Category: Sports

DENVER — A dramatic scene unfolded during Tuesday night’s playoff hockey game when Los Angeles Kings interim coach D.J. Smith found himself dodging falling glass after an arena panel collapsed behind his team’s bench during Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche.

The incident occurred moments after Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood blocked a penalty shot attempt by Kings forward Quinton Byfield, with 16 minutes and 48 seconds left in the second period. Enthusiastic Avalanche supporters began banging on the protective glass barrier, causing it to wobble before completely giving way and sending glass fragments tumbling onto Smith below.

Smith immediately shielded his head with his hands as debris scattered around him, then dusted off his suit jacket before walking to the locker room area. The coach emerged again several minutes later to resume his duties.

Arena maintenance staff quickly responded with cleaning equipment including shovels and containers to remove the broken glass from the visiting team’s bench area. Meanwhile, Kings players gathered on the ice surface while workers brought in and mounted a replacement glass panel.

Colorado team captain Gabriel Landeskog shared his reaction with ESPN hockey commentator Erik Johnson, saying he had never witnessed such an occurrence during his career. “It was loud there when ‘Wedgy’ made that save and fans got a little too excited,” Landeskog explained.

The unexpected interruption lasted over 15 minutes, with both teams tied at zero when officials stopped the action.

NEW YORK — The struggling New York Mets came back to their home stadium Tuesday evening hoping to end an 11-game losing streak, but instead found themselves dealing with a mostly empty Citi Field and increasingly frustrated supporters.

The atmosphere shifted dramatically as it became obvious the team’s struggles would continue for at least one more game.

Struggling reliever Devin Williams gave up a go-ahead RBI hit to Luke Keaschall during the ninth inning, extending New York’s losing streak to 12 games in a 5-3 defeat against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday evening.

Despite carrying baseball’s highest opening-day payroll at $352.2 million, the Mets now own the sport’s poorest record at 7-16. This current losing streak represents their longest since dropping 12 consecutive games between August 10-23, 2002. Historically, no team has reached the playoffs after enduring a 12-game losing streak during a season.

Throughout this losing stretch, New York has managed just a .194 batting average while opponents have outscored them 67-22. The team has played without star hitter Juan Soto during this entire period, though he’s scheduled to return Wednesday following a 16-game absence due to a strained left quadriceps.

“I’ve never been a part of something like this,” Williams said. “I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself. But it’s obviously proving pretty difficult right now.”

Williams, who couldn’t record a single out, faced loud boos from the remaining fans in the announced crowd of 32,798. The actual attendance looked much smaller on an evening when temperatures dropped to 46 degrees at game time.

Some spectators expressed their frustration through the classic protest of placing paper bags over their heads.

Supporters began shouting “Fire Mendy!” while Williams walked batters to load the bases. Relief pitcher Austin Warren came in and earned cheers when he struck out Royce Lewis. The crowd then chanted Warren’s name after he struck out both Brooks Lee and Byron Buxton.

Earlier in the day, the atmosphere was much more optimistic.

Patrick Heaney sat alone in section 524 at Citi Field just before game time, smiling as he looked across rows of vacant seats.

“You wouldn’t be here tonight if you weren’t a Met fan,” Heaney said.

Star shortstop Francisco Lindor had predicted after Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning defeat to the Chicago Cubs that Tuesday’s home crowd would “get very loud.” However, fans remained relatively quiet until the third inning, when Lindor connected on a three-run home run that opened the scoring and gave the Mets their largest lead since defeating the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on April 5.

“I think if they can get it going today, I think the fans will rally around them,” said Josh Hudson, a Tennessee visitor attending on business who purchased a $15 secondary market ticket and sat in section 509.

Heaney, who lives in Malverne on Long Island and wore his Mets cap along with a 2022 playoff sweatshirt, smiled while describing how he ended up purchasing a $12 ticket and attending the game by himself.

“I couldn’t get my wife to come,” Heaney said. “I couldn’t get my kids to come. I couldn’t get my friends to come. I bought one ticket, the cheapest one I could find, and I’m going to see if I can help them turn it around.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza, now in his third season leading the team after spending six years on the Yankees’ coaching staff, stated before the game that he wouldn’t mind a cold reception because he understands how supporters will respond if the team improves.

“They’re also going to be right behind you when we flip it around,” Mendoza said. “We’ve seen that before, too, so it’s nothing new for us that have been here. We expect those guys to continue to support us, but we’ve got to do better for them, too.

“It’s all part of it. It comes with the territory. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama suffered a frightening fall during Tuesday evening’s playoff matchup with Portland, forcing him to leave the game and enter concussion protocol after landing face-down on the court.

The team announced that Wembanyama would not be returning to the contest as he undergoes evaluation for a potential head injury. A prolonged absence for the towering French athlete would deal a significant setback to San Antonio, which secured the NBA’s second-best regular season record largely due to the 7-foot-4 center’s dominant play.

The incident occurred when Portland’s Jrue Holiday committed a foul on Wembanyama following the big man’s spin move around the guard in the low post. Unable to break his fall properly, Wembanyama’s jaw made contact with the hardwood with 8 minutes and 57 seconds left in the second period.

The young star stayed down for approximately 30 seconds before sitting up and conversing with teammate Stephon Castle for about a minute. Head coach Mitch Johnson immediately called a timeout to assess his player’s condition, and Wembanyama quickly headed to the locker room once he stood up.

This marks San Antonio’s first playoff appearance since 2019, with the team taking Game 1 of their Western Conference opening round matchup against the Trail Blazers.

Just one day earlier, Wembanyama received recognition as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, earning every first-place vote for the honor. During the regular season, he posted averages of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds while leading the league with 3.1 blocks per game.

San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama will not finish Tuesday’s playoff matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers after sustaining a concussion during the second quarter of Game 2 in their opening-round series.

The injury occurred with 8 minutes and 57 seconds remaining in the second period when Wembanyama took a hard fall while driving toward the basket. Moving at nearly full speed, the center’s face made contact with the court surface after being knocked down, leaving him visibly shaken and struggling to regain his footing before heading to the locker room.

Team officials confirmed that Wembanyama has been placed in the league’s concussion protocol and will not rejoin the contest. At the time of his departure, San Antonio was down 34-32.

Before the injury, Wembanyama had contributed five points, four rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot during his 11 minutes and 41 seconds on the court. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 57-57.

San Antonio has demonstrated resilience when playing without their franchise player throughout the current season. Wembanyama sat out 18 regular season contests due to various injuries, during which the Spurs compiled a strong 12-6 record in his absence.

Brooklyn boxer Richardson Hitchins has voluntarily surrendered his IBF super lightweight championship belt, announcing his decision on social media just two weeks following his signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing organization.

The 28-year-old fighter took to X to explain his reasoning, stating: “I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done. Let’s go!!!”

The International Boxing Federation officially confirmed Hitchins’ decision through a statement released Tuesday.

“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the organization stated. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.”

The statement continued: “We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”

Hitchins captured the championship belt in 2024 following a unanimous decision victory over Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn-born fighter maintains a perfect professional record of 20-0, with eight victories coming by way of knockout.

This decision eliminates any chance of a rescheduled match between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado. The bout was originally planned as a replacement for Hitchins’ February contest against Oscar Duarte, which was cancelled due to the champion’s illness.

With the title now vacant, Delgado is positioned to compete for the championship in his upcoming fight. Delgado and Duarte appear to be the most logical contenders for the empty title, though both fighters train under Robert Garcia, which could create complications for arranging such a matchup.

Hitchins becomes the second fighter to join Zuffa after Jai Opetaia, who was actually stripped of his IBF cruiserweight championship following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. By moving up in weight class, Hitchins may have avoided a similar fate of being stripped of his title.

The former champion is set to make his debut with Zuffa Boxing during the summer months.

The NFL draft’s opening round presents an intriguing imbalance: half a dozen franchises will sit out the first round entirely, while six others possess double the usual selection power.

Trading activity could heat up significantly as a result.

First-round pick trades have fluctuated dramatically in recent years, with 60 such deals occurring over the past five seasons. The 2022 draft saw 18 first-round selections change hands, while last year’s six trades tied the lowest total since 1985.

The Bengals, Packers, Jaguars, Falcons, Colts and Broncos will watch Thursday’s first round from the sidelines, having previously dealt their selections. Meanwhile, the Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys, Browns and Chiefs each hold two first-round picks.

Several major trades have already shaped this year’s landscape. Cincinnati sent the 10th overall selection to New York for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on Saturday, giving the Giants picks at fifth and tenth overall. Green Bay lacks a first-rounder due to last August’s blockbuster deal for Micah Parsons. Jacksonville traded away its 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland during last year’s draft to secure Travis Hunter with the second overall selection.

Atlanta surrendered this year’s first-round pick to Los Angeles last draft night to select edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at 26th overall. Indianapolis dealt its first-rounder to New York for Sauce Gardner. Denver sent the 30th pick to Miami in exchange for Jaylen Waddle.

Several franchises appear positioned to make moves Thursday evening:

Philadelphia’s general manager Howie Roseman has established himself as one of the league’s most aggressive executives. The Eagles hold the 23rd selection and have a recent history of draft-day maneuvering. They traded up from 10th to ninth in 2023 for defensive tackle Jalen Carter, moved from 15th to 13th in 2022 for Jordan Davis, and jumped from 12th to 10th in 2021 to select DeVonta Smith. Roseman also engineered moves in 2019 and 2016, while trading out of the first round entirely in 2018.

“I think we go into this draft being very comfortable with having 23 guys we’re ready to take. We’re there ready and prepared for that,” Roseman said. “If something happens where somebody who’s higher on our board than 23rd is available, we’ll be ready for that. If there’s an opportunity that we think makes sense to move up based on the value of that player, we’ll move up. If we have multiple guys at our spot and there’s a trade that makes sense to move back, we’ll move back.”

One Eagles trade scenario generating offseason speculation isn’t expected to materialize this week. A.J. Brown appears headed elsewhere, with New England emerging as the frontrunner to acquire the star receiver and reunite him with coach Mike Vrabel. Los Angeles also pursued Brown earlier this offseason. Philadelphia could spread Brown’s $40 million salary cap impact across two seasons by waiting until June 1 for any deal.

Tampa Bay holds the 15th selection but might find their preferred targets unavailable. The Buccaneers need pass-rushing help and could benefit from additional draft capital, as they currently possess just one pick per round. Several potential edge rushers projected for the 16-25 range could prompt Tampa Bay to trade backward while accumulating premium selections.

“In a lot of scenarios that we’re working through, yeah,” GM Jason Licht said regarding trading down. “You have a group of players that you say, ‘No matter what, if this player’s there, we’re taking (them).’ If there’s a group of three, then maybe you go back one or two to make sure that you ensure you get one of your three, but the part of that that makes it difficult is you’ve got to find a trade partner. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes teams just don’t want to move up. They don’t want to give up picks, and I understand why.”

Dallas possesses selections at 12th and 20th overall, with owner Jerry Jones suggesting an aggressive approach. However, trading down from one position to accumulate additional picks might better serve the Cowboys’ defensive needs across multiple areas.

Dallas lacks a second-round pick after sending it to New York for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams before the trade deadline. Moving down from the 20th spot while adding a second-rounder plus other selections represents one possible strategy.

New York holds four selections among the top 44 picks, including second and 16th overall in the first round. They also possess three 2027 first-round picks.

Should the Jets target a specific player—perhaps an elite receiver—they have sufficient draft assets to move up from 16th overall. They can choose among available edge rushers at second overall after quarterback Fernando Mendoza goes first to Las Vegas.

Miami enters with picks at 11th and 30th overall while facing numerous roster needs. The Dolphins are rebuilding comprehensively, and trading one first-round selection for multiple picks could help restock their talent base.

Two Latino quarterbacks created history at December’s Heisman Trophy presentation, marking the first occasion that players of Latino heritage claimed both the top honor and runner-up position in the award’s long history.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza captured the prestigious trophy, becoming only the third Latino player to achieve this distinction alongside Jim Plunkett and Bryce Young. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia earned the runner-up spot in the voting.

As Thursday’s NFL draft approaches, both signal-callers remain focal points of speculation regarding their professional destinations. Draft analysts predict Mendoza will be selected first overall, with the quarterback-hungry Las Vegas Raiders viewed as the likely destination. Pavia, meanwhile, seeks to silence any remaining critics about his professional potential.

The two quarterbacks represent just a portion of the Latino talent pool awaiting selection before Saturday’s draft conclusion. Nine players with Latino heritage participated in February’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Mendoza appears destined for the opening selection after an outstanding season that included 3,535 passing yards and a nation-leading 41 touchdown throws, plus seven rushing scores. His memorable rushing touchdown helped secure Indiana’s national championship victory. The quarterback proudly celebrates his Cuban heritage, frequently discussing how his parents and extended family influenced his development. His four grandparents departed Cuba in 1959.

Standing 5-foot-11 1/2 and weighing 196 pounds, KC Concepcion became one of college football’s premier versatile threats in 2025, earning first-team All-America recognition as an all-purpose performer. Though his Puerto Rican background adds to his compelling story, scouts may question his elite speed after recording a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. However, Concepcion consistently produces in critical situations and when plays seem destined to fail. He has also written openly about overcoming a speech impediment, expressing his desire to inspire others who “may be too scared to speak.” Expect his selection on Day 1 or early Day 2.

Rodriguez contributed across multiple areas for one of last season’s elite defensive units. The 6-1, 231-pound defender recorded 128 tackles while breaking up seven passes, intercepting four, forcing seven fumbles, recovering two, and adding one sack. The unanimous All-American claimed the Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, and Bednarik Award while playing alongside numerous future NFL talents. His college versatility included quarterback duties at Virginia in 2021. Questions remain about his optimal professional position and how his diverse experience will transfer to the next level.

Despite measuring 5-11 and 186 pounds, smaller than traditional linebackers, York could fill the safety-linebacker hybrid role increasingly popular among NFL teams. The second-team all-SEC honoree started throughout his three seasons with the Aggies, concluding last year with 72 tackles and three pass breakups. York represents one of five draft prospects with Mexican family connections. Anticipate his selection during Day 2 or early Day 3.

Pavia ranks among this draft class’s most divisive prospects, partly due to his outspoken nature and partly because of his 5-foot-10 stature, well below most teams’ quarterback preferences. However, two aspects of his background cannot be dismissed — his consistent ability to exceed expectations and his winning track record. His college journey began at New Mexico Military Institute, progressed to New Mexico State, then culminated with leading Vanderbilt through its most successful consecutive seasons in recent decades. The 2025 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and Vanderbilt’s first Heisman finalist now awaits discovery of which NFL organization will provide another opportunity to prove his worth.

Throughout stops at Cal Poly, Washington, and Alabama, Cuevas established himself more as a reliable blocker than pass-catcher. While his 6-3 1/2, 245-pound frame might prompt teams to envision him as a fullback rather than tight end, several appealing qualities exist. He delivered respectable production last season with the Tide — 37 catches, 411 yards, four touchdowns — and achieved career highs during 2022 at Cal Poly with 58 receptions, 678 yards, and six scores. Coaches will value his accountability, demonstrated when he apologized to Alabama supporters following the 2025 season-opening defeat to Florida State, acknowledging the team’s failure to meet expected standards. He also utilized his Senior Bowl platform to endorse Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer.

Carmona displayed adaptability last season by transitioning to guard after three years at left tackle. This move provided NFL evaluators with insight into his potential next-level role, given his shorter arms and substantial 6-4 1/2, 316-pound build. His college progression showed steady improvement, advancing from honorable mention all-Western Athletic Conference recognition at San Jose State in 2023 to third-team all-SEC in 2024 and second-team all-SEC last year. While scouts appreciate his enthusiasm and competitive edge, they recognize he’ll require refined technique to succeed professionally.

Aguilar represents a unique prospect who preferred avoiding any draft consideration. Despite accumulating 3,565 passing yards and 24 touchdowns during his lone Tennessee season, he sought to return for another collegiate campaign. However, days before the NFL scouting combine commenced, a Tennessee court rejected his preliminary injunction, forcing him into draft eligibility. This ruling placed Aguilar in an uncomfortable situation since other prospects had spent months preparing for the draft process. His eventual selection — or lack thereof — remains highly unpredictable.

Cruz possesses the physical dimensions teams desire — 6-5 1/2, 313 pounds — along with the flexibility they value in later-round selections, having played both tackle positions in college. He also demonstrated resilience by overcoming a demotion from starter to backup at Syracuse, ultimately reclaiming the starting role last year at Kansas. Whether these qualities will attract NFL interest remains to be determined.

CJ McCollum delivered a clutch performance Monday night, netting 32 points including six crucial scores in the game’s final moments as the Atlanta Hawks mounted a stunning comeback to defeat the New York Knicks 107-106 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff matchup.

Atlanta erased an eight-point deficit over the final five minutes, closing the contest with a decisive 15-6 scoring surge to tie the best-of-seven series at one victory apiece.

Despite McCollum’s heroics, drama continued until the final buzzer when he failed to convert two free throw attempts with just 5.6 seconds remaining. New York opted against using their remaining timeout, instead advancing the ball quickly before Josh Hart found Mikal Bridges, whose 12-foot shot from the left side rimmed out as time expired.

Supporting McCollum’s effort, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points coming off the bench for Atlanta, while Jalen Johnson added 17 points and Onyeka Okongwu chipped in 15. For New York, Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 29 points, Hart recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points.

In Cleveland, the Cavaliers extended their dominance over Toronto with a 115-105 victory, taking a 2-0 series advantage in their Eastern Conference first-round battle. Donovan Mitchell poured in 30 points, including nine fourth-quarter markers, while James Harden added 28 points to power the win.

The victory marked Cleveland’s 12th consecutive playoff triumph over Toronto, matching the NBA record for most consecutive postseason wins against a single opponent. Mitchell also grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists, while Harden recorded five steals and four assists. Evan Mobley contributed 25 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers.

Scottie Barnes posted a playoff career-best 26 points for Toronto, though the Raptors never held a lead throughout the contest.

Out west, the Minnesota Timberwolves orchestrated their own remarkable rally, overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat Denver 119-114 and square their Western Conference series at one game each. Anthony Edwards led the charge with 30 points and 10 rebounds, while Donte DiVincenzo connected on a critical three-pointer with 1:05 remaining.

Julius Randle provided valuable support with 24 points and nine rebounds, sealing the victory by sinking two free throws with 18.8 seconds left on the clock. DiVincenzo finished with 16 points and Jaden McDaniels added 14 for Minnesota.

Denver received strong performances from Jamal Murray, who scored 30 points for the second consecutive game, and Nikola Jokic, who recorded 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. The loss ended Denver’s winning streak that dated back to March 18.

DENVER — Following Minnesota’s stunning 119-114 comeback victory over Denver in Monday night’s playoff matchup, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels delivered his most impactful statement off the court.

McDaniels didn’t hold back when describing the defensive capabilities of the entire Nuggets roster, including star players Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

“Go after Jokic, Jamal, all the bad defenders,” McDaniels stated after contributing 14 points and three assists to the victory. “Tim Hardaway (Jr.), Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, the whole team, just go at them.”

When pressed about whether he considered Denver’s entire roster defensively weak, McDaniels confirmed his assessment.

“Yeah, they’re all bad defenders,” McDaniels responded.

Minnesota’s dramatic turnaround from a 19-point disadvantage has leveled the opening-round playoff series at one game apiece. The series now moves to Minneapolis for Thursday evening’s Game 3. Anthony Edwards powered the comeback with 30 points while battling through a knee injury, also grabbing 10 rebounds.

“They don’t got people that can defend the rim,” McDaniels continued. “We’re still more athletic than them and just got to be able to finish when we do.”

Denver’s star duo of Jokic and Murray combined for impressive individual statistics — Jokic recorded 24 points and 15 defensive rebounds while Murray contributed 30 points. However, both players struggled significantly in the final quarter, shooting just 2 of 12 combined for four total points. Murray had an opportunity to force overtime with a three-point attempt in the game’s final moments but chose a two-point shot attempt instead.

The shot missed.

“I was happy he took the two points,” Edwards commented. “I thought he had a good look at a 3 when he first came off but yeah, he took the 2-pointer. I guess if he made it, we would have been in a free-throw situation. But yeah, I’m kind of happy he took the 2-pointer.”

Murray acknowledged his shooting struggles following the defeat.

“I didn’t make enough shots tonight,” Murray said. “That’s really about it. We all could have played better. It’s not all on one person, that’s just the way the game goes sometimes. They played hard as well. It was a good game. I thought we had the game in our hands, but we just didn’t make enough shots, in my opinion.”

NEW YORK — CJ McCollum’s season was nearly over before the Washington Wizards traded him to Atlanta in January as part of the deal that sent Trae Young elsewhere.

Now McCollum has not only filled Young’s roster spot with the Hawks, but he’s also stepped into his role as the player New York fans love to hate at Madison Square Garden — delivering a crushing playoff defeat to the Knicks.

“I ain’t no villain,” McCollum said. “I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife.”

The experienced guard put up 32 points Monday evening as Atlanta mounted a remarkable comeback for a shocking 107-106 win that evened their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at one victory each.

Garden spectators hurled profanity at him following a heated confrontation with Jose Alvarado that resulted in technical fouls for both players during the third quarter, echoing the treatment Young received during a 2021 first-round matchup. Like Young did in the opening game of that series when he became New York’s primary target, McCollum delivered crucial plays down the stretch that silenced the hostile crowd.

“I love it. I love it. That’s why we play the game,” McCollum said. “It’s fun being in opposing arenas and when the buzzer sounds and it’s quiet and you walk off the court, I think there’s a level of mutual respect.”

After Atlanta chose to part ways with their long-time star point guard, head coach Quin Snyder recognized that McCollum could serve as a veteran presence for their youthful roster. Snyder also understood the 34-year-old could provide some of the offensive production Young had brought to the team.

“Yeah, I felt like we needed both, you know?” Snyder said. “Being in the West for a while, I’ve watched him do that when he was in Portland.”

McCollum’s journey continued to New Orleans before the Pelicans shipped him to Washington last July. The subsequent trade to Atlanta became what McCollum described as his “light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I’m just thankful to be able to play in the playoffs on a good team in a good situation,” McCollum said. “I think you take the journey for what it is in stride and just hope for the best. And I think when you do things the right way you get rewarded at the end of the tunnel, and my reward is playing the Knicks in the Garden.”

He dominated his matchup with Jalen Brunson, actively seeking one-on-one opportunities against the Knicks All-Star, and sank the decisive basket — a jump shot with 33 seconds left on the clock.

McCollum nearly gave New York a chance to steal the victory when he missed both free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining, but Mikal Bridges couldn’t connect on his potential game-winner. The Knicks must now capture at least one road victory in Atlanta while finding a way to contain McCollum’s hot shooting.

“CJ hit a couple big buckets late. He hit his and we missed ours and you give a guy like CJ a lot of credit,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “That’s what those guys are supposed to do and he got it done.”

Professional golf’s presence in Hawaii will come to an end after 2026, the PGA Tour announced Monday, marking the conclusion of more than 50 years of tournament play in the island state.

The decision follows the cancellation of the 2026 Maui tournament, which was scrapped due to severe drought conditions affecting the Plantation Course at Kapalua.

The Sentry tournament, previously called the Tournament of Champions, had traditionally kicked off each PGA Tour season in January. The event served this role from 1986 through 2013 and again in 2024-25. With this year’s cancellation, the tour began its season less ceremoniously at the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, followed by The American Express tournament in La Quinta, California.

The elite Sentry tournament typically featured the top 50 players from the FedEx Cup standings along with all winners from the prior season.

Water rights conflicts with a local company at the Plantation Course proved impossible to resolve, prompting officials to announce the 2026 event’s cancellation last October.

The Sony Open on Oahu now faces an uncertain future as well. The tournament, which allowed golfers to spend two weeks in the Pacific by pairing with The Sentry, may be transferred to the Champions Tour and potentially combined with the senior circuit’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

Tour officials indicated that additional details regarding the 2027 schedule will be released later.

In an official statement, the PGA Tour expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership: “We are grateful to The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the state of Hawaii for their longtime support of our season- opening PGA Tour event, as well as the fans, partners and volunteers across Maui who have supported the event throughout the years.”

Sentry maintains its title sponsorship agreement with the PGA Tour through 2035, requiring the organization to find a new tournament for the company to sponsor. Reports indicate executives have visited Torrey Pines in San Diego this season, as that venue’s partnership with Farmers Insurance is set to expire this year.

Chris Gotterup captured the Sony Open victory on January 18, officially launching the 2026 PGA season.

Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. exited Monday evening’s matchup with the Washington Nationals after taking a pitch to his left hand, though medical tests brought encouraging news for the team.

Team officials confirmed that X-rays on Acuña’s hand showed no fractures, listing the outfielder as day-to-day moving forward.

The incident marked the second time during the game that Acuña was struck by a pitch from Nationals starter Jake Irvin, both coming from four-seam fastballs. Earlier in the contest, Irvin’s pitch caught Acuña near his elbow protection on his left arm before the baserunner was subsequently picked off at first base.

The more concerning moment came in the sixth inning when another Irvin fastball struck Acuña’s left hand. The star player immediately leaped from the batter’s box, clearly in discomfort, and appeared to glance back toward the mound before heading to first base. Following the incident, Nationals manager Blake Butera pulled Irvin from the game.

Despite the injury, Acuña remained in the game long enough to cross home plate during Atlanta’s explosive five-run sixth inning. However, when Washington came to bat in the bottom half of the inning, Eli White had taken over Acuña’s position in right field.

The former National League MVP from 2023 has faced injury challenges in recent seasons, appearing in just 49 games during the 2024 campaign and 95 contests in 2025 following a torn left ACL suffered in May 2024 and the subsequent rehabilitation process.

Atlanta secured a 9-4 victory in the series opener, kicking off what will be a four-game set between the division rivals.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Technical problems with their charter aircraft left the Toronto Blue Jays with no choice but to travel by bus from Phoenix to Southern California on Sunday evening, enduring a six-hour journey through the desert that brought them to their Orange County accommodations around 12:30 a.m.

“I felt like I was back in the Northwest League,” manager John Schneider said before Monday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “But we made the best of it, we all got here safe, and we’re ready to go.”

According to Schneider, Blue Jays traveling secretary Rodney Hiemstra notified him about the aircraft malfunction around 4 p.m. Sunday, just as the team was wrapping up their 10-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“There was an issue with the joystick, which is pretty important — apparently, it’s used for takeoffs and landings,” Schneider said. “So the options were to get a new plane, which would have had to fly down from Vancouver and wouldn’t have landed until 10 p.m., or drive. We took a team vote, and the team voted to bus.”

Starting pitcher Dylan Cease, slated to pitch Monday evening, chose to take a commercial flight from Phoenix to Orange County, while the rest of the team transferred their luggage and provisions from the charter aircraft to three buses — two designated for players and one for the remaining traveling group of approximately 40 people, including coaching personnel.

“The math was a little off,” Schneider said. “It worked out way better for the players, but there was a whole lot of doubling up for us. I had my own two seats, and I still had cases of water around me, and you feel bad reclining on people.”

Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer opposed the team’s decision to take the bus route, preferring air travel to Orange County, but the experienced right-hander managed to inject some levity into the circumstances.

“I got reprimanded by Max for electing to travel that way,” Schneider said as he showed reporters a letter Scherzer printed out for the manager. “So we’re going to go to a trial in kangaroo court.

“I was like, ‘Max, why don’t you just buy a plane? You’ve got plenty of cash.’ Most of the guys who were playing (Monday night) wanted to get out of there.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green shared his doubts about head coach Steve Kerr’s future with the team during his podcast appearance Monday, suggesting the veteran coach may not return for another season.

“I hope he’s our coach next year. You want my opinion? I think not, just because it just feels like that, it felt like that was it,” Green stated on “The Draymond Green Show.” “I also hope I’m on this team next year. We also don’t know that.”

The Warriors organization faces an uncertain summer after their season concluded with a 111-96 defeat to Phoenix in the play-in tournament, leaving many questions about the team’s direction moving forward.

Kerr recently finished a two-year deal valued at $35 million with the franchise.

During his dozen seasons with Golden State, the 60-year-old coach has captured four NBA titles, though this past season proved challenging with season-ending injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, plus Stephen Curry’s extended absence. The Warriors managed only a 10th-place finish in the Western Conference standings. While they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in their initial play-in matchup, Friday’s loss in Phoenix ended their championship hopes.

Following that final game, Kerr gathered Curry and Green near the sideline, telling them: “I don’t know what’s gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death and I thank you. I appreciate you.” The heartfelt moment was later shared by the NBA on social platforms, though Kerr hadn’t anticipated the public nature of the exchange.

“I’ve never been so uncertain since early in my career on what happens next, but I’m truly at a loss now because you just don’t know what direction will be what,” Green explained. “Steph, myself, Steve, shared a moment in what could be our last time playing with Steve as our coach. I’m happy we got to share that moment and he didn’t miss the moment. It was a big deal.”

Young forward Gui Santos expressed his desire to see the core group remain intact.

“They did so much for the organization. Steve, Steph, Draymond, all of them are a big part of the organization,” Santos commented. “I love being coached by Steve. Draymond, I love having Draymond on the team. Steph, I don’t need to say nothing about him. Steph is Steph. It would be great to have all of them together next year, too.”

The trio has worked together throughout Kerr’s entire tenure with the Warriors. His overall coaching record stands at 604-353, while his postseason mark of 104-48 ranks among the elite. With a .684 playoff winning percentage among coaches who have led at least 100 postseason contests, Kerr trails only his former Chicago Bulls mentor Phil Jackson, who posted a .688 mark with a 229-104 record.

Following Friday’s elimination, Kerr indicated he would sit down with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy within the next couple of weeks.

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

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

While Santos and other Warriors players conducted their season-ending meetings with Kerr on Monday at Chase Center, many found it difficult to envision the organization’s future without his leadership.

“I owe Steve everything,” guard Pat Spencer shared. “He’s been like a second father to me since I’ve been here as far as just giving me guidance day in and day out.”

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Díaz faces a three-month absence after the team revealed Monday he needs elbow surgery to clear loose debris from the joint.

Díaz will go under the knife Wednesday at Los Angeles’ Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, with his return not anticipated until the season’s latter half.

The organization moved the 32-year-old right-handed pitcher to the 15-day injured list while bringing up southpaw Jake Elder from their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Elder joined the Dodgers organization on April 1 in a cash transaction with Washington and has surrendered just two runs across 5 1/3 innings at Oklahoma City this year.

This season, Díaz carries a 1-0 record alongside a troubling 10.50 ERA, recording 10 strikeouts and converting four of five save chances through seven outings. His struggles peaked during Sunday’s 9-6 defeat in Colorado, where he surrendered three runs before being pulled without recording an out. Over his last two appearances, he has given up three earned runs in each outing.

The Dodgers committed significant resources to acquire the three-time All-Star last December, signing him to a three-year, $69 million contract after he walked away from his remaining two years and $38 million with the New York Mets.

The back-to-back World Series champions were scheduled to wrap up their four-game set against Colorado on Monday evening before heading to San Francisco for a Tuesday series opener as part of their seven-game road swing.

For the first time in the 41-year history of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, a player has achieved perfect unanimity in the voting process.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama made basketball history Monday when the NBA revealed he captured all 100 first-place votes to claim the defensive honor without a single dissenting ballot.

At 22 years and 98 days old, Wembanyama becomes the youngest recipient of this prestigious recognition while also marking his third consecutive season leading the NBA in blocked shots with 3.1 per contest.

The two-time All-Star posted personal bests this season with 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, adding one steal per contest as San Antonio posted the league’s second-best record at 62-20 and ranked third in defensive efficiency.

With his perfect 500-point voting total, Wembanyama joins Spurs legend David Robinson as the only players since the 1991-92 campaign to capture the award within their initial three NBA seasons.

This achievement extends an impressive organizational legacy, as San Antonio now boasts four different Defensive Player of the Year winners across five total awards: Alvin Robertson in 1986, Robinson, Kawhi Leonard in both 2015 and 2016, and now Wembanyama – more than any other franchise in league history.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren claimed second place with 239 points, earning 76 second-place selections, while Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson finished third with 60 points from nine second-place votes. Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert received 41 points for fourth place, followed by Toronto’s Scottie Barnes with 21 points.

Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter praised the young star’s impact following San Antonio’s 111-98 playoff victory over Portland on Sunday. “He changes the game so much,” Splitter said after watching Wembanyama establish a franchise playoff debut record with 35 points while contributing two blocks defensively.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz faces a lengthy recovery after team officials announced Monday he will need surgical intervention on his throwing arm.

The 32-year-old closer is scheduled for an operation Wednesday at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles to extract loose bone fragments from his right elbow. Medical staff anticipate Diaz won’t return to action until the latter portion of the 2025 season.

Team management has moved Diaz to the 15-day injured list while bringing up left-handed pitcher Jake Eder from their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

The veteran reliever, who earned All-Star recognition three times during his tenure with Seattle (2018) and the New York Mets (2022, 2025), joined the Dodgers organization this year. Through seven outings in his debut season with Los Angeles, Diaz has recorded one victory and four saves, though he’s struggled with a concerning 10.50 earned run average after surrendering seven runs across six innings of work.

His statistical troubles reached a peak during Sunday’s contest against Colorado, when he allowed three runs on three hits without recording a single out during the eighth inning.

Throughout his nine-year professional career that began with Seattle in 2016, Diaz has compiled a 29-36 record with a 2.91 ERA over 527 relief appearances. The right-hander has accumulated 849 strikeouts while issuing 187 walks in 525 1/3 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, the newly recalled Eder brings limited major league experience at age 27. The southpaw made his big league debut last season with Chicago, appearing in one game before logging eight appearances with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025. His major league statistics show an 0-1 record with a 4.87 ERA, while posting a 3.38 ERA through three games and 5 1/3 innings at Oklahoma City this season.

NBA history was made Monday when Victor Wembanyama achieved something no player had ever done before: earning every single vote for Defensive Player of the Year.

The San Antonio Spurs center’s unanimous selection was widely anticipated after a dominant defensive season. The 7-foot-4 phenom previously finished runner-up for the award as a rookie and was favored to win last season before a medical issue cut his campaign short.

Wembanyama, who won’t turn 23 until January, becomes the youngest player ever to claim the defensive honor.

“The real struggle might have been getting to 65 games,” Wembanyama said on NBC Sports Network, referencing the minimum games required for award consideration. “But I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first-ever unanimous.”

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren finished second in voting, while Detroit’s Ausar Thompson took third place, both helping their teams earn top playoff seeds. However, the outcome was never truly in question after Wembanyama dominated shot-blocking statistics for his third straight season and consistently disrupted opposing offenses.

“Best player in the world,” declared Spurs teammate Keldon Johnson.

The league will announce its Clutch Player of the Year award Tuesday, with finalists including Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Denver’s Jamal Murray. Wembanyama also remains in contention for MVP, with that announcement scheduled for next week at the earliest.

Monday’s announcement brought several historic milestones along with Wembanyama’s victory.

Previous winners had all been at least 23 years old when they claimed the award, making Wembanyama the youngest by nearly a full year.

The Spurs organization now boasts four different Defensive Player of the Year winners since the award’s inception in 1982-83. Alvin Robertson won in 1986, David Robinson in 1992, and Kawhi Leonard captured back-to-back honors in 2015 and 2016.

Wembanyama joins Robinson and Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year during their careers.

“I’ve had the chance to have great coaches over my career who have taught me great habits on defense,” Wembanyama said.

Perhaps most remarkably, Wembanyama achieved complete consensus among voters – a rare feat in professional sports awards.

Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP selection in 2016 was the last time every voter agreed on a major award. In the decade since, only two other instances of 100% first-place vote agreement have occurred: Wembanyama’s Rookie of the Year win in 2024 and now this defensive honor.

No player in at least five decades has claimed two major individual awards unanimously, making Wembanyama’s achievement even more extraordinary. Historical voting records show this level of consensus is unprecedented, with even legendary players like LeBron James and Michael Jordan never achieving unanimous recognition for major awards.

The unanimous selection represents just the tenth known instance across all major NBA awards including MVP, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

“I feel like he is one of the hardest workers that I’ve ever been around,” Johnson said. “He takes his craft very seriously. I feel like this is just a small token of what’s to come for Victor. He’s a special player now. He’s a special player on the court and even more special person off the court as well. This is just a small token, small flowers that’s given to him for Defensive Player of the Year.”

Both Holmgren and Thompson received their first career votes for the award. A panel of league reporters and broadcasters submitted ballots ranking their top three choices, with voting completed before playoff action began.

Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, a four-time winner, placed fourth in this year’s voting. The remaining top ten included Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, Boston’s Derrick White, Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace, Houston’s Amen Thompson, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, and New York’s OG Anunoby.

Detroit’s Jalen Duren, Golden State’s Draymond Green (2017 winner), and Miami’s Bam Adebayo shared eleventh place in the final tally.

As an MVP finalist alongside Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three-time winner Nikola Jokic of Denver, Wembanyama appears likely to earn All-NBA first-team recognition. Combined with his guaranteed All-Defensive team selection, the French star will collect at least four major honors from this award season.

“We often overlook the team aspect,” Wembanyama said. “I’m sitting here. I happen to be the guy who’s put in the spotlight, but I am part of a system and I couldn’t get this award and I couldn’t do what I do if it wasn’t for my teammates … and my coaching staff.”

NEW YORK — New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler remains undeterred about making his first appearance at Fenway Park Thursday night, despite disclosing that Red Sox supporters have sent threatening messages to him and his family.

The right-handed pitcher has previously handled similar hostile situations and delivered strong performances against Boston in high-pressure playoff scenarios, giving him confidence heading into his Fenway debut.

Born and raised in Walpole, Massachusetts, Schlittler originally cheered for the Red Sox during his childhood. However, he revealed to the New York Post that he and his relatives have been targeted with death threats in anticipation of Thursday’s matchup. The 25-year-old athlete characterized these messages as typical fan harassment and indicated he doesn’t believe police intervention is necessary.

“Most normal fans could care less, right?” Schlittler told the newspaper. “It’s just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them.”

When his family faced similar online harassment during last year’s AL Wild Card Series against Boston, Schlittler delivered a masterful response on the mound. He made history as the first playoff pitcher to throw at least eight shutout innings while recording 12 strikeouts and issuing zero walks, leading the Yankees to a 4-0 series-clinching victory at home.

The towering 6-foot-6 hurler has continued his impressive form this year. Through five appearances, he holds a 2-1 record with an outstanding 1.95 ERA, striking out 36 batters across 27 2/3 innings pitched.

Schlittler acknowledges that his early-season success will likely intensify the hostile reception from Boston faithful.

“It’s gonna be bad, it’s gonna be bad,” Schlittler told the Post. “I’m not nervous about it, but it’s gonna be loud. … They’re gonna probably have dudes that are my age or a little bit younger, sitting right outside the bullpen, yelling whatever, probably throwing stuff at me, trying to grab me.

“That’s kind of what I expect. So I know the guys are excited for it and I’m excited for it.”

The intensity of playoff hockey is on full display as the Stanley Cup playoffs kick into high gear, with physical confrontations dominating the ice in the opening round.

Teams are delivering punishment at an unprecedented rate, recording an average of 86.9 hits per game across the first seven matchups. The Carolina Hurricanes set the pace with a crushing 57-hit display during their 2-0 victory against Ottawa.

This level of aggression surpasses last year’s playoff intensity, when teams combined for 79.2 hits per game through the initial 10 contests and maintained a 78-hit average throughout the tournament. The heightened physicality typically peaks during the first round as teams establish their playoff identity.

“Sometimes, the best way to manage your emotions is to get into it, get physical, give a hit, take a hit,” explained Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, whose squad holds a 1-0 series advantage over the Los Angeles Kings entering Tuesday’s Game 2. “Whatever you’ve got to do to get involved physically, that tends to settle you down a bit.”

Despite their reputation for speed, Colorado demonstrated they could match opponents’ physical intensity during their 2-1 triumph over Los Angeles. The Avalanche recorded 35 hits – with only Utah registering fewer at 30 – a dramatic increase from their regular season average of just over 16 hits per contest.

Los Angeles responded with 49 hits in Sunday’s opener.

“You’re battling against the same team, so it’s going to be like that all playoffs,” noted center Scott Laughton.

The post-whistle confrontations add another layer to the playoff atmosphere, featuring scrums, shoves and glove-to-face encounters that often escape penalty calls.

Teammate protection remains paramount. Landeskog confronted Adrian Kempe after the Kings forward delivered a hit to defenseman Cale Makar’s back, resulting in roughing penalties for both players.

Players must navigate the delicate balance between delivering impactful hits and avoiding costly penalties.

Montreal’s Josh Anderson exemplified this challenge when his high hit on Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous behind the net removed the player from the game midway through the second period. Tampa Bay capitalized on the resulting power play after Anderson received a charging penalty. The Canadiens ultimately prevailed 4-3 in overtime on a power-play goal following Jake Guentzel’s high-sticking infraction.

Buffalo continued their season-long commitment to physical hockey during their 4-3 comeback victory, out-hitting Boston 53-38. Top-line forward Alex Tuch dominated with 10 hits after recording just 82 throughout the entire regular season.

Tensions boiled over during the Knights-Mammoth matchup, with forward Nic Dowd exchanging heated words with Utah’s Logan Cooley. Late in the third period, Cooley shoved Dowd following a faceoff, leaving Dowd bloodied near his eye after the ensuing scrum.

“It’s an emotional game,” Dowd observed.

Monday brought additional consequences when Mammoth defenseman Sean Durzi received a $5,000 fine for head-butting Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson during the first period. Durzi was penalized for roughing on the play.

Game 2 matchups continue Tuesday with Montreal leading Tampa Bay 1-0 (7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2). The Lightning have struggled in recent playoff openers, losing four of their last five Game 1s since capturing consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

“Game 1s are Game 1s,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper remarked. “I’ve been part of series where we’ve won them and lost the series, lost and won the series, and everything in between. That isn’t as much of a concern as how we lost it. If that’s going to be the way we keep going, then this series may not go as long as we thought.”

Buffalo leads Boston 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The Sabres transformed from Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers in early December to division champions, partly through their refusal to back down during physical contests.

“That’s been part of our strength, where we can wear people down,” coach Lindy Ruff recently explained. “Some of the guys that maybe aren’t quite as tenacious become tenacious.”

Vegas holds a 1-0 series lead over Utah heading into Tuesday’s 9:30 p.m. EDT Game 2 on ESPN2. The Golden Knights dominated the third period with a plus-47 goal differential during the regular season and outscored the Mammoth 3-0 in that frame during Game 1.

“Love the way we played,” said forward Cole Smith, sporting a cut on his lip.

Colorado leads Los Angeles 1-0 with Game 2 set for Tuesday at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The Kings employed a grinding style that limited the league’s highest-scoring team to just two goals.

“Holding them to two, I think they’ve asked themselves the same question: Are they going to continue to win with two goals?” Kings interim coach D.J. Smith questioned.

The Houston Astros made several roster moves on Monday, sidelining infielder Nick Allen due to back spasms and sending him to the injured list. The team also reassigned right-handed pitcher J.P. France to their Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land through an outright assignment.

Houston filled Allen’s spot on the active roster by promoting infielder Braden Shewmake, who was recently obtained in a trade, from their Sugar Land farm club. Additionally, the organization transferred right-hander Cristian Javier to the 60-day injured list as he continues dealing with a shoulder injury.

The 27-year-old Allen has posted a .250 batting average this season while crossing home plate five times across 14 appearances. Throughout his professional career spanning time with Oakland from 2022-25 and now Houston, Allen maintains a .214 lifetime average with nine long balls and 65 runs batted in over 396 total games.

France, who is 31 years old, struggled this season with an 8.10 earned run average through three appearances for the Astros. Over parts of four campaigns with Houston, the pitcher carries a 4.49 ERA across 34 total outings, including 28 as a starter. The team designated him for assignment last week before he passed through waivers unclaimed.

The 28-year-old Shewmake was Atlanta’s top selection in the 2019 amateur draft and came to Houston via trade with the New York Yankees this past Sunday. During his 31 major league contests split between the Braves and Chicago White Sox, Shewmake has compiled a .118 career batting mark with one home run and four RBIs.

Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau reportedly conducted discussions about potentially leaving LIV Golf while participating in The Masters Tournament earlier this month, according to a report from The Athletic published Monday.

The 32-year-old golfer, who is in the final year of his initial LIV Golf agreement, allegedly met with unidentified “organizations” regarding his departure from the controversial league while competing in the season’s first major championship at Augusta, Georgia.

Earlier this year, DeChambeau had the chance to rejoin the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program but chose not to take advantage of the opportunity. This program was established around the time Brooks Koepka left LIV to resume his competitive career in the United States.

Jon Rahm and Cam Smith also turned down the chance to return through this program. The three golfers were the only LIV players eligible for this pathway, which was limited to competitors who had been away for a minimum of two years and captured either a major championship or Players Championship between 2022 and 2025.

These reported discussions at The Masters occurred as speculation grew that LIV Golf might be facing closure. However, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil stated last week that the organization would continue operating and confirmed the league has secured funding through the 2026 season.

The current season includes seven remaining tournaments, with five scheduled to take place in the United States, following last week’s competition in Mexico. DeChambeau expressed dissatisfaction with the course conditions at the Mexican event before withdrawing after two rounds due to a wrist injury.

The next event on the calendar is LIV Golf Virginia, taking place at Trump National Golf Club from May 7-10.

DeChambeau has experienced recent success, winning back-to-back playoff victories in March at LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa. The two-time U.S. Open winner has captured five LIV Golf championships during his tenure with the league.

When LIV Golf launched in 2022, DeChambeau reportedly signed a $125 million deal spanning 4½ years. Recent reports from The Daily Telegraph suggest he had been seeking up to $500 million for a new contract to continue with the league.

Soccer enthusiasts traveling to Philadelphia for World Cup matches will receive complimentary transportation home following each of the six games scheduled in the city, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 announced Monday. The free rides are made possible through a collaboration with travel rental company Airbnb.

This initiative creates a notable difference compared to other host cities that are significantly increasing transportation costs during the global tournament.

Just last Friday, New Jersey revealed that round-trip public transit passes to matches will be priced at $150, representing more than a ten-fold price hike. Similarly, Boston fans must pay $95 for round-trip bus service to Gillette Stadium.

Though standard pricing will remain in effect for trips to matches at Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia, SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) will offer complimentary train service for the journey home. This service begins at halftime and runs for two hours following each match’s conclusion.

“My Administration has invested millions of dollars to ensure SEPTA trains remain in good service as we embark on an epic year for sports in Philadelphia,” Governor Josh Shapiro said in a statement.

“And I’m glad Airbnb is stepping up to provide free rides for fans so they can get home safely and affordably.”

The city is scheduled to host five group stage matches, starting with the Ivory Coast versus Ecuador matchup on June 14, plus one round of 16 game.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers continue waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind about playing another season, but the organization appears content to let their veteran quarterback take his time deciding on a potential 22nd NFL campaign in 2026.

General manager Omar Khan told reporters Monday that Pittsburgh maintains ongoing dialogue with the four-time Most Valuable Player, who successfully led the franchise to an AFC North championship last season.

“Nothing’s changed,” Khan said. “It’s all been positive and good. He knows how we feel about him and we know how he feels about us.”

Despite the positive communication, Rodgers hasn’t provided a concrete decision, and one isn’t expected before Thursday when the NFL draft begins in Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old signal-caller delayed his commitment last year until just before mandatory minicamp started in June. However, Rodgers’ undecided status won’t influence Pittsburgh’s approach to their dozen draft selections, which kick off with the 21st overall choice.

“That doesn’t change our evaluation process,” Khan said. “We’re still putting the guys up where they need to be and we’ll just see how it shakes out.”

This year’s draft class at quarterback appears significantly weaker than initially projected, with Indiana’s Heisman Trophy recipient Fernando Mendoza expected to go first overall to Las Vegas as the only reliable prospect.

Pittsburgh’s current quarterback depth chart includes only two players under contract: sixth-round selection Will Howard from last year, whose debut season was derailed by an early training camp hand injury, and veteran backup Mason Rudolph.

The Steelers will likely address quarterback depth during the draft. They’ve hosted pre-draft visits with Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, though all three are projected as later-round selections.

New head coach Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native who replaced Mike Tomlin in January, brings extensive experience developing quarterbacks. His resume includes working with Rodgers, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, and former top overall pick Alex Smith during McCarthy’s 2005 stint in San Francisco.

“We speak on it as being the most important position in football,” McCarthy said. “And I think it’s important to always try to add to it if you can (but) it has to fit.”

Beyond quarterback, Pittsburgh faces several roster needs, including finding a versatile receiver to complement established veterans DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. The team also requires help at offensive tackle, where uncertainty surrounds left tackle Broderick Jones, their 2023 first-round pick who missed the final seven games of 2025 due to a neck injury.

Jones remains without a recovery timeline, though he participated with teammates Monday as part of the “medical group” during informal team workouts.

Khan described Jones as “early in the process” of recovery, and the injury makes Pittsburgh likely to decline his fifth-year option for 2027. This situation could push the team toward finding a long-term solution to protect whoever becomes their franchise quarterback, a search that began after Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in early 2022.

With twelve draft picks available, Khan has flexibility to package selections for potential trades up the board, or alternatively move down early to gather additional draft capital.

McCarthy expressed satisfaction with either approach. While describing the current roster as a “nice mix” of veteran and young talent, he emphasized the value of adding quality depth.

“Being above 10 (picks) I think would be awesome personally,” McCarthy said. “I’ve always felt that the more players you have to develop, I think it definitely is, for the long term, a good process.”

Professional football franchises are placing greater emphasis on tight end talent in this week’s NFL Draft as offensive coordinators increasingly deploy multiple tight ends simultaneously to combat nickel defensive packages.

Organizations including Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears achieved notable success in 2025 utilizing multi-tight end formations to attack smaller defensive units, a strategy expected to spread throughout the league this season. This tactical evolution places heightened value on drafting large, adaptable athletes capable of both blocking in the running game and making catches in the passing attack.

“I think offenses have tried to counter that by getting them back into base defenses by going heavier,” Bears coach Ben Johnson explained regarding offensive responses to defenses featuring additional defensive backs. “Sometimes 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) will do the trick, other times 13 (one running back, three tight ends) will do the trick. I think having some versatility at the tight end position, that’s hard to find. … When you have that versatility, it really opens up Pandora’s box.”

Chicago executed 501 plays featuring multiple tight ends last season, ranking third league-wide, following their unexpected selection of Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick to complement Cole Kmet.

However, the Bears represented just one example of this league-wide trend.

According to Sportradar data, tight ends accumulated 48,102 offensive snaps last season, establishing a 20-year record. The position also achieved new benchmarks for receptions (2,866) and receiving yards (29,072), with per-game yardage totals climbing 37% compared to two decades ago.

“I think it’s awesome,” commented Kenyon Sadiq, this draft’s premier tight end prospect. “More tight ends in the game, more snaps for everyone. I think you’re just able to do so much with different kinds of tight ends and different types of personnels in the game. Whether it’s explosive passes, run game, just creating mismatches in different places.”

Multi-tight end formations have surged 30% per game since 2018. Three-tight end packages experienced even more dramatic growth, with 1,897 plays last year setting a new record and representing a 33% jump from 2024.

Los Angeles executed 331 plays featuring three or more tight ends, shattering the previous two-decade record of 204 established by Cleveland in 2021.

The challenge facing franchises across the league involves locating additional players capable of filling these demanding roles.

Twenty-seven tight ends received scouting combine invitations — approximately 50% above typical numbers — as expanded tight end usage in both college football and professional ranks has elevated more position players into potential draft selections.

“You see so many teams running so much 12 personnel even 13 personnel, so you’re seeing more tight end usage,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller observed. “I think it also just trickled down to the college game. I remember when I was doing this seven or eight years ago, you talked to college coaches about tight ends who had 30 catches. It was like, well, we don’t really throw the ball to our tight ends a lot. Now we see a difference with that where tight ends are being featured in college games.”

Sportradar research indicates an average of 14.1 tight ends selected per draft since 2020, with 19 taken in 2022 representing the highest total in that timeframe. The most drafted since 2010 occurred in 2015 when 22 tight ends heard their names called.

“It’s such a unique position,” said Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who worked in Chicago’s front office last season. “The guy that can block, run routes (use them in) spacing. For the coordinator, using them in 12 personnel. Especially, when you get a guy like Colston (Loveland), when you get a guy like Kyle (Pitts), it gives you another weapon. It helps dictate the defense. Whether if they’re going to play base to that or whether they’re going to play nickel. So, it allows a lot of flexibility for an offense. I feel like that position is going to continue to grow moving forward.”

Organizations have pursued elite tight end talent more aggressively than ever, with Pitts selected fourth overall by Atlanta in 2021 and three others chosen within the top 15 over the past two drafts: Brock Bowers, Loveland and Tyler Warren.

Only two tight ends were selected in the top 18 during a 14-draft span from 2007-20, but Sadiq possesses an opportunity this year to join the tight ends chosen in the first round’s upper half.

Sadiq, who recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards playing for Oregon last season, captured widespread attention with an outstanding combine showing that included a record-setting 4.39-second 40-yard dash time for tight ends, plus a 43.5-inch vertical leap.

Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers also impressed at the combine with a 45.5-inch vertical jump and projects as a Day 2 selection. Additional tight ends expected to be chosen in middle to late rounds based on team-specific needs include Ohio State’s Max Klare, Utah’s Dallen Bentley, Texas’ Jack Endries, Georgia’s Oscar Delp, Michigan’s Marlin Klein, Baylor’s Michael Trigg, NC State’s Justin Joly, and Stanford’s Sam Roush.

“I’ve got the speed and athleticism and hands to receive and catch balls and be a threat on offense in the pass game as well,” Roush explained. “You need guys that can do both. There’s kind a shortage of true Y tight ends that can do both and block. I think that’s where I’ll bring value is the ability to kind of do it all. It’ll be hard to take them off the field.”

Banele Mkabela claimed the top spot in the 5000-meter race during the Morgan State Legacy Meet, delivering a standout performance for their university’s outdoor track and field team.

The victory at the collegiate competition showcased Mkabela’s distance running abilities as they outpaced the field in the demanding 5000-meter event.

The Morgan State Legacy Meet provided a competitive platform for college athletes to demonstrate their skills in various track and field disciplines, with Mkabela’s triumph highlighting the strength of their university’s distance running program.

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has secured his place in NFL history, signing a four-year, $28 million contract extension on Monday that makes him the league’s most expensive kicker ever.

The remarkable deal for the 31-year-old athlete includes $20 million in guaranteed money and establishes him as the first NFL kicker to earn $7 million per year, according to his representative Todd France. Aubrey’s journey to this milestone contract represents an extraordinary path from alternative careers to professional football stardom.

Aubrey holds the NFL record for most successful field goals from 60 yards or beyond, having connected on six such attempts throughout his career. His overall accuracy stands at an impressive 88.2 percent, converting 112 of 127 field goal attempts since entering the league.

The kicker’s unconventional route to the NFL began in the Dallas suburbs where he attended high school before playing collegiate soccer at Notre Dame. Toronto FC selected him in the 2017 MLS draft, launching his professional soccer career.

While working as a software engineer in Arlington, the same city where the Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium, Aubrey’s spouse motivated him to explore opportunities in football kicking. He spent two seasons competing in the USFL before joining Dallas ahead of their 2023 training camp.

Aubrey immediately made his mark by establishing an NFL record for consecutive successful field goals to begin a career, converting his first 35 attempts without a miss. During a game against Detroit last season, he became the first player to successfully kick three field goals of 55 yards or longer in a single contest, and also set a record as the first to make three 60-yard field goals in one season.

His franchise-record 65-yard field goal against Cleveland in 2024 currently ranks as the second-longest in league history, falling just three yards short of Jacksonville’s Cam Little, who connected from 68 yards last season.

Prior to Aubrey’s contract, Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn held the top annual salary among kickers at $6.5 million, with Kansas City’s Harrison Butker earning $6.4 million annually.

INDIANAPOLIS — While many college football players find the NFL draft preparation exhausting, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has taken a different approach.

The quarterback has welcomed every aspect of the lengthy process, from team interviews to workout sessions, maintaining his characteristic optimism as Thursday night’s draft approaches. Mendoza is widely expected to be selected with the first overall pick.

Speaking Monday, the former Indiana Hoosiers star said he’s valued the extended evaluation period as he prepares to begin his professional football career, whether that means joining the Las Vegas Raiders to work behind Kirk Cousins or landing with another franchise.

“It’s been long, but it’s been great because a job interview usually is a couple of weeks or even a single day in the office, but this job interview has been a couple of months,” Mendoza explained to The Associated Press. “The teams know everything about you, and that’s been my favorite part. They can peel back the layers and see the true you. It’s been great to test my football IQ, my football knowledge.”

Teams that have evaluated Mendoza appear to have found few concerns with the standout quarterback.

On Monday, Mendoza and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer revealed a new collaboration making him a spokesperson for early cancer detection efforts. The partnership appears fitting given his personal connection to the cause — someone close to him has fought cancer, his mother continues battling multiple sclerosis, and his father works as a physician.

The campaign, titled Every Breakthrough Matters, will feature two advertisements airing Thursday evening, with Mendoza indicating plans for potential expansion into other health initiatives.

However, football remains Mendoza’s primary focus, though he’s keeping quiet about any inside knowledge regarding the Raiders’ intentions.

The Boston native has conducted three separate meetings with Las Vegas representatives since guiding Indiana to their inaugural national championship in January. He also had the opportunity to meet his childhood hero, Raiders part-owner Tom Brady, who attended the title game to observe Mendoza firsthand.

Additional conversations have taken place with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns, organizations holding the second, third, and sixth selections respectively and potentially seeking a new starting quarterback.

Mendoza dismissed speculation that he’s been learning Las Vegas’s offensive system, clarifying that rumors began after he sought assistance from former NFL quarterback and coach Brian Griese to prepare for professional concepts. Both men are alumni of Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School, though from different eras.

“We knew each other and I reached out to him and said ‘Hey, I’ve got to get ready for this. I don’t care what my Pro Day looks like, I just want to help my guys on Pro Day and I want to be the best quarterback come September, can you help me with this?’” Mendoza recalled. “He (played) in the West Coast offense so we were able to install a lot of West Coast concepts, just general concepts and under center concepts every single team runs.”

For draft night itself, Mendoza plans a more intimate celebration.

Rather than attending the ceremony in Pittsburgh, he’ll remain in Miami surrounded by family and supporters who have been instrumental in his journey, including his younger brother Alberto.

“I’ve done so much traveling this year, it’s a lot easier for my mom and her health is at the forefront,” Mendoza explained. “We need to hop on a plane the next day for whatever team drafts me and to be there with the village that’s poured into me — friends, family, coaches, mentors — to be there with all of them and to share the start of this NFL journey, it’s going to create the best memory for our family.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes joined his Kansas City Chiefs teammates Monday for the beginning of their voluntary offseason training program, marking another significant step in his recovery from December knee surgery.

The star quarterback suffered ACL and LCL tears in his left knee during the closing moments of a December 14 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers, a loss that ended Kansas City’s playoff hopes for the season. Following the injury, Mahomes underwent surgical repair in Dallas under the care of renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper before returning to Kansas City to begin an intensive rehabilitation process.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid outlined Mahomes’ current activities during this recovery phase. “So he goes to the meetings. He can lift, do all that. Rehab. That’s the phase he’s in right now,” Reid explained. “We’ll just see. Kind of play it by ear. See where he’s at. He’s doing great, but we’ve just got to be smart with this thing.”

When speaking with area media previously, Mahomes expressed optimism about his timeline, stating “that’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions.”

The initial two-week phase of Kansas City’s voluntary program focuses on conditioning work, team meetings, and rehabilitation activities that began Monday. Unlike recent years when Mahomes conducted player workouts at his Texas residence, he remained in Kansas City this offseason to work directly with the team’s medical and training personnel.

The program’s second phase will feature three weeks of field-based activities conducted at walking speed without contact, allowing Mahomes to participate in certain drills while protecting his healing knee from additional injury risk.

Phase three consists of organized team activities where offensive and defensive units practice together without live contact. Kansas City has planned six such sessions scheduled for May 26-28 and June 1-3, leading up to mandatory minicamp from June 9-11.

This year’s schedule differs from previous seasons due to Arrowhead Stadium hosting World Cup soccer matches in June.

The complete NFL schedule release is anticipated in mid-May, with the season opener expected around September 10. This timeline would put Mahomes’ potential return approximately nine months following his injury.

Discussing his rehabilitation approach, Mahomes acknowledged his competitive nature. “Knowing me, I’m going to push it to the exact limit every single day,” he said. “There’s places you can’t go yet. You want to but you can’t go yet. And they’re doing it for a reason.”

As a precautionary measure, Kansas City acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets last month, trading a sixth-round draft selection while assuming $7 million of his $10 million guaranteed contract.

Fields, 27, had signed a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed with New York last March. He started most of the season before being replaced by Tyrod Taylor in Week 12, finishing the campaign on injured reserve with his own knee injury in late December.

Despite his struggles with the Jets, Fields brings NFL starting experience that could provide Kansas City with a viable option if needed.

Reid expressed confidence in the team’s preparation during this extended offseason period. “We’ve had this extended offseason and we’ve been able to really dive in there and really work with the plan for this coming season,” the coach said. “We think we’ve got good direction in which we’re going, and we’ll see how it all formulates by the time we get out of these OTAs and into camp, and then out of camp and into the season.”

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jack Endries recognized what college recruiting specialists completely missed about Fernando Mendoza right away in 2022.

The ex-California tight end observed his roommate grinding in video sessions and during practice to transform into a reliable team captain, an exemplary quarterback, and a complete winner. While Endries couldn’t have predicted Mendoza would capture a Heisman Trophy, claim a national title, or become the likely top selection in this week’s NFL draft after transferring from Berkeley to Bloomington, Indiana, he immediately recognized Mendoza possessed all the tools needed to beat the odds.

“During our extended practice sessions, you witnessed the commitment from both of us, just running extra passing drills and staying late at the training facility,” Endries remembered at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “You could observe as he began assuming more leadership, he would remain later and later at the facility. He was there until approximately nine o’clock most evenings when we finished at three.”

Nobody anticipated Mendoza would reach these heights.

He completed his high school career in Miami as an undervalued prospect who had already committed to Yale over schools like FIU, Bryant, Lehigh and Pennsylvania. Prior to Cal finally extending a scholarship offer, Mendoza appeared ready to accept a walk-on opportunity with a more established Football Bowl Subdivision program like his local Hurricanes or Alabama.

Yet somehow during an era when major programs invest significantly in discovering talents like Mendoza, recruiting coordinators and scouts failed to predict he would become the first signal-caller to capture college football’s most coveted honors — the Heisman and a championship — in one season since Joe Burrow at LSU in 2019.

Currently, Mendoza stands in prime position to follow Burrow as the NFL’s number-one draft selection.

“At this moment, I’m unemployed, I have no job,” Mendoza stated in February, a message he’s echoed frequently over the past two months. “So this represents my job interview. Everyone mentions it’s the most crucial job interview of your life and currently I’m attempting to do everything to hopefully secure employment.”

That shouldn’t pose any challenges for Mendoza.

His journey represents just one compelling narrative in a draft class packed with overachievers.

Endries, a walk-on who didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school, also wasn’t expected to reach this level.

The same applies to 5-foot-10, 207-pound quarterback Diego Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, or tight end Riley Nowakowski, a walk-on at Wisconsin who transferred to join Mendoza with the Hoosiers last season.

Throughout history, the NFL has provided opportunities for underdog success stories.

Consider 6-foot Drew Brees, who accumulated over 80,000 passing yards and earned Super Bowl MVP honors despite some franchises’ height concerns.

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and Super Bowl champion Clay Matthews III both began as college walk-ons before becoming first-round selections and dominant pass rushers. The most recent example occurred last year when Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a UCLA walk-on, captured the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Pavia ranks just outside the top 10 quarterbacks in this year’s class and believes he can join that list because he’s proven himself before. He spent his initial two college seasons at New Mexico Military Institute and two additional years at New Mexico State before helping Vanderbilt become an SEC championship contender over the last two seasons, and confidence radiates from the vocal Pavia.

“I feel like I’m going to carry that chip (being overlooked) on my shoulder wherever I go,” he stated. “Whatever team gets me is going to get a hard worker, a heck of a teammate. And then, if my number, when my number is called, you know, I’ll be ready.”

Pavia represents this broader, more diverse group of players who have traveled similar paths.

Eli Stowers, Pavia’s teammate over the past three seasons, could become the first tight end selected despite beginning his college career as a Texas A&M quarterback. Nowakowski played linebacker and fullback with the Badgers before discovering a better fit as a tight end. Endries spent this season at Texas in more split formations and receiver roles after using his Cal career as a more conventional tight end.

Endries also experienced his college aspirations affected by COVID, with his junior season reduced to six games and shifted to spring — challenging for an inexperienced player in his third year in the sport. Consequently, he walked on at Cal, became Mendoza’s roommate, and later played with Arch Manning at Texas, meaning he caught passes from one quarterback everyone expects will be the No. 1 pick when he declares and one quarterback few believed would advance this far.

Endries recognized the potential.

“I knew he possessed the ability, but considering where he originated, like a typical Cal guy, nearly a walk-on to a Heisman winner and national champion,” he said, reflecting on Mendoza’s journey. “That represents a significant leap. Somewhat surprising, but I could envision it occurring. He’s a leader and a competitor.”

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout demonstrated his powerful hitting capabilities during this week’s series in New York, reminding baseball fans of his exceptional slugging talents.

However, it’s his ability to maintain that performance throughout the entire season that has become the central concern in recent years.

At 34 years old, Trout hasn’t claimed an MVP award since 2019, marking six seasons without the honor. His most impressive recent campaign came in 2022 when he launched 40 home runs. During last season, he managed to appear in more than 82 games for just the second time since 2019, though his performance suffered with a .232 batting average and an OPS under .800.

While his batting average remains similar this year, Trout has blasted seven home runs across 22 games, suggesting a return to his offensive dominance—though without the base-stealing speed that characterized his earlier career. During the Angels’ split of their four-game series against the Yankees, he connected for five home runs.

Unfortunately, this pattern has emerged before. Last season saw him crush nine home runs in April before landing on the injured list in early May due to a knee problem. The 2024 season followed a similar script with nine April home runs before a torn meniscus ended his season before the month concluded. In 2023, despite posting an April OPS exceeding 1.000, he participated in barely half the season’s games.

Coming into spring training this year, Trout expressed his desire to return to center field after spending most of the previous season in right field or serving as designated hitter. He believed that playing center field would actually reduce the physical stress on his body.

Under new manager Kurt Suzuki’s guidance, Trout has started 20 of his 22 games in center field so far. His theory about reduced physical strain is currently being tested. Should he remain healthy and continue his strong hitting performance through next month, the Angels might begin considering whether Trout is entering a late-career resurgence.

Trout joins an exclusive group as one of only four players to capture three MVP awards before reaching age 30.

In other baseball news, the National League Central division presents an unusual situation with all five teams maintaining winning records. The Chicago Cubs currently hold the third-best run differential in baseball, while Pittsburgh ranks fifth. Meanwhile, Cincinnati and St. Louis have excelled in close contests, with the Reds perfect at 6-0 in one-run games and the Cardinals maintaining a 5-0 record in both one-run games and extra-inning contests.

Both the Cubs and Cardinals are riding five-game winning streaks.

Conversely, every American League West team is performing at .500 or below.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton delivered an outstanding performance Tuesday night, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and four runs scored in the team’s 6-0 victory over Boston.

Despite a slow start to the season, Buxton’s Tuesday performance accounted for half of his season RBI total. The Twins have reached .500 after losing 92 games in the previous season.

The San Diego Padres pulled off a dramatic comeback Wednesday night, overcoming a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to defeat Seattle 7-6.

Trailing 6-3 with two outs in the final frame, the Padres mounted their rally as Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano delivered RBI singles, followed by Jackson Merrill’s game-winning two-run double. This marked San Diego’s first victory since 2019 when entering the ninth inning trailing by four or more runs. Seattle’s win probability reached 98.7% in the ninth inning, according to Baseball Savant data.

The victory extended San Diego’s winning streak to seven games, eventually reaching eight, positioning them just half a game behind the first-place Dodgers in the NL West.

The answer to the MVP trivia question: Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, and Albert Pujols join Trout as the only players to win three MVP awards before turning 30.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray was forced to exit Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring.

The veteran right-hander appeared to be struggling physically following a two-out walk that put a pair of runners on base. Following an examination by the team’s medical staff and a single warm-up throw, Red Sox skipper Alex Cora decided to pull Gray from the traditional Patriots’ Day contest at Fenway Park.

During his abbreviated outing, Gray surrendered one earned run while giving up three hits over 2 2/3 innings of work. He recorded two strikeouts and issued one walk before his departure. Left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe took over on the mound and secured a ground ball out to close the frame.

The 36-year-old Gray joined Boston this winter through a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran pitcher, who has earned All-Star honors three times during his career, entered Monday’s contest sporting a 2-1 win-loss record along with a 4.30 earned run average across five starts this season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boston coach Marco Sturm struggled to explain the collapse.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The same description applies to Wembanyama himself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thunder 119, Suns 84

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

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

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

Celtics 123, 76ers 91

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

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

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

Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The noise around the struggling franchise is already deafening.

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

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

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

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

Those days feel like ancient history now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The complete finalist lists include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enter Altenburg’s expertise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reducing portable restroom wait times would also be welcomed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Authorities confirmed that no one sustained injuries during the mishap.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Playoff Results:

Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105

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

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

Knicks 113, Hawks 102

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

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

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

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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