Kevin Durant has missed most of the playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers due to an ankle injury. Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins criticized Durant’s impact on teams recently, saying Durant’s presence has caused chemistry problems and failed to bring expected success.
Key Facts
The Houston Rockets are trailing 3–1 in their first-round playoff series against the Lakers.
Kevin Durant, 37, has an ankle injury and missed three of four games in the series.
Durant played in Game 2, scoring 23 points but had nine turnovers.
Houston won Game 4 without Durant, with better team speed and cooperation.
Kendrick Perkins said Durant is the best scorer ever, but recent teams with him have had problems.
Durant’s stints with Brooklyn, Phoenix, and Houston have involved coaching changes and failed to reach championship goals.
The Rockets gave up young players like Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to get Durant.
Durant is under a two-year, $90 million contract extension with Houston but his availability is now a concern.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Houston Rockets won their first game in the NBA playoff series without Kevin Durant, who has been injured. Durant missed several games due to a knee bruise and a sprained ankle, and his participation in the next game is uncertain.
Key Facts
The Rockets beat the Lakers 115-96 in Game 4 of their playoff series.
Kevin Durant has missed three of the first four playoff games because of injuries.
Durant injured his knee in practice and then sprained his left ankle in Game 2.
He did not play in Games 3 and 4 and did not take part in practice on Tuesday.
Durant ran on a special treadmill under medical supervision but remains day-to-day with his ankle injury.
Six Rockets players scored more than 10 points in Game 4 without Durant.
Amen Thompson scored 23 points and Tari Eason scored 20 points, a playoff personal best.
Game 5 is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alex Cora was fired as the Boston Red Sox manager but was offered the managerial job for the Philadelphia Phillies. He declined the offer to focus on spending time with his family and is expected to stay off the field while still being paid by the Red Sox.
Key Facts
Alex Cora was the Boston Red Sox manager for eight seasons.
He was in the second year of a three-year contract worth over $21 million when he was fired.
The Red Sox will still owe Cora over $10 million even if he does not work for another team.
The Philadelphia Phillies offered Cora their managerial job after firing Rob Thomson.
Cora declined the Phillies' offer to spend more time with his family.
Don Mattingly is now the interim manager of the Phillies.
Cora is considered one of the more respected managers in baseball.
It is unclear if Cora will return to managing this season or in the future.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In a key Champions League match, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) received a penalty after a handball by Bayern Munich. This decision had a big impact on the course of the game.
Key Facts
The match was part of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
PSG was given a penalty because a Bayern Munich player handled the ball.
The penalty decision was reviewed using VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology.
The penalty influenced the outcome or momentum of the game.
The game was highly memorable or important due to this incident.
Bayern Munich and PSG are top European soccer clubs competing at a high level.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Phoenix Suns lost all four games in their first round playoff series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Suns owner Mat Ishbia expressed pride in the team’s effort and looked forward to improving in the future.
Key Facts
The Phoenix Suns were swept 4-0 in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The final game score was 131-122 in favor of the Thunder.
This was the closest game in the series; previous games were won by the Thunder with differences of 10 or more points.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia bought the team in February 2023.
The Suns reached the second round in the 2023 playoffs but lost to the Denver Nuggets.
The Thunder will play the winner of the Lakers vs. Rockets series next.
Mat Ishbia thanked fans, players, coaches, and staff for their hard work during the season.
The Suns aim to improve as they enter a new era in their basketball program.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Bayern Munich played an exciting soccer match that ended with a high score of 5-4. Despite the many goals, neither team won outright, so the competition remains undecided.
Key Facts
The match was between PSG and Bayern Munich, two top European soccer teams.
The game featured a total of 9 goals, with PSG scoring 5 and Bayern Munich 4.
The result means the overall contest is still open and not decided.
Both teams showed strong offense by scoring many goals.
The match was described as one of the greatest games to watch.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Baltimore Ravens are signing former UConn quarterback Joey Fagnano to a three-year contract. Meanwhile, Diego Pavia, who was not selected in the 2026 NFL draft, has received invitations to attend mini camps from the Ravens and other NFL teams.
Key Facts
Diego Pavia was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
Pavia was not drafted in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Baltimore Ravens invited Pavia to their mini camp.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hold Pavia’s rights in the Canadian Football League.
Other NFL teams have also invited Pavia to their mini camps.
The Ravens are signing Joey Fagnano, a former UConn quarterback.
Fagnano will join the Ravens on a three-year deal.
In his final college season, Fagnano completed 69% of his passes for 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Real Madrid's current manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, is under pressure due to poor results and may be replaced. One possible candidate to take over is Jose Mourinho, a former Real Madrid coach now managing Benfica, who has a good relationship with the club president.
Key Facts
Alvaro Arbeloa became Real Madrid’s manager in January after Xabi Alonso left.
Arbeloa’s win rate is 64%, lower than Alonso’s 74%.
Real Madrid is doing worse in La Liga and got eliminated from the Champions League.
Arbeloa lost a Copa del Rey game to a lower-division team shortly after taking charge.
Jose Mourinho managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013 and won several trophies.
Mourinho currently coaches Benfica and is under contract until 2027 but may leave early.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez likes Mourinho because he manages big egos well.
Mourinho is considered a "wildcard" candidate and might only be hired if other choices fail.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Chicago Bears face uncertainty about who will start as their left tackle next season. Sports analyst Tyler Sullivan suggests the Bears consider signing former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, who has experience and a good track record.
Key Facts
The Bears used three players at left tackle last season: Theo Benedt, Ozzy Trapilo, and Braxton Jones.
The Bears signed Jedrick Wills Jr. during the offseason, but he did not play last season due to knee injuries.
There is still no clear choice for the Bears’ starting left tackle for next season.
Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports recommends the Bears sign free agent Taylor Decker, a former Lions left tackle.
Taylor Decker has played 140 NFL games and was selected for the Pro Bowl, an honor given to top players.
Decker allowed only two sacks in 14 starts last season.
The Bears’ current left tackles gave up 63 pressures, 48 hurries, and seven sacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson previously coached with Decker on the Lions, which could help their working relationship.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The New York Mets have lost 15 of their last 17 games, making their current record one of the worst in Major League Baseball (MLB). As a result, ticket prices for Mets games at Citi Field have become cheaper.
Key Facts
The Mets have lost 15 out of their last 17 games.
Their current record ties for the worst in MLB.
Ticket prices for Mets games at Citi Field have dropped.
Lower demand for tickets is linked to the team's poor performance.
The article focuses on the relationship between team performance and ticket pricing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The New York Jets are thinking about signing Russell Wilson to be their backup quarterback. Wilson visited the team late on Monday night to talk about the possibility.
Key Facts
The Jets want to find a veteran backup quarterback.
They invited Russell Wilson for a meeting on Monday night.
The visit was reported by ESPN's Rich Cimini.
Wilson is an experienced NFL quarterback.
The Jets are exploring options to strengthen their team depth at quarterback.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The NBA is working on changes to its draft lottery system to reduce teams deliberately losing games to get better draft picks. The proposal would involve more teams in the lottery, make chances to get top picks more even, and punish the three worst teams.
Key Facts
The NBA is finalizing a plan to reform its draft lottery system.
The reform aims to stop teams from losing games on purpose, known as "tanking."
The lottery would include more teams than before.
The odds of getting a top draft pick would be more balanced or "flattened."
The three teams with the worst records would face penalties under the new rules.
These details were reported by ESPN sources.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy linked to federal indictments involving rigged poker games and sports betting. Jones admitted using insider information from his NBA relationships to place bets and apologized in court.
Key Facts
Damon Jones is the first person to plead guilty among 34 defendants in two federal gambling-related indictments.
The cases involve rigged poker games and illegal sports betting schemes.
Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Prosecutors say Jones used insider tips to place bets, including information about a prominent NBA player’s status.
Jones was involved in a rigged poker game in Las Vegas in 2019, using a modified shuffling machine to cheat a victim out of $50,000.
Other NBA figures, including current player Terry Rozier, face charges; Rozier has pleaded not guilty.
Eleven other defendants are expected to accept plea deals.
Damon Jones’ sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2027.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The NCAA is preparing to increase the number of teams in both the men's and women's college basketball tournaments from the current number to 76 teams. Officials say the final approval needed to make this change is expected to be completed soon.
Key Facts
Both men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments will expand to 76 teams.
The expansion adds teams beyond the current tournament size.
Sources have told ESPN that only a few final steps remain for approval.
These final steps are considered a formality.
The change will affect how many teams compete in the tournament each year.
NCAA is the organization that runs college sports championships in the U.S.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tilly Corteen-Coleman, an 18-year-old left-arm spin bowler, was selected for England’s T20 World Cup squad. She has quickly risen through cricket, earning a big contract in The Hundred and impressing coaches with her skills and personality.
Key Facts
Tilly Corteen-Coleman is 18 years old and a left-arm spin bowler.
She was chosen for England's T20 World Cup squad, the only new player in the team.
Corteen-Coleman plays for Southern Brave in The Hundred and signed a £105,000 contract this year.
She made her debut for Southern Brave at 16 and took her first wicket against former Australia captain Meg Lanning.
Her coach, Charlotte Edwards, was also her under-11s cap presenter and now England head coach.
Brave captain Georgia Adams praised her maturity, humility, and talent.
Corteen-Coleman is one of three left-arm spinners considered for the squad, offering variety in bowling style.
She is known for her love of dogs and has four of them, which helped her bond with her teammates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won a high-scoring soccer match against Bayern Munich with a score of 5-4. This game was the highest-scoring semifinal ever in the UEFA Champions League (UCL). Both teams played very aggressively, and Bayern will have another chance to win when they play the second match at home.
Key Facts
PSG won the first semifinal match against Bayern Munich 5-4.
The match was the highest-scoring UCL semifinal in history.
Bayern Munich played strongly and scored 4 goals.
PSG are the defending champions of the tournament.
The second leg of the semifinal will be played at Bayern's home stadium.
The UEFA Champions League is a major European soccer competition.
Both teams showed strong offensive performances in the game.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Philadelphia Phillies fired their manager, Rob Thomson, after the team lost 11 of their last 12 games, starting the 2026 season with a 9-19 record. Don Mattingly was named the new interim manager, and the team also promoted third-base coach Dusty Wathan to bench coach.
Key Facts
The Phillies started the 2026 season with a poor 9-19 record, their worst start in over 20 years.
Rob Thomson was fired following the team's 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves, marking their 11th loss in 12 games.
Thomson had managed the Phillies since 2022, leading them to four playoff appearances and two division titles.
Under Thomson, the Phillies reached the World Series once but lost in six games to the Houston Astros.
Don Mattingly, with a managerial record of 889-950 and experience with the Dodgers and Marlins, was named interim manager.
Third-base coach Dusty Wathan was promoted to bench coach.
Alex Cora was offered the Phillies manager position but declined to spend more time with family.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Philadelphia Phillies fired their manager, Rob Thomson, after the team lost 11 of 12 games and was tied for last place in Major League Baseball. Don Mattingly was named interim manager, and the Phillies have struggled despite high spending and previous playoff success under Thomson.
Key Facts
Rob Thomson managed the Phillies from 2022 until his firing in 2026.
Thomson led the Phillies to four straight playoffs and the 2022 World Series.
The team lost 11 of their last 12 games before firing Thomson.
Don Mattingly was named interim manager, with Dusty Wathan promoted to bench coach.
The Phillies’ payroll exceeds $300 million, but the team has not performed well this season.
Key players like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner were part of the team.
The Phillies lost games with poor hitting and pitching performances from several players.
The Phillies released pitcher Taijuan Walker and outfielder Nick Castellanos despite large contracts.
The team last won the World Series in 2008.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A football referee who might have worked at the 2026 men's World Cup in North America was arrested in the UK for alleged sexual assault. FIFA and UEFA said they will not select this official for their matches while the investigation continues.
Key Facts
The arrested referee was a possible pick for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The alleged assault happened at a hotel in Britain and involved a teenage boy.
FIFA is aware of the allegation and removed the referee from consideration for any of its competition matches.
UEFA also said it will not select the referee for its games during the active investigation.
The referee was working at a European football game organized by UEFA at the time.
The referee’s name and the exact match he was working have not been made public.
The London Metropolitan Police released the referee, a man in his 30s, on bail after arrest.
FIFA’s World Cup will feature 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video officials for 104 games.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will host Bayern Munich in the first game of the Champions League semi-final. Bayern Munich has won the Champions League six times, while PSG is the current titleholder.
Key Facts
PSG is the defending champion of the Champions League.
Bayern Munich has won the Champions League six times.
The match is the first leg of the semi-final round.
The game will take place on a Tuesday.
The Champions League is a major European soccer tournament.
The event is covered by FRANCE 24 and reported by sports editor James Vasina.
The outcome will determine which team moves closer to the final.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
