The San Antonio Spurs were just a few minutes away from having all the momentum in the NBA Finals, but it slipped away.

After trailing by as many as 29 points in the second half and even 20 in the fourth quarter in Game 4 on Wednesday, the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history to take a 3-1 series lead, rather than being tied at two heading back to Texas.

The Spurs’ backs were against the wall when they dropped the first two games of the series at home, but they salvaged a win in Game 3 by coming back from their own seven-point deficit. But now, all the momentum they had in Game 4 is gone.

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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Instead of being asked about taking the lead in the series, Victor Wembanyama was asked on Friday if he has “a sense of whether the group actually thinks” they could win three games in a row to win the NBA title.

Well, it’s quite the sense.

“Yeah, absolutely. Everybody thinks — everybody knows — we’re going to do it,” Wembanyama answered.

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

KNICKS MIRACULOUSLY OVERCOME 29-POINT DEFICIT TO TAKE COMMANDING 3-1 LEAD IN NBA FINALS OVER SPURS

The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team to complete a comeback after trailing three games to one in the NBA Finals, doing so against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors and winning two of those games in California.

Surely, the Spurs were in disbelief at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, but Wembanyama says the time for reflection is over, and they’re over it.

“I wouldn’t say it was so hard to, like, shake off, right? Harder than any other game before, by far, for sure. I mean, now we’re over it. It’s the playoffs. There’s no time to regret things for too long,” he said.

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after shooting a three point basket. and being fouled during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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Game 5 tips off in San Antonio on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. With a win, the Spurs would force a Game 6 back in New York on Tuesday night, hours after Wembanyama’s home country of France will face Senegal at nearby MetLife Stadium in the World Cup.

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Marvel Stadium will play host to Thursday’s
Round 14 AFL game between Western Bulldogs and
Adelaide Crows. The game kicks off at 7:30 pm with Western Bulldogs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Western Bulldogs vs.
Adelaide Crows
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Thursday June 11, 2026 at 7:30 pm

Where: Marvel Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows Odds

Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows Preview

Two of the form sides in the competition open Round 14 when the Western Bulldogs host Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. Both clubs are coming off stirring victories over fellow finals contenders, with the Crows edging Geelong by a point and the Bulldogs producing a stunning comeback to defeat Hawthorn. Adelaide’s rise into the top eight has been driven by the leadership of Jordan Dawson, while Marcus Bontempelli and Bailey Dale continue to set the standard for the Bulldogs. The Dogs claimed the points when the sides met earlier this season and have won five of their past six matches. With both teams firmly in the finals mix and separated by little on the ladder, this shapes as one of the standout contests of the round.

Might the resurgent Philadelphia Phillies explore the outfield market leading up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline?

That’s the obvious question to ask after the Phillies and outfielder Adolis García were hit with some bad news on Friday. The club placed García on the 60-day injured list with a torn right lat muscle. At the same time, the Phillies put outfielder Steward Berroa on the paternity list and recalled outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. from Triple-A. As well, outfielder Derek Hill, whom the Phillies acquired from the White Sox earlier this week, has reported to the club.

On a numbers level, the loss of García isn’t a crippling one. This season, he’s batted just .195/.270/.329 (63 OPS+) with seven home runs in 67 games and poor underlying marks at the batted-ball level. That said, the loss of García does introduce an element of uncertainty in the Philly outfield, and the near-term solution — a Rincones Jr.-Hill platoon arrangement, probably — doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence. With García’s uncertain timeline, the Phillies may need to think about external help.

Now for that “resurgent” part noted above. As recently as April 26, the Phillies were 10 games under .500, which, coming off back-to-back National League East titles, qualified them as one of Major League Baseball’s most disappointing squads at the time. The Phils fired manager Rob Thomson and replaced him with Don Mattingly on an interim basis, and then the wins followed. Under Mattingly, the Phillies have gone a sizzling 28-12, and that puts them at 37-31 going into the weekend road series against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

That overall mark is good enough for the second wild card position in the NL, and that means the Phils are back in contending mode. At the same time, they’re lugging around a minus-14 run differential. That, plus the outfield void, means this is no time for the status quo as the deadline begins to creep into view. Lead decision-maker Dave Dombrowski is famously an aggressive, win-now sort, and he’s keenly aware that you can squint and see the Phillies’ title window beginning to close.

That brings us to the hypothetical of the moment — that the Phillies will swing big leading up to the deadline and try to land a needle-moving outfielder to address the deficit in right that truthfully was in place long before García went down with his injury. It’s too soon and the wild card standings too compressed to know who’s exactly a seller yet, but we can hazard some educated guesses on that front. 

Now let’s look at a handful of (entirely theoretical) outfield possibilities for the Phils. Onward …

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1. Mike Trout, Angels

Ah, yes, the White Whale of Philly. The New Jersey native and Eagles rooter of renown also happens to be a three-time MVP and a future Hall of Famer. Look, this almost certainly isn’t going to happen, as the Angels haven’t suggested they’re willing to trade Trout after all these years, and Trout, 34, hasn’t suggested he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to allow something to happen. The default assumption has to be that Trout, who’s been a part of the Angels organization since they drafted him roughly 17 years ago, isn’t getting traded. That said, he’d be made to order for the Phillies, and that’s laying aside his status as a sorta-kinda hometown player. Trout’s enjoyed a resurgent season at the plate in 2026, and he’s backed it up with excellent batted-ball data. Yes, he’s signed through 2030, but the Phillies aren’t averse to investing in the on-field product and taking on long-term commitments.

2. Taylor Ward, Orioles

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The 32-year-old Ward is on a one-year deal in Baltimore, which makes him a rental. He also boasts a .410 on-base percentage at this writing, and since he first became a full-timer in 2022, he’s got an OPS+ of 118. Ward’s power numbers have fallen off the cliff in 2026, but that lofty OBP would be most welcome in the Philly lineup. That’s especially the case, considering the Phils currently rank 28th in OBP. Less inspiring than Trout? Yes, but Ward would also be a much more realistic target with no salary obligations beyond the current season.

3. Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals

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Nootbaar’s off to a scorching start after his return from bilateral heel surgery. That condition almost certainly dragged down his numbers last season, and he’s been in peak form and then some since coming back. Will the Cardinals part with the popular fly-catcher? Coming into the season, he seemed a sure thing to be moved, but the surprising Cards (37-29) are in the top wild card position in the NL, and Nootbaar’s return helped them lengthen what had been a badly top-heavy lineup. Maybe if prospect Joshua Báez continues thumping at Triple-A, the Cardinals will consider parting with Nootbaar. However, “Noot” is under team control through the 2027 season, so president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom could also table trade talks until the offseason if he decides the current roster shouldn’t be messed with.

4. Seiya Suzuki, Cubs

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The Cubs (35-34) were built to contend, and it’s entirely possible they find their expected level in the weeks to come. It also bears repeating that having a third wild card spot in each league significantly lowers the bar for contention. If, however, they decide to part with the 31-year-old Suzuki, then he could be a fit in Philly. This season, Suzuki has a 116 OPS+ with 10 homers in 55 games, and for his MLB career, he’s got an OPS+ of 128 across parts of five seasons on the North Side of Chicago. Like Nootbaar above, Suzuki’s not eligible for free agency until after next season.

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5. Mickey Moniak, Rockies

Yes, it’s old friend Mickey Moniak, whom the Phillies tabbed with the top overall pick back in 2016. Moniak, now 28, has found himself with the Rockies this season, as he’s batting a robust .280/.335/.607 in 164 plate appearances with time spent at all three outfield positions. Yes, Coors Field helps the case, but park-adjust his OPS, and it’s still 46% better than the league average. He’s got plus bat speed and a knack for barreling the ball. As well, Moniak has become elite at pulling the ball in the air, which is the surest path to production at the plate. He’s another on the list who’s under team control through the 2027 season. On another level, the Rockies are one of the few teams that can be said to be surefire sellers at the deadline.

Exhaustive list? Probably not, but if the Phillies want to make a splash in the outfield, then one of these names is probably the most fetching target — assuming, of course, any of them are actually available. 

I’m not entirely sure what I had achieved by the age of 26, but it certainly wasn’t anything close to that of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.

I mean, managing to order a drunken taxi home with one eye closed while juggling one of London’s best Turkish kebabs could be filed under success to some, perhaps.

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Anyway, “Bam” is a bonafide superstar.

The pound-for-pound contender is a two-weight world champion, blasting his way to an unbeaten 23-0 record. He makes a jump up to bantamweight this weekend looking to extend this run and add a third divisional title to his honors board.

And if that was a bit too proper and legitimate for you, former Love Island star and younger brother of Tyson Fury, Tommy Fury, fights former strongman Eddie Hall on a MF-Pro show in Manchester, England.

You see: Something for everyone.

Let’s take a look at the best of the weekend’s action.

1. ‘Bam’ is up at bantamweight and is still must-see TV

“Bam” Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) is on the move this weekend, up in new waters at 118 pounds and attempting to become a three-weight world champion. To do so, he has to get past a solid, but also limited (elevated) WBA bantamweight champion in Antonio Vargas (19-1-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona.

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The truth is the “Bam” train is unlikely to get derailed by the current champion. That’s not to totally overlook the 29-year-old, but Vargas’ career has sort of slogged along in the shadows in recent years, unable to grab that big career-changing promotional push.

Vargas’ last win came in 2024 against Winston Guerrero, and he has since edged a draw on the cards in Yokohama, Japan against Daigo Higa in an all-out war. The fact that Vargas has found himself on the canvas in each of his past three contests will be all the motivation the explosive-hitting Rodriguez needs.

“Bam” is a special, special talent — 118 pounds probably won’t be his ceiling in the sport, but Vargas is the perfect opponent to see how this particular rung on the ladder feels.

2. Jones, Carranza run it back

We’re going to try and clear up some confusing scorecards this weekend, as Oshae Jones (9-0, 3 KOs) and Elia Carranza (11-2, 3 KOs) run back their IBF junior middleweight title fight from last July.

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Two of the three judges felt Jones had done enough to win that first meeting, scoring it 8-2 and 6-4 respectively. The third official, however, saw things very differently, awarding every single round to Carranza.

So we head to Orlando for Most Valuable Promotions’ MVPW-04 show at Caribe Royale Resort on Saturday, and Jones heads to the Sunshine State looking to prove any doubters wrong.

“I definitely didn’t want this fight,” Jones told ESPN. “When I beat her the first time, I wasn’t 100% but I got the job done, and that’s all that should matter. But now it’s a big rematch, and that motivates me to blow her out of the water.”

3. Kiwitt continues his German run

Since losing in the United Kingdom to Luther Clay in 2019, German super welterweight Freddy Kiwitt has decided to ply his trade back on home soil, running up a 12-fight win streak in Germany (with one fight coming in Denmark).

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His ability to do so underlines the boom that boxing is enjoying in Germany at the moment, with heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel leading the charge.

Kiwitt (29-3, 18 KOs) returns to the ring against Venezuela’s Jose Arcon (15-1, 13 KOs) this weekend, headlining a card that — at the time of writing — reads like a UN meeting. Nations including Germany, Czechia, Ukraine, Austria, Venezuela, Romania, Singapore, Kenya, Argentina, Nicaragua, Azerbaijan, Syria and the United Kingdom are all represented by fighters inside the Gorzelniaski Hall, Flensburg.

Kiwitt was supposed to be defending his WBF and WBO Global super welterweight titles, but due to a late change of opponent, it’s just a good old-fashioned dust-up.

4. Love Island’s Tommy Fury is fighting retired strongman Eddie Hall 

MF-Pro fights are supposed to be a bit of fun, right? And that’s exactly what to expect when Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall lock horns this weekend in Manchester, England.

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Fury (11-0, 4 KOs) can fight. Just not that well. We saw him struggle against KSI and Jake Paul in similarly viral bouts, and he’s clearly decided to go down the novelty route rather than trying to carve out a more traditional boxing career like the rest of the Fury clan.

As for Eddie Hall? Who knows. The strongman — and the most prolific record-breaker in the history of strength sports — lost his only other boxing bout against Iceland’s Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson in something that I am not going to watch back, and, arguably, the most shocking thing about him is that he is only 37 years old!

It’s billed as “Beauty vs. The Beast” — but don’t be surprised if it turns into “Tangled.”

5. Elif Nur Turhan defends her IBF lightweight title against Gabriela Tellez

Elif Nur Turhan is the new sparkly toy in the women’s game.

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Such was her appeal after going on a four-fight knockout assault of the super featherweight and lightweight divisions, that Matchroom struck and signed her up to a multi-fight deal on its DAZN platform.

The IBF lightweight queen is now 13-0 with eight stoppages and considered one of the fiercest punchers around her weight, but a lackluster display in her most recent outing against Taylah Gentzen in January will need improving on.

The Turkish fighter accepted the challenge of American Gabriela Tellez (7-0, 3 KOs) this weekend, defending her IBF strap on the Rodriguez-Vargas undercard in Glendale, Arizona.

The 31-year-old is tied for No. 9 in Uncrowned’s pound-for-pound rankings and will be eyeing a jump up by the end of 2026 with the likes of Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor winding down their remarkable careers.

Co-hosts Canada grabbed a second-half equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in the first World Cup finals game ever played on Canadian soil.

Cyle Larin got Canada’s goal after Jovo Lukic put Bosnia ahead with a header in the 21st minute in Toronto.

The result gave Canada its first point in World Cup history.

Canadian sides had a perfect record of futility at two previous tournament appearances in 1986 and 2022, with six losses.

Lukic’s goal from a corner sent the small but enthusiastic Bosnian contingent at the Toronto Stadium into a frenzy.

Canada had the majority of play in the first half but failed to generate any real chances.

Watch more

World Cup 2026: Fans in Houston deterred by soaring ticket prices

The stadium erupted in the 17th minute when forward Jonathan David had a clear shot on goal, but it was easily handled by Bosnian keeper Nikola Vasilj.

Canada’s Ismael Kone had a golden opportunity in the 30th minute, but sailed his strike well over the net, prompting groans from tens of thousands of Canadians who blanketed the stadium in a sea of red.

Canada’s missed opportunities

The second half began in similar fashion, with Canada largely on the attack, but unable to find the net.

Bosnia’s veteran defender Sead Kolasinac saved a certain goal when he diverted a strike from David onto the crossbar, extending Canada’s agony.

Watch moreTrump’s World Cup: More matches, higher prices, fewer foreigners

But Larin’s strike in the 78th minute marked a high point in Canada’s limited World Cup history, causing a mostly Canadian crowd of 43,000 to erupt.

Canada threatened to go ahead in the final minutes, narrowly missing a goal near the final whistle.

Canadian entertainment royalty attended the match at the home of the MLS’s Toronto FC, including film star Ryan Reynolds, from Vancouver, and Saturday Night Live and Austin Powers star Mike Myers, a Toronto native.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

GMHBA Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 14 AFL game between Geelong Cats and
Gold Coast SUNS. The game kicks off at 7:40 pm with Geelong Cats heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Geelong Cats vs.
Gold Coast SUNS
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday June 12, 2026 at 7:40 pm

Where: GMHBA Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast SUNS Odds

Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast SUNS Preview

Geelong returns home looking to snap a two-game losing streak when it welcomes Gold Coast to GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. The Cats have fallen agonisingly short in consecutive weeks, losing to Carlton and Adelaide by a combined five points, placing added importance on this clash as the race for the top four heats up. Gold Coast is also searching for a response after a disappointing QClash defeat to Brisbane. The Suns dominated Geelong in Opening Round, but history is against them in Victoria, having never won at GMHBA Stadium. Geelong’s strong home record and the urgency surrounding its season make this a crucial opportunity for Chris Scott’s side to regain momentum before the second half of the campaign.

The California Democratic Party made a post on social media that said, “You’re not allowed to watch the World Cup if you’ve ever voted against immigration,” on Thursday.

The post has come under immense scrutiny, as Americans across the political spectrum prepare to cheer together for Team USA in its World Cup opener against Paraguay.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Preparations are made at Soccer House ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California, on June 6, 2026. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“Every one of those other Countries has its own immigration policy, where you can’t just cross the border. The hypocrisy is crazy,” one X user wrote.

Another user wrote, “Why? I don’t even understand the logic to this post.”

CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS ISSUE FLORIDA TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR FIFA WORLD CUP OVER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS

Other harsh and sarcastic responses to the post went viral across X.

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The California Republican Party issued a statement in response to the controversial post.

It was a strong showing for us Americans, but not enough to win the title of most attractive fanbase at the FIFA World Cup. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union)

“The World Cup is a beautiful event that brings people together from around the world and should have nothing to do with politics,” said California Republican Party Communications Manager Francisco Bedoya. “Rather than trolling on social media, they should put their phones down, touch some grass, and enjoy this historic World Cup. But, if Democrats want to make it political and continue to divide Americans, then we’re here to call out their hypocrisy.”

The United States is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the first time the U.S. has hosted the event since 1994, alongside Canada and Mexico.

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The U.S. is shouldering the bulk of the tournament, hosting 78 of the 104 matches across 11 major cities. All high-stakes games — including the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final — will take place in the U.S.

Friday’s FIFA World Cup opener features the U.S. taking on Paraguay at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match is crucial for setting the tone in Group D, which also includes Australia and Turkey.

One of the early talking points of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has not been a goal, a controversial decision or a surprise result. Instead, it has been the sight of thousands of empty seats at some matches despite official attendance figures suggesting near-capacity crowds.

The issue came into focus during South Korea’s 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, where the announced attendance was 44,985, fewer than 700 short of the stadium’s official World Cup capacity of 45,664. Yet television viewers could clearly spot large clusters of empty seats, particularly in premium sections around the halfway line.

So why does the visual reality often appear different from the numbers released by tournament organisers?

Tickets sold vs fans present

The biggest reason lies in how attendance is measured.

In football, attendance figures often represent tickets that have been sold or allocated rather than the number of spectators physically sitting in their seats when the match kicks off.

This phenomenon is common across major sporting events. A supporter may purchase a ticket but choose not to attend, while some fans may arrive late, spend long periods in concourses or hospitality areas, or leave before the final whistle.

As a result, official attendance numbers can appear significantly higher than what television cameras capture inside the stadium.

The corporate ticket factor

Major tournaments such as the World Cup reserve a substantial allocation of tickets for sponsors, hospitality guests and commercial partners.

These premium seats are often located in the most visible sections of the stadium, particularly around the halfway line. If corporate guests decide not to attend or arrive only for part of the match, the empty seats become highly noticeable on television broadcasts.

Why World Cup stadium capacities change?

Another factor that often creates confusion is stadium capacity.

Many venues hosting World Cup matches are operating below their normal maximum capacity because FIFA requires modifications to meet tournament standards.

Several North American stadiums were originally designed for American football rather than soccer. To accommodate FIFA-approved pitch dimensions, sections of seating have been removed to create additional space around the field.

Los Angeles Stadium, for example, regularly hosts crowds exceeding 73,000 for NFL games but is operating at a reduced capacity of just over 70,000 during the World Cup.

Additional media facilities, advertising zones and operational areas further reduce the number of seats available for supporters.

How attendance figures are calculated?

Unlike some domestic leagues, there is no universal requirement forcing organisers to publish a specific attendance metric.

Tournament organisers can choose whether to report tickets sold, tickets scanned or actual spectators present inside the venue.

FIFA has stated that its attendance figures are based on verified operational data, including ticket scans and spectators within the stadium footprint rather than simple visual estimates from television broadcasts.

Officials also noted that many supporters may spend portions of the match in concourse areas, food courts or hospitality lounges instead of remaining in their assigned seats throughout the game.

Are ticket sales becoming a concern?

The debate has also reignited questions about ticket demand.

Earlier this year, FIFA reported receiving hundreds of millions of ticket requests during the initial application phase and suggested that interest in the tournament was exceptionally strong.

However, not every fixture carries the same level of demand.

High-profile matches involving host nations have generally attracted packed stadiums and vibrant atmospheres. Mexico’s opening victory over South Africa was played before a sold-out crowd in Mexico City, with demand far exceeding supply.

Other group-stage fixtures featuring less commercially attractive matchups have faced a different reality, with thousands of tickets appearing on resale platforms in the days leading up to kick-off.

The Bigger Picture

The contrast between official attendance figures and visible empty seats is not unique to the 2026 World Cup. It is a long-standing feature of major sporting events where ticket allocations, hospitality programmes and spectator behaviour all influence what fans see on television.

While FIFA’s numbers may accurately reflect tickets scanned and spectators within the venue, the visual impression can tell a very different story.

As the tournament progresses, the debate serves as a reminder that a full stadium on paper does not always look full in practice.