Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points, a resurgent Paul George had 23 points and a Philadelphia 76ers\u2019 team that lost by 32 points twice in this first-round playoff series played their most complete game of the season and forced Game 7 with a 106-93 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
\nThe decisive game is Saturday in Boston.
\nUplifted by Joel Embiid\u2019s early return from an appendectomy, the Sixers rebounded from two blowout losses to win Game 5 in Boston and were buoyed by a throwback effort from George to keep a comfortable lead in Game 6. Embiid did his part in Game 6 with 19 points.
\nThe play of the game \u2014 and maybe the series \u2014 came in the third when Kelly Oubre Jr. blocked Jaylen Brown, Maxey scooped the loose ball and fed to George on the break who then dazzled with a behind-the-back pass to VJ Edgecombe who finished with a thunderous dunk for a 69-54 lead.
\nA night after the Flyers won in overtime to advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs, Sixers fans cut loose after that slam.
\nThe 76ers will only go as far as Embiid can take them on his injury-prone 7-foot frame and Maxey is a bona fide All-Star. Edgecombe\u2019s youthful exuberance made a fan favorite in Philly and an NBA Rookie of the Year finalist.
\nLost in the shuffle at times is the 35-year-old George \u2014 in large part this season because of a 25-game suspension for flunking a drug test \u2014 who has deferred to the other three Sixers when needed yet can still flash that All-Star form. George hit a team-high five 3s that all stretched the lead and the offense ran through him when Embiid \u2014 still recovering from his early April surgery \u2014 was on the bench.
\nGeorge signed with the Sixers in the summer of 2024 on a four-year, $212 million free-agent contract and was expected to form a 1-2 championship punch with Embiid. George was instead derailed by injuries, personal issues and the suspension that had him forgotten at times by fans and in the offense.
\nNot against Boston. He keyed Philadelphia\u2019s game of the season, a stunner given how the Celtics toyed with them in their three wins this series. The Celtics never led in Game 6.
\nBrown was hampered by three fouls in the first half and finished with 18 points. Jayson Tatum had 17 for the Celtics and left in third quarter with an apparent calf injury.
\nThe Celtics went more than 4 minutes without a point to close the third and the Sixers stormed into the final quarter with an 82-63 lead.
\nThis is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
\nDownload the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
\nFollow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
\n","enclosure":{},"categories":["Massachusetts","News","Local","RSS SND"]},{"title":"Cyclones playing international basketball","pubDate":"2026-05-01 03:08:42","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cyclones-playing-international-basketball-030842994.html","guid":"064b3136-4dff-34a9-8cc3-8420b2d6d309","author":"","thumbnail":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/e14acc171c29989ef76da0b4bf4aa096","description":"Several Iowa State alumni are delivering high-impact performances in professional basketball leagues worldwide. With Spain\u2019s FC Barcelona Will Clyburn recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 31 minutes in an 80-72 win over KK Crvena zvezda on April 21. He is currently averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per [\u2026]","content":"\n![\"\"](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/e14acc171c29989ef76da0b4bf4aa096\")
Several Iowa State alumni are delivering high-impact performances in professional basketball leagues worldwide.
\nWith Spain\u2019s FC Barcelona Will Clyburn recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 31 minutes in an 80-72 win over KK Crvena zvezda on April 21. He is currently averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
\nIn China, Lindell Wigginton led the Guangzhou Loong Lions with a performance of 36 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in a win against Fujian Sturgeons on April 20. Wigginton\u2019s season averages of 23.2 points (ranking third in the league), 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists.
\n![\"\"](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/130077cdd61362709e6449f5120ef1c9\" "\\"\\"")
Meanwhile, Talen Horton-Tucker contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in 20 minutes to a Fenerbah\u00e7e Beko Istanbul victory in an 82-78 victory over Manisa on Sunday. His game averages include 13.1 points and 3.4 assists.
\nTwo former Cyclones are playing for prominent Istanbul-based clubs. Matt Thomas is showcasing his perimeter shooting for Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul, averaging 8.8 points and 2.7 rebounds while connecting on 47.7% of his three-point attempts.
\n![\"\"](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/3e415c19e56fd609b3352960fc0854dc\" "\\"\\"")
Nick Weiler-Babb is competing for Anadolu Efes Istanbul, where he maintains averages of 6.86 points and 3.41 rebounds per game.
\n![\"\"](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/92387a094ead57cec7bca34da7bb957c\" "\\"\\"")
In Greece, Monte Morris helped keep Olympiacos undefeated with 6 points and 2 assists in 22 minutes, averaging 5.9 points and 3.4 assists on the season. Georgios Tsalmpouris also excels in Greece, recently leading Panionios with 17 points and 8 rebounds in 32 minutes while averaging 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
\nIn Romania, Solomon Young was the top scorer for Voluntari in a recent match with 19 points and 5 rebounds; his season averages stand at 18.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
\nAdditionally, DeAndre Kane earned MVP honors in Iceland for Grindavik with 30 points and 8 rebounds in 38 minutes, boosting his season averages to 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
\nMelvin Ejim recently posted 13 points and 8 rebounds for Hiopos Forca Lleida in Spain, where he averages 12.7 points and 5.6 rebounds.
\nIn Poland, Alja\u017e Kunc is averaging 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, most recently scoring 17 points in 33 minutes for Arriva Polski Cukier Torun.
\nTyrus McGee is a key contributor in Italy for Verona, recently scoring 16 points in just 15 minutes of play and maintaining a season average of 15.3 points.
\nDeonte Burton is also excelling in China, averaging 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, highlighted by a recent 36-point, 10-rebound performance.
\nIzaiah Brockington is making a strong impact in China for the Liaoning Flying Leopards, where he is currently averaging 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Nearby in Japan, Marial Shayok has appeared in 15 games for Altiri Chiba, contributing 11.1 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest.
\nNazareth Mitrou-Long is putting up versatile numbers for Napoli in the Italian Serie A, averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Also in Italy, Dustin Hogue plays for Rieti in the Serie A2, contributing 9 points and 6 rebounds per game.
\nAcross the Mediterranean in Spain, Gabe Kalscheur is competing for Ourense, where he averages 11.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
\nThe presence of Iowa Staters is also felt in Germany and Portugal. Brandton Chatfield is a key player for the Nuernberg Falcons BC in Germany, averaging 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. He is joined in the German leagues by Osun Osunniyi, who plays for MLP Academics Heidelberg and records 6.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. In Portugal, Robert Jones is averaging 9.5 points and 6.5 assists for Imortal.
\nIn the United Kingdom, Prentiss Nixon is leading the Sheffield Sharks with averages of 12.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Fellow Cyclone Daniel Edozie recently had a high-impact game for the Bristol Hurricanes, recording 22 points and seven rebounds in a matchup against the London Cavaliers.
\nIn France, Bubu Palo is averaging 9.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and two assists for Nantes, while Chris Babb recently contributed 10 points, four assists and two steals for BCM Gravelines Dunkerque.
\nFinally, in the Caribbean, George Conditt IV is playing for the Gigantes de Carolina in Puerto Rico. Over a recent two-game stretch in April, he averaged seven points and six rebounds per game.
\nNyamer Diew, a 6-foot-2 forward who competed for the Cyclones from 2021 to 2024 and played a pivotal role in their journey to the Big 12 Tournament final, has quickly become a standout star in Latvia.
\n![\"\"](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/efe51c4ecaccc24da0762a6898707c92\" "\\"\\"")
Currently playing for TTT Riga in her debut professional season, Diew has led her team to an undefeated 10-0 record in the league\u2019s semi-finals. Her individual performance has been nothing short of dominant, as she currently leads the Latvian league in scoring with an average of 15.4 points per game and ranks second in blocks with 1.9 per game. In a recent dominant 117-45 victory over Liepaja/LSSS, Diew, she tallied\u00a027 points and\u00a0nine rebounds in just 24 minutes of action.
\nIn Luxembourg, 6-foot-3 center Beatriz Jord\u00e3o is proving to be a force in the paint for T71 Dudelange. Jord\u00e3o has been a critical factor in her team\u2019s impressive 17-1 record, which currently places them at the top of the Luxembourg Basketball League. During her first season with the club, she has maintained a near double-double average, contributing 11.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, the latter of which ranks as the second-best rebounding average in the entire league. Her defensive presence is equally impactful, as she also holds the second-highest average for blocks in the league with 1.2 per game. Jord\u00e3o recently showcased her efficiency in a high-stakes match against closely-ranked Esch, contributing 10 points and five rebounds in only 19 minutes to help secure an 86-61 win.
\nThe professional success of the Iowa State\u00a0Way\u00a0extends to several other European competitive tiers, highlighting the program\u2019s ability to produce consistent, high-level contributors. In France\u2019s Ligue Feminin 2, Ines Nezerwa has been a highly productive player for Aulnoye-Aymeries, averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
\nMeanwhile, Lexi Donarski is making a significant impact in the Hungarian A Division for TFSE-MTK Budapest, where she provides balanced scoring and perimeter defense with averages of 12.0 points and 1.4 steals per game.
\nAdditionally, Sofija \u017divaljevi\u0107 is competing in Slovakia for MBK Ru\u017eomberok, where she serves as a primary playmaker with 10.5 points and 3.4 assists per game.
\n","enclosure":{},"categories":[]},{"title":"Wrongful death lawsuits filed in deadly Biffle plane crash","pubDate":"2026-05-01 03:08:22","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wrongful-death-lawsuits-filed-deadly-030822410.html","guid":"489a1f62-dd9d-3a41-902e-3bdd067e741d","author":"","thumbnail":"","description":"A new wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the December plane crash that killed NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their two children, and pilots Dennis and Jack Dutton.","content":"\nA new wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the December plane crash that killed NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their two children, and pilots Dennis and Jack Dutton.
\nPREIOUS COVERAGE: NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family dead in Statesville plane crash
\nThe estates of Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack, filed the lawsuits this week, each seeking $15 million in damages.
\nAccording to the filings, the Dutton family alleges that Biffle, who owned the aircraft, was responsible for ensuring the plane was properly maintained.
\nThe lawsuits claim that inadequate maintenance and upkeep contributed to the crash. Dennis Dutton was flying the aircraft at the time.
\nThe National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash and has not yet released its final report.
\nA preliminary report earlier this year revealed that the plane\u2019s altimeter was giving incorrect readings and that Dennis Dutton had turned control over to his son shortly before the crash.
\nThe lawsuits add a new legal chapter to a tragedy that devastated multiple families and sent shockwaves through the racing community.
\nThe cases will move forward as federal investigators continue working to determine the official cause of the crash.
\n","enclosure":{},"categories":["News","Local"]},{"title":"ACC Portal Tracker","pubDate":"2026-05-01 03:08:03","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/acc-portal-transfer-tracker-153511738.html","guid":"0c9d3ffc-0891-329d-ad6e-0f82864bc796","author":"","thumbnail":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/b43c141414a5b0311d9a57df2d3fe1e7","description":"Virginia lands its first portal target, Jurian Dixon of UC Irvine.","content":"\n![\"\"](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/b43c141414a5b0311d9a57df2d3fe1e7\")
Portal season is well underway, and that means lots of player movement. We\u2019ll do our best to keep up with it here. Lots of activity as the portal entry closed Tuesday night. Check below for updates.
\nBy the way, there\u2019s not really any place to put this right now, but at Louisiana State, former NC State coach Will Wade currently has an empty roster.
\nBOSTON COLLEGE
\nOUT
\nIN
\nCAL
\nOUT
\nIN
\nCLEMSON
\nOUT
\nIN
\nDUKE
\nOUT
\nIN
\nFLORIDA STATE
\nOUT
\nIN
\nGEORGIA TECH
\nOUT
\nIN
\nLOUISVILLE
\nOUT
\nIN
\nMIAMI
\nOUT
\nIN
\nNORTH CAROLINA
\nOUT
\nIN
\nNORTH CAROLINA STATE
\nOUT
\nIN
\nNOTRE DAME
\nOUT
\nIN
\nPITT
\nOUT
\n\nIN
\nSMU
\nOUT
\nIN
\nSTANFORD
\nOUT
\nIN
\nSYRACUSE
\nOUT
\nIN
\nVIRGINIA
\nOUT
\nIN
\nVIRGINIA TECH
\nOUT
\nIN
\nWAKE FOREST
\nOUT
\nIN
\nGo to the DBR Boards\u00a0to find Blue Healer Auctions ||\u00a0Drop us a line
\n","enclosure":{},"categories":[]},{"title":"Louisville Kings drop UFL game to St. Louis Battlehawks in return home","pubDate":"2026-05-01 03:07:59","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/louisville-kings-drop-ufl-game-030759020.html","guid":"f717cd2e-7997-3ca5-8634-a66ee80718dd","author":"","thumbnail":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/44203d669d52f6cb796e61a21f27b7b7","description":"Chris Redman's Louisville Kings fell to 2-4 in UFL games and 0-3 at Lynn Family Stadium with a Derby Classic loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks.","content":"The\u00a0Louisville Kings\u2019\u00a0winning ways\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0make the trip home.\u00a0
\nAfter picking up\u00a0back-to-back victories\u00a0at Houston and Dallas, the Kings\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0get anything going offensively Thursday night at\u00a0Lynn Family Stadium. Offensive drives\u00a0stalled\u00a0and the defense gave up several big plays en route to a 16-3 loss to the\u00a0St. Louis Battlehawks\u00a0in the inaugural Derby Classic.\u00a0
\nThe Kings (2-4) seemed like they were on their way to pick up their first-ever home win early.\u00a0Tanner Brown\u2019s\u00a040-yard field goal to end the opening series\u00a0put\u00a0the Kings up early. But the\u00a0Battlehawks\u00a0(4-2)\u00a0responded with nine unanswered points in the second quarter and kept Louisville at bay for\u00a0back-to-back\u00a0road victories.\u00a0
\nThe Kings\u00a0were\u00a0held\u00a0without a touchdown for the first time\u00a0since their 19-9\u00a0Week 2 loss at Orlando.\u00a0They\u2019ll\u00a0hit the road to\u00a0play\u00a0the\u00a0DC Defenders\u00a0at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday.\u00a0
\nHere are three takeaways from Louisville\u2019s loss to St. Louis:\u00a0
\nDuring the Kings\u2019\u00a0third series of the game, they had three penalties \u2014 back-to-back holdings\u00a0and a false start two plays later \u2014\u00a0and faced\u00a0third-and-27 from their 47-yard line. Two plays after the false start penalty, Louisville almost suffered a\u00a0fourth,\u00a0but it was\u00a0offsetting,\u00a0with\u00a0both teams being called for unnecessary roughness.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThe Kings\u2019 defense contributed to the penalty woes as well, with\u00a0two penalties over three plays setting up\u00a0Battlehawks\u00a0wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr.\u2019s 4-yard touchdown to put the visitors up, 9-3, at the 2:39 mark of the second quarter.\u00a0
\nLouisville ended the first half with more penalty yards (33) than rushing yards (6).\u00a0
\nFormer Louisville Cardinals wide receiver\u00a0Tyler Hudson\u00a0shared return duties for the Kings, which was one of the only bright spots of the night. Hudson got\u00a0the\u00a0crowd\u00a0of\u00a010,456 going with\u00a0a 52-yard kickoff return\u00a0in the second quarter. Prior to Thursday,\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0only had one kickoff return for 30 yards this season; he ended the night with 115 all-purpose yards.
\nDespite the long run, the Kings\u2019 offense\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0capitalize: Brown missed the 53-yard\u00a0field goal \u2014 only his second errant kick of the season \u2014 to end the\u00a03-play, 3-yard drive.\u00a0
\nBattlehawks\u00a0quarterback Harrison Frost\u00a0completed\u00a022 of 40 passes for 242 yards with two touchdowns. Of those passes,\u00a011\u00a0went for 10 or more\u00a0yards and five were for 15 or more yards. The Kings\u00a0contained\u00a0the\u00a0Battlehawks\u2019 offense early,\u00a0including\u00a0Eric\u00a0Garror\u2019s\u00a0interception to end the first\u00a0half,\u00a0but big plays became the defensive unit\u2019s\u00a0Achilles\u00a0heel.
\nDuring the\u00a0Battlehawks\u2019 second drive of the second half, Frost completed passes of\u00a012, 12 and 26 yards before using an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steven McBride to put St. Louis up, 16-3, with 5:08 left in the\u00a0third quarter.
\nThis story will be updated.
\n\n\nReach\u00a0Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at\u00a0acubit@gannett.com\u00a0and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.\u00a0
\nThis article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: UFL schedule today, Louisville Kings score vs St. Louis Battlehawks
\n![\"Apr](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_sporting_tribune_articles_423/5dae2029a85ce621a0171aeb9b546776\")
LOS ANGELES -- Marc Dos Santos didn\u2019t wait long.
\nOne question into his postgame press conference, the LAFC head coach pivoted. Not to tactics. Not to the late winner that gave his team a 2-1 edge over Toluca. To the schedule.
\n\u201cBut now we're going to take this advantage and prepare first of all the game on Saturday against San Diego,\u201d Dos Santos said. Then he paused. \u201cAnd if you ask me about the schedule, I'll answer. Somebody wants to ask me about the schedule?\u201d
\nHe wasn\u2019t subtle. He was setting the table.
\nA few questions later, someone took him up on it. Dos Santos didn\u2019t hold back.
\n\u201cThe schedule is a scandal. It\u2019s a scandal,\u201d he said. \u201cI don't understand why MLS then find who's the guy in the office that says, \u2018Yeah, this is a good idea.\u2019\u201d
\nThe frustration didn\u2019t come out of nowhere. It\u2019s been building for weeks \u2014 and the timing of it matters.
\nLAFC are in the middle of a stretch that has tested not just their depth, but their limits. Since the end of the March international break, they\u2019ve played eight matches across MLS and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. By the time they reach the end of this current run, it will be 13 matches in roughly six weeks.
\nThe rhythm is relentless: Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday. Travel layered on top. Altitude looming in Toluca for the second leg of the semifinal. Then more league matches immediately after.
\nThis isn\u2019t just congestion. It\u2019s compression.
\n\u201cWe're playing for ten weeks, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday,\u201d Dos Santos said. \u201cAnd sometimes the Saturday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Guys, who is the genius in the meeting that says, \u2018I have a good idea?\u2019\u201d
\nFor Dos Santos, the issue isn\u2019t simply the number of games. It\u2019s the lack of flexibility.
\nHe pointed to how other leagues handle similar situations. In South America, he noted, clubs like Palmeiras and Flamengo often see domestic schedules adjusted when they make deep continental runs. In Europe, Paris Saint-Germain regularly benefits from moved fixtures during Champions League play.
\nMLS, in his view, hasn\u2019t followed that model.
\n\u201cThey don\u2019t want us in the final,\u201d he said, half-joking, half-serious. \u201cMLS has to help MLS teams.\u201d
\nThat line cuts deeper than it sounds. LAFC are one of the league\u2019s flagship clubs, built to compete not just domestically, but internationally. Their current run in the Champions Cup reflects that. They\u2019re unbeaten in the tournament this year (5-0-2) and now sit one result away from reaching the final.
\nBut that push has come at a cost.
\nLineups have been rotated heavily. Results in league play have fluctuated. A 6-0 win over Orlando showed their ceiling. Losses to Portland, with a heavily rotated squad, and San Jose exposed the trade-offs. Even in wins, like the 1-0 result at Minnesota, the margins have been thin.
\nIt\u2019s not just physical fatigue. It\u2019s structural strain.
\n\u201cAnd people think it's like a PlayStation,\u201d Dos Santos said. \u201cWhen I play PlayStation, my players run all the time. They\u2019re never tired. But life is not like that.\u201d
\nThat\u2019s the core of his argument.
\nSquad rotation can only go so far before it disrupts rhythm. Key players miss matches. Partnerships change. Tactical consistency fades. For a team trying to balance two competitions, those details add up quickly.
\nThe upcoming stretch only reinforces his point.
\nAfter Saturday\u2019s road match against San Diego, LAFC travel to Mexico for the decisive second leg against Toluca \u2014 played at nearly 9,000 feet above sea level. Three days later, they\u2019re back in MLS action. Then another midweek trip. Then another road game.
\nThe first true break doesn\u2019t come until May 24, when they host Seattle in their first full week of rest since the international break.
\nThey\u2019ve managed it well enough to stay alive in both competitions. They\u2019ve shown resilience, especially at home. And they\u2019ve put themselves in position to reach a Champions Cup final.
\nBut as the schedule tightens further, the margin for error shrinks.
\n","enclosure":{},"categories":["News"]},{"title":"Diamondbacks' James McCann sets absurd position player pitching record","pubDate":"2026-05-01 03:01:58","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/diamondbacks-james-mccann-sets-absurd-030158238.html","guid":"e1612fbe-f5e4-3c8d-8f45-0100299212c7","author":"","thumbnail":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_sporting_news_articles_584/5d44e38d429a016fc2bccfe434c772e2","description":"This isn't actually a record you want to have.","content":"\n![](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_sporting_news_articles_584/5d44e38d429a016fc2bccfe434c772e2\")
Diamondbacks' James McCann sets absurd position player pitching record originally appeared on The Sporting News.\n Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
\nJames McCann just set an MLB position player pitching record.
\nIt's not the kind of record the Arizona Diamondbacks catcher actually wants to have, though.
\nMcCann has set a mark by pitching more times before the end of April as a position player than anyone in MLB history, according to Baseball Reference's Jessica Brand.
\nThe long-time major league catcher has already thrown in four games, including Thursday's blowout loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
\nMORE:\u00a0How son Justin Crawford made history like his father, Carl, with Don Mattingly
\nSure, he's helping to keep the Arizona bullpen fresh.
\nBut man, the Diamondbacks really can't keep letting games get so out of hand that the best option is to simply call on McCann to throw as many pitches as it takes the get it over with.
\nMcCann doesn't try to throw super hard out there. He's just trying to keep things moving.
\nSo far, he has pitched in 4.0 innings and allowed six runs (five earned).
\nMcCann has allowed a single home run and three walks while not striking anyone out.
\nOpposing batters have a .474 batting average against McCann this season
\nBefore this year, McCann had thrown a scoreless inning for Baltimore in 2023, this he had a single inning again with the Orioles in 2024, this time allowing two earned runs.
\nNow, McCann has turned into a frequent contributor on the mound.
\nMLB created rules in recent years that limit just a bit when position players come in to pitch, but clearly, Arizona is finding ways to use McCann. That's usually not a good sign for team success.
\nThe Los Angeles Lakers are in some real trouble right now. After taking a 3-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets, they missed two opportunities to close out the Rockets. Now they will have to head to Houston for Game 6 on Friday, and all of the momentum currently favors the Rockets.
\nAustin Reaves returned to action on Wednesday in Game 5 after suffering an oblique strain on April 2 that had kept him out ever since. He's off the injury report for Game 6, while Luka Doncic remains out due to his Grade 2 hamstring strain.
\n\n\n\nLakers Game 6 injury report: pic.twitter.com/6yyWuukoYK
\u2014 Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 30, 2026\n
The good news for the Lakers is that, per Shams Charania of ESPN, Kevin Durant will sit out yet again due to a left ankle sprain and bone bruise in his injured ankle. This will be the fourth straight game Durant will miss \u2014 he was also unable to play in Game 1 because of a knee contusion.
\nIf the Lakers fail yet again to put the Rockets again, Game 7 of the series would take place in Los Angeles on Sunday. It seems unlikely that Durant would be able to play in that contest, as Charania reported that the type of injury the future Hall of Famer has usually carries a two-week recovery timetable.
\nDurant suffered his current ankle ailment late in Game 2.
\nThis article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers release injury report for Game 6 versus Rockets
\n","enclosure":{},"categories":["sports","nba"]},{"title":"White Sox Minor League Update: April 30, 2026","pubDate":"2026-05-01 03:00:28","link":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/white-sox-minor-league-april-030028186.html","guid":"9347729d-7600-30fb-b7b4-a248d2335160","author":"","thumbnail":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/a5c6f63392386da545cb998d04e6245d","description":"Kannapolis brings the boom, pitching woes haunt the rest","content":"\n![\"Feb](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/a5c6f63392386da545cb998d04e6245d\")
Gwinnett Stripers 9, Charlotte Knights 5
Shane Smith, battered last time out, gave Charlotte (14-16) what they needed with two scoreless. He surrendered only one hit, two walks, and three Ks. Of course, the good times didn\u2019t last long.
Enter Chase Plymell, and cue the disaster reel. Three singles, then a meatball grand slam in the third. He stuck around to give up two more in the fourth, just for good measure.
\nTo their credit, though, the Knights didn\u2019t go quietly.
\nCharlotte got on board in the third when Rikuu Nishida worked a walk and hustled home on an Oliver Dunn double. Then Ryan Galanie finally woke up the bats with a two-run shot in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 6-3.
\nCharlotte kept scratching. In the fifth inning, Jacob Gonzalez singled, Korey Lee walked, and suddenly there were two on and nobody out. After a whiff, both runners swiped a bag, and Caden Connor lofted a sac fly to bring Gonzalez in. Just like that, it was a two-run game.
\nFor a moment, it felt like the Knights might claw all the way back.
\nBut every time they inched closer, Gwinnett had an answer. The Stripers added a tally in the seventh off Brandon Eisert, and while Charlotte responded in the bottom half, highlighted by a leadoff double from Lee and an RBI single from Connor, that was as far as the rally would go.
\nFinally, Gwinnett tacked on two more in the eighth to put the game out of reach.
\n\n\nChattanooga Lookouts 8, Birmingham Barons 3
Eight walks, five hits, and not much timely contact. On the other hand, Chattanooga spent the night hitting whatever the Barons (10-14) hurlers lobbed their way.
Jake Palisch got lit up early for four runs, on four hits, two walks, and just two Ks in 3 2/3 innings. The Lookouts never let up, either. Jake Bockenstedt gave up another tally in the sixth on back-to-back doubles, and by the seventh, Mark McLaughlin gave up three more runs.
\nThe Baron\u2019s bats were silent. For four innings, there wasn\u2019t a hit in sight. Finally, Jorge Corona snapped the spell with a leadoff single in the fifth. That base hit kicked off the lone Barons rally when Sprinkle doubled, and Corona scored on a wild pitch. Then, Sprinkle trotted home on a ground out, and Makarewicz doubled, stole third, and scored on yet another wild pitch. Three runs, though. That\u2019s all they\u2019d get.
\n\n\nGreensboro Grasshoppers 4, Winston-Salem Dash 3
Starter Justin Sinibaldi gave up two runs before the seats were warm, and just like that, the Dash (15-9) were chasing. To their credit, they did punch back.
Ryan Burrowes opened the bottom of the first with a single, swiped second, and after Bonemer struck out, Colby Shelton drew a walk. The pair pulled off a double steal, and Anthony DePino cashed in Burrowes with a sac fly. One hit, one run, and a little hope.
\nGreensboro padded their lead with two runs in the fifth, and the Dash spent the middle innings treading water. The real push didn\u2019t come until the seventh when Grant Magill jolted the offense awake with a triple, and Alex Ungar immediately doubled him home. Ungar moved up on a grounder, then Bonemer dunked a single into left. Suddenly, it was 4\u20133. It felt like the dam might finally break as Shelton walked putting two on, but DePino rolled over to short, and that was that.
\n\n\nKannapolis Cannon Ballers 11, Augusta GreenJackets 6
Kannapolis (8-16) wasted no time setting the tone. After a quick out in the first, Billy Carlson poked a single, Matthew Boughton worked a walk, and Stiven Flores followed with a base hit to jam the bases. Enter Rylan Galvan, who didn\u2019t miss \u2014 launching a grand slam to put the Ballers up 4\u20130.
They kept the pressure on in the fifth. Boughton singled to start things, and back-to-back walks to Galvan and James Taussig loaded the bases once again. Marcelo \u00c1cala was then plunked, forcing in a run, and Arxy Hern\u00e1ndez lasered a line drive to left to bring home two more, stretching the lead to 7\u20130, and the rout looked on.
\nThe inning ended chaotically, though. After Hern\u00e1ndez\u2019s single, Augusta turned a wild 7-2-6-2-5 double play that started with \u00c1cala getting erased at the plate and ended with Hern\u00e1ndez caught red-handed trying to swipe second. Rally over, confusion reigns.
\nAugusta, not content to roll over, answered back with five in the bottom half, slicing the lead to 7-5 and turning what looked like a laugher into a nail-biter. But the Ballers weren\u2019t done swinging.
\nIn the seventh, with two outs and the bases empty, Boughton singled to keep the inning alive. A walk to Galvan and another to Taussig packed the sacks again. After a pitching change and a strikeout of \u00c1cala, Hern\u00e1ndez stepped in and this time delivered the dagger, crushing a grand slam to center to blow the game open at 11\u20135. From there, Kannapolis had plenty of breathing room to close it out.
\n![](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_sporting_news_articles_584/3487cc5b4fa1645f8187251e4469ba40\")
Former Cubs reliever elects free agency following roster move originally appeared on The Sporting News.\n Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
\nWhile the Chicago Cubs have managed to contend for the National League Central, only sitting a single game behind the Cincinnati Reds, the team\u2019s front office is still in the mood for making moves to improve the team.
\nOne of those moves came earlier in the week, when Chicago decided to outright the likes of Vince Velasquez and Scott Kingery to their Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs.
\nBoth players had struggled to get things going at Wrigley Field this season, with Kingery hitting a paltry .250/.250/.250 statline with only a hit to his name across eight games.
\nVelasquez, on the other hand, only made a single appearance for Chicago this season, going 2.1 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in late April.
\nWhile Kingery has decided to stick around Iowa, given that he appeared in the team\u2019s match on Thursday night, the same can\u2019t be said for his former teammate.
\nAccording to the Minor League transaction tracker, Velasquez has opted to test the free-agent market after being sent down to Iowa.
\nThis will provide the 33-year-old with an opportunity to find a spot on a major league roster once again. Velasquez will have quite the resume to offer teams around the league, given that he\u2019s been in the league for ten years, playing for the likes of the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and the aforementioned Cubs.
\n![\"Louisville](\"https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-courier-journal/44203d669d52f6cb796e61a21f27b7b7\")