Sports
Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy plans to keep ‘foot on gas’ after building record six-shot lead
McIlroy, who is hoping to become just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles has held a six-shot lead at this point in a major before.
He went on to win the 2011 US Open by eight shots – claiming the first of his five majors – and also spreadeagled the field with an eight-shot victory at the 2012 US PGA Championship.
And he plans to maintain an aggressive approach around Augusta National over the weekend as he bids to match Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino’s haul of six majors.
“Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging,” he said when asked what advice his 2011 self would have for him before Saturday.
McIlroy led that year’s Masters by four shots going into the final round, but carded an eight-over-par 80 to tumble down the leaderboard.
“A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 US Open was don’t get protective,” he added. “Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”
McIlroy also said he plans to watch tennis and spend time with his daughter Poppy to take his mind off the third round.
“That distraction is usually a good thing for me, especially with a late tee time and the lead,” he explained.
“There are two really good semi-finals at Monte Carlo in the tennis. So I’ll watch those.
“We’ve been watching the tennis early in the mornings. And then hopefully spend some time with Poppy. I think we’re about halfway through Zootopia 2.”
McIlroy has credited his fast start to the tournament with spending a huge amount of time practising on the course in the three weeks he took off from playing PGA Tour events after the Players Championship in March.
“I just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event,” said McIlroy, who has a home in nearby Florida.
“I’d rather come here. I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with Poppy and [wife] Erica.
“I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio. It wasn’t really about conserving energy, but just I felt the more time I could spend up here, the better.
“I’ve been on this golf course so much the past three weeks. That has been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out. I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it.”
MUMBAI : In a significant boost to her career, Delhi Capitals pacer Nandani Sharma has earned her maiden India call-up for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, with the BCCI naming a 15-member squad on Saturday.
The 24-year-old has also been picked for the historic one-off Test at Lord’s from July 10, immediately after the tournament.
The uncapped Chandigarh seamer forced her way into contention with a standout debut WPL season, finishing as joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps in 10 games for runners-up Delhi Capitals. Her campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in just her second match, marked her out as one of the season’s breakout stars.
The squad also sees the return of wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, while Anushka Sharma and Uma Chetry miss out. Injuries ruled out promising allrounders Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (knee), opening the door for Radha’s recall and strengthening India’s spin depth alongside Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani.
Explaining the omissions, chief selector Amita Sharma said Kashvee would undergo surgery, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed Amanjot could be sidelined for up to five months.
Yastika, returning after an ACL surgery that ruled her out of the 2025 ODI World Cup, last played a T20I in April 2024. Her comeback adds experience to the lower-middle order and wicketkeeping group led by Richa Ghosh.
Radha, who has featured in 89 T20Is and taken 103 wickets, returns in time for her fifth T20 World Cup, bringing experience and control to India’s bowling attack.
India will open their campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham and are placed in a challenging Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The squad will assemble for a pre-tournament camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence from May 10 before heading to England for a three-match T20I series, which will serve as preparation.
Harmanpreet, set to feature in her 10th T20 World Cup and lead India for the fifth time, will be aiming to end India’s wait for a maiden T20 World Cup title after their 50over World Cup triumph.
T20 World Cup squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Bharti Fulmali, Yastika Bhatia, Nandni Sharma, Radha Yadav
Squad for one-off Test: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana.
Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as Golden Tempo surged from last place to triumph by a neck at Churchill Downs.
Jockey Joe Ortiz urged the 23-1 shot past 4-1 favourite Renegade – ridden by his brother Irad Ortiz Jr – on the line in a breathtaking finish, while Ocelli was third in the 152nd edition of the race.
“Today’s my day and Golden Tempo’s day,” said Joe Ortiz, after winning American Flat racing’s most prestigious event at the 11th attempt.
“I want [brother Irad] to win the Derby, of course – I know it’s his dream as well – but it happened that way. I think he should be happy, his horse ran a very good race.”
Winning trainer DeVaux said she never imagined she would be victorious in the Kentucky Derby.
“I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed bushy tailed exercise rider and I would not believe that I would be sitting up here today,” she added.
Golden Tempo was at the back of the 18-strong field with half a mile of the one and quarter mile race to go.
Renegade was also off the pace, about 15 lengths back midway through the race as he tried to become the first horse to win from the inside gate in 40 years.
But after storming down the final stretch it looked like the favourite had secured victory, only for Golden Tempo to edge past him on the line, winning in a time of two minutes 2.27 seconds.
Joe Ortiz followed up his victory in the Kentucky Oaks aboard Always A Runner on Friday to become just the ninth jockey to win both races in the same year.
Sports
David Benavidez dismantles Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez with stunning combination to win more gold
David Benavidez dismantled Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on Saturday, stopping the Mexican with a stunning combination to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Benavidez dropped Ramirez in the fourth round and again in the sixth, with the latter knockdown proving decisive.
The first knockdown came courtesy of Benavidez’s trademark, rapid flurries – one against the ropes and one out in the open – with single, heavier shots mixed in.
It was a left hook that finally put down Ramirez on that occasion, badly damaging his eye as well, but the 34-year-old was saved by the bell before battling through the fifth round.
But late in the sixth frame, Benavidez fought his way off the ropes and dug a right hook to the body, before unleashing a rapid-fire eight-punch combination.
That froze Ramirez, who then ate a left hook, a right, and one more of each. The southpaw retreated, holding a glove in front of his damaged eye, and sank to a knee.
Benavidez refrained from adding any unnecessary blows, before Ramirez shook his head at referee Thomas Taylor when the count hit eight, sparking jubilation in Benavidez in the corner.
The result kept the 29-year-old unbeaten (32-0, 26 KOs) and saw him become a three-weight world champion, as he added to his title reigns at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.
Meanwhile, Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) tasted defeat for just the second time, following his 2022 points loss to Dmitry Bivol.
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Bivol was on Benavidez’s radar during the latter’s recent run at light-heavyweight, although the former undisputed champion is tied up with a fight against Michael Eifert on 30 May and then likely a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev.
Before targeting Bivol, Benavidez was eyeing a bout with Canelo Alvarez, but the Mexican-American’s frustrations at failing to secure that fight led him to move up in weight.
Sports
Man United v Liverpool LIVE: Prediction, team news and line-ups as Premier League rivals clash at Old Trafford
Could Alisson return to Liverpool team even if he hasn’t trained?
Arne Slot also said Alisson Becker could return to Liverpool’s starting line-up if he managed to take part in at least one training session before Sunday. With Giorgi Mamardashvili also sidelined, third-choice Freddie Woodman took up the role between the posts for the win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
“I think there’s a difference between a goalkeeper and a player,” Slot said. “If a player hasn’t trained for a few weeks, players need to run much more than goalkeepers do.
“I don’t think the issue with a player is when he’s out for four or five weeks that he forgot to know how to play football, it’s usually that the fitness levels are not at the levels to play at this intensity that the Premier League is asking.
“So, there’s a difference between a goalkeeper and an outfield player.”
Jamie Braidwood3 May 2026 10:16
What Arne Slot said on Alisson before Old Trafford visit
Alisson has been sidelined since Liverpool’s Champions League win over Galatasaray in March with a muscle injury and Arne Slot said the Brazilian had yet to return to training when he spoke to the media on Friday.
“Ali hasn’t trained with us yet. [He is] very close to training with us, I have to hear today from the medical staff if he is able to train today or either tomorrow or otherwise the start of next week,” Slot said.
“He is very close but of course, also we don’t want to take any risks, because that’s never what you do with a player and that’s also not what we do now.”
Jamie Braidwood3 May 2026 09:58
What is the Liverpool team news?
Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah due to injury, which means the Egyptian will miss out on a final trip to Old Trafford as a Liverpool player. A late call will be made on goalkeeper Alisson Becker, with Freddie Woodman set to continue if the Brazilian remains unavailable due to injury. There are some rumours, meanwhile, that Alexander Isak has picked up another injury and will be unavailable, though those are yet to be confirmed.
Possible line-up: Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Jamie Braidwood3 May 2026 09:50
What is the Manchester United team news?
Matheus Cunha missed out on Monday’s win against Brentford could could return to the squad. Michael Carrick said he was hopeful Luke Shaw could feature after he was forced off but Matthijs de Ligt is not ready yet and Lisandro Martinez is suspended.
Possible line-up: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Jamie Braidwood3 May 2026 09:49
PSG did not prepare in the best possible way for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. With a reshuffled squad, PSG were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Lorient. The result had no impact on the title race, as Lens also failed to win at Nice (1-1) and remain six points behind PSG.
It’s crisis time in Marseille. Marseille suffered their fourth defeat in their last six Ligue 1 matches, being heavily beaten by struggling Nantes (3–0).
Arsenal, meanwhile, extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points after a comfortable win against Fulham. In Spain, Barcelona have almost secured the league title after their victory over Osasuna.
In Formula 1, Lando Norris won the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix while Marta Kostyuk secured Madrid Open title for first time in tennis.
Sports
SRH vs KKR LIVE Score | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders LIVE Updates, IPL 2026: Big Matheesha Pathirana Suspense As KKR Face SRH In Must-Win Clash
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders LIVE Score, IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 clash on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Pat Cummins and Co. are enjoying a superb run this season and head into the contest on the back of two remarkable run chases. Against Rajasthan Royals, SRH successfully chased down a daunting target of 229, before making light work of a massive 243 against Mumbai Indians in their previous match. KKR, meanwhile, have finally found some rhythm in the tournament after registering victories in their last two games. With both teams gaining momentum at a crucial stage of the season, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a key fixture as they look to keep their campaigns firmly on track. (Live Scorecard)
SRH vs KKR, IPL 2026 Live Updates, straight from Hyderabad:
There’s being in the zone, and then there’s whatever realm of hockey greatness Logan Stankoven has unlocked this spring. The Hurricanes forward was sensational in Round 1 against the Ottawa Senators, scoring in all four games of his squad’s sweeping victory, and he wasted no time making his mark on Round 2 as he led Carolina to a 3-0 series-opening win over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night.
Just as he did versus Ottawa, Stankoven was the first to light the lamp in this series — he needed just 91 seconds to make his mark against the Flyers. He added another goal in the second frame to give Carolina a 3-0 lead, bringing his post-season goal tally to six through just five games.
We saw glimpses of his playoff clutch gene last year when Stankoven scored twice in Carolina’s playoff opener against New Jersey and also opened the Hurricanes’ scoring in Round 2 versus Washington. His strong start again this spring has proven to have plenty of staying power. With Saturday’s two-goal performance, the 23-year-old is now tied for the league lead in playoff goals with Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel and Minnesota’s Matt Boldy, with one fewer game to his name.
Carolina extends unique streak
Through five games of these playoffs, the Hurricanes are making post-season hockey look easy. They never once trailed through four games against Ottawa last round, and with their 3-0 victory on Saturday, they extended that streak to five straight games of playoff domination. And, just like their series against Ottawa, Carolina kicked off Round 2 against the Flyers with a shutout win.
They’ve now outscored playoff opponents by a combined score of 14-5 through five matchups.
Philly learning on the fly (the hard way)
After ousting the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime of Game 6 Wednesday night, the Flyers had just two days to rest and reset for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Hurricanes — and it showed.
A turnaround that quick is a tough ask for any team, but for a Flyers squad coming off such an emotional, turbulent return to playoff hockey, there’s no question it’s taken its toll. We saw it on the injury report, too, with forward Owen Tippett held out of Game 1 and now given a short runway to heal up and return to the lineup.
There’s plenty of hockey ahead to right the ship, but not much time to ready the crew going forward. Game 2 is set for Monday night, giving them just one day to review film on this one and learn from it.
And there’s a lot to learn. Top priority will be trying to get something — anything — going on the power-play. While neither side of this matchup excelled with the man advantage on Saturday night, with both the Flyers and Hurricanes going 0-for-4 on the power play, the Flyers’ unit clearly needs a lot of work. It’s been a weakness all season, registering a league-worst 15.7 per cent success rate. They scored just two power-play goals on 17 opportunities against Pittsburgh in Round 1. Carolina’s penalty kill allowed Ottawa just one power-play goal on 21 chances, and was just as stifling in Game 1 Saturday night. Through their first three power plays, Philadelphia couldn’t muster a single shot on goal. They finally registered two during their final power play of the night.
Rest is best for Andersen
There was no rest-versus-rust debate when it came to this matchup. Rest won out by a mile. Carolina entered Saturday’s contest on a full week’s rest, and no player benefited more than goaltender Frederik Andersen. The veteran netminder was at his best Saturday night, stopping all 19 shots he faced for his second straight series-opening shutout. That brings his post-season goals-against average to an otherworldly 0.90, while registering a .961 save percentage through five games. Pacing can be tricky for goalies in the playoffs — long breaks can mess with flow, while the intense schedule can bring too heavy a workload at times. So far, it’s looking like the Hurricanes’ conservative approach to Andersen’s playing time is paying off.
It’s time to start thinking about the summer for the Minnesota Vikings, with free agency and the draft in the rearview. Every year, we ask our writers to think outside the box in May, delivering bold predictions that are designed to be funky, brash, and outside the box.
Twelve predictions. One busy summer. Minnesota has plenty to sort out before Week 1.
Here’s what they said for the summer of 2026.
The Vikings’ Summer Could Bring More Than Routine Roster Tweaks
What’s your hottest take for the Vikings before the start of Week 1?
1. J.J. McCarthy Wins the QB1 Job
Predictor: Wes Johnson
J.J. McCarthy emerges as the team’s QB1 to open the season after a strong camp battle with Kyler Murray. While this is low-hanging fruit, it’s something that could definitely happen and would light VikingsTwitter on fire.
2. Vikings Add Not One, But Two, Notable WRs
Predictor: Tony Schultz
My hot summer take is that the Vikings don’t sign a veteran wide receiver. They sign two. Jauan Jennings came in for a talk with the team. He hung out for the day and then left. Don’t worry, he’ll be back. I think the Vikings double down and later pick up DeAndre Hopkins later on. Why? The team has shaved the cap back some, and Hopkins is running out of time in the NFL.
At 33, he sees his personal window closing and his friend and former teammate, Kyler Murray, on a team loaded with offensive talent. For a cheap one-year deal, he gets the Vikings to bring him on board for a fearsome wide receiver corps that makes you pick your poison between the twenties and in the redzone.
3. Charles Demmings Turns into a Starting CB
Predictor: Josh Frey
The Vikings brought in James Pierre as a free agent with upside, but the athletic ability of Charles Demmings shouldn’t be overlooked. He is a great football player with the ability to find the football in coverage. With a little development over the summer, he could become a starting cornerback alongside Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers.
4. Tyron Ingram-Dawkins Starts at DT; Caleb Banks Does Not
Predictor: Sean Borman
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins will start for Caleb Banks to begin the season. This is not an injury statement but a development one; it gives Banks a little team to watch and shows how Flores would like the position played.
5. Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange Easily Win Starting DT Jobs
Predictor: Brevan Bane
Caleb Banks and Big Citrus will both win starting jobs during camp. Two top draft picks winning starting jobs may not sound crazy, but both immediately getting starting roles over solid depth players like Levi Drake Rodriguez and Elijah Williams isn’t guaranteed. Van Ginkel-Redmond-Orange-Banks-Turner could be an absolute force to be reckoned with on the defensive front in 2026.
6. The Trades Are Not Done
Predictor: Kyle Joudry
The bold prediction is that the Vikings’ trading isn’t done. Someone else gets moved. Maybe it’s Ivan Pace Jr., Walter Rouse, or someone else. But a deal gets done involving a currently rostered player getting traded.
7. Six Rookies Start Week 1
Predictor: Henrique Gucciardi
There are a lot of positions up for grabs on the roster, and I liked what Rob Brzezinski and the coaching staff did in the draft. So I’m betting that Caleb Banks, Jake Golday, Domonique Orange, Jakobe Thomas, Max Bredeson, and Gavin Gerhardt will prove themselves during training camp and be early contributors.
8. A New Starting Safety Not Yet on the Roster
Predictor: Ali Siddiqui
The Vikings will sign a safety in August to replace the retired Harrison Smith.
9. J.J. McCarthy Looks Great, Turns into Hot Trade Commodity
My bold prediction is that J.J. McCarthy actually makes legitimate strides in camp and preseason and becomes a hot trade candidate. Murray wins the job, but McCarthy changes his perception and wins the clear QB2 job over Wentz.
Predictor: Cole Smith
10. Vikings Add Leonard Floyd (OLB) and a Former 49ers WR
Predictor: Dustin Baker
Leonard Floyd was on the 2021 Super Bowl team with Kevin O’Connell when the Los Angeles Rams took down the Cincinnati Bengals. O’Connell dials up Floyd for the vacant OLB3 spot. And between Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel, or Brandon Aiyuk — one is the Week 1 WR3 for the Vikings.
11. Safety Jay Ward Dominates
Predictor: Adam New
Jay Ward shines during the preseason and becomes the Vikings’ best safety over the course of the 2026 season.
t12. Jakobe Thomas Earns a Starting Job
Predictor: Janik Eckardt
At safety, it’ll be 3rd-Rounder Jakobe Thomas in the starting role, not a potentially returning Harrison Smith or more experienced Theo Jackson and Jay Ward. Brian Flores hand-picked his new safety.
t12. Jakobe Thomas Starts a Safety despite Harrison Smith Back for Year No. 15
Predictor: Ted Schwerzler
The Vikings get a return from Harrison Smith, but Jakobe Thomas still starts anyway. The rookie winds up taking a spot from either Jay Ward or Theo Jackson.
Barcelona are now just one step away from lifting the La Liga title after grinding out a 2-1 win over Osasuna, but apart from the result, the night in Pamplona had its own storylines that say a lot about the mood inside the squad.
With three matches left, Barcelona sit comfortably at the top of the table with 88 points, holding a strong lead over Real Madrid.
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The equation is simple now – if Real Madrid fail to win their next game against Espanyol, the title will officially be heading back to Camp Nou.
The match itself was tight for long spells, but Barcelona found their breakthrough late on.
In the 81st minute, Marcus Rashford delivered a precise cross from the right, and Robert Lewandowski timed his run perfectly to head home.
Just five minutes later, the game was effectively wrapped up. Fermin Lopez played a clever pass through the defence, allowing Ferran Torres to break free and finish calmly past the goalkeeper.
It was a quick one-two punch that turned a tense game into a decisive result.
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On the night when Barcelona strikers were on the scoresheet, there were a few incidents that you might have missed. Here are three such events.
“Campeones” already ringing out
Even though the title is not mathematically secured yet, the feeling around the stadium suggested it is only a matter of time.
Barcelona supporters in the stands were already chanting “Campeones”, and the energy was clearly felt by the players on the pitch.
There was a sense that the job is almost done. Whether it comes via Madrid dropping points or in the upcoming Clasico, the belief inside the camp is growing stronger with every result.
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Rain rain go away
The matchday itself was far from smooth, as heavy rain caused problems throughout the evening, with conditions turning chaotic at times.
While the pitch held up well, the same could not be said for the away dugout.
Water leaks created an uncomfortable situation for the Barcelona staff, who were forced to improvise and deal with the issue mid-game.
It was an incident that brought a few chuckles, with even Hansi Flick seen reacting with a smile at the situation.
If there was one player who stood out despite not being on the pitch, it was Raphinha.
Back from injury but not involved in the match, the Brazilian could not hide his energy on the bench.
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As Barcelona took control of the game, his mood lifted, and he even found time for a light-hearted moment.
Wearing gloves in unusually cold conditions, he jokingly tapped the club doctor before pretending innocence, adding a bit of humour to an already emotional night.
For now, Barcelona have done their part, meaning all eyes shift to Real Madrid’s result. If things go their way, the title celebrations could begin sooner than expected.
Either way, this win felt like it called for a title celebration.
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Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett’s season-saving shot.
The Raptors, down 3-2 in the series, were trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-109 with 10.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter at the Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.
Barrett inbounded the ball to Scottie Barnes, with the Raptors needing a basket to save their season. Barnes dribbled to the free-throw line and then kicked the ball back to Barrett, who was waiting at the top of the key.
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Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett celebrates with fans after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first-round NBA playoffs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Barrett launched a 3-pointer, a shot that needed to find the back of the net if the Raptors were to force a Game 7 and extend their season. Instead, Barrett found the back of the rim and the ball bounced nearly seven feet off it.
The ball then came down and fell through the net, giving the Raptors a 112-110 lead with 1.2 seconds left. Evan Mobley had a chance to win it for the Cavaliers, but his 3-pointer bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said he felt like Barrett’s shot was in the air for an eternity.
“It was only half a second, but it felt like an eternity,” Rajakovic said. “I was happy for him, for this team, for this city, that the shot went down.”
Barrett said he knew it had a chance to fall because of where the ball landed on the rim.
FORMER WIZARDS STAR JOHN WALL RETURNS TO WASHINGTON AS HOWARD BASKETBALL OPERATIONS PRESIDENT
Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett scored the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during overtime in game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)
“I thought it was still good because it went straight up,” Barrett said. “When it goes straight up, you have a chance.”
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson had a more succinct reaction to Barrett’s season-saving shot.
“Sometimes the basketball gods aren’t with you,” Atkinson said.
The Cavaliers are now looking to turn the page and win Game 7 at home.
“This is why you fight so hard to get home-court advantage,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. This is the playoffs, this is what it’s about. We’ve got to recover and get ready for Sunday’s game.”
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Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett reacts after scoring the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)
“Protect home court,” Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said. “It doesn’t matter if we lost by 30 or two, protect home court. That’s all you can do.”
For Raptors fans, the friendly bounce was reminiscent of an even bigger playoff basket north of the border: Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce, buzzer-beating winner against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Raptors fans hope they can get another special memory when the team plays the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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