Sports
Late surge leads Knicks past Sixers to 2-0 series edge
May 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to drive past Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Jalen Brunson scored eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night for the host New York Knicks, who took control of their Eastern Conference semifinal final by stopping the Philadelphia 76ers down the stretch to earn a 108-102 win in Game 2.
The Knicks lead the best-of-seven set series 2-0. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night in Philadelphia.
Karl-Anthony Towns produced 20 points and 10 rebounds despite playing just 27 minutes due to foul trouble for the Knicks, who ended the game on a 12-3 run to close out a contest that included 14 ties and 25 lead changes.
OG Anunoby had 24 points while Mikal Bridges added 18 points as New York won its fifth straight game overall. The Knicks’ average victory margin in the previous four games was 33.8 points.
New York center Mitchell Robinson was a late scratch due to illness.
Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points for the 76ers, who managed just 12 points on 4-of-19 shooting (21.1%) in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia took its final lead at 99-96 on Kelly Oubre Jr.’s 3-pointer with 6:52 left, after which it the Sixers hit 1 of 10 from the field with two turnovers.
Oubre and Paul George each finished with 19 points. VJ Edgecombe had 17 points.
Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid missed the game for the due to ankle and hip injuries.
The 76ers took their biggest lead by opening with a 15-8 run in which George scored 11 points. The Knicks responded with a 10-2 surge to go in front for the first time at 18-17 and begin the seesaw affair in earnest.
The 76ers led 33-31 at the end of the first, 62-61 at the half and 90-89 through three quarters.
Midway through the fourth quarter, New York’s Josh Hart answered the 3-pointer by Oubre with a trey to begin a decisive 9-0 run. The Knicks grabbed their biggest lead to that point at 105-99 on Bridges’ 20-footer with 2:56 left.
The teams combined for four consecutive empty trips before Maxey split a pair of free throws with 1:33 left. Brunson answered by making two foul shots before Maxey’s layup cut the margin to five. Hart and George traded missed 3-point attempts, after which McBride hit 1 of 2 free throws with 22.1 seconds left.
Maxey missed a 26-footer and Brunson collected the rebound with 12.6 seconds left and dribbled out the clock.
–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
Astros' Carlos Correa needs season-ending ankle surgery
Another Masters in the bag, Rory McIlroy determined to extend major success
