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Knicks NBA Finals courtside tickets at MSG sell for nearly $280,000 each

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The New York Knicks are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, and if the mobs around Madison Square Garden after victories are any indication, it will be pandemonium in New York City if it happens.

Furthermore, a ticket to get into “The Garden” for the Finals is bound to be pricy, as they have throughout the playoffs. But no one may have expected what two courtside seats have already sold for.

Sports business reporter Darren Rovell confirmed a sale of two courtside tickets at MSG for the NBA Finals that went for a whopping $279,804.   

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Karl-Anthony Towns celebrating after making a basket during an NBA game at Madison Square Garden

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 21, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The purchase was made on StubHub, the secondary ticket company, for what would be the Knicks’ first home game in the Finals. That would be Game 3, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs both have higher seeds than the Knicks in these NBA Playoffs.

Jaw-dropping is an understatement for a price of that magnitude, but that’s also have crazy it has been to see potential history for one of the most storied franchises in the sport.

NEW YORK READY TO COMBUST AS NYPD SHUT DOWN KNICKS WATCH PARTY OUTSIDE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

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It’s been 53 years since the Knicks last won an NBA title, dating back to the years with Walt “Clyde Frazier,” Phil Jackson, Dick Barnett, Willis Reed and Bill Bradley. The Knicks won two titles in 1970 and 1973, as Red Holzman’s squad was etched in basketball lore forever.

Since that 1973 victory, the Knicks have been to the NBA Finals just twice, the first in 1994 when the Houston Rockets secured a Game 7 victory, 90-84, to crush New York’s dreams.

Miles McBride and Mikal Bridges celebrating during NBA playoff game at Xfinity Mobile Arena

Miles McBride and Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks celebrate after McBride’s 3-pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 10, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Then, in 1999, the likes of Patrick Ewing, Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston and current Knicks coach Rick Brunson, the father of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, made it back to the Finals and faced off against a potential opponent this year — the Spurs.

But Tim Duncan and company got the job done in just five games, defeating the Knicks, 78-77, in Game 5 to celebrate their title on the MSG hardwood.

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Knicks fans are hoping that’s not the case this time around, but they have to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers one more time after taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals after a road win on Saturday night. New York has now won 10 straight playoff games, and their only two losses in the First Round against the Atlanta Hawks came by one point.

As a result, fans are already looking at tickets for that Game 3 in the Garden. As of Sunday night, the cheapest ticket to get into the building on StubHub is going for $3,554 in Section 418.

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacting after scoring a basket during a basketball game.

New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson reacts after scoring during the second half of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York, New York, on May 19, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

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For comparison, the cheapest ticket for a potential Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Paycor Center — the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lead the Spurs, 2-1, in the Western Conference Finals — is $1,252 on StubHub. The one floor seat available is going for $32,106 as of Sunday night.

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The Knicks could earn their spot in the NBA Finals on Memorial Day, where they take on the Cavaliers in Game 4 in Cleveland at 8 p.m.

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Wembanyama answers call again as Spurs tie West Finals at 2-2

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San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama wanted the ball for the final couple seconds of the first half. He got it, 65 feet from the basket.

He had three Oklahoma City defenders in front of him. He took three dribbles. He got three points.

And he made it look easy, too.

A swished three-pointer from the midcourt stripe to close the first half brought maybe the loudest roars of his night, but it was hardly the only moment in which Wembanyama was unstoppable in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday.

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He got most of the fourth quarter off and still finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots as the Spurs beat the Thunder 103-82 to tie the West title series at two games apiece.

“The truth is that we had never been in this kind of situation before,” Wembanyama said. “It was our first deficit in a playoff series and we just responded. It was nothing amazing. It wasn’t magic. We just did what we needed to do.”

In other words, he wasn’t surprised. A 62-win team in the regular season — and a team that has now beaten Oklahoma City six times in nine opportunities this season — shouldn’t be surprised by anything anymore.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

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It was Wembanyama who pointed the finger of blame at himself following San Antonio’s loss in Game 3, saying that the Spurs were “going to see what we’re made of” in Game 4 and that he had to do more to get teammates involved.

He delivered on every level.

“I saw a lot and I’m not surprised,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I think our competitive response all year has been pretty good — and he’s been at the forefront of that more often than not. I think tonight, not speaking for him, he felt an obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways.”

Wembanyama had 11 points in the first quarter, 11 more on 10 shot attempts in the second quarter and capped all that with the beat-the-clock 3-pointer going into halftime.

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And on the other end, he might have been even better.

The unanimous Defensive Player of the Year — who was announced on Sunday night as a first-team All-NBA selection for the first time — led an effort that held Oklahoma City to a season-low in points and a season-high-tying 20 turnovers.

The Thunder had at least 108 points in every game in these playoffs entering Sunday.

“We’ve played 12 playoff games. When you play 12 playoff games, they’re not all going to be masterpieces,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “As much as you want to win, there’s nights where you just don’t have it for whatever reason.”

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On Sunday, that reason might have been Wembanyama. The Thunder were outscored by 29 points when he was on the floor. They shot 18 of 41 inside the paint, with Wembanyama a big reason for that, so more things got forced outside — where they shot 12 of 50.

He was asked how the Spurs bottled up the Thunder so well.

“I’m not going to get into details, but in general, being more disciplined and just trusting the game plan even more,” Wembanyama said.

There’s a flight for the Spurs to Oklahoma City on Monday for a game on Tuesday, and the winner of that contest will be one game away from the NBA Finals. It’s clear that Wembanyama knows that even after a big win, the job only gets tougher now.

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“The series is far from over,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve got six more wins before we can rest.”

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Tottenham Win To Relegate West Ham As Pep Guardiola, Mohamed Salah Say Premier League Farewells

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Tottenham secured Premier League survival at the expense of West Ham on Sunday as Pep Guardiola and Mohamed Salah bade emotional farewells to English football. Spurs knew a draw against Everton would realistically keep them up as they had a two-point advantage over West Ham and a significantly superior goal difference. Joao Palhinha released the mounting pressure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just before half-time, poking home after his header thundered back off a post, before being mobbed by his teammates.

Just a few miles away, at the London Stadium, Valentin Castellano, Jarrod Bowen and Callum Wilson scored for West Ham in a 3-0 win against Leeds but it was too little, too late as a nervy Spurs held on to win 1-0.

“This day for us is much more than winning a game,” match-winner Palhinha told the BBC. 

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“A lot of people depend (for) their lives on this club. It was a tough season but I think this season can help for the future. We can take a lot from it even if we didn’t reach the level Tottenham should.”

Spurs, the ninth-richest club in the world, have enjoyed a mini-revival in recent weeks under Roberto De Zerbi, who arrived in late March as the club’s third head coach of the season.

The Hammers, who were promoted to the English top division in 2012, will join Burnley and Wolves in the Championship next season.

“We knew it was going to be difficult, it was not in our hands,” West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo said to Sky Sports. 

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“We did our part and we hoped for the best — it didn’t happen. We have to pass the sad moment that we are living.”

Pep farewell

Manchester City boss Guardiola took charge at the Etihad for the final time after a decade of almost unbroken success, with newly-crowned Europa League winners Aston Villa the visitors.

The Catalan on Friday confirmed reports that he was leaving the club after 10 years in charge, with six Premier League titles and the Champions League in his huge collection of silverware.

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A huge banner rippled over the heads of fans bearing a giant image of Guardiola, with the messages “Game Changer” and “History Maker”.

Antoine Semenyo gave the home side the lead but England’s Ollie Watkins scored twice to secure a 2-1 win and fourth spot in the table for Villa.

“In the next years, if you see me in the streets in the (United) States or Europe or somewhere and you are a Man City fan, come to me and hug me. I will need it,” Guardiola said in his post-match address to the crowd.

Elsewhere on a day of significant departures, Salah and Andy Robertson played their final game for Liverpool, who drew 1-1 against Brentford.

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Deposed champions Liverpool finished fifth in the table, joining Arsenal, City, Manchester United and Aston Villa in next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool’s coaching staff and players formed a guard of honour for a tearful Salah and Robertson before they were embraced by club greats Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush.

“I think I cried more than in my whole life,” Salah told Sky. “I’m not really an emotional guy. We (with Robertson) lived our youth here, sharing everything from the beginning to the end. 

“We put this club back where it belongs.”

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There was a party atmosphere at Selhurst Park, where a much-changed Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy after beating Crystal Palace 2-1.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted he had had doubts after three consecutive runners-up finishes as he chased the club’s first Premier League trophy since 2004.

“That was beautiful,” he said. “Look at the joy of all of the people, they have been waiting for this for so long. 

“We have had difficult moments along the way but it is all worth it when you see that kind of reaction.”

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Ten-man Chelsea lost 2-1 at Sunderland, meaning that newly appointed boss Xabi Alonso will have no European football when he is at the helm next season.

Victory took Sunderland into the Europa League, alongside Bournemouth, while Brighton will be in the Conference League.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Ranking the Best Players on the Vikings’ 2026 Roster

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Byron Murphy Jr. celebrates during the Vikings' game against the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) reacts after a defensive play during the second half against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 25, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Murphy continued his strong season with another energetic performance in a key NFC North showdown as the Vikings battled Detroit late into the game. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season won’t start for 3.5 months, but in the meantime, it’s a fair juncture to size up the club’s best players. Kevin O’Connell’s team will hope to visit the postseason in 2026 after missing out on the fun in 2025 by one win.

Minnesota’s best players are ranked from No. 8 to No. 1 entering the heart of the offseason.

From a May 2026 perspective, here’s the pecking order of the team’s top players.

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Star Power Still Defines the Top of the Roster

The players are ranked from good to best (No. 1 = best player).

Byron Murphy Jr. intercepts a pass against the Cardinals during a game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) intercepts a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during fourth-quarter action on Dec. 1, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Murphy delivered a pivotal defensive play late in the contest, helping Minnesota maintain momentum as the Vikings battled Arizona in an important regular-season matchup at home. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

8. Byron Murphy Jr. | CB

Murphy Jr.’s 2024 campaign was much more promising than his 2025 efforts. But that doesn’t mean he’d play poorly in 2025; he was just fantastic two seasons ago.

Because of his consistency, Murphy Jr. checks in at No. 8 on this list, narrowly edging Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Eric Wilson. Opposing quarterbacks encountered a 78.2 passer rating allowed when targeting Murphy in 2025. That’s pretty excellent.

He’s connected to the budget through the end of 2027.

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7. Blake Cashman | ILB

Cashman’s importance for 2026 remains crystal clear, despite the arrival of Jake Golday. While the Vikings drafted Golday in Round 2 as a potential long-term off-ball linebacker option should Cashman depart in 2027, Cashman’s 2025 performance was nothing short of fantastic.

Last season, Cashman averaged an incredible 11.07 tackles per game. Projecting that pace over a full 17-game schedule would yield 188 tackles — a mark among the highest in NFL history. Though he missed four games, which dulled his final tally, his weekly impact was undeniable.

Moreover, he’s a near-perfect fit for Flores’s defense. The Eden Prairie native plays fast, finds the football, and injects the kind of disruptive bedlam Flores demands from his middle linebackers.

6. Jalen Redmond | DT

Minnesota’s top revelation over the last two seasons, Redmond is here to stay. He logged a 72.7 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025 after a 75.6 in 2024. Because he came from the UFL, many have expected Redmond to hit a wall eventually, and that just never happens.

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He accrued 6 sacks last year, which is fantastic for a defensive tackle, and he just gets better and better. In fact, he had a case for the Pro Bowl last year, though voters did not listen.

You can call Redmond the Vikings’ best or second-best defensive player with Jonathan Greenard no longer on the roster.

5. Kyler Murray | QB

Murray is the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history, he’s faster than Justin Jefferson, and he can throw the ball 60-70 yards. His stock is low right now because the Arizona Cardinals — of all franchises — kicked him to the curb. That will leave him ultra-motivated to succeed in 2026.

Kyler Murray attends Jonathan Gannon’s introductory press conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe. best Vikings players
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray sits in the front row as Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the franchise’s new head coach on Feb. 16, 2023, at the team training facility in Tempe, Arizona. Murray listened during the introductory news conference as Cardinals leadership outlined the organization’s vision and direction entering a new era for the franchise. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic.

He has a lot of “proving it” to do this season as the new quarterback of the Vikings, but based on his seven seasons in the league, he’s not a little-engine-that-could situation. The man has a better career EPA+CPOE than Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, C.J. Stroud, and Trevor Lawrence.

4. Andrew Van Ginkel | OLB

Van Ginkel is the Vikings’ top outside linebacker. How? Why? Minnesota traded Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles last month. While Dallas Turner offers high upside, Van Ginkel is the proven commodity: versatile, productive, and a trusted asset in Brian Flores’ defense.

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Crucially, he’s the linchpin holding the pass rush together. His ability to rush, drop, disguise, and execute the unique assignments vital to Flores’ system makes him invaluable. This versatility is even more critical now with Greenard’s departure and Turner’s promotion to a full-time starting role.

With Van Ginkel turning 31 this summer, the Vikings might consider an extension to retain one of their most reliable defenders beyond 2026. In two seasons, Van Ginkel has tabulated 18.2 sacks, 32 QB hits, 133 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns in Minnesota.

3. Brian O’Neill | RT

O’Neill embodies the quietly excellent player every team dreams of having at right tackle. His sturdy performance is evident in his PFF grades since 2018:

2025 — 81.6
2024 — 79.3
2023 — 74.5
2022 — 82.7
2021 — 73.4
2020 — 78.0
2019 — 70.8
2018 — 63.0

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Through multiple roster eras, coaching staffs, quarterback changes, and offensive line rebuilds, O’Neill has almost never been part of the problem. Even when the Vikings struggled with offensive line issues during the Mike Zimmer years, he remained the sole steady presence.

Delivering strong seasons with remarkably few rough games, O’Neill can be expected to perform exceptionally well again in 2026 — because that’s simply his modus operandi.

2. Christian Darrisaw | LT

Darrisaw experienced his worst season as a pro in 2025, mainly because his ACL didn’t heal right. Minnesota put him back on the shelf in December and now hopes that he’ll be ready for Week 1.

Christian Darrisaw participates in a Vikings practice session at The Grove in Watford, United Kingdom. best Vikings players
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) participates in a team practice session on Oct. 4, 2024, at The Grove in Watford, United Kingdom. Minnesota held the overseas workout while preparing for an international matchup, with Darrisaw working through drills alongside teammates as the Vikings adjusted to the unique environment ahead of the league’s global showcase. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

When healthy, Darrisaw is a Top 3 NFL left tackle. Some might argue that O’Neill deserves this spot, but at the peak of his powers, Darrisaw is a slightly better tackle than O’Neill. Not by much, but by a little.

Darrisaw is overdue for a monster year, and one of these seasons, he’ll pull down his first Pro Bowl honor. It’s overdue.

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1. Justin Jefferson | WR

We publish this list of best Vikings annually around this time on the calendar, and Jefferson has taken home the top prize five years running.

It’s a “no caption” needed situation.


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Racing community mourns NASCAR legend Kyle Busch’s legacy on, off the track

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NASCAR drivers and fans are remembering Kyle Busch not only for his success on the track, but for the impact he made off it following his sudden death.

Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, had been preparing for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when he became unresponsive while using a driving simulator in Concord on Wednesday. He was transported to the hospital, where he died the following day.

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Saturday, his family announced he died from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.

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His death prompted an outpouring of tributes across the racing world, including an order from Governor Josh Stein to lower North Carolina and U.S. flags to half-staff on state grounds through sundown Sunday.

For many, Busch’s competitive nature defined his career.

“He always brought fans to the stands. Every time he came on the racetrack, he was always racing hard, and I kind of bounced off of him because I raced hard. I don’t go out there to finish second, and I feel like he didn’t do that at all either. He always wanted to win, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to do every time I hit the racetrack,” said driver Carson Haislip.

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Haislip said Busch also stood out for his willingness to engage with fans. In 2023, when Haislip was 15, he, alongside fellow driver Phoenyx Kimball, interviewed Busch at Wake County Speedway.

“It went great. A lot of people nowadays, when they get to (become) big names and stuff like that, they’re not really looking to talk,” Haislip said. “But he was really, really understanding, and he was all game for it.”

Busch’s commitment to family was also a defining part of his life, often seen attending races involving his son, Brexton.

“I watched it firsthand,” Haislip said. “You don’t see a lot of the NASCAR drivers just out there trying to make every single race they can, but he was doing that. He had to race on the weekends, but he was still making time for his son and that’s something that sticks out about Kyle Busch that I feel like a lot of people don’t notice is the family guy he was.”

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Richard Childress Racing announced it will suspend the use of Busch’s No. 8 car, reserving it for Brexton when he is ready.

Fans across North Carolina said they were stunned by the news of his passing.

“I just almost had to pull over to a side road just because I’m a big fan of Kyle Busch and because I just couldn’t believe it,” said Walter Prince, owner of Walt’s Toys and Collectibles in Raleigh.

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Prince described Busch as a widely respected figure in the sport.

“He was about the sport, and he was all about promoting it. He was just a super nice guy. Always a smile on his face. It was hard to pull against him because he was really just that nice of a guy. And he really carried the sport and helped bring it back to prominence,” said Prince.

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Funeral arrangements have not been publicly announced.

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WATCH: Racing legend Kyle Busch remembered for devotion to family, kindness and generosity

NASCAR star Kyle Busch is being remembered not only for his success on the track, but for his devotion to family and generosity off of it, following his sudden death Thursday at age 41.

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Kimi Antonelli wins fourth straight race at Canadian Grand Prix

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Formula One: Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada 2026May 24, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton (44) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) on the podium during the Lenovo Grand Prix Du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.Antonelli won. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Kimi Antonelli recorded his fourth consecutive victory Sunday by taking first in the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Antonelli, 19, and Mercedes teammate George Russell were wheel to wheel much of the afternoon, trading leads multiple times on Lap 13, before a power unit failure ended Russell’s day on the 30th of the race’s 68 laps.

Antonelli is the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1952 to win four straight races and the first F1 driver to win his first four consecutively.

“Not the way I wanted to win. It was meant to be a good fight with George but we will take it,” said Antonelli, who finished in 1:28:15 to beat runner-up Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari by nearly 11 seconds.

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third.

After five grand prix, all won by Mercedes, and three Saturday sprints, Antonelli leads all drivers with 131 points. Russell is second with 88.

“Just everything turned off all of a sudden,” Russell said of Sunday’s power failure. “Just went into the corner, engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking.

“I’m pretty damned frustrated with what’s happened but what more can I do?”

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Mercedes (219) leads Ferrari (147) by 72 points in the constructors’ standings. McLaren, which didn’t have a driver score Sunday, is third with 106 points.

–Field Level Media

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IPL 2026: Hardik, Bumrah Not Spared As R Ashwin Tears Into Mumbai Indians Over Abysmal Campaign

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Extraordinary things are expected from the Mumbai Indians, but the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season was fairly ordinary for the five-time champions. Be it Jasprit Bumrah‘s failure to pick up wickets, Suryakumar Yadav‘s barren run with the bat, or Hardik Pandya‘s captaincy, there were several factors that led to MI loitering at the No. 9 spot in the points table. To add insult to injury, Mumbai also lost their final game of the campaign against the Rajasthan Royals, despite looking in pole position to win the contest at one point.

Mumbai needed 60 runs from 34 balls to claim a victory in their final match and bow out on a high, but a lower-order collapse saw them restricted to just 175/9. Sharing his opinion on MI’s underwhelming show this year, Ravichandran Ashwin refused to mince his words.

Mumbai were 148/5 at one point, with Hardik and Suryakumar batting in the middle. It looked as though the chase was a mere formality from that stage, but catastrophe unfolded as the team kept losing wickets from then on.

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“At the Wankhede Stadium, if you need 60 runs off 34 balls, I think Mumbai Indians would usually chase it down. But the problem was… yes, that’s where things went wrong. Hardik hit well today, even against the spinners. If you remember, for Gujarat Titans, Hardik used to bat at number four or sometimes number five, and he used to take down the spinners,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.

READ | “Gave Hardik Best Opportunity, Tried Everything”: MI Coach’s Blunt Verdict 

Ashwin feels that MI have looked quite ‘strange’ this year under Hardik. While a few players have had injury issues, most of them haven’t looked like themselves, which Ashwin feels is a big problem. In fact, Ashwin thinks it wouldn’t be a surprise if the next campaign ends on a similar note for Mumbai.

“I think I said it in the commentary box too, Hardik looks like he has a small problem with the hard-length ball. I don’t know why, could be fatigue, could be an injury. I said something about this last time too. He got out, mishitting a short, slower ball from Jofra Archer. I think the game turned right there because the partnership of Hardik and Surya would have chased that down, but they were just not able to accelerate.

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“This Mumbai Indians team felt a bit strange. I don’t know. It cannot be easy. Given their quality, maybe they can come back and play well next year, but I won’t be surprised if they find it tough for one more year. Because of the way their team is structured, it looks like a lot of people are not at their best. I don’t know what it is, but they are not looking at their best. So, I was surprised this year, but next year I won’t be surprised. Next year, even if Mumbai Indians give a middling performance, I wouldn’t be surprised. It has been a very disappointing performance,” he said.

Ashwin didn’t spare Bumrah either, highlighting his deplorable bowling average of over 100 this year.

“Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t playing today either. It was never going to be easy. It was RR’s game to lose, and RR won. I mean, credit where it’s due. Jasprit Bumrah not playing was also a bit of a help for Punjab… wait, do you know this record? This is the first time in the history of the IPL that a bowler has played a full season and averaged over 100, and that’s Jasprit Bumrah! If I had told anyone this…”


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Fantasy Baseball Week 10 Preview: Two-start pitcher rankings feature Tanner Bibee, Landen Roupp

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Golden Knights’ Mark Stone, Avs’ Cale Makar return for Game 3

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NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden KnightsApr 21, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) warms up before a game against the Utah Mammoth in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will be on the ice Sunday night when Vegas faces the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals at Las Vegas.

Vegas coach John Tortorella made the announcement approximately 2 1/2 hours before the puck was dropped. The Golden Knights lead the series, 2-0.

Meanwhile, Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar was in the lineup for Colorado for the first time this series. He missed the first two games with an upper-body injury and appeared to be a game-time decision, with Avalanche coach Jared Bednar playing it close to the vest and telling reporters “you’ll have to wait and see” before the game.

Makar has appeared in nine games this postseason and had four goals and one assist.

Stone, 34, had missed the past five games since sustaining a lower-body injury on May 8 in Game 3 of the second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

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Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin was excited about the return of Stone, a clutch player with 92 points (44 goals, 48 assists) in 121 career postseason games.

“It’s huge,” Hanifin told reporters of Stone. “Obviously, his talent speaks for itself but just his character and leadership, just to have him back in the room and get his voice back, it’s going to be huge for our team.

“Anytime he comes back it’s like he didn’t miss a beat so we’re very excited to have him back in the lineup.”

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Stone has recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) in nine games during the playoffs.

Stone matched career highs with 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists) and a plus-26 rating in 60 games this season.

Over 766 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators (2012-19) and Golden Knights, Stone has 707 points (259 goals, 448 assists) and a plus-167 rating.

Makar, 27, won the Norris Trophy given to the league’s best defenseman in 2021-22 and 2024-25, and he is nominated again this season.

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He won the Conn Smythe Trophy when the Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup four years ago.

Makar has 507 points (136 goals, 371 assists) in 470 career games over seven seasons with the Avalanche. He tallied 20 goals and 59 assists in 75 games during the 2025-26 regular season.

–Field Level Media

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Enhanced Games: The first-ever ‘Steroid Olympics’ hit Las Vegas

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Wyndham Clark invokes Oakmont ‘downfall’ after comeback victory

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