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CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks allowed two runs on three hits and a walk to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, his first outing since recovering from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Hendriks, 34, got several standing ovations, both before he took the mound and when he entered the game in the top of the eighth inning. He pitched one inning. "It was definitely emotional," Hendriks said after the 6-4 loss. "It was humbling going out there and seeing the amount of people wearing my shirts, the amount of people having signs or flags or anything like that -- the amount of people that were chanting when I came into the game." Both teams stood and clapped for Hendriks, as did the Memorial Day crowd at Guaranteed Rate Field. Home plate umpire John Libka and Angels lead-off man that inning, Matt Thaiss, also gave Hendriks a moment to take it all in before beginning the inning. "It was great being back out there," Hendriks stated. "I felt good. I...

The Denver Nuggets, who will be making their first appearance in the NBA Finals, have been installed as -360 favorites over the Miami Heat, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Denver is an 8-point home favorite in Game 1 on Thursday, with an over/under of 219. The Heat are only the second 8-seed ever to capture a conference championship, and just the third team to win its first three series as an underdog. Miami has racked up a 13-5 postseason record against the spread, winning a record-tying nine games outright as an underdog. "Miami's playoff run has really solidified the fact that they're a team built for the postseason," David Lieberman, lead NBA oddsmaker for Caesars Sportsbook, told ESPN. "We've seen it a couple of times over the past three seasons but everyone seemed to forget about that over the course of the regular season. (Jimmy) Butler and (coach Erik) Spoelstra are able to find a new gear come playoff time." The Heat were 200-1 championship long shots...

The Denver Nuggets, who will be making their first appearance in the NBA Finals, were installed as -360 favorites over the Miami Heat by Caesars Sportsbook on Monday night. Denver also opened as an 8-point home favorite in Game 1 on Thursday, with an over/under of 219. The Heat are only the second 8-seed to capture a conference championship, and just the third team to win its first three series as an underdog. Miami has racked up a 13-5 postseason record against the spread, winning a record-tying nine games outright as an underdog. "Miami's playoff run has really solidified the fact that they're a team built for the postseason," David Lieberman, lead NBA oddsmaker for Caesars Sportsbook, told ESPN. "We've seen it a couple of times over the past three seasons, but everyone seemed to forget about that over the course of the regular season. [Jimmy] Butler and [coach Erik] Spoelstra are able to find a new gear come playoff time." The Heat were 200-1 championship long...

BOSTON -- Jimmy Butler called his shot. A year to the day after Butler vowed to get the Miami Heat over the hump following a hard-fought Game 7 loss to the  Boston Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals, he made good on his promise. Miami joined the 1999 New York Knicks as the second No. 8 seed to make the NBA Finals after a dominant 103-84 victory over Boston in Game 7 of the conference finals on Monday night. "Figure out a way to be consistent," Butler had said after that Game 7 defeat in 2022 -- one that ended with him missing a 3-pointer that would have potentially won Miami the game. "I think we had enough, I think we do have enough ... next year, we will have enough and we're going to be right back in this same situation and we're gonna get it done." He was right. The truth behind Butler's words has been prophetic throughout the Heat's magical run this postseason. He scored 28 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six...

DALLAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights will face the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup after eliminating, and absolutely dominating, the Dallas Stars in a 6-0 victory on Monday night in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Vegas will host Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night. The NHL is guaranteed to have a franchise win its first ever Stanley Cup this postseason. It's the second trip to the Stanley Cup Final for both franchises, as the Knights played for the Cup in 2018 and the Panthers back in 1996. "The first trip was just kind of overwhelming. You've never been there before. Maybe you took it for granted a little bit back then," Vegas center William Karlsson, one of six players from that Stanley Cup run in the franchise's inaugural season, said. "Five years later, there's been ups and downs. You realize that this opportunity doesn't come around too often." Karlsson scored twice and goalie Adin Hill made 23 saves...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Pittsburgh's Jack Suwinski hit two home runs into the San Francisco Bay on Monday during a 14-4 loss to San Francisco on Monday, joining Barry Bonds as the only players to reach McCovey Cove twice in a game since Oracle Park opened 24 seasons ago. Suwinski's hit solo homers in the seventh against Anthony DeSclafani and in the ninth off Brett Wisely, a position player who took the mound in the one-sided game. Bonds homered twice into the water beyond the right-field wall against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 10, 2000, and off the Florida Marlins on May 18, 2002. There have been 155 splash home runs in the regular season and postseason. Suwinski hit the 55th and 56th by a visiting player. The Giants have hit 99, including two this year by LaMonte Wade Jr. and Brandon Crawford. Bonds leads with 35 homers into the bay from 2000-07. When he hit his 35th on Aug. 8, 2007 -- the night after he hit his 756th home run to...

DESTIN, Fla. -- SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wouldn't say for certain whether the league would vote at its spring meetings this week on whether to use an eight- or nine-game conference schedule in football moving forward, but he said he already has "made clear what I think eventually should happen" and that he'd like to have a solution soon. "I would prefer to not continue to circle the airport with the airplane," he said Monday. But a resolution could be difficult as schools appear split on which scheduling formula is most beneficial. Issues of bowl eligibility, competitive balance and television revenue are expected to be part of the conversation. The upcoming expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams is a factor as well. The two schedules at the center of the debate are an eight-game conference schedule that would feature one permanent opponent and seven rotating opponents, and a nine-game schedule with three permanent opponents and six rotating opponents. Sankey...

BOSTON -- Celtics point guard Malcolm Brogdon is available for Monday night's deciding Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the visiting Miami Heat, the team announced about an hour before tipoff.  The 2023 Sixth Man of the Year has been dealing with a partial tear in the tendon in his right elbow, an injury that worsened early in this series. After scoring a combined two points on 1-of-13 shooting from the field in Games 3-5, Brogdon sat out Saturday's Game 6 win in Miami. While Brogdon's forearm is still sore, a source said the swelling and pain has subsided and he feels more confident about being able to make a positive impact. He took jump shots in front of the media at shootaround Monday morning. In his first year with the Celtics, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound veteran averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the regular season. Brogdon, who has played three years each with the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, has...

CHICAGO -- Marcus Stroman raised both arms and pounded his glove as the crowd at Wrigley Field roared following the final out. He had silenced the team with the best record in baseball. And he did it with a performance he will never forget. Stroman threw a one-hitter, and the Chicago Cubs beat the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 on Monday. Stroman (5-4) dazzled in his fourth complete game and second shutout in nine major league seasons. His only other shutout was against the Cubs during his 2014 rookie season with Toronto. "Throwing a CG at Wrigley, that's like one of the top moments of my career," Stroman said. "The energy. When I walk out there 40 minutes before the game, there's a massive cheering section already." Stroman gave fans plenty to cheer once he stepped on the mound. He set a season high with 105 pitches and matched one with eight strikeouts. The right-hander walked one in winning his third straight start and helped the Cubs...

CHICAGO -- Marcus Stroman raised both arms and pounded his glove as the crowd at Wrigley Field roared following the final out. He had silenced the team with the best record in baseball. And he did it with a performance he will never forget. Stroman threw a one-hitter, and the Chicago Cubs beat the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 on Monday. Stroman (5-4) dazzled in his fourth complete game and second shutout in nine major league seasons. His only other shutout was against the Cubs during his 2014 rookie season with Toronto. "Throwing a CG at Wrigley, that's like one of the top moments of my career," Stroman said. "The energy. When I walk out there 40 minutes before the game, there's a massive cheering section already." Stroman gave fans plenty to cheer once he stepped on the mound. He set a season high with 105 pitches and matched one with eight strikeouts. The right-hander walked one in winning his third straight start and helped the Cubs...

The Philadelphia 76ers are hiring Nick Nurse as coach, tasking him with helping to deliver the franchise its first title in 40 years, sources told ESPN on Monday. The Sixers and Phoenix Suns were engaged with Nurse and his agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, throughout Sunday and Monday, leaving Nurse with a difficult decision between two contending teams, sources said. Nurse's desire to coach MVP Joel Embiid and his history with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey played a significant part in his decision to commit to a deal with Philadelphia, sources said. Nurse separated himself in the interview process, selling a vision for the Sixers centered on Embiid.   He'll now be part of a Sixers organization working to re-sign James Harden, who is expected to become a free agent this summer. Nurse oversaw an aggressive style of defense coaching the  Toronto Raptors this season, helping them become the first team to record...

DENVER -- With a week off since they last played, the Denver Nuggets are thrilled that their long wait to find out who they play in the NBA Finals ends Monday night. "It's definitely been a long wait," forward Michael Porter Jr. said after Nuggets practice Monday. "It seems like we haven't played a game in forever, so we just been trying to stay in shape, stay in the gym, and just wait and see." The Nuggets have been off since eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on May 22. They've been working on conditioning and trying to go as hard as they can to simulate playoff tempo when they are on the court.   But it wasn't until Monday's practice that coach Michael Malone said his team worked on things that both the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat do just to be as prepared as possible. Game 1 of the Finals will be played Thursday night. "It's definitely been a challenge," Malone said of trying to keep...

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said he told club president Joan Laporta that he would like to have Lionel Messi back next season and said he speaks to his former teammate regularly about a possible return to the team. Messi, 35, left Barca two years ago at the end of his contract, but he will be available as a free agent this summer when his deal with Paris Saint-Germain expires. "In terms of what I am in charge of, the football side of things, there are no doubts that if Messi comes back he is going to help us," Xavi told Diario Sport when asked if Messi returning would make sense. "I have made that clear to the president. I don't have a single doubt about that because he is still a difference-maker, he is still hungry, he's a winner and he is a leader. "We don't have a team with the talent of 2010, for example, and what does Messi bring? He brings talent. He is capable of providing the final pass, taking free kicks, scoring goals. He is a differential...

PARIS -- World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz issued an early warning to his rivals as he began his quest for a second Grand Slam title by easing past Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in the French Open first round Monday. Earlier in the day,  Novak Djokovic launched his campaign for a record-breaking 23rd men's Grand Slam singles title with a no-nonsense 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) first-round victory over debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic. Veteran Fabio Fognini of Italy, meanwhile, rolled back the years to take down 10th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round as the Canadian became the first top-10 player in the men's draw to exit the tournament. Alcaraz, 20, has already cemented his status as a top contender on the biggest stages and is one of the favorites to take on the mantle of his Spanish compatriot and 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, who is absent this year with a hip issue. Alcaraz, who...

BOSTON -- Celtics point guard Malcolm Brogdon plans to play in the deciding Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals against the visiting Miami Heat on Monday night, a source told ESPN's Andscape. The 2023 Sixth Man of the Year has been dealing with a partial tear in the tendon in his right elbow, an injury that worsened early in this series. After scoring a combined two points on 1-of-13 shooting from the field in Games 3-5, Brogdon sat out Saturday's Game 6 win in Miami. While Brogdon's forearm is still sore, the source said the swelling and pain has subsided and he feels more confident about being able to make a positive impact. He took jump shots in front of the media at shootaround Monday morning. In his first year with the Celtics, the 6-foot-4, 229-pound veteran averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the regular season. Brogdon, who has played three years each with the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, has never...

DALLAS -- After receiving a two-game suspension in the Western Conference finals, Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn thought his season might be over. The Stars lost Game 3 to go down 3-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights, the same contest in which Benn cross-checked Mark Stone in the jaw to earn a first-period game misconduct and subsequent two-game ban. But the Stars won the next two games without Benn, giving their captain a chance to return for Game 6 on Monday night in Dallas (8 ET, ESPN). "I was praying we were going to play two solid games just to get another chance and another kick at it here. I'm really proud of the guys," said Benn, who was the first player to hit the ice for practice. "It sucks watching, especially in playoffs. The guys had two gutsy efforts. Character wins and a lot of confidence in this room." Benn has 11 points in 16 games for the Stars, including three goals. The Stars used Benn's absence as a rallying cry to push the series...

The Tampa Bay Rays placed closer Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list Monday because of left hip inflammation. Fairbanks said his hip "locked up" on him while warming up before the ninth inning of Sunday's 11-10 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He did not enter the game. The IL move is retroactive to Sunday. In a corresponding move, the club recalled right-hander  Trevor Kelley from Triple-A Durham. Fairbanks, 29, is 0-1 with a 1.54 ERA and five saves in 13 relief appearances this season. Fairbanks, who last pitched Friday, went on the injured list earlier this season with right forearm inflammation. Kelley, 30, is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in six appearances (two starts) for the Rays this season.

BOSTON -- Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is confident his team has gotten over the emotional ending of Game 6's heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics and will respond well in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night. Spoelstra said the team regrouped after Derrick White's buzzer beater on Saturday night "by the next day," and he believes it will do what it needs to do to earn its second trip to the NBA Finals in four seasons. "Everybody's fine," Spoelstra said after Monday's shootaround. "We have great mental stability with our group, and we understand that we have a big audacious goal. It's not just this game, it's not just this series. So it's going to be a lot of things that happen along the way. Like I said after the game [Saturday], we've had a lot of experience, unfortunately, with those kind of losses, but we've come back and also have experience bouncing back from those in a very powerful way." Heat players repeated the...

Michael Soroka will start for the Atlanta Braves on Monday night at  Oakland, manager Brian Snitker announced, marking the right-hander's return to the big leagues after almost three years and two Achilles tears. The Braves made the transaction to recall Soroka on Monday morning, optioning right-hander Dereck Rodriguez to Triple-A Gwinnett after he pitched the final two innings of Sunday's 11-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Soroka, 25, last pitched in the majors on Aug. 3, 2020, three games into the pandemic-shortened season, when he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon against the New York Mets. Following a setback that required a follow-up surgery, he suffered another tear of the same Achilles tendon midway through the 2021 season while walking into the clubhouse. Soroka suffered another complication in his comeback when a hamstring injury slowed his progress this spring. "To get back is really a feather in that kid's cap,"...

PARIS -- Novak Djokovic launched his quest for a record-breaking 23rd men's Grand Slam singles title with a no-nonsense 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) first-round victory over debutant Aleksandar Kovacevic at the French Open on Monday. The two-time champion breezed through the first two sets before encountering resistance from the 24-year-old American, whose lack of experience then showed in the tiebreak on the world's biggest clay court. Djokovic ended the contest with a sizzling service return on his first match point and will next face Hungarian journeyman Marton Fucsovics for a place in the third round. "It's always a pleasure to come back here, one of the best tournaments in the world," said Djokovic, who made his Roland Garros debut in 2005. "I'm very motivated to go far here, all the way I hope." Djokovic did not have an ideal buildup to the clay-court Grand Slam, missing the Madrid Masters and being eliminated in the last eight at the Italian Open in Rome,...

Racist behavior directed at athletes is getting worse, and even software designed to protect them from it has little impact, tennis player  Sloane Stephens said Monday. Stephens, speaking after her straight-sets victory over Karolina Pliskova in the French Open first round, said she has had to endure it her whole career. "Yes, it's obviously been a problem my entire career," said Stephens, who is Black. "It has never stopped. If anything, it's only gotten worse." The world's 30th-ranked player, Stephens did not go into specific details but said even software such as that available for players at the French Open, which is designed to block racist comments on social media, could not stop it. "I did hear about the software. I have not used it," she said. "I have a lot of obviously key words banned on Instagram and all of these things, but that doesn't stop someone from just typing in an asterisk or typing it in a different way, which obviously software most of the...

Back on her "favorite court in the world," Sloane Stephens looked sharp in her opening match at the French Open with a 6-0, 6-4 win over two-time major finalist Karolina Pliskova. While Stephens' only Grand Slam title came at the 2017 US Open, she has had sustained success at Roland Garros, finishing as a runner-up to Simona Halep in 2018 and reaching two other quarterfinals on the red clay in Paris, including last year. "This is my favorite court in the world, so I'm super happy to be back," Stephens told the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier. "To start a Slam on your favorite court, your favorite surface, is always incredible." Stephens helped American women go 4-0 through the first few hours of play on Day 2 of the tournament after a 1-4 start Sunday, when the only U.S. victory came in a match between two players from the country: Jessica Pegula beat Danielle Collins. Madison Keys, the runner-up to Stephens in New York six years ago and a...

Latvians woke up to go to work Monday morning, only to find they didn't have to. Their parliament had met at midnight to declare a holiday after the national ice hockey team chalked up its best result at the world championship. Latvia, where hockey is the national sport, was co-hosting the men's championship with Finland, and the country's 4-3 overtime victory over the United States for the bronze medal was greeted with wild jubilation.  A plane bringing the team home from Finland flew at low altitude over central Riga on Monday to greet thousands of fans gathered to welcome the squad. At quarter to midnight Sunday, sporting red-and-white national team jerseys, members of parliament convened for a 10-minute session to unanimously declare the holiday. It was "to strengthen the fact of significant success of Latvian athletes in the social memory of the society," according to the bill's sponsors. The bill was introduced by a smiling member of parliament with her face...

Chelsea have appointed former Tottenham Hotspur and  Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino to take over as manager, the club announced on Monday. Pochettino, 51, signed a two-year deal with the option of a further year and will start work on July 1 ahead of the club's preseason tour to the United States. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Sources told ESPN that although the club spoke to a number of candidates after sacking Graham Potter on April 3, Pochettino was identified as their first choice early in the process and has agreed to work closely with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stuart. Although co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital executive Behdad Eghbali had final sign-off, the search was led by Winstanley and Stuart, who said in a joint statement: "Mauricio's experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities and character will serve Chelsea Football Club well as...

Michael Soroka will start for the Atlanta Braves on Monday night at  Oakland, manager Brian Snitker announced, marking the right-hander's return to the big leagues after almost three years and two Achilles tears. Soroka, 25, last pitched in the majors on Aug. 3, 2020, three games into the pandemic-shortened season, when he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon against the New York Mets. Following a setback that required a follow-up surgery, he suffered another tear of the same Achilles tendon midway through the 2021 season while walking into the clubhouse. Soroka suffered another complication in his comeback when a hamstring injury slowed his progress this spring. "To get back is really a feather in that kid's cap," Snitker said Sunday night after his team defeated the visiting Phillies 11-4.  Soroka initially was set to pitch for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday against the Durham Bulls before the team called an audible and scratched him in favor of...

Free agent running back Le'Veon Bell has admitted that he smoked marijuana before NFL games. Bell, who last played in the NFL in 2021, opened up about the topic on the "Steel Here" podcast, which focuses on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bell played for Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2017, then sat out the 2018 season amid a contractual battle with the team. "Looking back on this, that's what I did," Bell said. "When I was playing football, I smoked, bro. Even before the games, I'd smoke and I'd go out there and run for 150, two [touchdowns]." When Bell finally left the Steelers, he played for the New York Jets in 2019 and two games in 2020. The Jets' coach at the time was Adam Gase, who came under criticism from Bell on the podcast. "Bro, we get to New York, and that's when you instantly find out that head coaches make a huge difference," Bell said. "As soon as I get to New York, I find that out like the first week. ... Bro, the team wasn't that great, don't...

Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks will be reinstated to the active roster Monday, the team announced, after he missed the first two months of the season while being treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  The White Sox posted a video montage to their Twitter page Sunday that featured messages from White Sox players and coaches welcoming back Hendriks.  "See you soon Southside,"  Hendriks posted on Instagram, along with Monday's date, 5-29.  Hendriks, 34, was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in early December and completed his final round of chemotherapy in early April. He began a rehab assignment earlier this month, appearing in six games for Triple-A Charlotte.  Hendriks threw several batting practice sessions over the past 10 days against teammates before declaring himself ready Sunday. "As of now I have a clean bill of health," Hendriks said this month as he began his rehab assignment. "I'm currently in...

After nearly a year, the Indiana Fever are back in the win column. The Fever beat the Atlanta Dream 90-87 on Sunday, Indiana's first victory since June 19, 2022. It ended a 20-game losing streak, which was tied for the longest in WNBA history. "We talked about it from Day 1 in our team meeting: Culture is the most important thing," Fever coach Christie Sides said. "Culture, playing hard, being the hardest-working team in practice. And I promise you, coaches say it all the time, but these guys have worked really hard every day." The Fever have not made the playoffs since the retirement of franchise legend Tamika Catchings in 2016. Their postseason drought followed 12 consecutive playoff appearances for the franchise, including three trips to the WNBA Finals and the 2012 league championship.  Last season marked the franchise's low point in victories, with Indiana going 5-31. Coach Marianne Stanley was fired May 25, 2022, with the Fever sitting at 2-7. She was...

BOSTON -- The extensive Last Two Minute Report from the chaotic final moments of the Celtics' heart-stopping 104-103 victory over the Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night revealed two missed calls -- both of which went against Boston -- while saying there were no issues with the foul on Jimmy Butler with three seconds remaining. The report, issued early Sunday evening, said officials missed two things among the 32 the league reviewed from the final 120 seconds of action: a lane violation by Heat forward Caleb Martin on a free throw Jaylen Brown missed with 1:01 remaining in the fourth quarter and a foul on Jayson Tatum by Heat guard Gabe Vincent on a drive to the basket with 33.5 seconds left. That play eventually ended with Tatum being blocked by Bam Adebayo and Miami getting the ball back.   There were no issues with the foul call against Al Horford on Butler's 3-point attempt...

The NBA has opened an investigation into longtime referee Eric Lewis involving a Twitter account that responded to numerous posts on league officiating and defended Lewis and other NBA referees, league sources confirmed to ESPN. The account in question, which has since been deleted, was listed under a username "Blair Cuttliff" with the handle @CuttliffBlair. At potential issue is a league rule against referees commenting on officiating publicly without authorization. If it can be proved Lewis was making such statements, he could face discipline. Lewis, who is in his 19th season as a referee, has officiated more than 1,100 games and 82 playoff games. He has been one of the NBA's highest-rated officials in recent years and has been assigned to six Finals games since 2019. He last worked Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers on May 16. Burner accounts have been an issue in the NBA in the past. In 2018, ...

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba bid farewell to Barcelona on Sunday on an emotional evening as the LaLiga champions ran out 3-0 winners against Mallorca. Ansu Fati scored a brace and Gavi added the third in what was also the last game at Spotify Camp Nou for the foreseeable future, with Barca due to move to the Olympic Stadium next season to allow their iconic home to be redeveloped. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) However, the night belonged to club captains Busquets and Alba as they played their final ever games for Barca, with coach Xavi Hernandez later confirming they will not be involved in the final fixture of the season at Celta Vigo next week. Alba, 34, broke down in tears when he was taken off late in the second half to a standing ovation, hugging all his teammates individually as the supporters chanted his name. Busquets, also 34, wore a smile as he followed the left-back...

Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season after Everton ensured their own survival with a narrow victory on Sunday. Leicester put together one of the all-time underdog sports stories when they lifted the Premier League title in 2016 but now face life in the Championship despite a 2-1 victory on Sunday over West Ham United. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Leeds will join them in England's second tier after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. The club led a difficult season that saw them sack managers Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia before hiring Sam Allardyce with four games remaining. Meanwhile, a superb strike from Abdoulaye Doucoure helped Everton to a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, maintaining the club's record of never having been relegated from the Premier League as they enter their final...

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Sergio Rico is in intensive care following a horse riding accident, the club said on Sunday. The Ligue 1 champions confirmed Spanish media reports that Rico, PSG's second-choice goalkeeper, is in the ICU at Sevilla's Virgen del Rocio hospital. "Paris Saint-Germain learned of Sergio Rico's accident on Sunday and are in constant contact with his family," PSG said in a statement. Spaniard Rico, 29, joined PSG in 2020 after a season-long loan at the club. He previously enjoyed spells at Sevilla, Fulham and Mallorca. He has also been capped once for Spain in 2016. "Lots of strength and speedy recovery, @sergiorico25" Sevilla said in a message posted to Twitter. PSG clinched a record 11th French league title after drawing 1-1 at Strasbourg on Saturday.

MIAMI -- Less than a second away from their second trip to the NBA Finals in four seasons,  Miami Heat players and fans stood in collective shock after  Boston Celtics guard Derrick White tipped in the go-ahead bucket at the buzzer in a stunning 104-103 loss Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. The shot forced Game 7 on Monday and pushed the Celtics to within one victory of becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. Despite the emotions of the loss, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and star forward Jimmy Butler were defiant in the belief that they could still find a way to win the biggest game of the season on Monday night. Spoelstra called the final sequence a "shame" but said he has "no regrets." "This is the way this season has been," he said. "This is one hell of a series. At this time right now, I don't know how we are going to get this done, but we are going up there and get it...

MIAMI -- The Heat were less than a second away from the NBA Finals. But with a precious two-tenths of a second remaining, Derrick White -- who had served as the inbounds passer on the final possession for the Boston Celtics -- managed to release a putback of a Marcus Smart missed jumper that fell through the net just as the buzzer sounded, giving the Celtics a heart-stopping 104-103 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. It sends this series back to Boston for Game 7 on Monday night and moves the Celtics one win away from becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. "Derrick White, like a flash of lightning, just came out of nowhere and saved the day, man," teammate Jaylen Brown said. "It was just an incredible play." It was an incredible series of moments -- all of which were eerily similar to the way Game 7 of this same matchup on this same court played out almost exactly one year...

With head coach Becky Hammon on the sideline for the first time this season, the Las Vegas Aces received their 2022 WNBA championship rings Saturday night. So did former Aces player Dearica Hamby, who was traded in January to the Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas' opponent for the evening. Hamby criticized the Aces after the trade, accusing them of treating her in an "unprofessional and unethical way" due to her pregnancy and not following through on promises that were made to her when she signed a contract extension during the 2022 season. The Aces have denied mistreating Hamby. But after an investigation, the WNBA on May 16 imposed penalties on Hammon and the Aces for violating the league's Respect in the Workplace policy and impermissible player benefits regarding Hamby. Hammon was suspended two games, and the Aces were stripped of a 2025 first-round draft pick. On Saturday, the crowd at Las Vegas' Michelob Ultra Arena gave a warm ovation to Hamby when she...

LAS VEGAS -- A healthy scratch to start the series, Ty Dellandrea scored two pivotal, third-period goals in the Dallas Stars' 4-2 victory on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. The win kept the Stars' season alive for at least two more days. Game 6 is Monday night in Dallas. Dellandrea's winning and insurance goals also came with another accomplishment in that it guaranteed Stars captain Jamie Benn will return for Game 6 after being suspended for the past two games for a cross-check on Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in Game 3. "It's a lot of desperation, we have a lot to play for here," Dellandrea said. "Our group's really come together and leaned on one another. Guys have stepped up. ... We've really been leaning on one another and playing for a lot here. It's been a group effort for sure." Stars defenseman Thomas Harley set up Dellandrea's goal by breaking up a Golden Knights'...

Shilo Sanders' long-anticipated transfer to Colorado is set, as the Jackson State safety will join his father and brother with the Buffaloes. Sanders, the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and older brother of Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, announced that Colorado will be his transfer destination Saturday night. Although Shilo Sanders entered the transfer portal Dec. 17, the same day as his brother, he remained at Jackson State to finish his undergraduate degree this spring. A video posted to Shilo Sanders' social media platforms ended with him in a Colorado uniform wearing No. 21, the same number he wore at both Jackson State and South Carolina, and Deion Sanders' number during a Hall of Fame NFL career. Shilo Sanders earned second-team all-conference honors for Jackson State in 2021, when he recorded 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 7 pass breakups and 39 tackles. His interceptions total tied for second in the SWAC. Last season, Sanders...

Two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser demolished his own shot put world record on Saturday, throwing for 23.56 meters at the Los Angeles Grand Prix. The American surpassed his previous world record of 23.37 meters, which he achieved at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in June 2021. Crouser is the only man ever to throw further than 23.50 meters and he punched the air as he sent one ricocheting off the back barrier, reaching the record-breaking mark on his fourth attempt at the Continental Tour Gold event. He put the field on notice with opening attempts of 23.23 and 23.31 meters, which would both count among the top six farthest attempts produced in the event.

MIAMI -- Heat guard Gabe Vincent will return from a one-game absence and start in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. In another switch for the Heat, forward Caleb Martin will take Kevin Love's spot in the starting five. Vincent, who is averaging 17.5 points a game during this series, missed Game 5 with a left ankle injury, which he suffered after landing awkwardly after taking a jump shot midway through the fourth quarter of Game 4. Vincent briefly returned to the game and was optimistic about playing in Game 5, but his ankle did not recover in time. Kyle Lowry started in Vincent's place in Miami's 110-97 loss on Thursday. He struggled in his 30 minutes on the court, posting five points, two rebounds, one assist and four turnovers. Martin has had a strong series off the bench for the Heat, averaging 17.6 points on 59.3% shooting from the field. He has also shot well from deep, going...

Luis Alberto Lopez needed to again cross the Atlantic Ocean if he wanted to remain a featherweight champion. And for the second time in six months, Lopez retained the IBF belt in the 126-pound division. Lopez stopped Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday with a thunderous right uppercut in the fifth round that put the Irish challenger on his back and prompted his corner to throw the towel to stop the bout before the referee could administer a 10-count. "I wanted to come to Belfast so I can prove that I am a true champion," Lopez said through an interpreter in a postfight interview with BT Sport. Conlan was down for a couple of minutes following the stoppage and received oxygen from the medical staff before he eventually sat up and returned to his corner. He stood in the middle of the ring and applauded Lopez as the result was announced inside the ring. Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) was making his first title defense of the IBF featherweight belt. Last December, Lopez...

Oklahoma nearly let history slip away as it saw a four-run lead turn into a three-run deficit against Clemson in Game 2 of the Norman Super Regional on Saturday. But, down to their final strike, the defending champions fought back, tying things up on a Kinzie Hansen three-run homer and then getting the go-ahead solo home run from Tiare Jennings in the ninth inning to win 8-7 and advance to the Women's College World Series next week. The win gives the Sooners the most consecutive victories of all time (48). Arizona (1996-97) was the previous record holder. Oklahoma also holds the third-, fourth- and fifth-longest win streaks (41 games in 2019, 40 games in 2020-21 and 40 games in 2021-22). The Sooners (56-1) are the prohibitive favorites to win a third straight WCWS. They have won six championships under coach Patty Gasso, including five in the past 10 years. Their only loss this season came in February against Baylor -- a 4-3 defeat on the road. They later swept a three-game...

Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time after beating Coventry City 6-5 on penalties in Saturday's Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium, earning a return to England's top flight after a 31-year absence. Coventry's Fankaty Dabo blazed his spot kick over the crossbar after the shootout went into sudden death following a 1-1 draw and a tense but goalless period of extra time, when Luton's Joe Taylor had a late goal disallowed due to handball. - Imber:  Luton's football fairy tale goes on after after historic promotion - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A second-half equaliser from Coventry midfielder Gustavo Hamer cancelled out Jordan Clark's brilliant opener, after Luton captain Tom Lockyer was carried off on a stretcher early on after he collapsed on the pitch. Luton confirmed Lockyer, 28, is responsive and talking to his family after he was taken...

Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time after beating Coventry City 6-5 on penalties in Saturday's Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium, earning a return to England's top flight after a 31-year absence. Coventry's Fankaty Dabo missed the crucial penalty, blazing his shot over the crossbar, to seal the win for Luton following a 1-1 draw and a tense but goalless period of extra time, when Luton's Joe Taylor had a late goal disallowed due to handball. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A second-half equaliser from Coventry midfielder Gustavo Hamer cancelled out Jordan Clark's brilliant opener, after Luton captain Tom Lockyer was carried off on a stretcher early on after he collapsed on the pitch. Luton confirmed Lockyer, 28, is responsive and talking to his family after he was taken to hospital for tests. The centre back had fallen to the ground with no player around him and was...

The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as the franchise's next head coach, sources told ESPN on Saturday. The Bucks landed on Griffin as their choice Saturday morning and began negotiations on a multiyear contract that is expected to result in a formalized deal soon, sources said. Bucks general manager Jon Horst and team ownership became sold on Griffin's leadership presence, character and ability to oversee high-level defensive teams, sources said. Griffin will replace Mike Budenholzer, who was dismissed after five years following a first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat. Griffin will take over a franchise that has had significant success in recent years around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and is only two years removed from winning the NBA title. Each of three finalists for the job -- Griffin, Golden State Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson and former Raptors coach Nick Nurse -- met...

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was placed on the seven-day concussion list Saturday after he was hit by a line-drive foul ball while in the dugout Friday night. He spent the night in a Milwaukee hospital as a precaution. Teammate Brian Anderson was batting in the bottom of the second inning against the  San Francisco Giants when he hit a line drive that struck Adames, with video showing the ball appearing to hit him in the head or face. Adames was able to walk to the clubhouse, and manager Craig Counsell said after the 15-1 defeat that tests done at the hospital showed no broken bones. The game was stopped for a few minutes to allow Milwaukee's training staff to attend to Adames as he sat on the bench. Anderson's concern was apparent on his face as he waited from near the batter's box. "I still haven't really processed it all the way through," Anderson said Saturday. "I was able to talk to him a little bit last night and he seemed like...

The Milwaukee Bucks are planning to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as the franchise's next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. The Bucks are beginning work on financial terms of a contract with Griffin and a deal is expected to be reached soon, sources said. Griffin has been a steady climber as a top head-coaching candidate among the pool of league assistants. He spent the past four years on Nick Nurse's staff with the Raptors and has made stops with Oklahoma City, Orlando and Chicago. He started his coaching career as an assistant for two seasons (2008-10) with the Bucks. Prior to that, Griffin played nine seasons in the NBA. Griffin is set to take over a Bucks team that features two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in his prime and is only two years removed from winning the NBA title. Milwaukee is replacing Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the Bucks were upset in the first round of...

Pitcher David Hess, whose MLB career was previously interrupted by a cancer diagnosis, has announced the disease has returned. "The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind for us with this cancer journey that seems to never want to end," he posted to social media on Friday. "We found out that inside my tumor was [a] very rare and very aggressive type of cancer called angiosarcoma. Along with that discovery, lung nodules have popped up that we aren't sure what to make of yet." Hess, 29, said he will have surgery Tuesday to biopsy the nodules and also undergo another surgery to remove the tumor. He also will have chemotherapy. "I will fight like hell and do whatever is needed for a cancer free prognosis at some point," he wrote. An online fundraiser was set up Friday to help Hess and his wife, Devin, with medical expenses. The biggest contribution so far has come from Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks and his wife, Kristi. Hendriks was diagnosed with...

Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga title for an 11th consecutive season after a dramatic final day that saw Dortmund crumble under pressure and draw at home to Mainz. Dortmund entered Saturday's decisive final match two points clear of Bayern, but Edin Terzic's side were stunned in a 2-2 draw following a disastrous first half that saw Mainz go two goals ahead and forward Sebastian Haller miss a penalty. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Meanwhile, Bayern travelled to Cologne and went ahead inside 10 minutes thanks to an early goal from winger Kingsley Coman. A late penalty from Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic looked to cause more late drama -- with the title heading to Dortmund as it stood. However, Bayern forward Jamal Musiala netted on 89 minutes to seal a memorable 2-1 victory. Dortmund scored a stoppage-time equaliser through Niklas Sule but had just seconds to chase a winner, with the final whistle...

Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga title for an 11th consecutive season after a dramatic final day that saw Dortmund crumble under pressure and draw at home to Mainz. Dortmund entered Saturday's decisive final match two points clear of Bayern, but Edin Terzic's side were stunned in a 2-2 draw following a disastrous first half that saw Mainz go two goals ahead and forward Sebastian Haller miss a penalty. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Meanwhile, Bayern travelled to Cologne and went ahead inside 10 minutes thanks to an early goal from winger Kingsley Coman. A late penalty from Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic looked to cause more late drama -- with the title heading to Dortmund as it stood. However, Bayern forward Jamal Musiala netted on 89 minutes to seal a memorable 2-1 victory. Dortmund scored a stoppage-time equaliser through Niklas Sule but had just seconds to chase a winner, with the final whistle...