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Franz Wagner helps Magic blast Nets for 5th straight win

NBA: Orlando Magic at Brooklyn NetsNov 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) looks to drive past Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Franz Wagner scored 21 of his 29 points in the first half as the red-hot Orlando Magic seized control late in the second quarter and pulled away in the third for a 123-100 NBA Cup victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night in New York.

Orlando improved to 3-0 in Group A and started a stretch of three straight games in New York by getting its fifth straight win and 11th in 12 games. Brooklyn finished 1-3 in NBA Cup games and was eliminated earlier in the day when the Atlanta Hawks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Wagner scored 29 against the Nets for the second time this season and collected eight rebounds and eight assists. The forward shot 12-of-20 from the field and hit three 3-pointers.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sank four 3s and added 19 points as the Magic improved to 11-5 since losing Paolo Banchero to an oblique injury. Rookie Tristan da Silva contributed 13 while Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in 12 apiece as Orlando shot 53 percent, matched a season best by hitting 18 3s and scored 34 points off 20 Brooklyn turnovers.

Already without Cam Thomas (hamstring), Brooklyn used its sixth different starting lineup in as many games and saw a three-game winning streak snapped. Dennis Schroder (personal) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) also sat out.

Shake Milton scored 22 and Keon Johnson added 15 as Brooklyn’s bench accounted for 58 points. Cameron Johnson had 14 points, Trendon Watford contributed 13 and Jalen Wilson had 11 as the Nets shot 49.4 percent.

Wagner scored nine of his 13 first-quarter points during a 13-2 run that helped Orlando get a 33-29 lead after the first quarter, when it made 12 of 18 shots.

After Nic Claxton missed a tying dunk with 3:11 remaining in the second quarter, Wagner added a layup and a 3-pointer as Orlando ended the half with a 13-3 run for a 61-49 lead by halftime.

The Magic took their first 20-point lead of the game when Suggs hit a left corner 3 to make it 74-54 with 9:09 remaining. Carter’s hook shot with 6:29 pushed the lead to 80-55 before the Magic took a 96-71 lead into the fourth.

After the Nets cut the deficit to 20 with 9:27 left in the game, Wagner hit three more baskets in the lane for a 105-84 edge with 5:15 remaining.

–Field Level Media

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Whitecaps continue hot home streak, down Rapids

MLS: Colorado Rapids at Vancouver Whitecaps FCApr 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen (1) watches the shot from Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White (24) (not pictured)as it goes into the goal during the first half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

Brian White scored a brace to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

Cheikh Sabaly also scored a goal for Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points), which won its fourth straight match, all at home. Yohei Takaoka made two saves for the Whitecaps, who remained three points behind the first-place San Jose Earthquakes, a 3-2 winner over St. Louis City earlier Saturday, in the Western Conference standings.

Rafael Navarro scored a goal and Zack Steffen finished with five saves for Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points).

Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Sabaly drilled a right-footed shot from the middle of the box into the right corner. Thomas Muller notched an assist on the play with a one-touch pass from the left wing.

White made it 2-0 midway through the period, taking a long through pass from Andres Cubas outside the left side of the penalty box and then curling a right-footed shot around Steffen and into the far right corner of the net.

Colorado was coming in off a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday that saw the Rapids finish with 72.5% possession. They cut the lead to 2-1 in the 32nd minute when Navarro put in a left-footed rebound of his own shot from inside the 6-yard box.

Vancouver appeared to regain a two-goal lead in the 77th minute when Bruno Caicedo knocked in a rebound of his own shot near the middle edge of the 6-yard box. However, the goal was overturned after a lengthy VAR review for a handball when it was determined the ball hit Caicedo in the arm after his original shot was blocked by Lucas Herrington.

The Whitecaps then made it 3-1 eight minutes later when Caicedo fielded a long through pass from Sebastian Berhalter on the left wing and crossed a pass to White in the center of the box. White then smashed a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.

–Field Level Media

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Josh Jung’s 2-run blast lifts Rangers past Athletics

MLB: Athletics at Texas RangersApr 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) scores at home plate as Athletics catcher Austin Wynns (29) attempts to make the tag during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Josh Jung hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Athletics 4-3 on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Corey Seager had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which evened the three-game series after losing the opener 8-1 on Friday.

Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over five innings. Cole Winn (2-1), Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis each pitched a scoreless inning before left-hander Jacob Latz retired the Athletics in order in the ninth for his first save.

Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who lost despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5. The Athletics were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and fell back into a tie with the Rangers for first place in the American League West.

The Athletics claimed a 1-0 run in the second inning when Wilson doubled and scored on Darell Hernaiz’s two-out single.

Gore allowed two more runs in the third. With two on and no outs, Colby Thomas singled in a run before Tyler Soderstrom grounded out. Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly to score Nick Kurtz from third.

Texas answered with two runs in the third against Jeffrey Springs (3-2). The Rangers loaded the bases with no outs and pushed a run across on Brandon Nimmo’s sacrifice fly before Seager singled in a run with two outs.

Springs gave up four runs on five hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four.

The Rangers pulled ahead on Jung’s two-run homer in the sixth. Seager hit a leadoff single and Jake Burger flied out before Jung deposited Springs’ 0-1 slider over the right-center field wall.

The 381-foot blast was Jung’s fourth homer of the season. After going 0-for-17 in March, Jung is batting .371 (26-for-70) with 14 RBIs in his last 20 games.

The Athletics put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the eighth on Carlos Cortes’ double, but Jeff McNeil and Austin Wynns each flied out to end the threat.

–Field Level Media

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Michael Lorenzen, double plays help Rockies top Mets

MLB: Colorado Rockies at New York MetsApr 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Michael Lorenzen tossed a season-high seven innings and earned the win Friday night for the visiting Colorado Rockies, who beat the New York Mets 4-3 in the opener of a three-game series.

Jake McCarthy laced the tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth while Troy Johnston had what proved to be the decisive two-run single an inning later for the Rockies, who improved to 11-16. Colorado didn’t win its 11th game last season until June 3, when it was 11-50.

TJ Rumfield hit into a run-scoring groundout in the fifth while Ezequiel Tovar finished with two hits.

Marcus Semien hit into a run-scoring double play in the second and Brett Baty delivered a two-run single in the eighth for the Mets, who had won two straight following a 12-game losing streak.

Baty, Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio had two hits apiece.

Lorenzen (2-2), who entered Friday with a 7.48 ERA and pitched beyond the fifth just once in his first five starts this season, gave up one run on seven hits and no walks while striking out three. He induced three double plays in his longest outing since last Sept. 19, when the right-hander tossed 7 2/3 innings for the Kansas City Royals in a 20-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Mets immediately rallied in the eighth against Jaden Hill, who gave up four singles, including Baty’s hit, while recording one out. But Antonio Senzatela entered and got Vientos to line into a double play.

The four double plays were the most for the Mets since they hit into four against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 9, 2019.

Senzatela threw a perfect ninth to close out his second save.

Freddy Peralta (1-3) took the loss for the Mets after allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

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