Category: Sports

DENVER — Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss at least 10 days after the team placed him on the injured list Sunday due to a strained left hamstring.

The injury is a setback for the Braves, who entered Sunday’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies boasting baseball’s top record at 24-10. Now they must continue their strong season without one of their most dynamic players.

The injury occurred during Saturday evening’s contest when Acuña was running to first base on a ground ball. The outfielder suddenly stopped about midway down the baseline and clutched his hamstring muscle.

The 2023 National League MVP and five-time All-Star is currently hitting .252 this season with two homers, nine RBIs, 17 runs scored, and leads the team with seven stolen bases. He had appeared in every game this season after a torn ACL in May 2024 restricted him to just 144 total games across the previous two campaigns.

In related roster moves, Atlanta brought back pitcher Spencer Strider from the injured list before Sunday’s game. The 2023 All-Star was scheduled to make his first appearance of the year after recovering from an oblique strain. To create roster space, the team sent reliever Hunter Stratton down to Triple-A Gwinnett after Saturday’s game and promoted outfielder José Azócar from the minors to replace Acuña.

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker made his return to the starting lineup Sunday, batting fourth in the series finale against Boston just one day after suffering a frightening beaning that destroyed his protective helmet.

The scary incident occurred Saturday when Red Sox rookie pitcher Tyler Samaniego’s 93.3 mph fastball struck Walker above his left eye during a two-strike count. The impact was so severe it shattered Walker’s helmet, with the largest fragment launching 10 feet toward the backstop.

Houston held a 6-3 advantage in the ninth inning when team officials decided to substitute Walker with pinch runner Brandon Shewmake as a safety precaution following the incident.

Speaking to media members following Saturday’s game, Walker expressed optimism about his condition. “I feel OK,” Walker said. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”

Walker’s presence in Sunday’s cleanup position demonstrates his readiness to continue his remarkable season. The veteran has participated in every contest this year for Houston, earning starts in all but one game, and the 35-year-old is posting the finest statistical performance of his career.

Walker is currently hitting .309 with a .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage, all personal bests. Through 34 games, he has contributed eight home runs and 26 RBIs, putting him on track for career-high totals of 38 homers and 124 RBIs.

The distance between New York’s Madison Square Garden and Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena spans just over 100 miles — an easy drive or train ride for New York Knicks supporters looking to watch their team face the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

However, 76ers superstar Joel Embiid, who earned NBA Most Valuable Player honors and first-team All-Pro recognition during the 2022-23 campaign, is determined to prevent Knicks supporters from taking over Philadelphia’s home court.

Following Saturday evening’s stunning Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics that sent the Sixers to the next round, Embiid delivered a direct message to Philadelphia’s fanbase during his post-game media session.

He’s asking 76ers supporters to hold onto their playoff tickets — particularly when it comes to keeping them away from Knicks fans.

Two years ago, New York supporters flooded the Philadelphia venue when the second-seeded Knicks knocked out the seventh-seeded Sixers in the first round. Many believe Knicks fans purchased those seats directly from 76ers season ticket holders.

“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid stated Saturday evening. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.”

“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”

The All-Star center even proposed a potential remedy for fans facing financial pressure.

“Knicks fans travel — they buy tickets,” he explained. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”

The Eastern Conference semifinal matchup kicks off Monday in New York, with the second game scheduled for Wednesday. Philadelphia will host Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday respectively.

New York advanced by defeating the Atlanta Hawks in six games.

The New York Mets suffered another injury blow when shortstop Ronny Mauricio fractured his left thumb during Saturday’s contest, potentially forcing third baseman Bo Bichette to return to his previous shortstop role.

Mauricio sustained the injury during a headfirst dive into first base in the seventh inning of Saturday evening’s 4-3 defeat. This came just one night after the player delivered a crucial go-ahead home run in the seventh frame that helped propel the Mets to a comeback victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

The team plans to place the 25-year-old on the injured list before Sunday morning’s series finale in Anaheim, California.

Mauricio had been filling in at shortstop while All-Star Francisco Lindor recovers from a severe left calf injury that will keep him out until at least June. The struggling Mets, who currently hold baseball’s worst record despite their high payroll, now face the challenge of finding another replacement.

Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that Bichette is under consideration for the shortstop vacancy. “I am pretty sure Bo is going to be in the conversation,” Mendoza stated regarding the potential position change.

The veteran infielder joined New York on a three-year, $126 million deal in January, accepting a move to third base with Lindor established at shortstop. During his tenure with Toronto from 2019-25, Bichette appeared at shortstop in 716 of his 748 total games.

When asked about potentially switching positions, Bichette expressed his willingness to help the team. “Whatever the team needs,” he told media members.

Through 10 games this season, Mauricio has struggled offensively, posting a .219 batting average on 7 hits in 32 at-bats, with his lone extra-base hit being a home run.

Bichette has also experienced early-season difficulties with his new club, managing just two home runs and 14 RBIs across 32 games while batting .238 – significantly below his career .292 average. Last year in Toronto, he posted a .311 average with 18 homers and 94 RBIs.

The injury adds Mauricio to New York’s expanding disabled list, which already features outfielder Luis Robert Jr., infielder Jorge Polanco, and pitcher Kodai Senga.

Long before Victor Wembanyama became a household name, Rudy Gobert recognized his extraordinary potential.

When Wembanyama was just 13 years old, Gobert first learned about his fellow Frenchman. It didn’t take the veteran center long to recognize the massive talent in his young countryman. During their conversations, Wembanyama would seek guidance while Gobert provided mentorship.

“And the rest is history,” Gobert said.

The basketball community now understands what Gobert discovered years earlier. One French center will advance to the NBA’s Final Four in the coming weeks, with the outcome depending on the Western Conference semifinal battle between Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Gobert’s Minnesota Timberwolves. The series opens Monday evening in San Antonio.

“I’m very, very proud and I’m very excited to watch him grow every day, to see his work paying off,” Gobert said. “Outside of the talent, he’s someone that has a very unique soul, a very unique mind and nothing is an accident. It’s not an accident that he’s having the success that he’s having.”

While playoff series are never solely determined by individual matchups, it’s understandable why the Wembanyama versus Gobert storyline will capture significant attention during these games.

Many basketball enthusiasts likely first discovered Wembanyama through a viral video from six years ago showing a 2-on-2 game between him and Gobert. The opening moments featured Wembanyama scoring two jump shots over Gobert before breaking free for a slam dunk.

Today, Wembanyama stands as a defensive player of the year and MVP candidate, establishing himself as a genuine superstar. Despite his success, he continues seeking Gobert’s guidance, recently asking about the water filtration system Gobert uses at home. While seemingly minor, this demonstrates Wembanyama’s continued hunger for knowledge.

“He’s meant a lot as a role model,” Wembanyama said. “There’s lots of (ways) that he inspired me and I think he should inspire more people in terms of taking care of your body. He should be a model for all big men. So, I would say that’s the main thing.”

Minnesota aims to reach the Western Conference finals for the third straight year, while San Antonio seeks its first appearance since 2017. The Timberwolves managed to eliminate third-seeded Denver in the opening round, accomplishing this despite Donte DiVincenzo’s Achilles injury and Anthony Edwards’ knee problem.

DiVincenzo will miss the remainder of the playoffs, while Edwards faces a short-term absence with hopes of returning during this series. The Spurs refuse to underestimate Minnesota despite the depleted backcourt.

“They guard. They’re physical. They try to impose that will and impose their will and their competitiveness on you,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “And they’ve got a lot of individuals that take pride in that.”

During the regular season, Minnesota defeated San Antonio twice in three meetings, with Edwards playing a crucial role by averaging 36.7 points across those games while shooting 58% overall and 52% from three-point territory.

The Spurs managed only seven blocked shots against the Timberwolves, marking their lowest total against any Western Conference team this season. Although Wembanyama participated in just two of those three contests, this suggests Minnesota made smart shot selections.

“It’s going to be decisions that you make in the paint,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “It’s going to come down to them.”

The French centers have faced each other eight times during regular season play, with both players holding advantages in different areas.

Gobert’s teams have won six of those eight encounters. Wembanyama has reached 20 or more points in five of those meetings.

Oddsmakers heavily favor San Antonio in the series, listing them at minus-2000 odds, meaning a $100 bet would yield only $5 in profit.

Minnesota enters as significant underdogs at +950 odds, where a $100 wager would return $1,050.

This marks the 19th occasion since the current playoff format began in 1984 that a sixth seed has faced a second seed in conference semifinals.

Historical upsets in such scenarios include four instances: Indiana over New York 4-3 in 2024, Houston over Phoenix 4-3 in 1995, Chicago over New York 4-2 in 1989, and Phoenix over Utah 4-2 in 1984.

Beginning Sunday, Minneapolis could host either Timberwolves games or Minnesota Wild Stanley Cup playoff games on 10 of the following 11 days, assuming neither series ends in sweeps. The Wild are competing against Colorado in the Western semifinals.

The Minnesota teams play in separate venues, with the Wild based in St. Paul, but if both series extend to six games, both teams will host Game 6 contests on May 15.

Milwaukee has promoted 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson from their Triple-A Nashville affiliate to take the mound Sunday afternoon when they face the Washington Nationals on the road.

The young hurler will step directly into the starting rotation for Milwaukee, which has been hot lately with victories in five of their last six contests.

According to MLB Pipeline rankings, Henderson stands as the sixth-best prospect in Milwaukee’s farm system and tops their pitching depth chart. Sunday will mark his second major league starting assignment this season.

Henderson’s big league record shows one victory against no defeats, though his ERA sits at 9.00 through limited action. His lone appearance came as an opener against Kansas City on April 4, where he surrendered two earned runs on three hits across two innings in Milwaukee’s 8-2 defeat.

During the 2023 campaign, Henderson made five starts for the Brewers and posted impressive numbers, going 3-0 with a 1.78 earned run average.

This year at Nashville, Henderson has been dominant through five appearances, including three starts, compiling a 2-0 record with a stellar 1.02 ERA. He has recorded 26 strikeouts across 17⅔ innings pitched.

To create roster space for Henderson’s promotion, Milwaukee optioned 28-year-old right-handed reliever Easton McGee back to Nashville. McGee appeared in two relief outings this season, throwing two innings while surrendering only one hit.

Washington will counter with left-handed starter Peter Poulin, who carries a 2-0 record and 4.11 ERA into the series finale.

The Atlanta Braves made significant roster moves Sunday as star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was sidelined with an injury while pitcher Spencer Strider made his highly anticipated return to the mound against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.

The team placed Acuna Jr. on the 10-day injured list after he suffered a strained left hamstring during Sunday’s contest. To fill his roster spot, the Braves called up outfielder Jose Azocar from their Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett.

The injury occurred during the second inning when Acuna Jr. was running to first base on a ground ball during Atlanta’s dominant 9-1 win over Colorado. He was visibly limping as he made his way down the baseline.

“It didn’t look great, him coming off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I am hoping it’s just some cramping and that type of thing, but he’s getting an MRI. That’s never good when you have to get an MRI.”

The 28-year-old star grabbed his hamstring and slowed down while trying to beat out the ground ball in the second frame. After being evaluated by Atlanta’s medical team, he walked off the field on his own.

The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP has been batting .252 this season with two home runs and nine RBIs across 34 games.

Eli White took over in right field for Acuna Jr., bringing a .196 batting average with two homers and eight RBIs in 20 appearances this season.

In a corresponding move, Strider was activated from his rehabilitation stint and added back to the active roster, replacing right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton, who was sent down to Gwinnett after Saturday’s game.

Strider made headlines in 2023 by setting a modern MLB record as the fastest pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts in just 61 innings. However, his 2024 campaign was cut short after only two starts when he required UCL surgery that ended his season.

During his injury comeback last season, the pitcher posted a 7-14 record with a 4.45 ERA over 23 starts.

The 27-year-old Strider started this season on the injured list due to an oblique injury but is now ready to rejoin the red-hot Braves. Atlanta has captured both weekend games against Colorado, extending their league-leading 24-10 record.

Strider has historically performed exceptionally well against the Rockies, posting a 2-0 record with a 0.50 ERA in three career matchups, including two starts. He delivered a standout performance on September 1, 2022, striking out 16 batters while allowing just two hits over eight innings in a 3-0 victory over Colorado. Last June 14, he fanned 13 Rockies hitters during a six-inning winning effort.

Toronto Raptors star forward Brandon Ingram was spotted wearing a protective walking boot during Sunday morning’s team practice session, just hours before the critical Game 7 showdown against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

The team has listed Ingram as questionable for tonight’s decisive contest due to inflammation in his right heel.

The two-time All-Star selection has been significantly hampered by the injury in recent games. During Toronto’s 125-120 loss in Game 5 on Wednesday, Ingram managed just 11 minutes of playing time and contributed only one point. He was completely sidelined for Friday’s thrilling 112-110 overtime win in Game 6 that forced tonight’s winner-take-all battle.

The 28-year-old veteran had an outstanding regular season performance, leading the Raptors in scoring with 21.5 points per game across 77 contests. He also contributed 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while connecting on 38.2% of his three-point shot attempts.

BOSTON — When the Philadelphia 76ers began their playoff series against Boston, uncertainty surrounded Joel Embiid’s availability following his recent appendectomy surgery.

That uncertainty proved manageable as the former MVP delivered exceptional performances when it mattered most.

Making his series debut in the fourth game after recovering from surgery, Embiid showcased some of his finest postseason basketball across the final four contests, propelling Philadelphia to a decisive 109-100 Game 7 triumph over Boston, a squad many considered championship material.

The seventh-seeded Philadelphia team earned a challenging Eastern Conference semifinal series against third-seeded New York, with the opening game scheduled for Monday.

Embiid’s dominant performance helped Philadelphia secure only their second road Game 7 victory in franchise history and their first against Boston since 1982. His 34-point, 12-rebound, six-assist stat line made him the first NBA player ever to reach 100 points in a playoff series after sitting out the opening three games.

“Sometimes I’ve been in those positions where I’ve come up short,” Embiid said. “I’ve always said it, you can’t win alone. You need a team. … The way we’re playing right now, we’re so in sync, offensively, defensively.”

Alongside teammate Tyrese Maxey, who contributed 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, the pair joined exclusive company as only the third duo in NBA history to both record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a Game 7.

Maxey reflected on how the series highlighted his improved understanding of when to take charge versus when to support Embiid’s leadership.

“It’s a growth, because I had to learn when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive,” Maxey explained. “It got a little bit difficult in the middle of this season. I was basically being first option every single night. Then he comes back and I’ve got to find a way to do both. And he does a really good job of just keeping me engaged and keeping me confident and keep me like, ‘Hey I need you to do what you do.’”

Philadelphia faces an even greater test against New York, a team known for their aggressive, physical style compared to Boston’s approach.

Coach Nick Nurse expressed confidence in Embiid’s readiness for the upcoming challenge, noting how the star center pushed through visible discomfort and received additional treatment during breaks to remain effective late in the game.

Embiid’s fatigue was understandable given Philadelphia’s limited rotation, with only six players logging significant minutes despite nine seeing action. Embiid’s 39-minute performance matched his series maximum.

“He was doing everything he could to stay in the game,” Nurse observed. “Obviously, we ran a lot of things through him and we did just enough.”

The coach emphasized how surviving the intense atmosphere at TD Garden will benefit his squad moving forward.

“It’s really good for us to go through that and respond to it,” Nurse noted. “It’s going to be like that in the playoffs. You’re going to be in tight games and it’s going to be super loud. … And you just have to play through it.”

Nurse credited the victory to forcing Boston into slower halfcourt possessions during the final three minutes, after the Celtics had dominated with fast-break opportunities for roughly 12 consecutive minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters.

This tactical adjustment represents a valuable lesson for the upcoming New York series.

“In the last two (games) and portions of this one, we just guarded really well,” Nurse said.

Despite celebrating the Boston victory, Embiid maintained focus on bigger objectives ahead.

“One series. Got more to go,” he stated.

American swimmer Gretchen Walsh has once again rewritten the record books, breaking her own 100-meter butterfly world record for the third time within 12 months. The 23-year-old posted an incredible time of 54.33 seconds during competition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 3rd.

This latest achievement adds to Walsh’s dominance in the event, as she now holds the top 13 fastest times ever recorded in women’s 100-meter butterfly history.

“Must be magic or something out here… let’s make this an annual thing, shall we?,” Walsh wrote on her Instagram account following the record-breaking performance.

The world champion previously made history at this same Florida venue when she became the first female swimmer to complete the distance in under 55 seconds, recording 54.60 seconds in 2024. Despite her dominance in the event, Walsh finished second to fellow American Torri Huske in the 100-meter butterfly at the Paris Olympics.

Walsh’s superiority in the event is evident when compared to other top swimmers – she is more than a full second faster than Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who holds the second-best time of 55.48 seconds from the 2016 Olympics.

Formula 1 is set to abandon its current hybrid engine technology in favor of returning to the thunderous V8 engines that once defined the sport, according to the president of motorsport’s governing organization.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who leads the International Automobile Federation (FIA), announced during the Miami Grand Prix that the racing series will transition away from its existing V6 hybrid power units to V8 engines no later than 2031, with the possibility of implementing the change a year sooner.

Speaking from his office with a view of the Hard Rock Stadium circuit, the Emirati official expressed confidence about the timeline. “It’s coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time,” Ben Sulayem stated.

He explained the regulatory framework that makes this transition inevitable: “In 2031, the V8, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs (Power Unit Manufacturers). That’s the regulations. But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone now is asking for.”

The sport recently entered a new engine phase this season, featuring power units that derive approximately half their energy from electric sources and half from traditional combustion, while utilizing completely sustainable fuel.

Current drivers have expressed frustration with the need to employ ‘lift and coast’ techniques when approaching high-speed turns, allowing the combustion engine to replenish the battery system. They have also raised safety issues related to starting procedures and varying speeds throughout races.

The existing regulations, which received modifications before the Miami event, have grown increasingly complex, requiring fans to understand technical concepts like ‘superclipping’ and megajoule limitations for battery charging.

This isn’t Ben Sulayem’s first push for V8 or V10 engines powered by sustainable fuel, but he appears to be encountering reduced opposition this time. The current engine regulations are scheduled to remain in effect for the next five years.

“The mission will be less complication, not like now,” he emphasized.

The FIA president outlined two potential paths for the 2030 implementation: either four of the six engine manufacturers, including General Motors as Cadillac’s partner, must approve the change through a super-majority vote, or the FIA will mandate the switch for 2031.

Currently, Mercedes provides engines to four racing teams, Ferrari supplies three, Red Bull partners with Ford for two teams, while Honda and Audi each support one team. General Motors plans to develop its own engine for Cadillac, which presently uses Ferrari power units.

Ben Sulayem dismissed V10 engines as impractical, noting that V8s have gained the most support and remain common in consumer vehicles.

The sport last utilized the distinctive V8 engines between 2006 and 2013, before transitioning to the much quieter 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged hybrid systems. The legendary Cosworth V8 DFV engine was a staple from the 1960s through the early 1980s.

Describing the benefits of V8 engines, Ben Sulayem said: “You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight. You will hear about it very soon and it will be with a very, very minor electrification.”

He expressed optimism about manufacturer support while acknowledging the backup plan: “I’m positive, they want it to happen. But let’s say the manufacturers don’t approve it (for 2030). The next year, it will happen. In 2031 its done anyway. It will be done. V8 is coming.”

The Carolina Hurricanes dominated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in Saturday’s Eastern Conference semifinal opener at Raleigh, N.C., powered by Logan Stankoven’s two-goal performance and Frederik Andersen’s stellar goaltending.

Stankoven found the back of the net twice while Jackson Blake contributed one goal and one assist for Carolina, who swept Ottawa in the first round before delivering this commanding playoff victory in the best-of-seven series opener.

Between the pipes, Andersen turned away 19 shots to record his seventh career postseason shutout and second of these playoffs. Mike Reilly contributed two assists to the winning effort.

Philadelphia’s Dan Vladar made 20 saves in the losing effort. The Flyers will look to bounce back when Game 2 takes place Monday in Raleigh.

Carolina, who topped the Eastern Conference during regular season play, has yet to fall behind at any point during this Stanley Cup playoff run, maintaining that streak behind their most productive scorer.

The 23-year-old Stankoven extended his goal-scoring streak to five straight games when he opened the scoring just 91 seconds after puck drop. Reilly launched a shot from the point that Stankoven redirected past Vladar. The young forward has made history as the youngest player ever to find the net in five consecutive games to begin the playoffs.

In four of Carolina’s five postseason contests, Stankoven has provided the opening goal.

“I felt since the Olympic break, things were starting to turn and pucks started going in the net,” Stankoven said postgame.

Blake extended Carolina’s advantage to 2-0 six minutes later with a spectacular individual effort. The forward maneuvered past multiple defenders before sliding the puck home for his second goal of this postseason.

“We had a good start. That’s what won the game,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “There wasn’t much happening (after) but the first period was good.”

At that juncture, Philadelphia had managed just one shot attempt on Andersen.

“I don’t know if we were mentally prepared to play tonight. Winning our playoff series, (almost) not making the playoffs,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. ” … There was a lot of excitement. I don’t think we got down to earth quick enough for this game.”

Stankoven completed his two-goal night during the second period’s closing minutes. Following a Philadelphia turnover, Seth Jarvis delivered a pass to Stankoven in the scoring area, and he immediately converted the opportunity with 3:44 left in the middle period.

Carolina controlled the remainder of the contest despite a series of aggressive penalties by Philadelphia and responding actions from the Hurricanes’ players.

Following multiple players receiving game misconduct penalties midway through the third period, the intensity subsided and Carolina secured the victory.

The Philadelphia 76ers completed one of basketball’s most challenging feats Saturday night, overturning a 3-1 series deficit to eliminate the Boston Celtics 109-100 in a decisive Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

Joel Embiid dominated with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 30 points and 11 rebounds in the crucial victory. The triumph marks just the 14th time in NBA history that any franchise has rallied from being down 3-1 in a playoff series.

“We handled playing (in a hostile environment) just enough, but I think it was really good for us to experience it,” said 76ers head coach Nick Nurse.

The seventh-seeded 76ers now advance to face the third-seeded New York Knicks, with Game 1 of their second-round series scheduled for Monday night.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to Embiid’s return as the turning point in the series. “What changed in the series is Joel Embiid came back, and they’re a completely different team,” Mazzulla explained.

The star center had been sidelined since April 6 following emergency appendix surgery during a team road trip in Texas, but returned to play the final three contests of the series.

Despite trailing 99-98 after Neemias Queta’s pair of free throws, Philadelphia seized control when Maxey erupted for eight consecutive points, extending the lead to 107-98 with just 15 seconds remaining.

Rookie VJ Edgecombe provided valuable support with 23 points, while Paul George chipped in 13. The 76ers received minimal bench production, with only three points coming from reserves, all scored by Quentin Grimes.

Boston played without star forward Jayson Tatum, who was scratched due to left knee stiffness. Tatum had exited Game 6 early in the third quarter with a leg injury and was averaging 23.3 points and 10.7 rebounds through six playoff appearances this season.

The six-time All-Star had been working back from a devastating right Achilles rupture suffered in last May’s playoffs, returning to action March 6 and averaging 21.8 points and 10.0 rebounds across 16 regular-season games.

Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 33 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 26 points. Queta provided 17 points and a team-leading 12 rebounds off the bench. Boston starters Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. were held scoreless, though reserves Payton Pritchard (13 points) and Sam Hauser (11 points) offered some offensive spark.

The Celtics struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 26.5% of their three-point attempts (13 of 49) and shooting 39.8% overall (37 of 93). Philadelphia was more efficient, making 39.3% from long distance (11 of 28) and 47.6% from the field (39 of 82).

“We’re always going to play to the strength of our team,” Mazzulla said.

“In the last two games and portions of this one, we guarded the ball very well,” Nurse noted. “We weren’t giving them great looks. That probably for the whole series was the big key.”

Philadelphia burst out of the gate with nine unanswered points and extended their advantage to 30-15 on an Embiid jumper with 1:55 left in the opening period. The visitors held a 32-19 edge after the first quarter.

The Celtics responded with 18 of the first 22 second-quarter points, briefly taking their only lead of the night at 37-36 following a Pritchard three-pointer with 6:52 remaining in the half. However, Philadelphia regrouped to carry a 55-50 advantage into the locker room.

An 8-0 surge gave the 76ers a 63-52 cushion in the third quarter, and they appeared to take command when Edgecombe’s three-pointer pushed the margin to 84-66 with 2:24 left in the period. Philadelphia led 88-75 entering the final frame.

Boston mounted one last charge, opening the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run that trimmed the deficit to a single point at 92-91 with 7:59 to play. The contest remained tight at 95-94 with 5:52 on the clock.

“(The Celtics) just played in transition for about 12 straight minutes, and then we finally got them stopped to get in their sets,” Nurse explained. “Defensively, that was the difference for us in the last three minutes. We had them in halfcourt until maybe the final 90 seconds when they were just coming up and firing.”

Despite the disappointing outcome, Mazzulla remained positive about his team’s approach. “Loved the looks that we got, loved the process that we had, but hate the result,” he said.

St. Louis continued their impressive run with a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles on Saturday, marking their sixth consecutive win while extending the Dodgers’ losing streak to four games.

Jordan Walker provided the offensive spark for the Cardinals, connecting for a two-run home run as part of a two-hit performance. Starting pitcher Michael McGreevy delivered six shutout innings to earn his second victory of the season against two losses, surrendering just three hits while walking three and striking out three batters.

The Cardinals maintained their lead through eight innings as relievers Ryne Stanek and JoJo Romero each contributed scoreless frames. However, the Dodgers mounted a late rally in the ninth inning against closer Riley O’Brien, who allowed four consecutive hits after recording two quick outs.

Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez reached base with back-to-back infield singles before Max Muncy and Andy Pages delivered RBI hits. O’Brien managed to escape further damage by striking out pinch hitter Dalton Rushing to secure his ninth save of the campaign.

Los Angeles starter Rori Sasaki took the loss, falling to 1-3 after allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. Despite the rough start, Sasaki finished strong by retiring the final 10 batters he faced while throwing a career-high 104 pitches. The Dodgers’ offensive struggles continued as they have managed three runs or fewer in seven of their past 11 contests.

In other Saturday action, Pittsburgh made history by drawing seven consecutive walks during a 17-7 demolition of Cincinnati. The Pirates became just the third major league team ever to accomplish this feat and scored five runs in the second inning without recording a hit.

Konnor Griffin led Pittsburgh’s 19-hit attack with four hits, including a double and triple, while Ryan O’Hearn contributed three RBIs. Starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski struck out a career-best 10 batters over 5 2/3 innings to improve to 2-2.

Atlanta remained the only undefeated team in series play this season with a dominant 9-1 victory over Colorado. Chris Sale pitched seven outstanding innings, allowing one run while striking out 11 batters to improve to 6-1. Drake Baldwin homered and drove in four runs to lead the Braves’ offensive assault.

The Yankees strengthened their hold on first place in the AL East with a 9-4 win over Baltimore behind Cody Bellinger’s perfect 4-for-4 performance that included two solo home runs and four RBIs. New York has now won 12 of their last 14 games.

Chicago’s White Sox extended their winning streak to five games with a 5-0 shutout victory over San Diego. Sean Burke tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while fanning eight batters, including Xander Bogaerts three times.

Toronto erupted for eight runs in the eighth inning to defeat Minnesota 11-4, with Brandon Valenzuela’s three-run homer capping the decisive rally. The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead in their four-game series with the Twins.

Other winners included the Cubs over Arizona 2-0, Cleveland over Oakland 14-6, Milwaukee over Washington 4-1, Tampa Bay over San Francisco 4-1, Houston over Boston 6-3, Miami over Philadelphia 4-0, Detroit over Texas 5-1, Kansas City over Seattle 3-2 in 10 innings, and the Angels over the Mets 4-3 in 10 innings.

San Diego’s Major League Baseball franchise has reached a historic ownership deal, with the Padres announcing Saturday they will be sold to a partnership led by married investors Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano for an unprecedented $3.9 billion.

The groundwork for this transaction was established in April according to various news outlets, though the deal must still receive approval from three-quarters of MLB’s ownership group to become official. That crucial vote is expected to take place during the league’s next quarterly ownership gathering in June.

Should the sale receive the green light, it would demolish the existing record for a baseball franchise purchase, surpassing Steve Cohen’s $2.42 billion acquisition of the New York Mets in 2020.

“The Padres are more than a baseball team; they are a unifying force in San Diego, rooted in community, connection, and belonging,” the married couple expressed in a joint statement distributed by the organization. “As life and business partners, and as a family, we are honored to lead this next chapter together.”

“We have worked hard for everything we have achieved, and we have built it together. We see that same spirit in this team and its fans, and we know what it takes to win,” they added.

Feliciano, who founded Clearlake Capital and serves as a billionaire private equity executive, also holds partial ownership in Chelsea FC of England’s Premier League. Both he and Jones participated in the bidding process organized by the Seidler Family for the team’s purchase.

The franchise’s long-standing owner Peter Seidler passed away in 2023, leaving the family divided regarding team control. His brother John Seidler, who currently serves as the Padres’ chairman, announced in November that the organization would be put up for sale. Forbes valued the Padres at $3.1 billion heading into the 2026 season.

Through Clearlake Capital, Feliciano controls more than 60% of Chelsea’s ownership.

“We are committed to showing up, listening, and earning the trust of this community, while building on the strong foundation established by the Seidler family,” Jones and Feliciano stated.

“This is about more than baseball — it’s about boosting the pride, energy, and connection that define the Padres, investing in community, deepening belonging, and ensuring this team remains accessible and endures for generations. We are all in — with the goal of bringing a World Series championship to San Diego.”

The organization has not disclosed specific purchase terms or detailed information about the investment group. ESPN and The Athletic have reported that Feliciano and Jones will hold up to 40% ownership stake in the franchise, while certain Seidler family members and associates will retain some equity.

According to The Athletic’s reporting, the incoming ownership will purchase approximately 60% of the team, with additional investors anticipated to include San Diego’s Jacobs family, led by Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. The publication also indicates that a group featuring Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and Vuori investor Michael Persall may join as investors.

Feliciano is projected to assume the role of control person, taking over from John Seidler, who is Peter Seidler’s older brother.

“I’m thrilled that after a highly competitive process, Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano will become the next majority owners of the Padres,” John Seidler commented. “When I became control person, my goal was to continue building on our recent success in pursuit of a World Series championship for the city of San Diego and our faithful fans. Now, as I pass the baton to Kwanza and Jose, I do so with full confidence that they share that vision, as well as the Padres deep commitment to San Diego. It’s what the team, our fans, and the community deserve.”

“Our family loves this team,” he added. “This is a bittersweet moment for us as we reflect on what the Padres have accomplished since my brother Peter became the steward of the franchise. I congratulate Kwanza, Jose, and the Padres, and wish them nothing but success. We look forward to a smooth transition.”

Seattle Mariners infielder Will Wilson has been sidelined with a broken left thumb, leading the team to place him on the 10-day injured list this Saturday.

The roster move was made effective Thursday. To fill the gap, Seattle brought up catcher Jhonny Pereda from their Triple-A Tacoma affiliate.

Wilson, age 27, appeared in just two contests this season, posting a .200 batting average with one hit in five at-bats. His lone hit was a home run in his debut at-bat during Seattle’s 11-9 victory over St. Louis on April 25. The thumb injury likely occurred during his second appearance Wednesday, when he went hitless in three at-bats with one walk and one strikeout in a 5-3 win against Minnesota.

The Angels drafted Wilson 15th overall in 2019 from North Carolina State University.

Playing second and third base, Wilson entered the majors in 2025 with Cleveland, where he hit .192 across 34 games with 15 hits in 78 at-bats, driving in two runs and recording four doubles. He joined Seattle as a free agent this past January.

The 30-year-old Pereda brings major league experience from stints with Miami in 2024 and both Oakland and Minnesota in 2025, compiling a .241 career average with eight RBIs over 48 games.

Seattle also made additional roster changes Saturday, sending left-handed pitcher Josh Simpson, 28, down to Tacoma while promoting right-hander Nick Davila, 27, from Double-A Arkansas.

Tournament organizers have pushed up the final round of the Cadillac Championship to begin at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday morning, with players starting from both the first and tenth tees, as forecasters predict severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in the Miami area.

The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix has also adjusted its schedule, moving the race start time from 4 p.m. to 1 p.m. to avoid the expected severe weather.

Cameron Young commands a commanding six-stroke advantage going into Sunday’s finale at the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral after carding a 2-under 70 in Saturday’s third round, bringing his tournament total to 15-under-par. This elevated PGA Tour event offers a substantial $20 million prize pool.

Young is scheduled to begin play in the championship group at 9:42 a.m. alongside top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler and South Korea’s Si Wo Kim, who share second place with Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan at 9-under-par.

“I think I tend to play well at difficult golf courses, difficult setups, difficult conditions,” Young commented following Saturday’s third round, which featured much windier conditions than the opening two days. “This is all of those things. I think it plays into my hands a little bit.”

The final round represents Young’s opportunity to capture his second win this season and third career PGA Tour victory.

“I’m sure it will not be as easy as I want it to be,” Young acknowledged. “Sounds like the weather is not going to be great. It will be a fight from the beginning and just looking to execute the way that I did for the most part today.”

Scheffler posted a third-round 69 to secure his position in the runner-up spot by day’s end.

“The tournament’s in (Young’s) hands right now,” Scheffler observed. “I can go out and have a really good round, and if he has another really good round he’s going to be a tough guy to catch.”

Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was forced to exit Saturday’s matchup against the Colorado Rockies after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring.

The incident occurred during the second inning in Denver when Acuna clutched his hamstring and slowed down while attempting to reach first base on a ground ball. Following an evaluation by Atlanta’s medical team, the player walked off the field on his own, though with a noticeable limp.

The reigning National League MVP from 2023 has been batting .248 this season with two home runs and nine RBIs across 33 games. Earlier in Saturday’s contest, Acuna started the game strong by reaching base safely on a single and later came around to score when teammate Drake Baldwin connected for a home run.

Eli White stepped in to take over right field duties for the remainder of the game. White has posted a .186 batting average with two homers and seven RBIs through 19 games this season.

Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Dawand Jones has accepted a modified contract for the 2026 season, according to a Saturday report from NFL Network.

The restructured agreement reduces Jones’ base salary to $1.5 million, with $1.145 million guaranteed. The 24-year-old appeared in only three contests this past season before suffering an LCL injury in his right knee that ended his campaign.

Originally, Jones was set to earn $3.674 million in 2026 after triggering an NFL salary escalator by participating in more than 35% of his team’s offensive plays during two of his initial three seasons. The former Buckeye qualified through the Proven Performance Escalator, which applies to fourth-year compensation for non-first-round draft picks on rookie deals.

Following his selection in the fourth round of the 2023 draft from Ohio State, Jones signed an initial four-year contract worth $4.63 million.

However, injuries have plagued each of his three professional campaigns, limiting him to 24 total appearances with 20 starts.

During his first year, he started nine contests before an MCL tear in his right knee cut short his rookie season. The following year in 2024, he participated in 10 games before a broken left fibula concluded his second campaign.

Texas Tech’s starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby has secured legal representation from high-profile attorney Jeffrey Kessler as he navigates an NCAA investigation into alleged sports gambling violations, according to ESPN reports released Saturday.

The quarterback, who joined the Red Raiders from Cincinnati during the recent transfer period, announced earlier this week that he would be entering a treatment program to address gambling addiction issues and stepping away from team activities for an indefinite period.

Kessler brings significant experience in college athletics litigation, having served as the primary legal counsel in the landmark House vs. NCAA lawsuit. That case, which received approval in June 2025, established the framework for revenue sharing between schools and student-athletes, allowing institutions to distribute $20.5 million annually to players starting this past July, with yearly increases built into the agreement.

The attorney has also built a reputation representing professional athletes, including his work with the NFL Players Association in cases involving high-profile players like Tom Brady, Ezekiel Elliott, Adrian Peterson, and Ray Rice.

Current NCAA regulations strictly prohibit student-athletes from placing wagers on any sporting events – whether college or professional – for which the organization conducts championship competitions. Reports indicate Sorsby placed bets on both college football contests and Major League Baseball games.

The ongoing NCAA investigation could result in Sorsby losing his eligibility for the 2026 season, depending on the findings.

According to reporting from On3, Sorsby’s betting activity was extensive, with more than 10,000 sports wagers placed since 2022. The outlet reported he was making an average of 20 bets daily across various sportsbook platforms in multiple states.

The gambling activity reportedly included wagers on Indiana University games during 2022 when Sorsby was redshirting his freshman season. ESPN’s reporting indicates all those bets favored Indiana to win, and none were placed on the single game in which he appeared – a 45-14 defeat against 16th-ranked Penn State.

Sorsby entered this season as ESPN’s highest-rated transfer quarterback, bringing impressive credentials from his time with Cincinnati. Over his final two seasons with the Bearcats, he compiled 5,613 passing yards with 45 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions across 24 games, while also contributing 1,027 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.

The National Hockey League announced Saturday that Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy will face a disciplinary hearing with the Department of Player Safety following a stick-swinging incident during Friday’s playoff elimination.

The 28-year-old defenseman was ejected from Boston’s season-ending 4-1 defeat to Buffalo in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series after receiving a major slashing penalty and game misconduct.

The controversial play unfolded with 1:31 remaining in the final period when Buffalo’s Zach Benson tripped McAvoy while both players pursued a loose puck. After getting back on his feet, McAvoy rushed toward Benson and swung his stick in a baseball bat-like motion at the opposing player.

Following the elimination loss, McAvoy appeared unconcerned about potential league discipline when asked by reporters.

“I don’t play another game until September,” McAvoy said. “Can’t imagine it really matters much.”

The NHL’s decision to offer an in-person hearing indicates McAvoy could face a suspension of six games or longer, as the league typically handles shorter penalties through phone conferences. Players have the option to decline face-to-face meetings and conduct proceedings by phone instead. The specific hearing date has not yet been announced.

Since Boston’s season has concluded, any punishment would carry over to the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

This season marked a career year for McAvoy, who tallied 61 points with 11 goals across 69 regular season games. He contributed two assists during the Buffalo series.

Throughout his nine-year career with Boston, McAvoy has accumulated 71 goals and 361 points in 573 regular season contests. His playoff statistics include six goals and 50 points over 97 postseason games.

McAvoy recently represented Team USA at the Winter Olympics, helping secure the gold medal in what marked the nation’s first men’s Olympic hockey championship since the memorable 1980 triumph at Lake Placid.

MIAMI – Formula One officials have moved up Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix by three hours to a 1 p.m. start time in hopes of avoiding severe weather that’s forecast for the area.

The scheduling change came after organizers and the sport’s governing body FIA held discussions following Saturday night’s qualifying session at Hard Rock Stadium.

“This decision has been taken to ensure the least amount of disruption to the race, and to ensure the maximum possible window to complete the grand prix in the best conditions and to prioritise the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff,” officials explained in their announcement.

The time adjustment has forced cancellation of a Porsche race along with several other supporting events scheduled for race day.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the championship standings, secured the top starting position for the fourth race of this season.

Competitors have not yet encountered rainy racing conditions during this new engine era that began with the Australian race in March, and the updated vehicles have already presented challenges even in dry weather.

Race organizers are especially worried about lightning strikes and have established protocols for suspending competition and implementing shelter procedures for racing teams if dangerous conditions develop.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — History was made at Churchill Downs Saturday when Golden Tempo crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, making trainer Cherie DeVaux the first woman ever to prepare the winner of thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious event.

Jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo from dead last in the early stages to a stunning victory in the 1 1/8-mile contest, delivering at longshot odds of 23-1. Renegade finished second under Irad Ortiz Jr., while Ocelli rounded out the top three positions.

“I don’t even have any words right now,” DeVaux said. “I just cant. Just so, so so happy for Golden Tempo. Jose did a wonderful job, a masterful job of getting him there. He was so far out of it.”

DeVaux becomes only the second female trainer to capture any Triple Crown series race, following Jena Antonucci’s victory with Arcangelo in last year’s Belmont Stakes. This Derby triumph comes in DeVaux’s debut attempt at the race, eight years after establishing her own training operation.

“I’m glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds do,” DeVaux said.

Throughout Derby week, DeVaux evolved from minimizing the significance of potentially becoming the first female Derby-winning trainer to embracing her position as an inspiration for young girls pursuing similar dreams. She joins an exclusive group as just the 18th woman to enter a horse in the Kentucky Derby.

Jose Ortiz demonstrated the exceptional skill that has brought him success at Churchill Downs recently, finally capturing his first Derby victory after 11 previous attempts. The triumph came less than a day after Ortiz also claimed the Kentucky Oaks, the premier race for three-year-old fillies.

The Derby field was reduced to 18 horses following a late withdrawal of Great White, who was removed after flipping over and unseating his rider. Track veterinarians decided to scratch the longshot, who had only earned a spot in the race Wednesday when Silent Tactic was withdrawn due to a hoof problem.

PITTSBURGH — During Saturday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds matched a Major League Baseball record by issuing seven consecutive walks to Pirates hitters in a single inning.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this marked only the third occurrence of such a streak in MLB history and the first time it has happened in more than 40 years.

Remarkably, Pittsburgh batters were also on the receiving end when the Atlanta Braves walked seven consecutive Pirates players during the third inning of a 1983 contest. The only other instance occurred in 1909, when the Chicago White Sox gave seven straight free passes to Washington Senators batters.

Cincinnati’s historic walk parade started in the second inning when pitcher Rhett Lowder issued a base on balls to Brandon Lowe with one out and empty bases. Lowder continued by walking Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn to fill the bases, prompting Cincinnati to make a pitching substitution and bring in Connor Phillips.

Phillips proceeded to walk Nick Gonzales, Marcell Ozuna, Spencer Horwitz and Konnor Griffin, forcing home four Pittsburgh runs before the Reds called upon Sam Moll from the bullpen. Moll finally ended the inning when Henry Davis grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base, which also scored the fifth and final run of the frame.

The Minnesota Wild will face the Colorado Avalanche in Sunday night’s playoff opener without defenseman Jonas Brodin, who remained behind instead of making the trip to Denver with his teammates.

Additionally, forward Joel Eriksson Ek’s availability for the first game of the Western Conference second-round matchup remains in doubt.

The 32-year-old Brodin suffered a lower-body injury in the fifth game of Minnesota’s opening playoff round against Dallas. The injury occurred in the second period when he blocked a shot attempt from Dallas player Mikko Rantanen.

After missing Thursday’s series-clinching sixth game, Brodin recorded just one assist throughout the entire Dallas series. During the regular season, he contributed four goals and accumulated 18 points across 62 games.

Eriksson Ek’s injury happened during Game 6 when his right leg collided with the boards. The forward was absent from Saturday’s practice session.

Wild head coach John Hynes acknowledged he’s still weighing his options regarding Eriksson Ek’s roster spot given the uncertainty surrounding his condition.

“I’m kind of going through that a little bit right now,” Hynes said. “So, now you kind of go down that decision-making process of what would we do if he’s not ready.”

The 29-year-old Eriksson Ek contributed three goals and five total points against Dallas. Throughout the regular season, he netted 19 goals and tallied 51 points in 70 games played.

BOSTON — Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will not play in tonight’s decisive Game 7 matchup against Philadelphia due to left knee stiffness, the team announced approximately 90 minutes before the elimination contest begins.

The absence comes at a critical moment for the Celtics, who face the Philadelphia 76ers in a winner-take-all first-round playoff battle on Saturday evening.

“He just came in today with knee discomfort. The medical team and myself decided for him not to play,” head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters during his pregame press conference.

Boston has not yet revealed who will take Tatum’s spot in the starting lineup for the crucial matchup.

During Game 6, Tatum temporarily exited the contest in the third quarter to receive unspecified treatment for his calf. The star player is currently just 22 games into his comeback from a torn right Achilles tendon injury that occurred during last season’s postseason run.

Following Game 6, the Celtics minimized concerns about Tatum’s condition. The forward himself described his leg as feeling “a little stiff” after the game. He explained that following a brief evaluation and some time on an exercise bike, he chose not to return because the game’s outcome was already decided and the main rotation players had been removed from action.

MINNEAPOLIS — Toronto Blue Jays star George Springer was forced to exit Saturday’s 11-4 victory against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning after taking a pitch to his left foot.

The injury scare occurred just four days following Springer’s return from the 10-day injured list, where he had been recovering from a broken left big toe sustained on April 11 when he fouled off a ball during another matchup with Minnesota.

Medical imaging revealed no additional breaks, and the condition hasn’t worsened from its previous state, according to manager John Schneider’s postgame comments. Schneider noted he had already intended to rest Springer during Sunday’s contest.

The veteran outfielder was struck by Connor Prielipp’s 88 mph slider and collapsed in obvious discomfort. Following several minutes of attention from team medical staff, Springer carefully made his way off the field while Jesús Sánchez took his place in the lineup.

Now in his sixth campaign with Toronto, the 36-year-old veteran is batting .212 with two homers and seven RBIs through 66 at-bats over 18 appearances this season.

The former 2017 World Series MVP with Houston is playing out the concluding year of his six-year, $150 million contract with Toronto.

MIAMI – Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli captured his third consecutive pole position Saturday during qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen earning the second starting spot for Sunday’s race.

The 19-year-old Italian, who currently leads the Formula One championship standings, posted a qualifying time of one minute 27.798 seconds on a sweltering afternoon in Miami. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the third position, while defending world champion Lando Norris of McLaren will start fourth after winning Saturday’s earlier sprint race.

Antonelli’s pole position serves as a strong bounce-back performance after dropping to sixth place in the sprint – marking Mercedes’ first race loss of any format this season. The teenager is pursuing his third consecutive grand prix victory following recent wins in China and Japan, which helped make him the youngest driver ever to lead the championship.

“It’s been an amazing day to be on pole again,” Antonelli commented after qualifying. “It was a difficult start with the Sprint where it didn’t go our way but super happy with the recovery. It was a good quali, got a little bit excited in that last lap in Q3 but the first lap was good enough.”

Verstappen managed to close the gap to just 0.166 seconds by the session’s end, though Antonelli’s initial time remained unbeaten despite the Mercedes driver running wide at turn one during his final attempt.

Mercedes teammate George Russell, who trails Antonelli by seven points in the championship battle, qualified fifth. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, will start sixth.

Last year’s Miami winner Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured seventh position on the grid at a track where passing opportunities should be plentiful under the current regulations.

Franco Colapinto delivered an impressive eighth-place qualifying performance for Alpine, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounding out the top ten starting positions.

The qualifying session experienced a brief delay during the second phase when Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi suffered brake failure and caught fire, forcing the Brazilian driver to stop on the back straight. Bortoleto finished last in the timing sheets.

Sunday’s race faces potential weather disruptions, with forecasters predicting possible rain and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.

The Orlando Magic will be without forward Franz Wagner for Sunday’s pivotal Game 7 showdown against the Detroit Pistons, team officials confirmed.

The 24-year-old sustained a calf injury during Game 4 of the series and has been sidelined for the past two games as a result.

Injuries have plagued Wagner throughout this season, limiting his availability to just 34 regular season appearances.

Despite his limited time on the floor, Wagner remains a cornerstone of Orlando’s offensive attack, ranking second on the team with 20.6 points per game while contributing 5.2 rebounds per contest, good for third on the squad.

During this playoff run, Wagner has posted averages of 16.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game.

Orlando, seeded eighth in the playoffs, once held a dominant 3-1 advantage over the top-seeded Pistons but has watched Detroit mount a comeback to even the series and force Sunday’s winner-take-all contest.

TAMPA, Fla. — After six nail-biting contests decided by a single goal and four games requiring overtime, the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will settle their Eastern Conference first-round playoff battle in a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday evening.

The dramatic conclusion became necessary when Gage Goncalves scored in overtime Friday evening, keeping Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes alive and sending Montreal back on the road for the decisive matchup.

“We haven’t won anything yet,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper explained. “All we did was win a game to send us back to Tampa and keep our season alive. You don’t want to rain on the parade… but we haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

The series has showcased remarkable balance between the two clubs. Each squad has captured two victories away from home, while Tampa Bay’s home ice advantage has proven elusive during their recent playoff runs. The Lightning hold just a 2-10 record in their past dozen postseason contests at home, despite consistently drawing capacity crowds through 460 straight sellouts.

The statistical breakdown reveals just how evenly matched these teams are. Both clubs have found the net 14 times, with nine goals coming during even-strength play. The scoreboard has shown either a tie or one-goal difference for all but six minutes of the entire series.

“In 14 years in the league, I’ve been in a number of Game 7s, some where we weren’t as good as the other team and some where I thought we were as good as the other team,” Cooper noted. “And this right here is so even from special teams to the goaltending to everything and that’s how you get Game 7s. To win this, you have to have a special game from your team. I’m assuming the team that wins is going to get one more break than the other one.”

Tampa Bay enters this crucial game carrying recent disappointment. Following their failure to complete a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022, the Lightning have suffered first-round eliminations in each of the last three postseasons.

Meanwhile, Montreal seeks to end a five-year drought without advancing past the opening round.

“You’ve just got to embrace the situation,” said Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee who experienced Game 7 victories as a player in Tampa Bay. “Things are meant to be. Things are meant to be for our growth, things are meant to be that we’re playing a Game 7. I think it’s going to help us pull toward what’s next for us.”

Historical precedent favors Tampa Bay in decisive games, as they hold a 7-3 record in Game 7 situations, including a 4-1 mark on home ice. Their most recent winner-take-all victory came against Toronto in 2022 during a first-round series.

Montreal brings a 15-9 overall Game 7 record into Sunday’s contest, with a 7-6 mark in road Game 7s.

Between the pipes, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy delivered a stellar 30-save shutout performance in Game 6, marking his eighth career playoff shutout. The former Vezina Trophy finalist and two-time Stanley Cup champion brings extensive big-game experience to the crease.

For Montreal, rookie netminder Jakub Dobes will face his first Game 7 pressure, though he has performed exceptionally throughout the series.

Offensively, Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel has been a consistent threat, lighting the lamp six times through the first six contests.

Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, with TNT providing television coverage.

DENVER — When the puck drops Sunday night in Denver, two remarkably similar hockey teams will face off in what promises to be an epic second-round playoff battle.

The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild possess striking similarities that make this matchup particularly intriguing. Both squads feature dynamic superstars — Nathan MacKinnon leading Colorado’s attack while Kirill Kaprizov anchors Minnesota’s offense.

The parallels extend throughout their lineups: elite defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, reliable goaltending from Scott Wedgewood and Jesper Wallstedt, plus seasoned players like Brent Burns and Nick Foligno still chasing their first Stanley Cup championship.

History suggests this series could go the distance. When these Central Division foes have clashed in previous playoffs, two of their last three encounters required all seven games, including a 2014 first-round series where Minnesota defeated Colorado in MacKinnon’s initial NHL postseason appearance.

“It’s going to be another big battle,” said Marcus Foligno, whose Wild eliminated Dallas in six games to reach this round. “We’re mentally ready for it.”

Regular season meetings between these clubs were deadlocked at 2-1-1, with each team claiming one regulation victory and suffering one shootout loss against the other.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, whose team swept Los Angeles in the opening round, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “As the coach, I can steer them which way I think … how hard it’s going to go,” Bednar explained. “But they’ve got to go and feel it. They have to go and engage in it.”

The timing favors Colorado, as the Avalanche enjoyed a week of rest while Minnesota battled through a physical series against Dallas. However, Colorado demonstrated versatility against the Kings, capturing two low-scoring 2-1 victories, including an overtime win.

Despite earning the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team, the Avalanche embrace their role as Cup favorites with measured confidence.

“It doesn’t really mean nothing unless you’re the last team standing,” forward Nazem Kadri stated. “We’re going to have to be ready for everything they throw at us.”

Both teams enter with injury concerns. Colorado defenseman Josh Manson is managing an upper-body ailment, while Minnesota faces uncertainty with forward Joel Eriksson Ek questionable due to a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jonas Brodin didn’t travel with the Wild.

The defensive matchup features the last two Norris Trophy winners. Makar concluded the regular season with 20 goals and 59 assists, then scored in consecutive playoff games. Hughes, acquired from Vancouver on December 12, contributed five goals and 48 assists during Minnesota’s regular season while averaging nearly 28 minutes per game — a number that’s climbed to 31:40 in the playoffs.

“It’s no surprise,” teammate Brock Faber said of Hughes’ performance. “Big-time players step up in big-time games, and that is what he did.”

Several players share Olympic memories from Team USA’s dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada for gold. Brock Nelson, Hughes, Faber, and Matt Boldy helped deliver America’s first Olympic hockey championship in 46 years, while Canada’s roster included Avalanche stars Devon Toews, Makar, and MacKinnon.

“Something we will remember forever,” Nelson reflected. “But now put friendships on pause.”

Minnesota carries the weight of playoff struggles, posting a 5-14 record in postseason series throughout their 25-year existence. Their advancement past the first round marks just the second time since 2003, and their first since 2015 — when current defenseman Faber was nearly 12 years old.

“I don’t remember it,” Faber admitted. “We write our own story. Every team has their own story. Every team has their own ups and downs.”

For Colorado’s Brent Burns, this represents perhaps his final opportunity to capture the Stanley Cup that has eluded him through 22 NHL seasons. The 41-year-old defenseman began his career with Minnesota, who selected him 20th overall in 2003 and where he played until 2011.

“That’s a long time ago,” Makar said with a smile when asked about Burns’ Minnesota connection.

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark appears ready to take the court Sunday against Nigeria for the team’s final preseason matchup, as her name does not appear on the official injury report following a scary fall during Thursday’s contest in Indianapolis.

The All-Star point guard was forced to exit Thursday’s game against Dallas after taking a hard tumble during the third quarter. Clark was going up for a long-range shot with 7:51 remaining in the period when she made contact with Wings player Alanna Smith, resulting in a painful landing directly on her right knee. Despite the impact, she managed to sink two of her three subsequent free throw attempts before heading to the bench for the remainder of the game.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Clark downplayed the incident, saying “I feel good. I just landed on my kneecap really hard.”

Before her early departure, the two-time All-Star had been having an outstanding performance, racking up 21 points during just 16 minutes of action in what became a 95-80 defeat for Indiana.

Team officials anticipate Clark will suit up for Sunday’s matchup with the Nigerian squad.

The talented guard made a spectacular debut in 2024, posting averages of 19.2 points and 8.4 assists while connecting on 122 shots from beyond the arc during her inaugural WNBA campaign. Her stellar rookie performance earned her both Rookie of the Year recognition and a spot on the All-WNBA First Team. However, her offensive production dipped to 16.5 points per contest in 2025 before a persistent groin problem limited her to just 13 appearances last season.

Meanwhile, Fever teammate Aliyah Boston is slated to make her preseason debut on Sunday. The veteran forward, now in her fourth professional season, has been sidelined while recovering from a leg injury sustained during the conclusion of the Unrivaled season. Throughout her three campaigns with Indiana, Boston has contributed 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and the organization has taken a cautious approach with her recovery process.

A married investment team has struck a deal to purchase the San Diego Padres baseball franchise for a record-breaking $3.9 billion, the Seidler family announced Saturday.

Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano will lead the ownership group taking control of the Major League Baseball team, pending league approval of the transaction.

The Seidler family, who inherited the team following Peter Seidler’s passing two years ago, made the formal announcement of the agreement. The deal represents the highest valuation ever recorded for an MLB franchise purchase, though specific financial terms and investor group details were not disclosed in Saturday’s announcement.

“The Padres are more than a baseball team; they are a unifying force in San Diego, rooted in community, connection and belonging,” Jones and Feliciano said in a joint statement. “As life and business partners, and as a family, we are honored to lead this next chapter together. We have worked hard for everything we have achieved, and we have built it together. We see that same spirit in this team and its fans, and we know what it takes to win. We are committed to showing up, listening and earning the trust of this community while building on the strong foundation established by the Seidler family.”

The couple added: “This is about more than baseball — it’s about boosting the pride, energy, and connection that define the Padres, investing in community, deepening belonging and ensuring this team remains accessible and endures for generations. We are all in — with the goal of bringing a World Series championship to San Diego.”

The Seidler family initiated discussions about selling the franchise last November, following Peter Seidler’s death in 2022. Peter Seidler had taken primary ownership of the team in 2020, with his brother John assuming leadership responsibilities after his passing.

“When I became control person, my goal was to continue building on our recent success in pursuit of a World Series championship for the city of San Diego and our faithful fans,” John Seidler said in a statement. “As I pass the baton to Kwanza and José, I do so with full confidence that they share that vision as well as the Padres’ deep commitment to San Diego. It’s what the team, our fans and the community deserve. Our family loves this team.”

Peter Seidler initially became part of the Padres ownership when John Moores sold the franchise in 2012 for $800 million to Ron Fowler’s investment group. After taking control, Seidler gained fan support through his willingness to invest heavily in the team, supporting general manager A.J. Preller’s efforts to build a competitive roster that has made four playoff appearances in six seasons.

The franchise has become increasingly popular in recent years as San Diego’s sole representative among major North American professional sports leagues, finishing second in MLB attendance rankings last season. Under Preller’s management, the team has started this season strongly with a 19-12 record, placing second in the National League West division ahead of Saturday night’s home game against the Chicago White Sox.

The prospective new owners have already begun engaging with the organization, attending the Padres’ Mexico City series against the Arizona Diamondbacks last month, where they were seen with team CEO Erik Greupner.

When the sale is finalized, Feliciano will become only the second Latino owner in Major League Baseball, joining Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno. Latino and Hispanic athletes represent approximately 30% of current major league players.

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer was forced to exit Saturday’s matchup with the Minnesota Twins during the third inning after taking a pitch to his left foot from Minnesota’s Connor Prielipp.

The veteran outfielder collapsed in pain when struck by the 88.2 mph slider and was immediately substituted with pinch runner Jesus Sanchez.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate for Springer, who had only recently come back from the injured list this week following a fractured left big toe sustained when fouled a ball off his foot on April 11. He had opened Saturday’s contest with a line drive out to center field.

Through 18 games this season, Springer is hitting .212 with two home runs and seven RBIs. The veteran has compiled a .266 batting average across 1,462 career games, collecting 295 home runs and 803 RBIs during his 13-year tenure split between the Houston Astros from 2014-20 and the Blue Jays.

Boston’s championship hopes may hang in the balance as All-Star forward Jayson Tatum faces uncertainty for Saturday evening’s decisive Game 7 matchup against Philadelphia, with team officials listing him as questionable due to left knee stiffness.

The 28-year-old star was sidelined for the final quarter of Thursday’s 106-93 defeat to the 76ers in their Eastern Conference opening round series, spending time on a stationary bicycle in the hallway while his teammates finished the contest.

Following Thursday’s loss, Tatum minimized concerns about his condition, explaining to the media: “You guys probably saw when I went to the back, saw me on the bike. My leg just was a little stiff when I came out in the third quarter. But just kind of assessing the moment, the game was a little out of reach.”

The knee discomfort is unrelated to the severe right Achilles tendon rupture that sidelined Tatum last May, an injury that occurred during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against New York and kept him away from basketball until March 6 of the current season.

“It was my other leg, not the one I injured last year,” Tatum clarified on Thursday. “I mean, I wasn’t like overly concerned. … I came out at four minutes, like I was supposed to. Just kind of assessed the game. (Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla) took the starters out fairly early in the fourth quarter.”

During Friday afternoon’s media conference call, head coach Mazzulla indicated that Tatum would be ready for the elimination game, while the player himself expressed confidence at Thursday’s press conference, stating: “I expect to play.”

Throughout the current series against Philadelphia, Tatum has posted impressive numbers with 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per contest.

During Game 3 of this series, Tatum reached a significant milestone by becoming just the fourth Celtic in franchise history to surpass 3,000 career playoff points. With 3,005 postseason points, he now ranks behind only legendary players Kevin McHale (3,182), John Havlicek (3,776), and all-time leader Larry Bird (3,897).

The six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA first-team honoree, who has also captured two Olympic gold medals representing Team USA, maintains career averages of 23.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 601 NBA regular season appearances.

On Philadelphia’s injury report, Paul George is listed as probable despite battling an illness on his 36th birthday. Center Joel Embiid, recovering from appendix surgery, also carries a probable designation, while guard Tyrese Maxey has been cleared to play despite a finger injury.

The Big Ten Conference has reached a milestone with its announcement of a historic $1.37 billion revenue distribution among its 18 member universities for the 2024-25 fiscal year, following conference expansion and strong performance in the College Football Playoffs during the 2024 season.

This achievement makes the Big Ten the second collegiate athletic conference to surpass the $1 billion mark. Earlier, the Southeastern Conference revealed it had distributed $1 billion among its 16 member schools in February, marking a $200 million jump from the previous fiscal year.

The Big Ten’s massive $1.37 billion payout reflects a substantial $487 million increase compared to the 2023-24 fiscal year. Two key drivers behind this surge were the conference’s addition of UCLA, Southern California, Oregon and Washington in August 2024, plus the playoff appearances of Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and Penn State in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format during December and January.

Ohio State claimed the 2024 national championship with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. The Buckeyes’ athletic program received the conference’s largest distribution at $91.57 million, while Penn State, which reached the national semifinals in football, collected $88.29 million.

Established full-time conference members received distributions ranging from $76.01 million to $79.87 million, while newcomers Oregon and Washington collected $48.4 million and $46.7 million respectively. UCLA and USC, classified as fully-vested members, received the higher distribution amounts.

Tampa Bay has brought back left-handed pitcher Garrett Cleavinger from the injured list on Saturday, according to reports from the Tampa Bay Times. To clear roster space, the organization removed right-hander Yoendrys Gomez from the team.

The 32-year-old Cleavinger hasn’t taken the mound since March 30 due to tightness in his right calf muscle. During his limited action this season, he posted a 1-1 record with a 7.71 earned run average across three relief appearances. Earlier this year, he also contributed a clean inning for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic.

Throughout his seven-year major league career, with Tampa Bay being his home for the past five seasons, Cleavinger holds a 14-17 record and 3.25 ERA across 193 games, including one starting assignment.

The departing Gomez, age 26, struggled during his time with Tampa Bay this year, recording a 6.23 ERA over nine relief outings. His overall major league statistics show a 3-3 record with a 5.11 ERA spanning four seasons across four different organizations, having spent his initial three campaigns with the New York Yankees from 2023-25.

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz announced Saturday that prospect Trey Gibson will take the mound for his first major league appearance Sunday when the team faces the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher gets his opportunity due to several injuries plaguing Baltimore’s starting rotation. Left-hander Trevor Rogers was placed on the injured list earlier this week due to illness, while right-hander Dean Kremer remains sidelined with a quad injury. Additionally, starter Zach Eflin is done for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Gibson’s promotion comes after spending four years developing in the minor league system. This season with Triple-A Norfolk, he has compiled a 2-2 record with a 5.84 ERA across six starting assignments.

The young pitcher joined the Orioles organization in 2023 as an undrafted free agent following two collegiate seasons at Liberty University. MLB Pipeline currently ranks Gibson as Baltimore’s third-best prospect in their farm system.

Philadelphia Phillies star catcher J.T. Realmuto returned to active duty Saturday as the team activated him from the 10-day injured list.

The 35-year-old backstop had been sidelined since April 22 when he was placed on the IL due to back spasms that forced him out of action.

This season marks Realmuto’s eighth campaign with Philadelphia, where he’s posted a .259 batting average through 17 games, collecting one home run and driving in four runs. The veteran catcher brings impressive credentials to the lineup as a three-time All-Star selection and two-time Gold Glove award recipient.

To create space on their 26-man active roster for Realmuto’s return, Philadelphia released utility player Dylan Moore through designation for assignment. The 33-year-old Moore struggled in his debut season with the Phillies, failing to record a hit across 15 plate appearances.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc acknowledged he went too far with his angry radio outburst targeting Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli during Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver Antonelli crossed the finish line in fourth place but received a five-second time penalty that dropped him to sixth position due to multiple track limit violations.

During the race, an frustrated Leclerc vented over his team radio about the teenage Italian’s driving style. “Kimi is so bad on wheel-to-wheel (racing). He moved under braking. It’s unbelievable. We are going to crash,” the third-place finisher declared during the heated moment.

However, Leclerc later softened his stance when speaking with media after the race.

“I was being a bit harsh maybe with the adrenaline inside the car,” he explained.

The Monaco driver elaborated on their racing history and the unique situation of competing against Italy’s only current F1 representative while driving for the sport’s most famous Italian team.

“It’s true that we’ve had our moments with Kimi in the past and I hope this calms down a little bit going ahead. Especially as he’s the only Italian on the grid against Ferrari,” Leclerc noted.

“I wish it was with someone else. I really like Kimi as a person,” Leclerc continued. “It’s just sometimes a little bit too close for comfort and not really needed as well. So in this particular case, I was quite angry in the car. But the comments were probably a bit too harsh.”

At just 18 years old, Antonelli holds the distinction of being Formula One’s youngest-ever championship leader. He also became the first Italian driver to capture back-to-back race victories since Alberto Ascari accomplished the feat in 1953, creating enormous excitement in Italy where Ferrari enjoys legendary status.

The young Mercedes driver acknowledged his difficulties during Saturday’s sprint, explaining how a disappointing start affected his entire race performance.

“After that, I was really frustrated and didn’t even drive well. I did a lot of mistakes and got track limits, which is something I need to avoid,” Antonelli admitted.

Looking ahead to the rest of the Miami weekend, the championship leader remained realistic about the challenges facing his team.

“This weekend has been more difficult but it was expected with everyone bringing big upgrades. We just need to maximise the result and now focus on qualifying.”

The NFL has removed Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium from its Super Bowl hosting rotation due to facility requirements not being met, according to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross in recent comments.

The South Florida venue has welcomed 11 Super Bowls throughout its history, matching New Orleans for the most hosted championships. However, the stadium hasn’t held the big game since February 2, 2020, when Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory over San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV.

Hard Rock Stadium, which opened 38 years ago, previously welcomed Super Bowls in 1989, 1995, 1999, 2007 and 2010. Prior to those games, Miami’s Orange Bowl served as the Super Bowl venue in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1976 and 1979.

Speaking with the South Florida Business Journal, Ross explained the situation: “We normally have one every five years. Miami is not really in line for one. It’s always exciting to have the Super Bowl but that was before we had all the other events. Miami has by far the best weather. It’s in their best interest to have one here but at this point they don’t believe we meet all the requirements and the demands.”

The stadium’s ability to accommodate Super Bowl festivities has been compromised after adding facilities for both the annual Miami Open tennis championship and Formula 1 racing events. These additions have significantly reduced the available space needed for Super Bowl hospitality functions.

Ross indicated efforts are underway to address the shortcomings. “We are looking at how to make improvements,” he stated. “I want to make the stadium always feel like a new stadium (and) we are looking at what the next phase will be and making the fan experience that much better.”

The league has already announced locations for upcoming championships: Los Angeles area’s SoFi Stadium will host in 2027, followed by Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2028, and Las Vegas area’s Allegiant Stadium in 2029.

Pittsburgh Pirates have activated infielder Jared Triolo from the 10-day injured list in time for Saturday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Reds at home.

The 28-year-old player had been sidelined since April 3rd with a patellar tendon injury affecting his right knee.

Before his injury, the former Gold Glove recipient posted a .217 batting average, collecting five hits in 23 at-bats with one RBI across six appearances for Pittsburgh. During his recovery period, Triolo showed improvement while playing rehabilitation games, posting a .278 batting average with one home run and three RBIs through five games split between Class A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona.

Pittsburgh cleared roster space for Triolo’s return by sending utility player Nick Yorke to Triple-A Indianapolis following Friday’s decisive 9-1 victory over Cincinnati.

The 24-year-old Yorke recorded a .221 batting average with one home run and six RBIs during his 23-game stint with the major league club.

New York Mets backup catcher Luis Torrens received quite the birthday gift this weekend, securing his future with a lucrative contract extension just as he turned 30 years old on Saturday.

According to reports from The Athletic, Torrens has signed a two-year deal worth $11.5 million that will cover the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The veteran backstop is currently in his ninth MLB campaign and third year wearing a Mets uniform. This season, he has appeared in 13 contests, posting a .200 batting average along with two doubles and four RBIs. His current contract pays him $2.275 million for the 2026 season.

While Torrens has built his reputation primarily on his defensive skills behind the plate, his offensive numbers throughout his career reflect his role as a backup. Over 421 major league games, he has compiled a .226 batting average with 27 home runs and 127 RBIs during stints with multiple franchises including the San Diego Padres (2017, 2019-20), Seattle Mariners (2020-23), Chicago Cubs (2023), and now the Mets.

Baltimore Orioles left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns returned to active duty Saturday as the team activated him from the 15-day injured list following his recovery from a foot infection.

The Orioles made multiple roster adjustments on Saturday, bringing up left-hander Nick Raquet from their Triple-A Norfolk affiliate while sending right-hander Tyler Wells down to Norfolk. The team also placed right-hander Albert Suarez on waivers.

The 34-year-old Enns was sidelined on April 6 due to an infection in his left foot. Prior to his injury, he appeared in three relief outings without recording a win or loss, posting a 4.15 earned run average.

Raquet, age 30, struggled during his previous stint with Baltimore last month, surrendering three earned runs on three hits over 1 2/3 innings across two bullpen appearances for a 16.20 ERA.

Wells, 31, compiled an 0-1 record with a 3.44 ERA through 14 relief appearances this season. The pitcher recorded 18 strikeouts against four walks in 18 1/3 innings of work.

The 36-year-old Suarez holds a 1-0 record with a 3.45 ERA and one save through six relief outings. However, he has issued seven walks in his most recent 6 2/3 innings, including four free passes during Friday’s 7-2 defeat to the New York Yankees on the road.

Brazilian fighter Carlos Prates delivered a commanding performance against Australian Jack Della Maddalena in Saturday night’s main event at UFC Fight Night in Perth, Australia, overwhelming the local favorite in front of his home crowd.

The Brazilian fighter sent Della Maddalena crashing to the mat with a devastating calf kick in the closing moments of round two, then continued his assault in the third round by scoring three additional knockdowns using a powerful knee strike, head kick, and another leg kick before officials halted the contest.

Following his victory, Prates immediately set his sights on championship gold, challenging whoever emerges victorious from the anticipated welterweight title bout between current champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry.

“I can punch, I can knee, I can kick … so I’m better and now I feel like I’m the No. 1 contender,” Prates said after his win. “I can’t wait to see Makhachev and Ian, and then I’m going to fight the winner.”

The victory marked Prates’ third consecutive win, bringing his professional record to 24-7 with 19 knockout victories. The 32-year-old’s dominant showing came at the expense of the 29-year-old Della Maddalena, who suffered his second straight defeat and now holds an 18-4 record with 12 knockout wins.

In the evening’s co-main event, Australian fighter Quillan Salkilld celebrated his own victory, improving his record to 12-1 after stopping lightweight veteran Beneil Dariush with a first-round technical knockout. The 26-year-old Salkilld defeated the 36-year-old Dariush in impressive fashion.

The main card featured several other notable results: flyweight Steve Erceg earned a unanimous decision victory over Tim Elliott, featherweight Marwan Rahiki stopped Ollie Schmid by TKO, heavyweight Brando Pericic knocked out Shamil Gaziev in the second round, and heavyweight Louie Sutherland defeated Tai Tuivasa by unanimous decision.

MIAMI, May 2 – Formula One world champion Lando Norris captured victory in Saturday’s Miami Grand Prix sprint race, delivering McLaren a commanding one-two finish alongside teammate Oscar Piastri as Mercedes experienced their first setback of the season.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot in third place after beginning the race from fourth position.

While Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell initially finished fourth and fifth, the Italian driver was subsequently dropped to sixth after receiving a five-second time penalty for multiple track limits infractions, promoting Russell to fourth place.

The penalty reduced the 19-year-old’s championship advantage over Russell to just seven points, following his victories in the previous two races in China and Japan.

Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen benefited from Antonelli’s demotion, moving up to fifth position, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton placed seventh.

Pierre Gasly from Alpine earned the final championship point in the 100-kilometer race conducted under sweltering and humid weather conditions.

Starting from pole position, Norris crossed the finish line with a comfortable 3.7-second margin over Australian teammate Piastri, maintaining control throughout the race.

“Nice to be back on the top step. A good day for us,” Norris commented after his victory.

“I was pushing, trying to find that balance of pushing and staying relaxed to not make mistakes. A good start to the weekend but now I’ve got to do it all over again.”

Sunday’s main grand prix approaches with weather forecasts predicting rain and potential thunderstorms, with qualifying scheduled for later Saturday evening.

This victory marked Norris’s second sprint triumph at Hard Rock Stadium, repeating his 2025 success at the venue where the British driver earned his maiden F1 victory in 2024. Reid Wiseman, commander of the recent Artemis II Lunar flyby mission, presented the winner’s trophy.

Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad was unable to participate due to technical difficulties, while Nico Hulkenberg’s race ended before it began when his Audi vehicle caught fire en route to the starting grid.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights have punched their ticket to the second round of the playoffs following their decisive victory over the Utah Mammoth.

The Golden Knights secured the series with three consecutive wins, capping off their run with a commanding 5-1 victory in Game 6 on Friday evening, following back-to-back overtime triumphs. Throughout their first three wins in the series, Vegas demonstrated resilience by rallying from third-period deficits.

Since John Tortorella replaced the dismissed Bruce Cassidy as head coach, the Golden Knights have been on a tear, posting an impressive 7-0-1 record to close out the regular season. This transformation took them from a squad fighting for playoff positioning to capturing their fifth division championship in nine years.

The team’s depth, self-assurance, and veteran leadership proved crucial in executing clutch plays during critical moments as the series unfolded.

Forward Mitch Marner and teammate Brett Howden stepped up when it mattered most with clutch performances. Howden found the net four times throughout the series, while Marner contributed two goals along with five assists.

“When you roll four lines, it doesn’t matter too much about where the faceoff is,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said. “You can just kind of put whoever out on the ice. But it’s always a new team every year. You always find out who you are in the first round.”

The Mammoth’s quick-strike ability challenged Vegas to adapt their approach, providing valuable experience for their upcoming second-round matchup against the Anaheim Ducks.

“This is a team that came at you with a lot of speed and skill,” Marner said. “They made us work throughout that neutral zone to really try and slow them down and shut down some of their offense.”

The Golden Knights particularly dominated special teams play, effectively neutralizing Utah’s power-play opportunities. The Mammoth managed just one successful conversion in 16 man-advantage situations throughout the series.

Howden contributed two short-handed goals, including the series-clinching overtime winner in Game 5.

“Johnny Stevens, our coach who runs that, had a really good game plan for them,” Tortorella said. “Blocked some shots. Carter (Hart) made some key saves all through this series. (Utah) gained momentum off of it, but we stayed with it.”

BOSTON — When Rasmus Dahlin joined the Buffalo Sabres as the top draft pick in 2018, he dreamed of bringing playoff hockey back to a passionate fanbase that had waited six long years to see postseason action.

Now, eight seasons into his career, the defenseman has not only helped deliver that return to the playoffs but played a crucial role in the franchise’s first playoff series win in nearly 20 years.

The Sabres’ 4-1 triumph over Boston on Friday evening completed a 4-2 series win, sending Buffalo to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

As the clock wound down to zero, Dahlin paused to absorb the magnitude of the moment.

“It was unreal,” Dahlin commented after contributing one goal and three assists throughout the series. “I like how we attacked this series as a team. A lot of experienced guys. Playing the way we did all series, it’s pretty cool. We have good things ahead. We can learn a lot from this.”

Buffalo will next face either Montreal or Tampa Bay, depending on the outcome of Game 7 after the Lightning forced a decisive match with their 1-0 overtime victory Friday night.

Following a disappointing overtime defeat in Game 5 at home, head coach Lindy Ruff sensed his players’ nerves. The roster lacked playoff experience, with only 10 players having previously participated in an elimination game scenario.

However, Ruff offered his team reassurance with a bold prediction.

“I told them, ‘We’re going to win the game.’ I told them, ‘We’re going to win the series,’” Ruff explained. “We’ve got to do some things better, but we are going to win the game.”

Friday’s victory represented just the second occasion in team history that Buffalo won their opening three road games of a playoff campaign. The franchise previously accomplished this feat in 1983 with victories at Montreal and Boston.

Veteran forward Alex Tuch emphasized that the team has much bigger aspirations beyond this first-round success.

“For me it’s been five long years of waiting for something special to happen. We’re hoping it’s just the start,” Tuch stated. “We’re one round into the playoffs and in our eyes we haven’t done anything yet. … We’re hoping it’s a long road ahead for us. It’s going to be a grind each and every day and we’re going to have to be ready for it.”

Goalie Alex Lyon appeared in five of the six series games, exceeding his playoff experience from the 2022-23 season when Florida reached the Stanley Cup Final against Las Vegas.

Lyon surrendered only five goals total during his series appearances against Boston, establishing a new franchise record for fewest goals allowed by a Sabres goaltender in any five-game playoff stretch.

The netminder views the team’s inexperience as an emerging strength.

“We’re learning every game. That’s kind of what’s bonded us,” Lyon observed. “I find that we’re just learning how to handle different situations and kind of learning on the fly.”

Ruff’s sole disappointment centered on the inability to celebrate this series victory in front of the home crowd.

“Would have really liked this game to be in Buffalo,” Ruff reflected. “It wasn’t. But it would have been special to have this game there.”

HOUSTON (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick thought his team’s season might be over when star players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both suffered injuries during their April 2 matchup.

Rather than giving up, the Lakers rallied together and overcame the setbacks to defeat the Houston Rockets in a six-game series, earning them a spot against top-ranked Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals.

This marks the first time Los Angeles has reached the second playoff round since 2023, when they fell to Denver in the Western Conference championship.

LeBron James delivered 28 points during Friday night’s Game 6, while the Lakers’ aggressive defensive play limited Houston to their lowest point total of the season in a dominant 98-78 win.

“It speaks to his greatness,” Redick said. “To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player. You can argue all you want and I really don’t care to postulate on who’s the greatest of all time, but he’s one of, if not the greatest of all time.”

“And for him to do it again and answer the bell again, it’s really — it’s baffling in some ways,” Redick continued.

The Lakers jumped ahead 3-0 in the series before dropping two consecutive games, setting up the decisive sixth game in Houston against a Rockets squad that played without Kevin Durant for five of the six contests.

Los Angeles competed throughout the entire series without Doncic, though Reaves made his comeback for the final two games to help secure their advancement.

Their upcoming Thunder series was originally scheduled to begin Sunday, but Game 1 was delayed until Tuesday night after Toronto defeated Cleveland 112-110 in overtime on RJ Barrett’s clutch three-pointer, forcing a seventh game.

“Thanks to Toronto,” James said. “Thank you, RJ Barrett. Appreciate it. Haven’t seen a shot in Toronto like that since Kawhi (Leonard).”

The 41-year-old James welcomed the additional rest days after playing an average of 38.5 minutes per game for his injury-depleted squad during this series.

“Heck yeah,” he said. “I can go on the golf course now. That’s what I’m thinking about.”

James plans to begin studying Oklahoma City by Sunday.

“It’s the defending champion,” he said. “So, it’s a tall task.”

Oklahoma City will enter well-rested after completing their Phoenix sweep on Monday evening.

Redick praised both James and veteran teammate Marcus Smart for providing leadership that kept the team focused following the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, who together averaged over 56 points during the regular season.

“For us to be written off a few weeks ago and to win a playoff series is a big deal,” Redick said. “And it just speaks to the character of our team and the leaders of our team that they didn’t let go of the rope.”

Smart, playing his first year with Los Angeles, expressed pride in how the Lakers battled through adversity to claim the series victory, believing this unity will benefit them moving forward in the playoffs.

“It means everything,” he said. “It shows our resilience and it shows the belief that we have our next man up… and it just shows that no matter how depleted we are, we’re always going to go out there and compete and give it everything we got.”

Following Leeds United’s crucial 3-1 home triumph against Burnley on Friday, manager Daniel Farke is emphasizing that his squad cannot afford to relax during their final three matches of the Premier League season.

The victory elevated Leeds to 43 points, a point total that historically guarantees Premier League survival, as no club has ever been relegated with that many points in the competition’s history.

Despite the improved safety margin, Farke remains focused on maintaining his team’s competitive drive.

“Even if we should be mathematically safe before the last game day, then we would fight for each and every point,” he said. “And we want to finish as strong as possible in order to enjoy also the last game, to give our supporters more to cheer about.”

The manager described the triumph against Burnley, featuring strikes from Anton Stach, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as a “massive” confidence builder.

“The mentality and the work ethic and the unity and the spirit in the dressing room of these lads is really second to none, and I’m just proud of what they deliver at the moment,” said Farke.

“I said before the game, 12 points to fight for, but now we have the first three under our belt, we also want to win the following nine.”

Stach, the German midfielder, broke the deadlock just eight minutes into the match with a precise long-distance effort, earning special recognition from his manager.

“He always delivers unbelievable workloads in terms of covering distance, delivers top set pieces, delivers goals, he delivers assists,” Farke said of his 27-year-old fellow countryman.

“Top mentality, strong in the duels … I think he plays an outstanding season and he deserves all the praise and is in the spotlight. Definitely one of our key players and one of our best players on this level.”

The families of two pilots who died in a December aircraft accident that also killed former NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family have initiated legal action this week, filing multimillion-dollar wrongful death claims.

The tragic December 18th incident near Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina took seven lives, including 55-year-old Biffle, his wife Cristina, their two children, family friend Craig Wadsworth, and pilots Dennis Dutton and his son Jack.

Estates representing the Dutton family have each filed claims seeking $15 million in compensation, as reported by ESPN on Friday.

The legal filings contend that Biffle, who owned the aircraft, bore responsibility for maintaining the plane in proper working condition. The claims assert that insufficient maintenance played a role in the fatal accident that happened moments after departure.

A preliminary investigation report released this winter by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that Dennis Dutton was piloting the Cessna 500 Citation II with Jack Dutton serving as copilot.

The NTSB findings indicated that several aircraft instruments malfunctioned during flight, and Dennis Dutton temporarily handed control to his son before the aircraft crashed and caught fire.

Federal investigators determined that both Biffle and Jack Dutton lacked the required certification endorsements on their pilot licenses to legally act as second-in-command for this particular aircraft, which requires two qualified pilots under FAA regulations.

The NTSB continues its investigation into the accident and has yet to issue a final determination.

Biffle enjoyed a distinguished NASCAR career, securing 19 victories at the Cup Series level and earning titles in both the Truck Series in 2000 and the Busch Series in 2002. Beyond racing, he gained recognition for his charitable contributions, including disaster relief work in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

The Philadelphia Phillies maintained their perfect record under interim manager Don Mattingly, securing a narrow 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night in a road matchup.

Zack Wheeler delivered six solid innings for Philadelphia, marking just his second appearance since being sidelined for more than eight months due to a blood clot in his shoulder. Wheeler (1-0) surrendered only one run on three hits while walking two batters and recording eight strikeouts.

Bryson Stott powered the Phillies’ offense with a three-run home run, while Edmundo Sosa and Alec Bohm each contributed two hits and drove in one run apiece. The victory improved Philadelphia to a flawless 4-0 record since Mattingly took over as interim manager.

Miami’s starting pitcher Eury Perez (2-3) was tagged for two runs on four hits across five innings of work. Otto Lopez led the Marlins’ offensive effort with three hits and two RBIs.

Brewers 6, Nationals 1

Jacob Misiorowski carried a no-hitter deep into the sixth inning before exiting with a cramp, while William Contreras collected four hits as Milwaukee dominated Washington on the road.

Misiorowski departed after developing a right hamstring cramp while facing James Wood with one out in the sixth frame. Aaron Ashby entered and preserved the no-hit attempt until the seventh, when Daylen Lile broke it up with a one-out bloop double.

Misiorowski (2-2) struck out eight batters in his commanding performance, helping Milwaukee complete a combined two-hitter. Washington’s Jake Irvin (1-4) surrendered four runs, three of them earned, over five innings.

Blue Jays 7, Twins 3

Kazuma Okamoto launched two home runs and recorded three RBIs as Toronto pulled away from Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Yohendrick Pinango went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Blue Jays, while Lenyn Sosa matched that hit total with a double included. Patrick Corbin (1-0) permitted two runs on six hits across 5 1/3 innings.

Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5) surrendered six runs, four earned, on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Byron Buxton finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Twins.

Mets 4, Angels 3

Ronny Mauricio delivered a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning as New York completed its largest comeback of the season to defeat Los Angeles in Anaheim.

The Mets overcame a 3-0 deficit to win just their fourth game in the last 21 contests. Five New York pitchers, including reliever Huascar Brazoban (2-0) and closer Devin Williams (third save), combined to retire the final 21 batters they faced.

Jorge Soler connected on a two-run homer for the Angels, who dropped their 11th game in 12 tries. Jose Fermin (0-1) allowed one run in his only inning of work.

Rangers 5, Tigers 4

Alejandro Osuna drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning double as visiting Texas opened a three-game series with a victory over Detroit.

Danny Jansen belted a solo home run and Josh Jung recorded two hits with two RBIs for the Rangers, who took the lead on consecutive doubles by Jake Burger and Osuna in the eighth against Burch Smith (0-1). Tyler Alexander (1-0), one of five Texas relievers, threw a scoreless seventh inning. Jacob Latz earned his third save with a clean ninth.

Riley Greene collected two hits and an RBI for the Tigers, who have dropped three of their last four games. Wenceel Perez added a two-run single. Detroit starter Jack Flaherty gave up four runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 5

Michael Busch recorded two hits, including a two-run single, as Chicago utilized two three-run frames to fend off visiting Arizona.

Busch sparked a three-run first inning with a bases-loaded single, and the Cubs tacked on three more runs in the fourth against Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (1-2) for their third victory in four games and ninth consecutive home win.

Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas achieved a career-high four hits, boosting his batting average to a major-league-leading .404 and extending his season-opening hitting streak to 24 games.

Red Sox 3, Astros 1

Jarren Duran connected on a three-run homer and Jake Bennett excelled in his major league debut to lead Boston past visiting Houston.

Bennett (1-0) gave up one run on five hits across five innings, while the Red Sox bullpen contributed four scoreless frames from four relievers. Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his sixth save.

Carlos Correa tallied three hits, including a home run, while Isaac Paredes and Yainer Diaz each collected two hits for the Astros. Houston starter Mike Burrows (1-4) allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings.

Rays 3, Giants 0

Shane McClanahan posted his second consecutive scoreless outing, while Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero homered as Tampa Bay began a six-game homestand with a victory over struggling San Francisco.

McClanahan (3-2) scattered five hits over six innings. Diaz launched a solo home run in the second inning and Caminero added a towering solo shot in the fourth. Taylor Walls went 2-for-3 with a double, run and stolen base.

Giants starter Robbie Ray (2-4) limited Tampa Bay to just four hits in 6 1/3 innings, but three runs crossed the plate. Luis Arraez doubled for the team’s only extra-base hit as San Francisco suffered its fourth straight loss and was blanked for a major-league-high seventh time.

Yankees 7, Orioles 2

Ben Rice launched a three-run homer in the second inning as host New York defeated Baltimore.

Jose Caballero also went deep and Cody Bellinger contributed an RBI double as the Yankees captured their 11th victory in 13 games. Will Warren (4-0) permitted two runs, one earned, on three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Former Mets star Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles during the offseason. Cade Povich (1-1) was charged with five runs on seven hits in four innings.

Pirates 9, Reds 1

Bryan Reynolds extended his success against Cincinnati pitching with a tape-measure homer and an RBI triple, supporting seven strong innings from Mitch Keller as host Pittsburgh routed Cincinnati.

Henry Davis broke out with two home runs and three runs scored, Marcell Ozuna contributed a two-run shot and Nick Gonzales went 3-for-4 for the Pirates, who ended a five-game losing streak. Keller (3-1) permitted only three hits and one run in seven innings.

The Reds managed just three hits, with TJ Friedl collecting two of them. Brady Singer (2-2) was battered for four runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

White Sox 8, Padres 2

Munetaka Murakami crushed his big-league-leading 13th homer and rookie starter Noah Schultz held San Diego to two hits in six shutout innings as visiting Chicago dominated the Padres.

Murakami capped a six-run second-inning explosion against German Marquez, driving a hanging knuckle-curve an estimated 413 feet. That three-run blast essentially decided the contest as Schultz (2-1) overcame early control problems.

Marquez (3-2) saw his three-game winning streak end after allowing seven runs on five hits and five walks over five innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. managed three hits in the Padres’ third straight defeat.

Cardinals 7, Dodgers 2

Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson homered, Jordan Walker collected four hits and host St. Louis stretched its winning streak to five games by beating Los Angeles.

Matthew Liberatore (1-1) allowed two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. George Soriano, Gordon Graceffo and Matt Svanson kept Los Angeles scoreless the remainder of the game.

Emmet Sheehan (2-1) surrendered four runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings as the Dodgers dropped their third consecutive contest.

Royals 7, Mariners 6

Pinch hitter Lane Thomas delivered a run-scoring single with one out in the eighth inning to break a tie as Kansas City defeated host Seattle, overcoming two two-run homers by Julio Rodriguez.

Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone connected for the Royals, who won just their fourth road game in 16 tries this season. Connor Joe and Randy Arozarena also homered for Seattle, which had captured six of its previous seven games.

Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV (1-0) gave up two runs in his only inning. Lucas Erceg worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Braves 8, Rockies 6

Michael Harris II blasted a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning as Atlanta rallied from six runs down to defeat Colorado in Denver.

Matt Olson also homered, while Austin Riley, Mauricio Dubon and Ronald Acuna each recorded two hits. Didier Fuentes (1-0) earned the victory in relief for the Braves, who won their fourth game in the last five.

Mickey Moniak homered among his two hits and Troy Johnston also collected two hits for the Rockies, who have dropped three of their last four games.

Guardians 8, A’s 5

Rhys Hoskins homered, doubled and drove in three runs while Chase DeLauter went 4-for-4 with two RBIs, leading Cleveland past the Athletics in West Sacramento.

Steven Kwan had two hits and a walk while making a spectacular catch that prevented three runs for the Guardians. Cade Smith retired the final four batters for his eighth save.

Brent Rooker went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz finished 0-for-4 but drew a walk in the seventh to reach base for the 26th consecutive game. He has walked in 20 straight games, tied for the majors’ second-longest streak ever.

Kansas City secured a thrilling 7-6 victory over Seattle Friday night when substitute batter Lane Thomas drove in the decisive run with a single during the eighth inning, capping off a home run-heavy battle between the two clubs.

The Royals overcame two powerful two-run blasts from Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez to claim their fourth road win in 16 attempts this season and snap a brief two-game losing streak by taking the series opener.

Home runs flew throughout the contest, with Kansas City getting long balls from Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, while Seattle answered with solo shots from Connor Joe and Randy Arozarena in addition to Rodriguez’s pair of two-run homers.

Kansas City reliever Daniel Lynch IV earned the win despite surrendering two runs in his single inning of work, while closer Lucas Erceg secured his eighth save by retiring Seattle in order during the ninth.

The game-winning rally began when Salvador Perez opened the eighth with a double down the left field line, his second two-bagger of the evening. After advancing to third base on Carter Jensen’s ground out, Perez crossed home plate when Thomas lofted a single into right-center field off Seattle reliever Jose A. Ferrer, who took the loss.

Kansas City jumped ahead early as Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr. and Pasquantino each collected singles to start the game, with Pasquantino’s hit plating the first run. Perez then drove a two-run double to right field for a 3-0 lead, and Isaac Collins added another run with a two-out double that deflected off third baseman Leo Rivas’ glove.

Seattle responded immediately in the bottom of the first when J.P. Crawford walked to lead off and Rodriguez launched a two-run homer deep into the left field upper deck to cut the deficit in half.

The Mariners crept closer in the fifth inning when Joe connected on a leadoff home run to left field, making it 4-3.

Kansas City extended their advantage in the sixth as Pasquantino led off with a liner that struck the right field upper deck facade. Two batters later, Caglianone barely cleared the right field corner fence with a towering drive to push the Royals ahead 6-3.

Arozarena answered with a one-out solo homer to right field in the bottom of the sixth to bring Seattle within two runs.

The Mariners completed their comeback in the seventh when Crawford singled and Rodriguez blasted a two-out homer to straightaway center field, evening the score at 6-6.

Both starting pitchers had difficulty containing the opposing offenses throughout the evening.

Kansas City southpaw Cole Ragans lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on four hits while allowing three home runs. He issued three walks and recorded eight strikeouts.

Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo encountered early trouble by giving up four runs in the opening frame, then found his rhythm by retiring 13 straight batters before yielding the two solo homers in the sixth. Woo completed six innings, allowing six runs on seven hits without issuing a walk while striking out two.

Tampa Bay forward Gage Goncalves found the back of the net during overtime Friday night, delivering a crucial 1-0 road victory against Montreal and setting up a winner-take-all Game 7 showdown in their Stanley Cup playoff matchup.

The series finale will take place Sunday at Tampa Bay’s home arena, with both clubs vying to advance to face Buffalo in the second round.

Friday’s dramatic contest reached its conclusion when Goncalves capitalized on a chaotic net-front sequence, burying a rebound 9:03 into the extra period for his first overtime playoff goal.

The game-winner came moments after Tampa Bay successfully defended a Montreal man-advantage opportunity.

“I liked how we stayed even-keeled the whole game,” Goncalves told Sportsnet. “Some calls there. Some calls (were) not (made). A bunch of chances for them and for us throughout the night, but we stayed even-keeled and didn’t let it get to us.”

Tampa Bay netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy bounced back from earlier series struggles with a stellar 30-save shutout performance, recording his eighth career playoff clean sheet.

“I’ve watched him the past few years and you think you’ve seen the best of it and then he does something like this,” Goncalves said of his netminder. “We’re pretty happy for him to be on our team.”

Montreal’s Jakub Dobes matched his counterpart’s excellence, turning aside 32 shots in an outstanding goaltending battle.

The entire series has featured razor-thin margins, with each contest settled by a single goal. Both teams have captured two overtime victories apiece.

Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis expressed optimism about the decisive seventh game ahead.

“Tons of confidence. We’re a confident group,” St. Louis said about going to Game 7. “We believe in what we do and how we do it. … That was probably the best game I’ve seen this young group play.”

“You’ve just got to embrace the situation. Things are meant to be. I think it was meant to be for our growth to play a Game 7. It’s going to help for what’s next for us.”

Despite the low-scoring affair, both teams created numerous high-quality scoring opportunities throughout the evening.

Tampa Bay nearly broke through early in the middle frame when Corey Perry’s shot squeezed between Dobes’ pads, only to have Phillip Danault sweep the puck away from the goal line.

Later in the second period, Vasilevskiy denied Ivan Demidov twice with spectacular saves during a Montreal power play, leaving the forward staring at the ceiling in disbelief. Danault also came close on a partial breakaway as time expired in the period.

Alexandre Texier, who provided the Game 5 winner, struck the goalpost early in the final frame, while Jake Guentzel was denied on a breakaway chance at the opposite end.

During Tampa Bay’s subsequent power play, both Nikita Kucherov and Guentzel hit the iron with their attempts.

Dobes continued his outstanding play during another Lightning man-advantage later in the third period, highlighted by a crucial save on Brayden Point.

Buffalo secured their spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals Friday night with a decisive 4-1 victory against Boston in Game 6, marking the Sabres’ first playoff series victory in nearly two decades.

The Sabres took control early, with Alex Tuch and Mattias Samuelsson finding the net during the first period to establish a commanding 2-0 advantage. Buffalo maintained their lead throughout the contest, adding third-period goals from Zach Benson and Josh Norris to seal the victory.

This marks Buffalo’s first advancement to the conference semifinals since 2007, ending a lengthy postseason drought. The Sabres dominated their road games in the series, capturing all three contests played at Boston’s home venue.

Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin contributed significantly to the offensive effort, each recording two assists in the victory. Goaltender Alex Lyon was solid between the pipes, turning away 25 shots to help secure the series-clinching win.

For Boston, David Pastrnak managed the team’s only goal, while Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves in the losing effort.

In other playoff action, Vegas eliminated Utah 5-1 in Game 6, with Mitch Marner leading the way with two goals and an assist. The Golden Knights will face Anaheim in the Western Conference semifinals.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay kept their season alive with a 1-0 overtime victory over Montreal, forcing a decisive Game 7. Gage Goncalves netted the game-winner at 9:03 of overtime, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves for his eighth career playoff shutout.

The Los Angeles Lakers put an end to Houston’s playoff run on Friday night, defeating the Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 to capture their Western Conference first-round series with a 4-2 victory.

LeBron James dominated the opening half, netting 18 of his game-high 28 points as Los Angeles built a commanding early advantage on the road. The veteran superstar also contributed seven rebounds and eight assists in the decisive win.

With the series victory secured, the Lakers will now advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they’ll face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 1 of that matchup is scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

Rui Hachimura provided crucial support for Los Angeles, contributing 21 points while connecting on an impressive 5-of-7 attempts from beyond the three-point line. Austin Reaves, making his first start of the series, chipped in 15 points for the Lakers.

Los Angeles cleaned up a major weakness that had plagued them throughout the series, turning the ball over just 11 times while holding Houston to a poor 35% shooting performance. The Rockets struggled mightily from long range, making only 5 of 28 three-point attempts for a dismal 17.9% success rate.

Alperen Sengun led Houston’s effort with 17 points and 11 rebounds, but the Rockets played their fifth game of the series without top scorer Kevin Durant.

In other playoff action, RJ Barrett delivered a clutch three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Toronto over Cleveland 112-110, forcing a decisive Game 7. Barrett’s shot bounced high off the rim before dropping through the net. Scottie Barnes recorded 25 points and 14 assists for the Raptors, while Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter each added 24 points.

Cleveland got 26 points and 14 rebounds from Evan Mobley, with Donovan Mitchell contributing 24 points. James Harden nearly recorded a triple-double with 16 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. The deciding game will take place Sunday in Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Detroit staged a remarkable comeback from a 24-point deficit to shock Orlando 93-79 and force Game 7 of their Eastern Conference series. Cade Cunningham paced the Pistons with 32 points as Detroit outscored the Magic 55-19 in the second half.

The top-seeded Pistons opened the final quarter with an 18-1 surge to take control after trailing by 22 points at halftime. Orlando endured a brutal cold streak, missing 23 straight field goal attempts over a 15-minute span in the second half. Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero each scored 17 points for the Magic, who managed just 12 points in the first 19 minutes of the second half.

Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner attributes the rush of adrenaline from high-pressure competitions to his ability to overcome exhaustion as he secured his first-ever appearance in the Madrid Open championship match.

The 24-year-old athlete has maintained an intense competitive calendar during the previous two months, advancing to late stages across multiple tournaments as the professional circuit transitioned from hard court surfaces to clay court play, capturing championships at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo.

“I’ve played a lot in the last one and a half months, going very deep in tournaments,” Sinner explained to media following his 6-2 6-4 victory against Arthur Fils during Friday’s Madrid semi-final competition.

“It’s a good sign, of course, and at the same time you tend to get a little bit more tired.

“I think and I believe, when I play big matches, semi-finals, quarter-finals, finals, there’s also a little bit of adrenaline that pushes me.”

A championship win against Alexander Zverev in Madrid this Sunday would secure Sinner’s fifth consecutive Masters 1000 tournament victory dating back to Paris last year and would highlight his impressive performance during the clay court season, with Roland Garros scheduled to begin May 24.

Given that current French Open titleholder Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn due to a wrist injury, the world’s top-ranked player Sinner enters as the primary favorite in Paris, where he could achieve the career Grand Slam after previously winning the Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon championships.

Currently, though, Sinner’s attention stays centered on Madrid and the upcoming Italian Open in Rome next week.

“I’m of course very happy to play my first final here. It means a lot to me … whatever (happens) on Sunday, it has been a great tournament,” Sinner stated.

“In between here and Rome I’ll try to recover again as much and then we’ll see.”

Professional soccer players and league officials have struck a tentative labor deal that promises stability for the United Soccer League through the end of the decade.

The United Soccer League and USL Players Association announced they’ve reached a collective bargaining agreement covering the next four years, with the possibility of extending through 2031 based on health insurance negotiations.

Both sides described the agreement as “a significant step forward for the league and its players, reflecting a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game and the advancement of professional standards” in their joint announcement.

Under the new contract terms, players in the USL Championship division will see their base pay jump to $42,000 annually, marking an $11,000 boost from current levels. Rookie contracts in that division will start at $34,000, representing an $8,000 increase.

The league also plans to launch USL Premier in 2028, a new top-tier division designed to rival Major League Soccer. Players in that division will earn a minimum of $67,500, while entry-level contracts will begin at $50,000.

The agreement still requires ratification but represents a major milestone for professional soccer’s lower divisions.

MIAMI – Formula One champion Lando Norris secured the top starting position for Saturday’s Miami Grand Prix sprint race, with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claiming second place and preventing McLaren from sweeping the front row.

Norris recorded the fastest lap around Hard Rock Stadium with a time of one minute and 27.869 seconds, finishing 0.222 seconds ahead of Antonelli, who had claimed sprint pole position as a teenager last season.

McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri from Australia will start in third position, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc joining him on the second row for Saturday’s sprint event.

The full Miami Grand Prix, which serves as the season’s fourth round, takes place on Sunday.

“A perfect result for us. A nice way to reward the team,” Norris commented after qualifying, having won last year’s sprint race and placed second to Piastri in the main event.

“We have a lot of new upgrades on the car. It’s nice to feel some grip again and to reward the guys and the girls that have put a lot of work into this,” he continued.

“I’ve always loved Miami on and off the track. It’s the beginning of the weekend, so still a long way to go but nice to tick things off by doing this.”

McLaren has claimed victory in the previous two Miami Grand Prix races. The event is now in its fifth year, and Mercedes – despite winning the first three races of this season – has never triumphed in Miami.

Norris becomes the first driver this season to prevent Mercedes from claiming any type of pole position, demonstrating that the team’s significant car upgrades have improved performance and provided better track grip.

Sunday’s race marks the first U.S. event of the year and the first since new engine regulations were modified to enable more aggressive qualifying sessions and enhance safety measures.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull will start fifth in the 100-kilometer sprint race, which awards eight points to the winner.

Mercedes driver George Russell, currently second in the championship standings but trailing Antonelli by nine points, qualified sixth. He finished ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto at a circuit known for providing more overtaking opportunities than most tracks.

“Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That’s pretty damn impressive,” Russell observed, having won the season opener in Australia.

“From my side, I’ve been struggling. Miami is not a track I love, especially in those hotter conditions but it’s only Sprint Qualifying, so let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten starting positions.

Aston Martin’s challenging season persisted as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished at the back of the field, once again trailing behind the newcomer Cadillac team.

MIAMI – Four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen expressed renewed optimism about his Red Bull team’s performance following Friday’s qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix, where he secured fifth position for Saturday’s sprint race.

The Dutch racing star, who has claimed victory twice at the Miami circuit, indicated his team has made substantial progress in narrowing the performance deficit to their competitors this season.

Verstappen has struggled with Formula One’s current regulatory framework and has even questioned his long-term commitment to the sport. Through three races and one sprint event this season, his highest finish has been sixth place.

“It feels a bit more normal, a bit more together,” Verstappen commented about his team’s upgraded vehicle before the first race weekend in over a month.

“There are still, of course, things we are working on, but it’s been a really positive step for us. The last few races, we were like over a second behind. I would say we have almost halved that gap now, so that’s very positive.”

During Friday’s qualifying session, Verstappen’s fastest lap was 0.592 seconds behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who secured pole position. Norris captured the championship title from Verstappen last season.

Verstappen’s French teammate Isack Hadjar will start ninth, finishing 1.553 seconds off the pole time.

University of Minnesota’s starting quarterback Drake Lindsey found himself in legal trouble Friday after being taken into custody on charges involving fraudulent identification and underage alcohol possession.

The incident occurred in Arkansas, Lindsey’s home state, when Fayetteville law enforcement officers responded to a local establishment’s report of suspected fake identification use.

According to preliminary police documentation, the 20-year-old athlete confessed to possessing the fraudulent ID and acknowledged consuming alcohol prior to arriving at the establishment.

Lindsey remained in custody at the Washington County Detention Center for approximately seven hours before securing release on $470 bond, detention records show. Court appearances are scheduled for June 1 and June 29 in district court.

When contacted by ESPN, a University of Minnesota representative stated the institution is “aware of the situation and will address it internally.”

During his freshman campaign last season, Lindsey served as the Golden Gophers’ primary signal-caller and established a new program milestone with eight victories as a first-year quarterback. His statistical performance included 2,382 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes, six interceptions, and a 63.2% completion percentage.

ORLANDO, Fla. — When Orlando’s Paolo Banchero was asked to describe his team’s second-half meltdown against Detroit on Friday night, the forward kept his explanation brief.

“They went on a pretty big run there,” Banchero explained. “And we didn’t score.”

That simple assessment captured the essence of what became one of the most remarkable playoff turnarounds in recent memory.

Detroit, staring down elimination while trailing by 24 points on the road, mounted an extraordinary rally to defeat Orlando 93-79 in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference opening round matchup. The victory prevented the Pistons from becoming another top seed eliminated by an eighth-seeded opponent.

“We weren’t going to lay down,” declared Pistons guard Cade Cunningham. “For anything.”

The numbers behind this dramatic reversal tell the complete story:

Through the game’s first 25 minutes, Orlando dominated 62-38. However, Detroit completely flipped the script over the final 23 minutes, outscoring the Magic 55-17.

The fourth quarter proved devastating for Orlando, as Detroit outpaced them 31-8 during those crucial 12 minutes.

Orlando’s shooting completely disappeared in the final period, connecting on just one of 20 attempts for a dismal 5% success rate. This marked the poorest shooting performance by any NBA team in any quarter since Washington managed the same percentage against Charlotte on November 25, 2015 — representing the worst such display across the league’s previous 20,238 games.

The Magic’s shooting woes reached historic proportions as they missed 23 consecutive field goal attempts, setting a new record for the longest such streak in any playoff contest during the play-by-play tracking era that began in 1996-97.

Key Orlando players struggled mightily during the drought. Both Banchero and Desmond Bane failed to connect on all six of their attempts, while Jalen Suggs went scoreless on four shots. Eight different Magic players contributed to the missed shot parade, with 13 of those 23 misses coming from beyond the three-point arc.

When Orlando’s shooting struggles began, they held a comfortable 70-54 advantage. By the time they finally made another basket, Detroit had surged ahead 89-75, completing a devastating 35-5 run that lasted 13 minutes and 50 seconds of game time.

Cunningham led Detroit’s second-half surge with seven field goals, while Duncan Robinson contributed four baskets during that span. Remarkably, Cunningham alone outscored the entire Magic roster 24-19 in the second half, while Orlando managed just four team baskets over those final two quarters.

“I mean, we just have amazing spirit and never quit,” said Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “This is a testament to what we’ve built.”

Detroit’s shooting wasn’t spectacular in the comeback, as they connected on 40% of their second-half attempts. However, their defensive intensity and rebounding dominance — they grabbed 35 rebounds compared to Orlando’s 17 in the second half — proved decisive.

Looking ahead to the series-deciding seventh game, Cunningham emphasized the significance of extending their season.

“It keeps us alive. It allows us to fight another day. And now it’s about us going and finishing the job. None of this stuff means anything if we don’t go win Game 7. But we’ll be back at home, we’ll have a lot of energy in there, and these last two games have given us a lot of life,” Cunningham said.

The National Basketball Association issued financial penalties Friday to two players who engaged in an on-court confrontation during Thursday evening’s playoff matchup.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson received a $50,000 penalty, while Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels was hit with a $25,000 fine. According to NBA head of basketball operations James Jones, Robinson’s penalty amount was elevated due to “an inappropriate post on social media in reference to the incident postgame.”

The confrontation occurred during the second quarter of New York’s dominant 140-89 victory in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series in Atlanta. The incident began when Robinson and Daniels became entangled while competing for a rebound. According to the league’s official statement, “Both players escalated the altercation with Robinson continuing to aggressively pursue Daniels after the players had been separated.”

The situation intensified when additional players entered the fray, apparently attempting to separate the two primary participants. During the commotion, an official was knocked to the ground.

Both Robinson and Daniels received technical fouls and were removed from the contest.

With the series-clinching victory, the Knicks have advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will face either the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers. Those two teams are scheduled to play their decisive Game 7 in Boston on Saturday.

A promising no-hit bid came to an abrupt end when Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski was forced to exit with an injury during the sixth inning against Washington on Tuesday night.

Misiorowski had been cruising through his outing, holding the Nationals hitless for 5⅓ innings before the injury occurred. The moment came after he delivered a 98.9-mph fastball for a strike to James Wood with one out in the sixth. The right-handed pitcher then signaled toward Milwaukee’s dugout, prompting manager Pat Murphy and trainer Brad Epstein to visit the mound and remove him from the contest.

Up to that point, Misiorowski had been masterful on the mound, recording eight strikeouts while issuing just two walks. His control was particularly sharp late in his appearance, as he set down 12 consecutive batters, finishing off the final four via strikeout.

Relief pitcher Aaron Ashby entered the game with Milwaukee holding a 4-0 advantage and successfully preserved the combined no-hit effort through six complete innings. Ashby struck out Wood and induced a ground out from Luis Garcia Jr. to maintain the streak before the Nationals eventually broke through with a hit.

The St. Louis Blues announced Friday they have secured forward Dylan Holloway with a five-year contract extension valued at $38.75 million.

The deal keeps the 24-year-old player with the franchise through the 2030-31 season, with the new contract taking effect for the upcoming campaign. Holloway will celebrate his 25th birthday in September.

During the most recent season, Holloway emerged as a key offensive contributor for St. Louis, finishing as the team’s runner-up in both total points with 51 and goals scored with 22 across 59 contests.

Since joining the Blues as a free agent following the 2023-24 campaign, Holloway has compiled impressive statistics with 48 goals and 114 total points over 136 games played.

The forward’s professional journey began when Edmonton selected him in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. During his time with the Oilers, Holloway appeared in 89 regular season contests across two years, recording nine goals and 18 total points.

Holloway’s breakout performance came during Edmonton’s 2023-24 playoff run, where he netted five goals across 25 postseason games as the Oilers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Florida Panthers. Following that playoff appearance, he departed Edmonton to sign with St. Louis.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Salisbury University’s track and field athletes delivered outstanding performances during the opening day of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Outdoor Championships held at the University of Mary Washington’s Battleground Athletic Complex.

The Sea Gulls demonstrated exceptional talent throughout the competition, earning numerous All-Conference recognitions while several athletes achieved personal record performances.

Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams from Salisbury University participated in the championship event, showcasing their skills against other conference competitors in various field and running events.

The Houston Texans have locked up one of their defensive stars for the long haul, announcing a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair that will keep him in Houston through the 2029 season.

While the organization did not disclose financial details when making the announcement Friday, reports indicate the extension is valued at $54 million.

“Truthfully, I just wanted to be authentically myself and I always felt like if I got the opportunity to be at a place and show everybody who I was, then things would go well for the team and myself,” he said. “I’m grateful for that.”

The contract extension follows another major deal for Houston, as defensive end Will Anderson recently inked a three-year, $150 million extension that established him as the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.

Al-Shaair has been a key contributor for Houston over the past two seasons, participating in 27 games while recording 173 tackles, eight tackles for losses, two sacks, 13 passes defensed, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.

His breakout campaign last year earned him his inaugural Pro Bowl selection after starting 16 games for a Houston defense that ranked first in the league by surrendering just 277.2 yards per game while allowing the second-fewest points at 17.4 per contest during the regular season.

The linebacker arrived in Houston following a stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Al-Shaair spent his initial four NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he compiled 199 tackles and 11 tackles for losses across 56 games.

Beyond his on-field contributions, Al-Shaair earned recognition for his community involvement last season when he received Houston’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. He actively supports various charitable organizations focused on helping homeless youth, drawing from his own childhood experience with homelessness after his family lost their home in a fire.

During Friday’s announcement, Al-Shaair reflected on a promise he made to his mother as a child, when she was reluctant to let him play football due to injury concerns.

“We were staying in a motel at the time, (and I said) ‘I promise you, if you let me play football I’m going to make it to the NFL, I’ll take care of our family one day,’” he said. “I had no clue if I was ever actually going to be able to do it or not. I never saw it done. … So, to sit here years and years later, to be actually living that out, is absolutely amazing.”

Cameron Young has established a commanding five-stroke lead at the midway point of the Cadillac Championship after firing a 67 on Friday’s second round at Trump National Doral near Miami.

Young’s stellar performance pushed him to 13-under par through 36 holes. Meanwhile, Alex Smalley stumbled with a second-round 71, finding the water hazard on the 18th hole for a bogey that left him tied at 8-under alongside Canada’s Nick Taylor (70) and Jordan Spieth (71).

The strong showing puts Young in position for a potential Florida sweep, coming just six weeks after he claimed The Players Championship, the most significant victory of his professional career. The tournament marks the PGA Tour’s return to Trump National Doral’s legendary “Blue Monster” course for the first time since 2016, as part of the tour’s new $20 million signature event format with no cut.

Spieth managed to stay in the hunt despite a lackluster performance through most of his round. The former major champion was 1-over through 15 holes before rescuing his day with birdies on the 16th and 18th holes. Spieth is still searching for his first victory since claiming the 2022 RBC Heritage.

Gary Woodland holds down fifth place by himself at 7-under after shooting 69 on Friday.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler improved his position with a 67 to move into a six-way tie for sixth at 6-under. Joining him in that group are South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (68), Canada’s Taylor Pendrith (67), Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan (68), Brian Harman (70), and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick, who posted one of Friday’s best scores with a 66.

Alex Fitzpatrick, younger brother of World No. 3 Matt Fitzpatrick, recently earned full PGA Tour membership status after the siblings captured the team title at last Sunday’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Just fourteen days removed from capturing his inaugural PGA Tour Champions major championship, Stewart Cink finds himself perfectly positioned to secure a second major victory.

The 52-year-old golfer posted a seven-under-par 65 during Friday’s second round at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama, establishing a two-stroke advantage over Charlie Wi at the midway point of the 72-hole Regions Tradition tournament.

At 14-under 130 for the tournament, Cink holds a three-shot margin over South Africa’s Retief Goosen, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, and Alex Cejka from Czechia, while sitting five strokes ahead of New Zealand’s Steven Alker.

Cink duplicated his first-round scoring pattern, recording eight birdies against a single bogey for the consecutive day.

“I made a long putt on 17,” Cink explained. “Had a couple two-putt birdies, a couple pretty simple up-and-downs. It was really nothing for the history books, it was just some good play. The golf course is really receiving the ball really well. You know, the greens are soft, but they’re not spinning back that much so it’s really, it’s very scorable out there.”

Having been raised in Florence, Alabama, approximately 120 miles northwest of Birmingham, Cink expects increased gallery support throughout the weekend due to his proximity to home.

“And it has nothing to do with being on top of the leaderboard,” Cink noted. “They were already coming, so I’m glad they’re going to be here. I’m going to have some of my north and central Alabaman friends and family here the rest of the weekend, so that will be great to see them and hopefully give them something to cheer about.”

Goosen matched Cink and Ken Tanigawa as the only competitors in the 77-player field to post a 65 on Friday, though the South African remained critical of his round.

“If you can drive it well on this course, you’re going to have a lot of short irons in,” Goosen commented. “The greens at the moment are just perfect, but today I missed a lot of fairways in — a couple of really wild ones. Going to go hit a few now and try and see if I can smooth it out.”

Wi produced an outstanding beginning en route to his second straight 66. Starting on the back nine, the 54-year-old opened with five straight birdies, something he believes represents a career first.

“I’ve been hitting my irons really well,” Wi said. “I’ve been hitting them pretty close, so I (gave) myself a lot of opportunities, and I was able to make a couple putts.”

The world’s top-ranked women’s golfer Nelly Korda finds herself tied for the lead heading into the weekend at the Riviera May Open at Mayakoba, sharing the 36-hole lead with 345th-ranked Brianna Do after Friday’s action in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Coming off her recent major championship victory at the Chevron Championship and return to the number one ranking, Korda fired a 5-under 67 during Friday’s second round at El Camaleon Golf Course, bringing her total to 9-under 135.

Do, who entered the day sharing the first-round lead with Melanie Green, posted a 69 on Friday to match Korda’s total. The veteran golfer held a commanding position at 10-under through most of her back nine, but stumbled with her only mistake of the day – a bogey on the par-4 ninth hole that dropped her back into a tie.

Green finished Friday’s round with a 70, placing her alone in third position at 8-under, while Japan’s Minami Katsu sits fourth at 7-under after shooting 68.

Korda’s round featured five birdies – three on the front nine and two more on the back – with no bogeys to mar her scorecard. She found 16 of 18 greens in regulation despite hitting only half of the fairways.

“Overall just a solid day. You know, didn’t make any mistakes really. If I did, I bounced back really well,” Korda said.

The 27-year-old has been in exceptional form recently, recording two wins and three runner-up finishes in her five tournaments prior to this week.

Do presents a stark contrast to her co-leader. The 36-year-old veteran has spent over a decade grinding on the professional tour since turning pro in 2013, with just one top-10 finish to her credit – which came at this same tournament last year.

Currently ranked 345th globally, Do said she drew confidence from her opening-round 66, starting Friday strong with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes.

“I put myself in that position last year here and so I think I’m going to be a little more prepared for it this year,” Do said of being in contention. “I don’t think you’re ever very comfortable being in contention and leading, and so I’m going accept it and kind of just play within myself and feel the feels and kind of see what happens. Just accept what happens.”

China’s Yu Liu recorded the day’s best score with a 66 that included an eagle on the par-5 18th hole, moving her to 6-under and into a tie for fifth alongside Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who shot 71.

Four players are knotted at 5-under in a tie for seventh place: Germany’s Olivia Cowan (68), Paraguay’s Sofia Garcia (69), Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol (69), and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez (71).

Lopez, who failed to make the cut when this tournament debuted last year, expressed gratitude for competing in her homeland while paired with Korda.

“It’s been really, really fun to play in Mexico, play with Nelly,” Lopez said. “Today wasn’t exactly my day. I didn’t hit it as good off the tee. Got myself a little bit in trouble.

“But very happy how I’m hitting my irons. The putts are just patiently hoping to drop. Yeah, very happy with how I’m feeling inside the golf course.”

BOSTON — An aircraft carrying a protest message spent more than an hour flying above Boston’s iconic baseball stadium on Friday, displaying frustration with the struggling Red Sox organization as players prepared for their game against Houston.

The aircraft pulled a large banner featuring bold red text that read: “FIRE CRAIG! SELL THE TEAM!”

The aerial demonstration targeted Craig Breslow, the team’s chief baseball officer, and principal owner John Henry as the Red Sox continue their disappointing season.

Boston entered Friday’s matchup with the Astros sitting at the bottom of the American League East division with a troubling 12-19 record.

The organization made a significant change on April 25 when Breslow dismissed manager Alex Cora following a dominant 17-1 road win against Baltimore.

The aircraft made continuous loops around the stadium for over sixty minutes while spectators gathering outside the ballpark stopped to look skyward and decipher the message.

Given the team’s struggles this year, supporters at Fenway have been vocal with “Sell the team!” chants. These protests became more pronounced following last week’s home sweep by their historic rivals, the New York Yankees.

The 50-year-old Cora previously guided Boston’s most recent championship squad in 2018, a team that established a franchise record with 108 wins during the regular season. Cora also played on the organization’s 2007 championship roster. During his managerial tenure, Cora compiled a 620-541 record and became this season’s first skipper to be let go.

Henry’s sports portfolio also includes ownership of Liverpool Football Club, where supporters recently demonstrated against increased ticket costs.

Toronto Raptors star forward Brandon Ingram will miss tonight’s pivotal Game 6 matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a sore right heel injury, head coach Darko Rajakovic announced Friday.

The All-Star player exited during the middle portion of the second quarter in Toronto’s 125-120 defeat in Cleveland earlier this week. Ingram managed just one point during his 11 minutes on the court before leaving the game.

Following a stellar regular season debut with Toronto where he posted 21.5 points per contest, Ingram has faced challenges in postseason play, managing only 12 points per game through five contests versus Cleveland. His shooting performance has been below par, connecting on 19 of 58 field goal attempts and hitting 5 of 13 three-point shots.

The Cavaliers hold a commanding 3-2 series advantage and have the opportunity to close out the Eastern Conference first-round matchup with a victory on their home court Friday evening. Notably, the host team has emerged victorious in all five previous games of this playoff series.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The fire alarm system at Orlando’s Kia Center apparently didn’t want to hear discussions about a potential Game 7 between the Magic and Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

During head coach Jamahl Mosley’s pregame press conference before Game 6, loud alarm horns suddenly began echoing through the arena. The timing couldn’t have been more ironic — a reporter had just asked whether injured forward Franz Wagner could potentially return for a seventh game.

As the question was posed, the emergency sirens kicked in.

“That’s not a good sign,” Mosley remarked.

The coach attempted to continue answering, noting that Wagner’s availability would depend on his response to ongoing treatment. Meanwhile, an automated announcement system began broadcasting evacuation procedures to anyone inside the facility.

When the alarms sounded again moments later, Mosley decided to wrap up the session.

“All right, that’s good, thank you, appreciate it,” Mosley said as he concluded the interview.

A team representative later verified the alarms were malfunctioning. Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s media session, which began roughly ten minutes after Mosley’s concluded, proceeded without any emergency interruptions.

Orlando entered Friday’s contest holding a 3-2 series advantage over the Pistons.

The San Diego Padres activated right-handed pitcher Jeremiah Estrada from the 15-day injured list on Friday after a three-week absence due to right elbow tendinitis.

Estrada, 27, had been out of action for the past three weeks dealing with the elbow issue that has limited his early season availability.

This season, the relief pitcher holds a 1-1 record with a 5.14 earned run average across seven appearances, recording eight strikeouts while issuing five walks over seven innings of work.

To make space on the active roster for Estrada’s return, San Diego sent right-handed pitcher David Morgan down to their Triple-A affiliate in El Paso.

Morgan, 26, compiled a 2-0 record this season with a 6.08 earned run average over 11 games, tallying 15 strikeouts and 11 walks in 13 1/3 innings pitched.

Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau maintains his loyalty to LIV Golf despite mounting uncertainty about the league’s financial future, according to a report from Flushing It Golf released Friday.

The league faces significant challenges after learning that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund will cease providing financial backing following the current season. This development has raised questions about the future of top players including DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith, who represent some of LIV’s most prominent talent.

When asked about potential discussions with the PGA Tour, DeChambeau firmly dismissed such speculation.

“I’m working as hard as I can to find a solution,” DeChambeau explained to Flushing It Golf. “I’m committed to making team golf work in the best way possible. I think there’s a place for it in the ecosystem and I want to continue to grow the game across the world. That’s always been our mission, and it’s never been more true than now.”

The 32-year-old golfer revealed that LIV is developing youth programs as part of its expansion efforts.

“We’re building a bunch of junior golf events right now and each (LIV) team is looking to build junior golf academies,” he explained. “That’s something that we’ve been working on for almost three or four months now. We’re looking to host an event here coming up, probably in the next, I’d say, couple of months.”

DeChambeau originally signed with LIV in June 2022 under a deal reportedly worth $125 million, which concludes at the season’s end. Before the funding complications emerged, he had allegedly pursued a $500 million extension agreement.

“We’re still working on a potential contract,” DeChambeau stated. “I haven’t given up on that and I think there will be a solution. But as of right now, my job is to help make the league work after this year. I just feel like I have a responsibility. I’ve put a lot of effort into it. So that’s what I’m going to do, we’re going to make this work.”

While LIV has reportedly increased its revenue during its five-year existence, these earnings likely fall far short of what’s needed to sustain operations at previous levels.

“There’s a lot of moving parts like in any business,” DeChambeau commented to Flushing It Golf following his withdrawal from last month’s Mexico City tournament. “It’s a startup, right? And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments. But I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work and I really see the value in franchise golf.”

The two-time U.S. Open winner has achieved considerable success in LIV competition, capturing five individual tournament victories. His most recent triumphs came during back-to-back playoff wins in March at LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa.

Earlier this year, DeChambeau had the option to rejoin the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program but chose not to pursue it. This program was established as Brooks Koepka left LIV to return to PGA Tour competition.

LONDON, May 1 – The selection of Seydou Traore by the Miami Dolphins during the fifth round of last week’s NFL Draft marked a milestone moment for Kris Durham, the former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver who leads the UK-based NFL Academy.

Traore, who grew up in South London, was among the first students enrolled at the Academy in 2019 and demonstrates that non-traditional routes to professional football can succeed.

“Seydou’s paved a path for the future generations and the generations after that,” Durham told Reuters.

The Academy’s mission involves discovering and developing international athletes who can transition into the American college football system. For Traore, who had been a promising soccer goalie, the program offered an ideal opportunity.

Following his transfer to Clearwater Academy in Florida for his senior year of high school, Traore built a successful college football career playing tight end. He started at Arkansas State before transferring to Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he recorded 35 catches and five touchdowns in his final season.

According to Traore, hearing his name called by the Dolphins felt like a dream, while Durham, who has overseen the NFL Academy since 2025, viewed it as confirmation of the program’s effectiveness.

“It’s just an incredible story that shows it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be an international kid and make it to the NFL,” he said.

Before discovering American football, Traore participated in Premier League club Fulham’s youth development program as a goalkeeper. His interest in American football began while watching games on television, then progressed to playing for the London Warriors in front of small crowds.

Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 244 pounds, Traore possesses remarkable athletic ability, excellent ball-tracking skills, and reliable hands. However, Durham believes Traore’s mental approach sets him apart from other players.

“He’s always had the measurables, the size, the speed, the hands. But it’s the intangible things, his ability to understand what’s happening before it happens,” he said. “He’s almost playing chess instead of checkers. That’s what’s elevated him beyond his peers.”

Currently housed at Loughborough University, the NFL Academy program includes 68 students representing 20 nations, with 40 former students now competing in NCAA college football.

Data indicates that only 1.6% of American college football players eventually reach the NFL. The odds are even steeper for international players, but Traore’s achievement provides encouragement for aspiring athletes from outside football’s traditional strongholds.

“Being American myself, having played the game, I’ve seen what Europeans and international students bring to it,” Durham said. “It’s a level of maturity, a level of determination because they’ve had to fight stereotypes.

“When they’re going through the recruiting process, the question is why should they recruit somebody from England over a kid from Mississippi or Texas? Seydou’s answered those questions. He’s changing the narrative.

“He’s kind of the godfather of what we’re doing.”

During the draft ceremony in Pittsburgh, Efe Obada announced Traore’s selection. Obada, another London native who successfully transitioned to the NFL and played notably for the Carolina Panthers, served as an inspiration for Traore.

“He was like a pioneer for international guys,” Traore said. “He showed what’s possible. It meant a lot for him to kind of pass the torch to me.”

While Traore has a challenging path ahead to match Obada’s accomplishments or those of his hero Travis Kelce, Durham considers Traore’s draft selection already represents a triumph for the NFL Academy.

“Do I think we’re going to start having an influx of NFL Academy players into the league. Absolutely, I 100% do,” he said. “If we can get players into those locker rooms to showcase who they are, then that’s where they’re going to really accelerate their careers.”

VOORHEES, N.J. — A Philadelphia Flyers player’s celebratory moment turned into a heartwarming story about fan loyalty when his game-winning stick found its way back to him.

Defenseman Cam York launched his hockey stick into the crowd after netting the decisive overtime goal that defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 in Game 6 of their opening playoff round, marking the team’s first postseason advancement since 2020.

In the heat of celebration, York immediately had second thoughts about his spontaneous gesture, joking afterward that he “definitely don’t want a lawsuit” following the lengthy throw into the stands.

“I figured even if it did hit him, that he was going to still enjoy the moment and be happy,” York commented on Friday.

The stick landed near Jack Brod, a devoted Flyers supporter sitting in Section 113’s lower level, who initially planned to give the memorable keepsake to a family friend. However, when Brod discovered York’s desire to reclaim the stick, he willingly brought it back.

During Friday’s practice session, Brod — sporting the identical Flyers sweatshirt from Game 6 — was invited as a special guest and had the opportunity to meet York personally.

York admitted his immediate post-goal reaction was questioning his decision: “why did I do that?”

“When my career is done and over with, I want to have some things to look back on, remember and cherish,” York explained Friday. “This was obviously a special moment for me. Super nice guy. Just met him. For me to just give it back for kind of nothing, I really appreciate that. That’s one of the best things about Philly fans is, they love their players and they want their players to perform at the highest level they can.”

Brod’s generosity didn’t go unrewarded — he walked away with a replacement stick and an autographed York No. 8 jersey. York mentioned plans to display the returned stick in a frame.

The Flyers begin their second-round playoff series Saturday when they face Carolina on the road.

This year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs showcase an influx of fresh talent, with three franchises reaching the second round after missing last year’s postseason entirely.

Four teams have successfully navigated the opening round: Colorado, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Anaheim. The Flyers are celebrating their first playoff appearance in six seasons, while the Ducks ended an eight-year drought. Both the Avalanche and Wild participated last year but fell in the initial round.

Additional newcomers are guaranteed to emerge from ongoing matchups: Teams competing in the Boston-Buffalo and Montreal-Tampa Bay series all failed to reach the second round in the previous campaign. Buffalo concluded the NHL’s longest playoff absence at 14 seasons, Boston returns following a single-year absence, and both Montreal and Tampa Bay suffered early exits in 2025.

Remarkably, seven of the eight second-round participants could be new if Utah manages to overcome Vegas. Only Carolina, which will welcome Philadelphia for Saturday’s Game 1, reached this stage last season.

“That’s the exciting part of where the league is at and where these teams are at,” Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger said recently. “New teams (are) getting into the playoffs and showcasing some of these young players that are on the rise that maybe haven’t had that experience. And now they get a chance to kind of understand what it’s all about and what it means to play in the playoffs.”

A fresh champion became inevitable when defending back-to-back titleholder Florida was eliminated during a disappointing injury-plagued campaign.

Two new finalists are now assured after Edmonton suffered a first-round defeat to the Ducks. Oilers captain Connor McDavid acknowledged they “were an average team all year” and failed to meet elevated expectations.

The Hurricanes, who have consistently advanced each of the past eight seasons under Rod Brind’Amour’s coaching tenure beginning in 2018, will face one of the tournament’s surprise stories: Philadelphia last competed in playoffs during the 2020 pandemic season.

“There was never a doubt,” said Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar, who delivered a 42-save shutout in the Game 6 overtime victory against Pittsburgh. “Good things happen to good people, and we are good people here.”

In the Western Conference, the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche have been resting since completing a sweep of Los Angeles. Making their ninth consecutive playoff appearance, they’ll battle the Wild, who defeated Dallas in a six-game clash between Central Division contenders.

“It’s going to be a hard-fought series,” Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “High-quality teams, high-quality players, good goaltending and special teams. It’s going to be a battle.”

Minnesota finally captured its opening series after eight consecutive first-round defeats, advancing to the second round for the first time since 2015. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt spotted an emotional fan during their clinching Game 6 victory, helping him understand the broader impact of their success.

“There’s so many more people who are with us on this road and this journey,” Wallstedt said. “The excitement and joy to get past the first round is huge.”

The Ducks advanced for the first time since their 2017 Western Conference Final appearance, marking coach Joel Quenneville’s successful debut season.

“Now we’ve got a taste of playoff hockey,” Quenneville said. “I think we can feel at this moment that it’s so much fun playing games that have the meaning and the building being as loud and excited as it is. It seems to grow from this level on.”

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner was forced to exit Friday’s matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field after experiencing stiffness on the left side of his neck.

The second baseman started the game on a positive note, leading off the bottom of the first with a double. However, when the Cubs came to bat in the second inning, Hoerner was nowhere to be found in the batter’s box. Matt Shaw stepped in as a pinch hitter and grounded out, then remained in the game to handle second base duties.

The 28-year-old Hoerner has been performing well this season, posting a .297 batting average along with four home runs and 26 RBIs across 32 games. Throughout his eight-year major league career, which he has spent entirely in a Cubs uniform, Hoerner has maintained a .283 batting average with 40 home runs and 304 RBIs over 736 games.

Shaw, who took over for the injured player, brought his own solid numbers into the contest. The 24-year-old has been hitting .301 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 28 games this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals strengthened their pitching staff Friday by promoting left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster from their Triple-A Memphis affiliate as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To make room on the roster, the Cardinals sent rookie right-hander Hunter Dobbins back to Memphis after a difficult major league debut Thursday. Dobbins struggled against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing three runs while giving up two hits and issuing five walks across 4 1/3 innings of work.

The 27-year-old Shuster posted a 4.91 ERA during two previous appearances with St. Louis this season. At the Triple-A level, he has recorded an 8.38 ERA through five outings.

Throughout his four-year major league career, Shuster holds a 6-8 record with a 5.26 ERA across 64 games, including 17 starts. He has played for the Atlanta Braves in 2023, the Chicago White Sox in 2024-25, and now the Cardinals.

St. Louis has struggled with relief pitching this year, as their bullpen carries a 5.15 ERA that ranks 26th among all major league teams entering Friday’s action.

The Cardinals completed a four-game sweep of Pittsburgh on Thursday and will now welcome the two-time defending champion Dodgers for a three-game homestand. Los Angeles has posted a 5-7 record since April 18.

The Boston Red Sox have promoted left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett from Triple-A Worcester for his first major league appearance when they face the Houston Astros on Friday at home.

This roster adjustment follows Boston’s decision to place star pitcher Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation earlier this week. Bennett fills the roster opening created when utility player Nate Eaton was sent down to the minors on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Bennett had his scheduled Tuesday start for Worcester canceled in preparation for this call-up.

“Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.”

Bennett was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Washington Nationals and has compiled impressive numbers this season, posting a 2-1 record with a 0.86 ERA across five Worcester starts. In 21 innings pitched, he has recorded 16 strikeouts while issuing just three walks.

The Red Sox obtained Bennett in a December trade with Washington, sending pitching prospect Luis Perales in exchange. Bennett sat out the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.”

Connor McDavid’s quest for his first Stanley Cup championship hit another roadblock this week, and the Edmonton Oilers captain now finds himself fielding questions about whether he’ll remain with the franchise long-term.

The player many consider hockey’s top talent saw his team eliminated in the opening round of the NHL playoffs Thursday when the Anaheim Ducks ended Edmonton’s season. This latest disappointment compounds the frustration from the previous two postseasons, where the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup final only to fall to the Florida Panthers both times.

At 29 years old, McDavid may need to evaluate his options with a playoff-struggling Edmonton organization as he continues chasing hockey’s ultimate prize.

McDavid’s contract extension announced last October begins with the 2026-27 campaign and runs through the 2027-28 season – a relatively brief commitment that some interpret as sending a message to team management.

Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Ray Bourque, a former NHL defenseman who famously requested a trade late in his career to pursue a championship, believes McDavid’s shorter deal carries significance.

“That told the Oilers that ‘I’m giving you three years, more or less’ (to) see if he could be surrounded possibly (by) a touch better (players) and to give him a real opportunity to win,” Bourque said Thursday at a Toronto charity event supporting Alzheimer’s research.

Bourque understands the challenge of capturing a Stanley Cup title. The longtime Boston Bruins captain sought a trade to a championship contender after suffering through two Cup final defeats, ultimately claiming the trophy with Colorado in 2001 at age 40.

“For the longest time, you have a great career and all that, but it seemed like there was something missing,” he reflected on his decision to leave Boston.

Since Edmonton selected him first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, McDavid has remained with the organization throughout his professional career. His exceptional speed and remarkable talent have built a Hall of Fame-caliber resume.

Beyond numerous individual NHL honors, McDavid became the fourth-fastest player in league history to achieve 1,000 career points. He currently ranks second on Edmonton’s all-time scoring list, trailing only hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

These accomplishments establish McDavid as the world’s premier player according to many observers, including three-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Fame member Chris Chelios. However, Chelios agrees with Bourque regarding a player’s ultimate desire to have their name engraved on what he considers professional sports’ most difficult trophy to earn.

“Amazing skill,” Chelios said of McDavid. “But he’d probably trade all those points right now for a Stanley Cup in a minute.”

Though Bourque thinks the Oilers captain still has reasonable prospects for winning with Edmonton, he wouldn’t be surprised if McDavid begins considering his personal legacy and pursuing his championship dreams with another organization.

“For him, it’s gonna be the only thing left for him to accomplish,” Bourque explained. “He’s done pretty much everything so far, and then when you’re at that point, it’s about winning a Cup and putting yourself in a situation that you have a chance.”

BOSTON — What seemed like a smooth path to the NBA playoffs’ second round for Boston has turned into a potential disaster, as the Philadelphia 76ers have forced a decisive seventh game after the Celtics dominated with a commanding 32-point victory on the road in Game 4.

Philadelphia’s consecutive dominant performances in Games 5 and 6 have pushed Boston — previously viewed as a top contender to represent the Eastern Conference — to the edge of a stunning downfall.

Should the second-seeded Celtics fall in Saturday night’s winner-take-all contest, it would mark their quickest playoff departure since the 2020-21 campaign.

Boston may face this challenge while managing concerns about star player Jayson Tatum, who temporarily exited Game 6 during the third quarter for treatment of what appeared to be a left calf problem. This comes just 22 games after Tatum’s return from the torn right Achilles tendon that sidelined him during last season’s playoffs.

The Celtics organization has minimized concerns about the situation, with Tatum describing his leg as feeling only “a little stiff” following the game. He explained that after a brief evaluation and some time on an exercise bike, he remained on the bench because the contest was already decided and the starting lineup had been removed.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla dismissed injury concerns entirely and reinforced that position during Friday’s conference call.

“He’ll play,” Mazzulla stated.

However, Philadelphia’s track record in elimination games doesn’t favor the 76ers.

The Flyers’ recent NHL playoff appearance highlighted that they remain the sole Philadelphia franchise to capture a Game 7 since defeating Boston in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinal.

Following that victory, the 76ers suffered Game 7 defeats in 2012, 2019, 2021, and 2023; the Flyers fell short in similar situations in 2014 and 2020; while the Phillies lost Game 7 of the NLCS in 2023.

The Phillies also suffered elimination in a decisive Game 5 during the 2011 playoffs.

Boston has historically dominated this playoff rivalry, capturing the previous six series matchups. Philadelphia’s last playoff series victory over the Celtics came during the 1982 Eastern Conference semifinals.

“I’ve been playing these guys for so long,” 76ers star Joel Embiid commented. “I’m tired of losing to them. We have a chance to accomplish something special.”

Game 7 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock, with the series deadlocked at 3-3. Boston enters as 7.5-point favorites.

The Celtics hold a 27-10 all-time record in Game 7 situations, while the 76ers stand at 6-12 in such contests and haven’t won one since 2001. This marks the ninth Game 7 between these organizations, with Boston holding a 6-2 advantage in previous decisive games. Philadelphia joins 37 teams in league history to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-1, though only 13 have completed the comeback. For Boston to prevent Philadelphia from becoming the 14th, their offensive efficiency must return. The 76ers have limited the NBA’s second-ranked regular season offense to under 100 points in consecutive games. Boston shot a combined 30.5% from three-point range across those contests, making 11 attempts in each game despite leading the league with an average of 16 three-pointers per game during the regular season.