ac Page 102 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Thunder, Pacers open battle in search of first NBA title
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the finals since 2000.,Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday when the teams square...
Oklahoma City vs. Indiana: The Small-Market Finals That Might Save the NBA
Small markets, big talent. The Thunder and Pacers are set to deliver a thrilling NBA Finals. And if you’re still at home whining about TV ratings, you’re missing the point....

Redblacks, Roughriders to kick off CFL season
The Ottawa Redblacks and Saskatchewan Roughriders will kick off the CFL season on Thursday night in Regina, Saskatchewan.,Both clubs finished with 9-8-1 records and qualified for the playoffs last season. The Redblacks fell to the eventual Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts in the East Division sem...

Braves' Chris Sale aims for another sharp effort in clash vs. D-backs
Two veteran pitchers will square off Wednesday night when the Atlanta Braves host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second game of their three-game series.,Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (5-2, 3.78 ERA) is scheduled to start against Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale (3-3, 3.06). The Diamondbacks won ...

Steven Wilson nabs fourth eNASCAR win of season
Steven Wilson, who hit a lull after winning three of the first four eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series events of the season, bounced back Tuesday to prevail in overtime at a virtual Kansas Speedway.,Tucker Minter, who had won the past two races and three of the past four, finished in second place on T...

Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte slug Diamondbacks past Braves
Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll both hit a pair of home runs and starting pitcher Zac Gallen pitched seven strong innings to help the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Tuesday in the opener of their three-game series.,Arizona evened the season series at 2-2 and has won two ...

Pacers flight diverted from Oklahoma City after tornado warning
The Indiana Pacers have waited 25 years to return to the NBA Finals, but they will have to wait a little longer as the team's arrival to Oklahoma City was delayed by weather.,While the Pacers' charter flight was in the air on Tuesday, forecasters issued a tornado warning, flood watch and severe thun...

Seahawks coach slams door on Sam Darnold QB2 talk
Pundits and proponents of starting any quarterback but Sam Darnold received an emphatic hush from Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on Tuesday. ,Whether Darnold, 27, was the best option to start for Seattle this season became a hotter topic on Monday after a rough showing in organized team activiti...

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas calls out bettor for verbal abuse
Gabby Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, said that an adult male sports bettor followed and verbally abused her during a Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia over the weekend.,Thomas posted on X that as she took pictures and signed autographs for fans -- mostly children -- around the track...

Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes (elbow) lands on IL
The Arizona Diamondbacks placed ace Corbin Burnes on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with right elbow inflammation.,The move is retroactive to Monday for Burnes, who left Sunday's start against Washington in the fifth inning.,Burnes allowed a run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings against the National...

MVP money: SGA could net $890K-per-game contract; Luka, Jokic up for raise, too
Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for the NBA's most valuable contract this offseason. ,Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, became "supermax" eligible with the Oklahoma City Thunder by earning All-NBA honors in consecutive seasons, and the numbers are something to behold. ,SGA could sign...

Braves hire ex-skipper Fredi Gonzalez to fix 3B coaching woes
The Atlanta Braves brought back former manager Fredi Gonzalez back to coach third base on Tuesday after a series of base-running blunders.,He replaces Matt Tuiasosopo, who accepted a new position as a minor league infield coordinator.,The Braves have seen four runners thrown out at home plate this s...

Robert MacIntyre staying positive ahead of RBC Canadian Open
Robert MacIntyre is seeing signs that his game is starting to come back around.,MacIntyre will look to continue trending in a positive direction this week when he defends his RBC Canadian Open title at TPC Toronto. The 28-year-old left-hander from Scotland captured his maiden PGA Tour title last sea...

Braves, D-backs face off struggling to meet playoff expectations
Spencer Strider will take another step in his return from injuries when the Atlanta Braves host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.,A return to form for Strider would be welcome news for the Braves, who have lost their last four series and dropped eight of their...

Dodgers acquire RHP Will Klein from Mariners amid bullpen shuffle
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-hander Will Klein in a trade with the Seattle Mariners on Monday in exchange for minor league left-hander Joe Jacques.,The Dodgers added Klein and right-hander Ryan Loutos to the active roster in advance of Monday's series opener at home against the New York Me...

Struggling offensively, Royals call up No. 1 prospect Jac Caglianone
The Kansas City Royals selected Jac Caglianone from Triple-A Omaha on Monday, giving the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft a crack at the majors after just 79 games in the minor leagues.,In a corresponding move, the Royals sent outfielder Dairon Blanco to Omaha.,Ranked as the No. 10 prospect ...

Pacers F Jarace Walker to miss at least first 2 games of finals
The Indiana Pacers will be without forward Jarace Walker for at least the first two games of the NBA Finals as he recovers from a right ankle injury.,The finals begin Thursday in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.,Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Monday on 107.5 The Fan radio in Indianapolis that the...

Lightning sign F Yanni Gourde to 6-year, $14M extension
The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Yanni Gourde to a six-year extension worth $14 million on Monday. ,Gourde, 33, was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. ,Gourde played the final 21 games of the season in Tampa after the club reacquired him from the Seattle Kraken in a three-team...

Report: Mariners acquiring LHP Joe Jacques from Dodgers
The Seattle Mariners are acquiring left-handed reliever Joe Jacques from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Post reported Monday.,The return for Los Angeles was not part of the initial report.,Jacques, 30, is 2-1 with a 5.46 ERA and one save in 25 career games (one start) with the Boston Red Sox ...

Astros place rookie OF Zach Dezenzo (hand) on 10-day IL
The Houston Astros placed rookie outfielder Zach Dezenzo on the 10-day injured list on Sunday because of inflammation in his left hand.,In a corresponding move, the Astros selected the contract of top outfield prospect Jacob Melton from Triple-A Sugar Land. To make room for Melton on the 40-man rost...