Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (BCCI/IPL Photo)

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on Saturday shared an emotional Instagram Story originally posted by Rajasthan Royals after the franchise’s IPL 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end. A valiant effort from the 15-year-old, who scored a magnificent 96 off 47 balls in Qualifier 2, ultimately went in vain as Rajasthan Royals suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans and crashed out of the tournament.Sooryavanshi, who was seen wiping away tears in the dugout after the defeat, reposted Rajasthan Royals’ heartfelt message after the franchise fell short of a place in the final. “Still can’t believe how quickly emotions can change in 20 overs. Tonight hurts. It hurts deeply. There’s sadness, frustration, disappointment and a lot we’ll have to sit with. Credit where it’s due, Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans were outstanding tonight,” the post read.“To everyone who believed in this young team, stood by us, defended us, and cheered for us through all 16 games this season, thank you. We are grateful beyond words. But we are also sorry. Sorry we couldn’t give you the night you deserved. Sorry we let you down when it mattered most,” it read.“This one will stay with us. And we’ll carry it until we’re back and better, next season,” it further said.Sooryavanshi missed out on a century for the second successive match but once again showcased his class with a 47-ball 96, an innings featuring eight fours and seven sixes in New Chandigarh.His knock propelled Rajasthan Royals, who last won the IPL title in 2008, to a formidable 214/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Gujarat Titans chased down the target in 18.4 overs, powered by a century from captain Shubman Gill, to secure a place in the final.Sooryavanshi enjoyed a phenomenal first full IPL season, amassing 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.31.

Having taken apart the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins during the two-month competition, Sooryavanshi has only strengthened the belief that he is a rare talent capable of serving Indian cricket for years to come.After receiving endorsements from several former cricketers, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara also indicated that the young left-hander is ready for the highest level.Sooryavanshi’s performances against world-class bowlers in the IPL are proof that he is more than ready to represent India, Sangakkara said after Rajasthan Royals’ exit.“You never know if anyone’s ready until they play. And with everything Vaibhav’s shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he’s more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him. And I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soon,” said the Sri Lankan.“He’s batted with a lot of maturity, he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season,” he added.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

OKLAHOMA CITY — The last time Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder played a Game 7 it was the ultimate game of ultimate games, one that decided last season’s NBA championship.

And that’s why, as the NBA’s two-time Most Valuable Player spoke about the Game 7 that looms against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night to decide the Western Conference title, it might have seemed mildly surprising that he said these five words: “Biggest game of my career.”

READ: NBA Playoffs: Thunder’s Jalen Williams to miss Game 7 vs Spurs

“It’s the next game,” he quickly added. “And if I lose, my season’s over.”

Simple as that. Game 7. Spurs vs. Thunder. The winner goes to the NBA Finals to play the New York Knicks starting on Wednesday night, the loser goes home to lament what might have been. The Thunder went 2-0 in Game 7s last season on their way to the NBA title, while Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will be making his maiden appearance on the Game 7 stage.

“I know there’ll be a lot of added attention, a lot of eyes watching,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’ll be a hostile environment, but we’ve been saying this for a long time: We’ve had a lot of firsts. This one will be a little bit more important or higher-stakes than all the others. That’s the goal as you keep playing and the season gets longer.”

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) vie for a rebound in the first half of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, May 28, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

This will be only the second time in NBA history that two teams that won 62 or more games each during the regular season meet in a Game 7. The other was in 1981, when Boston beat Philadelphia 91-90 to win the Eastern Conference title.

READ: NBA Playoffs: Spurs crush Thunder to force Game 7 in West finals

And it could be easily argued that Wembanyama is about to play the biggest game of his career. Then again, he might take exception to that.

In the mind of the 7-foot-4 French star, who had 28 points in 28 minutes to lead San Antonio’s romp in Game 6 that staved off elimination and got the Spurs into Game 7, every game is Game 7. It’s the attitude that he’s taken to the court for as long as he can remember. It’s the approach that shaped him and probably helped him get to this moment.

“For me, winning in the NBA today isn’t any more important than winning a regional championship back when I was playing in the U-13 division,” Wembanyama said in his native French after the Game 6 win on Thursday night. “The competitive drive feels exactly the same.”

Game 1 was a double-overtime thriller, with neither team ever leading by more than 10 points before the Spurs eventually prevailed. And in Game 2, Oklahoma City’s biggest lead was 13 before the Thunder won by nine.

The gaps have grown as the series goes along. Both teams led by at least 15 points at times in Game 3 (a 15-point Thunder win), the Spurs led by as many as 25 before winning Game 4 by 21, the Thunder led by 20 before winning Game 5 by 13, and the Spurs led by 28 before winning Game 6 by 27.

So, the games themselves might not have all been classics. The series, as a whole, looks like one. And after all the ups and downs for both teams, it comes down to one game — the 12th between the teams this season, with San Antonio 7-4 in the previous 11.

“The one thing that we’ve learned more than anything is every game has a new life,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Every game is earned if you want to win it. Game 7 will be no different. This is obviously a quality opponent. We have to play a lot better than we did (in Game 6) and we understand that from a number of experiences. … We’ll get some rest and recovery, learn from the tape, take the lessons from (Game 6) that are relevant for Game 7 and be ready to go out there and throw our best punch.”

History shows that’s exactly what the Thunder know how to do.

Since the start of the 2025 playoffs, Oklahoma City is 9-0 in the game immediately following a playoff loss — winning those by an average of 15.4 points.

“We’re just a motivated group and we accept the challenge ahead,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Every game is going to present a different challenge and obviously when you lose, it hurts a little more and there’s a little extra motivation and we tend to fight a little bit harder.”

And given that this is Game 7, there will be plenty of fight on both sides.

Gilgeous-Alexander will be in his fourth Game 7. Wembanyama will be in his first. Most of the Spurs’ rotation players will be on this stage for only the first or second time. But everyone knows the stakes.

“I think there’s been a lot of legendary Game 7s and I feel like we’re a group that wants to be a part of that,” said Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, whose father — five-time champion Ron Harper — played in a pair of Game 7s. “We want to be a part of that kind of history of Game 7. We’re going to go out there swinging. No matter what, we just going to leave it all on the table.”

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Thunder -3.5; over/under is 212.5

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WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Series tied 3-3

BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in game seven of the Western Conference finals. The Spurs defeated the Thunder 118-91 in the last matchup on Friday. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 28 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 15.

The Thunder are 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City ranks third in the league with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.

The Spurs have gone 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference with 47.0 rebounds per game led by Wembanyama averaging 11.5.

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The Thunder’s 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs give up. The Spurs are shooting 48.3% from the field, 4.6% higher than the 43.7% the Thunder’s opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Holmgren is averaging 15.1 points over the last 10 games.

Stephon Castle is scoring 16.6 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 7-3, averaging 113.9 points, 41.2 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 10.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points per game.

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Spurs: 6-4, averaging 116.7 points, 48.7 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 7.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (calf), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

AAMI Park will play host to Saturday’s
Round 13 NRL game between Melbourne Storm and
Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Melbourne Storm vs.
Sydney Roosters
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday May 30, 2026 at 7:35 pm

Where: AAMI Park

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Odds

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters Preview

Melbourne faces another stern test at AAMI Park as the Roosters arrive with confidence and a forward pack capable of matching the Storm through the middle. Craig Bellamy’s side has been forced to lean heavily on experienced players amid injuries and Origin disruption, and signs of fatigue emerged during last week’s second-half collapse against Canterbury. Sydney’s approach has been far more direct in recent rounds, with the Roosters consistently generating momentum through powerful carries before shifting quickly to their dangerous edge threats. Much may depend on how both clubs manage their Origin contingent backing up from Wednesday night, but the Roosters’ recent form and physicality suggest they are well placed to challenge Melbourne’s traditionally formidable home record.

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 13 NRL game between Brisbane Broncos and
St. George Illawarra Dragons. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with Brisbane Broncos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Broncos vs.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday May 31, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Brisbane Broncos vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Odds

Brisbane Broncos vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview

Brisbane returns to Suncorp Stadium aiming to consolidate its position near the top of the ladder against a Dragons side showing encouraging signs of improvement. St George Illawarra has been far more competitive over the past fortnight, particularly defensively, though converting territory into points remains a lingering concern. The Broncos welcome back Payne Haas alongside the ever-dangerous Reece Walsh, giving Brisbane added punch through both the middle and attacking transitions. Walsh’s speed and ball-playing continue to create headaches for opposition defensive lines, while the Broncos’ forward rotation shapes as a major advantage late in halves. The Dragons have developed greater resilience under pressure, but Brisbane’s attacking depth and ability to generate repeat sets should prove decisive.

Iga Swiatek of Poland returns to Magda Linette of Poland during their third round women’s singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PARIS–Four-time women’s champion Iga Swiatek booked her place in the last 16 of the French Open on Friday.

Swiatek beat Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4 to begin play on Court Philippe Chatrier, with temperatures set to climb to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) later in the day.

Third seed Swiatek dug herself out of an early 2-0 hole against the 35th-ranked Linette, who won their most recent meeting at Miami in March.

Swiatek broke three times in the opening set to nose ahead, and then surged into a 4-1 lead in the second set.

She overcame a stumble as she tried to close it out, before sealing victory to set up an intriguing match-up with the in-form Marta Kostyuk.

“It was a good match. I played much better than Miami,” said Swiatek, who moved to appoint Francisco Roig, a longtime coach of Rafael Nadal, in the wake of her loss to Linette two months ago.

Kostyuk, the 15th seed, continued her fine run with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.

She is unbeaten in 15 matches on clay this season following titles in Madrid and Rouen.

“Marta is having a great season. She always had a game to play well,” said Swiatek.

“So good for her. But I’m going to focus on myself, prepare tactically, as before any other match, and we’ll see.”

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva swept into the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.

The eighth-seeded Andreeva goes on to face either 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova or Jil Teichmann on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Andreeva’s best Grand Slam run came at Roland Garros in 2024 when she reached the semi-finals.

Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi celebrated Hull City’s return to the Premier League in iconic fashion after recreating Kobe Bryant’s legendary locker-room championship photo following the club’s playoff final victory at Wembley.

Ajayi posed beside the Championship playoff trophy in a striking recreation of Bryant’s famous image with the NBA Championship trophy after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2001 title triumph. The side-by-side image quickly went viral among football and basketball fans, with many praising the Nigerian defender’s tribute to the late NBA legend and his “Mamba Mentality.”

The moment came after Hull City secured promotion back to the Premier League with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final. Oli McBurnie scored the decisive late goal to send Hull back into England’s top flight and spark emotional celebrations among players and supporters.

Ajayi played an important role in Hull City’s defensive setup, operating on the right side of a back three throughout the playoff final at Wembley.

The Nigerian defender finished the match with six clearances, one interception, one recovery, and a perfect tackle success rate while helping Hull City keep Middlesbrough quiet for long periods before McBurnie’s dramatic late winner sealed promotion.

Ajayi also showed composure in possession, completing 18 of his 23 passes (78%), including five successful passes in the final third, while recording 38 touches and six progressive carries from defence.

For Ajayi, promotion marks another major milestone in a career that has steadily grown over the years. After developing in Arsenal’s academy, the London-born defender went on to feature for clubs including Rotherham United and West Bromwich Albion before joining Hull City.

The 32-year-old has also become one of Nigeria’s most reliable defenders on the international stage, earning over 50 caps for the Super Eagles and helping the country reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Following the final whistle, Ajayi shared his excitement online with a short but emotional message:

“We did it!”

But it was his Kobe Bryant-inspired tribute that truly captured attention across social media.

Bryant’s original photo — taken moments after the Lakers’ NBA championship triumph in 2001 — became one of the most iconic images in sports history, symbolising sacrifice, focus, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. By recreating it after Hull’s promotion, Ajayi appeared to pay homage not only to Bryant himself, but also to the mentality required to survive the pressure of a long Championship campaign.

Hull City will now prepare for life back in the Premier League, while Ajayi gets another opportunity to prove himself at the highest level of English football.

And if his Wembley performance and viral tribute are anything to go by, the Super Eagles defender looks ready for the challenge ahead.