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TORONTO -- Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery called out star forward David Pastrnak after a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night sent this first-round series to a Game 7.  Montgomery was asked if the Bruins needed more from their top skaters to avoid elimination come Saturday in Boston, and he identified Pastrnak in particular as needing to provide more to the group. "Your best players need to be your best players this time of year," Montgomery said. "I think the effort is tremendous. They need to come through with some big-time plays in big-time moments. [ Brad] Marchand has done this throughout the series. [Pastrnak] needs to step up." Pastrnak has two goals and four points this postseason for a Boston team that once held a 3-1 lead in the series.  Boston got off to another sluggish start in Game 6 and was outshot 12-1 in a scoreless first period. The Bruins had opportunities in the second period to take a lead, but it was...

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. on Thursday, a source confirmed to ESPN. NFL Network was first to report the news. Chark, who has played six seasons in the NFL, brings the most experience to an unproven Chargers receiving room. The Chargers have no receiver with more than three years in the NFL, and none of whom has had a season with over 800 yards. Chark, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, played for the Carolina Panthers last season, where he had 35 catches for 525 yards and five touchdowns. Chark's best season came when he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, where he had 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs that earned him his first and only Pro Bowl selection. The Chargers will hope that Chark can regain that form in L.A. after the Chargers traded wide receiver Keenan Allen, released wide receiver  Mike Williams and let tight end Gerald...

INDIANAPOLIS -- After spending the hours leading up to Game 6 getting around-the-clock treatment on his injured right Achilles, Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard said he decided he wouldn't be able to enter the summer without knowing he did all he could to be on the floor. Lillard returned after missing Games 4 and 5 of the series, but the shorthanded Bucks did not have enough against the Indiana Pacers, dropping Thursday's game  120-98 and losing the series in six games. "I don't think I would've went into the summer feeling good about much if I felt like I let the team go out there and me not at least try," said Lillard, who finished with 28 points. The Bucks could not overcome the loss of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed the entire playoff series because of a left calf strain. He didn't appear in another game after sustaining the injury April 9. "It's definitely disappointing because you know how much better of a team we are...

LAS VEGAS -- Oscar De La Hoya issued a cease-and-desist letter Thursday to Canelo Alvarez over what he says are "defamatory allegations" that the Golden Boy Promotions founder stole money from former champion Gennadiy Golovkin, among other fighters. The legal letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, demands that Alvarez issue a retraction and refrain from making further defamatory comments. The action comes one day after tensions erupted between Alvarez and his former longtime promoter at a news conference ahead of Alvarez's undisputed super middleweight championship defense vs. Jaime Munguia on Saturday. De La Hoya jabbed Alvarez by referencing his positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol ahead of his 2018 rematch with Golovkin. Alvarez countered by warning fighters to "contact your lawyers because he is surely stealing from you. It's the only thing he comes to do in boxing. ... If I hadn't involved my lawyers you would steal from me." In the letter to Alvarez,...

Dallas police will not pursue sexual assault charges against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, with a police spokesperson saying Thursday detectives determined there was insufficient evidence an offense was committed. The case stemmed from an alleged incident that occurred in 2017 in which a woman said Prescott assaulted her in the back of an SUV in a strip club parking lot. In March, Prescott filed a suit seeking monetary relief in excess of $1 million after receiving a letter in January from attorneys Bethel and Yoel Zehaie on behalf of the woman stating they would "forego pursuing criminal charges, along with disclosing this information to the public, in exchange for compensating her for the mental anguish she has suffered. [The woman's] damages are valued at the sum of $100,000,000.00." The woman filed a countersuit and criminal charges after Prescott's initial filing. "I want to thank the Dallas Police Department and Dallas County District Attorneys'...

INDIANAPOLIS -- T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin complemented one another's play perfectly Thursday night. They were still trading fist bumps long after the Indiana Pacers celebrated a rare series-clinching victory. Toppin scored 21 points, McConnell added 20 points and nine assists and they led the Pacers to a 120-98 rout over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6, sending them to their first Eastern Conference semifinal in a decade. "It means a lot," McConnell said. "Not getting into the playoffs since the bubble, not being able to advance since 2014, we take great pride in being able to advance and extend our season. Milwaukee has a great team and, if I can be honest with you, I think our bench has taken a couple steps back competitive wise and I think tonight all of us went out there with the mentality we're going to take it to another level." Did they ever. Nobody was better than McConnell. He finished with a playoff career best scoring total...

Dallas police will not pursue sexual assault charges against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, with a police spokesperson saying detectives determined there was insufficient evidence an offense was committed. The case stemmed from an accusation from an alleged incident that occurred in 2017 in which a woman said Prescott assaulted her in the back of an SUV in a strip club parking lot. In March, Prescott filed a suit seeking monetary relief in excess of $1 million after receiving a letter in January from attorneys Bethel and Yoel Zehaie on behalf of the woman stating they would "forego pursuing criminal charges, along with disclosing this information to the public, in exchange for compensating her for the mental anguish she has suffered. [The woman's] damages are valued at the sum of $100,000,000.00." The woman filed a countersuit and filed criminal charges after Prescott's initial filing. "I want to thank the Dallas Police Department and Dallas County...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs declined Thursday to exercise the fifth-year option for the 2025 season on the contract of wide receiver Kadarius Toney, a source told ESPN, giving him one more season remaining on the deal he signed with the New York Giants as a first-round draft pick in 2021. Toney was traded to the Chiefs the next year. Both general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid recently indicated Toney was in the Chiefs' plans this season. "I don't think we ever stopped believing in him,'' Veach said shortly before the draft. "I think people around the building like him. It's the injury bug. Hopefully, he gets some luck on his side and can stay healthy and can be the player that he was at Florida and the player that we've seen in spurts here. I'm just hoping he has a good offseason and has a little luck on his side and can stay healthy.'' With the Chiefs counting on him for big production, Toney had a disappointing 2023 season. He tore a...

The NCAA's national office might be footing the bill for a settlement expected to be more than $2.7 billion in the landmark House v. NCAA lawsuit and other related antitrust cases, in hopes of reshaping and stabilizing the college sports industry, according to multiple sources on Thursday. Sources told ESPN this week that parties have proposed the NCAA's national office -- rather than its individual member schools or conferences -- would pay for the settlement of past damages over a period of 10 years. The NCAA payments would be paid to former college athletes who say they were illegally prevented from making money by selling the rights to their name, image and likeness. The settlement would come with a corresponding commitment from conferences and schools to share revenue with athletes moving forward, per sources. The settlement would establish a framework for power conferences to share revenue with their athletes in the future. Sources have told ESPN that schools are anticipating...

The NCAA's national office might be footing the bill for a settlement expected to be more than $2.7 billion in the landmark House v. NCAA lawsuit and other related antitrust cases, in hopes of reshaping and stabilizing the college sports industry, according to multiple sources on Thursday. Sources told ESPN this week that parties have proposed the NCAA's national office -- rather than its individual member schools or conferences -- would pay for the settlement of past damages over a period of 10 years. The NCAA payments would be paid to former college athletes who say they were illegally prevented from making money by selling the rights to their name, image and likeness. The settlement would come with a corresponding commitment from conferences and schools to share revenue with athletes moving forward, per sources. The settlement would establish a framework for power conferences to share revenue with their athletes in the future. Sources have told ESPN that schools are anticipating...

The NCAA's national office might be footing the bill for a settlement expected to be more than $2.7 billion in the landmark House v. NCAA antitrust lawsuit in hopes of reshaping and stabilizing the college sports industry, according to multiple sources on Thursday. Sources told ESPN this week that parties have proposed the NCAA's national office -- rather than its individual member schools or conferences -- would pay for the settlement of past damages over a period of 10 years. The NCAA payments would be paid to former college athletes who say they were illegally prevented from making money by selling the rights to their name, image and likeness. The settlement would come with a corresponding commitment from conferences and schools to share revenue with athletes moving forward, per sources. The settlement would establish a framework for power conferences to share revenue with their athletes in the future. Sources have told ESPN that schools are anticipating a ceiling of nearly $20...

Milwaukee Bucks star guard  Damian Lillard is available and will play in Thursday's must-win Game 6 vs. the Indiana Pacers, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out. Lillard, who was doing his pregame warmups, earlier had been upgraded from doubtful to questionable as the Eastern Conference first-round series continues in Indianapolis. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said both players had "great workouts" on Thursday afternoon, prior to Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP, being ruled out on the official injury report. Antetokounmpo had previously been listed as doubtful because of the calf injury that has kept him out of the series and off the court since April 9. Lillard has sat out the past two games with a right Achilles injury. The eight-time All-Star averaged 32.3 points in the first three games of the series for the Bucks, who trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. On Tuesday, Rivers described Lillard and Antetokounmpo as "very, very, very close" to...

Georgia's Kirby Smart has received a new 10-year, $130 million deal that was approved by university officials Thursday in its annual athletics board of directors meeting. The deal makes Smart the highest-paid college football coach in the country and its first $13 million coach. Smart, who was scheduled to earn $10.75 million this year under his old contract, will see his salary increase to $13 million annually, and that money is guaranteed for at least the first half of his contract. His new deal runs through the 2033 season. Smart could also earn up to $1.55 million in bonuses. He is entering his ninth season as Georgia's coach. His Bulldogs captured back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and won an SEC-record 29 straight games before losing to Alabama last season in the SEC championship game. "I continue to be grateful and humbled by our administration's commitment to our football program," Smart said in a statement. "The current culture in collegiate athletics is...

Georgia's Kirby Smart has received a new 10-year, $130 million deal approved by university officials Thursday in its annual athletics board of directors meeting making him the highest-paid football coach in the country and college football's first $13 million coach. Smart, who was scheduled to earn $10.75 million this year under his old contract, will see his salary increase to $13 million annually, and that money is guaranteed for at least the first half of his contract. His new deal runs through the 2033 season. Smart could also earn up to $1.55 million in bonuses. He's entering his ninth season as Georgia's coach. His Bulldogs captured back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and won an SEC-record 29 straight games before losing to Alabama last season in the SEC championship game. "I continue to be grateful and humbled by our administration's commitment to our football program," Smart said in a statement. "The current culture in collegiate athletics is everchanging...

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers are declining the fifth-year option for the 2025 season for running back Najee Harris on Thursday, a source told ESPN, making him a free agent after the 2024 season. And as expected, the team also formally declined quarterback Justin Fields' fifth-year option, sources told ESPN. The Steelers are not ruling out agreeing to a deal with Harris after this season, however, sources told ESPN. With the new offense being installed, the feeling is the organization wants to see how Harris and the other running backs function in Arthur Smith's offense before making a longer-term commitment to him. Harris and Fields are the latest Steelers to have their fifth-year options declined by the team. The team also declined options for Jarvis Jones, Artie Burns, Terrell Edmunds and Devin Bush. T.J. Watt, selected in the 2017 draft, was the last Steelers draft pick to have his fifth-year option picked up by the team. The team...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. --  Inter Miami CF defender Marcelo "Chelo" Weigandt said he expects a difficult match against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday at Chase Stadium, adding that when Lionel Messi is on your team, opponents treat each match like it's a final. "We expect them to play the same intense way. When we have Leo, every team plays against us like it were a final," Weigandt said. "And we have to play every game like it's a final to try if we want to achieve what we aspire to. But the team looks good, we're happy and we work hard throughout the week. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "They give us ideas and we try to execute them on the pitch," added Weigandt when speaking to the media ahead of Thursday's training session. Miami last faced the Red Bulls on March 23, falling 4-0 without Messi. The Argentine striker failed to travel with the team because of a right hamstring injury, leaving head coach...

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge tied to his September arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. Urias was placed on 36 months of summary probation and ordered to complete 30 days of community labor as well as a 52-week domestic violence counseling course, a spokesperson for the L.A. City Attorney's Office said. In addition, Urias, 27, must pay a domestic violence fund fee, not possess any weapons, not use any force or violence, pay restitution to the victim and abide by a protective order. The four other misdemeanor charges against Urias -- an additional count of domestic battery involving a dating relationship, as well as one count each of spousal battery, false imprisonment and assault -- were dismissed. Urias was originally arrested Sept. 3 on suspicion of felony domestic violence for an incident that occurred in the parking lot of BMO Stadium after an LAFC...

Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods has accepted a special exemption to play in next month's U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina, the United States Golf Association announced Thursday. Woods, a three-time U.S. Open winner, last won the event in 2008. While he has lifetime exemptions into the Masters and PGA Championship and can play in The Open until he's 60 as a former winner of those tournaments, Woods' exemption into the U.S. Open ran out in 2023. It's the first time Woods hasn't qualified for a major championship since the 1996 PGA Championship, when he was still an amateur. The 124th U.S. Open will be played on Pinehurst's Course No. 2 on June 13-16. "The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career," Woods said in a statement. "I'm honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year's U.S. Open, especially at...

Peter Oosterhuis, a six-time Ryder Cup participant who later brought his distinguished British voice to CBS golf telecasts as an analyst, died Thursday, one day shy of his 76th birthday. "Peter was an integral part of our golf coverage and an incredible teammate for nearly two decades," CBS Sports said in a statement. "... Peter brought a unique style and distinct perspective to our broadcasts which made him one of the most respected analysts in the sport. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Ruth Ann and his entire family." As a player, Oosterhuis was a force in Ryder Cup play, going 6-2-1 in singles -- twice beating Arnold Palmer and once Johnny Miller. His six wins remain tied for the all-time lead in singles. He also was a two-time runner-up at the Open Championship and a two-time winner of the European Tour money title. He was ranked No. 1 in Europe for four years during a prolific rise to prominence that eventually brought him to the PGA Tour. He won...

The availability of Milwaukee Bucks stars Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo for a must-win Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers will be a game-time decision, coach Doc Rivers said Thursday afternoon. Lillard, who was doing his pregame warmups, was upgraded from doubtful to questionable earlier Thursday as the Eastern Conference first-round series continues tonight in Indianapolis. "Giannis is more doubtful than Damian, but both had great workouts today," Rivers said. Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, was listed as doubtful on the NBA injury report as he deals with the calf injury that has kept him out of the series and off the court since April 9. Lillard has sat out the past two games with a right Achilles injury. The eight-time All-Star averaged 32.3 points in the first three games of the series for the Bucks, who trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. On Tuesday, Rivers described Lillard and Antetokounmpo as "very, very, very close" to...

TORONTO -- Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has been ruled out for Game 6 of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Bruins on Thursday. The Leafs trail the Bruins 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and face elimination with another loss. Matthews missed the third period of Game 4 and all of Game 5 with what the Leafs have deemed a "lingering" illness. Toronto's top center has skated on his own the past three days -- including for nearly 30 minutes prior to the Leafs' morning skate Thursday -- but coach Sheldon Keefe said it would be the team's doctors ultimately making a call on whether Matthews made it into the lineup. Toronto already extended its series once without Matthews available when they topped Boston 2-1 in overtime of Game 5. The Leafs planned to use a similar blueprint in Game 6 to grind the Bruins down and even the series one last time. "It's a bit of the human nature piece; you recognize everyone has to be better," Keefe...

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso was named the winner of the NBA's annual Hustle Award on Thursday afternoon. Caruso, 30, averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game this season -- one of nine qualifying players to average at least a steal and a block. Long considered one of the league's toughest and grittiest players, Caruso was an All-Defensive first-team selection last season and is a strong candidate to land on one of the league's two All-Defensive Teams later this month. The Hustle Award "honors players who make the traditional effort plays that don't often appear in the traditional box score, but impact winning on a nightly basis." Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was second in the voting, followed by Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams. Memphis Grizzlies guard ...

Mike Tyson is an underdog against Jake Paul in their July 20 fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The heavyweight fight between Paul, 27, and Tyson, who will turn 58 in June, was officially sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations on Monday, and sportsbooks quickly posted odds. Paul, was listed as a -195 favorite on Thursday at ESPN BET, with Tyson a +150 underdog at the sportsbook. Early betting on the fight has been light, and odds vary at sportsbooks around the nation. Paul opened as short as -230 at ESPN BET, but the price had been moving toward Tyson. Paul was a -180 favorite on Thursday at DraftKings. The heavyweight bout will be contested over eight two-minute rounds with each fighter using 14-ounce gloves. The outcome will be included in their professional boxing records. Rarely an underdog until late in his illustrious career, Tyson is 50-6 with 44 knockouts. He fought Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 in an exhibition but hasn't competed in a...

Xavier transfer Desmond Claude, winner of the Big East's Most Improved Player award, has committed to USC, he told ESPN. Claude becomes the Trojans' ninth transfer addition and 11th newcomer of the offseason, as new coach Eric Musselman moves closer to finalizing his first USC roster. Claude chose the Trojans after taking a visit to their campus last weekend. "It honestly felt like a perfect fit from the first call," Claude said. "The academic support, basketball resources and basketball vision all seemed custom-made for me. Also, Coach Musselman has a proven track record over the past several years of helping big lead guards make the jump to being NBA-ready guards." A 6-foot-6 guard, Claude was a late bloomer in the 2022 high school class, but his size and ability to score and create for others put him on the radar of high-major programs. He committed to Travis Steele at Xavier, then kept his pledge when Sean Miller took over following the coaching change. Claude...

PITTSBURGH --  Justin Fields, return man? Maybe if Pittsburgh Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith has his way. In a live recording of Cam Heyward's "Not Just Football" podcast from the Steelers' draft party over the weekend, running back Jaylen Warren said Smith suggested that Fields, whom the Steelers acquired in a March trade with the Chicago Bears, could return kickoffs with the rule change preventing players from moving until the returner touches the ball. "I think it's pretty good," Warren told Heyward, when asked how he felt about the new kickoff rules. "As soon as you touch the ball, that's when everything starts to happen. "Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there. We're like, 'Hold up, hold up.' We looked at him like, 'Justin Fields is about to be back there?' I don't know. I think it's cool." Smith, who has been the Steelers' special teams coordinator since 2013, is known...

PITTSBURGH --  Justin Fields, return man? Maybe if Pittsburgh Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith has his way. In a live recording of Cam Heyward's " Not Just Football" podcast from the Steelers' draft party over the weekend, running back Jaylen Warren said that Smith suggested Fields, whom the Steelers acquired in a March trade with the Chicago Bears, could return kickoffs with the rule change preventing players from moving until the returner touches the ball. "I think it's pretty good," Warren told Heyward, when asked how he felt about the new kickoff rules. "As soon as you touch the ball, that's when everything starts to happen. "Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there. We're like hold up, hold up. We looked at him like, 'Justin Fields is about to be back there?' I don't know. I think it's cool." Smith, who has been the Steelers' special teams coordinator since 2013, is known...

Manchester United are considered front-runners to sign Michael Olise should the winger leave Crystal Palace this summer, sources told ESPN. Olise, 22, is understood to have a release clause in his contract that becomes active after the end of the season, and United's new leadership group under minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have identified Olise as key target in their summer rebuild. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) It is unclear exactly how much a deal to sign Olise would cost but the figure is significantly higher than the £35 million ($43.7m) clause in his previous contract. One source put the amount between £50m and £60m. Sources told ESPN that United are at the head of the queue to sign Olise and are not deterred by being unable to offer Champions League football next season. ESPN  previously reported that United could be willing to offer Aaron Wan-Bissaka as part of any deal to help boost the...

The owners of the 76ers and former minority owner Michael Rubin have purchased tickets for Thursday's Game 6 of Philadelphia's playoff series against the Knicks in an attempt to block New York fans from once again overrunning Wells Fargo Center. Knicks fans were an overwhelming presence at Game 4 at Wells Fargo for New York's comeback victory, prompting Sixers star Joel Embiid to express his disappointment with Philadelphia fans. One day after the Sixers extended the series with an improbable Game 5 victory in New York, Rubin announced Wednesday on social media that he had teamed up with owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman to purchase "more than 2,000" tickets for Game 6. The Fanatics CEO said the tickets would be given to "first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations." A video posted Wednesday to the 76ers' official Instagram account showed tickets being given to fans on the...

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler is expected to make his return to the big leagues Monday after missing nearly two full years following Tommy John surgery in 2022. "The plan is Walker's going to start on Monday," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. "We're excited about that. Everything checked out. It'll be good." The Dodgers play at home Monday against the Miami Marlins. Buehler, a two-time All-Star, hasn't thrown in a big league game since June 10, 2022, against the San Francisco Giants. He's trying to become one of the few pitchers to bounce back from a second Tommy John surgery, which usually keeps pitchers off the mound for 12-18 months. Buehler could make a talented Dodgers team even more formidable. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 2021 season, finishing with a 16-4 record and a 2.47 ERA over 207⅔ innings. Buehler had an extended rehab assignment...

PHOENIX -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler is expected to make his return to the big leagues on Monday after missing nearly two full years following Tommy John surgery in 2022. "The plan is Walker's going to start on Monday," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. "We're excited about that. Everything checked out. It'll be good." The Dodgers play at home on Monday against the Miami Marlins. The two-time All-Star hasn't thrown in a big league game since June 10, 2022, against the San Francisco Giants. He's trying to become one of the few pitchers to bounce back from a second Tommy John surgery, which usually keeps pitchers off the mound for 12-18 months. Buehler could make a talented Dodgers team even more formidable. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 2021 season, finishing with a 16-4 record and a 2.47 ERA over 207 2/3 innings. Buehler had an...

LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez, boxing's top star, and his former promoter, Hall of Fame boxer Oscar De La Hoya, engaged in a heated verbal exchange at a Wednesday news conference ahead of Alvarez's undisputed super middleweight championship defense vs. Mexican countryman Jaime Munguia on Saturday.  Golden Boy Promotions CEO De La Hoya, Munguia's co-promoter, instructed Alvarez from the MGM Grand dais to "put some f---ing respect" on De La Hoya's name, a response to the bad blood between the pair that's simmered since their 10-year promoter-fighter relationship ended in 2020. "Yes, I've been to rehab several times," De La Hoya said. "Yes, there were some really low points in my life. And yes, there were times that work was not my priority based on my mental health, which I had neglected for so long. But that doesn't change the fact that Golden Boy built Canelo over this period." Then De La Hoya did his best to poke Alvarez by mentioning his positive test for the banned...

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics pounded the short-handed Miami Heat  118-84 on Wednesday to knock out their longtime rival in five games and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. In taking the series, Boston avenged its 2023 conference finals loss to Miami, which was a No. 8 seed. "That's how it should be -- we should be learning from our mistakes and things we could've done better and applying it to the next season, because we're trying to have a different outcome this year," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum, adding that the victory was necessary for Boston's maturation as a team. This first-round matchup ended almost exactly the way it started, with Boston connecting early from deep while the Heat struggled from outside. The Celtics drilled 16 3-pointers and hit 40% of their tries while Miami was 3-of-29 from 3-point territory. The series itself was never truly in doubt, even after a record-breaking shooting performance from the Heat in Game...

FRISCO, Texas -- When Ezekiel Elliott was introduced to the crowd at Riders Field before the Reliant Energy Home Run Derby Wednesday, it was as if Elliott was home again. Elliott signed a one-year deal with the  Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday and has been part of the on-field workouts this week after spending last year with the New England Patriots. "It was just important to me just to get back here and finish what I started," Elliott said at the Cowboys' annual fundraiser. Elliott spent the first seven years of his career with the Cowboys, becoming the franchise's third all-time leading rusher behind Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and an All-Pro once. In 103 games, he ran for 8,262 yards on 1,881 carries with 68 touchdowns. He caught 305 passes for 2,336 yards with 12 touchdowns. He led the Patriots last year in rushing yards (642) and receptions (51), and while he has not had a 100-yard rushing game...

BOSTON --  Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 25 points and the Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the short-handed Miami Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Boston will face the winner of the Cleveland- Orlando series. The Cavaliers lead 3-2, with Game 6 in Orlando on Friday night. Brown also had 6 assists, and White hit 5 3-pointers, giving him 13 in his past two games -- the most over a two-game span in Celtics postseason history. Sam Hauser added 17 points, and Jayson Tatum had 16 points and 12 rebounds. The top-seeded Celtics never trailed and led by as many as 35 points before ultimately winning by 34, tying their third-largest win in franchise playoff history. Including the regular season and playoffs, the Celtics have won 11 games by 30 or more points this season, tied with the 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers for the most in a season in NBA history. They...

PHOENIX -- Days after a first-round playoff sweep ended a disappointing Phoenix Suns season that began with championship expectations, Suns owner Mat Ishbia declined to say whether the team would retain coach Frank Vogel next season. Ishbia also declined to offer support for Vogel, who, just days ago, stated he had Ishbia's "full support" and was "very" confident he'd be returning to the team that signed him to a five-year, $31 million deal last summer. Ishbia, who bought the Suns in February 2023, made his remarks Wednesday during an end-of-season media availability at the Footprint Center, just a few days after the Suns were swept on their home floor by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Suns general manager James Jones also addressed reporters Wednesday. Ishbia said he hadn't had any discussions about the future of any Suns personnel or players and that he was in Phoenix to have those in-person discussions this week. "We're going to evaluate everything,"...

Star boxer Ryan Garcia tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance ostarine the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney last month, per a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter sent to all parties Wednesday and obtained by ESPN. The urine samples were collected prior to the fight, but the results weren't known until later. Garcia has 10 days to request that his B-sample be tested. Garcia's A-sample also screened positive for 19-norandrosterone, but its presence is unconfirmed until further lab analysis. "Everybody knows that I don't cheat," Garcia said in a video posted on X. "Never taken a steroid. ... I don't even know where to get steroids. ... I barely take supplements. Big lies, I beat his ass." Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions said in a statement that it is working with Garcia's team to "determine how this finding came to be." "Ryan has put out multiple statements denying knowingly using any banned substances...

Jadon Sancho gave a timely reminder of his talent in helping Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain, according to coach Edin Terzic. Sancho, who rejoined Dortmund on loan from Manchester United in January, played a starring role in the German side's Champions League semifinal first leg victory on Wednesday. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The 24-year-old struggled during his stay at Old Trafford before leaving amid a public row with manager Erik ten Hag, but Terzic said he wasn't surprised by his performance against PSG. "He's shown that really often in training," said Terzic. "It's maybe not so easy to bring it onto the field, especially when you haven't had rhythm for a while. "We know his quality and we saw it again today. We knew we needed a performance like that from Jadon." Sancho didn't get on the scoresheet, but he was a menace up and down the right wing all night, displaying the...

According to the NBA's Last Two Minute Report from Game 5 of the instant classic first-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, Tyrese Maxey's heroics never should've happened. That's because the league said the game's refereeing crew missed a Maxey travel on his 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds to go, on which he was fouled by Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and made the free throw, beginning Philadelphia's remarkable comeback from down 6 with 28.9 seconds remaining in regulation to eventually win 112-106 in overtime and keep the 76ers' season alive. There were three other calls that were deemed incorrect: there should have been 0.4 seconds left in regulation, and Knicks ball, after Nicolas Batum blocked Jalen Brunson's potential game-tying shot out of bounds (the clock instead ran out, sending the game to overtime); Brunson should've been called for an offensive foul in overtime on the play that ultimately became...

According to the NBA's Last Two Minute Report from Game 5 of the instant classic first-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, Tyrese Maxey's heroics never should've happened. That's because the league said the game's refereeing crew missed a Maxey travel on his 3-pointer with 25.4 seconds to go, on which he was fouled by Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and made the free throw, beginning Philadelphia's remarkable comeback from down 6 with 28.9 seconds remaining in regulation to eventually win 112-106 in overtime and keep the 76ers' season alive. There were three other calls that were deemed incorrect: there should have been 0.4 seconds left in regulation, and Knicks ball, after Nicolas Batum blocked Jalen Brunson's potential game-tying shot out of bounds (the clock instead ran out, sending the game to overtime); Brunson should've been called for an offensive foul in overtime on the play that ultimately became...

PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth isn't happy that he's not playing as well as his longtime friend Scottie Scheffler, but he's hoping to use the world No. 1 golfer's success as inspiration. Spieth, a three-time major championship winner, said he used last week as a reset after a so-so start to the 2024 season. He has three top-10 finishes in 10 starts but had a disqualification and three missed cuts, including at The Players and Masters, in his past seven. He is hoping to turn things around, starting at The CJ Cup Bryon Nelson, which tees off Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. "I think I kind of wanted to hit the reset button this last week and I took more days off than I usually do," Spieth told reporters Wednesday. "Got a little burned out trying to find stuff. I wanted to take some time off, clear my mind, and then get back to it. "... Kind of looking at this as kind of a restart. I haven't had the year I wanted to have after getting off to a...

The panel discusses the various prospects for the 2024-25 NFL season and what Commissioner Roger Goodell thinks about the Super Bowl being played on Presidents Day.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As revenue sharing with college athletes becomes a growing possibility, some bowl leaders are already hoping for a collective bargaining agreement with the players that would help significantly lower the number of postseason opt-outs. Nick Carparelli, executive director of Bowl Season, told ESPN at the Fiesta Bowl Spring Summit this week that his understanding from speaking with conference commissioners and NCAA president Charlie Baker is that NIL collectives are destined to be brought in-house and there have been discussions about contracts in exchange for NIL payments. "If you sign a contract and receive compensation, you're obligated to perform certain duties -- in this case, play 12 regular-season games and a bowl game or a bowl game and the playoff," he said. "That's logical to expect. It's the way the rest of us working folks operate." Fiesta Bowl executive director and CEO Erik Moses agreed, adding that he isn't insensitive to the risks the players and...

The Bundesliga will have five teams in the Champions League next season after  Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain ensured Germany second place in UEFA's coefficient table for this season. Two leagues will be rewarded with an extra place through the European Performance Spots, given to the two leagues with the best average performance across the three European competitions each season and comes as part of the revamp to expand the Champions League to  a 36-team competition. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Serie A had already sealed the first place last month, and Dortmund's victory now means Germany cannot be overtaken by the final remaining contenders, England and France. "We wanted to qualify for the Champions League through the Bundesliga and not this way," Dortmund manager Edin Terzic said after beating PSG. "But the fact that it will be enough to qualify as fifth is...

Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his son, quarterback  Shedeur Sanders, have gone on the offensive on social media after a story ran about how former Buffaloes players fared after many were run off following the arrival of "Coach Prime." Former Colorado safety Xavier Smith told the Athletic in a story published Monday that Deion Sanders "never even tried to get to know me," and that he "was destroying guys' confidence and belief in themselves." Shedeur Sanders posted to X, formerly Twitter, that he didn't remember who Smith was. "Bro had to be very mid at best," Shedeur Sanders posted, insinuating Smith was only an average player. Smith, who had injury trouble in his short time at Colorado, earned freshman All-America honors at FCS Austin Peay in 2023 and has since followed coach Scotty Walden to UTEP. After Shedeur Sanders' tweet, things escalated into a series of back-and-forth trash talk. Colorado receiver Kaleb Mathis...

LOS ANGELES -- Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic declared himself ready for Wednesday's pivotal Game 5 against the LA Clippers but acknowledged that he would "probably not" be playing on his sprained right knee if this were the regular season. "Not good," Doncic said when asked how his knee feels. "Could be way better, but it is what it is." Doncic, who injured the knee in the first quarter of Game 3, said he hasn't made any explosive movements since playing 45 minutes in Sunday's Game 4 loss. He said he received "a lot of treatment" over the past two days, when his basketball activity was limited to primarily shooting. Doncic has also been dealing with an illness for several days. He was coughing and congested at Wednesday morning's shootaround. "I'm fine," Doncic said. "I'll be ready for this game." Doncic has struggled by his MVP-candidate standards in the first-round series, which is even entering Game 5. He's averaging 29.0 points, 9.8 rebounds...

Three Milwaukee Brewers, including manager Pat Murphy, and  Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri received suspensions for their roles that led to a bench-clearing incident between the two teams in the eighth inning of their game Tuesday night. Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta received a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Siri during the top of the sixth inning of the Brewers' 8-2 victory while reliever Abner Uribe received six games after he and Siri squared off against each other two innings later. Siri received a three-game suspension -- that was later reduced to two games -- while Murphy will miss two games as a result of Peralta's actions in addition to his inappropriate conduct toward umpires. All four were also fined. Siri's penalty was reduced when he reached an agreement with Major League Baseball after he appealed. He served the first game as the Rays lost 7-1 Wednesday. Milwaukee said Uribe and Peralta plan...

RIVERSIDE, R.I. -- Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots in March worth a base value of $8 million, said Wednesday that he looks forward to competing with No. 3 pick Drake Maye for the team's starting job. "That's all out of my control, so I don't really worry about that. I'm excited to have him on the team, and the other guys as well that we drafted and picked up. I think it's going to be good," he said. "Competition brings out the best in all of us, so I'm excited about that part." Brissett already had a connection with Maye, having previously met him through former Washington Commanders teammate Sam Howell (who was a teammate of Maye's at North Carolina). "I'm a little bit familiar with him, and obviously talking to each other now that we are on the same team. So I'm sure that relationship will grow," Brissett said. First-year head coach Jerod Mayo has said that part of the...

Dayton transfer Koby Brea, considered the best shooter in men's college basketball and coming off a historic season, has committed to Kentucky, he told ESPN on Wednesday. "Growing up, I was told I was dreaming too big whenever I'd say my dream was to play for the University of Kentucky," Brea said. "I feel like God does everything for a reason, and He has put me in a position where I'm able to play for my dream school in my last year of college, while playing for something bigger than myself." Brea picked Kentucky over a list of schools that included Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and UConn. "In this process, everything moves so quickly," Brea said. "It was important for me to take my time and prioritize what I needed to take this next step in my career. I feel fortunate to have had these incredible schools recruit me to be a part of their program. And I am proud to commit to my dream school and become a Kentucky Wildcat." Brea hit...

Jevon Porter, a former Pepperdine standout and the younger brother of  Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., was arrested Friday night in Missouri on suspicion of DWI, Missouri State Sgt. Kyle Green confirmed to ESPN. Porter, 20, was released on summons and not booked into jail in Boone County, where the incident occurred, according to Green. The news of Porter's arrest was first reported by Power Mizzou. According to Green, Porter was stopped for speeding before his DWI arrest. Porter, a 6-foot-11 forward, recently transferred from Pepperdine to Loyola Marymount. He averaged 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season. Loyola Marymount said it is looking into Porter's situation. "We are aware of recent reports in the media and are gathering information about the matter," the school said in a statement to ESPN. The arrest comes two weeks after Porter's older brother, Jontay Porter, a two-way player for the Toronto Raptors, was...

MIAMI -- Majority control of the  Dolphins is "not for sale," a source told ESPN, after USA Today reported that owner Stephen Ross turned down a $10 billion offer for control of the team, the Formula One Miami Grand Prix and Hard Rock Stadium. According to USA Today, Ross "entertained" an offer that would represent, by far, the largest team sale in American sports history. He turned down the offer in order to keep team control of the Dolphins within his family; Ross made his daughter, Jennifer, his successor in 2022. Ross purchased a controlling share of the Dolphins in 2009 and spent $500 million on significant renovations to Hard Rock Stadium in 2015. Ross and Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel were instrumental in bringing the Miami Open tennis tournament to the Hard Rock Stadium grounds in 2019 and built the Miami International Autodrome around the stadium three years later to host the Miami Grand Prix in 2022. Hard Rock Stadium is one of the most versatile sports...