Victor Wembanyama delivered a spectacular performance with 41 points and 24 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime to begin the Western Conference finals with a statement victory.
The towering star clinched the win with consecutive dunks in the closing moments, including one that resulted in a three-point opportunity, helping San Antonio capture home-court advantage while improving to 5-1 against Oklahoma City this season.
Dylan Harper contributed 24 points along with a franchise playoff-record seven steals for the Spurs. Oklahoma City received 31 points from Alex Caruso in what marked the second-best scoring performance of his professional career, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their nine-game playoff victory streak from ending—a run that dated back to Game 7 of last season’s championship series.
In hockey action, Alex Newhook netted the game-winner 11:22 into overtime as the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in their decisive seventh game Monday evening. Newhook fired a shot through traffic from the left wing that found its way past goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen inside the far post.
This marked Newhook’s second series-clinching goal of the current postseason, having previously delivered the decisive strike in Montreal’s first-round triumph over Tampa Bay. Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc provided additional scoring for the Canadiens, while goalie Jakub Dobes made 37 saves. Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin forced the extra period by equalizing 6:27 into the final frame, with Jordan Greenway adding the other Thunder goal.
Wembanyama’s dominant display placed him alongside basketball legends Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with such a statistical performance in playoff competition. Despite being passed over for the MVP honor in favor of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the young superstar continues to demonstrate his championship drive.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson highlighted his star player’s fierce competitive nature following the victory. San Antonio now finds themselves in an advantageous position despite entering as underdogs without the services of injured guard De’Aaron Fox, needing to protect their home venue to maintain a realistic path toward an NBA championship.
Meanwhile, reports from British media outlets suggest Pep Guardiola may conclude his remarkable decade-long leadership of Manchester City following the current campaign. Major news organizations including the BBC and Daily Mail indicate the decorated manager is expected to depart despite having one year remaining on his current agreement.
Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca emerges as the frontrunner to assume control according to BBC reporting. Maresca previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during his time with City. Neither Manchester City officials nor representatives for Maresca provided immediate responses when contacted for comment. Guardiola has captured 17 major trophies since joining English football in 2016.
In baseball, Oakland Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn carried a no-hit bid into the ninth inning before Adam Frazier broke it up with a leadoff single for the Los Angeles Angels. Zach Neto immediately followed with a two-run homer that secured a 2-1 Angels victory, delivering a crushing defeat to Ginn and the Athletics.
Frazier connected on an 0-2 offering over the shortstop for a clean base hit, becoming just the third Los Angeles baserunner of the contest. Neto then launched a 2-0 sinker to center field for his eighth homer this season. Ginn was attempting the first major league no-hitter since September 2024, throwing a career-high 105 pitches with 64 strikes while recording a personal-best 10 strikeouts alongside one walk and one hit batter in the sixth inning.
Looking at NFL draft prospects, Carson Beck experienced mixed reviews during the evaluation process, explaining his slide to the third round before Arizona Cardinals selected the quarterback. Beck joins an intriguing group of signal-callers determined to prove their worth beyond Fernando Mendoza and other highly-regarded prospects.
Players like Beck, Pittsburgh’s Drew Allar, and the Jets’ Cade Klubnik face challenging odds reaching NFL stardom after third and fourth-round selections, though professional football history includes numerous elite quarterbacks who weren’t early draft choices.
Aaron Rodgers wasted little time returning to action with the Pittsburgh Steelers following his one-year contract signing. The four-time MVP quarterback participated in voluntary organized team activities immediately after agreeing to return for a 22nd professional season.
The agreement reunites Rodgers with first-year Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy, who previously collaborated with the quarterback in Green Bay where they captured a Super Bowl victory against Pittsburgh during the 2010 campaign. Last season, the 42-year-old signal-caller guided Pittsburgh to an AFC North division title while throwing 24 touchdown passes against seven interceptions.
New York Yankees player Jazz Chisholm Jr. has adopted an unusual approach to breaking his early-season struggles, borrowing Giancarlo Stanton’s oversized trousers and José Caballero’s bat. The style change appears to be working, as Chisholm delivered a crucial two-run homer that propelled the Yankees to a 7-6 victory over Toronto.
After seeing his batting average drop to .200, Chisholm has heated up since making the equipment adjustments. Both teammates and fans have embraced the distinctive look, while manager Aaron Boone remains supportive of the unconventional approach. The custom pants now feature Chisholm’s name as well.
The Montreal Canadiens’ rebuilding process has reached fruition as the youth-driven squad advances to the Eastern Conference finals following their 3-2 overtime victory in Game 7 against Buffalo. The organization essentially reconstructed their roster from the ground up over three-plus seasons.
Montreal has now captured two Game 7 contests this postseason, both decided by Alex Newhook goals, and will face the well-rested Carolina Hurricanes in a series beginning Thursday night. The Canadiens have undergone complete reconstruction since falling to Tampa Bay in five games during the COVID-affected 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Atlanta prepares to welcome World Cup supporters from across the globe as Mercedes-Benz Stadium, temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium for the tournament, will host eight matches including a semifinal contest on July 15. The city offers numerous attractions during the summer months, including Piedmont Park, Ponce City Market, and the Georgia Aquarium.
Local cuisine highlights include the city’s renowned lemon pepper wings and barbecue, with establishments like The Local and Fox Bros Barbecue drawing crowds. Centennial Olympic Park will feature the FIFA Fan Festival with live match broadcasts and musical performances, while MARTA public transportation provides convenient stadium access for the venue that has previously hosted major sporting events.
