said. “Fight.”

With Lindor and Juan Soto leading the charge, the Mets entered this season harboring championship dreams. Their opening-day roster carried a major league-high payroll of $352.2 million.

Soto injured his right calf muscle during a 10-3 triumph in San Francisco on April 3 — the start of a four-game winning run that boosted New York to 7-4.

Those days feel like ancient history now.

During their current slide, the Mets have been outscored by opponents 62-19. The team is hitting just .145 with runners in scoring position throughout the streak, including an 0-for-9 performance in those crucial situations during Sunday’s series finale.

“We didn’t hit that many balls hard today,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “So yeah, we’ve got to get better at-bats, for sure.”

New York became the first club to endure 11 or more consecutive defeats in April since the 2022 Cincinnati Reds. The franchise’s last 12-game skid occurred in August 2002.

Just four teams in baseball history have made the playoffs after experiencing a double-digit losing streak, including Cleveland last season and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017.

“I think it does compound as you continue to lose, but that’s for us to stop it and get ourselves going on the right track,” Mets pitcher David Peterson said.

Much of the anticipated criticism Lindor referenced will likely target Mendoza, who was brought aboard in November 2023. However, baseball operations president David Stearns supported Mendoza on Friday, and Lindor mounted a passionate defense of his skipper following Sunday’s setback.

“Mendy’s our guy. He’s our leader,” the All-Star shortstop declared. “He’s in control and he’s done a tremendous job. We just haven’t executed. It would be unfair to put everything on him because at the end of the day he has gotten the ship in the right direction. The people that are paddling, we’ve got to paddle and execute.”

Despite their offensive woes, New York was positioned to avoid a sweep in the final game of their six-game road trip.

The Mets held a 1-0 advantage before Williams allowed pinch-hitter Michael Conforto’s game-tying double in the ninth inning. Craig Kimbrel took the defeat when Nico Hoerner plated Pete Crow-Armstrong with a sacrifice fly in the 10th.

Williams, 31, inked a three-year, $51 million deal with New York during free agency.

“I’m really, really disappointed,” Williams said. “They gave me a lead. It’s my job to hold it, and I made a mistake. It cost us the game today.”

The Mets have Monday off before starting a nine-game homestand Tuesday evening against the Minnesota Twins. Soto is anticipated to return sometime during the homestand, though Lindor and his teammates understand the slugger alone cannot solve their problems.

“It’s going to lengthen our lineup, but even when he comes, we’ve still got to get it done,” Lindor said. “It would be unfair to just throw everything on him. As a team, we’ve got to come together and execute.”

The National Basketball Association unveiled finalists for several major individual honors Sunday evening, bringing San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama one step closer to capturing his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy.

Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards also secured recognition despite an injury-shortened campaign, earning finalist status for the league’s Clutch Player award.

Wembanyama’s nomination came as expected after he topped the NBA in blocked shots for his third straight season. The towering center joins Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson as the three contenders for the defensive honor.

Edwards made the Clutch Player ballot even though he failed to meet the standard 65-game threshold that typically determines award eligibility. While this absence kept him off ballots for MVP and All-NBA recognition, he remained eligible for the Clutch award since coaches select those nominees.

Sunday’s announcement also revealed finalists for Most Improved Player and Sixth Man awards. The league plans to announce MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year finalists later in the evening.

A panel of league reporters and broadcasters submitted their votes last week.

The complete finalist lists include:

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City), Ausar Thompson (Detroit)

Clutch Player: Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Jamal Murray (Denver)

Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Atlanta), Deni Avdija (Portland), Jalen Duren (Detroit)

Sixth Man: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami), Keldon Johnson (San Antonio)

Last season, Wembanyama appeared headed for defensive recognition before a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis at the All-Star break ended his campaign early, leaving him short of eligibility requirements.

Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, who was seeking a record-breaking fifth Defensive Player award, will have to wait another year for that milestone.

In clutch situations, Gilgeous-Alexander paced the league in scoring per game, with Edwards ranking second. The league defines clutch performance as points scored during the final five minutes when the score difference is five points or fewer.

For the Sixth Man category, Jaquez posted 15.4 points per game across 74 bench appearances, while both Johnson and Hardaway averaged 13.2 points. Johnson appeared in all 82 San Antonio games as a reserve, while Hardaway came off Denver’s bench in 74 contests.

The eventual Sixth Man winner will claim the honor for the first time.

Among Most Improved candidates, Avdija averaged 24.2 points while helping Portland reach the playoffs. Alexander-Walker, hoping to give Atlanta back-to-back MIP winners following Dyson Daniels last year, averaged 20.8 points—far exceeding his previous career high.

Duren earned his first All-Star selection while averaging 19.5 points, nearly doubling last season’s output despite similar playing time.

Former Belmont University basketball player Drew Scharnowski announced on Sunday his decision to join Duke University’s program.

The announcement came via Scharnowski’s Instagram account, where he shared an image of himself wearing a Duke jersey alongside the caption “committed.”

Standing at 6-foot-9, Scharnowski put together an impressive season for the Bruins, posting averages of 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks across 30 games, starting 24 of them. His performance helped propel Belmont to the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship. He maintained an exceptional 68.1% shooting percentage from the field and earned recognition as a first-team All-MVC selection while also receiving All-Defense honors.

According to KenPom.com statistics, Scharnowski’s 69.4% success rate on two-point attempts ranked 28th in the nation last season. Within Missouri Valley Conference play, he led all players with an 8.2% block rate and finished second in offensive rebounding percentage at 12.2%.

Free-throw shooting proved to be a weakness, as Scharnowski connected on only 43.6% of his attempts from the charity stripe this past season.

During his redshirt freshman campaign in 2024-25, Scharnowski contributed 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game across 25 appearances, making two starts.

The transfer decision came after Belmont head coach Casey Alexander departed for the Kansas State position following the team’s successful 26-6 season. Scharnowski revealed his transfer intentions four weeks ago, with Kansas State among the programs he evaluated before ultimately selecting Duke.

NEW YORK — Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez was back in action Sunday as the team’s designated hitter following his first scheduled rest day of the season, which created a minor stir on social media.

The veteran catcher emphasized that his relationship with manager Matt Quatraro remains solid despite some public confusion about Saturday’s day off.

“No frustration, Zero frustration for us,” Perez stated before Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees. “The people they don’t want to know what’s going on here. They can think and they can say whatever they want to say, you know, zero frustration. I don’t have time for that.”

Saturday marked Perez’s first game off since he sat out two contests last August. When Quatraro explained the decision, he characterized it as providing his veteran player with a mental break.

That evening, Perez responded on social media with a pointed message: “I don’t need a mental breather.”

“I know people were surprised I didn’t play yesterday, but I think everybody has off days in the big leagues,” Perez explained. “It’s kind of hard to play 162, especially behind the home plate.”

Quatraro addressed the situation, clarifying that his earlier comments were misunderstood.

“Everything’s fine,” Quatraro said. “Salvy and I have talked multiple times about it. We’re in a good spot. I think some of it comes from it’s a story when Salvy doesn’t play and there’s usually a follow-up question to how’d that go, how’s he feeling. So it was just me trying to provide a little color to the answer that didn’t go the way it was intended and that’s really all there was to it.”

Sunday’s game marked Perez’s seventh appearance as designated hitter this season.

The 35-year-old veteran is struggling early in the campaign, batting just .160 with three home runs and six RBIs through his first 20 games. Last year, Perez hit .236 — his second-lowest full-season average — while still managing 30 homers and 100 RBIs for his third career century mark in runs batted in.

In 2024, Perez caught 92 games while serving as designated hitter in 38 others and playing 28 games at first base. He appeared in 47 games at first base last season.

To provide Perez with additional DH opportunities, Kansas City promoted catcher Elías Díaz from Triple-A Omaha, giving them three catchers on the roster. Díaz joined the organization on a minor league deal in late February and was hitting .226 at Omaha.

Díaz batted .204 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 106 games for San Diego last season. Over his 11-year career with Colorado, Pittsburgh and San Diego, he owns a .247 batting average with 71 home runs and 326 RBIs.

BOSTON — Completing the Boston Marathon presents enough challenges without runners having to fight through crowds from start to finish in Copley Square.

That’s why race officials brought in a crowd management specialist this year to handle the massive field of over 32,000 participants as they traverse 26.2 miles through eight Massachusetts communities — many featuring narrow roadways dating back to Colonial America.

“There are certain things that we can’t change — that we don’t want to change — because they make the Boston Marathon,” said Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer of crowd science at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. “Like, I’m a scientist, but I can’t be too science-y about the race. It should stay what it is because that’s what I love. That’s what the runners love.”

The Boston Marathon stands as the globe’s most historic and prestigious annual marathon event. The race drew inspiration from the endurance challenge that premiered at the first modern Olympics in 1896 — paying homage to messenger Pheidippides, who ran to Athens carrying news of Greek triumph over Persian forces at Marathon.

Following his announcement — “Rejoice, we conquer!” — Pheidippides collapsed and died.

Boston Marathon officials aim for a far better outcome for their participants, even as participation has exploded from just 15 runners in 1897 to as many as 38,000 for the centennial edition in 1996. Numbers have stabilized around 30,000 since 2015.

The expanding participant pool has pushed the boundaries of narrow New England streets and challenged host communities, which want to quickly reopen roads for daily traffic and business activities.

“It would be kind of great someday to be able to grow the race a little bit more,” race director Dave McGillivray said. “The problem with this race is that it’s about two things: time and space. We don’t have either. … So, we’re trying to be innovative.”

Enter Altenburg’s expertise.

The former German army captain, who participates in ultra marathons, has collaborated with major racing events, large sporting competitions, airports and exhibitions to maintain safety and smooth operations for massive crowds.

For the Boston Marathon, which attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators beyond the runners, his computer models enable simulations that predict how the race will unfold under various scenarios.

“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts,” Altenburg said in a telephone interview. “They gave me, pretty much, all creative freedom to simulate more waves, simulate more runners and — within the existing time window — they allowed me to change pretty much anything for the betterment of the running experience.

“And then we checked every aid station, every mile, the finish, every important point, (asking): Is the result better for the runner? Is that something that we should explore further?”

The most visible modification on Monday involves dividing runners into six starting waves — groups arranged by qualifying times — rather than three. These waves, introduced to Boston in 2011, create better spacing so participants don’t need to walk after starting, particularly where Main Street in Hopkinton narrows to just 39 feet.

Additional behind-the-scenes adjustments affect bus unloading at the starting area, water and aid station positioning, and finish line organization, where runners receive medals, thermal blankets, refreshments, and any necessary medical care.

“For an event that’s as old as ours, 130 years, it allowed us to be a startup all over again,” said Lauren Proshan, the chief of race operations and production for the Boston Athletic Association.

“The change isn’t meant to be earth-shattering. It’s to be a smooth experience from start to finish,” she said. “It’s one of those things that you work really, really hard behind the scenes and hope that no one notices — a behind-the-curtain change that makes you feel as if you’re just floating and having a great day.”

Reducing portable restroom wait times would also be welcomed.

“What I loved about working with the BAA was how aware they are of what the Boston Marathon is. And they won’t change anything lightly,” Altenberg said. “So it was very detailed work from literally the moment the race last year ended to now. That we check every single option. That we really make sure that if we change something about this historic race, then we know what we’re doing.”

The Boston Athletic Association will evaluate participant feedback over the next three years before considering expansion or additional modifications.

“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, but we’ll get feedback from the participants,” McGillivray said. “And they’ll let us know whether or not it worked or not.”

However, extending course closure time isn’t feasible, and the historic route remains unchanged. This limits how much crowd science can address one of athletics’ most demanding challenges.

“I can talk. I’m a scientist. I just press a button and it’s going to be,” Altenburg said. “But the runners still have to do it.”

As the FIFA World Cup approaches in just over seven weeks, questions about security preparations are drawing attention from experts and officials.

NPR journalist Rob Schmitz recently spoke with Juliette Kayyem, who previously served with the Department of Homeland Security, regarding current worries about safeguarding the international soccer championship during this period.

The conversation focused on the various security challenges that come with hosting such a massive global sporting event in the United States at this time.

The Los Angeles Angels welcomed back outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler to their roster on Sunday, placing him in the fourth position in their batting order for their final game against the San Diego Padres.

Soler had been serving a suspension stemming from an altercation with Reynaldo Lopez, his former Atlanta Braves teammate, during an April 7th game. Originally handed a seven-game penalty, Soler successfully appealed the decision while the Angels were playing in New York, resulting in the suspension being shortened to four games.

The 34-year-old player has compiled a .231 batting average this season for the Angels, contributing five home runs and 18 runs batted in across 18 appearances.

Throughout his 13-year major league career, Soler has maintained a .240 batting average while accumulating 208 home runs and 568 RBIs in 1,112 games. His professional journey has taken him through multiple organizations, including the Chicago Cubs from 2014 to 2016, the Kansas City Royals from 2017 to 2021, brief stints with the Atlanta Braves in 2021 and 2024, the Miami Marlins from 2022 to 2023, the San Francisco Giants in 2024, and currently the Angels.

Meanwhile, Lopez received his own penalty reduction, with his original seven-game suspension being cut down to five games.

University of Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch found himself in legal trouble early Sunday morning, just days before the NFL Draft where he’s anticipated to be a high pick, according to jail records from Athens-Clarke County.

The 22-year-old athlete faces two misdemeanor charges: blocking public sidewalks or streets and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Records show Branch was taken into custody at 1:26 a.m. and posted bond approximately two hours later at 3:44 a.m.

Draft analysts have consistently ranked Branch as a potential Day 2 selection, with some projections placing him as early as Friday’s second round.

After transferring from the University of Southern California, Branch made an immediate impact in his debut season with the Bulldogs. He topped the team’s receiving statistics with 81 catches, accumulating 811 yards and scoring six touchdowns. Georgia finished the season with a 12-2 record before falling to Ole Miss 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl.

Throughout his three-year collegiate career, which began at USC, Branch compiled impressive numbers across 37 games: 159 catches for 1,634 yards and nine total touchdowns.

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina dominated on serve Sunday, capturing her second Porsche Tennis Grand Prix championship in Stuttgart, Germany with a decisive 7-5, 6-1 triumph over Czech player Karolina Muchova.

The second-seeded Rybakina controlled the match from the service line, converting 25 of 32 first-serve opportunities for an impressive 78.1% success rate. She completed the victory in just 78 minutes, adding three aces to her performance while claiming her 13th career championship.

This marks a historic achievement for Rybakina, as she becomes the first player to capture multiple titles at the same tournament in her career. Her previous Stuttgart victory came in 2024, and this latest triumph represents her fifth clay court championship.

Muchova, seeded seventh, struggled significantly with her serve efficiency, managing only a 52.3% first-serve winning percentage by taking 23 of 44 points. Despite saving four of eight break point opportunities, she couldn’t match Rybakina’s consistency.

The Czech player mounted a brief comeback in the opening set, rallying from a 5-2 deficit to even the score at 5-5. However, Rybakina quickly regained control, securing the final two games of the first set before cruising through the second set.

At the Rouen Metropolitan Open in France, top-seeded Marta Kostyuk made tennis history by defeating fellow Ukrainian Veronika Podrez 6-3, 6-4 in the first all-Ukrainian WTA final ever held.

Kostyuk showcased aggressive play with 34 winners compared to 23 unforced errors, while successfully converting six of nine break point chances against the 19-year-old Podrez, who was competing in her first professional final as a qualifier.

“This match today was not just a match,” Kostyuk declared during the trophy ceremony. “It was a historical moment for Ukrainian tennis. First time two Ukrainians playing in the final. I know how much work, sacrifice, tears and sweat goes into this sport and to be able to be on this stage. So I’m incredibly proud of Ukrainian tennis right now.”

Podrez managed only one ace during the championship match while committing seven double faults, as Kostyuk claimed her second singles title.

American tennis player Ben Shelton dominated the clay courts in Munich, Germany, capturing the BMW Open championship with a decisive 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

The victory marks Shelton’s second championship this season and his fifth career ATP title, with his previous 2024 win coming in Dallas. Shelton demonstrated exceptional serving prowess, converting 85% of his first-serve opportunities while successfully defending against all six break point attempts by his opponent.

Shelton established early control by breaking Cobolli’s service twice within the opening three games. After the second set reached a 5-5 deadlock, Shelton secured the crucial break and closed out the match on his initial championship point.

The achievement makes Shelton the first male American player to claim three ATP 500 championships since 2009.

“I have big ambitions for the clay courts,” Shelton said in his post-match interview. “It is a surface I want to get better on each year. It is slowly becoming one of my favorite surfaces to play on.”

Meanwhile, at the Barcelona Open, France’s Arthur Fils overcame a spirited comeback attempt by Russia’s Andrey Rublev, prevailing 6-2, 7-6 (2) in the championship match.

The title represents Fils’ first tournament victory since returning to competition in February following an eight-month absence due to a back injury.

Fils appeared headed for a comfortable victory after dominating the opening set and building a 5-2 advantage in the second. However, Rublev mounted a fierce rally, breaking Fils’ serve to narrow the gap to 5-4, then saving a match point to level at 5-5.

Rublev continued his surge by breaking serve once more to take a 6-5 lead in the second set, but Fils regained his composure and sealed the victory in the tiebreaker.

“The end of the second set was just about the mental (pressure),” Fils said. “The whole match was a bit tough because I was a bit tight. I played well for a set and a half, but when I had to close, I started to think a little. But I’m very happy with the way I played the tiebreak.”

Houston’s baseball team moved outfielder Joey Loperfido to the injured list Sunday after he suffered a strain to his right quadriceps muscle, while simultaneously bringing up pitcher Jayden Murray from their Triple-A Sugar Land club.

The 26-year-old Loperfido had been hitting .259 with six runs batted in across 20 contests this year. He demonstrated versatility by starting games in left field, center field, and right field.

After being dealt to Toronto during the 2024 season, Loperfido returned to Houston through another trade this past February. Throughout his three-year major league career spanning 142 games, he maintains a .249 batting average along with eight homers and 45 RBIs.

The 29-year-old Murray made one prior appearance this season and carries a 2.63 earned run average over 10 outings during the last two campaigns with Houston. His promotion brings the team’s pitching staff to 13 players.

In additional Sunday roster moves, Houston sent minor league right-handed pitcher Wilmy Sanchez to the New York Yankees in exchange for infielder Braden Shewmake, who was Atlanta’s first-round selection in the 2019 amateur draft.

Shewmake, age 28, has appeared in 31 big league games between Atlanta and the Chicago White Sox, posting a .118 batting average with one home run and four RBIs.

The University of Kentucky has landed a significant addition to their basketball roster with the commitment of Alex Wilkins, a talented guard who spent his freshman year at Furman University.

Wilkins’ decision to join the Wildcats highlighted what proved to be an active weekend of player movement through the college basketball transfer portal.

During his debut season with the Paladins, the guard put up impressive numbers, posting averages of 17.8 points per game along with 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds across 35 contests, starting every single game.

Standing 6-foot-5, Wilkins demonstrated his abilities on college basketball’s biggest stage during Furman’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The guard connected on four shots from beyond the three-point line and contributed 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 defeat to UConn, who would go on to reach the national championship game, in the opening round.

Meanwhile, Duke University announced the addition of Drew Scharnowski, a forward who previously played at Belmont University.

The 6-9 Scharnowski wrapped up his second collegiate season at Belmont with averages of 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists while playing 21.9 minutes per contest. He maintained an impressive 68.1% shooting percentage across 30 games, earning starting roles in 24 of those appearances.

His arrival at Duke fills the vacancy left by forward Nikolas Khamenia, who announced his transfer to UConn this past Saturday.

Florida State University also made a notable addition, securing the services of 6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who will relocate to Tallahassee following two seasons at the University of Colorado.

Originally from Slovakia, Rancik completed his high school career in Southern California, where recruiting services rated him as a four-star prospect in the class of 2024.

During his sophomore campaign with the Buffaloes, he appeared in 29 games with 26 starts, contributing 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Questions about the Philadelphia Flyers’ youth and playoff inexperience disappeared during 60 minutes of composed, confident play that resulted in a 3-2 triumph against Pittsburgh in Saturday night’s opening game of their first-round playoff matchup.

Twenty-four-year-old Jamie Drysdale, among 10 Flyers making their first playoff appearance, engaged in early physical play with Penguins leader Sidney Crosby before scoring the go-ahead goal in the second period. His shot found its target through a perfectly positioned screen set by 20-year-old Denver Barkey.

The decisive goal came from 19-year-old Porter Martone late in the third period, who delivered a wrist shot from the right side after executing a brilliant move where he slowed down and spun to create space in front of Pittsburgh’s Noel Acciari.

“I kind of stopped up and shot it and luckily it went in,” Martone said with characteristic modesty.

Playing in only his 10th NHL game, Martone noticed the atmosphere change from regular season to postseason hockey. The hostile reception from thousands of yellow towel-waving Pittsburgh supporters during warmups provided clear evidence, as did the fierce pace of the opening period when the cross-state rivals’ first playoff encounter in eight years quickly turned contentious.

Philadelphia held their own, frequently controlling play against the Penguins, who despite their own roster changes still rely heavily on their veteran core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson — players with a collective 573 playoff games of experience.

Though Malkin contributed a goal and assist, Crosby remained largely ineffective, while Letang and Karlsson were part of a Pittsburgh defensive unit that seemed unprepared for Philadelphia’s pace.

“The execution wasn’t really what we were hoping for,” Karlsson said. “We didn’t really set out to do what we needed to do on our game plan. We turned too many pucks over in the wrong spot. We made it hard on ourselves.”

Karlsson expressed confidence that first-year head coach Dan Muse and his staff will provide better solutions for Monday’s Game 2.

For Pittsburgh to make their postseason return after three years meaningful, they have little alternative but to improve.

Muse wasn’t surprised by Philadelphia’s counterattack strategy. What may have caught the Penguins off-guard was how the Flyers’ playoff newcomers showed no signs of intimidation from either the setting or their opponents.

This confidence has characterized Philadelphia’s recent play, as they surged into the playoffs following an impressive late-season run powered by energetic young players who haven’t learned to doubt themselves.

The Flyers acknowledged their improbable journey by wearing special t-shirts to Saturday’s morning practice featuring Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent’s mask design, the word “Believe” on the back, and “3.8” on the sleeves — representing their playoff odds at one point this season.

In many ways, Philadelphia is playing with nothing to lose. They rank among the biggest longshots in the 16-team tournament to end a Stanley Cup championship drought spanning five decades. That pressure seemed absent during their opening performance.

Nobody anticipated their playoff berth when they sat 13th in the Eastern Conference following the Olympic break, a time when Martone was completing his lone season at Michigan State.

Philadelphia head coach Rick Tocchet, who was 20 during his first NHL playoff experience with the Flyers over 40 years ago, understands the unique pressures of postseason hockey.

The stakes intensify, players grip their sticks more tightly, and the mental challenge can overwhelm anyone, especially those just weeks into their professional careers. Tocchet has deliberately maintained a relaxed environment.

“They might be nervous, so we tried to really relax the atmosphere,” Tocchet said.

Philadelphia appeared calm following their victory, but appropriately so. While Tocchet observed some celebration from the younger players, they avoided getting carried away.

Veteran leadership from players like 33-year-old captain Sean Couturier helps maintain perspective. The experienced forward knows how rapidly situations can change and still awaits his first opportunity to advance past the second round.

Saturday’s result represents a positive beginning, but remains just that — a start. Limiting the NHL’s third-highest scoring team to 17 shots, as they accomplished in the opener, may prove difficult to repeat.

However, the effort and intensity Philadelphia used to disrupt Pittsburgh’s rhythm is sustainable.

While Saturday technically marked the playoff debut for nearly half the players wearing orange, black and white, Philadelphia’s postseason mentality began much earlier.

“We’ve been playing big games for the last month, month and a half, meaningful games, must-win games,” Couturier said. “We’re put to the test and thought we did a good job of preparing ourselves and being ready.”

St. Bonaventure basketball’s roster transformation continued this week as former Penn State forward Mason Blackwood joined the program under new head coach Mike MacDonald’s leadership.

ESPN reported Blackwood’s commitment on Sunday, marking the conclusion of a busy recruiting period for the New York-based university.

According to the 247 transfer portal and various media reports, the Bonnies have secured six new players this week alongside Blackwood’s addition:

The new arrivals include Akbar Waheed III, a 6-foot-6 guard who took a redshirt year at Boston College during the previous season.

MacDonald also brought two former players from his Division II coaching stop at Daemen: 6-4 guard Zach Philipkoski and 6-10 center Benjamin Bill.

Point guard Taj Au-Duke, standing 6-3, brings an impressive resume after beginning at Pepperdine before transferring to Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, where he earned first-team JUCO All-American honors.

The final addition is Ryan Kalambay, a 6-9 forward who previously played at Detroit Mercy.

Five players will return from last season’s squad: 6-6 Russian guard Ilia Ermakov, 6-7 Irish center John Ikpotokin, 6-foot local guard Jack DeRose from Olean High School, 6-5 Italian guard Achille Lonati, and 6-10 forward Joe Grahovac from Santa Ana, California.

The roster will feature international diversity with Kalambay and Au-Duke both hailing from Canada.

St. Bonaventure faces significant roster turnover, losing four graduating seniors and seven additional players to the transfer portal. According to 247Sports’ tracking system, none of the departing players have announced their new destinations.

The program benefits from adding Blackwood and Waheed, both with power-conference experience.

Blackwood, a Rochester, New York native, participated in 26 games during his freshman campaign with one starting assignment, contributing 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds across 12.2 minutes per game. The 6-7 forward represents a key piece in MacDonald’s rebuilding efforts.

Waheed did not see game action during his freshman year at Boston College and retains four full seasons of eligibility.

The Bonnies completed the 2025-26 campaign with a 17-17 overall record and struggled to a 4-14 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference competition.

MacDonald assumed the head coaching position on March 31, succeeding Mark Schmidt following his retirement after 19 seasons leading the program. The 1988 St. Bonaventure graduate compiled a 265-86 record during 12 seasons at Daemen, guiding the Wildcats to NCAA Division II East Regional titles in 2026 and 2021.

MacDonald holds the distinction of being the only coach to reach 100 victories at programs across Division I (Canisius), Division II (Daemen), and Division III (Medaille) levels.

The Cincinnati Bengals have secured their newest defensive weapon after three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence completed his medical examination and inked a one-year, $28 million contract extension on Sunday morning. The deal keeps Lawrence with the team through the 2028 season.

Win Sports Group announced the financial details of the extension to various media outlets following the signing.

Cincinnati obtained Lawrence from the New York Giants on Saturday, trading away their 10th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to acquire the veteran defender.

“We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”

The 28-year-old Lawrence had demanded a trade the previous week and skipped the Giants’ offseason activities after contract extension negotiations stalled between the two sides.

With the trade, New York now holds three selections within the top 37 picks of the 2026 draft, including their own fifth overall pick and Cincinnati’s tenth overall selection.

Originally selected 17th overall by the Giants in 2019 from Clemson University, Lawrence compiled impressive statistics during his seven seasons in New York: 341 total tackles, 30.5 sacks, and 103 quarterback pressures across 109 games with 102 starts.

While Lawrence earned Pro Bowl honors from 2022 through 2024, he was not selected last season despite starting all 17 games and recording 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four tackles behind the line of scrimmage, eight quarterback hits, and one interception.

The Bengals have been actively upgrading their defensive front this offseason, previously signing former Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million agreement.

“The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. “Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. We are confident in Dexter and can’t wait to see the positive effects he and the other players we have acquired this offseason have on our football team. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”

The University of Kentucky basketball program has secured a commitment from Alex Wilkins, a standout guard who spent his freshman year at Furman University.

Kentucky announced Wilkins’ transfer decision on Saturday, adding another talented player to their roster.

During his debut season with the Paladins, the guard put up impressive numbers across 35 games, starting every contest while posting averages of 17.8 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Standing 6-foot-5, Wilkins demonstrated his abilities on college basketball’s biggest stage during Furman’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In the Paladins’ first-round matchup against UConn, which would go on to reach the national championship game, Wilkins connected on four three-point shots and tallied 21 points despite his team’s 82-71 defeat.

STUTTGART, Germany – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina dominated the Stuttgart Open final on Sunday, defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 to capture her second championship at the prestigious tournament and earn another luxury Porsche automobile.

The top-seeded player secured her second tournament victory of 2024, but it was the traditional automotive prize that seemed to excite Rybakina most. After winning her first Porsche in 2024, she was motivated to obtain her driver’s license, and she beamed with joy as she drove her newly-earned second sports car down the ramp before positioning it on the tournament’s signature red clay court.

This triumph places Rybakina among tennis elite, as she becomes only the fourth current player to capture at least five WTA titles across different court surfaces, joining the exclusive ranks of Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, and Iga Swiatek.

“It’s an amazing tournament, we love coming back here… It really feels like home and you just want to come back every year,” Rybakina expressed after her victory.

“Super happy for the second win here in Stuttgart and this beautiful car,” she added.

The match began with Rybakina establishing early control, racing to a commanding 3-0 advantage in the first set through powerful, attacking tennis while Muchova remained primarily on defense.

Rybakina’s first serve proved nearly impossible to handle, constantly forcing Muchova into defensive positions. The Australian Open champion also demonstrated skillful net approaches, compelling her Czech rival to scramble across the entire court.

Muchova demonstrated fighting spirit by mounting a comeback from a 5-2 deficit to tie the set at 5-5. Yet when attempting to push the set to a tiebreaker, crucial mistakes emerged, allowing Rybakina to seize the opening set as Muchova’s return flew beyond the baseline.

This momentum shift energized Rybakina for the second set, where she dominated by winning five straight games – similar to her commanding semifinal performance against Mirra Andreeva – before Muchova managed to win a game.

When serving for the championship, Rybakina finished in impressive fashion, completing a love service game to secure her tour-leading 25th victory of the season in just 78 minutes.

“Elena, honestly, too good. You played really well,” Muchova acknowledged during the post-match ceremony.

“I tried to stop you, but you clearly wanted a Porsche for the second time really bad. So, (you) made it very tough for me. Congrats!” she concluded.

A parachutist carrying an American flag veered dramatically off course during a Virginia Tech football game on Saturday, becoming entangled on the stadium’s electronic scoreboard and hanging suspended above the field until rescue crews could reach them.

The incident occurred at Lane Stadium during the university’s spring football game, where two skydivers were performing a pre-game demonstration. Video footage that spread rapidly across social media platforms captured the moment when one parachutist missed their intended landing zone and collided with the large video display.

Spectators looked on with concern as the individual remained trapped approximately 15 to 20 minutes while emergency responders positioned an aerial ladder truck to conduct the rescue operation. The parachutist’s identity has not been made public.

University officials took to social media to address the situation, stating: “We are grateful to report that the skydiver was safely secured and is currently stable. Our primary focus remains on their well-being.”

The statement continued: “We extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders, event staff, and medical personnel for their swift, coordinated and professional response.”

Authorities confirmed that no one sustained injuries during the mishap.

The San Diego Padres cooled off the Los Angeles Angels’ red-hot offense with a 4-1 victory Saturday night at Angel Stadium, evening their series behind strong performances from Fernando Tatis Jr. and closer Mason Miller.

Tatis Jr. collected two hits and drove in two runs while Miller recorded two strikeouts to secure his seventh save of the season. The victory marked San Diego’s 12th win in their last 14 contests.

Ramon Laureano contributed two RBIs for the Padres, while Jake Cronenworth reached base safely four times through a single, two walks, and being hit by a pitch, also crossing home plate once. Freddy Fermin scored twice in the winning effort.

Relief pitcher Adrian Morejon (2-0) tossed 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, while Miller worked around a leadoff single by Yoan Moncada and a walk to Vaughn Grissom in the ninth inning. Miller’s performance extended his scoreless streak to 31 2/3 innings, dating back to August 6, 2025.

For Los Angeles, Zach Neto and Mike Trout each collected doubles, and Nolan Schanuel delivered an RBI single. The Angels managed only six hits total. Ryan Zeferjahn (1-1) surrendered two runs on three hits and two walks in one inning of work after Yusei Kikuchi completed six scoreless innings as the starter.

Kikuchi gave up four hits, one walk, and hit one batter while striking out eight Padres hitters.

The Angels entered the game having launched 16 home runs while plating 49 runs over their previous six contests, but San Diego starter German Marquez held them to just two hits through 5 2/3 innings.

Los Angeles nearly grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the second inning when Moncada launched a deep fly ball to right-center field. However, Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill made a spectacular catch, reaching over the outfield wall to rob Moncada of a home run. The defensive gem marked Merrill’s third home run robbery this season.

San Diego broke through for a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning against Zeferjahn, who issued consecutive walks to Fermin and Cronenworth on eight straight pitches to start the frame. Laureano then lined a single to center field, bringing home Fermin, before Tatis followed with a slow grounder into shallow right field that scored Cronenworth.

The Angels responded in the bottom of the eighth, cutting the deficit to 2-1 when Schanuel’s single drove home Logan O’Hoppe, who had reached on a single and moved to second base on Adam Frazier’s base hit.

The Padres added insurance in the ninth inning with two more runs, scoring on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Laureano and an RBI single from Tatis.

Atlanta’s Chris Sale delivered a masterful performance on the mound Saturday, tossing seven outstanding innings to guide the Braves to a 3-1 triumph over Philadelphia in a classic pitchers’ battle.

Sale improved his record to 4-1 by fanning seven batters while issuing just one walk, surrendering only a single run on five hits. The Braves received offensive contributions from Austin Riley, Jonah Heim, and Ozzie Albies, who each collected two hits in the victory.

Atlanta has now captured eight victories in their past ten contests and will attempt to complete a series sweep Sunday against Philadelphia. The Phillies continue to struggle, dropping eight of their last ten games as their recent slide continues.

Philadelphia starter Cristopher Sanchez (2-2) suffered the loss despite a solid effort, allowing three unearned runs across six innings while giving up eight hits and one walk. Sanchez managed eight strikeouts in the defeat.

The contest opened with dramatic flair when Ronald Acuna Jr. launched a drive toward deep center field, only to see Brandon Marsh make a spectacular leaping catch at the wall to rob what appeared to be a home run. Philadelphia answered in the second frame when Felix Reyes connected on Sale’s 2-0 fastball, sending it over the right field wall for his first major league home run in his debut at-bat. Unfortunately for the home team, that marked their lone offensive highlight of the evening.

In other Saturday action around the majors, Corbin Carroll broke a deadlock with a grand slam in the eighth inning as Arizona defeated Toronto 6-2 to extend their winning streak to four games. The Diamondbacks have now won eight of ten and lead baseball with ten comeback victories this season.

Cody Bellinger powered the New York Yankees to a dominant 13-4 victory over Kansas City with two home runs and five RBIs. Will Warren earned his second win by allowing just two runs across seven innings while striking out eleven batters.

The Oakland Athletics rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat Chicago 7-6 in eleven innings, with Max Muncy delivering the game-winning sacrifice fly. Nick Kurtz tied the contest in the seventh with a two-run homer.

San Francisco edged Washington 7-6 in twelve innings when Matt Chapman drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left field. Cincinnati overcame three separate two-run deficits to beat Minnesota 5-4 on Dane Myers’ ninth-inning bloop single.

Detroit snapped a nine-game road losing streak by defeating Boston 4-1 behind Tarik Skubal’s dominant six-inning performance that included ten strikeouts. Tampa Bay outlasted Pittsburgh 8-7 in a thirteen-inning marathon that lasted over four hours and included a lengthy weather delay.

Cleveland topped Baltimore 4-2 as Brayan Rocchio connected for a three-run homer, while Seattle beat Texas 7-3 behind George Kirby’s continued mastery of the Rangers. St. Louis clinched their interleague series with Houston by winning 7-5, and Chicago defeated New York 4-2 on Carson Kelly’s pinch-hit three-run homer.

Milwaukee extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over Miami, San Diego beat Los Angeles Angels 4-1, and Colorado edged the Dodgers 4-3 to win just their second game in nine contests.

University of Connecticut basketball star Braylon Mullins revealed on Saturday through social media that he will skip the NBA draft and come back to play his second year with the Huskies.

The talented shooter, who scouts project as a potential first-round selection or even lottery pick in the 2026 draft next June, shared his decision on Instagram while celebrating his 20th birthday.

The lanky 6-foot-6 player from Greenfield, Indiana, earned recognition as a five-star high school recruit and McDonald’s All-American before joining UConn. During his debut college season, he received every vote for the Big East All-Freshman Team honors after posting averages of 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 33 contests, despite sitting out the opening six games due to an ankle problem. He became a starter for 29 of the team’s final 30 matchups.

Mullins connected on 72 three-point shots, establishing the second-highest total by any first-year player in UConn program history. He converted 33.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc (72 of 215), with his most memorable basket coming during the NCAA Tournament.

The freshman’s dramatic 35-foot jumper with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock defeated Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight round, propelling UConn into the Final Four. The Huskies finished with a 34-6 record but eventually fell 69-63 to top-seeded Michigan in the national title game.

Also on Saturday, Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia, who will be a sophomore next season, announced his transfer decision. The 6-foot-8 forward will join a UConn roster that brings back Mullins along with point guard Silas Demary Jr., wing Jayden Ross, transfer addition Najai Hines from Seton Hall, and incoming first-year players Colben Landrew and Junior County.

The Huskies are still awaiting word from guard Solo Ball regarding his future plans, while they have already lost forward Jaylin Stewart and center Eric Reibe through the transfer portal.

The Philadelphia Flyers captured a 3-2 road victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night, securing an early advantage in their first-round playoff matchup with a 1-0 series lead.

Porter Martone, just 19 years old and appearing in only his tenth NHL contest, delivered a pivotal insurance goal with 2:37 remaining to put Philadelphia ahead 3-1 in this Battle of Pennsylvania clash. His timely scoring proved essential when Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust responded with a goal in the final minute of play.

Philadelphia received additional scoring from Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale in what marked the organization’s return to postseason play after a six-year absence. Goaltender Dan Vladar turned away 15 shots in his first playoff appearance, making a crucial stop on Anthony Mantha’s close-range attempt in the game’s final moments.

Pittsburgh veteran Evgeni Malkin tallied his 68th career postseason goal while also setting up Rust’s late marker. Stuart Skinner recorded 17 saves for the Penguins. The teams will meet again Monday night in Pittsburgh for Game 2.

In other first-round action, Minnesota dominated Dallas 6-1 behind Matt Boldy’s two goals and one assist. Kirill Kaprizov contributed a goal and two helpers while Joel Eriksson Ek found the net twice for the Wild, who haven’t advanced past the opening round since 2015. Rookie netminder Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves in the victory.

Carolina blanked Ottawa 2-0 as Frederik Andersen stopped all 22 shots he faced for his sixth career playoff shutout. Logan Stankoven scored once and assisted on another goal for the Hurricanes, who overcame an sluggish beginning to win their series opener in Raleigh.

In a commanding playoff opener, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 107-98 on Saturday, with Luke Kennard delivering an outstanding 27-point performance to lead the way in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round matchup.

Despite playing without key contributors Luka Doncic (hamstring injury) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain), the fourth-seeded Lakers found offensive firepower from unexpected sources. LeBron James contributed 19 points along with 13 assists, while Deandre Ayton posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Marcus Smart chipped in 15 points and eight assists for the victorious Lakers.

Kennard, making only his seventh start since arriving from the Atlanta Hawks via trade deadline deal, shot exceptionally well by connecting on 9 of 13 field goal attempts and a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. His 27-point output marked a season-best scoring performance as he stepped up to fill the backcourt scoring gap.

The visiting fifth-seeded Rockets, playing without their top scorer Kevin Durant due to a knee injury, received solid contributions from multiple players. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 19 points, while both Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard contributed 17 points each. Jabari Smith Jr. recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Tari Eason also scored 16 points in the losing effort.

The defeat extended Houston’s road struggles against Los Angeles, as the Rockets have now dropped three straight games in Los Angeles dating back to mid-March.

Other Playoff Results:

Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105

Nikola Jokic recorded his second triple-double of the postseason with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists as Denver captured Game 1 of their Western Conference series against Minnesota at home. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 30 points and made franchise history by converting all 16 of his free throw attempts.

Aaron Gordon provided 17 points for the Nuggets, with nearly half coming during a pivotal 14-0 third-quarter surge that broke the game open after Denver trailed early. Anthony Edwards paced Minnesota with 22 points despite dealing with knee problems that sidelined him for 11 of the team’s final 14 regular season contests. Rudy Gobert added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who held a 12-point advantage in the opening quarter.

Knicks 113, Hawks 102

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby connected on back-to-back three-pointers to ignite a decisive third-quarter rally, propelling New York past Atlanta in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal opener at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson erupted for 19 first-quarter points on his way to a game-leading 28-point performance for the third-seeded Knicks, who advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in over two decades. Towns finished with 25 points while shooting a flawless 10-of-10 from the charity stripe, and Anunoby added 18 points.

CJ McCollum paced the sixth-seeded Hawks with 26 points in their first playoff appearance since 2023. Jalen Johnson contributed 23 points, while Onyeka Okongwu (19 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17 points) also reached double figures for Atlanta.

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113

Donovan Mitchell powered Cleveland’s offense with 32 points, while James Harden recorded 22 points and 10 assists as the Cavaliers dominated Toronto in their Eastern Conference first-round series opener.

Max Strus provided a spark off the bench with 24 points, and Evan Mobley added 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who extended their playoff winning streak over Toronto to 11 consecutive games. The series shifts to Game 2 on Monday in Cleveland, where the Raptors remain winless in eight all-time postseason appearances.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points to lead the fifth-seeded Raptors, with Scottie Barnes adding 21 points and seven assists. Brandon Ingram contributed 17 points, while Jamal Shead made his playoff debut with 17 points, filling in for injured guard Immanuel Quickley who is sidelined with a hamstring strain.

Cincinnati has acquired veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from New York in exchange for the 10th overall selection in this week’s NFL Draft, multiple sources confirmed Saturday evening.

The 28-year-old Lawrence had asked for a trade from the Giants last week and skipped the team’s offseason workouts following stalled negotiations on a contract extension.

With this deal, New York now possesses both the fifth and 10th picks in Thursday’s first round.

According to NFL Network, Cincinnati plans to sign Lawrence to a new contract extension. Lawrence is currently scheduled to make $18.5 million in base salary for 2026 and remains under contract through 2027, though no guaranteed money is left on his current deal.

Originally selected 17th overall by New York in 2019 from Clemson, Lawrence has accumulated 341 tackles, 30.5 sacks and 103 quarterback hits across 109 games with 102 starts during his seven-year career with the Giants.

Lawrence earned Pro Bowl selections from 2022 through 2024, though he did not receive the honor last season despite starting all 17 games and recording 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and one interception.

The Bengals have already strengthened their defensive front this offseason by signing former Seattle pass rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and former Minnesota defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million agreement.

The Houston Rockets will begin their playoff battle against the Los Angeles Lakers without their biggest star, as Kevin Durant has been sidelined due to a right knee injury sustained during practice, head coach Ime Udoka announced prior to Saturday’s series opener.

“He bumped a knee in practice on Wednesday,” Udoka explained. “Hopefully, it’s a one-game thing, but he tried it out just (a) short (time) ago and didn’t feel good enough.”

The veteran forward, now 37 years old and playing in his 19th NBA season, led Houston in scoring this year with 26.0 points per game while also contributing 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Notably, Durant appeared in 78 regular-season contests this year, marking his highest availability since the 2018-19 campaign.

Game 2 of this Western Conference first-round playoff matchup is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles. For Saturday’s opener, Houston’s starting lineup featured forward Jabari Smith Jr., center Alperen Sengun, and guards Josh Okogie, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard. When Durant last took the court as a starter on April 10 against Minnesota, Sheppard was coming off the bench.

Medical imaging revealed no structural issues with Durant’s injured knee, according to Udoka.

“It’s very tender, tough to bend certain ways,” Udoka described Durant’s condition. “He hit it in a very awkward spot, I guess, more than anything. If he had a regular bumped knee, I think he could kind of play through that. But right above the knee, the patellar tendon area, up there, it’s just very tender and sore.

“Pain tolerance is one thing, but actually limited movement is more the cause (of Durant being out).”

Durant brings an impressive resume to Houston, including 16 All-Star selections, the 2013-14 NBA Most Valuable Player award, 2007-08 Rookie of the Year honors, and six first-team All-NBA selections. He has captured two NBA championships with Golden State in 2017 and 2018.

Throughout his career, Durant has posted averages of 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks and 36.7 minutes across 1,201 regular-season appearances, starting 1,198 of those games.

DENVER — A perfect performance at the charity stripe has become the center of controversy following Denver’s 116-105 victory over Minnesota in Saturday’s playoff opener.

Jamal Murray connected on all 16 of his free throw attempts while the entire Timberwolves roster combined for just 19 trips to the line — a stark difference that caught the attention of Minnesota’s coaching staff.

“Well, the 16 free throws from Murray was a head scratcher,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch commented following the defeat. “I thought we played really good defense on him.”

Murray defended the officiating after his 30-point performance.

“I thought I got fouled on every single one of them,” Murray stated. “I don’t know what everybody’s talking about. Real fouls.”

The guard’s flawless free throw shooting established a new Denver franchise record for most successful attempts without a miss in postseason play, surpassing Bryant Stith’s previous mark of 14 consecutive makes against Utah on May 17, 1994. The 16 attempts also represented a career high for Murray in any NBA contest.

With his three-point shot struggling — finishing 0-for-8 from beyond the arc — Murray adjusted his approach by attacking the basket more aggressively. Eight of his free throw attempts came during the second quarter alone.

“A lot of those ones in the second quarter, we were there,” Finch explained. “We were physical. We were vertical. He initiates the contact, he spills away and then he gets rewarded for it.”

“Sixteen free throws is a lot. It’s almost as many as we shot all game,” Finch added.

Murray received strong support from teammate Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 22nd career playoff triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Denver now holds a 15-7 record in postseason games when Jokic achieves a triple-double.

Murray dominated throughout the contest, contributing seven assists and five rebounds across more than 39 minutes of action.

“He’s been so good all year,” Denver coach David Adelman praised, as his squad prepares for Monday night’s Game 2. “Jamal has been Jamal all year, tough-minded.”

Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards continues working back to full strength following a right knee injury, contributing 22 points and seven assists in just over 38 minutes of play.

“It wasn’t the Ant we’re used to seeing, but is pretty much as expected in where he is in trying to find his rhythm,” Finch noted about his star player’s performance.

Edwards acknowledged he’s still finding his form.

“A little fatigued,” Edwards admitted. “Other than that I felt good.”

Edwards converted 6 of 7 attempts from the free throw line himself.

“Jamal helped them. He shot, what 19 — how many free throws did he shoot?” Edwards said while reviewing the statistics. “Sixteen for sixteen from the free-throw line. So that helped them a lot.”

Cincinnati has made a significant move by trading their first-round draft selection to the New York Giants in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, according to two sources familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday evening.

The sources requested anonymity since Lawrence must still complete a medical examination before the trade becomes official.

New York now holds both the fifth and tenth selections in the opening round of next week’s draft. The Giants are preparing for their inaugural draft under head coach John Harbaugh’s leadership.

Cincinnati paid a significant cost to obtain the 28-year-old Lawrence, who had requested a trade due to his desire for an updated contract. Lawrence is currently in the second year of a four-year, $90 million deal he signed in 2023.

CLEVELAND — Despite having a stronger supporting cast this postseason, Donovan Mitchell continues his tradition of making bold statements in playoff series openers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard maintained his remarkable consistency Saturday, scoring 32 points to lead his team to a 126-113 win against the Toronto Raptors in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff opener.

Mitchell’s performance marks an unprecedented ninth consecutive playoff series opener where he has reached the 30-point threshold, establishing a new NBA record.

“It’s not something like I’m searching for,” Mitchell explained regarding his pursuit of 30 points to begin each series. “It’s just something that I’m playing my game. Just trying to set a tone of aggression by getting downhill, taking the open shots, taking what’s given to me and obviously making the defense have to react.”

This historic run started during Mitchell’s time with Utah in the 2020 playoffs at Walt Disney World in Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when he exploded for 57 points against Denver. That performance still stands as a Jazz playoff record and ranks as the third-highest individual scoring effort in NBA postseason history.

Throughout this nine-game stretch, Mitchell holds a 5-4 record in series openers, including a 3-3 mark since joining Cleveland following his September 2022 trade from Utah.

While recently-acquired James Harden helped stabilize Cleveland during a tight first half, it was Mitchell alongside Max Strus who delivered the decisive blows in the second half against Toronto.

At halftime, Harden led the scoring with 15 points compared to Mitchell’s 13, as Cleveland held a 61-54 advantage. The third quarter belonged to Mitchell, who added 11 points, and Strus, who contributed eight, as the Cavaliers built a commanding 21-point lead entering the final period.

“That’s his job. That’s what he gets paid the big bucks for being aggressive, taking shots and doing his thing. We understand that, so our job is to just go out there and fulfill the roles and do other things to impact the game,” Harden commented. “I think for me, it’s trying to get more assists and trying to get into the paint. We’ve got shooting, we’ve got bigs who are versatile and athletic. My job is to get them the ball.”

Harden concluded the game with 22 points and 10 assists that generated 23 points for teammates. Six of those assists found center Jarrett Allen and forward Evan Mobley.

Mitchell reached his 30-point milestone on a driving layup with 9:28 left on the clock, pushing Cleveland’s advantage to 106-84. The nine-year veteran connected on 7 of 13 attempts from inside the paint, an approach that impressed head coach Kenny Atkinson.

“I said that before the game, how we’ve changed our mindset where we’ve become more rim- and paint-oriented. Don, he can try to do those pirouette 3s, but I think he was locked in on getting to the rim and made some really good decisions,” Atkinson noted.

Mitchell’s 33.1 points per game average in series openers ranks second in NBA history among players who have participated in at least 10 postseason series. His overall playoff scoring average of 28.4 points ties with LeBron James for sixth-best among players with a minimum of 50 playoff games.

“I thought we handled the environment and the crowd pretty well. They had a lot of guys scoring at a high rate and they got a lot of easy shots, getting to the rim and dunks,” said Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, who finished with 21 points.

American tennis player Ben Shelton secured his spot in the BMW Open championship match on Saturday, defeating Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 in Munich, Germany.

The second-seeded Shelton ended Molcan’s impressive tournament run and will now meet Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in Sunday’s final. Cobolli pulled off a major upset by defeating top-seeded defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-3, 6-3.

While Shelton didn’t showcase his typically dominant serving game, he managed to avoid trouble by facing just one break point throughout the entire match. The American capitalized on crucial moments, breaking Molcan’s serve late in both sets to earn his place in his seventh ATP Tour final.

Cobolli delivered a masterful performance against Zverev, unleashing 32 winners on the clay surface while dropping only eight points on his own serve. The Italian achieved his first career victory over a Top-5 ranked player, breaking the powerful German’s serve four times, including the decisive final game.

Shelton holds a 3-2 advantage in their career head-to-head record, having won all three encounters in 2025.

Barcelona Open Results

At the Barcelona Open ATP 500 clay court tournament, Russia’s Andrey Rublev and France’s Arthur Fils both battled through three-set semifinals to reach the championship match.

Fifth-seeded Rublev mounted a comeback victory over Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, while ninth-seeded Fils overcame Spain’s Rafael Jodar 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Rublev secured his 29th ATP final appearance by winning the match’s final four games. He successfully converted four of nine break point opportunities, compared to Medjedovic’s one of six.

Fils ended Jodar’s eight-match winning streak by producing 28 winners against just 11 for the 19-year-old Spaniard. After the third set was tied 3-3, Fils saved four break points, broke Jodar’s serve, and then defended two additional break chances in the final game to secure victory.

The two finalists have an even 1-1 record in previous meetings, with Fils claiming victory on clay courts during their 2025 Monte-Carlo encounter in straight sets.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Anyone willing to wager on Chase Elliott with just one lap remaining in overtime during last September’s race at Kansas Speedway on the 28th would have faced incredibly long odds.

When the white flag waved, Elliott sat in fifth position, trailing four Toyota drivers: Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell. Wallace had pulled ahead by half a car length with Hamlin giving chase.

In a move that would prove costly, Hamlin drove his No. 11 Camry to the inside of Wallace’s vehicle, pushing Wallace wide through the track’s final two turns. This created an opening that Elliott exploited, diving inside both Toyota cars to capture victory for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet.

Speaking Saturday ahead of practice for Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Hamlin acknowledged the broader implications of that moment. “It certainly played a factor, kind of in the manufacturer battle as well, right?” Hamlin said. “I mean, you go from winning one to now your competition actually won.

“There were definitely a lot of negatives to the way that race ended, but it certainly was I just, I feel like, I was trying to go for it, certainly, and used a little bit too much aggression, for sure, in Turn 3.

“But overall, you’re going to have that in racing. When you have teammates, manufacturer guys that you all share information with, we’re going to always be right around each other. So sometimes those racing incidents happen in one out of 20 times.”

Despite holding the record for most Kansas victories with four wins, Hamlin expressed amazement at his recent inability to reach Victory Lane at the track.

“For the last six years, if someone else wins a Kansas race, I’m just trying to figure out how we didn’t win, because we’re always just so fast here,” Hamlin said.

“We found 10 to 12 different ways to not win here, and I thought I saw the stat this week that there has only been. … I think (Kyle) Larson’s been the only repeat winner here in the last 11 races, and it was like, the fact that we haven’t is just criminal. So, hopefully we can change that.”

Gibbs Advocates for More Physical Racing

Fresh off his inaugural NASCAR Cup Series triumph, 23-year-old Ty Gibbs believes the sport should become more demanding and physically challenging for drivers.

“I think we should rip all the cool suits out of everyone’s cars and make it a more physical sport,” Gibbs said Saturday. “I think that would be very entertaining and bring out more emotion, obviously…

“I think no cool suits — rip ’em all out. I think, honestly, people would be pumped with that, ’cause half the time they break on everybody and make it worse. I think we should rip all of it out, make it more physical.”

Cool suits are designed to regulate temperatures inside the car’s cockpit when functioning correctly. However, when these systems fail, the circulating water can become overheated and actually increase driver discomfort.

Several drivers, including Gibbs’ teammate Denny Hamlin, opt not to utilize cool suits during competition.

Jones Optimistic About New LEGACY Leadership

LEGACY Motor Club’s newly appointed president brings more than administrative experience to the organization, according to driver Erik Jones, who spoke Saturday at Kansas Speedway before Sunday’s AdventHealth 400.

Michael Guttilla arrives with extensive experience as chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing and previous roles as vice president of engineering, R&D, global sales and marketing at automotive supplier Multimatic, providing LEGACY with diverse expertise.

“I didn’t know him beforehand, but I had a chance to sit down and spend some time with him in the last week and a half,” Jones explained Saturday. “I think he’s a super impressive guy. His resume’s really strong, and he’s done a lot of things, in motorsports and in manufacturing and production cars.

“He has a pretty broad range of skills, and I think he has a lot of managerial skills. I think the role he’s in is great, obviously, but I think he can bring a lot to the table and a sense of understanding the engineering side as well. I don’t think he’s a guy that is just well-versed in business, but I think he’s well versed in competition and performance.

“I’m excited to have him. We’ve been kind of waiting to fill that role and find the right guy, and that’s been a role that wasn’t just randomly filled when Michael became available. It was something that’s been in the works, and we’ve been trying to find the right fit for a while. I was excited to do that, excited to have him, and see what he can bring. It’s still super early. It’s been a couple of weeks, but I really, I think his influence is already starting to be felt a bit.”

Women Drivers Shine in ARCA Competition

While Gio Ruggiero claimed victory in Saturday’s Tide 150 ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway, several compelling storylines developed throughout the field.

Three of four female competitors secured top-10 finishes, with Lanie Buice placing fifth, Jade Avedisian finishing seventh, and Dystany Spurlock earning 10th place. The race marked Avedisian’s debut on a 1.5-mile intermediate track.

Isabella Robusto, the fourth female driver and a former Kansas pole winner, was competing just outside the top 10 when Cleetus McFarland’s car experienced engine failure, spreading oil across the racing surface.

Robusto lost control in the fluid, crashed into the outside barrier, and was eliminated from competition.

Daniel Dye secured second place in his first race following reinstatement from a suspension related to inappropriate remarks directed toward IndyCar driver David Malukas.

Elena Rybakina, the tournament’s top seed from Kazakhstan, dominated her semifinal match against sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva with a 7-5, 6-1 victory on Saturday, securing her spot in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix championship match in Stuttgart, Germany.

The Kazakhstani player will meet Czech Republic’s seventh-seeded Karolina Muchova in Sunday’s title match. Muchova earned her place in the final by defeating fourth-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a competitive three-set battle.

Rybakina, fresh off her 2026 Australian Open championship and Indian Wells final appearance, traded early service breaks with the Russian Andreeva before seizing control late in the opening set, claiming four out of five points during Andreeva’s service game to take the set. The second set proved one-sided as Rybakina dominated both her own first serves and Andreeva’s second serve attempts, capturing 21 of 25 total points in those situations.

The Muchova-Svitolina semifinal appeared headed for a tight finish until the Czech player closed out the match with authority, taking the final eight points including four consecutive points while Svitolina served in the ninth game. This victory sets up the fourth career encounter between Muchova and Rybakina, with the Czech player holding a 2-1 advantage in their previous meetings, including a quarterfinal win at Brisbane in January.

At the Rouen Metropolitan Open in France, Ukraine’s top-seeded Marta Kostyuk advanced to the final with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory over Germany’s Tatjana Maria.

Kostyuk will face fellow Ukrainian teenager Veronika Podrez, who reached the final when Romania’s Sonia Cirstea withdrew from their scheduled semifinal due to a leg injury. Kostyuk successfully defended against all four break point opportunities created by the 38-year-old German opponent, while Maria struggled to handle Kostyuk’s aggressive style, losing 32 of her 43 service points for a 74.4% loss rate.

The 19-year-old Podrez earned her semifinal berth by defeating notable opponents including Sloane Stephens, Italy’s seventh-seeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and Great Britain’s Katie Boulter. Kostyuk enters the final seeking her second WTA championship and first since capturing the Austin, Texas title in 2023.

The Hawks baseball squad came up just short in a high-scoring affair against the Lakers, falling 6-5 in the second game of their series despite a solid offensive showing.

The Hawks managed to connect for four doubles that drove in runs throughout the contest, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ attack. The team’s ability to find gaps and drive in runners kept them competitive in what turned into a back-and-forth battle.

On the mound, pitcher Richard De Jesus delivered a quality start for the Hawks, working five complete innings while recording three strikeouts. De Jesus kept his team in the game during his time on the hill before turning duties over to the bullpen.

The narrow one-run loss highlighted both the Hawks’ offensive capabilities and the competitive nature of their matchup with the Lakers. Despite the setback, the team showed they could generate runs and stay within striking distance throughout the game.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer the scrappy underdogs as they launch their championship defense Sunday at home facing the Phoenix Suns.

While Oklahoma City maintains its status as one of the NBA’s youngest rosters, reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now commands a battle-tested squad that survived two grueling seven-game playoff series last season, culminating in an NBA Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers.

The Thunder followed their championship run by compiling the NBA’s top regular season mark at 64-18, edging out the San Antonio Spurs for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Oklahoma City now faces the fresh challenge of defending their crown.

“This playoff run is so unique and so different to the last one, and we have to have the ability to understand that every series is going to be different, every game is going be different,” Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams said.

Oklahoma City enters the postseason on fire, capturing 19 victories in their final 20 contests before resting key players in the season’s final two games. The Thunder have suffered just one defeat since the All-Star break with Gilgeous-Alexander active, and their most recent home loss with him came January 25 against Toronto.

Gilgeous-Alexander ranked second league-wide with 31.1 points per contest. All-Star teammate Chet Holmgren contributed 17.1 points and 8.9 assists while finishing second in the NBA with 1.9 blocks per game.

However, Oklahoma City’s championship path won’t come easily. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault emphasized that despite Phoenix earning their playoff spot through the play-in tournament, the Suns represent a legitimate postseason threat deserving respect. Phoenix concluded the regular season 45-37 and advanced to the NBA Cup quarterfinals. All-Star Devin Booker contributed 26.1 points and six assists nightly.

Suns head coach Jordan Ott expressed pride in his team’s recovery from Tuesday’s play-in tournament defeat to Portland, bouncing back with Friday’s victory over Golden State to claim the eighth seed.

“I think that the group that’s in that locker room has a ton of resilience and wants to do things different, and that’s what we stress from the get-go,” Ott said. “And sometimes the road’s not always the one that you choose and think it’s going to happen or the one that’s most traveled. Sometimes, it’s the least traveled. So we found our way in. Now, it’s onto the next thing.”

Three prominent members of Canada’s national squad will feature in this matchup — Gilgeous-Alexander and defensive specialist Lu Dort representing the Thunder, with Dillon Brooks suiting up for the Suns.

Brooks stands among the league’s premier defenders and most effective agitators. He posted a career-best 20.2 points this season.

Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell entered last year’s playoffs battling through multiple injuries. As a rookie, he saw limited postseason action.

This season, Mitchell has become crucial to Oklahoma City’s success while establishing himself among the NBA’s elite bench players. He improved from 6.5 points last season to 13.6 this year.

Williams endured the entire previous playoff run with a hand injury requiring surgical repair. This season, he missed 19 games early while recovering from that procedure and 30 additional contests healing from a hamstring problem.

He’s now fully healthy and prepared for action.

“I feel extremely fresh because I played, like, 12 games,” he said.

Phoenix’s Jalen Green delivered explosive performances in both play-in contests. He scored 35 points in the Portland loss, then erupted for 36 in the Golden State Warriors victory.

That production significantly exceeds his 17.8-point regular season average. Green’s recent surge will challenge the Thunder’s defensive planning between focusing on him or Booker.

“I’m very comfortable playing up there with Book,” Green said. “You kind of have to pick your poison of how you’re going to guard it. Even if it’s a heavy shift or not, we kind of play off each other in that situation.”

Oklahoma City captured three of five regular season encounters. In the most significant meetings, the Thunder demolished the Suns 138-89 during NBA Cup play, while Phoenix responded with a 108-105 victory in their building on January 4.

The Philadelphia Phillies have sidelined closer Jhoan Duran for at least 15 days after he suffered a left oblique strain, the team announced Saturday.

The Phillies made several roster adjustments following Duran’s injury, bringing up right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson and utility player Felix Reyes from their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley. Meanwhile, the organization sent utility man Otto Kemp back to the minors and cut ties with minor league outfielder Pedro Leon.

Duran’s placement on the injured list dates back to Wednesday. The 28-year-old reliever has posted impressive numbers this season for Philadelphia, recording a 1-1 record with a 1.35 ERA while notching five saves across seven outings. Throughout his five-year major league career split between Minnesota and Philadelphia, he has compiled a 2.41 ERA with 95 saves over 253 games.

Johnson, age 27, appeared in one game for the Phillies earlier this year and carries a 9.72 ERA across 12 total appearances (including one start) during his three seasons with Philadelphia.

Reyes, 25, will get his first taste of major league action after spending six seasons in Philadelphia’s farm system, where he hit .272 with 48 homers and 247 RBIs across 374 games. Kemp, who was sent down, managed just two hits in 20 at-bats over 10 games with the big league club this year.

The released Leon had been hitting .283 through 12 games at Lehigh Valley this season. The 27-year-old has brief major league experience, appearing in seven games with Houston in 2024.

The Chicago Cubs brought up right-handed pitcher Corbin Martin on Saturday to bolster their relief corps following Daniel Palencia’s move to the injured list on Friday.

The organization also shifted right-hander Cade Horton to the 60-day injured list to create space on their 60-man roster. Horton underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday.

Palencia, 26, landed on the IL due to a strained left oblique muscle. The reliever had recorded one save while maintaining a spotless earned run average through his initial five appearances this season. He also contributed to Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic championship, posting three saves without surrendering a run across five tournament outings.

Martin, 30, joined the Cubs organization as a free agent in January following a season with the Baltimore Orioles where he compiled a 6.00 ERA in 17 relief outings. Throughout his major league career spanning 34 appearances (including 10 starts) with Houston (2019), Arizona (2021-22), and Baltimore, he holds a 2-5 record with a 6.54 ERA.

Horton’s procedure marks his second Tommy John surgery and is anticipated to keep him sidelined until approximately mid-2027. The 2022 first-round selection had posted a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in two starts this season before the setback.

The National Hockey League has announced that its 2026 draft lottery will take place on May 5 at the NHL Network facilities in Secaucus, New Jersey.

League officials confirmed Saturday that the event will air simultaneously on ESPN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports, though broadcast times remain to be determined.

The selection process will start by determining the first overall pick, then proceed to reveal the second selection. Sixteen teams that failed to qualify for the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs are eligible to participate in the lottery. When a team has traded away its first-round selection, the acquiring franchise receives that lottery position regardless of playoff status.

Leading the lottery odds are:

1. Vancouver Canucks, 18.5%

2. Chicago Blackhawks, 13.5%

3. New York Rangers, 11.5%

4. Calgary Flames, 9.5%

5. Toronto Maple Leafs (conditional trade to Boston Bruins), 8.5%

6. Seattle Kraken, 7.5%

7. Winnipeg Jets, 6.5%

8. Florida Panthers, 6.0%

9. San Jose Sharks, 5.0%

10. Nashville Predators, 3.5%

11. St. Louis Blues, 3.0%

12. New Jersey Devils, 2.5%

13. New York Islanders, 2.0%

14. Columbus Blue Jackets, 1.5%

15. St. Louis Blues (from Detroit Red Wings), 0.5%

16. Washington Capitals, 0.5%

League regulations limit teams from advancing more than 10 positions in the draft order, meaning only the top 11 teams listed can claim the number one selection.

Last year’s lottery winner was the New York Islanders, who jumped from the 10th position despite holding only a 3.5% probability. The Islanders used their top pick to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer from Erie in the Ontario Hockey League.

The 2026 draft’s opening round is scheduled for June 26 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Rounds two through seven will continue the following Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

Two prospects generating buzz for the top overall selection are Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna and left wing Ivar Stenberg from Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League.

According to a March 7, 2025 trade agreement between Toronto and Boston, the Maple Leafs retain their pick if it lands in the top five positions. Should that occur, Toronto would then transfer either their 2027 or 2028 first-round selection to the Bruins.

NEW YORK — In an unusual turn of events Saturday afternoon, Kansas City Royals skipper Matt Quatraro found himself kicked out of the game against the New York Yankees before starting pitcher Noah Cameron had even delivered his first throw of the contest.

The incident unfolded when Maikel Garcia found himself stuck at second base and came close to being picked off by Yankees pitcher Will Warren. Quatraro quickly sprinted from the dugout to confront umpires Nestor Ceja and Chris Guccione about the play.

While the discussion didn’t seem particularly intense at first, Quatraro received his walking papers the moment he began walking away from the officials. Bench coach Paul Hoover stepped in to lead the team for the remainder of the contest.

This marks Quatraro’s eighth time being thrown out of a game since taking the helm as Kansas City’s skipper in 2023.

The Royals entered Saturday’s matchup struggling badly, having dropped five straight games and suffering eight defeats in their last ten outings.

STUTTGART, Germany – World number two Elena Rybakina dominated her semifinal match at the Stuttgart Open on Saturday, defeating Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the championship match of the WTA 500 indoor clay court event.

The top-seeded Kazakhstani player will face Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova in Sunday’s final after both players secured convincing semifinal victories.

Rybakina and Andreeva exchanged service games early in the first set until Rybakina seized control with a break to take a 4-2 advantage. The young Russian fought back to even the score at 4-4, but the 26-year-old Rybakina elevated her game when it mattered most to claim the opening set.

The second set belonged entirely to Rybakina, who dominated from start to finish, building a commanding 5-0 advantage before wrapping up the match in one hour and 17 minutes.

“First set, we were going pretty even,” Rybakina said. “I had some opportunities to go up but didn’t take them. But I’m happy that in these important moments, my serve worked and I stayed aggressive.”

“Then in the second set being up, I was more free to hit, to step in, to play even more aggressive. So I’m pretty happy with the performance. It was really solid. And I guess the three-hour match yesterday, it did help me today.”

Andreeva entered the tournament in excellent form, having captured the Linz Open title and stunning six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek and defending Stuttgart champion Jelena Ostapenko during her run.

This marks Rybakina’s third final appearance of the season. The former Wimbledon champion claimed the Australian Open title earlier this year and reached the final at Indian Wells.

In the other semifinal, Muchova advanced by defeating Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a hard-fought three-set battle.

Muchova started strong, breaking Svitolina’s serve in the opening game and racing to a 3-0 lead. Though the Australian Open semifinalist fought back to narrow the gap, Muchova held on to take the first set.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the second set as Svitolina found her groove, jumping ahead 3-0 and extending her lead to 5-1 before evening the match.

The final set remained tight throughout until Muchova struck at the crucial moment, breaking serve at 4-4 before closing out the victory in two hours and 14 minutes.

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed that starting point guard Immanuel Quickley will be unable to play in Saturday afternoon’s Eastern Conference playoff opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a right hamstring strain.

The injury occurred during Toronto’s final regular season matchup against Brooklyn on Monday, forcing Quickley to leave the contest after playing only 17 minutes. Medical imaging was conducted following the game to assess the extent of the injury.

The 26-year-old guard had a strong regular season, posting averages of 16.4 points, 5.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds across 70 games, starting in every contest for the Raptors.

Throughout his NBA career spanning 394 games with both New York and Toronto, Quickley has maintained averages of 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, making 168 starts along the way.

Selected 25th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Quickley began his professional career with the Knicks, where he played for more than two seasons. Toronto acquired him on December 30, 2023, in a trade that sent Quickley, guard R.J. Barrett and a 2024 second-round draft selection to the Raptors in exchange for forward OG Anunoby, center Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn going to New York.

Golf superstar Tiger Woods is showing positive signs of improvement during an intensive residential treatment program following his driving under the influence arrest earlier this year, according to a new report from the Daily Mail.

Sources close to the situation indicate Woods is working with medical professionals to manage his chronic pain issues through non-addictive alternatives to opioid medications. “He’s got a pain management doctor who is helping him deal with his body pain without addictive opioids,” an insider revealed to the publication. “He calls or Zooms a small number of people.”

The 50-year-old golfer maintains regular contact with a select group including his partner Vanessa Trump, his children Sam and Charlie, and Mark Steinberg, who has served as his representative since 1998.

According to the Daily Mail’s sources, Woods is currently enrolled in a 90-day inpatient facility located in Switzerland.

The treatment comes after a vehicle accident on March 27 near Woods’ Jupiter Island, Florida residence. Law enforcement arrested him on suspicion of impaired driving and refusing to provide a urine sample after his Land Rover struck the rear of a truck and overturned. Woods escaped physical injury and has entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

Officials determined that prescription medication, rather than alcohol, caused the impairment. Police records show Woods possessed two hydrocodone tablets at the time of his arrest.

“He’s responding well to treatment, and Vanessa is very happy with what she’s hearing,” a friend of Trump shared with the outlet.

The crash occurred on the same morning that golf fans were speculating about Woods’ potential participation in the Masters Tournament. The golf icon hasn’t competed on the PGA Tour since The Open Championship in 2024, where he failed to make the cut due to physical ailments. He suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon during spring 2025 and required lumbar disk replacement surgery last October.

This incident marks Woods’ second serious vehicle accident in recent years. On February 23, 2021, investigators said Woods was driving at excessive speed when he crashed near Los Angeles, resulting in severe injuries to his right leg and ankle that necessitated multiple surgical procedures.

In a public statement released on March 31, Woods emphasized his commitment to prioritizing his physical and mental health over his golf career.

“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods’ statement read. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.

“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

Golden State’s WNBA franchise has secured veteran guard Tiffany Hayes for another season, announcing the contract extension on Saturday. Financial details of the one-year agreement were not revealed.

The 36-year-old Hayes contributed 11.7 points per game along with 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists across 26 appearances during Golden State’s inaugural 2025 campaign, starting in 24 of those contests.

General manager Ohemaa Nyanin praised Hayes’ contributions in an official statement, saying: “Tip helped lay the foundation on and off the court for this team, and that’s not something you take for granted. She’s an experienced leader and veteran player who showed up for the Bay. Being able to welcome Tip back to her second home is truly special.”

Hayes brings impressive credentials to the Valkyries, having earned All-Star recognition with Atlanta in 2017 and claiming the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award with Las Vegas in 2024. Throughout her professional career spanning 376 games with 303 starts, she has maintained averages of 13.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while playing for Atlanta (2012-19, 2021-22), Connecticut (2023), Las Vegas (2024) and now Golden State.

New York Mets designated hitter and first baseman Jorge Polanco has been sidelined with a right wrist contusion, landing him on the 10-day injured list as of Saturday.

The team made the roster move retroactive to Wednesday for Polanco, who has also been battling left Achilles inflammation since the season began.

Polanco’s wrist problem became apparent following his poor performance in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road, where he failed to record a hit in four at-bats and struck out twice. Through 14 games this season, the veteran is struggling with a .179 batting average, managing just one home run and two RBIs.

The 32-year-old infielder joined the Mets this offseason on a two-year deal worth $40 million. Throughout his career, the former All-Star has compiled a .262 batting average with 155 home runs and 572 RBIs across 1,102 games while playing for the Minnesota Twins from 2014-2023, the Seattle Mariners in 2024-25, and now the Mets.

To fill the roster spot, New York brought up catcher Hayden Senger from their Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.

The 29-year-old Senger got his first taste of major league action with the Mets last season, posting a .181 batting average with four RBIs over 33 games.

The National Football League has confirmed it will not conduct an investigation into New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel following the emergence of photographs showing him with sports reporter Diana Russini, according to a league spokesperson speaking with ESPN.

Under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, players, coaching staff, and executives must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League.”

The controversial images were published by the New York Post’s Page Six section on April 8, showing Vrabel and Russini in intimate poses including holding hands and embracing at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona. The timing coincided with the league’s annual meetings held in Phoenix from March 29 through April 1.

Both Vrabel, age 50, and Russini, age 43, are currently married to other people. When contacted by the Post, Vrabel characterized the photographs as “completely innocent,” while Russini argued the images were taken out of context and failed to capture other group members who were present during their gathering.

When ESPN reached out for their Friday story, neither Vrabel nor Russini offered additional statements.

This week, Russini stepped down from her role as a senior NFL correspondent at The Athletic on Tuesday while the publication conducted an internal review of her professional relationship with Vrabel.

The Patriots organization has not responded to ESPN’s inquiry about whether the team plans to conduct its own review of the matter.

Vrabel assumed the head coaching position with the Patriots – his former team as a player – prior to the 2025 season and successfully guided New England to Super Bowl LX, where they fell to the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 29-13.

The National Football League has chosen not to launch an investigation into New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel following a controversy involving published photographs of him with former Athletic sports reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.

League spokesperson Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press on Saturday that the NFL will not pursue an investigation into the incident. The New England Patriots organization has not yet responded to inquiries about whether they plan to conduct their own internal review of Vrabel’s conduct.

Last week, The New York Post released photographs showing Vrabel and Russini together at a Sedona hotel, reportedly captured prior to the NFL’s annual meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29.

According to the NFL’s personal conduct policy: “Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in’ the NFL.”

Vrabel, a three-time Super Bowl champion during his playing career with New England, is entering his second year leading the Patriots. He earned AP NFL Coach of the Year honors after guiding the team to a 14-3 record last season, which concluded with a 29-13 Super Bowl defeat to Seattle. Vrabel previously received the same coaching award while with Tennessee in 2021.

Following the publication of the images, both Vrabel and Russini, who are each married, issued statements to the Post minimizing the significance of what the photographs showed.

Russini became part of The Athletic’s team in 2023 following almost ten years with ESPN, where she served in multiple capacities including “SportsCenter” host, NFL analyst and insider reporter. At The Athletic, she produced a podcast and appeared on the platform’s video content.

In her resignation statement, Russini wrote: “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published.”

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr plans to take some time to reflect on his career before engaging in discussions about his future with the organization.

The 60-year-old coach has led the Warriors to four NBA titles, with their most recent championship coming in 2022. However, Friday evening’s play-in tournament defeat against the Phoenix Suns represented the second occasion in three seasons that Golden State has missed playoff qualification.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Kerr stated following the 111-96 defeat in Phoenix. “I still love coaching, but I get it. 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.”

Currently in his contract’s final year, Kerr has served as Golden State’s head coach since the 2014-15 campaign. Throughout his tenure, he has achieved a 604-353 record (.631 winning percentage) during a championship era that also featured titles in 2015, 2017, and 2018.

The Warriors have been unable to progress beyond the second playoff round since capturing their 2022 championship.

“If (my time is done), then I will be nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise in front of our fans and to coach Steph Curry, (Draymond Green), the whole group,” Kerr explained. “It may still go on. It may not. I don’t know at this point. But we all need to step away a little bit and then reconvene.”

The Warriors faced significant challenges this season due to player age and injuries, including Jimmy Butler III suffering a torn right ACL in January and 38-year-old star Stephen Curry managing a knee problem that limited him to just 43 games.

During the final moments of Friday’s season-concluding loss, Kerr removed both Curry and Green from the game. These players have been franchise cornerstones since 2009-10 and 2012-13, respectively.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you,” Kerr revealed he told them during their postgame embrace.

Curry still has one year and $62.6 million remaining on his current deal and has expressed willingness to discuss a contract extension during the upcoming offseason. Meanwhile, 36-year-old Green holds a $27.7 million player option for next season and indicated after the game that retirement is not in his plans.

Should Kerr decide to continue coaching next season, he made clear it would be alongside Curry and the Warriors organization.

“That’s part of the equation,” he noted. “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph. But all this stuff has to be aligned and right. Those are all discussions that will be had.”

Regardless of Kerr’s ultimate decision, Curry emphasized that he simply wants the former NBA Coach of the Year to find fulfillment in whatever path he chooses.

“I want him to be excited for the job,” Curry commented. “I want him to believe he’s the right guy for the job. I want him to have an opportunity to enjoy what he does, whatever that means for him. Everybody’s plan is their own. He knows how I feel about him.”

The Los Angeles Angels delivered a dominant 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night in Anaheim, just hours after the organization announced the passing of beloved franchise legend Garret Anderson. Home runs from Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe powered the Angels to victory, bringing San Diego’s impressive eight-game winning streak to an end.

Angels pitcher Jose Soriano turned in another stellar performance, improving to 5-0 on the season by surrendering just two hits across 5 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander issued four walks while striking out eight batters, dropping his major-league-best ERA to an incredible 0.28. Through 32 2/3 innings this season, Soriano has given up only one run – a home run by Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin – and 11 hits while recording 39 strikeouts.

Los Angeles put together an offensive showcase with 13 total hits. Nolan Schanuel led the way with a 3-for-5 performance that included one RBI and one run scored. Adam Frazier contributed a double and single while crossing home plate twice, Jo Adell delivered a crucial two-run double, and both Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza collected two hits each. The victory marked the Angels’ third win in their last four contests.

San Diego starter Matt Waldron struggled early, falling to 0-1 after allowing six runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked one batter and struck out four in the losing effort.

The Angels seized control early, building a 3-0 advantage in the second inning. Moncada opened the frame by launching his third home run of the season, a 388-foot blast to right-center field. After two outs, Logan O’Hoppe was struck by a pitch and came around to score on Frazier’s double. Neto capped the rally with an RBI single.

The Padres threatened in the third inning, loading the bases with two outs following a single by Ty France and walks to Luis Campusano and Fernando Tatis Jr. However, Soriano escaped the dangerous situation by inducing a ground out to second base from Jackson Merrill.

Los Angeles expanded their lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning through an RBI single by Schanuel off Waldron, followed by Adell’s two-run line drive double into the left-center gap off reliever David Morgan.

Lowe put the game away in the fifth inning with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line that scored Peraza, who had reached base after being hit by a pitch.

The emotional backdrop to Friday’s game centered around Anderson, who passed away Thursday at age 53 from a heart attack. Anderson holds the franchise records for hits and games played, among other categories, cementing his legacy as one of the organization’s greatest players.

Phoenix secured their spot in the NBA playoffs Friday night with a commanding 111-96 victory over Golden State in the play-in tournament, powered by Jalen Green’s explosive 36-point performance.

The win grants the Suns the Western Conference’s eighth playoff position. Phoenix will now travel to face the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who earned the top seed, beginning their first-round matchup on Sunday.

“Sometimes the road’s not always the one that you choose and think it’s going to happen or the one that’s most traveled, sometimes it’s the least traveled,” Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott reflected. “We found our way in, now it’s on to the next thing.”

Phoenix capitalized on Golden State’s mistakes, converting 21 Warriors turnovers into 30 points.

Following their disappointing collapse against Portland in their initial play-in contest, the Suns managed to maintain their advantage this time around.

However, the game’s final moments provided some tension.

With the result already determined, Golden State’s Draymond Green accumulated his sixth foul with slightly over a minute left on the clock. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr took time to embrace both Green and Stephen Curry, acknowledging their shared history across four NBA championship campaigns.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date,” Kerr stated, noting his contract expires this summer. “There’s a run that happens and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that, and if that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise.”

When play continued, Green and Phoenix’s Devin Booker engaged in an intense verbal exchange that lasted several moments before officials intervened, issuing technical fouls to both players. Green was subsequently ejected from the game.

Phoenix established early dominance with a 13-0 scoring surge after Golden State opened with the first two points, then finished the opening quarter with eight straight points for a 33-15 advantage.

The Warriors’ 15 first-quarter points marked their lowest quarterly output since managing just 14 points in the fourth quarter of their March 7 matchup against Oklahoma City.

While Phoenix shot an impressive 52.4% in the opening period, they encountered difficulties in the second quarter as Golden State mounted a comeback.

The Suns managed only 5 successful shots out of 20 attempts in the second quarter, allowing Golden State to narrow the gap to just two points on Curry’s free throws with 19.6 seconds left before halftime.

As the clock wound down, Jalen Green rose up for a three-point attempt from the wing and connected, marking Phoenix’s first successful field goal in over five minutes and giving the Suns a 50-45 halftime lead.

Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski contributed 10 of his game-leading 23 points during the second quarter comeback. He also paced the Warriors with 10 rebounds.

Phoenix regained firm control during the third quarter with an 11-1 scoring run that included a pair of three-pointers from Jalen Green.

Booker contributed 20 points along with eight assists and six rebounds. Phoenix’s Jordan Goodwin provided valuable support with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six steals.

“Truly that group in the locker room’s been special all year and was special again in the last three or four days, overcoming the disappointment and coming out and playing that hard against a team that has every solution in the book,” Ott praised. “… Sometimes it just comes down to toughness.”

Curry managed 17 points in the defeat but struggled with his shooting, connecting on just 4 of 16 field goal attempts and 3 of 10 three-point tries. De’Anthony Melton provided 16 points and eight rebounds coming off the bench.

Just hours following the announcement of franchise legend Garret Anderson’s passing, the Los Angeles Angels delivered an emotional 8-0 shutout victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday evening, bringing an end to San Diego’s impressive eight-game winning streak in Anaheim.

Home runs from Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe powered the Angels’ offensive attack, while starting pitcher Jose Soriano (5-0) turned in a masterful performance on the mound. Soriano surrendered just two hits across 5 2/3 innings of work, walking four batters while striking out eight. The dominant outing lowered his major league-best earned run average to an incredible 0.28.

The Angels’ offensive explosion featured contributions throughout the lineup, with the team collecting 13 total hits. Nolan Schanuel led the way with a 3-for-5 performance that included one RBI and one run scored. Adam Frazier contributed a double and single while crossing home plate twice, and Jo Adell delivered a crucial two-run double. Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza each added two hits to support the winning effort, helping Los Angeles capture their third victory in four recent contests.

San Diego’s struggles began early with starter Matt Waldron (0-1), who surrendered six runs on eight hits during his 3 2/3 innings of work. The Padres managed to collect only three hits against four different Angels pitchers throughout the contest.

In other MLB action Friday night, Masataka Yoshida delivered a clutch pinch-hit walk-off single in the 10th inning to give Boston a 1-0 victory over visiting Detroit. Yoshida’s hit through the right side drove home Jarren Duran, who had started the extra frame as the automatic runner on second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch from Tigers reliever Will Vest (1-3).

Cincinnati defeated Minnesota 2-1 behind Eugenio Suarez’s two-run double and a strong pitching performance from Brandon Williamson. The Fairmont, Minnesota native Williamson (2-1) allowed three hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings, while Emilio Pagan secured his sixth save with a perfect ninth inning.

Baltimore rallied for a dramatic 6-4 victory over Cleveland, scoring six runs in the eighth inning capped by Jeremiah Jackson’s three-run homer off Connor Brogdon. The wild inning saw the Orioles overcome a 4-0 deficit created by Daniel Schneemann’s second career grand slam in the seventh.

Atlanta dominated Philadelphia 9-0 as Martin Perez tossed six scoreless innings and Austin Riley belted two opposite-field home runs. The victory continued the Braves’ hot streak of winning seven of nine games, while the Phillies dropped their seventh contest in nine tries.

Chicago’s offensive surge continued with a 12-4 victory over the struggling New York Mets, marking the Cubs’ third consecutive game scoring at least 10 runs. Moises Ballesteros capped a four-run first inning with a three-run homer, while the Mets extended their losing streak to nine games.

Pittsburgh snapped Tampa Bay’s six-game winning streak with a 5-1 victory behind Bubba Chandler’s strong six-inning performance. The Pirates collected 11 hits in the winning effort, with Oneil Cruz contributing a two-run homer.

San Francisco defeated Washington 10-5 as Heliot Ramos hit a three-run homer and Drew Gilbert and Casey Schmitt added solo shots. Matt Chapman drove in three runs for the Giants, who broke out of their offensive slump with a six-run second inning.

New York topped Kansas City 4-2 on Ryan McMahon’s tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, extending the Royals’ losing streak to five games.

Milwaukee outlasted Miami 7-5 in 10 innings, with Garrett Mitchell driving in three runs including a two-run double in the extra frame. The Brewers have now won three straight contests.

St. Louis pulled away from Houston 9-4 behind Nolan Gorman’s three-run homer in the seventh inning, while Los Angeles defeated Colorado 7-1 as Max Muncy homered twice and Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 49 games.

Arizona beat Toronto 6-3 with Nolan Arenado homering for the third time in four games, while Chicago White Sox crushed Oakland 9-2 behind Munetaka Murakami’s grand slam.

Texas completed the night’s action with a 5-0 shutout victory over Seattle, improving to 4-0 against the Mariners this season behind Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff homer and six pitchers combining for the shutout.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is weighing his options for next season after his team’s playoff hopes came to an end Friday evening in Phoenix.

Following the Warriors’ elimination from the play-in tournament, the veteran coach hinted that his tenure with the franchise might be coming to a close.

“It might still go on. It may not,” Kerr stated after Golden State’s loss to the Suns, which marked the fourth time in seven years the Warriors have failed to reach the playoffs.

In the closing moments of Friday’s game, Kerr was seen hugging team leaders Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, appearing to say “thank you” to the two players who have been with him throughout the Warriors’ championship runs.

When pressed about what he told the players during those final moments, Kerr declined to elaborate.

“None of your business,” he responded with a grin.

Both Green and Curry expressed their desire for Kerr to continue leading the team. Speculation about Kerr’s future has intensified as he completed the final year of his current deal.

“I want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him to believe you know he’s the right guy for the job,” Curry explained. “I want him to have an opportunity to again enjoy what he does. So, whatever that means for him, you know, everybody’s plan is their own. And I’m not going to try to tell anybody what to do. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn’t even need to be said.”

Green also shared his thoughts on potentially losing his longtime coach: “I just don’t deal with change well. I don’t love it. So, I don’t want to think about that. I hope that’s not the case. but we’ll see what happens.”

The 60-year-old mentor has spent 12 seasons with Golden State, compiling a 604-353 record during his tenure. Under his leadership, the Warriors reached the NBA Finals six times in his first seven seasons and captured an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Paris last year.

Kerr indicated he plans to sit down with team owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy in the coming weeks to determine the organization’s direction.

“We’ll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason,” Kerr explained. “And we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. there’s a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that.

“And, if that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray and the whole group.”

This season proved challenging for Golden State, finishing with a 37-45 record while battling injuries throughout the campaign. The team showed resilience by overcoming a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday to secure their play-in opportunity, but couldn’t maintain that momentum against Phoenix.

“This was as tough a season as you can have, with the injuries, with all kinds of adversity,” Kerr reflected. “And they battled, and they battled the entire season. They kept going the other night just to, you know, continue the season, to show that kind of fight. And then tonight, we just didn’t have it. But the competitive desire was there. And I’m proud of the group for finishing the season the right way by continuing to fight and trying to win every game.”

Throughout his career, Kerr has emphasized his fortunate position in basketball, having won five championships as a player and four as a coach. His playing career included time with legendary coaches and players, from Lute Olsen at Arizona to Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich in the pros, alongside stars like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, and Tim Duncan.

Kerr has frequently described coaching Curry, whom he considers the greatest franchise player he’s witnessed, as a privilege.

“The only thing I’ve learned is that I’m the luckiest guy in the NBA’s history,” Kerr concluded.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels pitcher José Soriano is putting together one of the most remarkable starts to a baseball season in decades, establishing himself among the sport’s all-time greats with his early-season dominance.

The Dominican right-hander continued his spectacular run Friday night, limiting San Diego to just two hits through nearly six innings as the Angels cruised to an 8-0 victory, snapping the Padres’ eight-game winning streak.

Through five starts this season, Soriano remains undefeated at 5-0 with a microscopic 0.28 earned run average, surrendering only one run across 32 2/3 innings of work. His 39 strikeouts lead all major league pitchers, while opponents have managed just 11 hits against him. He shares the major league lead in victories with Milwaukee’s Aaron Ashby.

Apart from some command issues, Soriano has completely stifled opposing hitters. The lone run scored against him this season came via Drake Baldwin’s first-inning home run for Atlanta on April 6. His current scoreless streak spans 17 innings, ranking second-best in baseball this year, while opponents are hitting just .104 against his 0.73 WHIP — both statistics leading the majors.

“It’s like a hot knife through butter,” Angels slugger Jo Adell said. “It’s pretty crazy. It’s really special, and he’s a special talent. He’s always had the stuff to compete at this level, and he’s doing what an ace does. Whatever he’s done, just keep doing it.”

Soriano’s remarkable stretch has placed him in exclusive historical territory. The last pitcher to surrender one earned run or fewer in his first five seasonal starts while throwing at least 15 total innings was Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela in 1981, during his Cy Young Award-winning rookie campaign. Hall of Famer Walter Johnson accomplished the feat in 1913, and no other pitcher in baseball history has matched it.

Even more impressively, Soriano stands alone as the only major league pitcher ever to complete at least five innings while allowing one or fewer earned runs and three or fewer hits in each of his first five starts of a season.

“I just feel confident to keep pitching like that,” Soriano said. “I believe in my catcher, and we’re on the same page. I think that’s a big part of the results we’re having.”

Despite earning American League Player of the Week honors for consecutive 10-strikeout performances totaling 15 innings in his previous two outings, Soriano faced more resistance from San Diego’s experienced lineup.

The Padres worked four walks and pushed Soriano to 99 pitches during the contest. San Diego loaded the bases in the third inning before Soriano induced a ground out from Jackson Merrill to escape trouble, but the visitors finally chased him from the game with a single and walk in the sixth inning with two outs.

“The thing that impressed was that to us, he had to grind a little bit tonight,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I think that’s the maturity showing up, where he’s learning how to pitch — and I say this lightly — without his best stuff. He learned how to navigate a great lineup over there without his best stuff … and it was pretty incredible. You can’t say enough.”

Soriano’s arsenal features a 99-mph fastball and an elite sinker, but he’s also incorporating a curveball that has completely baffled opposing hitters. This three-pitch combination has proven unstoppable through his first five starts.

“Knowing him from the past, you always thought of the high-90s sinker, and then he comes in breaking out the curveball,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “That pitch was very impressive from the dugout. Gave our guys trouble at the beginning. It’s really hard to lay off that pitch, and it complements his sinker. He did a great job tonight mixing his pitches. … He’s just a really good pitcher.”

ORLANDO, Fla. — When their season was on the line, the Orlando Magic discovered exactly what they needed to succeed: pure desperation.

That urgency proved to be the perfect recipe for success Friday evening, as Orlando delivered what may have been their most impressive showing of the entire campaign. The Magic dominated the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in their Eastern Conference play-in matchup, securing their spot in the playoffs for a third consecutive year and earning a first-round series against top-seeded Detroit.

“When you play with a sense of desperation and urgency, when you know you’re either going home or extending your season, that’s what it looks like,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “There (are) no second chances.”

With this achievement, Mosley becomes the first Orlando coach to guide the franchise to three straight playoff berths since Stan Van Gundy accomplished the feat with five consecutive appearances. Van Gundy was present at Friday’s contest, working as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video.

“I’ve got to be honest. Charlotte is shrinking from the competition,” Van Gundy said on the broadcast, as the Magic were running away in the second quarter — building what became a 35-point lead shortly before halftime. “They look like they don’t want any part of this.”

Orlando’s aggressive, physical approach was precisely what they had hoped to achieve. The intimidating style of play delivered exactly the results they wanted.

“We’re going to need more of that in the playoffs,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said.

Added Magic forward Paolo Banchero: “We were just relentless with that tonight. … It was just a complete effort from the whole team.”

Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who has orchestrated a significant transformation during his first two seasons leading the Hornets, expressed hope that his squad will remember the valuable lessons from this defeat.

“I hope that this fuels us this offseason, because we’ve done a ton of really good things and gave ourselves an opportunity,” Lee said. “You’re one step away from being in the playoffs. I don’t want to discredit that. But this has got to hurt a little bit.”

The Magic battled through numerous injuries throughout the campaign, and a disappointing 2-8 record during a crucial 10-game stretch near the end of the regular season nearly derailed their postseason aspirations. However, Orlando has now captured six victories in their past eight contests, despite losing Wednesday’s initial play-in game at Philadelphia, setting up an underdog role against heavily favored Detroit.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” Mosley said. “There’s a reason we can be happy tonight. But at the end of the day, we still have more work to do.”

Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston has inked a record-setting four-year contract extension worth $6.3 million, ESPN reports, making it the most lucrative deal in WNBA history.

“I’m super blessed and grateful for this opportunity and to continue my journey here with the Fever. God is good!” Boston said. “I’m excited for the future ahead for both myself and for our team, and I can’t wait to keep building upon everything we have accomplished so far. Go Fever!”

The 6-foot-5 forward demonstrated team loyalty by accepting $1 million for the 2026 season, which is $190,000 below her maximum eligibility, allowing Indiana more salary cap flexibility to retain other roster members. Boston’s contract will represent 20% of the Fever’s salary cap annually until 2029.

“Entering just her fourth season, Aliyah is already one of the best players in the WNBA. She’s been a foundational piece of the Indiana Fever since she was drafted here in 2023,” Fever general manager Amber Cox said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be able to reward her with this new contract and make history, and most importantly, lock her in as a cornerstone of the Fever for years to come.”

Since joining Indiana as the top draft selection in 2023, the three-time All-Star has posted career averages of 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while maintaining a 54.7% shooting percentage. During the 2025 campaign, Boston recorded 15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning sixth place in MVP voting and spots on both the All-WNBA and All-Defensive second teams. Indiana advanced to the semifinals before falling to Las Vegas, which captured its third championship in four seasons.

This major signing follows Indiana’s recent retention of another three-time All-Star, as the franchise signed Kelsey Mitchell to a one-year supermax contract valued at $1.4 million just one week earlier.

DENVER — Baseball and winter weather don’t usually mix, but that’s exactly what happened Friday when an unexpected April snowstorm dumped three inches of the white stuff on Coors Field just hours before the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the Colorado Rockies in their four-game series opener.

The unusual weather conditions didn’t dampen spirits for everyone. Dodgers pitcher Emmett Sheehan embraced the wintry scene, stepping onto the field wearing shorts roughly four hours before game time to build a snowman on the diamond.

Ground crews worked diligently to prepare the field for play, having wisely covered the infield with a protective tarp when the snow began falling. They deployed a plow to remove snow from the outfield grass, ensuring the game could proceed as scheduled.

The snowfall ended approximately three hours before the opening pitch, and by game time, conditions had improved dramatically. Temperatures reached 36 degrees under sunny skies, with only traces of snow remaining visible on the evergreen trees beyond the center field wall.

The dramatic weather shift was particularly striking given that Denver had enjoyed a pleasant 75-degree day just 24 hours earlier.

However, the weather challenges weren’t over for either team. The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for the Denver metropolitan area, effective from 8 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday, with overnight temperatures expected to plummet into the 18-to-24 degree range.

Weather forecasters predict a gradual warming trend for the remainder of the series, with Saturday’s high reaching 57 degrees, Sunday climbing to 74 degrees, and Monday’s series finale expecting temperatures around 79 degrees.

The Dodgers arrived in Colorado after completing a six-game homestand in Los Angeles, where they had enjoyed much milder conditions with Friday’s temperature reaching 73 degrees.

Just one month after contributing to Nebraska’s victory over Vanderbilt in March Madness, power forward Berke Buyuktuncel has announced his decision to join the Commodores for his final collegiate season.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound player becomes Vanderbilt’s initial addition from the transfer portal, which opened its doors on April 7. Over his past two seasons with the Cornhuskers, Buyuktuncel posted averages of 6.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while making 61 starts.

Buyuktuncel left his mark during Nebraska’s 74-72 triumph over Vanderbilt on March 21, which secured the Cornhuskers their first Sweet 16 berth. The forward contributed 12 points while connecting on 5 of 6 field goal attempts, earning recognition from KenPom.com as the contest’s top offensive performer with a 177 Offensive Rating.

Nebraska now faces the departure of its fourth starter from the 28-7 team that secured a No. 4 tournament seed. Buyuktuncel’s exit follows the graduation of seniors Rienk Mast, Sam Hoiberg, and Jamarques Lawrence. For Vanderbilt, the acquisition brings a versatile big man capable of floor spacing, rim protection, and ball distribution.

During his most recent campaign, the left-handed forward recorded 6.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 block across 24.3 minutes per contest. His three-point shooting remained a concern at 24.1%, continuing a downward trend from his 29.7% mark as a UCLA freshman and 27.7% as a Nebraska sophomore.

The Cornhuskers have responded by securing two transfer portal additions of their own. Redshirt junior Kadyn Betts joins the program after spending three seasons at Minnesota followed by a year at Montana, where he averaged 3.1 points in 6.6 minutes. The 6-foot-8 forward brings perimeter shooting ability, having connected on 12 of 31 three-point attempts (38.7%) despite limited playing time.

Nebraska has also reportedly landed Utah Valley junior Trevan Leonhardt, a 6-foot-4 guard who earned first-team all-WAC recognition. Leonhardt averaged 11.9 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.4 rebounds last season, providing the Huskers with additional versatility in the backcourt.