SPORTS HEADLINES

Thunder top Spurs 127-114 in Game 5, move a win away from a return to NBA Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, Alex Caruso led another strong bench effort with 22 and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved one win away from a return trip to the NBA Finals by beating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday night. Jared McCain — getting the call with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both sidelined — scored 20 in his first playoff start for the Thunder, who now lead the Western Conference finals 3-2. Stephon Castle scored 24 points for San Antonio, which got 22 points from Julian Champagnie and 20 points from Victor Wembanyama — who was held to 4 of 15 shooting.

Lamar Hunt’s legacy: World Cup adventures with sons Clark and Dan, and the foundation of US soccer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The late businessman Lamar Hunt was instrumental in bringing professional soccer to the U.S., founding the North American Soccer League and later Major League Soccer. He played a key role in the 1994 World Cup organization. Now, his sons Clark and Dan continue his legacy, organizing matches for the upcoming World Cup in Kansas City and Dallas. They believe their father would be thrilled with the progress.

Shades of the 2023 Stanley Cup team: Golden Knights win with depth scoring, defense and goaltending

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights have made it to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons, solidifying their status as a top expansion franchise in North American sports. They defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Tuesday night, completing a sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy winners. This year’s team, like the 2023 squad, has relied on depth scoring and strong defense. Coach John Tortorella praised the contributions from the third and fourth lines. Goalie Carter Hart has been outstanding, with a 12-4 record and a .924 save percentage in the playoffs.

Iga Swiatek improves career record at French Open to 42-3 as she reaches 3rd round

PARIS (AP) — Iga Swiatek has improved her career record at the French Open to 42-3. The four-time champion eliminated 35th-ranked Sara Bejlek 6-2, 6-3 to reach the third round. Swiatek won Roland Garros in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. With a heat wave still a factor in Paris also advancing was 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic. She beat American opponent Caty McNally 6-4, 6-0. Later Wednesday 39-year-old Novak Djokovic was facing 74th-ranked French player Valentin Royer and second-seeded Alexander Zverev was playing Tomas Machac in the night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The Blue Wave from tiny Curaçao is making World Cup history

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao (AP) — Curaçao has already crafted a story like none other in World Cup history. The tiny autonomous territory of about 156,000 residents is now the smallest, both in terms of population and land mass, to make it to soccer’s biggest stage. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s doing so under a coach in Dick Advocaat who, at 78, is about to become the oldest the tournament has ever seen. They know what the world is probably thinking: Their country is too small, their coach is too old, they don’t have a chance. They heard all that through the qualifying process as well — and here they are.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs arrested on charges related to domestic abuse

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is facing five criminal charges, including strangulation and suffocation, after police responded to a disturbance complaint involving him over the weekend. Hobart/Lawrence (Wisconsin) Police Chief Michael Renkas said that Jacobs was arrested Tuesday and booked into Brown County Jail on charges of strangulation and suffocation, battery-domestic abuse, criminal damage to property-domestic abuse, disorderly conduct-domestic abuse and intimidation of a victim. Renkas said police had been dispatched to a complaint involving Jacobs on Saturday at 8:37 a.m.

Victor Wembanyama held to series-low 20 points, Spurs fall in Game 5 of West finals to Thunder

It’s been a very simple formula for the San Antonio Spurs in these Western Conference finals. When Victor Wembanyama has been the best player on the floor, they win. When he isn’t, they lose. He wasn’t the best player on the floor Tuesday night. That was not the only reason why the Spurs fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the West finals — there were many — but it was certainly among them. Wembanyama, who has had 41-point and 33-point outings in winning efforts during the series, never seemed to get fully rolling and the Spurs lost 127-114.

10 players to watch at the World Cup

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to make their final appearances at the 2026 World Cup. This tournament could mark the end of an era as they pass the baton to a new generation. Players like Spain’s Lamine Yamal and France’s Kylian Mbappé are ready to take the spotlight. Other stars to watch include Norway’s Erling Haaland and Team USA’s Christian Pulisic. With Messi and Ronaldo nearing retirement, the stage is set for new legends to emerge in the soccer world.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry says sports cut from 2032 Brisbane Games could return in future

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — IOC president Kirsty Coventry says sports and medal events cut from the 2032 Brisbane Olympics program will have a path to return at future Summer Games. Coventry gave the reassurance at the annual meeting of Summer Games sports bodies known as ASOIF. She had warned in February of “uncomfortable” talks ahead to make future Olympic hosting more efficient. The International Olympic Committee aims to soon finalize the list of sports on the Brisbane program. Coventry previously told sports leaders there will be fewer than the 36 sports being played at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani still set to start after getting hit on hand by a pitch against the Rockies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was hit on the right hand by a pitch during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Colorado Rockies. Colorado starter Kyle Freeland struck Ohtani in the fourth inning and the two-way superstar left the game after grounding out in the fifth. He was 0 for 2 with a run scored. Manager Dave Roberts says the ball mostly hit the pad on Ohtani’s hand before clipping his pinkie finger. He took Ohtani out of the game so he could rest ahead of his scheduled mount start on Wednesday. Roberts says he hadn’t yet decided if Ohtani will hit as well.