Tuesday, 30 April 2024
FOREST SHOULD HAVE HAD ONE PENALTY AT EVERTON - PANEL
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| Anthony Taylor waved away three Nottingham Forest penalty appeals at Everton |
Nottingham Forest should have been awarded one penalty from their three unsuccessful appeals against Everton, an independent panel has said.
Claims for penalties after Ashley Young's challenge on Gio Reyna, his handball and then an attempted tackle on Callum Hudson-Odoi were all turned down by Anthony Taylor on the pitch, with video assistant referee Stuart Attwell not intervening.
Forest lost the Premier League game 2-0 at Goodison Park on 21 April.
Minutes after full-time the club posted on social media, alleging Attwell was a fan of relegation rivals Luton - a statement which has been seen more than 45 million times.
Forest's post said: "Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept.
"We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan... NFFC will now consider its options."
What did the panel say?
The Key Match Incident Panel is independent and made up of three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative and one from the Professional Game Match Officials Board, the referees' body.
It reviews the big refereeing decisions from each Premier League round of fixtures and unanimously agreed Forest should have been given a penalty when Young brought down Hudson-Odoi in the 55th minute.
"Young inherits the risk by going to ground from the wrong side and Hudson-Odoi beats him to the ball. It is a foul," the panel wrote in their decisions, seen by BBC Sport.
"It was felt unanimously that a penalty should have been awarded and VAR should have intervened on the basis that Young doesn't make any contact on the ball and that there is evidence that his contact with Hudson-Odoi has the consequence of tripping the attacker."
They also voted 5-0 that VAR should have intervened.
The panel was split 3-2 over the on-pitch decision over whether Forest should have been awarded a spot-kick when the ball hit Young's arm in the 44th minute, but all agreed VAR was correct not to intervene.
They argued it was a subjective call but "the majority considered this a dynamic situation where the arm was in a justifiable position, and with no clear action to deliberately handle the ball. In addition the close proximity from which the ball was played by the attacker was taken into account."
They also agreed, in a 5-0 decision, that Young's 24th-minute challenge on Reyna did not warrant a penalty and that VAR was correct not to step in.
The panel wrote: "The ball isn't played, there is contact by the defender on the attacker but any contact is minimal and is exaggerated by the attacker, and falls below the high threshold for a penalty."
What is the background?
Forest are expected to face charges from the Premier League and Football Association following their social media post.
Last week the FA formally asked for observations from Forest, boss Nuno Espirito Santo, defender Neco Williams and Mark Clattenburg, the club's referee analysist, following their comments.
The Premier League is also investigating, saying it was "never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials".
Forest have been allowed to listen to the audio recording of the officials' discussions after the incidents.
It follows Liverpool’s similar request when Luis Diaz’s goal was incorrectly disallowed in their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in September.
Forest are one point above the Premier League's bottom three after Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Manchester City and travel to relegated Sheffield United on Saturday.
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FOOTBALL: PSG WIN 12TH LIGUE TITLE AFTER MONACO DEFEAT
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| Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappé (L) fights for the ball with Le Havre's Ivorian French defender Christopher Opéri during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Le Havre AC at the Parc des Princes Stadium, in Paris on April 27, 2024. FRANCK FIFE / AFP |
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has won the French league in Kylian Mbappé's last season at the club after Monaco lost 3-2 at Lyon on Sunday, April 28. PSG has an unassailable 12-point lead over second-place Monaco, which has three games left. The Ligue 1 triumph is PSG's third in a row and a record-extending 12th overall. Mbappé has been involved in six of them, but comes off contract at the end of the season. He's expected to be signed by Real Madrid.
PSG is on course for a potential historic treble as it will play at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday and face Lyon in the French Cup final on May 25. In coach Luis Enrique's first season at the club, PSG produced one of the most dominant seasons in league history with just one loss in 31 games so far.
PSG could have clinched the title on Saturday with a win at home to struggling Le Havre, but in the end they needed a 95th-minute equalizer to snatch a 3-3 draw. However, after that game, coach Luis Enrique insisted his side had won the league "without any doubt," as they were 12 points clear with only 12 points left to play for and also boasted a far superior goal difference to that of Monaco.
The principality club's loss in Lyon nevertheless makes PSG's coronation official and sets them up for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg away to Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Monaco had taken the lead inside the opening minute in Lyon thanks to a Wissam Ben Yedder goal, but Alexandre Lacazette equalized for the hosts and Said Benrahma put them ahead before the half-hour mark. Ben Yedder struck again to bring it back to 2-2, only for substitute Malick Fofana to net a late winner for Lyon, who are still hoping to qualify for Europe.
PSG have won 10 of their 12 titles in the last 12 seasons, a record that goes to show how the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011 has utterly transformed them and the face of French football as a whole. They are on course for a clean sweep of trophies this season, with the French Cup final against Lyon to come on May 25 and the French Champions Trophy already in the bag. Luis Enrique's side are also hoping to see off Dortmund and win through to the final of the Champions League on June 1.
Brest wins nine-goal thriller
Elsewhere, Brest took another big step toward qualifying for the Champions League for the first time by scoring deep in injury time to beat Rennes 5-4 in an incredible game. Former Rennes defender Lilian Brassier popped up with the decisive goal six minutes into stoppage time to decide the Brittany derby in Brest's favor. They had been 2-0 down inside nine minutes after Arnaud Kalimuendo netted twice for the home side at Roazhon Park, but quickly pulled one back through Steve Mounie and then equalized just after the break via a goal by Warmed Omari.
Uruguayan striker Martin Satriano put Brest in front, and Mahdi Camara made it 4-2, seemingly wrapping up the points. However, Arthur Theate and Martin Terrier both scored to bring Rennes back level again, apparently securing them a precious point in the fight for European qualification before Brassier struck. It is a huge three points for Brest after they lost their previous two matches, and the win ensures they end the weekend in third place, two points behind Monaco and a point clear of Lille, which won 2-1 at Metz.
The top three teams in Ligue 1 qualify automatically for next season's expanded Champions League, with the team in fourth entering the competition in the preliminary rounds. Ismaily and Yusuf Yazici scored Lille's goals as they came from behind to take all three points after Georgian international Georges Mikautadze put Metz ahead from the penalty spot.
Nice strengthened their grip on fifth spot by winning 3-1 at Patrick Vieira's Strasbourg. The Côte d'Azur club remains four points behind Lille, meaning Champions League qualification looks to be beyond them. Lorient remains in the automatic relegation spots and three points from safety after a 2-1 home loss to Toulouse. Clermont is still bottom but is now only four points from safety with three games left after beating Reims 4-1 with Austrian international Muhammed Cham netting two penalties and Elbasan Rashani also scoring twice.
FRENCH CHARITY BOYCOTTS OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY OVER COCA-COLA PARTNERSHIP
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| A volunteer of the "Clean my Calanques" association walks with a trash bag on a beach in Cassis, southeastern France, on September 12, 2020, ahead of the World Clean Up Day. CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP |
An NGO in Marseille called Clean My Calanques, which specializes in beach cleaning, received funding from the 2024 Paris Olympics organizing committee for its work educating school children. But it announced on Monday, April 29, that it would not take part in the torch relay which will begin in Marseille on May 8, thanks in part to financing from premium Olympics sponsor Coca-Cola.
"We are not going to carry a flame which is paid for by the same people who make us bend over," the founder of Clean My Calanques, Eric Akopian, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Set up in 2017, the organization's volunteers clean beaches around Marseille and in the nearby national Calanques park, whose narrow coves and azure waters make it a popular spot for tourists and locals.
Akopian said Coca-Cola was one of the "most polluting [companies] in the world", with its bottles and cans some of the products found most frequently during the charity's beach-combing operations.
In a video message posted on Instagram, he said the organization had decided it was "not at ease" with the commercial aspects of the Olympics, although he stressed they had "nothing against sports, or the athletes." Akopian noted the mass production of so-called "goodies" linked to the Games such as stickers, key rings, pens or mascots. "They can seem cute, but we know that we're going to find them on the coastline," he told AFP.
French authorities say up to 150,000 people are set to gather in Marseille for the start of the torch relay, which will see the Olympic flame carried through mainland France and the country's overseas territories in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.
Paris 2024 organizers have worked with Coca-Cola to reduce plastic waste from its drinks packaging. The group has agreed to install 700 newly designed drink fountains at Olympic venues, meaning that around 50% of soft drinks will be served without a plastic bottle, according to the organizing committee.
- LeMonde with AFP
BUKAYO SAKA'S MILESTONE SINCE IAN WRIGHT IN 96/97
Bukayo Saka is the first Englishman to score 15+ goals in a Premier League season for Arsenal since Ian Wright in 1996/97 🏴🔴
BRAZIL SOCCER PLAYER GABRIEL BARBOSA CLEARED BY CAS TO PLAY DURING APPEAL IN DROPPING RULES CASE
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| AP Photo |
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Brazilian soccer player Gabriel Barbosa can resume playing pending an appeal against his ban for a breach of doping rules, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Tuesday.
The Flamengo and Brazil forward, known as Gabigol, is challenging a two-year ban imposed in March by an anti-doping tribunal in Brazil.
He was judged to have evaded a doping control in April 2023 and banned until April next year. He denied a charge of doping fraud.
The CAS said its panel of judges “has issued an order granting the request to stay the execution of the challenged decision filed by Gabriel Barbosa.”
The court gave no timetable for an appeal hearing and verdict in the case.
“I stress that I never tried to obstruct or fraud any test. I trust that I will be found not guilty in my appeal,” Barbosa said in March.
Barbosa played in the Brazil team that won the 2016 Olympics gold medal as the home team in Rio de Janeiro, then aged 19 joined Inter Milan. He returned to Brazil in 2019 with Flamengo and has helped the Rio club win two Copa Libertadores titles.
EU LEGAL ADVISER SAYS SOME FIFA PLAYER TRANSFER RULES MAY BREACH EU LAW
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| AP Photo |
BRUSSELS (AP) — FIFA rules on transfers can conflict with European Union legislation relating to competition and freedom of movement because they limit possibilities for players to change clubs, and for clubs to hire, a senior EU legal adviser said on Tuesday.
Advocate General Maciej Szpunar gave his opinion after French soccer player Lassana Diarra legally challenged FIFA rules.
The Diarra case went through FIFA judicial bodies before the 2016 election of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has made it a priority to modernize transfer market rules.
Former France international Diarra signed a four-year contract with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2013. The deal was terminated a year later after Diarra was unhappy with alleged pay cuts.
Lokomotiv Moscow applied to the FIFA dispute resolution chamber for compensation and the player submitted a counterclaim seeking compensation for unpaid wages. The Court of Arbitration for Sport found the Russian club terminated the contract with Diarra “with just cause” and the player was condemned to pay 10.5 million euros ($11.2 million).
Diarra claimed his search for a new club was hampered by FIFA rules stipulating that any new side would be jointly responsible with him for paying compensation to Lokomotiv.
The former Real Madrid player also argued that a potential deal with Belgian club Charleroi fell through because of the FIFA rules, and sued FIFA and the Belgian federation at a Belgian court for damages and loss of earnings of six million euros ($7 million).
Szpunar proposed the European Court of Justice should reply to the questions referred by the Belgian tribunal “by finding that the FIFA rules governing contractual relations between players and clubs may prove to be contrary to the European rules on competition and freedom of movement of persons."
“He finds that there can be no doubt as to the restrictive nature of (FIFA transfer regulations) with regard to freedom of movement," the court said in a statement, noting the restrictive rules can be justified only in specific circumstances.
“These provisions are such as to discourage and dissuade clubs from hiring the player for fear of financial risk. The sporting sanctions faced by clubs hiring the player can effectively prevent a player from exercising his or her profession with a club located in another member state.”
Advocates General routinely provide legal guidance to the ECJ. Their opinions aren’t binding on the Luxembourg-based court, but are followed in most cases.
Concerning competition rules, Szpunar found that FIFA rules on transfers, “by limiting clubs’ ability to recruit players, necessarily affect competition between clubs on the market for the acquisition of professional players.”
Szpunar's opinion follows a court ruling last year finding that UEFA and FIFA acted unlawfully to block the rebel Super League.
AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed.
- SAMUEL PETREQUIN
TYSON V PAUL SANCTIONED AS PROFESSIONAL FIGHT
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| Reuters |
Boxing great Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul's July 20 bout in Arlington will be a sanctioned, professional fight that will count on both men's records, the fight promoter said on Monday.
The heavyweight match-up, which will be streamed live on Netflix, will be contested over eight, two-minute rounds with 14 ounce gloves at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium, which is home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
'Iron Mike' Tyson, one of the most feared boxers in history, will be 58 when he enters the ring for the first time since his November 2020 exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr., which ended in a draw.
It was thought the bout between Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) and 27-year-old Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) would also be an exhibition due to Tyson's age but the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) sanctioned it anyway.
An exhibition typically has no judges and can only be won by knockout, meaning there is a higher possibility of a draw.
The 31-year age gap between the fighters is the biggest in the history of professional boxing, according to ESPN.
"Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome," said Nakisa Bidarian, who along with Paul founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
"Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the TDLR to sanction Paul versus Tyson and we are grateful that we have got to this point."
The undercard will see lightweight champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) battle seven-division champion Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) in a rematch of their April 2022 fight when Ireland's Taylor beat the Puerto Rican on a split decision.
NBC PLANS ABOUT $2.5 BLN OFFER FOR NBA BROADCAST RIGHTS, WSJ REPORTS
Comcast's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal is planning to pay an average of about $2.5 billion a year to broadcast a package of National Basketball Association (NBA) games, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Warner Bros Discovery's TNT (WBD.O) has paid an average fee of $1.2 billion under its current deal, but was unable to reach a new pact with the NBA before an exclusive negotiating window expired last week, according to the report.
Warner began airing the games in 1984, while Walt Disney's ESPN sports network began broadcasting the NBA in 2002.
Disney (DIS.N) is expected to pay an average per-year fee of about $2.6 billion to renew its deal, WSJ reported, citing sources, up from about $1.5 billion per year now.
NBCUniversal and its parent Comcast, Warner Bros Discovery, and the NBA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Disney-owned ESPN declined to comment.
- Reuters
US AND MEXICO WITHDRAW BID FOR 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup and will instead focus on securing the 2031 edition, the national governing bodies said on Monday.
The decision comes less than three weeks before the FIFA Congress chooses the hosts on May 17 and leaves Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as the remaining candidates for the 2027 event.
"Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking – and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximise its impact across the globe," U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a joint statement.
Last November, South Africa also withdrew their bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup and said they would instead focus on the 2031 tournament.
Australia and New Zealand held the 2023 finals, which Spain won. The U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host the men's World Cup in 2026.
- Reuters
BATTLING NADAL BEATS CACHIN TO REACH MADRID OPEN FOURTH ROUND
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| Reuters |
Rafael Nadal survived a second set wobble to defeat Pedro Cachin 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3 in the Madrid Open third round on Monday.
Nadal, who beat 10th seed Alex de Minaur in the second round, held his nerve as he was tested by the 91st-ranked Argentine, who won his maiden ATP title at the 2023 Swiss Open.
"Some moments good, some moments not good, but I found a way," the 37-year-old Nadal said.
Cachin struggled against his powerful forehand in the first set as the Spaniard broke twice to take a 5-1 lead before the match was temporarily paused with a spectator feeling unwell.
When play resumed, the five-times Madrid champion broke again to win the set.
Cachin started the second on a better note, taking a 4-1 lead helped by some fine cross-court backhands and, though Nadal broke twice to make it 5-5, he claimed the set in the tiebreak.
Both players broke early in the third, which stood at 2-2, but local favourite Nadal then broke twice more to emerge as the winner with the fans giving him a standing ovation.
"Day by day... playing in front of this crowd means everything to me," said the 22-times Grand Slam champion.
Nadal next faces Czech Jiri Lehecka, who beat Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro 6-4 7-6(7) to reach the fourth round.
- Reuters
LATE BASKETBALL LEGEND KOBE BRYANT ON AC MILAN
“I watched Milan play when I was a kid.”
Many people know Kobe Bryant for his exceptional basketball skills and devotion to the game. But he was much more than that. Something that not everyone knows, is that Kobe was also a soccer fan. In 1984, Kobe’s father moved the Bryant family from the US to Italy to play in the Italian league. Kobe spent most of his youth there and developed a love for both basketball and soccer. In Italy, he played basketball with men much older than him, and at the same time, he also played soccer.
The Bryant family lived in Reggio Calabria, then moved to Pistoia and Reggio Emilia. Although he was 151 km away from Milan, his favorite was AC Milan. Some of his favorite Milan players were; Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Marco Van Basten, and Paolo Maldini. In more recent interviews, he admitted that Mario Balotelli was his favorite player in recent times. He even expressed his desire that the then 22-year-old Mario would become a great soccer player. Kobe also mentioned keeping a Milar shirt and scarf in his Lakers locker room.
A few years back, he visited Milanello when he was recovering from an Achilles injury, and said the following; “It’s an honor for me to be here. I have been a big fan of Milan since I was a kid and it was always a dream of mine to come to Milanello.” (via Daily Milan)
Riposare in pace Black Mamba 🐍
UZBEKISTAN AND JAPAN SECURE QUALIFICATION FOR OLYMPIC GAMES
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| Mao Hosoya scored the opener and Japan never looked back in beating Iraq in the Asian Cup semifinals. Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images |
Uzbekistan and Japan secured two of Asia's three berths at this year's Olympic Games football tournament with wins over Indonesia and Iraq respectively at the Under-23 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Uzbekistan sealed a 2-0 semifinal win against the Indonesians to confirm their first appearance at the Games since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Husain Norchaev put Timur Kapadze's side in front with a volleyed finish from close range in the 68th minute before Pratama Arhan's late own goal confirmed Uzbekistan's progress to both the Olympics and the Under-23 Asian Cup final.
They will next take on a Japan side that handed Iraq a 2-0 defeat at Doha's Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, with Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki scoring in the 28th and 42nd minutes respectively.
That win means Japan maintain their record of qualifying for every Olympics since 1996.
Uzbekistan, winners of the Asian Under-23 title in 2018, will face Japan on Friday in the final, while Indonesia and Iraq meet on Thursday for Asia's third confirmed berth in Paris.
The losers of that Olympic playoff will enter into a final eliminator against Guinea, the fourth place finisher in Africa's qualifying tournament, on May 9 for the final spot at the Games.
- Reuters
EX- UFC CHAMP FRANCIS NGANNOU MOURNS 15-MONTH-OLD SON'S DEATH
Former UFC heavyweight champion and professional boxer Francis Ngannou publicly mourned the death of his 15-month-old son on Monday.
Ngannou, 37, wrote a tribute to his son, Kobe, on all of his social media platforms after the news broke in his home country of Cameroon. Ngannou is currently in Cameroon with his family, sources said.
The tribute read: "Too soon to leave but yet he's gone. My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he's laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he's not responding. I was my best self next to him and now I have no clue of who I am. Life is so unfair to hit us where it hurts the most. How do you deal with such a thing? How can you live with it? Please help me if you have an idea because I really don't know what to do and how to deal with this."
Ngannou has one of the most unique stories in combat sports history. He immigrated to Europe from Africa in his 20s and quickly rose to prominence in heavyweight mixed martial arts. He won the UFC championship in 2021 by knocking out arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time in Stipe Miocic and defended the belt once before fighting out of his contract and leaving the UFC in pursuit of a deal that would allow him to box professionally.
He realized his dream of competing in boxing when he fought lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last October. Ngannou lost to Fury via split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but shocked the sports world by taking Fury to the brink of defeat and knocking him down in the third round. Ngannou suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in his second boxing appearance in March.
Ngannou has an exclusive MMA deal with PFL but has not yet made his debut. He has not yet announced whether his next fight will take place in boxing or MMA.
Members of his team, as well as other fighters and promoters from around combat sports, expressed their condolences on Monday. UFC star Conor McGregor wrote, "I am so sorry to hear of your loss Francis, my prayers are with you and your family at this time."
- Reuters
PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS AGREE SPENDING CAP, COULD BEGIN 2025
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| Chelsea abstained from the Premier League shareholders' meeting vote on implementing a spending cap. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images |
Premier League clubs have taken a step towards implementing a spending cap, voting on Monday for the league to complete the economic and legal analysis needed for such a model.
The model will be presented to clubs before a final vote at the league's Annual General Meeting in June at the earliest, British media reported. It would replace the existing Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) from 2025-26.
The cap would limit how much clubs can spend in a bid to prevent the super-rich teams from dominating the league amid concerns over a growing gulf between the haves and have-nots.
The cap, discussed at a Premier League shareholders' meeting on Monday, would be based on how much money the lowest-earning club in the English top flight makes from television rights and could come into effect as early as the 2025-26 season.
"We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a 'hard' cap on player wages," the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) said.
"There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on," the statement added.
Media reports said 16 clubs voted in favour of the league pursuing a salary cap, with Chelsea abstaining and Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa dissenting.
Manchester City face over 100 charges of allegedly breaching the league's financial rules. The club have denied wrongdoing.
Everton were deducted 10 points in November, reduced to six on appeal, before they received a second deduction to take their points loss to eight for breaching PSR. Nottingham Forest, were deducted four points, and have also appealed.
Premier League clubs had agreed in principle to introduce new financial rules next season, voting in April for squad cost ratio rules to replace PSR, which allows clubs to lose £105 million ($131.93m) in a three-season period.
Clubs will likely be limited to spending 85% of their revenue on transfers, wages and agents' fees if the new rules are adopted at the AGM in June.
PSR will still be in place next season with a transition period in 2024-25, as will points deductions, which will also remain part of the new rules once adopted.
- Reuters
SOURCE: CHIEFS SIGN TRAVIS KELCE TO A 2-YEAR, $34.25M CONTRACT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs gave tight end Travis Kelce a significant raise with a new two-year contract Monday.
A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the deal is worth $34.25 million with $17 million fully guaranteed for this season and most of the rest to be guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year.
"Hard to put in words what Travis means to this organization, this city, and he was certainly a priority to adjust his contract for us and it was something that was important for Clark [Hunt]. So very fitting that Travis [is] now the highest-paid tight end in these two years," general manager Brett Veach said Monday.
In a video posted to X by the Chiefs, Kelce said it was "an honor and a pleasure and I can't wait to get after it these next two years ... Chiefs forever.''
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrated the extension for his favorite target by posting to X, "I told yall I'll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy! @tkelce''
"Every now and then you have one of these guys that are outliers and certainly Travis is one of those players," Veach said when asked how much longer Kelce, 34, can play. "Today we had a chance to get out there in Phase 2 [of the offseason program] and guys were out there running around, and Travis was the first guy in line, and I mean he looked like he was 28 years old.
"The odds of someone playing this far into the thirties are very low, but it does happen, and it happens with just unicorns in the profession, and Travis is one of those and we'll certainly celebrate this with him and hopefully we can ride this thing even longer. So, we'll just have to wait and see. But I've seen no signs of [Kelce] slowing down and everyone notices the kind of postseason he had, and he just found that extra gear and these special ones, these special players are always able to find that extra gear.
"If anybody could do it, Travis can.''
Kelce in 2023 fell 16 yards short of his eighth straight 1,000-yard season. He missed the first game of the season with a knee injury and sat out the last game to rest for the playoffs. Seven straight 1,000-yard seasons is a record for his position.
Kelce, who has been selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls and is a four-time first-team All-Pro, had 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns last season.
In the postseason, he added 32 catches for 355 yards and four touchdowns as he helped the Chiefs win a second consecutive Super Bowl and third in five seasons.
Kelce has 907 receptions for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns in 11 NFL seasons. In 22 postseason games, he has an NFL-record 165 catches for 1,903 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Kelce has also become a crossover star, thanks in part to his relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift and his appearances on shows such as "Saturday Night Live." The podcast he hosts with his brother and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has become one of the most popular across several genres, and he will soon host a quiz show on Amazon Prime.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer
CELTICS TAKE A 3-1 SERIES LEAD BUT LOSE KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
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| NBA.com |
MIAMI -- The Boston Celtics took one more step toward eliminating the rival Miami Heat with a convincing 102-88 Game 4 victory Monday to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
But the win might have come with a cost, as Kristaps Porzingis, the team's starting center, hobbled off the court with a calf injury just before halftime and didn't return. Porzingis will undergo imaging Tuesday, but early indications are that he didn't sustain an Achilles tendon injury, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Following the game, Porzingis slowly walked out of the visiting locker room area wearing a gray walking boot on his right foot.
Porzingis appeared to tweak something after catching a pass from Jaylen Brown late in the second period. Upon getting the ball, Porzingis started driving toward his left, then grimaced before quickly giving the ball back to Brown and coming up lame in the middle of the play. Porzingis didn't appear to be touched by anyone on the play during which he was hurt.
As he walked to the locker room with a support staffer, Porzingis briefly held his jersey over his face in apparent frustration.
Minutes after he sustained the injury, the Celtics issued an update, saying Porzingis was suffering from right calf tightness. Following the game, Porzingis posted on social media, making note of the team's victory and adding, "Thanks for all the support, will be good" with a biceps emoji at the end of the message.
Celtics players held out hope that Porzingis' injury wasn't serious but also acknowledged that his presence as a floor spacer and rim-protector meant things would change if he is forced to miss time.
"All of us, our mindset has to shift," said veteran center Al Horford, who started the second half in Porzingis' place. "I talked to Luke [Kornet] and Xavier [Tillman], and let them know that all of us have to be ready to step up and do a little more, because KP was playing so well defensively."
Said Jayson Tatum: "We're going to have to play different, but it's a next-man-up mentality for however long [he's out]. Obviously I don't know anything [yet] -- but it's next man up. We just have to find a way to win each game."
The 7-foot-3 Porzingis, who joined the Celtics last offseason via trade with the Washington Wizards, fit his new team almost perfectly, averaging 20 points and seven rebounds per contest on career-best efficiency while giving Boston an even more dangerous five-out offense. But the Celtics, who went 21-4 in the regular season when Porzingis was out, looked just fine Monday in his absence.
Much of that stemmed from the Heat having no answer for Derrick White. The guard caught fire from deep in the first half, in which he shot 6-for-9 from 3, and went on to finish with a career-high 38 points.
"It's unreal. You hit a couple, and then after a while, you feel like you can't miss -- the basket's just huge," said the 6-4 White, who also managed to throw down a pair of uncharacteristic dunks. White's scoring outburst made for an even steeper climb for the short-handed, scoring-challenged Heat, who haven't been able to replicate their hot shooting from Game 2, when they hit a franchise playoff-record 23 triples.
Including Monday's 9-for-33 performance from deep, Miami has shot just 29.5% (18-for-61) since then. Games 3 and 4 marked the first time since 2022 that Miami has been held under 90 points in back-to-back contests, be it regular season or the playoffs. The Celtics were the opponent last time it happened, too, back in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals.
Boston will seek to close out the best-of-seven series when it hosts Game 5 Wednesday night.
- Chris Herring, ESPN Senior Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER SECURE SWEEP OVER NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
NEW ORLEANS -- Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault took the postgame podium on Monday night with his hair a bit more damp than usual.
When the NBA's Coach of the Year walked into the locker room following a 97-89 win to clinch the sweep over the New Orleans Pelicans, he was met by players dousing him with water because there was a lot to celebrate.
The win meant the Thunder became the youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series and they did it in a sweep as the top seed in the Western conference.
Daigneault said there's a difference between a young team and a mature team, and his Thunder are a mature group.
"We have a committed team," Daigneault said. "I think a lot of times the age of the team, you can make assumptions about the stage that the players are in their careers, but I've said all along, we have an uncommon group of people and players and I think that's a huge reason why we're able to accomplish some of these things. They deserve all the credit."
Oklahoma City's average age when weighted by playing time is 23 years, 343 days. The previous youngest team to win a playoff series were the 2011 Thunder (24-149). But Jalen Williams says the team doesn't look at how young they are because they all just want to win games.
"It's just that's another thing for us to not think about," Williams said. "So, it's kind of been brought up. It's just something that everybody needs to talk about and we kind of just leave it out there in the day. It's just basketball and we're coming to compete regardless of how old we are and things like that."
While both teams struggled to get going offensively early, the Thunder answered in a big way in the fourth quarter to take control of the game.
Up 80-75 with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Pelicans had a chance to push the lead to seven after Jose Alvarado poked the ball away as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempted a shot in the lane. The ball went straight to CJ McCollum who took off towards the basket.
With Naji Marshall to his right and Jalen Williams between them -- and Gilgeous-Alexander trailing -- McCollum went up for a layup but Williams' contest was good enough to force a missed layup.
The Thunder took control from there. Chet Holmgren got a putback attempt on the next possession to fall and then, after a Pelicans' turnover, a Josh Giddey 3-pointer drew a timeout from the Pelicans. After the break, another Giddey triple gave the Thunder the lead for good.
It was an 18-2 run in total and the Pelicans only had one basket between the 8:19 and 2:51 mark of the fourth quarter.
Giddey hit four 3-pointers overall which matched his total from Game 3. It's only the third time in his career -- regular season and playoffs combined -- where he's hit at least four threes in back-to-back games.
"Anytime the ball's going in, it's easy to be confident," Giddey said. "I thought on defense when we started getting stops, we made them take a lot of tough shots. They weren't hitting them and we were getting our transition, we were getting what we wanted and forced them to call the time out early in that fourth.
"Once a guy sees the ball through the hoop a couple of times they started to build confidence and that's contagious for the whole team."
New Orleans turned the ball over 19 time on Monday, the third straight game they had at least 18 turnovers. Throughout the series, the Thunder feasted off Pelicans mistakes outscoring New Orleans 79-37 on points off turnovers.
"They capitalized on some turnovers and honestly some baskets that we just missed that led to transition opportunities for them, and that's the difference in the game," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "Our margin for error is small. This is a team that turns you over. The last few games we turned the ball over and they capitalized on it."
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the Thunder received 99.5% of their points from players aged 25 or younger in this series. That is the highest percentage by any team in a playoff series in NBA history. The previous-highest mark was 96.4% by the Chicago Stags against the Baltimore Bullets in the 1948 semifinals. The only player older than 25 to score for the Thunder was Kenrich Williams with 2 points.
The win was the Thunder's first series victory since the 2016 Western Conference semifinals. They had lost their previous five series before sweeping New Orleans. It's also just the third best-of-7 sweep in franchise history and only the second since the team moved to Oklahoma City.
The key factor throughout the series was the Thunder's defense. They held New Orleans to an average of 89.5 points, the fewest the franchise has ever allowed in a best-of-7 series.
While Luguentz Dort's defense on Brandon Ingram was key the entire series, the Pelicans couldn't seem to get anything going at the rim when Chet Holmgren was there. New Orleans was 9-of-35 on shots within five feet of the basket when Holmgren was the closest defender.
Now the attention shifts to the winner of the Dallas Mavericks-LA Clippers series which is tied 2-2. The Thunder are in the same position they were last week, waiting around to see who their next opponent will be.
"I think we were well rested for this series," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "And I would say keep the same mindset. Do whatever it takes to win. Every series is going to look different. Every game is going to look different. Teams make adjustments. You play different teams. Just try to win at all costs and that's what matters in the NBA."
- Andrew Lopez, ESPN
JAMAL MURRAY HITS 2ND GAME WINNER AS NUGGETS SINK LAKERS
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| NBA com |
DENVER -- Jamal Murray scored 32 points despite a strained calf and sank the game winner with 3.6 seconds left as the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets bounced LeBron James from the playoffs again with a 108-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first-round series on Monday night.
James' two free throws tied it at 106 with 26 seconds left, and the Nuggets, just as they did in Game 2, eschewed the timeout. Murray took the ball on a high screen-and-roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves and crossing through the lane, and swished the 14-footer.
It was Murray's buzzer-beater that won Game 2.
The Nuggets point guard is the first player in the past 25 seasons with multiple go-ahead shots in the final 5 seconds of a single playoff series, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. He's the fourth player to do it multiple times across a single postseason.
"This one was a little better," Murray said as confetti swirled around him and his celebrating teammates.
Nikola Jokic, who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, narrowly missed his 19th playoff triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 26.
James had 30 points and 11 assists, and Davis had 17 points and 15 rebound but appeared bothered down the stretch after banging his left shoulder into Porter in the second half.
The Nuggets advanced to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round starting next weekend. That series begins in Denver, where the Nuggets are a conference-best 36-8, including 3-0 in the playoffs.
Not that it's been easy.
The Nuggets trailed for about three-fourths of the minutes in this series, scuffled through extended shooting slumps and are a banged-up bunch that can definitely use the rest. Denver, which swept the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last summer on its way to winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beat the Lakers for the 12th time in their past 13 matchups.
The only other time James was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs came in 2021 when the Phoenix Suns beat L.A. in six games. This was the shortest of James' 17 trips to the playoffs, where he's now 183-104 overall with a 41-13 series record and four titles.
After warming up with an ice pack on his injured calf, Murray got clearance to play. He wasn't his usual explosive self on drives to the basket -- at first -- but he managed 16 points in the first half, including 12 in the first quarter, which ended with Denver ahead (28-24) for the first time all series.
The Lakers led 53-50 at halftime and pushed that advantage to nine points, but the Nuggets closed on a 21-10 run to take an 81-79 lead into the fourth quarter that was tight until the buzzer.
After Murray's clutch shot, L.A. forward Taurean Prince heaved up a half-courter that fell short, sending the Lakers to an early exit despite taking the defending champs to the brink in all five games.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
- ESPN News Services
REAL MADRID WON'T UNDERESTIMATED MUNICH IN UCL - ANCELOTTI
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| Bayern Munich remain dangerous despite surrendering the Bundesliga title, Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday. Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images |
MUNICH, Germany -- Carlo Ancelotti has insisted Real Madrid will not take Bayern Munich lightly in their Champions League semifinal despite their poor domestic season and labelled the German side "dangerous" ahead of the first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Bayern have relinquished the Bundesliga title for the first time since 2012 with their disappointing campaign playing a part in the decision to part company with coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season.
Real Madrid are favourites to progress to the Champions League final at Wembley, but Ancelotti has warned his team against any complacency.
"We're preparing to play a big team with lots of qualities," Ancelotti told a news conference on Monday.
"We are confident and have faith but we have respect for Bayern Munich. They haven't played a fantastic season in the Bundesliga but they played very well in two matches against Arsenal. This shows the quality of this club.
"They are strong in transition, they can play in different ways and are very dangerous. We need to focus and take ourselves to the final, that's our goal."
At his own news conference earlier on Monday, Tuchel said Bayern would have "no chance" if the tie comes down to the experience of the two managers.
Ancelotti, 64, has won the Champions League four times and taken charge of more matches in the competition than any other coach, but the Italian was quick to brand his counterpart a "genius" when asked to assess Tuchel's ability.
"It's not up to us, the coaches," Ancelotti said.
"The match is up to the players. You give them the idea or the strategy and they have to be convinced of it but it's all about the players and their behaviour on the pitch. Thomas Tuchel is a great coach, especially in terms of tactics. A genius. His teams are always well trained and I have a lot of respect for him."
Real Madrid are favourites to add to their record 14 Champions League titles after knocking out holders Manchester City in the last round.
Federico Valverde was asked whether the competition was "easier" now City are out, but the midfielder said Bayern's history -- including six wins -- makes them just as big a threat as Pep Guardiola's side.
"All the matches are complicated in this competition," Valverde said.
"All the teams deserve respect, Bayern Munich above all. The same as Real Madrid they always make it until the end. We respect them in the same way we respect Manchester City. We need to show great performances with the quality that we have and we want to win this title.
"We need to have faith and confidence in all parts of the team. We want to make the final and that's what we fight for."
- Rob Dawson, Correspondent
HORSE RACING'S HOUSEHOLD NAME WILL MISS 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY | BOB BUFFET IS EXILED FOR 3RD YEARS
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| AP Photo |
The 150th Kentucky Derby is missing horse racing’s household name: Bob Baffert.
The Hall of Fame trainer with a record-tying six victories won't be saddling a contender in Saturday's Run for the Roses for the third consecutive year.
Last July, Baffert had another year tacked on to his two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc., which was set to expire in 2023. The additional punishment came despite no positive drug or medication tests involving the 71-year-old trainer's horses during that time.
CDI imposed the original penalty after Baffert’s 2021 Derby winner, Medina Spirit, flunked a post-race drug test. The colt tested positive for a legal medication that isn’t allowed on race day in Kentucky. Medina Spirit was later disqualified.
That led to two years of lawsuits, but Baffert failed in his attempts to be reinstated by Churchill Downs or have Medina Spirit’s victory restored. In January, Baffert said he was dropping his legal challenges against CDI. His move didn't thaw the frosty relations between the two sides.
“A trainer who is unwilling to accept responsibility for multiple drug test failures in our highest-profile races cannot be trusted to avoid future misconduct,” CDI said in extending the suspension. “Mr. Baffert will remain suspended from entering horses at all racetracks owned by CDI through 2024. After such time, we will re-evaluate his status.”
The suspension prevented any Baffert horse from accumulating Derby qualifying points, which decide the 20-horse field for the race.
Did Baffert have horses in the last two Derbies?
Technically, no.
The last two years, the owners of Baffert's top contenders transferred their horses to another trainer so they could run in the Derby. But this year, in evidence of their loyalty to Baffert, none of them did so.
Owner Amr Zedan made a last-ditch effort to try to get Arkansas Derby winner Muth into the 150th Derby. He sued in early April.
However, the Kentucky Court of Appeals recently denied a motion for a temporary injunction that would have allowed Muth into the race despite the suspension of Baffert, who was not a party to the lawsuit.
Zedan owned Medina Spirit, who died after a workout in December 2021. No definitive cause of death was found.
Has the suspension affected Baffert's career?
Not really. Despite hits to his reputation, Baffert is still highly sought out by deep-pocketed owners eager to have him train their high-priced horses. However, being shut out of the Derby has to sting since he has always been effusive about the first Saturday in May and considers it the pinnacle of the sport.
He won the Preakness last year with National Treasure, his 17th victory in a Triple Crown race. Earlier that day, one of his horses was injured in a race on the undercard and had to be euthanized. He had purse earnings of over $12.6 million for the year.
He won the $12 million Dubai World Cup with Country Grammer in 2022.
What's next?
Some wags are calling it Kentucky Derby 149 1/2 in a nod to the absence of Baffert's talented colts. As a result, some believe the stronger race will be the Preakness on May 18.
Baffert can enter horses in the Preakness and the Belmont at Saratoga on June 8. He nominated 18 horses to the Triple Crown series, so any of them are eligible for the last two legs.
Among his top prospects are Muth and Imagination, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up. Both have been training at Santa Anita in California ahead of their next starts.
- BETH HARRIS
Monday, 29 April 2024
EDWARDS AND TOWNS LEAD TIMBERWOLVES INTO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE 2004
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| AP Photo |
PHOENIX (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in 20 years.
Their first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns served notice they might be ready to go even deeper.
Anthony Edwards scored 40 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 and the Timberwolves pulled away late to beat the Suns 122-116 on Sunday night and sweep the first-round playoff series.
The victory came after coach Chris Finch left the game late in the fourth after an inadvertent collision with Wolves guard Mike Conley. The team said he had a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.
The success for Minnesota has been a long time coming, particularly for Towns, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 and waited nearly a decade to get his first playoff series win. Edwards is in his fourth season after being the No. 1 overall selection in 2020.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Towns said before looking at Edwards. “Playing with my man on my right just makes it more special. To be able to do it with someone I have so much admiration for, so much respect for.
"The future’s so bright for him, I’ve got to put my sunglasses on.”
The Suns swept the three-game, regular-season series from the Wolves, but Minnesota flipped that script in the postseason by wearing down a Phoenix team that had championship aspirations with their All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
The 35-year-old Durant — who Edwards said was his favorite player growing up — offered nothing but praise for the young star.
“So impressed with Ant,” Durant said. "My favorite player to watch. Just grown up so much since he came into the league. His love for the game shines bright. That's one of the reasons I like him the most, because he just loves basketball, he's grateful to be in this position and he's taken advantage of every opportunity he's gotten.
“I love everything about Ant. Everything.”
The Wolves will play either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. The Nuggets have a 3-1 lead with Game 5 on Monday night.
It's understandable that the Wolves might take a day or two to enjoy this series win. Minnesota was knocked out of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, including in five games against the Nuggets last season.
They might get another crack at them soon.
The Wolves were a handful for the Suns throughout the series, flashing a deep roster that includes veteran point guard Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, defensive star Rudy Gobert, sixth man of the year Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels.
But there's little doubt Edwards and Towns lead the show.
Edwards had just nine points in the first half before unloading on the Suns after the break, which was enough to overcome Booker's 49 points. His powerful, one-handed jam late in the fourth sealed the win.
“That was the gameplan, get everyone involved,” Edwards said. “But in the second half, it's time to win. I've got to shoot my shots.”
The Wolves have slowly improved under third-year coach Finch, who was replaced by assistant Micah Nori for the final 1:41 as the Wolves pulled away to win.
Nori said Finch was in good spirits after the game and will be ready to lead the team going forward.
“It's just one series win, you don't want to overblow it, but it's the next step in the progression for all our guys,” Nori said.
- DAVID BRANDT
THREE-TIMES WNBA CHAMPION CANDACE PARKER RETIRES
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| Reuters |
Seven-times All-Star Candace Parker called time on her career on Sunday, stepping away from the game after becoming the first to win the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals with three different teams.
The twice most valuable player Parker won the trophy with the Las Vegas Aces last year but was sidelined for much of the season after undergoing surgery on her foot.
"I promised I'd never cheat the game & that I'd leave it in a better place than I came into it. The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it's time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it," Parker wrote on Instagram.
The first overall pick in the 2008 draft was the first to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year when she averaged 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in her opening season with the Los Angeles Sparks.
She led the Sparks to the playoffs 11 times, winning the championship in 2016, before a short stint with the Chicago Sky to win the title in 2021.
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| @candiceparker |
"From teens with hoop dreams to legends!" eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard wrote on X. "Congrats on a legendary career."
"Congratulations on a brilliant career, Candace," tennis great Billie Jean King wrote. "Looking forward to following the next steps in your journey."
The future Hall of Famer Parker won Olympic gold with the United States twice and re-signed with the Aces in February but said that her foot was not "cooperating" in the off-season.
"It's no fun knowing what you could do, if only," said Parker.
"I’m grateful that for 16 years I PLAYED A GAME for a living & DESPITE all the injuries, I hooped."
- Reuters
NBA ROUNDUP: WOLVES FINISH OFF SWEEP OF SUNS
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Anthony Edwards scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half and the Minnesota Timberwolves completed a four-game sweep of the host Phoenix Suns with a 122-116 victory on Sunday night in their Western Conference first-round series.
Edwards made seven 3-pointers and had nine rebounds and six assists for the third-seeded Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 10 rebounds as Minnesota won a playoff series for the first time in 20 years.
Jaden McDaniels added 18 points and Mike Conley had 10 points and seven assists for the Timberwolves, who will face either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.
Devin Booker scored a playoff-career-high 49 points for the sixth-seeded Suns. Booker made 13 of 21 shots from the floor and hit 20 of 21 free-throw attempts. Kevin Durant added 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting for Phoenix. He also had nine rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots.
Knicks 97, 76ers 92
Jalen Brunson scored a career playoff-high 47 points to go along with 10 assists as New York defeated host Philadelphia in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.
Brunson set a franchise playoff scoring record and also became the first player in franchise history to post at least 30 points and 10 assists in consecutive playoff games. The Knicks lead the series 3-1 with Game 5 set for Tuesday in New York.
Brunson, who shot 18 of 34 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line, knocked down two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining for a 97-92 lead. OG Anunoby added 16 points and 14 rebounds, Miles McBride scored 13 and Josh Hart pulled down 17 rebounds.
Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 and Tobias Harris had 10. Embiid had scored a playoff career-high 50 points despite struggling on his surgically repaired left knee in the Sixers' win over the Knicks in Game 3 on Thursday.
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Pacers 126, Bucks 113
Myles Turner scored 29 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 24 to fuel Indiana to a victory over undermanned Milwaukee in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series in Indianapolis.
Turner sank seven 3-pointers for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who shot 51.2 percent from beyond the arc and 51.7 percent overall to seize a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Milwaukee. Haliburton made five 3-pointers despite being added to the injury report as questionable approximately 90 minutes before tipoff due to a balky back.
Milwaukee's Brook Lopez recorded 27 points and nine rebounds and Khris Middleton added 25 and 10, respectively. Malik Beasley added 20 points for the third-seeded Bucks, who were short-handed due to the early ejection of Bobby Portis in addition to the absences of injured stars Damian Lillard and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Clippers 116, Mavericks 111
Paul George and James Harden each scored 33 points and Los Angeles rallied after coughing up a 31-point lead to beat host Dallas Mavericks in Game 4, evening the Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Luka Doncic finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range. The rest of the Mavericks shot only 5-of-21 from deep, including 1-of-9 from Doncic.
The series, which is tied 2-2, heads back to Los Angeles for Wednesday's Game 5.
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| USA TODAY Sports |
- Reuters
NHL ROUNDUP: RANGERS ADVANCE AFTER SWEEPING CAPS
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Artemi Panarin scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and added an assist to lead the visiting New York Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday and complete the sweep in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Kaapo Kakko, Vincent Trocheck and Jack Roslovic also scored for the Rangers, who are the first team to advance to the second round this postseason. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves and Mika Zibanejad collected a pair of assists for the Presidents' Trophy winners as the regular-season champs.
New York will face the winner of the series between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders, which the Hurricanes lead 3-1 with Game 5 set for Tuesday.
Martin Fehervary and Hendrix Lapierre replied for the Capitals, while goalie Charlie Lindgren stopped 19 shots. Washington star captain Alex Ovechkin was held without a point in all four games. He played only 15:26 and did not register a shot on goal in the elimination game.
Canucks 4, Predators 3 (OT)
Elias Lindholm scored at 1:02 of overtime to lift visiting Vancouver to a stunning win over Nashville, allowing the Canucks to grab control of the first-round series.
Vancouver leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 and hosts Game 5 on Tuesday. Brock Boeser had a hat trick, including two goals in the final 2:49 of regulation to force overtime. Arturs Silovs, making his Stanley Cup playoff debut in place of injured Casey DeSmith, made 27 saves for the Canucks.
Mark Jankowski, Gustav Nyquist and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 16 saves.
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Avalanche 5, Jets 1
Valeri Nichushkin had three goals for his first career hat trick and Colorado took a commanding lead in its first-round series with a win over visiting Winnipeg.
Colorado has won the past three games to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven series, with Game 5 on Tuesday night in Winnipeg. The Avalanche have outscored Winnipeg 16-5 since losing the first game, 7-6.
Nate Schmidt scored for the Jets, who are on the brink of elimination. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck continued to struggle, allowing four goals on 30 shots before being replaced by Laurent Brossoit to start the third period.
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| USA TODAY Sports |
Oilers 1, Kings 0
Stuart Skinner made 33 saves for visiting Edmonton in a win against Los Angeles in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series.
Edmonton has a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 5 on Wednesday night in Edmonton. The Oilers will try to eliminate the Kings in the first round for the third straight season.
Evan Bouchard scored a power-play goal and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl earned the assists for Edmonton. McDavid has 10 points in the series (one goal, nine assists) and Draisaitl has eight points (three goals, five assists). Los Angeles interim coach Jim Hiller elected to start David Rittich in goal for the first time in the series. He finished with 12 saves in his first playoff start in nearly two years and just the second of his eight-year NHL career.
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| USA TODAY Sports |
- Reuters
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