National Sports - The Morning Sun

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, center, drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, left, ad Isaac Okoro (35) in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Magic crumble in second half, lose Game 7 despite Paolo Bachero's 38 points and stellar series

Paolo Banchero’s first taste of the NBA playoffs ended bitterly. The Orlando Magic couldn’t finish what they started. After opening an 18-point lead in the first half, the Magic caved under … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/5/24

Andrey Rublev, of Russia, celebrates after winning the final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Rublev wins Madrid Open for the 1st time after rallying to beat Auger-Aliassime

Andrey Rublev has rallied to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets and win the Madrid Open for the first time. Rublev won 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 Sunday after Auger-Aliassime double-faulted on the last … more

By TALES AZZONI | 5/5/24

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and falls to the floor in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Donovan Mitchell scores 39 points as Cavaliers push past Magic 106-94 in Game 7 to get Boston next

Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points, Caris LeVert added 15 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a potentially franchise-shifting loss by rallying for a 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 7. The … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/5/24

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts after winning Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Knicks set for second round against the Pacers, an old-school playoff rival who play a new-age game

Back when the New York Knicks would annually march on in the playoffs, they’d almost always run into the Indiana Pacers. With the teams set to renew their playoff rivalry Monday in the Eastern … more

By BRIAN MAHONEY | 5/5/24

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot delivers to the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Rays starter Ryan Pepiot departs with leg bruise after getting hit by 107.5 mph line drive

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot departed with a lower left leg bruise in the second inning of Sunday’s game against the New York Mets after getting hit by a 107.5 mph line drive hit by … more

5/5/24

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) and left wing Matthew Tkachuk, left, congratulate center Carter Verhaeghe (23) after Verhaeghe scored a goal during the third period of Game 5 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Panthers, Bruins set to meet again in playoff rematch, this time in Round 2

There are no shortage of storylines for this Florida-Boston rematch. There’s the Panthers, trying to move another step closer toward a return to the Stanley Cup Final. There’s the Bruins, looking … more

5/5/24

Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Mystik Dan, top right, to the finish line to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Uncertain plans for 150th Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, others leave questions for Preakness

The second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown could be absent of 150th Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and other contenders who contributed to the thrilling three-wide photo finish. Mystik Dan … more

By GARY B. GRAVES | 5/5/24

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Salah scores as Liverpool beats Tottenham 4-2 in the Premier League

Mohamed Salah quickly put last week’s sideline spat with Jurgen Klopp behind him by scoring first in Liverpool’s 4-2 win against Tottenham in the Premier League. The sight of Salah arguing with … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 5/5/24

Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen drives against Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cavs center Jarrett Allen is out for Game 7 vs. Magic with rib injury, missing 3rd game in series

Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will miss Game 7 against Orlando with a painful rib injury that sidelined him for the final three games of the series. Allen, who grabbed 20 rebounds in Game 2, had … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/5/24

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery gestures on the touchline during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa, at the American Express Stadium in Brighton, England, Sunday May 5, 2024. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

Aston Villa slips up in race for Champions League after 1-0 loss at Brighton

A bad week has got worse for Aston Villa after a surprise 1-0 loss at Brighton in the race for the top four. Unai Emery’s team lost 4-2 at home to Olympiakos in the first leg of their Europa … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 5/5/24

Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal with Morgan Geekie (39), Charlie McAvoy (73) and Brandon Carlo (25) in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Bruins taking lessons, sense of fight into 2nd-round matchup with Panthers

Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery wanted to do something different with his team heading into a first-round Game 7 matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins were facing the prospect of … more

By KYLE HIGHTOWER | 5/5/24

PSG's Mbappe reacts after a missed chance during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park, Dortmundm Germany, Wednesday May 1, 2024. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)

Champions League: Bayern and Dortmund could stop Mbappe's showdown with Real Madrid

Real Madrid needs fortress Bernabeu to live up to its reputation. Paris Saint-Germain could do with some magic from the departing Kylian Mbappé. Otherwise we could be set for a repeat of the 2013 … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 5/5/24

FILE - Alexandre Pantoja poses on the scale during a ceremonial weigh-in for the UFC 290 mixed martial arts event July 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. Flyweight champion Pantoja is scheduled to meet Steve Erceg in the main event at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)

Hometown champion Pantoja unanimously outpoints Erceg at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro

Hometown champion Alexandre Pantoja unanimously outpointed Australian Steve Erceg on Saturday night to retain his flyweight championship at UFC 301. Pantoja (28-5), the 34-year-old flyweight champion … more

5/5/24

Canelo Alvarez knocks down Jaime Munguia in a super middleweight title fight Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Canelo Alvarez retains undisputed championship with unanimous decision over Jaime Munguia

Canelo Alvarez held off a feisty challenger Saturday night, proving to be the stronger and more effective boxer to retain his undisputed super middleweight championship, winning by unanimous decision … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 5/5/24

Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (88) sets up to score on Toronto Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov (35) in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

David Pastrnak scores in overtime to lift Bruins to Game 7 win over rival Maple Leafs

David Pastrnak scored on a feed from Hampus Lindholm 1:54 into overtime and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 to clinch their first-round series and advance in the NHL … more

By KYLE HIGHTOWER | 5/4/24

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi falls on New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Edelman during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Messi has a record-setting game with a goal and 5 assists in Inter Miami's 6-2 win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi set three MLS records with a goal and five assists as Inter Miami trounced the New York Red Bulls 6-2. His six goal contributions, five assists and five assists in a half were all league … more

5/4/24

Brian Hernandez Jr. celebrates in the winner's circle after riding Mystik Dan to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kentucky Derby victory aboard Mystik Dan provides signature win for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Mystik Dan to victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby to complete the most rewarding weekend of his career. The Eclipse Award winner and Breeders' Cup champion won the … more

By GARY B. GRAVES | 5/4/24

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards reacts after hitting a basket in the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Edwards scores 43 points, Reid erupts in 4th to help Timberwolves beat Nuggets 106-99 in Game 1

Anthony Edwards scored a playoff career-high 43 points, Naz Reid had 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets 106-99 in … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/4/24

Taylor Pendrith, right, laughs with fellow competitor Davis Riley, left, at the second hole tee box during the third round of the Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Taylor Pendrith leads Byron Nelson as one of several seeking first PGA Tour victory

Taylor Pendrith has a one-shot lead going into the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The Canadian is among several leaders seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Pendrith chipped in twice for … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 5/4/24

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, center, looks on from the bench in the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Recovering from knee surgery, Finch in 2nd row of Timberwolves bench for series opener with Nuggets

After having knee surgery, Minnesota coach Chris Finch was in the second row of the bench for Game 1 of a second-round series with Denver on Saturday night. Finch used crutches to attend his pregame … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/4/24