Sports
Spurs, Thunder set for Game 7 with Finals berth at stake
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.
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“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.”
World Cup Group B action continues on Saturday with a matchup between Switzerland and Qatar. The Swiss are No. 19 in the FIFA rankings, while Qatar enter the 2026 World Cup at No. 57. Switzerland have reached the Round of 16 in each of the last three World Cup tournaments. The last time they have gone as far as the quarterfinals was in 1954. Qatar, meanwhile, are in their second-ever World Cup after going 0-3 in the group stage in 2022 as the host nation.
Kickoff for Qatar vs. Switzerland is 3 p.m. ET in Santa Clara, Calif. The latest Switzerland vs. Qatar odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list the Swiss at -550 (risk $550 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Qatar at +1400 and a draw at +600. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before locking in any Qatar vs. Switzerland picks check out the Qatar vs. Switzerland predictions from SportsLine’s Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.
Now, Green has studied Qatar vs. Switzerland and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Switzerland vs. Qatar:
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Qatar vs. Switzerland 90-minute money line |
Switzerland -550, Qatar +1400, Draw +600 |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland over/under: |
2.5 goals (Over -164, Under +135) |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland spread: |
Switzerland -1.5 (-174) |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland picks: |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland streaming: |
Fubo (Try for free) |
Top Qatar vs. Switzerland predictions
After examining Qatar vs. Switzerland from every angle, Green is leaning Over 2.5 total goals (-164). Switzerland have found their scoring touch of late, which included a 4-1 thumping of Sweden in World Cup qualifying. The Swiss also scored four goals in a friendly against Jordan on May 31. “Switzerland cruised through their World Cup qualifying campaign,” Green said. “They faced strong teams like Sweden and Slovenia, but they finished top of their group, with an unbeaten record. The Swiss scored 14 goals and conceded just twice in six games, showing just how strong they are at both ends of the pitch.”
Qatar, meanwhile, have a couple of solid wins in World Cup qualifying, including a 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates and 1-0 over Iran. Qatar also feature some scoring punch, led by forward Almoez Ali, who has 55 goals in 115 career matches for the national team. See Green’s best bets for Qatar vs. Switzerland at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Qatar vs. Switzerland at FanDuel here:
How to make Qatar vs. Switzerland picks
After studying Qatar vs. Switzerland from every angle, Green has found a critical x-factor and locked in a pair of best bets, including one that returns plus money. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are.
So what are the best bets for Qatar vs. Switzerland? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Qatar vs. Switzerland, all from expert on an 18-8 roll on UCL picks, and find out.
Pierre Gasly’s fight for a Monaco Grand Prix podium has finally ended with the result he wanted.
The FIA has rescinded the two five-second penalties handed to the Alpine driver during the race, restoring Gasly to third place in the final classification.
Gasly originally crossed the finish line in third but was dropped to seventh after being penalized twice for pit lane speeding.
The decision sparked frustration from both Gasly and Alpine, with the team immediately requesting a Right of Review.
Days later, that challenge has paid off.
Formula 1 confirmed that the stewards had removed both penalties, officially reinstating Gasly to P3 and giving Alpine back its podium finish.
Following the decision, Alpine released a statement welcoming the outcome.
“We welcome the decision made by the FIA to deem our Right of Review as admissible following the final classification of last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.”
The team added that the stewards had rescinded both penalties imposed on Car No. 10, restoring the team’s third-place finish.
For Gasly, the decision is a major moment after describing himself as “heartbroken” and feeling “robbed” in the immediate aftermath of the race.
Gasly later celebrated the decision on social media, sharing his relief after several emotional days.
“WE GOT IT BACK!! P3 in Monaco!!” he wrote.
“Been a rollercoaster of emotions the last few days, weird celebrations, but most importantly, incredibly happy we got our result back.”
The Frenchman also thanked Alpine, the FIA and Formula 1 for their support throughout the review process.
“Huge thanks to my amazing team and all the people who supported us!! Thanks FIA & F1 for the transparency of the situation. One to remember!”
Now, the podium he earned on track officially belongs to him once again.
Sports
IND vs AFG LIVE Score, 1st ODI: Shubman Gill Scripts Huge Record As India Ease Past Afghanistan By 7 Wickets
India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil(w), Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem Safi, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
Canada opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, earning the country’s first point in World Cup history.
The co-hosts started brightly in front of their home fans at BMO Field and looked determined to make a strong statement in their opening Group B match. However, Bosnia took the lead against the run of play when Jovo Lukic headed home from a corner kick in the first half.
Despite falling behind, Canada continued to push forward and created several chances. Their efforts were finally rewarded late in the second half when substitute Cyle Larin produced a brilliant finish to level the score.
Larin made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, scoring just over two minutes after entering the game. His goal sparked wild celebrations among the Canadian supporters and secured a valuable point for Jesse Marsch’s side.
The match was closely contested, with both teams creating opportunities. Canada enjoyed more possession and had slightly more shots on target, while Bosnia remained dangerous whenever they attacked.
Canada midfielder Ismael Kone was one of the standout performers. He controlled the midfield, completed the most passes in the match and was named Player of the Match.
The result leaves Canada in a strong position in Group B. They will next face Qatar in Vancouver on Thursday, knowing that a victory could move them closer to a place in the knockout stages.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will take on Switzerland in their next group match in California. The draw extended Bosnia’s unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
For Canada, the result marked another important step in the country’s football development. After losing all six matches in their previous World Cup appearances, the Canadians finally have a point on the world stage and will now look to build on that achievement in front of their home supporters.
How you can watch World Cup games on Saturday evening for free
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
The P/PTSD Perspective: June 13th, 2026
1) The Vikings Have “Most Explosive” Player Since 2021: As it turns out, Justin Jefferson isn’t too bad at playing football. Imagine how good he could still become if he had a consistently strong passer putting in work under center.
2) Vikings’ Former Rival Calls Out Kevin O’Connell “Slip Up:” Everything is being subject to intense scrutiny. Quite possibly, this is merely a matter of a human being a human, saying something casual and not meaning anything too much by the quick blip. Let the offseason competition play out.
3) WR Tai Felton Could be at a Crossroads: Give the kid a chance. He’s still very young, adjusting to the NFL as a late-3rd who was a menace on specials but modest on offense. His speed really pops when seeing him live. Again, give him a chance.
4) The J.J. McCarthy Trade Scenario: Very small chance he gets traded, folks. In fact, I’m of the opinion that he makes more starts than Kyler Murray in the upcoming season. That’s a minority opinion, but that’s where I’m at. Expect the kid QB to be in Minnesota for 2026 and into 2027 as a minimum.
5) The 2 New Vikings Corners Offer Size and Snarl: Lots to like in those two new corners. Each are long and speedy, setting them up to shine along the outside. Mr. Pierre, in particular, appears ready to take on a beefy workload in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Mr. Demmings should be soaking up wisdom to someday takeover.
Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma added another remarkable chapter to his glittering career on Saturday, becoming only the second Indian opener after Virender Sehwag to score 16,000 international runs across formats.The landmark came during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala, with the veteran batter needing just six runs to enter the exclusive club. Rohit reached the milestone in his 384th innings for India, having accumulated 15,994 runs as an opener before the start of the game.The achievement places the former India captain among some of the greatest openers in cricket history. Overall, Rohit became only the seventh batter to cross the 16,000-run mark as an opener in international cricket.Joining an elite group of opening greatsRohit now stands alongside legendary names such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Graeme Smith, Desmond Haynes and Sehwag. Sri Lankan great Jayasuriya tops the chart with 19,298 runs, followed by Gayle (18,867) and Warner (18,744).Sehwag remains India’s most prolific opener with 16,119 runs in 400 innings across 332 matches. Rohit’s milestone is all the more remarkable considering that batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, despite scoring over 34,000 international runs overall, amassed 15,335 runs as an opener and narrowly missed the 16,000-run club.Before the Afghanistan ODI, Rohit had scored 11,577 runs in 282 ODIs, 4,301 runs in 67 Tests and 4,231 runs in 159 T20Is, the latter two formats from which he has since retired.Another milestone falls in DharamsalaThe day brought another notable achievement for the former Indian captain. When Rohit reached three runs in the innings, he surpassed South African legend Jacques Kallis‘ ODI tally of 11,579 runs.Kallis accumulated his runs in 328 ODIs between 1996 and 2014, while Rohit moved past him in his 283rd one-day international. Rohit is now at 8th spot in the all-time list led by Tendulkar with 18,246 runs.Having already established himself as one of the most destructive white-ball batters of his generation, Rohit’s latest feat further cemented his place among the game’s all-time greats.Even after retiring from Tests and T20Is, the 39-year-old continues to scale new heights, with his consistency and longevity ensuring that records keep tumbling in Indian colours.
MONTMELO, Spain — Mercedes driver George Russell claimed pole position ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday.
Formula 1 leader Kimi Antonelli will start from third in his Mercedes.
Antonelli is on an incredible five-race winning streak. That has let the 19-year-old Italian already tally up 156 points after just six races. A resurgent Hamilton is second in the standings with 90 points.
Russell is third with 88. He won the season-opening Australian GP only then to see Antonelli roar past him since then.
The Mercedes pair has taken all seven poles this season as the German team has emerged as the biggest benefactor of a rulebook overhaul.
George Russell bounced back from the disappointments of the past few races to take pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Russell edged out Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari by just 0.064 seconds as runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli could manage only third place in the other Mercedes.
McLaren’s Lando Norris took fourth from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, while Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc crashed on his first lap in the final session and will start 10th.
Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri was seventh, from Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg.
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