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Barca rebound from UCL woe to beat Getafe

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 12 May 2019 12:38

Barcelona bounced back from a midweek Champions League loss to Liverpool with a 2-0 win against Getafe at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

Arturo Vidal opened the scoring for the hosts before half-time, knocking home a rebound from a Gerard Pique header to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead at the break.

Dakonam Djene's own goal for the visitors padded the lead for La Liga champions Barcelona, who were playing their last home match of the season, while Getafe will have all to play for in the final weekend of the season to hold on to the final UCL spot ahead of Valencia.

Man United need major rebuild - Solskjaer

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 12 May 2019 12:12

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted at major changes over the summer, saying executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and the club's owners know the extent of the rebuild required at Old Trafford.

United ended the season 32 points behind champions Manchester City after signing off with a dismal 2-0 home defeat to relegated Cardiff.

It leaves Solskjaer with a mountain to climb to get the club back to competing for major honours, and he said the owners and the board knew the work that needed to be done.

"I've had loads of conversations and they've been up front and honest -- we know where we are," he said.

"The end of the season makes it clearer than when we had that great run of form. We played some great football at times, and towards the end we've seen that exceptional efficiency we had didn't last and they know we're in for a rebuild."

Solskjaer started his reign with 14 wins from 17 games in all competitions but ended the campaign with two wins from the final 12 matches.

United have not won for a month and have taken just eight points from the final 27 available to fall out of the race for the top four, eventually finishing sixth.

"We've been poor," Solskjaer said. "We've hit a brick wall towards the end of the season. It's very disappointing, and a big plus is that the season is over.

"We are too far behind where we want to be. We're five or six [points] behind third, fourth and fifth, and that's who we need to challenge next year."

Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia ended their United careers against Cardiff, while there are doubts over the futures of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata, Eric Bailly, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba.

Solskjaer is hopeful of finalising his squad before the players return to Carrington on July 1 but, following the defeat to Cardiff, the 46-year-old refused to go into specifics about what his rebuild could look like.

"It's going to be a very important preseason for us," he said. "David [De Gea] has got one year left and we want to extend with him and we're in talks, and let's hope it will get sorted.

"Alexis has a contract with us. I'm not going to speak about individuals."

Liverpool beat Wolves but miss out on title

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 12 May 2019 09:55

Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 on the final day but, despite finishing with 97 points, were denied a first league title since 1990 as Manchester City also won 4-1 against Brighton.

Sadio Mane scored in the first half to give Liverpool hope, but despite going a goal down, City came back to claim back-to-back titles for the first time in England since Man United did it in 2009.

"As long as City are around, with the quality and financial power, it's not easy that any other team will pass them. That is clear," Jurgen Klopp said.

"We have to be very close to perfection to win the Premier League, I think this is the case. The season is a very long, hard one. You have to deal with setbacks.

"We were always competitive. City got the points they have because we were there. They have 198 points in two years, that's special. We made such big steps. It's only the first step."

Fresh off their remarkable Champions League comeback against Barcelona in midweek, Liverpool knew they needed to win to stand any chance of lifting the title and Mohamed Salah was back in the XI again after missing out through injury. Champions League hero Divock Origi also kept his place with Roberto Firmino still not fit to play.

Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges but Liverpool took the lead on 17 minutes as Trent Alexander-Arnold found space to cross low from the right and the ball found Mane unmarked in the box, who hammered it home.

Controlling possession, Liverpool almost had a second as Andrew Robertson (fit again after being injured against Barcelona) lined up a powerful shot that was well blocked by goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Fans were celebrating in the Anfield stands as news filtered through of a goal from Brighton, but it was a false alarm. Then, incredibly, a few minutes later Glenn Murray scored. But, inside 83 seconds, Sergio Aguero levelled for City to return things to how they were.

Back in Liverpool, Salah blasted a shot over the bar and Diogo Jota wasted a good chance for Wolves after getting in behind the defence and failing to pick out a teammate with his cross.

Since scoring, the Reds looked nervous and those nerves were felt in the crowd as news came through of Aymeric Laporte's goal to put Man City 2-1 up.

Things almost went from bad to worse before half-time as a flowing break from Wolves saw Matthew Doherty slid through on the right, but his looped shot deflected off the top of the bar with Alisson beaten.

Early in the second half, Alexander-Arnold tried a speculative effort from a free kick that hit the side netting and Ryan Bennett was booked for hacking down Mane on the break.

Doherty again found space down the right after a fine pass, but his cross found nobody in the box and Joel Matip was there to block a long shot from Jonny. Raul Jiminez then hammered a shot well wide.

Origi sent Mane away and the Senegal winger's ball across was deflected back into the striker's path, but he shot over the bar after turning well. It was his last action of the game though, as James Milner replaced him.

On 63 minutes, the crowd fell silent again as Riyad Mahrez made it 3-1 to Man City, leaving Liverpool needing a miracle. Then Jota was sent through but Alisson did well to come out and stop him before he could get a meaningful shot on goal.

As 71 minutes ticked by, Jota's point blank header was saved by Alisson and City made it 4-1 on the south coast through Ilkay Gundogan -- virtually assuring themselves of the title. Georginio Wijnaldum appeared at the back post to almost get another for Liverpool but the atmosphere in the stadium mirrored those of the players.

Liverpool fans were given something else to cheer as Alexander-Arnold whipped in another fine cross for Mane to head his second goal and make the result more comfortable. Then Premier League Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk was denied by the crossbar.

But it was the result in Brighton that mattered and Liverpool missed out on the title by a single point. Though of course they do have a Champions League final on June 1 to play.

Man City survive scare to win Premier League

Published in Soccer
Sunday, 12 May 2019 09:55

Manchester City retained the Premier League after surviving a scare on the final day of the season to eventually see off Brighton and beat Liverpool to the title.

For 21 minutes, Liverpool were champions on the final day as they led Wolves with Manchester City falling behind at the Amex, but Pep Guardiola's men found their stride to finish on 98 points -- one ahead of their nearest challengers. Liverpool's 97 points is the highest total amassed by a runner-up in English top flight history.

"Back to back, it was the hardest and most satisfying ever. Liverpool were exceptional this year. I don't mean to rub it in -- they didn't deserve to lose," Vincent Kompany said.

"But we played against such a good team all season and until now we were able to stay in front."

"It means a lot. We have to say congratulations to Liverpool as well. They helped us to push on. It's been an incredible season for us," Guardiola said.

"I think last season, Ciy raised the standard higher. To win the title, we needed 14 wins in a row and couldn't drop points. So, it's incredible to do it after 100 points (last season). Liverpool helped us.

"It was the toughest title win in all my career so far."

Glenn Murray gave Brighton a shock lead on 26 minutes, his clever flick from a corner sending Liverpool fans at Anfield into delirium, but City soon responded.

First, Sergio Aguero struck through Mat Ryan's legs after a fine touch from David Silva two minutes after City fell behind and then Aymeric Laporte headed unmarked from a corner on 38 minutes to make it 2-1.

Riyad Mahrez, making a rare start, finished excellently just after the hour mark and Ilkay Gundogan's majestic free kick put City further in control as their fans celebrated another success.

City were comfortable in the second half as the goals flowed, killing off any lingering Liverpool hope and making it the first time a team has retained the league since Manchester United in 2009.

With the title destiny in their hands before kick-off, City started tentatively with Brighton bright and posing problems on the counter attack.

Bernardo Silva had a good chance to settle the nerves early on but he was blocked in the area as he burst through on goal.

City were sloppy in patches and fell behind when Murray got ahead of his marker to beat Ederson and put Brighton 1-0 up. It sparked joyous scenes at Anfield as Liverpool were top as it stood, but City hit back.

Aguero got City back on level terms with a fine finish past Ryan and then Laporte's header put Guardiola's men in front before the break.

Mahrez then jinked his way through and finished with a brilliant right-footed shot into the top corner to make it 3-1 to the visitors. Lewis Dunk was turned inside out by Mahrez, whose effort was met with exuberant celebrations on the City bench.

Gundogan put the finishing touches on a fine win and another Premier League title when he hit a sublime free kick 18 minutes from time as City finally saw off a spirited title challenge from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, who beat Wolves 2-0.

"I am delighted. This is why I came to the club -- to win trophies. The mentality is the best here -- no matter what game it is, it's all about winning," Raheem Sterling said.

"Players challenge each other. Nobody is comfortable here. It's been a lovely season, I'm happy to have a decent season."

Kompany added: "I had no interest in what Liverpool were doing all season. If anyone wanted to try and figure out permutations or see what they were doing I would have lost my head and lost my mind.

"We didn't come this far having to worry about someone else. We played Brighton and we knew we could beat them playing our way and that's what we needed. I'm so happy that we could go behind and come back with the big players who make the difference in big games."

The ICC are satisfied England did not tamper with the ball in their second ODI against Pakistan amid a swirl of social media speculation.

Unverified footage from Saturday's match, which England won by 12 runs having scored 373 for 3 and managed to contain Pakistan to 361 for 7, highlighted England pace bowler Liam Plunkett moving fingers over the ball whilst preparing to run in and vision of the ball with one side looking extremely rough.

The ICC is believed to have seen the video and spoken to Plunkett, who alerted them to the footage, and are not concerned that anything untoward occurred.

"The ICC is aware of the unverified video that is currently circulating on social media," the ICC said in a statement on Sunday. "The match officials are comfortable that there was no attempt to change the condition of the ball or any evidence of this on the over by over examinations of the ball throughout the game."

The video does not show any evidence of wrongdoing by Plunkett or any other player and the condition of the ball, if accurately depicted, would appear to be consistent with one bashed around during such a high-scoring game. The ball used in the Royal London Cup semi-final between Hampshire and Lancashire on the same Ageas Bowl pitch the following day did not look dis-similar after 44 overs and 230 runs being scored.

South Africa women 265 for 6 (Luus 80, Lee 57, Wolvaardt 56, Riaz 2-49) tied with Pakistan women 265 for 9 (Javeria 74, Riaz 71, Klaas 3-55, Kapp 2-57)

The final match of the series not only became a high-scoring nail-biter, but also ended in a result that would please the visiting Pakistan side: a tie.

Asked to bat in Benoni, South Africa rode on half-centuries by openers Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt and an 84-ball 80 from captain and No. 4 Sune Luus to put up 265 for 6. Pakistan's chase looked dead in the water when Javeria Khan was dismissed for 74 to leave them at 165 for 6 after 37 overs. But Aliya Riaz fought with her career-best 82-ball 71, and Nashra Sandhu hit a six in the last over to ensure her team got out of the contest with honours shared.

When Riaz walked out to join Javeria, Pakistan were 91 for 4, with Nahida Khan, Sidra Ameen, Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar all dismissed, and South Africa on top.

Riaz is an allrounder, but an ODI average of 12.88 before this game wouldn't have given Javeria - or their team - too much confidence. But it was to be Riaz's day. She had earlier been Pakistan's best bowler with 2 for 49, and turned it on with the bat, first adding 74 with Javeria - her contribution only 25 - and then pretty much bossing the remainder of the chase. She scored 46 of the 84 runs scored between Javeria's dismissal and her own, in the 48th over with Pakistan needed 17 from 14.

Shabnim Ismail conceded just four off the penultimate over before Sandhu slammed a six off the penultimate ball and sealed the tie with a single off the last ball.

For South Africa, Masabata Klaas and Marizanne Kapp, who finished with 3 for 55 and 2 for 57 respectively, struck at key moments to almost always keep their team slightly ahead. The point from the game was a big one for Pakistan, who had won the first game of the series after bowling South Africa out for just 63, as it took them above New Zealand to fifth spot on the ICC Women's Championship table, just below South Africa, who have 16 points, both teams having played 15 games.

Earlier, Lee, (57 off 61), and Wolvaardt (56 off 84) gave South Africa strong start. The two added 75 for the first wicket before the aggressive Lee was caught behind off Riyaz, and after Andrie Steyn's third failure in the series, Wolvaardt and Luus took them to 150 midway through the 35th over before Wolvaardt was dismissed.

Luus was in charge after that, and with Chloe Tryon scoring a quick 15-ball 28, they put up a big total on the board. Another day, it might have been enough to stop Pakistan short, but Riaz, Javeria and Sandhu made sure it didn't happen.

Somerset 337 (Trego 73, Azhar 72, Banton 59) beat Nottinghamshire 222 (Slater 58, Hales 54) by 115 runs

There will be no Lord's final for Alex Hales, not that even the most ardent county cricket follower would claim that was adequate compensation for missing out on a place in England's World Cup campaign. Instead, Hales was part of a Nottinghamshire side shouldered aside by Somerset in an emphatic manner that will bring delight in the south-west.

Somerset have reached Lord's the hard way. Since finishing third in South Group courtesy of a must-win floodlit tie against Surrey at Taunton on Tuesday night, they have seen off Worcestershire in the play-offs by 147 runs and now Nottinghamshire, this time by a margin of 115.

Hales' dismissal for 54, as he fell to his favoured square cut, was the fourth Nottinghamshire wicket to fall, on 135, in a sequence of four wickets for 25 in 45 balls which changed the complexion of the match. Craig Overton ran jubilantly into the off side, pursued by the rest of the Somerset team, the importance of the wicket apparent. Sometimes you don't have to just take a wicket, you have to kill a suspicion that fate is not on your side.

Somerset now contest the final of the last 50-over competition that will actually mean something and it is good that a county which still treasures the county game will be represented. In 2020, it will be denuded by running in direct competition with The Hundred. The most powerful counties will contest it while most of their squad are on loan elsewhere. Results will be devalued and statistics misleading. One giant-sized work experience scheme to give professionals who remain unsold in the auction for The Hundred something to do.

In Restaurant Six, Trent Bridge's acclaimed new fine-dining restaurant and bar, the view of the cricket below became ever-more discouraging. One of the imaginative offerings of Dan Warren, Britain's bartender of the year in 2018, is the Grass Cutter cocktail which evokes the smell of freshly-mown grass. Long before the end, it was the sort of day to put some extra gin in it.

Trent Bridge hosts so many big scores that no first-innings score ever feels safe. But Somerset's 336 was a challenging total, disguised by several bad dismissals. The pitch was central (even if one of ropes was brought in more than necessary) and the ball did not purr onto the bat quite as conveniently as normal. Steven Mullaney termed the total "chaseable," but conceded that Nottinghamshire had been outplayed in every department.

For Somerset to reach 182 for 1 by the 29th over was a considerable achievement. If Tom Banton's edge against Jake Ball, on 1, had not fallen just short of Matthew Carter at second slip, the outcome might have been different. But Banton, Azhar Ali and Peter Trego all made fifties, the admirable Lewis Gregory held the later stages together with 37, and the Overton twins made merry with 46 off 30 late on, their stand once again having the appealing atmosphere of a bit of a singalong at the end of something more serious.

Banton, after his century against Worcestershire, had to deal for the first time with national acclaim - most obviously in the form of Michael Vaughan's Twitter feed. Vaughan told his 1.08m followers that Banton's style reminded him of Kevin Pietersen. As Vaughan remarked, no pressure there then.

It is an apt comparison. Banton might have been influenced by Jos Buttler, who studied at the same school, but there are definite reminders in his long-limbed sweeps and reverse sweeps. Tall and elegant, he can rarely have played more methodically until he burst ahead with 24 off Matthew Carter's second over, striking the offspinner over the ropes three times.

He fell for 59, flicking at a ball from Harry Gurney to be caught at the wicket, the only success for Gurney who had only just returned from a stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, stood in for Darren Pattinson, who has a sore side, and Stuart Broad, not released by England, and went for 86 in 10 overs.

Alongside him, Azhar progressed furtively. His 71 from 70 balls was shorn of excess, a shrewd assessment of the nature of the pitch, until he swung and missed at Jake Ball. There was a similar run-a-ball contribution from Trego, who played with great responsibility for 73 until he was run out, sold down by the river by Gregory's push into the leg side and change of heart over a single. George Bartlett's second-ball duck, making room against Mullaney, suffered for the vaulting ambition of youth. Ball's well-disguised slower balls helped him to 4 for 62 and Luke Fletcher, although wicketless, was also on the money.

Nottinghamshire perished with Hales, although the unsung Ben Slater played well for 58 until he worked Jamie Overton to short midwicket. When Ben Duckett reverse-swept to deep square, the bowler, Roelof van der Merwe, jumped to attention with the ball in the air as if the Duke of Edinburgh had suddenly walked onto the square and requested an audience.

There were still 11.4 overs remaining when the end came, Fletcher's demise at long-on after a hard-hitting but futile 43 allowing Somerset to celebrate their second complete performance in 48 hours. For Tom Abell, already a much-loved Somerset captain at 25, a Lord's final now lies ahead.

MADRID -- Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to win his third Madrid Open title Sunday, tying Rafael Nadal for most Masters 1000 trophies with 33.

It was the second title of the season for the top-ranked Djokovic, adding to his triumph in the Australian Open. He hadn't won in Madrid since 2016, with his other title in the Spanish capital coming in 2011.

Nadal and Djokovic each have five Masters 1000 titles more than Roger Federer, third on the all-time list.

Djokovic was in control from the start against his 20-year-old Greek opponent, who had defeated Nadal in the Madrid semifinals and was trying to become the first player to win three tour titles this season.

The Serb broke Tsitsipas early in the first set and late in the second to close out the match at the Magic Box center court.

The Miami Dolphins signed running back Mark Walton after his successful tryout at their rookie minicamp this weekend.

Walton, a 2018 fourth-round pick out of the University of Miami, was arrested three times in 2019 before being waived by the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.

Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Saturday that "people deserve a second chance" in reference to the Walton tryout.

"I don't want to judge people based on one incident (or) two incidents," Flores said. "I think it's a case-by-case situation for a player and just for people in general. That's kind of my stance."

When speaking with reporters Saturday, Walton declined to comment on his legal situation, but he did show gratitude for the Dolphins giving him this opportunity.

"There's a lot of things that were happening in the offseason, but right now my focus is on the task at hand, and right now that's trying out for the Miami Dolphins and that's what I'm going to talk about right now," Walton said.

The legal matters from his arrests on March 12, Feb. 16 and Jan. 16 are still pending, and the NFL could decide to impose discipline at a later date.

He is facing a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon along with three misdemeanor charges: resisting an officer without violence, marijuana possession and reckless driving from the March 12 incident, a battery charge in the Feb. 16 case, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana from the Jan. 16 arrest.

Flores, general manager Chris Grier and others on the Dolphins staff discussed his legal issues before trying him out and eventually signing him.

Walton is from Miami, presenting an opportunity for him to restart his NFL career close to home.

"He's a talented player," Flores said. "We wanted to definitely take a look at him and see if he was a fit for us on the field (and) off the field."

Walton joins a running back room led by Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage. The Dolphins also drafted a fullback, Chandler Cox, and a running back, Myles Gaskin, each in the seventh round.

Flores said he anticipates the Dolphins keeping five or six backs on their final 53-man roster.

Walton, who had 14 carries for 34 yards and five catches for 41 yards in 14 games for Bengals last season, is at his best as a pass-catching running back.

What are the biggest things to watch in Sunday's two Game 7s of the NBA playoffs?

With the Portland Trail Blazers facing the Denver Nuggets (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and the Philadelphia 76ers matching up with the Toronto Raptors (7 p.m., TNT) one more time, our experts answer the big questions that will decide each series.

Who are the players to watch? Who has the most at stake with a trip to the conference finals on the line?

We break it down and predict the results.


1. What has been the biggest surprise in either series?

Jorge Sedano: Ben Simmons needing six games to put his imprint on the series. I think Simmons is still only scratching the surface of how talented he is. Game 6 was arguably the best and most important game of his career. Can he duplicate that in Game 7?

Kevin Pelton: How ineffective Monte Morris (Denver) and Fred VanVleet (Toronto), two of the league's better backup point guards, have been in these series. Morris has shot 6-of-27 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point attempts, while VanVleet is 1-of-12 on 3s and 3-of-19 overall. Both undersized players seem to have been bothered by the size and length opponents who don't use traditional backup point guards have been able to throw at them.

Tim Bontemps: Toronto's inability to make open shots. During the season, Toronto made 41.4 percent of its uncontested 3-pointers, good for seventh in the league, per Second Spectrum tracking. In this series, the Raptors are shooting 32.5 percent on those looks. If the Raptors had made their open 3s, this series already would be over. If they make them in Game 7, they'll advance to the Eastern Conference finals. But the fact that they haven't has left this team in a far more precarious position than it should be.

André Snellings: The dominance of the young Nuggets duo. I wrote last week that Nikola Jokic (age 24) and Jamal Murray (age 22) are better building blocks than Damian Lillard (age 28) and CJ McCollum (age 27), in large part due to the upside and rarity of Jokic's game. But Jokic has been the best player out West, and Murray has exploded to average 25 points, six rebounds and five assists through six games. The future is now.

Bobby Marks: Jimmy Butler and Zach Collins, for different reasons. The 76ers guard has gone from being a third option in the regular season to a player who proved he can carry a team (25.7 points and plus-16.7 in the three wins). Meanwhile, Portland is getting a real glimpse of Collins' potential. He has been a team-high plus-4.5 in the six games, and he's the most consistent player coming off the bench (9.0 PPG on 53.8 percent shooting from the field).


2. What are you watching most closely in Blazers-Nuggets?

Snellings: Will Lillard have another "Dame Time" closeout game? He is the most electric player in the series, and though he has had some strong games, he has the ability to go further into his bag and come out with a 50-point, double-digit-3-pointers performance for the ages. The Nuggets had the best home record in the NBA this season and are hosting Game 7, so it feels like a Dame classic is the Trail Blazers' best shot to advance.

Pelton: How many minutes Jokic plays. All series, Portland has gotten the better of the stretches Jokic and Lillard have spent on the bench. The easiest fix for Denver coach Michael Malone is to extend Jokic's minutes, as he did in Game 7 vs. San Antonio and again in Game 3 of this series, when Jokic played the entire second half and nearly all four overtimes.

Marks: The officiating. We likely will see three new officials who have not worked this series together already. How the refs allow each team to play in the first five minutes will set a tone for the rest of the game.

Sedano: Which superstar has the bigger impact on the game and drags his team across the finish line. Jokic had a triple-double in the closeout against the Spurs. We all know Dame waved bye-bye to Russ. Who stands out on Sunday is the most important thing for me.

Bontemps: Lillard's energy level. Lillard has been carrying an insane load in these playoffs as Portland continues to survive without Jusuf Nurkic. As this series wore on, Lillard (understandably) began to look tired. But in Game 6, he looked back to his usual self. If the Blazers are going to go into Denver and win a Game 7 on the road, they need "Logo Lillard" to be operating at peak efficiency.

3. What are you watching most closely in 76ers-Raptors?

Marks: The two head coaches. This is uncharted water for Nick Nurse and Brett Brown. After skating through the first round in five games, both are now in a position they've never faced: a Game 7 to reach the conference finals. How each coach manages minutes will be scrutinized. Be prepared for an all-out mentality, with players such as Kawhi Leonard and Butler potentially playing the full 48 minutes.

Snellings: I want to see if Joel Embiid is healthy enough to turn in another MVP-caliber performance. Embiid dropped 33 points on 18 field goal attempts to lead the 76ers to a win in Game 3, but in the three games since, he has averaged only 13.7 points on 38.7 percent shooting while visibly ailing from his various health issues. The Raptors are hosting Game 7, which should bode well for their role players and make things more challenging for the non-star 76ers. Embiid has to be at peak level to give his team a chance to win.

Bontemps: Will the Raptors besides Leonard make shots? We know Leonard will show up; he arguably has been the best player in the playoffs thus far. Pascal Siakam likely will, too. How this game plays out likely will come down to how the rest of their teammates -- specifically Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Danny Green and Serge Ibaka -- play. If they hit shots like they did in Games 1 and 5, Toronto likely will win comfortably. If not? Things could get awfully interesting.

Sedano: Can Gasol continue his impressive effort against Embiid? Gasol is a veteran of playoff battles. He has been a huge X factor on both ends for the Raptors, initiating offense from the high post and doing excellent work defensively on Embiid. No one has limited Embiid offensively in the past three seasons quite like Gasol has in their matchups.

Pelton: Toronto's 3-point shooting. The Raptors, sixth in the NBA in 3-point percentage during the regular season at 36.6, are hitting just 30.8 percent of their 3s in this series. Per Second Spectrum data, Toronto has had the better shot quality, as measured by qSP (quantified shot probability, which factors in the location and type of shot as well as distance of nearby defenders and the shooter's ability), in all six games of the series. The Raptors' 3-point misses are a big reason they've had the better effective field goal percentage in just three of the six games, all Toronto wins.


4. Which player or team has the most at stake on Sunday?

Pelton: The 76ers. Win or lose, the Raptors' future is in the hands of Leonard this summer. Philadelphia, by contrast, has more choices ahead. The Sixers must decide whether to stick with Brett Brown as head coach and how much to offer unrestricted free agents Butler (who, like Leonard, has a player option he's sure to decline) and Tobias Harris. Should those decisions be made on the basis of a single game? Of course not, but given the high expectations from Philadelphia ownership after loading up with Butler and Harris, that might prove the case.

Marks: Portland. Despite Lillard and McCollum being under contract for the next two seasons -- possibly more if they agree to extensions -- Game 7 represents an opportunity they might not have in the future. Because of upcoming financial restrictions, this could be a drastically different team next year, one that might be without Al-Farouq Aminu, Enes Kanter, Seth Curry and Rodney Hood. There's no guarantee that the Blazers get back here.

Bontemps: We'll cheat and say both teams in the East. With huge roster decisions ahead this summer, the clock starts immediately for the loser -- and that team will lose the chance to make a run to the Finals that could influence those decisions as well.

Snellings: The pressure is all in the East, especially in Philadelphia. Both Butler and Harris could leave as free agents, and this postseason has made questions about Embiid's health and Simmons' lack of jump shot more concerning. The 76ers made moves this season consistent with a team going all-in to win, so another second-round loss has the potential to trigger organization-wide changes, with no coach or player guaranteed to return next season.

Sedano: I'll go slightly off the board and say Brett Brown. I find rumors of his alleged uncertain job status to be silly. However, the rumors exist. I think he has done a fine job and deserves to continue as the head coach. A win in Game 7 can go a long way to solidify that.


5. Who wins each Game 7?

Bontemps: Portland will win in Denver because I've grown to expect Lillard to come up big on occasions such as these. He has proved it time and again. Meanwhile, the Raptors will win because they have the best player (Leonard) and home-court advantage. More than anything, though, here's hoping we get two great Game 7s, which are always the best things in sports.

Snellings: I'm taking the Raptors in the East matchup. They have been the better team all season, they have home-court advantage, and they have experience in these moments. The West is essentially a toss-up, but the Nuggets are hard to beat at home, especially with how well Jokic has been playing. Add the Nuggets' big size advantage, and they should be the favorites to advance.

Sedano: The Raptors and Blazers. The Raptors have home court, Leonard has been insanely good, and as I mentioned before, Gasol has done an excellent job in this series. In the West, Dame and CJ can carry the scoring load for Portland. The Blazers' bench has been ignited by Hood, who is averaging 16 points on 60 percent shooting. Plus, Collins has been a gem off the bench. The Blazers have outscored the Nuggets by 22 points in 113 minutes with Hood and Collins paired on the floor.

Pelton: Since 1984, the average home-court advantage in Game 7 is 6.3 points, so the home team should almost always be favored to win unless there's a key injury (as was the case last year, when the Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets without Chris Paul in a road Game 7). I don't see a compelling reason to pick against the home teams here.

Marks: The home teams. On paper, the better roster is Philadelphia, not Toronto. However, do we know what 76ers team will actually show up for a Game 7? Will we get MVP-level Embiid? In Denver, we have seen that the moment has never been too big for this young Nuggets team. The Game 7 win over the San Antonio Spurs proved that.

Soccer

Mbappé, Vini score as Madrid win with late flurry

Mbappé, Vini score as Madrid win with late flurry

Vinícius Júnior came off the bench to score once and set up another goal to steer champions Real Mad...

Martino blames ref as Miami suffers Shield setback

Martino blames ref as Miami suffers Shield setback

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsInter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino claimed the match aga...

Ten Hag slams pundits over Rashford 'speculation'

Ten Hag slams pundits over Rashford 'speculation'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLONDON -- Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has fired back at pun...

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UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Griffin, 21, mulls NBA future after buyout

Sources: Griffin, 21, mulls NBA future after buyout

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Houston Rockets reached terms on a buyout with forward AJ Griff...

Raptors forward Brown undergoes knee surgery

Raptors forward Brown undergoes knee surgery

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsToronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown underwent arthroscopic surgery...

Baseball

Lindor to miss rest of series; earliest return Tues.

Lindor to miss rest of series; earliest return Tues.

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Francisco Lindor wasn't in the New York Mets' lineup fo...

Rangers scratch Scherzer, give Dunning the start

Rangers scratch Scherzer, give Dunning the start

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer h...

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