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NEW YORK -- The Indiana Pacers made an organizational decision to not make officiating an issue either publicly or privately earlier this week when several vital calls went against them in their Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks. But Pacers coach Rick Carlisle abandoned the strategy Wednesday, erupting in the final minute of the Knicks' 130-121 Game 2 victory that gave them a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Carlisle received two technical fouls and was ejected. He was upset about several calls, especially when officials reversed a double-dribble violation that could have given the Pacers a key possession with the game still in doubt. That was the opposite of what happened in Game 1, in which a kicked ball violation was called in error against the Pacers but was not corrected, a decision that ended up costing the team three vital points. Carlisle reached his boiling point in Game 2. He said the Pacers identified 29 questionable calls they felt went...

NEW YORK -- New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein said he heard the roar from the locker room. Jalen Brunson, who had exited with a right foot injury late in the first quarter of Wednesday night's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, had returned to the Madison Square Garden floor during halftime to see if he could push through the pain. The moment he walked through the tunnel, the crowd erupted. It was a noise so loud that Hartenstein and his teammates said they heard it from their lockers, and so intense that Brunson pleaded fans to tone things down so he could find the mental clarity necessary to test out his foot. The MVP chants that the Knicks heard from the locker room, almost like a bat signal, suggested Brunson was back, prepared to lead the way. And indeed, Brunson's return energized the short-handed Knicks in the second half, helping them stage a comeback and push through multiple injuries to beat the Pacers 130-121 to take a 2-0 series lead in...

NEW YORK --  Jalen Brunson left the locker room on an injured leg, walked onto the court and sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy, just as Willis Reed had exactly 54 years earlier. As the roars turned into "MVP! MVP!" chants, Brunson tried to block out the pain in his body and the noise all around him as he warmed up at halftime. "It was really cool to hear, but I just knew that I had to get my mind in the right place to figure out how I was going to attack the second half," Brunson said. He shook off his right foot injury to score 24 of his 29 points in the final two quarters, leading the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. On the anniversary of Reed's dramatic emergence from the locker room before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to lead the Knicks to their first title, Brunson had missed the entire second quarter while the Pacers surged...

Boston and Florida turned up the heat in Game 2 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Wednesday with a heavyweight bout between stars Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak. The visiting Bruins -- who entered with a 1-0 series lead -- were trailing 6-1 with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period when top winger Pastrnak and Panthers forward Tkachuk dropped the gloves in an uncharacteristic fight that Pastrnak was ready to accept when Tkachuk agreed to the challenge. "I'm not afraid of him, to be honest," Pastrnak said. "I can take a punch." The fisticuffs actually appeared to be approved by Bruins coach Jim Montgomery. Cameras showed Montgomery seemingly giving Pastrnak the nod to mix it up with Tkachuk shortly before the two went after one another. Montgomery denied he offered explicit permission, but he wasn't upset over Pastrnak getting physical in the Bruins' eventual 6-1 loss that tied the series as it moves to Boston...

NEW YORK --  New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson returned from injury to the start the second half of Wednesday's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers after exiting the contest late in the first quarter with a right foot injury. The Knicks, however, lost wing  OG Anunoby to injury in the second half. Brunson could be seen favoring his right foot in the opening minutes of the second half and was playing away from the ball more than he did to start the contest. During timeouts, he appeared to have a heating pad on the foot. But he was still a clear factor in the game, and he prompted the Madison Square Garden crowd to roar when he drew a charge on Myles Turner. Brunson then got MVP chants minutes later when he scored a basket while being fouled. With Brunson back in the game, the Knicks recaptured the lead and maneuvered a 15-point swing in the first 5½ minutes of the third quarter. Brunson missed the final 15½ minutes of the first half after...

Real Madrid forward Joselu said "even my best dreams" couldn't come close to his match-winning Champions League performance on Wednesday, after scoring twice in three minutes to beat Bayern Munich 2-1. Substitute Alphonso Davies had put Bayern ahead in the 68th minute of the semifinal second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, to lead 1-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. However, Joselu levelled in the 88th minute and scored again in the 91st minute -- converting Antonio Rüdiger's cross -- to put Madrid into the final at Wembley in London on June 1, where they'll face Borussia Dortmund. "I don't know about being a hero, but I'm very happy," Joselu told reporters after the match. "You can imagine! It was incredible, spectacular. This team never gives up. Fighting until the end is in its blood." Madrid have now qualified for six Champions League finals in 11 years, having won the competition in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022. They'll have the...

Denver Nuggets superstar  Nikola Jokic continued to add to his legacy as one of the best NBA players ever by winning his third Most Valuable Player trophy on Wednesday. Jokic earned the award for the third time in four seasons, succeeding last season's MVP, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Jokic topped  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the  Oklahoma City Thunder and  Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, who finished second and third, respectively, in the voting. "It's got to start with the teammates; without them, I cannot do nothing," Jokic said Wednesday on TNT after being named MVP. "Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches. It is all one big circle. But I cannot be whatever I am without them."  Jokic's third MVP victory wasn't close. He garnered 79 first-place votes and a total of 926 points. Gilgeous-Alexander received 15 first-place votes and 640 points. Doncic claimed four...

CHICAGO -- After attending the Met Gala and playing in a preseason game on back-to-back nights this week, Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese is excited to bring her celebrity and talent to the WNBA. Reese, the No. 7 pick in last month's WNBA draft out of LSU, rubbed shoulders with A-list stars in New York City on Monday, her 22nd birthday. She then traveled back to Chicago on a private plane and scored 13 points in 19 minutes in Tuesday's 101-53 preseason victory over the New York Liberty -- played before only the Sky's season-ticket holders and several prominent athletes, including new  Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. "I took my matchup seriously, I watched film when I was on the plane and I didn't take anything off," Reese said Wednesday during the team's media day. "I wanted to get back. People at the Met Gala were like, 'Are you partying after this?' I'm like, 'No, I've got a game tomorrow. I got to watch film.' I...

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel said the linesman apologised to him for a late offside call in Bayern's Champions League semifinal exit at the hands of  Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Matthijs de Ligt described the call as a "disgrace." De Ligt thought he had equalised in stoppage time when the ball fell to him in the Madrid box and he struck home, but referee Szymon Marciniak had already stopped play for offside. The match ended in a dramatic 2-1 victory to Madrid minutes later that saw them advance to the final 4-3 on aggregate. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Speaking to TNT Sport, Tuchel said: "It was a disastrous decision from the linesman and the referee. It feels almost like a betrayal in the end because of that decision. It was a huge fight, we left everything on the pitch. We were almost there. Now we have to say congratulations to Real Madrid. "The linesman said sorry ... The referee does not have to flag...

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel said the linesman apologised to him for a late offside call in Bayern's Champions League semifinal exit at the hands of  Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Matthijs de Ligt described the call as a "disgrace." De Ligt thought he had equalised in stoppage time when the ball fell to him in the Madrid box and he struck home, but referee Szymon Marciniak had already stopped play for offside. The match ended in a dramatic 2-1 victory to Madrid minutes later that saw them advance to the final 4-3 on aggregate. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Speaking to TNT Sport, Tuchel said: "It was a disastrous decision from the linesman and the referee. It feels almost like a betrayal in the end because of that decision. It was a huge fight, we left everything on the pitch. We were almost there. Now we have to say congratulations to Real Madrid. "The linesman said sorry ... The referee does not have to flag...

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, acknowledging that he and his team lost their composure in a Game 2 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, said he takes "full responsibility" for his actions. Murray on Tuesday was fined $100,000 for tossing a towel and a heat pack onto the court "in the direction of a game official during live play" in the second quarter of the 106-80 loss. He also avoided a suspension and punishment for making a money sign at an official earlier in the second quarter. Murray on Wednesday didn't have much to say about his actions that endangered players on both teams and Marc Davis' officiating crew or the fine issued by the league. "Nah, I mean it is what it is and I take everything in full responsibility, so on to the next," Murray said when asked whether he had expected the fine and if he felt his punishment was appropriate. "Yeah, on to the next. I mean, two days ago, not much for me to...

The translator allegedly used the money to pay off gambling debts.

Real Madrid showed they remain Europe's comeback kings as Joselu's late double rescued them from the brink of elimination to reach the Champions League final with a dramatic 2-1 second-leg win over Bayern Munich at the Bernabéuon Wednesday. A 4-3 aggregate victorysealed Real's progress to a remarkable sixth Champions League final in 10 years and they will bid for a record-extending 15th title against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) In a repeat of their spectacular semi-final comeback win over Manchester City two years ago, they saw their opponents take the lead after Bayern substitute Alphonso Davies fired home a stunning strike from a counter attack in the 68th minute. But Joselu climbed off the bench to equalise following a calamitous error from Manuel Neuer in the 88th minute and, two minutes later, he shinned a second into the Bayern goal from a...

Ippei Mizuhara agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to federal charges of felony bank fraud and submitting a false tax return after authorities found that he stole nearly $17 million from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani in order to pay off gambling debts to an illegal sportsbook. Mizuhara, 39, who had been Ohtani's longtime interpreter, is expected to enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A sentencing date has not been set. The total maximum sentence Mizuhara could receive for both crimes would be 33 years imprisonment and fines of $1.25 million, but in exchange for his plea -- outlined in the agreement released Wednesday -- prosecutors would recommend a reduced sentence. The plea agreement says Mizuhara will be required to pay full restitution, or $16,975,010, to Ohtani. Mizuhara's attorney declined to comment. A spokesperson for Ohtani...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up star prospect Paul Skenes, and the hard-throwing right-hander is expected to debut Saturday at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs. Considered the best pitching talent in a generation, 21-year-old Skenes will arrive in Pittsburgh after dominating Triple-A, allowing three earned runs in 27⅓ innings and striking out 45 batters. After one of the finest seasons ever for a college pitcher, Skenes went to the Pirates with the No. 1 pick in the July 2023 draft and signed for $9.2 million, the largest bonus for an amateur in baseball history. Pittsburgh limited his workload after a taxing junior season at LSU in which he struck out 209 hitters and walked just 20 in 122⅔ innings while going 13-2 with a 1.69 ERA. Although evaluators believed Skenes to be major-league-ready when Pittsburgh drafted him, the Pirates entered 2024 wanting to build him up slowly and avoid a potential midseason pullback on his innings. By limiting...

Ippei Mizuhara agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to federal charges of felony bank fraud and submitting a false tax return after authorities found that he stole nearly $17 million from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani in order to pay off gambling debts to an illegal sportsbook. Mizuhara, 39, who had been Ohtani's longtime interpreter, is expected to enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. A sentencing date has not been set. The total maximum sentence Mizuhara could receive for both crimes would be 33 years imprisonment and fines of $1.25 million, but in exchange for his plea -- outlined in the agreement released Wednesday -- prosecutors would recommend a reduced sentence. A spokesperson for Ohtani declined to comment, as did the Dodgers. Federal authorities filed the complaint against Mizuhara on April 11, just three weeks after an ESPN...

Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday. Voted on by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association, it is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL. Matthews won the trophy in 2021-22 and Kucherov claimed it in 2018-19, while MacKinnon is looking for his first Ted Lindsay Award. Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals and scored a career-high 107 points in 81 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old forward became just the 10th player in NHL history to record six or more hat tricks in a season. MacKinnon was second in the league with 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) in 82 games for the Colorado Avalanche. The 28-year-old forward opened the season with a 35-game points streak at home and led the NHL in shots (405). Kucherov set a Tampa Bay franchise record and topped the NHL with 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists) in 81 games for the ...

CLIFTON, N.J. -- History could be beckoning this weekend for Nelly Korda, but the world's current No.1 women's golfer said Wednesday that her busy off-course life has kept those thoughts from entering her mind. "If I'm being honest," Korda said, "I have not thought about it at all." With a win at the Cognizant Founders Cup, Korda would claim her sixth straight tournament victory, setting an LPGA benchmark for consecutive wins. Korda, however, has had plenty to keep her busy to help keep her mind off the record. After catching up on rest after winning the Chevron, Korda hosted her first junior amateur event -- an all-girls tournament last week in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida. On Monday, she was in New York City, walking the carpet at the Met Gala. "I haven't had too much time to think about it," Korda said of the record amid her busy schedule. She said her mind has otherwise been focused on ramping up her training and the course at Upper Montclair Country Club,...

Former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial for his unsolicited kiss of national team player Jenni Hermoso after a High Court judge admitted the case, the court said Wednesday. Rubiales faces one count of sexual assault and one of coercion for his alleged actions in the aftermath of the kiss. The offences carry prison terms of one year and 18 months, respectively. The High Court said it would also try the former coach of the women's national team Jorge Vilda, the team's current sporting director Albert Luque and the federation's head of marketing Ruben Rivera. All three stand accused of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual. Rubiales, 46, grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips Aug. 20 during the awards ceremony after Spain's victory in the women's World Cup in Sydney, making global headlines and causing a national debate in Spain about sexism. Hermoso and her teammates said the kiss was unwanted and...

The Milwaukee Brewers reinstated outfielder Christian Yelich from the 10-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's game in Kansas City. Infielder Tyler Black was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make room for Yelich, who was in the lineup batting third as the designated hitter against the Royals. Yelich, 32, landed on the IL on April 16 with a lower back strain. The 2018 National League MVP has been out of the lineup since April 12 and has periodically dealt with back issues over the past few seasons. He started fast this season, batting .333 with a .422 on-base percentage and .744 slugging percentage in 11 games. He has hit five home runs with 11 RBIs in 39 at-bats. Yelich played for the Miami Marlins from 2013 to 2017 before joining Milwaukee and was an All-Star his first two seasons with the Brewers. He is a career .286 hitter with 198 home runs and 717 RBIs in 1,404 games over 12 years. Black, 23, batted .227 with two doubles and two...

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley is willing to do whatever it takes to land a fight with Conor McGregor in what could be one of the biggest fights in UFC history. O'Malley appeared on Bradley Martyn's "Raw Talk" podcast and revealed that he would move up from 135 pounds to 155 pounds to secure a fight with McGregor. "He's big nowadays," O'Malley said of McGregor's current weight. A former two-division champion, McGregor will return to the Octagon at UFC 303 after a three-year hiatus to face Michael Chandler. The fight will be contested at a catchweight of 165 pounds. "I'm pretty realistic when it comes to big guys," O'Malley said. "I'm like, 'OK, I'm a 135er. I stay in my lane, and I do my thing.' I could go up to 145; I'd fight [ Alexander Volkanovski], I'd fight Max [Holloway], I'd fight Ilia [Topuria], but I stay in my lane." But the idea of a fight with McGregor is tantalizing enough for O'Malley to swerve out of his...

LIV Golf on Wednesday announced a trading window to allow teams to swap players. In a first for LIV, the 13 teams can negotiate with each other through June 9 in an effort to improve their teams but without altering the contracts of the traded players. "By opening a trade window midway through the season, all 13 teams have an opportunity to fine-tune their rosters and assess their team's composition and performance," commissioner and CEO Greg Norman said in a release. Currently, Crushers GC, captained by Bryson DeChambeau, is No. 1 in the team standings, with Jon Rahm's Legion XIII 11.5 points behind in second. Ripper GC, led by Cameron Smith, is in third. Iron Heads GC, captained by Kevin Na, is in last place. Teams can also negotiate contract extensions for their own players who are in the last year of their contract.

Luis Enrique will remain as PSG manager next season, sources have told ESPN, despite the club's Champions League semifinal exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. PSG have sacked managers in the past after falling short in the Champions League, but sources have told ESPN the club is happy with Luis Enrique's work and believe he can take the club further. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The Spanish coach, who turned 54 years old on Wednesday, signed a two-year deal when he joined PSG last summer and could begin talks over an extension soon. Luis Enrique has been a favourite among fans this season, including the club's hard-core supporters who chant his name at every game. The task of guiding PSG to their first Champions League title will become much tougher next season should Kylian Mbappé go through with his decision to leave the club at the end of his contract this summer and join Real...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --  Rory McIlroy will not return to the PGA Tour's policy board as expected because of other player directors' concerns about bringing him back, McIlroy said Wednesday. McIlroy, who resigned from the policy board on Nov. 14, was expected to replace Webb Simpson on the PGA Tour policy board and the board of directors of PGA Tour Enterprises. "There's been a lot of conversations," McIlroy said ahead of this week's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club. "Sort of reminded me partly why I didn't [stay on the board]. So yeah, I think it got pretty complicated and pretty messy. "I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before. I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason." Simpson, 38, will finish out his term, which expires in 2025. Simpson said he had planned to step down from both boards to...

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert owns a piece of an NBA record after winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday for the fourth time. Gobert, 31, also won the honor in 2018, 2019 and 2021 with the Utah Jazz and joins Hall of Fame centers Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only four-time winners. "It's a blessing and an honor to join this small group," Gobert told ESPN. "These two guys are legends. Every story is unique. I will keep writing mine and try to be the best version of myself every day and enjoy every step of the way. "I'm grateful that my teammates and this organization believe in me and allowing me to be who I am. It's always about the team and pushing each other to give our best every day." The 7-foot-1 Gobert anchored the Timberwolves' top-ranked defense this season. Minnesota allowed 108.4 points per 100 possessions, 2.2 fewer than the second-ranked Boston Celtics. "It's great teamwork,"...

OKLAHOMA CITY --  Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic didn't care to discuss the extenuating circumstances involved in his struggles during Tuesday's 117-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Doncic, dealing with a sprained right knee and the smothering defense of Oklahoma City's Lu Dort, was held to 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting, snapping his streak of 24 consecutive playoff games with at least 20 points. "Who cares? We lost," Doncic said when asked about the factors involved in his off night. "Just gotta move onto the next one. I've gotta be better. We've gotta be better. We gotta focus. They're a great team, a great defensive team, so it's not going to be easy at all." Doncic, the NBA's scoring leader who sprained his knee early in Game 3 of the Mavericks' first-round series against the LA Clippers, is mired in a shooting slump. He dipped below 40% from the floor for the...

Not one. Not two. Not three. But six. That's how many consecutive Game 1s the Dallas Stars have lost after falling to the visiting  Colorado Avalanche  4-3 in overtime Tuesday night in the Western Conference semifinals. The Stars jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period after goals from Ryan Suter, Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn only to then go scoreless the rest of the way and allow four straight goals by the Avalanche, including the winner from Miles Wood nearly nine minutes into overtime. "We had that game under control, and we let it slip away. But we've seen that in the regular season against them," Stars forward Matt Duchene told reporters. "We had two games like that, so we have bounce back here and split the homestand here." The Avalanche jump-started their comeback by capitalizing on their power-play chances. Valeri Nichushkin trimmed the lead to 3-1 a little more than five minutes into the second...

OKLAHOMA CITY --  Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic didn't care to discuss the extenuating circumstances involved in his struggles during Tuesday's 117-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Doncic, dealing with a sprained right knee and the smothering defense of Oklahoma City's Lu Dort, was held to 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting, snapping his streak of 24 consecutive playoff games with at least 20 points. "Who cares? We lost," Doncic said when asked about the factors involved in his off night. "Just gotta move onto the next one. I've gotta be better. We've gotta be better. We gotta focus. They're a great team, a great defensive team, so it's not going to be easy at all." Doncic, the NBA's scoring leader who sprained his knee early in Game 3 of the Mavericks' first-round series against the LA Clippers, is mired in a shooting slump. He dipped below 40% from the floor for the...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists to help the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 117-95 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Chet Holmgren added 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks for the Thunder. Jalen Williams struggled with his shot for three quarters but scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth to help Oklahoma City remain unbeaten in the playoffs. Gilgeous-Alexander got the best of the matchup with Dallas' Luka Doncic, a fellow MVP finalist. Doncic scored 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting and had five turnovers.  Luguentz Dort got most of the work guarding him, with rookie Cason Wallace getting some of the action and Holmgren pestering him near the rim.   Kyrie Irving scored 20 points and Daniel Gafford added 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks for the fifth-seeded Mavericks. Game 2 will be Thursday...

BOSTON -- After Derrick White became the fifth player in NBA postseason history to make at least 20 3-pointers over three consecutive games, he was asked if he feels like he's in a rhythm. "I'd say so," White said with a smile after scoring 25 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 120-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday night. "It feels good ... I just want to help us win." White certainly did that in Game 1. He continued his shooting barrage to begin these playoffs by going 7-for-12 from deep -- including 4-for-6 in the third quarter, when he scored 14 points -- to improve to 20-for-37 (54%) over Boston's past three playoff games. He's the fifth player to make 20 or more 3-pointers over a three-game span in the postseason, joining Stephen Curry (three times), Klay Thompson (2016), Jamal Murray (2020) and Damian Lillard (2021 and 2024...

The WNBA plans to commit $50 million over the next two years to provide full-time charter flight service for its teams during the season, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Tuesday in a move that addresses years of player safety concerns. Engelbert said in a meeting with sports editors that the league will launch a charter program "as soon as we can get planes in places." She said it's projected to cost around $25 million per year for the next two seasons. That means no more long security lines, bodyguards in public spaces, cramped legroom or layovers for the professional athletes who have been lobbying for better travel long before  Caitlin Clark's celebrity brought newfound interest to the league. Women's National Basketball Players Association president  Nneka Ogwumike called the move "transformational" and credited the collaboration between the WNBPA and the league. "Our league is growing, the demand for women's basketball is growing," Ogwumike said....

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Macklin Celebrini watched NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly slowly flip the placard to reveal that the San Jose Sharks had secured the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft lottery Tuesday night. "My heart was beating. You can't really prepare for it. It's so unique, so special," said Celebrini, the Boston University star who is expected to be the first overall pick in the NHL draft, set for The Sphere in Las Vegas in June. "It was excitement and, really, a little anxious." The Sharks finished last in the overall standings (19-54-9) and retained their position in the lottery. San Jose had an 18.5% chance to win the lottery and a 25.5% chance to pick first. The lottery proved anticlimactic with no changes to the draft order this season. The Chicago Blackhawks, who selected center Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick last year, retained the No. 2 selection, followed by the Anaheim Ducks at No. 3. Sharks general manager Mike Grier...

Jermall Charlo was arrested Monday evening in Texas and charged with three misdemeanors related to driving while intoxicated, fleeing the scene of an accident and eluding police, Pearland Police Department public information officer Chad Rogers told ESPN on Tuesday. Charlo was released on a $9,500 surety bond, according to court records, and his blood alcohol content was over 0.15. The legal limit is .08. The 33-year-old Charlo, the WBC middleweight titleholder, was driving his red Lamborghini around 6:41 p.m. Monday when he was involved in a collision with another vehicle, according to police. A verbal argument ensued following the crash and Charlo left the scene rather than wait for police to arrive. The officer eventually identified his whereabouts and pulled up behind Charlo in a marked car with his lights activated. Charlo, the sole occupant of the vehicle, drove for approximately one mile while an officer trailed him. Eventually, another officer parked in front of Charlo as...

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was fined $100,000 but avoided a suspension after tossing a towel and then a heating pad in the direction of an official during Denver's 106-80 Game 2 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The NBA announced the fine on Tuesday in a release from Joe Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations. Murray tossed the objects on the floor during live play with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter and the Timberwolves up 49-30. Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope picked up the pad, tossed it to the sidelines and play continued without any whistle from the referees.   Minnesota coach Chris Finch called Murray's act "dangerous" and "inexcusable" after the game and said the Wolves attempted to reason with the officiating crew to adjudicate the incident. Crew chief Marc Davis said he didn't notice the toss at the time, but if he had it could've been reviewed under the hostile act trigger....

NEW YORK --  Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner was correctly called for an illegal screen in the closing seconds of the New York Knicks' controversial 121-117 victory in Game 1, according to the NBA's Last Two Minute Report released Tuesday evening. With about 15 seconds left and Indiana down 118-117, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton dribbled up the floor as Turner set a high screen on New York's Donte DiVincenzo, sending him to the ground. Turner got called for an offensive foul instantly, which prompted the Pacers to challenge the call. The Pacers were unsuccessful with the challenge, and the league's report stood by that ruling Tuesday. Still, there were a total of four missed calls in the final two minutes, according to the league's report: Turner should have been whistled for a separate illegal screen on DiVincenzo in the backcourt with about 10 seconds remaining; there was an errant kicked ball violation called on Aaron Nesmith...

Paris Saint-Germain had no shortage of chances and possession in their Champions League semifinal loss to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in Paris, but they didn't have the one thing that mattered: goals. With nearly 70% of the possession time and 30 shots in the 1-0 second leg loss, the Ligue 1 champs hit the woodwork four times and came away empty-handed in a 2-0 aggregate result that sent Dortmund to the final. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Their coach Luis Enrique had one word to describe it: "Unbelievable." "Yes, of course. Difficult match and I think a tight match, but to be honest, I think we deserve to win that match," the PSG coach said afterward. "We hit the post six times [in two legs] and we didn't score a goal. It's unbelievable. Football is so unfair sometimes." Mats Hummels headed Borussia Dortmund into the Champions League final with a goal early in the second half moments after Warren...

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is a suspect in an alleged assault that injured a man at a Dallas nightclub earlier this week, police there confirmed to The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.  The newspaper, citing law enforcement officials, reported that officers were dispatched early Monday morning to the nightclub after reports of an assault. A man was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including swelling on one side of his face, the officials told the Morning News.  Police said no charges related to the alleged assault had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Morning News.  The Chiefs said they had no comment. Rice's attorney declined comment to the Morning News.  It's the latest offseason trouble for Rice, who emerged as a big-time receiver for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs as a rookie out of SMU this past season.  Rice, 24, was arrested in April for his involvement in a seven-car crash in Dallas in March that...

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert owns a piece of an NBA record after winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday for the fourth time. Gobert, 31, also won the honor in 2018, 2019 and 2021 with the Utah Jazz and joins Hall of Fame centers Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only four-time winners. "It's a blessing and an honor to join this small group," Gobert told ESPN. "These two guys are legends. Every story is unique. I will keep writing mine and try to be the best version of myself every day and enjoy every step of the way. "I'm grateful that my teammates and this organization believe in me and allowing me to be who I am. It's always about the team and pushing each other to give our best every day." The 7-foot-1 Gobert anchored the Timberwolves' top-ranked defense this season. Minnesota allowed 108.4 points per 100 possessions, 2.2 fewer than the second-ranked Boston Celtics. "It's great teamwork,"...

Borussia Dortmund showed great composure to reach their third Champions League final after Mats Hummels' second-half goal earned the visitors a 1-0 victory against misfiring Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday for a deserved 2-0 win on aggregate across both legs. Hummels headed home from a corner five minutes into the second half to send the German club, who won the title in 1997, into their first final in Europe's top club competition since 2013. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) They will meet either 14-time champions Real Madrid or six-time winners  Bayern Munich, who meet at the Bernabéu on Wednesday after a 2-2 draw in the first leg, in the final at Wembley on June 1. PSG hit the woodwork four times but failed to find the back of the net as Kylian Mbappé, who is widely expected to leave the club at the end of the season, was unable to have a major impact on the match. "We lacked...

By Julien Pretot PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund reached their third Champions League final after Mats Hummels' second-half goal earned a 1-0 victory at Paris St Germain for a 2-0 aggregate win on Tuesday. Hummels headed home from a corner five minutes into the second half to send the Germans, who won the title in 1997, into their first final in Europe's top club competition since 2013. They will meet either 14-times champions Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who clash at the Bernabeu on Wednesday after a 2-2 draw in the first leg, in the June 1 showdown at Wembley. PSG hit the woodwork four times but failed to find the net as Kylian Mbappe, who is widely expected to leave the club at the end of the season, was a shadow of his usual brilliant self. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)

NEW YORK -- Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton is promising a bounce-back performance in Wednesday's Game 2 after an uncharacteristic low-impact performance to start the second-round series against the New York Knicks. Haliburton took just six shots, only one from inside the 3-point line, and scored six points as the Knicks rallied from nine points down in the fourth quarter to win 121-117 in Monday's Game 1. It was his second-fewest attempts in a game this season after a game in January when he left in the first half because of an injury. The Knicks' game plan included trying to deny him the ball at times, but there were several moments when Haliburton appeared timid when shot opportunities presented themselves. He did have eight assists, three fewer than his NBA-leading average of 11 per game during the regular season, and four steals. "I erred on the side of playmaking ... and that wasn't the right decision for me," Haliburton said Tuesday...

NEW YORK -- Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton is promising a bounce-back performance in Wednesday's Game 2 after an uncharacteristic low-impact performance to start the series against the New York Knicks. Haliburton took just six shots, only one from inside the 3-point line, and scored just six points as the Knicks rallied from nine points down in the fourth quarter to take Monday's Game 1, 121-117. It was his second-fewest attempts in a game this season, only taking less in a game in January when he left in the first half due to an injury. The Knicks' game plan included trying to deny him the ball at times, but there were several moments when Haliburton appeared timid when shot opportunities presented themselves. He did have eight assists, three less than his NBA-leading average of 11 per game during the regular season, and four steals. "I erred on the side of playmaking...and that wasn't the right decision for me," Haliburton said Tuesday...

Star boxer Ryan Garcia requested Monday that his B-sample be analyzed, according to a letter obtained by ESPN, connected to adverse findings in his A-sample for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney last month. His attorney, Darin Chavez, told ESPN Tuesday that the B-sample will be opened and analyzed on May 22. Chavez will witness the examination. Garcia, 25, had until Saturday to make the request. Garcia's A-sample also screened positive for 19-Norandrosterone, according to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter that was sent last Wednesday, but its presence is unconfirmed pending further lab analysis. Chavez said a report that was received Tuesday showed 19-Norandrosterone wasn't present in Garcia's system. Chavez claimed this is proof "we are dealing only with a known supplement contaminant in the billionth of a gram range that provided Ryan Garcia with no performance-enhancing benefit whatsoever on...

Major League Baseball has sent a warning to clubs about encouraging players subject to the MLB draft to withdraw from high school baseball to become eligible to sign as international players. An MLB spokesman declined comment. The key section of the memo sent to teams Monday and obtained by ESPN reads: "It has come to our attention that Clubs have been encouraging amateur players in the United States to withdraw from, or otherwise refrain from playing, high school baseball in the United States and/or Canada, in order to try to establish residency in a foreign country, in an effort to make themselves eligible to sign under the International Amateur Talent System instead of the Rule 4 Draft." In the MLB draft, picks largely cannot be traded, so teams' access to elite players is largely determined by their draft order. In the international system, teams have similar-sized bonus pools, and any player is able to be negotiated with. All but the best handful of players are acquirable by...

CINCINNATI -- If one didn't know any better, Tuesday looked like a normal offseason workout for the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow. He weaved through tackling dummies, rolled to the side and threw off one leg, and he launched a couple of balls to receivers in the end zone. But it was more significant than it might seem, as it marked Burrow's first outdoor team practice since he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November. In his first news conference this offseason, Burrow detailed the recovery process from surgery and the challenges presented. "This was a difficult injury," Burrow said. "It's been a tough several months, but physically it's not the worst injury that I've had. I've been through much tougher things physically and so that's been a positive. I've been able to really lift and continue my offseason program kind of the way that it always has been." As a rookie in 2020, Burrow tore multiple ligaments in his left knee, including the...

Burnley co-owner and NFL legend J.J. Watt's Burnley squad will face former NFL punter and ESPN personality Pat McAfee's Concafa SC team in the first round of The Soccer Tournament, the 7-on-7, $1 million, winner-take-all event June 5-10. The tournament will take place in Cary, North Carolina, and be broadcast by ESPN+. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The competition brackets were announced Tuesday. TST's men's bracket splits up its 48 teams into 12 groups of four while in the women's brackets the eight teams are split into two groups of four. The women's tournament will compete for an equal $1 million, winner-take-all prize. US Women, a team led by former  United States teammates  Ali Krieger and Heather O'Reilly, will face off against the Wrexham Red Dragons at 8 p.m. on June 8. Wrexham will bring a squad that includes seven of their first-team players, most notably Rosie Hughes, who was featured on "Welcome to...

Former Seton Hall guard Kadary Richmond, the No. 1 player in the transfer portal, has committed to St. John's and coach Rick Pitino, he told ESPN on Tuesday. "They were big on life after basketball and player development," Richmond said. "That stood out to me, the way they kept it real from day one. They are going to allow me to showcase my ability and become a better basketball player and person. I'd like to make a long run deep into the NCAA tournament and eventually win a national championship. I'm ready to get to work and see what Coach Pitino has in store." Richmond visited Oklahoma over the weekend and said he also considered Syracuse, Miami and USC, but a chance for the Brooklyn native to stay close to home and play for Pitino was too much to pass up. "Seeing what [ Knicks star] Jalen Brunson is doing for New York City right now, winning in New York is a big thing," Richmond said. "I want to be a part...

Free agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd is signing with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday. The move reunites Boyd with new Titans coach Brian Callahan, who was Boyd's offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019. In Tennessee, Boyd will join a depth chart that already includes free agent addition Calvin Ridley, who signed a four-year, $92 million dollar deal in March, and five-time Pro Bowl selection DeAndre Hopkins. It also includes 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks, whose future with the Titans has been a topic of speculation this offseason. Burks has not made a significant impact since being taken No. 18 overall two years ago. He has only accounted for 49 receptions for 665 yards and a touchdown in 22 games. The coaching staff have said they plan to have Burks line up in multiple spots across the formation, just the same as they likely...

The St. Louis Blues took the interim tag off of Drew Bannister's title, naming him their new head coach. Bannister, 50, signed a two-year contract, according to Blues president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong. He becomes the 27th head coach in franchise history. He was named interim head coach on Dec. 12, 2023, after the team fired Craig Berube. In 54 regular-season games, the Blues had a 30-19-5 record (65 points) under Bannister, who also helped them improve from 23rd to 12th in team goals-against average. Overall, the Blues improved by 11 points in the standings year over year, although the team missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Armstrong said after the season that Bannister was a candidate to become head coach. "When we made the coaching change. I was creating a list [of potential coaches]. The list was deep and extensive. As I watched him perform and I watched our team perform, I started to cross names off that list, and...

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov are the finalists for the 2023-24 Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the player "adjudged to be the most valuable to his team" in the regular season. The winner is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. McDavid and Kucherov are both previous league MVPs. MacKinnon is seeking his first Hart Trophy after being a finalist three times. MacKinnon, 28, had 51 goals, 89 assists and 140 points, good for second in the league behind Kucherov. MacKinnon led the Avalanche in each of those categories and established new career highs. He finished 36 points higher than the next leading scorer on the team, winger Mikko Rantanen (104). His 405 shots on goal also led the NHL. MacKinnon's season featured two historic scoring streaks: He tallied points in 35 straight home games Oct. 19-March 26, the...