Sports
Knicks draw on maturity, moxie to take two in San Antonio
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) fouls New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the closing seconds in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images SAN ANTONIO — There wasn’t a whole lot for the New York Knicks to like about the final six minutes of the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday.
Yet despite blowing a late 14-point lead, the Knicks looked up at the scoreboard after the final buzzer and saw that they had somehow done just enough to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104.
The result sends the Knicks home with a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 set for Monday.
An exhausted Jalen Brunson leaned on his teammates after the win and offered up a weak smile. It was his steal with 9.5 seconds to play and subsequent free throw that proved to be the decisive play and point in a slugfest that saw the last team standing prevail.
“We could have folded a few times, but our guys just kept fighting,” New York coach Mike Brown said. “They kept fighting, and you work on connectivity throughout the course of the year for moments like these.
“No matter what run (San Antonio) went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another. It’s an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them.”
Brunson scored the Knicks’ first five points of the game but then went cold, entering the final quarter with just 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting from the floor.
San Antonio was making the Knicks star guard work for everything, and he was worse for wear, collapsing on the bench during each New York timeout down the stretch while trying to find the energy to help drag his team over the finish line.
“We have to do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” said Brunson, who finished with 20 points and just as many bruises. “Not (folding) in situations like that is key to winning games like this. At this stage of the season, things aren’t going to be pretty. It’s going to be ugly. It’s going to be grinded out. It’s simple as that.”
It was not easy. The Spurs were down 97-83 with 6:04 to play before their 14-0 spree, tying the game on Dylan Harper’s floater with 2:59 to play.
San Antonio shoved its way to the lead at 104-102 via a Victor Wembanyama three-point play with 57.3 seconds left. However, Brunson responded, pouring in a fadeaway jumper with 39.3 seconds remaining to level the score.
Brunson then missed a jumper with 13.5 seconds left, and Wembanyama grabbed the rebound. The Spurs star tried to pass to Stephon Castle, but Castle was not ready, and the ball bounced off his back and into Brunson’s waiting hands. Wembanyama fouled Brunson, setting the stage for the go-ahead free throw.
“That’s the most frustrating thing, to throw it away after putting in all this work,” said Wembanyama, who also missed a 20-foot shot in the final seconds. “I messed up. We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours.
“But at this point, it’s done. Yes, am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said his team needs to bring the same intensity to the whole game as it had in its fourth-quarter comeback. With a young squad in the Finals spotlight for the first time, maturity and the ability to finish continue to be crucial factors.
“We showed tremendous desperation, urgency and competitive response (late in the game),” Johnson said. “We don’t feel like we played well, or up to our standard at least, in the last two games. New York has played very well, and that’s a part of that.
“But we’re going to go into Game 3 — if we play our brand of basketball up to our standard, we’ll be just fine.”
The Spurs might have the NBA’s ascending superstar player as the backbone for a youthful team with a high ceiling. But New York has Brunson, and he, along with a squad that keeps winning, presents a formidable obstacle for San Antonio to overcome.
The Knicks recorded their 13th straight postseason victory, moving them into second place all-time for consecutive playoff wins behind the Golden State Warriors (15 in 2017).
“I don’t know if you could say it was a rough shooting night (for Brunson),” said New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who led the team with 21 points and 13 rebounds. “I see ‘Captain Clutch’ doing what he’s always been doing since I got here. When it comes down to winning the game, No. 11 can’t be messed with.”
–Steve Habel, Field Level Media
Sports
Stars Zack Wheeler, Tarik Skubal face off in Phillies-Tigers finale
Jul 7, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images The pitching matchup in Detroit on Sunday sounds like it belongs in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
The Phillies’ Zack Wheeler and the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal were not named All-Stars this season, but they’re easily among the best pitchers on the planet. The pair will start the rubber game of a three-game series.
Wheeler is coming off a dominant performance in Cincinnati when he matched his career high with 14 strikeouts in a 4-1 Phillies victory last Tuesday. The right-hander lasted seven innings, allowing just one run and four hits.
Wheeler has a 9-1 record and 2.28 ERA but got overlooked when the All-Stars were announced on July 4.
“I felt like that was a reminder for whoever needs to be reminded,” he said. “It pisses me off. It’s kind of BS. Maybe if I wasn’t necessarily right in (the All-Star mix), I wouldn’t be saying this. But I feel like I’ve earned it.”
According to The Athletic and NBC Sports Philadelphia, Wheeler was offered a spot that opened on the NL roster on Friday but declined.
Wheeler, who had a blood clot in his pitching shoulder last season, didn’t make his season debut until late April. He quickly reestablished his status as one of the majors’ most feared starters. He’s given up two or fewer earned runs in 11 of his 14 starts.
“I had expectations when I got hurt,” Wheeler said. “I’m going to be the same guy or even better. I’m going to use this time to get a little bit stronger, maybe just tweak a couple things. That’s what I’ve been able to do. And credit to the coaching staff, the training staff and my family for helping me get through that mentally and physically.”
He’s 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in three career starts against the Tigers. Skubal has won both of his career starts against the Phillies, allowing three runs in a combined 14 innings for a 1.93 ERA.
Skubal (5-4, 3.06), who won the American League Cy Young Award each of the last two seasons, was not chosen for the Midsummer Classic mainly due to the fact he missed six weeks after undergoing an elbow procedure.
He’s won his last two starts, including a five-inning outing against the Athletics last Tuesday. The left-hander gave up five hits and walked two, but the Athletics only pushed across one run. Skubal struck out nine for the third consecutive start while throwing 96 pitches.
“Part of that is, I counted 20 non-competitive pitches,” Skubal said. “That’s a high percentage of my outing. The other part is, that’s a good lineup over there. I sprayed the ball a little, especially my fastball. And some changeups, too. Not my best showing by any means.”
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was much less critical of his ace’s performance.
“He’s always the hardest critic on himself,” Hinch said. “He beats himself up quite a bit. But give him some grace. He goes out and one run is deemed an OK start. Think about that standard every time you take the mound no matter what you do. The bar is really high and he can handle it.”
The teams split the first two games, with Philadelphia snapping Detroit’s six-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory on Saturday night.
With the All-Star break coming up and a six-game road trip to follow, the Tigers won’t play another home game until July 23.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Terrion Arnold can work out for NFL teams; no GPS tracker
Detroit Lions CB Terrion Arnold signs autographs at the end of the joint practice with the Miami Dolphins at the Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Thursday, Aug. 14 2025. Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold will be allowed to continue working out with NFL teams after a judge ruled Friday he does not need to wear a GPS tracker as a condition of his release.
Arnold was arrested on June 24 and is facing felony charges of armed robbery and kidnapping related to an incident in February near Tampa, Fla.
He was released on a $1 million bond and subjected to home confinement with the exception of work and legal appointments.
After the Lions cut Arnold on June 29, the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office filed a motion to reconsider the terms of his bond conditions, arguing that no longer being an NFL player was a “substantial change” in his circumstances, the legal standard required to consider bond condition changes.
Arnold’s lawyers argued a GPS monitor would prevent him from being able to sign with another team.
His agent, Nicole Lynn, testified at the hearing that the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts all inquired about Arnold within 24 hours of his release from the Lions.
“He actually had a workout with the team, an NFL team, just yesterday. So he was in their facility, they paid for him to fly in, he did a physical, which shows you how serious these teams are about him,” Lynn told the court. “With an ankle monitor, it would be extremely difficult and maybe even impossible for him to get a job.”
She testified Arnold worked out with the Texans this week and had another workout scheduled next week with another NFL team, though she said there is currently no verbal agreement or contract with any team.
Arnold is accused of being the ringleader of an alleged plot to avenge a theft in February by detaining and pistol-whipping the men he believed were responsible. But authorities said none of the victims Arnold and his co-conspirators allegedly kidnapped and attacked were involved with stealing items from Arnold.
The 23-year-old was the primary conspirator, according to prosecutors. All three victims are in their teens, according to court documents.
Arnold reported the theft of more than $250,000 in property from an Airbnb in Largo, Fla., near Tampa, three days before the alleged kidnapping and assault occurred.
Arnold was selected by Detroit in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Across 24 games in his two seasons with the Lions, he has recorded 91 tackles, 18 passes defensed and one interception.
He is an unrestricted agent after clearing waivers Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
EchoPark provides stage for drama atop Cup Series standings
NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin wins the 2026 Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway, his 8th all-time win at the Tricky Triangle. June 14, 2026. A twist of fate has touched Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin over the past two weekends, and it has resulted in a shakeup at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series standings.
Over that span, Reddick has been transformed from points leader to runner-up to Hamlin with more drama expected on Sunday night (7 p.m. ET, TNT) for the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Ga.
At the Sonoma road race to close out June, power steering issues plagued Reddick and the 23XI Racing team, putting him six laps down and leading to a 36th-place finish.
Hamlin was involved in a spin with Carson Hocevar but finished 26th at Sonoma, good enough for a one-point lead over Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota that Hamlin co-owns with Michael Jordan.
Reddick’s misfortune continued on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, coming in stark contrast to his success early in the season when he won the first three races and five of the first nine.
Instead of power steering, debris ruined Reddick’s day last weekend. A splitter stay off Zane Smith’s No. 38 Ford ripped through Reddick’s radiator and put a hole in the oil cooler, sending fluid onto the track during Lap 131.
Reddick went 30 laps down this time and ended up in 36th place to trail Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota by 44 points.
Reddick led by 129 points after Watkins Glen two months ago and appeared in complete control as teams raced toward the regular-season’s conclusion at Daytona on Aug. 29. But a massive 173-point swing has changed all that.
“I guess the year is balancing itself back out, but we’ve got all the right things that we need to succeed,” said Reddick, who won at EchoPark the week after his Daytona 500 triumph in February. “We’ve just got to survive some of these races, I guess.”
Second to Reddick with four victories, Hamlin said on his podcast this week that it is important for him to win one more over the next seven races after going winless in three straight.
“I just want to win,” he said. “That’s 10 races. That’s a dry spell.”
Chase Elliott started 15th in this race last season and beat Brad Keselowski by 0.168 seconds, with Reddick running fourth and Hamlin in 31st after crashing.
Like Chicagoland, EchoPark is listed as another intermediate track but is unique in that drafting has become a major factor on the 1.54-mile layout. It has quickly emerged as a fan favorite because of the tight racing and even tighter finishes.
EchoPark’s racing lends reminders of superspeedways like Daytona or Talladega, while the exciting finishes could be straight out of a touring short-track series around the country on a hot Saturday night.
The flip-flop at the top of the standings will reveal its next chapter in a setting just as dramatic.
–Field Level Media
Stars Zack Wheeler, Tarik Skubal face off in Phillies-Tigers finale
This slushie machine was a lifesaver during NYC’s heat wave
