Sports
Spurs blow past Timberwolves, even series in Game 2
May 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images Victor Wembanyama scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the host San Antonio Spurs dominated the final three quarters on the way to a 133-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, leveling the teams’ Western Conference semifinal series at one win apiece.
Second-seeded San Antonio has not lost back-to-back contests since Jan. 11 at Minnesota and Jan. 13 at Oklahoma City, a stretch of 49 games.
San Antonio swamped the sixth-seeded Timberwolves in the second quarter, turning a seven-point lead after the opening period into a 24-point advantage at halftime. The Spurs expanded the margin to 98-63 after three periods as Julian Champagnie poured in all 12 of his points on the night via four 3-pointers in the frame.
From there, San Antonio cruised to the finish, building its lead to as many as 47 points.
Stephon Castle’s 21 points led the Spurs, with De’Aaron Fox scoring 16, Harrison Barnes tallying 12, Dylan Harper adding 11, Devin Vassell hitting for 10 points and Keldon Johnson pulling down 10 rebounds. Wembanyama canned two 3-pointers but is just 2 of 15 from behind the arc for the series.
Julius Randle, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 12 points each to lead the Timberwolves. Naz Reid added 11 points, and Rudy Gobert snagged 10 rebounds.
Games 3 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday in Minneapolis.
San Antonio led 24-17 after 12 minutes of play.
The Spurs used a grab-it-and-go attack in the second quarter to run away from the Timberwolves. San Antonio forced the pace even after made baskets and went to the hole at every opportunity, scoring eight fastbreak points and amassing 18 points in the paint in the second period alone to take a 59-35 lead into the break. The Timberwolves logged their lowest scoring output for a first half in any game this season.
Wembanyama and Fox each had 14 points before halftime, in the process exceeded their combined total points in San Antonio’s Game 1 loss by seven. Castle added 12 points for the Spurs, who outshot Minnesota 45.7% to 29.8% in the first half despite missing 15 shots in the paint.
Randle and Edwards led the Timberwolves with eight points apiece in the first half but shot a combined 6 of 17 from the floor.
On the night overall, the Spurs made 50% of their field-goal attempts and the Timberwolves hit 39.8%.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Carlos Correa needs season-ending ankle surgery
Apr 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa (1) reacts after striking out in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa will require season-ending surgery to repair his left ankle, he confirmed to reporters on Wednesday.
Correa said he tore a tendon in his ankle and will undergo the surgery soon, with a recovery time of six to eight months.
The injury occurred as Correa took swings in the batting cage prior to the Astros’ home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. Nick Allen replaced Correa in the lineup at shortstop after being activated from the 10-day injured list (back spasms) earlier in the day.
Correa’s injury marked the second consecutive day that the Astros lost a starter during batting practice. Catcher Yainer Diaz sustained an oblique strain while swinging a bat on Monday and was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Astros manager Joe Espada said Diaz will be out “a while.”
Correa, 31, is batting .279 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 32 games while splitting his time between shortstop and third base.
Houston selected Correa with the first overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft. He was the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year and collected the Gold Glove for AL shortstops in 2021.
The three-time All-Star, Correa is a career .275 hitter with 203 homers and 740 RBIs in 1,285 regular-season games for the Astros (2015-21, 2025-present) and Minnesota Twins (2022-25).
Diaz, 27, is batting .238 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 26 games.
For his career, Diaz is batting .276 with 61 homers, 229 RBIs, a .302 on-base percentage and a .448 slugging percentage in 427 games, all with Houston since 2022.
Christian Vazquez started at catcher against the Dodgers on Tuesday. The Astros won 2-1.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Another Masters in the bag, Rory McIlroy determined to extend major success
Rory McIlroy tees off on the third hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Rory McIlroy reflected on his second career Masters victory before arriving at the Truist Championship and came away with one lasting emotion.
“I feel like if anything I’m more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I’ve ever been,” McIlroy said Wednesday at Quail Hollow, site of this week’s PGA event and his first career victory on Tour in 2010.
Upon completing the career Grand Slam last year, McIlroy became the sixth player to accomplish the feat and first since Tiger Woods in 2000. He won his sixth career major last month, claiming another green jacket at Augusta.
But when McIlroy had a moment to fully crack open what the latest major victory meant to him, the 37-year-old Northern Irishman came to the realization the new trophy only pushes him to chase the next one even harder.
“I felt like winning the Grand Slam was going to be this life-changing thing,” he said. “And in some ways it was. But in other ways I had to remember like, ‘No, I still have a lot of my career left and I want to keep playing and keep competing.’ So this year I think winning was validation for all the work that I’ve put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I’m winning majors. I’m excited for the road ahead.”
Before he shifts the target to the PGA Championship next week, McIlroy arrived in North Carolina as the top-ranked player in the field. No. 2 McIlroy won’t have to contend with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler this week.
He’s feeling refreshed after a short stint away from the course. McIlroy said he went to New York with his wife, Erica, and attended the State Dinner at the White House.
“I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought I needed to get back on the range and start to practice and get ready for this stretch coming up,” he said.
The Truist Championship is a PGA Tour Signature Event and has a $20 million purse. McIlroy won the event in 2024 and four of his 30 victories are at Quail Hollow (2010, 2015, 2021).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (elbow) set for Wednesday surgery
Apr 29, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left elbow Wednesday.
The surgery to remove loose bodies in his pitching elbow is being performed by prominent surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, per the New York Post, which added he could return to pitch in about two months.
Skubal experienced discomfort last Wednesday in his start against the Atlanta Braves. He gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings and departed the game with a 3-2 lead, but the Detroit bullpen couldn’t hold the advantage in the 4-3 loss. Skubal struck out seven.
In a throwing session on Sunday, Skubal reported further discomfort, and testing revealed the loose bodies, manager A.J. Hinch said Monday.
Skubal, 29, is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts this season. He led the American League with a 2.21 ERA over 31 starts and 195 1/3 innings last season when he won his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award.
–Field Level Media
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