National Sports - The Morning Sun

FILE - Alexandre Pantoja poses on the scale during a ceremonial weigh-in for the UFC 290 mixed martial arts event July 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. Flyweight champion Pantoja is scheduled to meet Steve Erceg in the main event at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)

Hometown champion Pantoja unanimously outpoints Erceg at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro

Hometown champion Alexandre Pantoja unanimously outpointed Australian Steve Erceg on Saturday night to retain his flyweight championship at UFC 301. Pantoja (28-5), the 34-year-old flyweight champion … more

5/5/24

Canelo Alvarez knocks down Jaime Munguia in a super middleweight title fight Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Canelo Alvarez retains undisputed championship with unanimous decision over Jaime Munguia

Canelo Alvarez held off a feisty challenger Saturday night, proving to be the stronger and more effective boxer to retain his undisputed super middleweight championship, winning by unanimous decision … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 5/5/24

Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (88) sets up to score on Toronto Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov (35) in overtime during Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

David Pastrnak scores in overtime to lift Bruins to Game 7 win over rival Maple Leafs

David Pastrnak scored on a feed from Hampus Lindholm 1:54 into overtime and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 to clinch their first-round series and advance in the NHL … more

By KYLE HIGHTOWER | 5/4/24

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi falls on New York Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Edelman during the first half of an MLS soccer game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Messi has a record-setting game with a goal and 5 assists in Inter Miami's 6-2 win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi set three MLS records with a goal and five assists as Inter Miami trounced the New York Red Bulls 6-2. His six goal contributions, five assists and five assists in a half were all league … more

5/4/24

Brian Hernandez Jr. celebrates in the winner's circle after riding Mystik Dan to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kentucky Derby victory aboard Mystik Dan provides signature win for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Mystik Dan to victory in the 150th Kentucky Derby to complete the most rewarding weekend of his career. The Eclipse Award winner and Breeders' Cup champion won the … more

By GARY B. GRAVES | 5/4/24

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards reacts after hitting a basket in the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Edwards scores 43 points, Reid erupts in 4th to help Timberwolves beat Nuggets 106-99 in Game 1

Anthony Edwards scored a playoff career-high 43 points, Naz Reid had 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets 106-99 in … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/4/24

Taylor Pendrith, right, laughs with fellow competitor Davis Riley, left, at the second hole tee box during the third round of the Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Taylor Pendrith leads Byron Nelson as one of several seeking first PGA Tour victory

Taylor Pendrith has a one-shot lead going into the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The Canadian is among several leaders seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Pendrith chipped in twice for … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 5/4/24

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, center, looks on from the bench in the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Recovering from knee surgery, Finch in 2nd row of Timberwolves bench for series opener with Nuggets

After having knee surgery, Minnesota coach Chris Finch was in the second row of the bench for Game 1 of a second-round series with Denver on Saturday night. Finch used crutches to attend his pregame … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/4/24

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) and Morgan Rielly (44) react after Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand scored an empty-net goal during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is available for Game 7 with Bruins after sitting last 2 games

Maple Leafs star and NHL goal-scoring leader Auston Matthews is available for their Game 7 matchup with the Boston Bruins. Matthews missed the last two games while dealing with an unspecified illness … more

5/4/24

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Cadiz at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

How an injury-hit Real Madrid rode Bellingham boom to Spanish league success

It wasn't supposed to be this comfortable for Real Madrid to win the Spanish league after Karim Benzema left for Saudi Arabia and its defense was badly hit by injuries. But Jude Bellingham took Spain … more

By JOSEPH WILSON | 5/4/24

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, puts on his helmet before the Sprint race at the Miami Formula One Grand Prix, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Max Verstappen ties Alain Prost's record with 6th pole-winning run to open an F1 season

Max Verstappen inched closer to a third consecutive win at the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday by continuing his long domination of Formula 1 qualifying. The three-time reigning F1 champion won his … more

By JENNA FRYER | 5/4/24

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final

Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year’s final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open after a third-set tiebreaker. The top-ranked Swiatek beat No. 2 Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) for her 20th … more

5/4/24

Homeplate umpire Ryan Blakney, right, ejects New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, left, from the game in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge ejected for first time in his career

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was ejected for the first time in his career when he argued a called third strike by plate umpire Ryan Blakney in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game against … more

By LARRY FLEISHER | 5/4/24

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Cadiz at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid wins the Spanish league after Barcelona loses at Girona

Real Madrid has won its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after increasing its lead over second-place Girona to an insurmountable 13 points with four games remaining. Madrid reclaimed the … more

By JOSEPH WILSON | 5/4/24

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, center, shoots as he gets past Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., right, during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Cavaliers and Magic to settle playoff series standoff with Game 7 -- the 'best two words in sports'

The Cavs and Magic are going to the limit. Unable to find a way to win on the road, Cleveland and Orlando will settle their series on Sunday with a Game 7, a fitting conclusion between two teams that … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/4/24

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators left wing Jason Zucker (16) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville

Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet won’t deny being among the NHL's final eight teams still alive means a lot. An all-Canadian showdown against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round is even better. … more

By TERESA M. WALKER | 5/4/24

FILE - Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah arrives at a Geneva's courthouse ahead of the verdict for a trial for forgery in connection with arbitration, in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The IOC has suspended former Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait for 15 years after his conviction for forgery was upheld on appeal this year at a Swiss criminal appeals court. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, File)

IOC imposes 15-year ban on former Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait

The IOC has suspended former Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait for 15 years after his conviction for forgery was upheld on appeal this year at a Swiss criminal appeals court. His sanction … more

By GRAHAM DUNBAR | 5/4/24

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) congratulates forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Kyrie Irving is still perfect in elimination games, and moving on with Luka Doncic and the Mavs

Kyrie Irving's big second half has helped carry the Dallas Mavericks into the second round. Luka Doncic's co-star fueled a 114-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers for a 4-2 series victory. … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 5/4/24

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue shouts to his players during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Tyronn Lue says he wants to keep coaching Clippers, passes on addressing speculation over Lakers

Tyronn Lue says he wants to be coach of the Los Angeles Clippers longterm and declined to address directly speculation that the Lakers would target him in their search after firing Darvin Ham. Lue … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 5/4/24

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone, right, celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Noah Hanifin breaks late tie, Golden Knights beat Stars 2-0 to force Game 7

Noah Hanifin broke a scoreless tie at 9:54 of the third period, Adin Hill stopped 23 shots and the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights kept alive their season by beating the Dallas Stars 2-0 on … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 5/4/24