Sports
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder finish sweep of Suns
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) against the Phoenix Suns in the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 31 points and eight assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder finished off a four-game first-round playoff sweep with a 131-122 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Ajay Mitchell had 22 points and six assists as the top-seeded Thunder swept their opening Western Conference series for the third straight season.
Isaiah Hartenstein produced 18 points and 12 rebounds and Alex Caruso added 14 points off the bench for Oklahoma City. Mitchell and Caruso each made four 3-pointers for the Thunder, who will face either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in the second round.
Devin Booker scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23 apiece for the Suns, who were swept in the first round for the second straight playoff appearance, the other occurring in 2024. Phoenix has lost 10 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2023.
Collin Gillespie made six 3-pointers while scoring 20 points for the Suns.
The Thunder again played without Jalen Williams (hamstring), who was hurt in Game 2.
Oklahoma City shot 53.7% from the field, including 17 of 34 from 3-point range.
The Suns made 53.3% of their attempts and were 14 of 39 (35.9%) from behind the arc. Grayson Allen has 12 points for Phoenix.
Mitchell and Gilgeous-Alexander each buried treys in the final 35 seconds of the first half, and the Thunder held a 75-67 lead at the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 in the half for Oklahoma City, which made 61.4% of its shots in the opening two quarters. Gillespie made five 3-pointers and all six of his field-goal attempts while scoring 17 in the half. The Suns shot 59.5% over the first 24 minutes.
Oklahoma City’s biggest lead in the opening half was 11. The Thunder matched that in the third quarter on Gilgeous-Alexander’s three-point play with 7:26 remaining in the period.
Just over two minutes later, Holmgren drilled a 3-pointer to make it 95-80.
The Suns soon answered with eight straight points — five from Booker, three from Brooks — to move within 99-92 with 2:55 to go in the period.
The Thunder led 106-98 entering the fourth quarter, and Hartenstein converted a three-point play to start the final frame. Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup made it 122-106 with 5:23 left as Oklahoma City finished off the sweep.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Streaking Quakes may be without key player at Toronto
Apr 25, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Timo Werner (11) celebrates after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the second half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The league-leading San Jose Earthquakes may not be at full strength Saturday afternoon as they look to continue the best run in franchise history at Toronto FC.
The Earthquakes (9-1-0, 27 points) extended their club-record winning streak to eight matches in all competitions when they eliminated Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16 at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday. Jack Skahan, Beau Leroux and Niko Tsakiris each scored in a seven-minute stretch to rally the Quakes from a 2-1 deficit.
It wasn’t all good news for head coach Bruce Arena’s side. April’s MLS Player of the Month Timo Werner, who had played the full 90 minutes three days earlier against St. Louis, was forced off in the 34th minute with a hamstring injury and may not feature in the matinee at Toronto.
“We’re somewhat limited. It’s not like you take Timo off and the next guy can fill that void,” Arena admitted after match vs. Minnesota. “And how we manage it, it’s never perfect, and we try our best, but the part that you manage is how you work every day with the players and you give them the confidence to know that when their numbers fall, they’re ready to play.”
Toronto FC (3-3-4, 13 points) are dealing with their own injury problems in the midst of a four-match winless run.
Center-back Benjamin Kuscevic and midfielder Jose Cifuentes made for two more additions to TFC’s lengthy injury list in their 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United last Saturday. Designated players Djordje Mihailovic and Richie Laryea were among those absent. Deandre Kerr and Walker Zimmerman, who was away for the birth of his daughter, are slated to return.
“I feel like we just have to put our heads down and work and the guys who are available have to step up,” head coach Robin Fraser said on Thursday.
The fixture will mark the two teams’ first encounter in more than three years. Four of their last five clashes have ended in draws, dating back to August of 2018.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jack Adams Award finalists: Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, Lindy Ruff
Jan 24, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse and Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff are the three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award, the league announced Friday.
The award, which is presented annually to the top coach in the NHL as voted on by the National Broadcasters’ Association, will be announced at a later date.
Cooper, 58, guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record this season and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Cooper has been a finalist for this award on two occasions (2013-14, 2018-19) — however he has yet to win it.
Muse, 43, succeeded in his first season as head coach of the Penguins, leading the club to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins posted a 41-25-16 record (98 points), which represented an 18-point increase from the previous season.
Ruff, 66, helped the Sabres halt a 14-year playoff drought by guiding the club to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division with a 50-23-9 record. He previously won the Jack Adams Award in 2005-06, during his first stint with the Sabres.
Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals won the award last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cowboys sign 1st-rounder Caleb Downs, five other picks
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number eleven pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys signed six of their seven picks from the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, including first-round selection Caleb Downs to his four-year rookie deal.
Downs, the 11th overall pick of the draft, will receive $28.95 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $17.5 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option.
The Cowboys traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to acquire Downs, a safety. Dallas has yet to sign its other first-round pick, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick.
Downs, a two-time consensus All-American, was named the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State and took home the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy.
His career totals include 164 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and three forced fumbles in 44 games for Alabama (2023) and Ohio State (2024-25).
In addition to Downs, the Cowboys signed third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham, fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, fourth-round edge rusher LT Overton and seventh-round wide receiver Anthony Smith.
–Field Level Media
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