Category: Sports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch remained skeptical of the decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jones is scheduled for sentencing in January 2027.

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

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

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

The maximum sentence for that case is 27 months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crosby welcomes those chances, as does his entire team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The National Women’s Soccer League has shelved plans for an anticipated vote this week regarding a major schedule change, according to Monday reporting from CBS Sports.

Earlier reports on April 17 suggested the league’s Board of Governors would decide on the calendar switch, though the NWSL never officially confirmed those plans.

The league presently operates from March through November, while major European soccer competitions begin in late summer or early fall and conclude in late spring. Major League Soccer will adopt this fall-spring format starting next season.

NWSL leadership previously rejected a similar calendar change proposal in 2024, ESPN reported.

When asked about the timing, a league representative suggested no immediate changes are planned.

“The NWSL has been actively evaluating its competition calendar, including the potential to align more closely with the international soccer landscape,” a league spokesperson said in a statement to CBS Sports. “No decision has been made at this time. Any change of this magnitude will be thoughtfully considered and we are taking input from all key stakeholders.”

Players represent a crucial voice in these discussions, with the NWSL Players Union issuing a response following the April 17 ESPN coverage.

“We recognize the pros and cons of each and acknowledge that factors outside our control — including the Women’s International Match Calendar and limited control over facilities — are driving this conversation,” the union stated to The Athletic.

“We remain concerned, however, that the issue is being framed around the wrong question. The right question is not whether the league should flip the calendar, but whether the right conditions exist to do so responsibly. Right now, they do not. The ability to navigate weather-related disruptions depends on consistent control over facilities and operational flexibility across clubs, and that standard has not been met league-wide.

“Our top priorities in any scenario are protecting and promoting Player health, safety, and performance. As a general matter, a majority of Players polled on this question currently oppose flipping the calendar.”

While the NWSL maintains full discretion over schedule modifications to a fall-spring format, the collective bargaining agreement with the players union mandates at least twelve months advance notice.

Additionally, given that numerous teams operate in northeastern regions where winter play would be required, the CBA would mandate implementation of protective “extreme cold policy” measures.

The Cleveland Guardians plan to promote Travis Bazzana, their historic first overall draft selection from 2024, to the major league roster for Tuesday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays at home.

Multiple reports indicate that rookie Juan Brito, who had been starting at second base in five of the team’s previous seven contests, will be sent down to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Bazzana’s arrival.

The 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia, has compiled impressive statistics during his 24-game stint with Columbus, posting a .287 batting average along with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. His offensive production includes 15 extra-base hits and 21 walks, resulting in a .511 slugging percentage and .933 OPS.

After completing his college career at Oregon State from 2022-24, Bazzana moved swiftly through Cleveland’s farm system in 2025. However, oblique muscle injuries limited his playing time during the summer months, restricting him to just 26 appearances with Columbus.

Bazzana holds the distinction of being Cleveland’s first-ever top overall draft pick in franchise history. The organization secured this coveted selection despite having only a 2% probability of winning the draft lottery in December 2023.

Meanwhile, Brito has struggled at the plate, managing just a .176 batting average with no home runs and three RBIs across 51 at-bats. The 24-year-old player also sat out Monday’s 3-2 defeat to the Rays and has committed four defensive errors this season.

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit is considering moving its Louisiana tournament from its planned June dates to avoid competing with the World Cup for viewers and attendees, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Insiders say the golf organization has been collaborating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s administration and state economic development officials to identify alternative dates in either September or October for the event.

The tournament is currently set to take place June 25-28 at Bayou Oaks at City Park. However, the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19 across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Beyond concerns about the World Cup drawing away audiences, sources indicate that factors like extreme heat and golf course conditions during Louisiana’s summer months are also influencing the potential schedule change.

An official announcement regarding the tournament’s status is expected Tuesday from LIV Golf, Governor Landry, and Louisiana Economic Development, according to the sources.

This development comes roughly two weeks after LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil publicly stated that the alternative golf series would move forward with its 2026 season as originally planned, despite ongoing speculation about potential funding challenges.

The Louisiana tournament represents the only LIV Golf event currently scheduled to overlap with World Cup competition dates.

The Cleveland Guardians are preparing to promote Travis Bazzana, their first overall selection in the 2024 amateur draft, according to a source with knowledge of the decision who spoke anonymously Monday evening. The young infielder may see his first major league action during Tuesday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The source requested anonymity since Cleveland has not yet made an official announcement regarding the roster change.

Bazzana, 23, currently leads the Guardians’ prospect rankings and plays second base. During his 24-game stint with Triple-A Columbus, he has posted a .287 batting average while contributing two home runs and 10 RBIs.

To create roster space for Bazzana’s arrival, the team is anticipated to demote Juan Brito, who has struggled offensively with just a .176 batting average across 15 games and has struck out 17 times in 51 plate appearances.

Cleveland had promoted Brito from Columbus on April 7 when Gabriel Arias went on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.

During the recent World Baseball Classic, Bazzana demonstrated his abilities on the international stage, recording two hits including a home run while helping Australia defeat Chinese Taipei 3-0.

Last season presented challenges for Bazzana, as an oblique injury sidelined him for two months. Despite the setback, he managed a .239 batting average with nine home runs, 39 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases while playing for both Double-A Akron and Columbus.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has claimed the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award following one of the tightest voting contests in the honor’s recent memory, announced Monday by a worldwide panel of 100 media members.

The young star received the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy after edging out Charlotte Hornets player Kon Knueppel, his former teammate at Duke University, by a margin of 412-386 points. The voting breakdown showed Flagg securing 56 first-place selections compared to Knueppel’s 44.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe claimed the third position with 96 points, though he failed to receive any first-place recognition and earned just a single second-place nod. San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper garnered 5 points, while Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward received 1 point, rounding out the vote recipients.

The top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft fulfilled every expectation placed upon him during his debut season. Among qualifying first-year players, Flagg topped the scoring charts at 21.0 points per game while ranking second in assists with 4.5 per contest and third in rebounds at 6.7 per game.

“This is a truly great honor,” Flagg said in a statement. “I’m grateful to receive this award and thankful to everyone in the Dallas Mavericks organization who believed in me from Day 1.”

“None of this happens without my teammates, coaches and the people around me pushing me every day. I came here to compete and help this team win. This is just one step forward in what we’re building.”

The achievement places Flagg among elite company as just the fourth first-year player to post averages of at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists per game since the NBA-ABA merger. He joins Larry Bird (1979-80), Michael Jordan (1984-85) and Luke Doncic (2018-19) in reaching those statistical benchmarks.

At 19 years and 112 days old as of April 12, Flagg becomes the second-youngest recipient of the award, trailing LeBron James by merely six days when James captured the honor in 2003-04.

Many analysts believed Knueppel had a strong case for the award after he established a new league record for three-point field goals made with 273, surpassing the previous rookie milestone by 67 shots. However, the fourth overall draft selection ranked third in scoring on his own team at 18.5 points per game, behind Brandon Miller’s 20.2 and LaMelo Ball’s 20.1.

The voting margin represents the second-closest decision in recent years, following Toronto’s Scottie Barnes’ narrow victory over Cleveland’s Evan Mobley four years ago by a 378-363 count, which remains the smallest gap under the current voting system established in 2002-03.

DALLAS — In one of the tightest NBA Rookie of the Year competitions ever recorded, Cooper Flagg has claimed the prestigious award, narrowly defeating his former Duke Blue Devils teammate Kon Knueppel in Monday night’s announcement.

The 19-year-old Flagg accomplished something not seen since Michael Jordan’s rookie campaign in 1984-85: leading his team in all four major statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, and steals. This historic achievement helped him secure the honor despite playing for a struggling Dallas Mavericks squad that failed to reach the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Knueppel contributed significantly to the Charlotte Hornets’ remarkable turnaround, helping the franchise improve by 25 wins and nearly securing a playoff berth. The former college teammates finished as the top two rookies in scoring, marking the first time since UConn’s Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon in 2004-05 that former college teammates achieved this distinction. Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe rounded out the finalist trio.

The voting margin proved exceptionally narrow, with just 26 points separating the Duke alumni in balloting conducted by 100 league reporters and broadcasters. Each voter ranked their top three choices, awarding five points for first place, three for second, and one for third. This represented one of the closest margins in award history, surpassing only the 15-point difference when Scottie Barnes edged Evan Mobley in 2002.

A late-season surge may have sealed Flagg’s victory. His extraordinary 96-point performance across two games during the season’s final weekend likely influenced voters. The highlight came against Orlando, where Flagg erupted for 51 points, establishing a new NBA record for teenage scoring. This performance broke his own previous teenage record of 49 points, which he had set earlier against Knueppel’s Hornets in January.

“I see the games every night. I can check the box scores,” Flagg explained regarding how closely he monitored Knueppel’s performance. “I think also I was watching Kon just because that’s one of my brothers. We had such a good connection, and we’re gonna be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan as well, but there was obviously that competition at the same time.”

Knueppel, who turned 20 before beginning his professional career, established his own milestone by becoming the first rookie to lead the NBA in three-point field goals with 273 made shots. His stellar season included averages of 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting an impressive 42.5% from beyond the arc. These numbers placed him alongside Larry Bird and Paul Pierce as the only NBA rookies to average 15 points and five rebounds while maintaining better than 40% three-point accuracy.

Charlotte’s success behind Knueppel’s contributions resulted in 44 victories before falling to Orlando in the play-in tournament’s final round.

Flagg’s situation proved more challenging than anticipated. The Mavericks had secured his services through a fortunate 1.8% lottery chance, expecting to compete for playoff positioning. However, injuries derailed those plans as center Anthony Davis missed significant time before being traded to Washington, while Kyrie Irving remained sidelined with a knee injury for the entire season.

Despite the team’s struggles, Flagg continued building an impressive resume following his Final Four appearance at Duke, where he became just the fourth freshman named AP men’s basketball player of the year. His professional achievements include joining Jordan as the only rookies since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger to record multiple 45-point games.

A memorable performance against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers showcased Flagg’s potential when he scored 45 points, surpassing the 41-year-old superstar for most 40-point games by a teenager with his fourth such performance. This game capped the crucial weekend that may have determined the rookie race outcome.

The Mavericks finished 26-56, returning to the draft lottery as Flagg shouldered a heavier burden than expected. His final statistics included 21.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals across 70 games.

“I think you talk about pressure and things like that, this season was a lot different going into it and what I was expecting and how the season ended up turning out,” Flagg reflected. “I think dealing with that and adjusting and kind of getting thrown in on the fly right away like that helped me long-term and throughout the season just getting really comfortable. I think I grew in a lot of different areas.”

The rookie announcement represents the sixth NBA award revealed since the regular season concluded. Previous winners include San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama claiming unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earning Clutch Player of the Year with 96 of 100 first-place votes, San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson taking Sixth Man of the Year, Boston’s Derrick White receiving the player-voted Sportsmanship Award, and Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker capturing Most Improved Player.

Remaining announcements include MVP voting between Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, plus Coach of the Year competition featuring Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. Additional honors including Executive of the Year, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award, and the Hustle Award will be announced later this week.

Me’Arah O’Neal, daughter of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, revealed Monday on social media that she’s switching universities, moving from the University of Florida to Kentucky for her basketball career.

The decision comes after O’Neal completed an impressive second year with the Gators, averaging 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Her departure follows the dismissal of head coach Kelly Rae Finley after Florida struggled to a 5-11 conference record and tied for 12th place in the SEC during the 2025-26 season.

Taking to Instagram to share her decision, O’Neal explained her reasoning. “After a lot of thought and intentionality with my next steps, I’ve made the tough decision to enter the transfer portal,” she wrote on Instagram. “With faith and high expectations, I’m ready to power forward and embrace wherever God takes me next.”

Basketball runs deep in the O’Neal family, with Me’Arah joining her siblings who have also competed at the collegiate level. Her brother Shareef played for UCLA and LSU, sister Amirah suited up for LSU and Texas Southern, while brother Shaqir played at Sacramento State.

Her famous father has been vocal about her athletic abilities, recently praising her versatility on his podcast. “My baby is the best athlete in the family because she can do it all,” Shaquille O’Neal said about Me’Arah recently on his podcast. “She’s not an old-school player. She’s the new pick-your-type player, so I’m going to give her the title. She can shoot, she can dribble. She can’t be fazed when it comes to certain things.”

At Kentucky, O’Neal will join head coach Kenny Brooks’ program, which advanced to the Sweet 16 during March Madness. The Wildcats are bringing back their top scorer Clara Strack, an all-SEC first-team honoree, along with Asia Boone, who contributed 10.1 points per game while shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc.

Kentucky’s roster will also feature three McDonald’s All-Americans in their incoming class: Maddyn Greenway, Savvy Swords, and Emily McDonald. Additionally, the team has added UConn transfer Ayanna Patterson for the upcoming season.

Buffalo has finally broken free from a record-setting 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought and now stands on the brink of achieving their next milestone.

If the Sabres can defeat Boston at home during Tuesday’s Game 5, they’ll advance to the second round for the first time since 2007.

“You can expect this to be the hardest game that we’re going to have to play short-term here, because they’re in the nothing-to-lose-and-everything-to-gain category,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, whose previous tenure with Buffalo lasted 15 years and included their most recent playoff run and series win — along with four conference finals appearances and one Stanley Cup finals appearance.

Boston, under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, is struggling after suffering a devastating 6-1 defeat on Sunday that put them in a 3-1 hole.

“They know that if they don’t put whatever they can put into the game,” Ruff said, “they’re done.”

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away across the Canadian border, another squad that has dramatically surpassed predictions finds itself close to advancing. Anaheim needs to close out their series on Edmonton’s home ice, but this fearless young roster is eager to deliver the organization’s first series win in nine years.

“We just believe in ourselves,” center Ryan Poehling said, discussing the overtime victory in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 advantage after trailing by two goals on Sunday. “We’ve done it all year, and I think it just teaches you throughout a season that you’re never out of it. The belief on the bench is something that you truly feel when you go out there for offensive play. It’s a great way to play hockey for us.”

In Dallas, Tuesday night will also feature a Game 5, though no championship celebration will occur after Minnesota tied their series on Saturday.

Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)

Series Standing: Sabres ahead 3-1

Boston lost their composure during their Game 4 collapse. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000 by the league on Monday for cross-checking Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman yelled at his own coaching staff as he left the ice after being removed from the contest.

“We have an extremely high competitive group. We all have a standard that we all carry ourselves to, and it wasn’t met. So that was just emotion,” Swayman told reporters. “It’s moved on now, and we have a job to do going into Buffalo.”

Buffalo is eager to hit the ice before an energized home crowd.

“When I came in last season, there was lots of talk of, ‘This is a hockey city, not a football city,’ and that was pretty hard to believe as an outsider coming in. You can see the passion for the Bills and just everything around that,” Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn said. “But then I think throughout this year, we’ve slowly grown to see just how supportive and passionate this fan base is.”

Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN2)

Series Standing: Tied 2-2

This physical matchup between two strong clubs that finished second and third in the Western Conference during regular season play shows dramatically different results depending on player situations. Minnesota has controlled even-strength action, outscoring Dallas 10-3. However, Dallas’s power play has been unstoppable with eight goals in 19 chances, while their penalty kill has allowed just three scores in 19 situations.

While Dallas prepared Monday for another crucial contest, they showed confidence in their 5-on-5 play due to consistent shot production. They top all playoff teams this postseason with 141 shots on goal, including 102 at even strength, ranking fifth among playoff squads.

“We just have to take the next step and get some loose pucks, get some tips,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.

Just one Dallas player maintains a positive rating in even-strength play this series: defenseman Nils Lundqvist. However, he’ll miss Game 5 after accidentally taking a skate blade to the face during a Game 4 collision. Gulutzan expressed hope for Lundqvist’s return later in the series.

“Sometimes the puck goes in. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s hockey,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said.

Minnesota’s power play has clearly struggled without right wing Mats Zuccarello, who hasn’t appeared since sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 1, though his Monday practice participation offered hope.

“We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that,” coach John Hynes said. “But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT)

Series Standing: Ducks ahead 3-1

As both clubs traveled back to Canada, hockey fans continued discussing the dramatic conclusion to Sunday night’s Game 4 and the unique process officials used to reach what appeared to be the accurate decision on Ryan Poehling’s narrow overtime winner for Anaheim.

However, that wild conclusion didn’t change this series’ overall direction: The attacking Ducks seem capable of overcoming any problems created by their inconsistent defensive performance, while Edmonton appears increasingly exhausted as they try to begin their fifth straight extended playoff campaign.

“We just believe in each other, and kind of no matter the score, we just continue to compete,” said Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who leads all Stanley Cup playoff scorers with eight points. “It’s something that’s been huge for us all year, and it’s something nice to have in your back pocket right now.”

Edmonton faces elimination after surrendering two leads in Game 4 despite strong play from new goaltender Tristan Jarry. Anaheim has completed more multi-goal rallies than any team this season under coach Joel Quenneville, who surpassed Al Arbour for second-most playoff coaching wins in NHL history during Game 4.

The Ducks have captured three consecutive games in this series, scoring 20 goals across four contests as they pursue their franchise’s first playoff series triumph since 2017. But this veteran Edmonton core has faced major postseason challenges before. They delivered their strongest defensive effort of the series on Sunday, so no visible panic exists as they work to force a Game 6 return to Southern California.

Two major U.S. cities have emerged as frontrunners to land a Major League Soccer franchise if the Vancouver Whitecaps decide to relocate from Canada, according to a Monday report from The Athletic.

Las Vegas and Phoenix top the list of potential new homes for the soccer club, though Major League Soccer officials refused to provide comment on the speculation.

According to the report, a special committee consisting of MLS team owners convened earlier this month to discuss what lies ahead for the Whitecaps organization, with relocation being one possibility on the table. Other cities including Indianapolis and Sacramento have also shown interest in attracting an MLS team.

League officials have already held discussions with a Las Vegas group seeking to establish a soccer club in the city, the report indicates. Additionally, a different investment group called Starr Vegas has announced an ambitious $10 billion development project for the Las Vegas Strip that would feature a 50,000-capacity soccer venue, though this group has not yet initiated talks with MLS.

The Whitecaps face a deadline pressure as their current agreement to play at BC Place expires at the conclusion of 2026, forcing the organization to secure alternative stadium arrangements in Vancouver.

“Since December 2024, ownership has prioritized finding a buyer committed to keeping the team in Vancouver, and to date, no solution has been found,” the Whitecaps said in a club statement provided to The Athletic.

Any potential move would require approval from MLS ownership and involve both a purchase price and relocation fees. San Diego FC, the league’s newest member as of last season, paid $500 million in expansion fees, and the report suggests any incoming group would face costs exceeding that half-billion dollar threshold.

The Whitecaps entered into exclusive discussions with Vancouver city officials last December, establishing a negotiation window extending through 2026 to explore building a new stadium and entertainment complex at Hastings Park. However, no progress updates have emerged since the club and city signed their Memorandum of Understanding.

The franchise boasts a rich history dating to 1974 when it launched in the North American Soccer League, competing there until the league’s dissolution in 1984. The team then moved through various leagues including the Canadian Soccer League starting in 1986, plus the American Professional Soccer League, United Soccer League, and USSF Division 2 Pro League before joining MLS in 2011.

Despite the uncertainty, Vancouver has achieved recent success as four-time defending Canadian Championship winners and following their historic first MLS Cup final appearance, where they fell 3-1 to Inter Miami CF. The team has started the 2026 season strongly, trailing the Supporters’ Shield leader by just three points after nine games while posting a 7-1-0 record at BC Place.

PITTSBURGH — An inflatable bounce house took center stage in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ locker room prior to Monday evening’s matchup with St. Louis, thanks to National League Cy Young Award recipient Paul Skenes.

The star pitcher arranged for the children’s play structure as part of a delayed birthday party for rookie infielder Konnor Griffin, who reached the milestone age of 20 last Friday and marked the occasion by launching his inaugural big league home run during a victory over Milwaukee.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to get in it, but I love it,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of the bounce house. “Teammates, it’s good camaraderie and I know that Konnor’s a great sport about it. There are not too many guys that get to celebrate their 20th birthday in the big leagues. Really cool.”

Griffin stepped onto the major league stage for the first time on April 3 following his promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis. His arrival was quickly followed by a substantial $140 million, nine-year deal signed just five days afterward.

After earning Minor League Player of the Year honors in the previous season, Griffin currently maintains a .224 batting average alongside his single home run and six successful base thefts across 22 appearances. The Pirates selected him as their top choice in the 2024 amateur draft.

The Toronto Blue Jays have sidelined veteran pitcher Max Scherzer for at least 15 days after placing him on the injured list Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.

The 41-year-old right-handed pitcher has been tantalizingly close to a career milestone, sitting just one strikeout away from 3,500 for more than a week. He was unable to reach that mark during recent defeats against Arizona on April 18 and Cleveland last Friday.

Scherzer’s performance against Cleveland was particularly challenging, as he failed to record any strikeouts while surrendering seven earned runs over 2 1/3 innings on 82 pitches, pushing his earned run average to 9.64. However, following that game, Scherzer stated, “I would not characterize this start as the fault of my forearm.”

Reports indicate the forearm tendinitis has been bothering Scherzer since the beginning of April.

“The doctor said, ‘Hey, take five or seven days, let this all heal, and then ramp back up and you’ll see,’” Scherzer explained Monday. “‘Your body will tell you how fast you can ramp up.’”

The team has not yet announced who will take Scherzer’s scheduled Wednesday start. Left-hander Eric Lauer was expected to transition to relief duties when Trey Yesavage returns from the injured list Tuesday for his season debut against Boston, but Lauer may now remain in the starting rotation given Scherzer’s absence. Yesavage has been recovering from a right shoulder impingement.

The Blue Jays promoted reliever Chase Lee to fill the roster spot Monday, though another roster adjustment will be necessary for Yesavage’s activation.

Scherzer joins an extensive list of injured Blue Jays players this season, which includes more than a dozen teammates. Among them are designated hitter George Springer with a fractured left big toe, outfielders Addison Barger (sprained left ankle), Anthony Santander (torn left shoulder labrum), and Nathan Lukes (hamstring strain). Also sidelined are catcher Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb), starting pitchers Bowden Francis (elbow surgery), Jose Berrios (stress fracture in right elbow), Cody Ponce (torn right knee ACL), and Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation), plus reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow injury).

Currently sitting fourth in the American League East division with a 12-15 record, the Blue Jays began a three-game home series against Boston on Monday.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel returned to his duties Monday following a two-day absence during which he sought family counseling after controversy erupted over his relationship with former sports journalist Dianna Russini.

The 50-year-old coach was spotted at Salt Lake City’s airport on Saturday while the NFL draft’s final rounds were taking place.

According to ESPN, Vrabel maintained ongoing communication through email and text with the Patriots organization throughout his time away and has now resumed his complete coaching duties. However, team officials painted a different picture, with vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf stating the organization deliberately limited contact to give Vrabel space.

“We kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away, so we were not in contact with Mike (Saturday) other than some just, ‘Hope everything’s going OK’ kind of texts early (in the) morning,” Wolf explained.

Vrabel acknowledged the need for family counseling after the alleged affair became public knowledge.

“This is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person,” he stated.

Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people. The New York Post released photographs showing the pair together in Sedona, Arizona, prior to league meetings in Phoenix last month. Following an internal investigation by The Athletic’s parent company, the New York Times, Russini stepped down from her position as the publication’s top NFL reporter.

Last Tuesday, Vrabel addressed the media directly about the situation and its aftermath.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced during the draft that the league will not pursue disciplinary action or additional investigation under its off-field conduct policies.

Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach before the 2025 season, returning to the franchise where he once played. Under his leadership, New England reached Super Bowl LX, though they fell to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13.

Last season marked Vrabel’s second AP NFL Coach of the Year recognition, adding to his first award in 2021 during his tenure with Tennessee. He served as the Titans’ head coach from 2018 through 2023.

DENVER — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards faces a minimum one-week absence due to a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, the team officially announced Monday ahead of Game 5 in their first-round NBA playoff matchup against Denver.

Medical imaging revealed no structural damage to Edwards’ knee, providing some relief to the organization after the injury occurred during the second quarter of their Game 4 win against the Nuggets. However, his participation in potential second-round playoff action remains uncertain. Team officials have labeled his condition as week-to-week, suggesting Edwards could miss the start of any subsequent playoff series before receiving medical clearance to play.

“With the two injuries we had in one game, it was as positive as you can get it,” guard Mike Conley told reporters after the team’s pregame shootaround in Denver. “Obviously we want him to get healthy. We want him to be recovered as quickly as he can, but his health is No. 1. He knows his body. When his body’s ready, he’s going to fight through it. We know if we can get out of the series, we’ll get him back.”

The Timberwolves entered Game 5 holding a commanding 3-1 series advantage over Denver but also suffered another significant loss when starting guard Donte DiVincenzo sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the early moments of Game 4, ending his postseason and sidelining him for most of next season.

Edwards finished the regular season with an average of 28.8 points per game, ranking third in the NBA behind Dallas’ Luka Doncic and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City. This season marked Edwards’ most injury-plagued campaign, missing 21 games primarily due to a right knee issue.

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers made it clear during Monday’s media day that questions about her personal relationship with teammate Azzi Fudd are off-limits moving forward.

The two former University of Connecticut players have reunited in Dallas after being selected in consecutive WNBA first rounds, with Fudd becoming this year’s top overall draft choice. Both athletes publicly confirmed their romantic involvement last July, following their 2025 NCAA championship victory with the Huskies.

During Fudd’s recent introductory media session, team officials prevented her from discussing the relationship, with a Wings spokesperson saying they would “respectfully decline from commenting on our players’ personal lives.”

Speaking just days before Dallas opens preseason play against Indiana on April 30, Bueckers addressed the matter directly.

“There is something I want to address, and I only plan on addressing it once. If we continue to get asked about it, we will refer to this moment in time or use the time to deflect and talk about our teammates,” Bueckers stated. “Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own. And what we choose to share is completely up to us. … Me and Azzi have always been utmost professionals. We’ve always conducted ourselves as such. We’ve never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”

The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, who posted impressive numbers with 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, also emphasized that she played no role in Dallas selecting Fudd with the first pick.

“Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it,” Bueckers explained. “It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, as a basketball player, her resilience, her strength and her career-best year at UConn.”

“Azzi is a great individual person, her own great individual person, and should be celebrated as such,” she added.

Fudd’s final collegiate season supported that assessment, as she recorded career-high averages of 17.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 48.1% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. The Huskies compiled a perfect 38-0 record before falling to South Carolina in the Final Four.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State receiver Rylen Bourguet raced along the sideline before executing a perfect fake curl route that left her defender behind. She caught the perfectly timed pass for a game-winning touchdown that capped off last week’s first-ever Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic.

The dramatic finish exemplified the excitement surrounding the inaugural tournament held on Arizona State’s campus, showcasing the rapid expansion of women’s flag football in NCAA Division I athletics.

Bourguet believes such thrilling moments will become increasingly frequent as the sport gains momentum nationwide. With flag football making its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, featuring both men’s and women’s divisions, Bourguet has her sights set on representing Team USA.

“It was so awesome — it blew everything I’ve ever experienced out of the water,” Bourguet said of the Fiesta Bowl tournament. “It’s great to see how much it’s taking off at the youth level, the high school level and now the collegiate level. Seeing what it’s become is so surreal — very excited for the generations to come that are going to play the sport.”

The championship event demonstrated why flag football ranks among America’s fastest-expanding sports. Eight universities participated: Arizona State, Alabama State, Georgia, UCF, Florida, Grand Canyon, Charlotte and USC.

UCF claimed the tournament crown with a 19-7 victory over Florida in the championship game, which aired on ESPNU. According to Fiesta Bowl’s Scott Leightman, approximately 1,500 complimentary tickets were distributed to fans during the two-day competition.

Erik Moses, the Fiesta Bowl’s executive director, expressed such enthusiasm about the tournament’s success that he anticipates expanding to 12 or 16 participating teams in future years. He noted that corporate sponsors like Oakley were eager to support the event.

“It is easy to say that women’s sport is having a moment,” Moses said. “But we’re more interested in making sure that this is a movement and not just a moment.”

Bourguet praised the tournament’s professional atmosphere, describing it as the most impressive women’s flag football competition she had witnessed. The event featured dedicated media sessions, athlete gift packages, food truck vendors, and a DJ providing entertainment across two playing fields.

Among the eight participating universities, Alabama State stands alone in providing scholarships, while the remaining seven operate as club sports. This landscape may shift rapidly: flag football has joined the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women initiative, and Nebraska recently declared its intention to elevate women’s flag football to varsity status.

Georgia coach Caroline Caplinger anticipates this transformation will accelerate. Her primary role involves working with RCX Sports, which operates NFL FLAG and coordinates clinics and showcases nationwide, including a recent event in Pittsburgh during the NFL draft.

Caplinger reports nearly 100 NCAA Division I club teams currently exist across the country, representing a dramatic increase from roughly 10 teams in 2019. NFL FLAG research indicates 4.1 million girls aged 6-17 participated in flag football last season, up from 2.9 million in 2022.

High school participation reached 68,800 girls in 2024, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations’ most recent survey — a 60% jump from 2023 numbers.

“I definitely foresee by 2028 that one, or a couple, Power 4 conferences deciding to make this a varsity sport,” Caplinger said. “I know it’s on track to become a championship status. It’s really grabbing the attention of colleges, at the Division I, II, III and NAIA level. It’s a rapid-fire transition and spreading across the country.”

“I definitely see this sport, that within the next five years, this sport having a true NCAA championship.”

Multiple factors drive flag football’s growth, particularly among women. The sport requires minimal equipment investment while showcasing football’s athletic demands without the physical punishment of tackle football.

Caplinger observes that much of women’s flag football expansion occurs within Southeastern Conference territory, a region with deep football traditions. Florida pioneered widespread high school flag football programs.

Several tournament participants recently transitioned from volleyball, basketball and soccer backgrounds. However, as more high schools adopt the sport annually, many current players have extensive flag football experience.

“It’s one of the first times that football is really accessible to women — that they get to be on the field and really experience a version of the game,” Caplinger said. “The young women on my team love watching the (men’s) Georgia Bulldogs go play, they’re out there every Saturday and sometimes even travel for the away games.”

“They love football, they understand it and this gives them a chance to play football, grow their knowledge of the sport and be even more invested in a sport they love watching. It really only takes one passionate girl to come to a school and get everyone else on board.”

Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has been temporarily shifted to relief duties while he addresses mechanical problems with his pitching form, manager Walt Weiss announced to media on Sunday.

The right-handed pitcher started this season in Atlanta’s second spot in the rotation after making only one appearance in 2025 before requiring season-ending shoulder surgery. Lopez posted an impressive 2.18 ERA across his first four outings this year, but struggled significantly in his most recent appearance, surrendering four runs on five hits plus three walks during just one inning in last Tuesday’s 11-4 defeat against Washington.

“We see him as a starter,” Weiss explained. “He’s working through some things, delivery wise, that type of thing, and he’s getting right there. And when he’s right, he’s one of our best starters. He was our No. 2 coming out of camp, even with some of the issues at the end of spring training.”

“So we see him as a starter long term, but right now, trying to iron some things out. He’s going to help us out of the pen in the short term,” the manager added.

The veteran pitcher brings significant experience in both starting and relief roles throughout his major league career. Across 11 seasons and 273 total appearances, including 128 starts, Lopez holds a 48-55 record with a 3.93 ERA.

His 2024 campaign with Atlanta marked a career highlight, earning his inaugural All-Star selection and placing 11th in National League Cy Young Award balloting. That season saw him compile a stellar 1.99 ERA with 148 strikeouts against 42 walks across 135 2/3 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, Atlanta has retained 22-year-old right-hander JR Ritchie on the major league roster following his impressive debut performance Thursday against Washington, where he surrendered two runs on five hits while recording seven strikeouts over seven innings. Ritchie is scheduled for his first home appearance Wednesday when the team faces Detroit.

The Braves also anticipate the return of right-hander Spencer Strider, who could make his season debut as early as this weekend during the team’s series in Colorado. Strider began the year on the injured list due to an oblique strain.

Mark Toothaker was enjoying a typical December evening last year at his Lexington, Kentucky home. The Spendthrift Farm employee had finished his workout and was relaxing in bed with his wife Malory, watching Monday Night Football as the New York Giants faced the New England Patriots.

What happened next changed everything.

As Malory read beside him, Toothaker watched Giants kicker Younghoe Koo completely miss a field goal attempt in a moment that looked straight out of a Peanuts comic strip. The 59-year-old found the replay so hilarious that his laughter triggered an unexpected medical emergency.

“I’ve never felt anything like this in my life,” Toothaker remembered. “I felt like I got electrocuted.”

Fortunately, Malory works as a nurse at a rehabilitation facility specializing in brain injuries. After realizing her husband wasn’t joking around, she immediately contacted emergency services.

Hospital scans revealed shocking news: a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball was growing on the left side of Toothaker’s head. “When you hear the news, ‘You’ve got a brain tumor,’ that’s what nobody wants to hear,” Malory explained.

Doctors at the University of Kentucky hospital successfully removed the growth, which tested as non-cancerous. Toothaker recovered completely and returned home within days. This Saturday, he’ll attend the Kentucky Derby to watch Further Ado, a horse owned by his employer, compete in the prestigious race.

The stallion sales manager remains grateful for that fateful missed kick.

“(The) kicker saved my life because it could’ve happened any other time,” Toothaker shared with The Associated Press during a telephone conversation. “I wholeheartedly believe I was in the right spot at the right time, and he was the trigger for that happening. It was a miracle.”

The tumor had already shifted Toothaker’s brain six millimeters without causing any noticeable symptoms. In the weeks leading up to his seizure, he had traveled extensively by car and plane for work, including a trip to Louisville the previous weekend to watch Further Ado win the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

“I could have had it on a plane, anywhere,” Toothaker reflected. “I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t run over a family in my Expedition running up and down the road. I guess that would’ve been the hardest thing for me to live with if somebody would’ve got hurt out of this. Believe me, as tough as that thing was, as violent as that seizure was, I have no memory of it and I would find it hard to believe that I wouldn’t have hurt somebody or hurt myself if I would’ve been behind a wheel.”

Toothaker had been watching specifically to support then-Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, whose father Dale is a longtime friend. Robinson later became the first player under 5-foot-8 to exceed 1,000 receiving yards since 1989 and signed a major contract with the Tennessee Titans.

The Kentucky man hopes to invite 31-year-old Koo, formerly one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers, as his Derby guest, despite the embarrassing nature of the miss. Koo was cut from the team two weeks following the game and didn’t respond to AP requests for comment.

“I know it wasn’t his best moment, but it was beyond crazy,” Toothaker said. “For she and I to be belly-laughing at his expense, which I feel terrible about now, but it all worked out in the end, that for me it couldn’t have been a better moment.”

According to Malory Toothaker, her husband has returned to his normal routine.

“So many people aren’t that fortunate,” she noted. “Really the first indication that he had a problem was the seizure — and to be in your own bed at home, not behind the wheel of a car or traveling, you’re just so humbled and feel so blessed and just fortunate that if this had to happen, it was the best-case scenario.”

The National Hockey League imposed a $5,000 penalty on Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov following an illegal hit against Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin during Sunday’s playoff matchup.

The violation took place after play had stopped, with 16 minutes and 43 seconds left on the clock during Boston’s devastating 6-1 defeat at home in the fourth game of their Eastern Conference opening round matchup.

The towering 6-foot-7 Zadorov skated toward Dahlin at center ice and delivered a cross-check to the opposing defenseman’s back, resulting in a five-minute major penalty and ejection from the game.

League officials issued the maximum financial penalty permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement terms.

Buffalo now holds a commanding 3-1 advantage in the playoff series, with the fifth game scheduled for Tuesday evening at their home arena.

The 31-year-old Zadorov has contributed one assist while accumulating 37 minutes in penalties across the four playoff contests. During the regular season, he tallied 22 points through two goals and 20 assists in 81 games, while leading the NHL with 152 penalty minutes.

New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers stepped into the role of draft critic recently, offering candid commentary about his team’s decision to select Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

During a podcast appearance, Nabers expressed his preference for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs instead, describing him as someone he “would rather play with than against.” The two faced each other when Nabers was at LSU and Downs played his freshman season at Alabama in 2023. Downs was ultimately chosen 11th overall by division rival Dallas.

“I love (Reese) the player but just like (podcast co-host Micah Parsons) said, where does he play? You want to be on the outside and rush but we just drafted someone last year to that same position,” Nabers commented.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh responded by personally contacting Nabers to discuss how Reese would fit alongside the team’s existing pass-rushing talent, which includes 2025 first-round selection Abdul Carter and veteran edge rusher Brian Burns.

“One thing that you’ll kind of probably see as we go here, we don’t get too worried about stuff,” Harbaugh explained. “As long as the person’s heart is in the right place, as long as the person really cares … and you really want what’s best for everybody and he’s got a good heart and it’s coming from a good place, say what you think. Put it out there.”

“We talk all the time about confronting everything that has to do with our football team. And so Malik wants to know how we’re going to use our first-round pick. I want to show him. I want to explain it to him. The fact that he says it publicly, who cares? I know fans are probably thinking the same thing.”

The Giants had another opportunity to select Downs with their 10th pick but instead chose Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

According to Harbaugh, Nabers visited the team facility on Friday before the draft’s second day, where they had an in-depth discussion about Reese’s role. The first-year Giants coach said Nabers left that meeting “fired up” about the linebacker.

“We had a great conversation with that,” Harbaugh noted. “Like came in the next morning, sat up there and we were talking about it. He made himself clear. It’s like you even said, if you go back and you watch it, I appreciate kind of where he’s coming from. I mean, you’re in a podcast, you’re talking ball and he’s just like, well, how do they got to use the guy? How’s he going to play? … It’s like he said, ‘I was curious about how you’re going to use him.’”

Nabers later took to social media to clarify his intentions and address the reaction to his comments.

“First off, we have to stop overreacting,” Nabers wrote online. “I would never intentionally take away from the biggest moment/night of Arvell’s life. Very excited to see him play on the team and happy that we have another dawg on the squad!!”

PHILADELPHIA — What Joel Embiid initially thought was severe food poisoning during the Philadelphia 76ers’ Texas road trip earlier this month turned out to be something far more serious.

The Cameroon-born center became so severely ill that simple tasks like walking and using the restroom became extremely difficult, keeping him awake through the night. When Embiid finally informed team medical staff that his condition was beyond any typical stomach ailment, doctors ordered immediate hospital testing.

The diagnosis delivered yet another cruel blow to Embiid’s injury-plagued playoff history.

The dominant center, who has seen his postseason appearances repeatedly derailed by various injuries including sprains, broken bones, and even facial nerve damage, faced another devastating setback this April.

On April 9 in Houston, Embiid underwent emergency appendix removal surgery after developing acute appendicitis overnight, leaving the two-time NBA scoring leader sidelined with no clear return date.

Missing Philadelphia’s final regular season games and their play-in tournament appearance, he could only watch helplessly as the Sixers fell behind 2-1 to Boston in their opening playoff round.

“You probably go through a couple of days where you feel bad for yourself,” Embiid said late Sunday. “Then it’s right back to it. Are you going to give up or are you going to try and come back as early as possible?”

Making his dramatic return in Game 4 just over two weeks post-surgery, Embiid received a thunderous standing ovation from fans hoping he could provide the offensive firepower needed to challenge a Celtics squad that had demolished Philadelphia by 32 points in Game 1.

Unfortunately, history repeated itself as the 76ers suffered another 32-point defeat, losing 128-96 Sunday evening and falling into a 3-1 series deficit heading into Tuesday’s Game 5 in Boston.

Despite posting 26 points and 10 rebounds across 34 minutes in a courageous performance, Embiid’s heroic return couldn’t mask Philadelphia’s glaring weaknesses. The statistics told a brutal story: Boston connected on 24 three-point shots compared to Philadelphia’s nine, dominated the boards 51-30, and at one stretch held a commanding 13-0 advantage in second-chance scoring to build their 21-point cushion.

The Sixers have unfortunately mastered the art of lopsided defeats.

Despite featuring All-Star talents like Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, Philadelphia made NBA history this season as the first franchise to lose three home contests by 40 or more points. Adding two 32-point playoff blowouts puts significant pressure on team president Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse if they cannot engineer a miraculous series comeback.

“I think those are going to kind of happen a couple of times a year,” Nurse said. “Listen, our kind of MO all year was to have a lot of things thrown at us, pick ourselves up and fight back. We’re just going to have to do it again.”

For Philadelphia to have any hope of reviving their championship aspirations, they desperately need aggressive play and consistent scoring from Maxey and promising rookie VJ Edgecombe. The team’s roster construction remains problematic, attempting to balance two young, athletic guards while simultaneously feeding an aging, injury-prone big man in the post.

Embiid certainly started strong, converting two free throws for Philadelphia’s opening points, thundering home a powerful two-handed dunk, and accounting for the team’s first eight points.

However, Maxey deferred too much to Embiid’s presence, attempting just three shots in the opening half before finishing with 22 points over 40 minutes.

“That can’t happen,” Maxey said of the slow start. “That’s on me. That’s just unacceptable by me. I was playing within the flow of the game. It kind of happened that way. It wasn’t meant to happen that way.”

The shot distribution showed Maxey and Edgecombe combining for 23 attempts while Embiid took 21 shots.

“There’s a couple of times when he had opportunities to shoot the ball, but he’s got to take them,” Embiid said of Maxey. “You’ve got to want it.”

Embiid revealed he experienced unspecified post-surgical complications but remained determined “to do the best job possible with the conditions.” Limited to just 38 games this season due primarily to ongoing knee management, he hasn’t reached 40 regular season appearances since the 2022-23 campaign when he averaged a career-high 33.1 points and captured MVP recognition.

According to Embiid, he felt compelled to battle through this latest medical emergency to rescue Philadelphia’s season. It’s become a recurring theme in the City of Brotherly Love. While upsets remain possible, the Sixers’ ultimate fate appears as predictable as Embiid’s next injury — no championship since 1983, no conference finals appearance since 2001.

“I just told them again, way out of character,” Nurse said. “We played another, about as bad as we could play, game. That’s two in the series.”

A third poor performance will end another disappointing postseason run.

The Boston Red Sox dismissed manager Alex Cora over the weekend, a move that could have happened to any of three struggling major league franchises.

Despite winning two games out of three against Baltimore, Boston remains at the bottom of their division with an 11-17 record. The New York Mets have performed even more poorly, managing just one run on Sunday while being swept in a doubleheader at home by Colorado. New York has dropped 15 of their last 17 games, falling to 9-19.

The Mets share the National League East basement with Philadelphia, as the Phillies have lost 11 of their past 12 contests to match that 9-19 mark.

As of Sunday evening, both Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson remained in their positions. These three large-market franchises can find comfort in the fact that it’s difficult to eliminate yourself from playoff contention before April ends — assuming sufficient talent exists for a turnaround.

Currently, FanGraphs projects a 34% playoff probability for Boston, while both Philadelphia and New York sit at 33%. This suggests a reasonable possibility that one of these clubs will reverse course and reach October baseball.

However, the season has been troubling for all three organizations. The Mets and Phillies possess baseball’s two poorest run differentials, and New York will play without shortstop Francisco Lindor for several weeks due to a calf problem. This absence won’t assist an attack that has produced the fewest runs in the majors.

Star pitcher Zack Wheeler finally took the mound for his 2026 season opener on Saturday for Philadelphia, helping end a 10-game losing streak, but Sunday’s defeat left them 10½ games behind division-leading Atlanta.

Boston sits closer to first place, trailing New York’s Yankees by seven games, though their run differential of minus-11 appears reasonable only because of Saturday’s 17-1 victory where Baltimore used a position player to pitch during a 10-run ninth inning.

The coming month will prove crucial for these three organizations. Continued poor performance through Memorial Day could make recovery impossible.

Philadelphia holds both the National League’s lowest batting average and highest ERA among qualifying players. The struggling performers are Alec Bohm, hitting .143, and Jesús Luzardo, carrying a 6.91 ERA.

Milwaukee faced both of last season’s Cy Young Award recipients on consecutive nights Thursday and Friday. Detroit’s Tarik Skubal pitched against the Brewers, with the Tigers ultimately winning 5-4 on Spencer Torkelson’s home run. Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes then carried a perfect game into the seventh inning during the Pirates’ 6-0 victory.

Sunday’s most unexpected pitching battle occurred when Washington and Chicago played nine scoreless frames before the Nationals won 2-1 in extra innings. Washington averages 5.38 runs per contest, fourth-highest in baseball, while allowing 5.9 runs, second-most in the majors. The Nationals actually led in both categories entering Wednesday’s games.

Poor pitching was anticipated, but the offense has made Washington entertaining thanks to James Wood’s 10 home runs, CJ Abrams’ .897 OPS, and Joey Wiemer’s strong .320 batting average.

In 14 of Washington’s 29 games, at least one team has reached eight runs.

Milwaukee’s Kyle Harrison fanned 12 batters across six one-hit innings during Sunday’s 5-0 triumph over Pittsburgh, preventing the Pirates from completing their first series sweep in Milwaukee since 2016.

Kansas City trailed by three runs with two outs and no runners in the ninth inning before mounting a comeback to tie Sunday’s game against Los Angeles. The Royals eventually prevailed 11-9 in 10 innings.

The Angels had commanded a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning and led 8-5 in the ninth before Vinnie Pasquantino’s triple, Salvador Perez’s RBI single, and Jac Caglianone’s two-run homer forced extra innings. Baseball Savant calculated Kansas City’s win probability at just 0.5%.

The Royals faced elimination again in the 10th inning when Lane Thomas delivered a walk-off three-run homer.

A young Spanish tennis player captured the attention of home fans Sunday when 19-year-old wildcard Rafael Jodar took down Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca in a thrilling three-set match, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1, at the Madrid Open.

Just two days earlier, Jodar had claimed his first victory over a top-10 ranked player by defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

Fonseca, who is also 19 and ranked 27th in the Madrid tournament, recovered from losing a tight first-set tiebreak to break Jodar’s serve early in the second set and push the match to a third set. However, the Spanish newcomer dominated the final set, recording 11 winners compared to just one for his Brazilian opponent to secure his spot in the fourth round.

“A very tough match,” Jodar said. “Joao is always a very tough player, so these matches are decided by very small details and various small points. I think I did a great job in those points, trying to play my game.”

Jodar’s next opponent will be Czech player Vit Kopriva, who has no current ranking and advanced when 22nd-seeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech withdrew due to a calf injury after two sets. Kopriva had taken the opening set 6-4 but lost the second 6-3 before Rinderknech retired from the match.

The Spanish player is taking time to savor Sunday’s breakthrough performance.

“I’m very, very happy with my level,” Jodar said. “I’ll just try to recover well and think about the next match.”

In other action, Italy’s top-seeded Jannik Sinner dominated Danish qualifier Elmer Moller with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win to reach the fourth round. The victory extended Sinner’s remarkable winning streak to 24 straight matches at ATP 1000-level tournaments. Sinner committed only 10 unforced errors against the powerful-hitting Moller.

“I tried to stay calm and serve well in important moments,” Sinner said after the match. “I think that was the key today. There was not a lot of rhythm, so I tried to stay quite compact. Let’s see what’s coming in the next round.”

Sinner will face 19th-seeded Cameron Norrie of Britain on Tuesday, after Norrie narrowly defeated Argentina’s Thiago Tirante 7-5, 7-6 (5). The upcoming match will mark the first meeting between Sinner and the left-handed Norrie.

Sunday also saw other higher-seeded players advance without major upsets. Italy’s sixth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti outlasted 29th-seeded Tallon Griekspoor from the Netherlands, 6-4, 7-5. Czech Republic’s 11th-seeded Jiri Lehecka defeated Alex Michelsen, 6-4, 6-2. France’s 21st-seeded Arthur Fils knocked out Emilio Nava, 7-6 (2), 6-3. And 25th-seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etchevarry came from behind to stop Croatia’s Dino Prizmic with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback victory.

Mike Tomlin has broken his silence about departing Pittsburgh, explaining that both he and the Steelers organization needed a change after nearly two decades together.

The 54-year-old coach, who never posted a losing season during his tenure, spoke with NBC Sunday night in his first public comments since leaving the team in January. Tomlin acknowledged that the franchise’s playoff struggles – they haven’t won a postseason game since 2016 – played a role in his difficult choice to step away.

“You know, it’s probably not an overnight decision,” Tomlin explained. “It’s probably not something that I could articulate or share with people. There’s a loneliness with leadership.”

“I just thought it was a good time for me personally and by that, I mean, just where I am in life and I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn’t have success in the playoffs in recent years and there’s just some veteran players there, man, guys like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and (Chris) Boswell, man, that I thought that just were worthy of the excitement and the optimism of new leadership.”

NBC officially confirmed Sunday that Tomlin will become an analyst on “Football Night in America,” which precedes the network’s Sunday evening NFL broadcasts.

“I just thought it would be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives,” Tomlin shared about his new role. “and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment and lastly, I just thought it would be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers.”

“I love to talk football and so that’s just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there’s going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety, it’s good to be uncomfortable with the growth associated with that. I’m fired up about it.”

Pittsburgh finished 10-7 this past season before suffering a crushing 30-6 wild-card defeat to Houston on January 12th. The organization subsequently hired Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy as Tomlin’s replacement in late January.

During his remarkable run with the Steelers, Tomlin captured Super Bowl XLIII with a thrilling 27-23 win over Arizona in February 2009. The team also reached Super Bowl XLV two years later, falling 31-25 to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

Tomlin compiled a 193-114-2 record in Pittsburgh, matching Hall of Famer Chuck Noll for most regular-season victories in franchise history and ranking ninth all-time in the NFL. Noll led the Steelers from 1969-91, with Bill Cowher coaching from 1992-2007 before Tomlin took over.

Regarding Rodgers, who worked with both McCarthy in Green Bay and Tomlin this past season, the former coach predicted the 42-year-old quarterback will return for his 22nd NFL campaign despite uncertainty about his future plans.

“Man, if you got a gun to my head, I’d say it’s AR,” Tomlin said. “I just think, Aaron, I just think being around him for the 12 months that I’m around him, he’s got a love affair with the game of football and not only the game, but the process, the informal moments, the development of younger guys, the interaction with teammates. I think he has an addiction to that, and there’s only one way to feed it. And certainly he is still capable and in really good shape. And so I think at the end of the day, he’ll play football.”

The Colorado Avalanche closed out their playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings with a commanding 5-1 win on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep in the Western Conference first round. Nathan MacKinnon led the charge with two goals and an assist in the decisive victory.

MacKinnon, who topped the NHL with 53 goals during the regular season, finally found the back of the net in his first postseason goals of the year. The Avalanche also received scoring from Cale Makar, Nicolas Roy, and Devon Toews, while Gabriel Landeskog contributed two assists. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood turned away 24 shots to secure the win that sends Colorado to face either Dallas or Minnesota in the next round.

Los Angeles managed just one goal from Joel Edmundson, assisted by Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere. Kings goalie Anton Forsberg made 27 saves on 31 shots before being pulled with 5:48 left in the game. MacKinnon capped the scoring just 20 seconds after the empty-net situation began.

The defeat brought an emotional end to the career of Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who had previously announced his intention to retire following this season. As the final minutes ticked away, Los Angeles fans showed their appreciation for Kopitar with chants, honoring his two decades with the franchise that included two Stanley Cup championships.

In other playoff action, Anaheim moved within one win of advancing by defeating Edmonton 4-3 in overtime. Ryan Poehling netted the game-winner for the Ducks, who now lead their series 3-1. Cutter Gauthier, Mikael Granlund, and Jeffery Viel also scored for Anaheim, while Connor McDavid recorded two assists for Edmonton in his 100th career playoff game.

Tampa Bay evened their series with Montreal at 2-2 after a 3-2 comeback victory. Brandon Hagel scored twice, including the winner with 4:53 remaining, as the Lightning overcame a two-goal deficit. Meanwhile, Buffalo took control of their series against Boston with a dominant 6-1 victory, building a 3-1 series lead behind a four-goal first period explosion.

HOUSTON — Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton found himself heading to the locker room early during Sunday night’s playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets after officials determined he made excessive contact with an opponent’s face.

The incident occurred with approximately 5½ minutes remaining in the third quarter when Ayton struck Rockets player Alperen Sengun in the face using his elbow and forearm as Sengun moved toward the basket with possession of the ball. Officials initially called a standard foul but decided to review the play.

Following the review, referees upgraded the call to a flagrant foul 2, which carries an automatic ejection. The official making the announcement described the contact as “unnecessary and excessive.”

At the time of Ayton’s removal from the game, the Lakers were trailing 76-57, despite holding a commanding 3-0 advantage in the playoff series. Ayton had been performing well for Los Angeles, recording a team-high 19 points along with 10 rebounds before his early departure from the contest.

LANCASTER, Pa. — Former Major League Baseball Cy Young Award recipient Trevor Bauer delivered a stellar no-hit performance Sunday while pitching for the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks in their matchup against the Lancaster Stormers.

The 35-year-old right-handed pitcher completed seven innings of work, surrendering only a single walk while fanning seven batters on 84 total pitches, with 54 finding the strike zone. Bauer (1-0) set down the first 15 batters in order before issuing his lone free pass to Kevin Watson Jr. with one out in the sixth inning.

After the walk, Bauer regained his composure and dispatched the final five hitters he encountered, securing the third no-hitter in franchise history for the Ducks, who cruised to a 13-0 victory.

The performance comes as Bauer works to resurrect his major league career following a 194-game suspension for violations of MLB’s policies regarding domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. While criminal charges were never filed against him, civil lawsuits related to the allegations were resolved through settlements.

The Los Angeles Dodgers cut ties with Bauer in January 2023. Since then, he has played internationally, spending time with Yokohama in Japan during 2023 and 2025, while also competing for Diablos Rojos in Mexico’s professional league in 2024, where he earned pitcher of the year honors.

During his most recent stint in Japan last season, Bauer compiled a 4-10 record with a 4.41 earned run average while pitching for Yokohama.

Multiple media sources reported Sunday that the New York Yankees plan to promote outfielder Jasson Dominguez from their Triple-A affiliate.

The 23-year-old player from the Dominican Republic had significant playing time with New York during the 2025 season and showed promise in Spring Training before being sent down to the minors on March 20.

During his 2025 campaign, Dominguez posted a .257 batting average with a .331 on-base percentage and .388 slugging percentage across 429 plate appearances. His season totals included 47 RBIs, 10 home runs, and 23 stolen bases.

In his recent stint with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this spring, Dominguez performed well across 22 games, recording 13 RBIs and three home runs while maintaining a .306 batting average.

The Yankees created a roster spot after sending right-handed pitcher Luis Gil down to Triple-A on Sunday. Dominguez may also serve as a replacement for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

Reports indicate Dominguez will be added to the active roster in time for Monday’s away game against the Texas Rangers.

Monte Coleman, a linebacker who captured three Super Bowl titles during his 16-year career with Washington’s NFL franchise, passed away Sunday at the age of 68.

Neither the Washington Commanders nor Arkansas Pine Bluff University disclosed the cause of Coleman’s death. Coleman served as head football coach at his alma mater from 2008 through 2017, compiling a 40-71 record. Under his leadership, the Golden Lions claimed the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2012 and earned the Boxtorow HBCU Division I coaches’ national title that same year.

“Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB — excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes,” stated UAPB athletic director Chris Robinson. “His legacy is not only written in championships and honors, but in the lives he changed every single day.”

Coleman made history as the first player ever selected from Central Arkansas when Washington chose him in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL Draft, which featured 12 rounds at that time.

Throughout his career spanning from 1979 to 1994, Coleman appeared in 215 regular-season contests with 62 starts, accumulating 1,002 tackles (999 unassisted), 49.5 quarterback sacks, 17 interceptions with three returned for scores, 13 forced fumbles, and 14 fumble recoveries.

His playoff experience included 21 games with five starts, where he registered five tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two picks.

Washington captured Super Bowl victories in 1982, 1987, and 1991, while also reaching the championship game in 1983.

“Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history,” declared Commanders owner Josh Harris. “He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl-winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold.”

Coleman holds the second-highest marks in franchise history for total games played and solo tackles, while ranking sixth in sacks.

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame welcomed Coleman in 1998, and Washington honored him with induction into their Ring of Fame in 2015.

“That was one of the greatest accolades I’ve ever received,” Coleman reflected on his Washington recognition. “To be listed among those players, I will always cherish that. That means a whole lot to me.”

Coleman leaves behind his wife Yvette, his partner of 43 years, and five children: Jasmine, Kyndall, Kyle, Corey, and Londie.

Nelly Korda claimed her third major championship Sunday at the Chevron Championship in Houston, dominating from start to finish while recapturing the world’s top ranking in women’s golf.

The 27-year-old golfer controlled the tournament from beginning to end, carding a final-round 70 at Memorial Park Golf Course to secure a commanding five-stroke victory. Korda began with back-to-back rounds of 65 to build a substantial lead heading into the weekend, then closed out the championship at 18-under 270.

“That was a hard weekend. Honestly, having that big of a lead, it’s not easy,” Korda explained. “It was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve had to do mentally.

“But I have an amazing support system, amazing family right behind me, amazing caddie that’s on the bag, and just happy to get it done.”

China’s Ruoning Yin finished with a 69 while Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit carded a 70, both ending in a deadlock for second place at 13-under par.

This marks Korda’s third major championship victory, joining her 2021 Women’s PGA Championship triumph and now her second Chevron title in three years. The achievement places her alongside notable contemporaries including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Australia’s Minjee Lee, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, South Korea’s In-gee Chun, and Hall of Fame legend Nancy Lopez.

The victory also allowed Korda to reclaim the top position in the Rolex Rankings from Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, who failed to make the cut in Houston. Korda had held the second spot since last August’s Women’s Open.

Her early-season performance has been exceptional, recording two wins and three runner-up finishes across five tournaments. This hot streak mirrors her remarkable 2024 campaign when she captured six titles by mid-May and seven overall.

“I can’t compare. Every year is so different,” Korda reflected. “I would say the only the thing that’s similar is like when do you get into like a zone like this, you’re kind of in your own little bubble, and that’s what I was feeling in 2024. I was in my own little bubble.

“But as for the way that I am mentally — was mentally in 2024 versus what I am mentally right now, they’re almost two different people as well.”

Following her victory, Korda honored tradition by jumping into a specially constructed 4-foot pond at Memorial Park. This custom originated when the tournament was previously held at Rancho Mirage, where champions would leap into water near the 18th green.

“So refreshing,” Korda commented. “Yeah, it was so hot this weekend in Houston. … And, yeah, I mean, if I’m hoisting the trophy then I’m jumping in. I’m going to keep the tradition alive. Everyone is going to have their own opinion. My opinion is if you kill a tradition it’s going to be gone forever.”

Korda entered the final day with a five-shot advantage and immediately extended her lead with birdies on the opening and third holes. She maintained steady play with consistent pars until a bogey on the 12th hole, which she quickly answered with consecutive birdies to seal the championship.

Tavatanakit, who previously won one major title, stayed closest to Korda throughout most of the week and began Sunday in sole possession of second place.

She managed three birdies in her opening six holes Sunday before struggling on the back nine, recording a bogey on the eighth hole and making pars the remainder of the round.

“To be honest, I feel like I didn’t have my A-game at all, but I just managed myself really well,” Tavatanakit admitted. “Just kept grinding out there. Made really nice up and downs all week, which is great. At the same time, I really wish I had my iron game a little bit better.”

Yin also fell short of adding another major championship to her collection.

“I live in Texas so I just assume I have good vibes here,” Yin said. “So, yeah, I mean, I think this course suits me well, and I think if I can hit a little bit longer it would be great. But overall I think I’m just really proud of this week.”

China’s Yan Liu shot 67 and South Korea’s Ina Yoon posted 68 to share fourth place at 12-under par. South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim, who has claimed two victories this season, finished well back in sixth at 7-under following a final-round 69, as few competitors reached double digits under par at this first-time major championship venue.

The National Basketball Association has imposed significant financial penalties on two star players following a heated confrontation during Saturday’s playoff game between Denver and Minnesota.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic received a $50,000 fine while Minnesota’s Julius Randle was hit with a $35,000 penalty for their involvement in the late-game incident that marred the Timberwolves’ 112-96 victory.

NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones announced the disciplinary action on Sunday, just one day after Minnesota secured a commanding 3-1 advantage in their first-round playoff matchup.

The trouble began when Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels scored an easy basket in the game’s closing moments with the outcome already determined. Jokic sprinted across the court from the far end to push McDaniels, which triggered the confrontation between both squads.

The league determined that Randle warranted punishment because he “escalated the incident by forcefully inserting himself into the scrum” when he shoved Denver’s Bruce Brown. Officials assessed technical fouls to both Jokic and Randle and ejected them before the final buzzer sounded.

Tensions have been running high between these Western Conference opponents throughout their playoff series. Minnesota previously knocked Denver out of postseason contention two seasons ago.

The series continues Monday night in Denver for Game 5.

Major League Baseball delivered spectacular entertainment in Mexico’s capital city this weekend, as the Arizona Diamondbacks claimed a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday, evening their international series at one game apiece.

The action unfolded at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, where enthusiastic crowds enjoyed banda music, colorful alebrije displays, and specialty concessions during the high-energy weekend that demonstrated MLB’s successful expansion into international markets.

This marks the third time baseball’s premier league has brought games to Mexico City, continuing the World Tour initiative that began in 2023.

Dedicated fans made lengthy journeys to witness the games, including Jacinto Perez and Jose Rodriguez, two Padres supporters from San Diego who wore traditional lucha libre masks while cheering for their team.

“My first game was in ’81. My cousin took me and since then I’ve been a die-hard fan,” Rodriguez explained. Perez added, “Wherever they go, we’ll follow them,” with both expressing interest in attending future Padres games in Japan.

Another notable attendee was “El Yorch,” a San Diego fan with Tijuana family connections who regularly attends Mexico City sporting events and plans to return for this year’s NFL game.

All three supporters rejected safety concerns about traveling to Mexico for the games.

“Please avoid believing everything the newspapers said, yes the country has had some difficult moments this year, but nothing compares to this experience, to the people here and the ambient,” El Yorch stated.

Perez, identifying as Mexican, expressed unwavering commitment to visiting. “I will never lose the desire to come to my homeland. I will always come, no matter what anyone says. As long as you stay on the right path, nothing will happen.”

The weekend featured exceptional baseball action across both contests.

San Diego dominated Saturday’s opener, mounting a comeback from a four-run deficit to secure a 6-4 victory. The Padres scored four runs during the seventh inning before Ty France delivered the decisive blow with his second homer in the ninth.

Sunday’s finale swung Arizona’s direction despite Manny Machado’s two home runs for San Diego. Tim Tawa’s career-first grand slam sparked a decisive six-run seventh inning rally that propelled the Diamondbacks to victory.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the league’s commitment to international market development, highlighting Mexico’s importance in baseball’s worldwide growth strategy.

Following the series split, San Diego holds second place in the National League West standings, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game, while Arizona sits in third position.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Salisbury University’s women’s tennis squad wrapped up their regular season on a winning note Sunday, defeating Virginia Wesleyan University’s Marlins 5-2 at the Everett Tennis Center.

The victory allowed the Sea Gulls to reach their 10th win of the season, continuing an impressive streak of double-digit win seasons that now extends to five consecutive years.

Sunday’s match served as the final regular season competition for Salisbury as they prepare for postseason play. The team’s consistent performance over recent seasons demonstrates the program’s sustained excellence under current leadership.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets will once again be without superstar Kevin Durant for Sunday night’s crucial Game 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the team fights to stay alive in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Durant will be sidelined due to a sprained left ankle injury he sustained during Friday’s heartbreaking Game 3, where Houston surrendered a six-point advantage in the final 30 seconds of regulation before falling 112-108 in overtime, putting them on the brink of elimination at 0-3.

The veteran forward has now been absent for three of the four games in this playoff series, having also missed the series opener due to a bruised right knee. Durant made his return in Game 2, contributing 23 points over 41 minutes in the team’s 101-94 defeat, but suffered the ankle injury in the closing moments of that contest.

These recent injury setbacks come as a surprise given that the 37-year-old veteran logged 2,840 minutes during the regular season, ranking him second league-wide in total playing time.

Durant joined the Rockets this season following a trade from the Phoenix Suns and currently stands as the NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer in league history.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid returned to action Sunday, taking his place in the starting five for the crucial Game 4 matchup against the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff battle.

The star big man had been absent from the court since April 6, when he underwent emergency surgery to remove his appendix while the team was traveling in Texas. Team officials had marked him as doubtful for Game 3, where he remained on the sidelines, and initially carried the same designation into Game 4 before elevating his status to questionable roughly an hour prior to game time.

Team officials have not disclosed how many minutes Embiid might see or what limitations may be placed on his playing time during his return.

The former league Most Valuable Player, who has earned five All-NBA team selections, managed to appear in just 38 regular season contests this year due to various health issues. During those appearances, he posted averages of 26.9 points per game along with 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 blocks.

The Celtics currently hold a 2-1 advantage in the playoff series.

Former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia will participate in the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp next weekend after receiving an invitation, according to ESPN reports on Sunday.

The Ravens are bringing in quarterbacks for their rookie camp since they lack eligible players on their current roster and didn’t draft any signal-callers in the recently completed NFL Draft. Baltimore is also reportedly inviting University of Connecticut quarterback Joe Fagnano to participate in the camp.

Currently, the Ravens have veteran quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on their active roster.

Despite finishing as Heisman Trophy runner-up, Pavia was not selected during the seven-round NFL Draft. He becomes the first Heisman runner-up to go undrafted since Iowa’s Brad Banks in 2003.

Additionally, Pavia marks the first Heisman finalist since Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014 to be overlooked entirely in the draft.

Throughout his college career at New Mexico State (2022-23) and Vanderbilt (2024-25), Pavia threw for 10,255 yards with 88 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. In his final season, he completed 70.6% of his throws for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while throwing just eight interceptions.

Pavia secured his place in Vanderbilt history by leading the Commodores to a stunning victory over top-ranked Alabama during the 2024 season, marking the program’s first win against a Top 5 opponent.

NFL evaluators expressed concerns about Pavia’s 5-foot-10 height and questioned whether his arm strength meets professional standards.

PHILADELPHIA — In a stunning turn of events, Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid took the court Sunday evening as a starter for Game 4 against the Boston Celtics, barely two and a half weeks following his appendix removal surgery.

The Wells Fargo Center erupted when Embiid’s name was announced during pregame introductions, as fans welcomed back their franchise player who hadn’t competed since April 6. The former MVP wasted no time making his presence felt, converting two free throws for Philadelphia’s opening points before delivering a thunderous two-handed dunk and accounting for the team’s first eight points.

Embiid’s status remained uncertain throughout the day, initially listed as doubtful before being upgraded to questionable roughly 90 minutes prior to game time. Team officials gave him medical clearance approximately 40 minutes before tipoff, with the 32-year-old center sporting a protective wrap around his torso.

During the 2024-25 campaign, Embiid posted averages of 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds despite appearing in just 19 contests. His last full season came in 2022-23, when he participated in at least 40 games while averaging a career-high 33.1 points en route to MVP recognition.

The big man underwent emergency appendix surgery in Houston on April 9 after developing appendicitis symptoms overnight, forcing him to miss Philadelphia’s play-in victory over Orlando and the series’ opening three games.

Head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged pregame uncertainty regarding Embiid’s playing time and effectiveness, though the 2023 MVP’s presence clearly provided an emotional boost for a Philadelphia squad that entered as 7½-point home underdogs despite trailing the series 2-1.

Boston dominated the series opener with a 32-point blowout victory, but Philadelphia bounced back with a shocking 111-97 road triumph in Game 2. Game 3 saw Tyrese Maxey pour in 31 points to give the 76ers a fourth-quarter advantage before Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown rallied the Celtics to a 108-100 win.

Sunday’s starting five featured Embiid alongside Maxey, rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr.

Embiid’s absence from the play-in tournament and early playoff rounds continues a troubling pattern of postseason injuries that have plagued his career.

Last year’s playoffs saw him battle through Bell’s palsy, a condition causing facial paralysis. He famously wore sunglasses during a press conference after scoring 50 points against New York in Game 3, explaining he was experiencing blurred vision and dry eyes.

The 2023 postseason cost him games in two different series due to a sprained right knee injury.

Perhaps most devastating was 2022, when Philadelphia won 51 regular season games under Doc Rivers and appeared poised for a championship run. Those hopes were derailed when Embiid sustained a right orbital fracture, concussion, and torn thumb ligament after taking an inadvertent hit to the face from Toronto’s Pascal Siakam. His two-game absence in the second round against Miami proved costly, as Philadelphia lost both contests and the series 4-2.

Previous playoff campaigns have also been interrupted by injuries, including a torn meniscus in 2021 and various ailments in 2019 and 2018 that forced him to miss multiple games.

Major League Baseball is setting its sights on worldwide growth, with Commissioner Rob Manfred announcing ambitious plans for international expansion during this weekend’s games in Mexico City.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Manfred outlined the league’s strategy following the successful two-game series between the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu. The Padres claimed victory in Saturday’s opener with a 6-4 win, while both games drew capacity crowds.

The commissioner emphasized Mexico’s significance in MLB’s worldwide vision, citing the country’s deep-rooted baseball traditions and competitive leagues.

“We love being in Mexico City, it’s been a great success for us,” Manfred stated. “It’s a really important market for us … a market that has a baseball culture, important participants in the World Baseball Classic and great professional leagues.”

MLB’s international efforts continue despite recent setbacks, including canceled regular-season contests in Paris next year and London this season due to broadcasting conflicts and logistical issues.

“We are interested in expansion … if distributors (broadcasters) add up around the world for us, there are other markets for baseball,” the commissioner explained.

Manfred revealed that additional games in Mexico are part of MLB’s long-term international schedule, which will be developed under the current collective bargaining agreement set for renegotiation with players in December.

“We are going to do an international play plan with the MLB Players Association as part of the collective bargaining agreement … Mexico is going to be a big part of that plan going forward,” he confirmed.