Sports
Four-run first inning propels Guardians past Red Sox
May 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi (44) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images A four-run first inning carried the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Boston had the game-tying run on base when Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to open the ninth, but Cleveland closer Cade Smith struck out the next three batters to collect his 20th save.
Cleveland’s four-run first included RBI singles by Rhys Hoskins and Angel Martinez, a Ceddanne Rafaela error that allowed Hoskins to score, and a Patrick Bailey sacrifice fly that drove in Kyle Manzardo.
All four runs were charged to Tyler Samaniego (0-3), who was used as an opener before giving way to Brayan Bello after one inning. Samaniego allowed six hits in the inning.
Bello pitched seven scoreless innings. He limited Cleveland to four hits, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
The Guardians received two hits from both Manzardo and Chase DeLauter.
The Red Sox pulled within a run by scoring three times in the fifth. After Marcelo Mayer drove in Mickey Gasper with an RBI single and Kiner-Falefa scored on Caleb Durbin’s double, Mayer made it 4-3 by scoring on Jarren Duran’s sacrifice fly.
Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi was pulled with one out in the fifth. He gave up three runs on seven hits. Colin Holderman (3-0) picked up the win for recording the next four outs after Cecconi left the mound.
Boston’s Willson Contreras extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the fourth inning. Contreras also singled with two outs in the eighth.
Nick Sogard pinch ran for Contreras in the eighth and moved to third on Masataka Yoshida’s single, but both runners were stranded when Gasper grounded out to first to end the inning. Gasper, Mayer and Kiner-Falefa each had two hits in the loss.
Boston was seeking its fourth straight road victory.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama ready for rare Game 7
Dec 23, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images It didn’t take long after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Western Conference Final Game 6 loss to the San Antonio Spurs for Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to start turning the page.
“Oh, I’m good. I’m ready to go,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Biggest game of my career.”
That’s bold talk for a player that has led his team to a Game 7 win in the NBA Finals last season.
But Gilgeous-Alexander is putting that kind of weight on Saturday’s Game 7 matchup with the Spurs in Oklahoma City for a berth in the NBA Finals.
It didn’t take long after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Western Conference Final Game 6 loss to the San Antonio Spurs for Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to start turning the page.
“Oh, I’m good. I’m ready to go,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Biggest game of my career.”
That’s bold talk for a player that led his team to a Game 7 win in the NBA Finals last season.
But Gilgeous-Alexander is putting that kind of weight on Saturday’s Game 7 matchup with the Spurs in Oklahoma City for a berth in the NBA Finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t been efficient in the series, shooting just 37.9% from the floor,
It’s the first Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals since Golden State-Houston in 2018 and just the sixth Conference Finals Game 7 between top two seeds since the 16-team format began in 1983.
The winner will take on the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals beginning Wednesday.
Saturday’s game will be the fifth Game 7 of these playoffs, tied for the most winner-take-all games in a single postseason.
Home teams have split the previous four, with the 76ers and Cavaliers finishing off series with Game 7 wins on the road.
The Thunder will try to turn things around after San Antonio led wire-to-wire in Game 6.
“It’s a double-edged sword, right?” Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso said. “You gotta put it behind you, clear the mind, and get ready to compete again, but also learn from what you did wrong and try to figure out how you can be better.”
During last season’s run to the NBA Championship, the Thunder won a pair of Game 7s at home, both after losing Game 6 by double figures.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said those experiences will help.
“Take the lessons from tonight that are relevant for Game 7 and be ready to go out there and throw our best punch,” Daigneault said.
While Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have Game 7 experience, this will be the first such situation for the Spurs and star Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama is averaging 28.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during the series.
After being somewhat passive in Game 5, Wembanyama set the tone in Game 6 and finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds. He’s shooting 48.2% from the floor in the series.
“I think that’s his biggest growth this year is not waiting to be perfect or necessarily knowing what to do all the time,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, “but attack the moment and have the right approach and live with the results.”
Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney is expected to remain throughout the rest of its playoff run despite reportedly closing in on a deal to coach Orlando, according to reports Friday.
Sweeney has been a key to the defensive improvement that has helped make San Antonio a title contender this season.
In Thursday’s Game 6 win, it was the Spurs’ defense that kickstarted the 20-0 third-quarter run that put the game away.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Cavs GM Mike Gansey to lead basketball operations for 76ers
![May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) celebrates with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and guard Vj Edgecombe (77)] following their win over the Boston Celtics in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://dailyfacthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/28868982.jpg)
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) celebrates with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and guard Vj Edgecombe (77)] following their win over the Boston Celtics in game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey has been named the Philadelphia 76ers’ president of basketball operations, according to multiple reports Friday.
Gansey, 43, replaces Daryl Morey, who parted ways with Philadelphia on May 12 after six seasons as the franchise’s top decision-maker for on-court matters.
A former college basketball player at West Virginia who helped the Mountaineers reach the 2005 Elite Eight, Gansey joined Cleveland’s front office during the 2011-12 season and steadily rose up the ranks to become the team’s general manager in February 2022. The Cavaliers averaged 53.8 wins during Gansey’s four full seasons at the helm and reached the Eastern Conference finals this year.
Gansey will report to Josh Harris and the Sixers’ ownership group — Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) — as well as to Bob Myers, who as GM and President of the Golden State Warriors was the architect of four NBA championship teamss (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022). Myers was hired last October as President of Sports for HBSE.
Gansey will lead a franchise that has failed to advance past the Eastern Conference semifinals since 2001. After missing the playoffs in 2024-25 amid injuries to Joel Embiid and other key players, they rebounded to go 45-37 this season and earn the seventh seed in the East. They upset the Boston Celtics in a seven-game first-round series before the New York Knicks swept them out of the conference semis.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alexander Zverev suddenly heavy French Open favorite
Germany’s Alexander Zverev during his third round match against France’s Quentin Halys at the French Open on May 29, 2026.
Alexander Zverev is widely viewed as the best active player yet to win a Grand Slam event, but the German is suddenly favored to remove his name from that list following the early exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic at the French Open.
Zverev, 29, had the second-shortest odds at most sportsbooks to begin the tournament, but he was still a longshot compared to Sinner, who was the -325 pre-tournament favorite at BetMGM and -340 at DraftKings. Zverev was offered at +900 and +1100, respectively, just head of Djokovic at +1100 at both books.
However, Sinner was dispatched in the second round after struggling with the heat wave in Paris this week. Djokovic followed with a third-round loss on Friday.
Suddenly, and quite shockingly, that thrust Zverev into the heavy favorite status. The 2024 French Open finalist is being offered at +135 by BetMGM and +120 by DraftKings. The former has Casper Ruud at +550 ahead of rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar (+600) and Brazil’s Joao Fonseca (+800), who upset Djokovic.
DraftKings is offering Jodar with the second-shortest odds at +550, followed by Ruud (+600) and Fonseca (+750).
There are no players remaining in the men’s draw who have won a Grand Slam event.
The top remaining American is Frances Tiafoe, who is a +3300 longshot at BetMGM and +3500 at DraftKings.
With Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz unable to defend his title due to a wrist injury, this year’s French Open will feature the first Grand Slam champion other than Alcaraz, Sinner or Djokovic since Rafael Nadal won the 2022 French Open.
–Field Level Media
Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama ready for rare Game 7
Reports: Cavs GM Mike Gansey to lead basketball operations for 76ers
