Wemby matches Kareem, Hakeem and Shaq with his superb stat line for Spurs in Game 3 win over Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had to put in plenty of work to compile 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a 115-108 victory in Game 3 that gave the San Antonio Spurs a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The only other players in NBA history to hit the 35-point, 15-rebound, five-block thresholds in a playoff game are Hall of Fame members Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal. Only Wembanyama has done it while shooting better than 70% from the floor. The 7-foot-4 superstar was 13 for 18 and 10 for 12 from the line.
Jalen Brunson scores 33 points and helps Knicks take 3-0 lead over 76ers with 108-94 Game 3 win
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 33 points and sealed the game with big buckets late to the delight of roaring Knicks fans, leading New York to a 108-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia. Josh Hart had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Mikal Bridges added 23 points, pushing the Knicks and first-year coach Mike Brown within one victory of their second straight conference finals appearance. Joel Embiid scored 18 points for the Sixers in his return after he missed Game 2 with injuries.
Chicago Cubs have two 10-game winning streaks in one season for the first time since 1935
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Make it 10 wins in a row for the Chicago Cubs again. Ian Happ extended his on-base streak to 29 games, Michael Busch hit a three-run double and the Cubs clinched their second 10-game winning streak this season with a 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Chicago is a major league-best 27-12, and this is the first time since 1935 the Cubs have had two 10-game winning streaks in a season. The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers were the previous big league team with two 10-game winning streaks within the first 39 games of a season, according to Sportradar. They did it in their first 24 games.
Jim Miller returns at UFC 328, fighting again after his teenage son beat rare cancer
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Jim Miller, a UFC veteran known for his durability, returns to the cage after a personal battle. His teenage son, Wyatt, was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer last year. Miller paused his fighting career to focus on his family. Wyatt underwent treatment and is now cancer-free, though he’ll need regular check-ups. Miller, who pays for his own health insurance, faced financial challenges during this time. On Saturday, Miller fights Jared Gordon at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. It marks his 47th UFC fight and his first since Wyatt’s recovery.
NFL and referees agree on a 7-year collective bargaining agreement, avoiding potential work stoppage
The NFL and the NFL Referees Association have agreed on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that avoids a potential work stoppage and use of replacement officials. The deal runs through the 2032 NFL season. The league began the onboarding process for replacement officials last month because negotiations weren’t progressing. But they won’t be necessary. A stalemate in 2012 resulted in a 110-day lockout and replacement referees were used.
Jets, running back Breece Hall agree to a 3-year, $45.75 million contract extension, AP source says
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the New York Jets and running back Breece Hall have agreed on a three-year contract extension worth $45.75 million. The deal Friday makes Hall the third-highest paid running back in the NFL. The Jets had used the franchise tag on Hall and the new contract pays him $15.25 million per year. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Jets didn’t announce the extension. Hall rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards last season, despite missing the final game because of a knee issue.
Rory McIlroy says LIV players should be able to return to PGA Tour, but he’s not sure they want to
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rory McIlroy is no longer opposed to LIV Golf players returning to the PGA Tour. But he says the question is whether players want to come back. McIlroy says the answer will likely depend on what happens with LIV’s financial situation in the coming months. Last month, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund pulled the plug on future funding for LIV. The breakaway tour lured away stars including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau with lucrative, guaranteed contracts, but now it’s not clear how long they will stay. McIlroy says it’s “good business practice” for the PGA Tour to welcome back players who will make the tour stronger.
Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet and non-famous Knicks fans enjoy a Game 3 win in Philly
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet joined Knicks fans for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers. The game took place Friday night, and despite efforts to keep Knicks fans out, many made it to Philadelphia. The 76ers had tried to restrict ticket sales to local fans, but some, like Lenny Rakhmanov from Brooklyn, found ways around it. The 76ers also donated tickets to community groups to maintain a home crowd presence. The Knicks won 108-94 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
Real Madrid’s Arbeloa asks to ‘turn the page’ after fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has defended players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, saying their apologies for having scuffled were enough to settle the incident that led the club to fine both of them a whopping 500,000 euros. The tussle by the two midfielders Thursday ended with Valverde at the hospital to treat a head wound he received when he hit a table. The players apologized to one another the next day when they met with club officials investigating the incident. Arbeloa says it is time to “turn the page.”
Basketball gets more beer money, while tennis and other small college sports worry over their future
The expansion of March Madness and the $300 million in extra revenue that comes with it through opening sponsorships to beer, wine and liquor companies offered a brief reprieve from the steady drip of headlines this spring that underscore the problems confronting college sports. Among them are the disbanding of tennis teams at Arkansas, new efforts to generate revenue in the Big 12 and at Duke and the ongoing issues surrounding the industry’s new regulator, the College Sports Commission. Odds are those issues won’t be close to sorted out once the buzz over the new 76-team hoops brackets, which debut next year, subsides.