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NBA roundup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder close out sweep of Suns

NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix SunsApr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) greets Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) after advancing in a four game sweep of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 31 points and eight assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder finished off a four-game first-round playoff sweep with a 131-122 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Monday night.

Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Ajay Mitchell had 22 points and six assists as the top-seeded Thunder swept their opening Western Conference series for the third straight season.

Isaiah Hartenstein produced 18 points and 12 rebounds and Alex Caruso added 14 points off the bench for Oklahoma City. Mitchell and Caruso each made four 3-pointers for the Thunder, who will face either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in the second round.

Devin Booker scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23 apiece for the Suns, who were swept in the first round for the second straight playoff appearance, the other occurring in 2024. Phoenix has lost 10 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2023.

Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 113

Nikola Jokic recorded 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds as host Denver stayed alive with a win over Minnesota in Game 5 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Jamal Murray scored 24 points, Spencer Jones posted a playoff career-high 20 points and Cameron Johnson finished with 18 for third-seeded Denver, which had lost three straight following a Game 1 home victory.

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points and nine rebounds. Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 15 apiece. Jaden McDaniels, loudly booed whenever he possessed the ball, added 13 points for the Timberwolves, who committed 25 turnovers.

Magic 94, Pistons 88

Desmond Bane scored 22 points and made one of his five 3-pointers with 1:16 left as Orlando beat visiting Detroit to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Orlando forward Franz Wagner had 19 points before exiting late in the third period due to right calf soreness. Paolo Banchero scored 18 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The top-seeded Pistons were held without a field goal in the final five minutes before Isaiah Stewart scored at the buzzer. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points, nine rebounds, six assists and eight turnovers.

–Field Level Media

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Rapids sign French M Youssef Maziz

Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of a match MLS soccer ball during the first half between the Inter Miami CF against the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of a match MLS soccer ball during the first half between the Inter Miami CF against the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Colorado Rapids announced the signing of French midfielder Youssef Maziz on Friday.

Maziz, 28, is signed through 2027-28 with an option for 2028-29 and will occupy an international roster slot.

He spent the past three seasons with Belgian first-division side OH Leuven, logging 15 goals and 16 assists in 114 appearances across all competitions.

“Youssef is a player who brings creativity and football intelligence that we believe will have a real impact on our attack,” Rapids president Padraig Smith said. “He has the vision and technical quality to unlock opposition defenses, create chances for those around him, and elevate the players alongside him.”

Maziz previously played for FC Metz, tallying nine goals and seven assists in 50 appearances from 2017-23 and helping the club earn promotion to Ligue 1 in 2022-23.

“Youssef is the exact type of character we have been looking to bring to the club. He has fantastic experience playing in high level games and will be a great addition to our young midfield group,” Rapids coach Matt Wells said. “He is a very creative player; always looking to make and score goals but, crucially, he combines this with high intensity pressing out of possession.”

–Field Level Media


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Goldeneyes move Cara Gardner Morey from GM to head coach

A general view of hockey sticks. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn ImagesA general view of hockey sticks. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Goldeneyes are moving Cara Gardner Morey to head coach after serving as general manager during their inaugural PWHL season in 2025-26.

Gardner Morey, 47, previously served as head coach of the women’s ice hockey team at Princeton from 2017-25.

“I’m excited to return to coaching,” she said in a news release on Thursday. “Over the course of the offseason, I spent a lot of time reflecting and discussing what was best for our team and for me personally. Through that process, I realized how much I missed being behind the bench.

“While I continue to be incredibly proud of what we built in Vancouver during our inaugural season, coaching is where I know I can make the biggest impact. To have the opportunity to coach the roster we’ve assembled is an incredible privilege, and I can’t wait for us to take the ice later this year.”

Gardner Morey helped Princeton win an Ivy League title and capture its first ECAC Tournament championship during her time with the Tigers.

Under previous head coach Brian Idalski, the Goldeneyes finished in sixth place in the PWHL standings during their debut season with 37 points. Idalski is now the head coach of the women’s team at Syracuse.

The league will lead the search for Vancouver’s next general manager.

–Field Level Media


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Zach Johnson grabs first-round lead at Portugal Invitational

Zach Johnson participates in the trophy presentation after winning the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.Zach Johnson participates in the trophy presentation after winning the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

PGA Tour Champions rookie Zach Johnson carded an 8-under-par 64 on Friday to take the first-round lead at the Portugal Invitational in Algarve.

Johnson posted nine birdies and one bogey at The Els Club Vilamoura to build a one-shot lead against Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini, who is in solo second place after a bogey-free round with seven birdies.

Alex Cejka of Germany, Charlie Wi of South Korea, Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Mikael Lundberg of Sweden are tied for third place at 6-under-par, with six golfers another shot behind in a tie for seventh place.

Johnson, 50, already has won three times on the senior tour this season, including two of his last three tournaments at the Principal Charity Classic and Kaulig Companies Championship. He finished T7 at last week’s Senior Open.

“I would argue it’s the best tour in the world,” he said. “I’m enjoying it. I would love to have my family out more, but I know my wife’s enjoying it as well. She likes to watch golf and take a nap, so that works out well.”

Johnson opened with birdies at the first three holes, suffered his only bogey at the par-4 13th hole and grabbed the clubhouse lead with another birdie at the par-4 18th. He birdied all five par-5s on the course.

“It was just solid,” Johnson said. “There were very few stressful situations. I hit an errant tee shot on 13, just complete brain meltdown, just lack of focus on the tee shot, and it cost me a bogey. But other than that, it was a very simple day.”

Sabbatini started on the back nine and also played the par-5 holes in 5-under.

“The par-5s are scoring opportunities but you still have to be very cautious because if you try and be overly aggressive on them, they tend to bite you pretty hard,” Sabbatini said. “So you’ve got to try and remain within yourself on those holes and give yourself opportunities, but be prepared that if you try and take off a little bit more than you should, it’s probably going to result in either a par if you’re lucky and sometimes some bogeys.”

This is the first PGA Tour Champions tournament ever held on Portuguese soil.

Sixty-four of the 78 golfers shot even par or better on Friday. In addition to Harrington, the field includes World Golf Hall of Famers Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.

–Field Level Media

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