A’ja Wilson scores 36 points as the Aces send the Fever home again with a 94-83 win in Game 3
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson made sure her basketball spoke for itself Thursday night, the four-time WNBA MVP scoring 36 points to lead the defending champion Las Vegas Aces to a 94-83 victory and eliminate the Indiana Fever in the deciding Game 3 of the first round. The third-seeded Aces move on to play the winner of the Golden State-Dallas series, which will be decided Friday night in San Francisco. This is the second year in a row Las Vegas has ended the season for the Fever, who were seeded sixth.
Igor Shesterkin becomes the 18th NHL goaltender to score a goal and first to do it for the Rangers
NEW YORK (AP) — Igor Shesterkin has become the 18th goaltender in NHL history to score a goal and the first to do it for the New York Rangers. Shesterkin shot the puck from deep in his end into an empty net with 2:34 left in a 5-1 victory against Tampa Bay on Thursday night. The first goal of his career is the 21st by a goalie, counting the playoffs. Shesterkin has been known to try his hand at scoring before. Lightning coach Jon Cooper gave him the opportunity Thursday night by pulling Andrei Vasilevskiy off and on during the third period for an extra attacker.
Pistons, Jalen Duren agree on 5-year, $200M contract, AP source says
Jalen Duren has accepted a five-year, $200 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. A person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the deal Thursday night. Duren accepted the offer shortly before a deadline on a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer. He made $6.5 million last season and became an All-Star for the first time. Duren averaged a career-high 19.5 points per game last season, along with 10.5 rebounds. He made the All-NBA third team but struggled in the playoffs. Duren has averaged 13.5 points in his first four NBA seasons with Detroit.
After an outfield collision left him paralyzed, every gain in rehab is a big win for A’s Ryan Lasko
WEST ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Ryan Lasko was a promising outfielder in the Athletics organization on a path he hoped would one day make him a major leaguer, having established himself in Double-A ball. Speed and defense were his greatest assets. His plans changed in an instant on June 30, on one hustle play he’d made hundreds of times. Playing center field for the A’s Midland team at Frisco, Texas, Lasko sprinted toward the ball as right fielder Devin Taylor did the same. Their heads crashed when both went diving trying to make the catch. Lasko needed immediate surgery for two broken vertebrae in his neck. He was paralyzed. Now, the goal has changed, he tells The Associated Press: He’s working to become independent again.
‘Is this the end?’ Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Portugal unclear after veteran star leaves team
MADRID (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt decision to leave Portugal’s training camp after an apparent rift with coach Jorge Jesus has left many wondering what his future in international soccer will be. Is he done with Portugal? Or will he make peace with coach Jorge Jesus and be back in the next international break? And what comes next for the Portuguese soccer federation? There were lots of questions and few answers on Thursday after soccer’s all-time leading scorer in men’s international soccer decided to walk out on Portugal’s training camp. One possible clue: There was already a new owner of Ronaldo’s famous No. 7 jersey, with Rafael Leão set to wear it on Thursday.
Bryce Harper after Phillies’ early playoff exit: ‘You’re here to win games, and we didn’t’
ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Harper isn’t making excuses for the Philadelphia Phillies’ playoff exit. The Phillies lost 6-2 to the Atlanta Braves in the deciding Game 3 of their National League Wild Card series. Harper said the team didn’t win games when it mattered most. The Phillies have made five straight postseason appearances and fallen short of a World Series championship each time despite a core of star players that includes Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto and Aaron Nola. Interim manager Don Mattingly says the team had to fight hard just to reach the playoffs this year.
MLB won’t consider game at Grand Teton National Park, says was only conducting initial due diligence
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has decided not to consider Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming for a game. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred sent a letter to local officials and community leaders, stating that MLB had no formal plans to play there. The idea faced strong opposition from environmental groups and the local community. Manfred emphasized that MLB would not bring a game to a community with concerns about the venue. MLB has hosted games in unique locations before, like the Iowa cornfields from “Field of Dreams.” However, the Grand Teton proposal was met with resistance, leading to its dismissal.
Man City lodges ‘comprehensive’ appeal after being found guilty of financial rule-breaking
Manchester City says it has lodged a “comprehensive” appeal following the publication of a report by an independent commission detailing large-scale financial rule-breaking by the club. City says “the club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.” City says the appeal was made on Thursday evening. City has protested its innocence throughout a long-running case that dates back to 2018. It reached a milestone on Tuesday when the Premier League published a verdict saying the Abu Dhabi-controlled club was “guilty of all charges related to serious breaches” of the competition’s financial rules from 2009-18.