Sports
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pours in 42 points as Thunder beat Suns
Apr 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) shoots against the Phoenix Suns in the first half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff career-high 42 points to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-109 road win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player finished 15 of 18 from the floor with eight assists to give the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
Oklahoma City has won 11 consecutive first-round games.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s previous playoff high was 40 points in Game 4 of last season’s Western Conference Finals against Minnesota.
“We did a really good job tonight playing to our identity offensively,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Everyone was aggressive. Everyone was playing within themselves. Everyone was moving around the ball.”
Playing without Jalen Williams, who suffered a hamstring strain in Wednesday’s Game 2 victory, the Thunder leaned even more heavily on Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit his first 11 shots, not missing until less than three minutes remained in the third quarter.
“The efficiency was ridiculous,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“He’s mastered the art of just staying disciplined and staying inside of himself and controlling what we can control at a really high level,” Daigneault said. “That’s what allows him to stay in games when things aren’t going his way, and that’s what allows him to improve. He feels a sense of control over his game and his craft. He also, as a result, feels a sense of control over his performance.”
Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33 points while Jalen Green added 26 points. Devin Booker scored 16 points, but was held to 6-of-16 shooting from the floor.
Despite being without Williams, which moved Ajay Mitchell into the starting lineup, and Isaiah Joe, who was out for personal reasons, the Thunder reserves still dominated their counterparts. Oklahoma City’s bench outscored Phoenix’s 36-12.
“Those guys were awesome. They gave us great minutes, especially in the first half,” Daignuealt said of his bench. “… In a playoff series, you need everybody at different times, to execute different things, and we had those guys step up in a big way today.”
The Suns were within nine early in the fourth quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander checked back in.
Moments later, Cason Wallace stepped into a passing lane, intercepting Devin Booker’s pass and fed to Gilgeous-Alexander for a layup on the other end, sending the Oklahoma City bench into celebration while Phoenix called a timeout with the Thunder up 98-85 with 7:25 remaining.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 14 of 15 from inside the arc and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
“Give him credit. He had us spinning,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “He had us spinning tonight.”
Mitchell scored 15 points while Alex Caruso scored 13 off the bench.
Dillon Brooks scored nine consecutive Phoenix points to help his team pull within 10 with three minutes remaining, but the Thunder hit four consecutive free throws to maintain the double-digit advantage.
“He was efficient and I got him Game 4,” Brooks said of Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder took a 62-53 lead into halftime with a 12-2 run to close the second quarter.
Grayson Allen, who had missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, made his first appearance of the postseason, playing 17 minutes and scoring seven points on 2-of-8 shooting.
The Suns were without Jordan Goodwin, who suffered a calf injury in Game 1, and Mark Williams (foot).
The Thunder have a chance to close out the series Monday in Phoenix.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kevin Denkey's 2nd straight brace helps Cincinnati best Red Bulls
Apr 25, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Kevin Denkey (9) hugs midfielder Evander (10) after scoring on a penalty kick in the first half against Red Bull New York at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Kevin Denkey scored twice late in the first half and FC Cincinnati recorded a 2-0 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Denkey notched a multi-goal game for the second straight game after scoring twice in Wednesday’s 4-4 draw with New York City Football Club. It was Denkey’s third MLS brace, coming one day shy of the anniversary of his first last April 26 vs. Sporting Kansas City.
Denkey’s second straight big game helped Cincinnati (3-4-3, 12 points) stop a four-game winless slide (0-1-3).
Denkey scored his first goal in the 40th when Cincinnati swiftly moved the ball past midfield towards the end line. Pavel Bucha made a move around New York’s Joyeux Masanka Bungi and spotted Denkey cutting towards the goal.
Denkey eluded a defender and buried a right-footed shot into the lower left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
The 25-year-old finished off a penalty kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Evander was fouled by Bungi, beating goalie Ethan Horvath with a perfectly placed shot into the right corner of the net.
Denkey’s goals helped Cincinnati withstand a charge by New York in the second half as goalie Roman Celentano denied Cade Cowell in the 57th, Ronald Donkor in the 63rd and Emil Forsberg a minute later.
Celentano stopped Forsberg again in the 69th and Jorge Ruvalcaba two minutes after that.
Celentano finished with six saves for his second clean sheet this season and 37th of his MLS career.
New York (3-4-3, 12 points) fell to 1-4-3 in its past eight matches. The Red Bulls have conceded 24 goals since opening the season with one-goal wins over Orlando and New England.
The Red Bulls attempted 20 shots but were blanked for the second time this season.
Horvath finished with three saves as Cincinnati had 15 shot attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Arfsten nets early goal as Crew proceeds to blank Union
Apr 25, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost (7) kicks the ball during the first half against the Philadelphia Union at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images Max Arfsten scored in the fifth minute and Patrick Schulte made three saves to help the Columbus Crew defeat the visiting Philadelphia Union 2-0 on Saturday.
After Arfsten staked the Crew (3-4-3, 12 points) to the lead, an own goal by Union defender Nathan Harriel in the third minute of first-half stoppage time provided the final margin.
The Union (1-7-2, 5 points) had a three-match point streak (1-0-2) stopped while the Crew is 3-1-1 in the past five.
Schulte recorded his second shutout of the season, the other coming March 7 in a 0-0 tie with the Chicago Fire.
The first half began and ended calamitously for the Union, which saw midfielder Jesus Bueno leave with a leg injury sustained at the onset of the sequence leading to the second goal.
Arfsten opened the scoring with his sixth goal contribution (three goals, three assists) in the past six matches for the U.S. World Cup hopeful.
Dylan Chambost sent a long ball out of the back which glanced off Union defender Philippe Ndinga to Arfsten down the right flank and he broke free for the score.
Just over a minute later, Arfsten had another break but Andre Blake made the save.
It wasn’t all in favor of the Crew because 10 minutes later, the Union had numbers heading into the final third and Danley Jean Jacques passed to Milan Iloski on his right but his shot pinged the left post.
Philadelphia nearly made it to the half with a one-goal deficit but a potential scoring opportunity quickly turned the other way.
The Union was on the attack after a turnover but a slide tackle by Seko Bangoura dispossessed Bueno, who stayed down with an injury, and the Crew created a counter with Arfsten once again on the run on the right flank before sending a cross to the box.
Harriel’s clearing attempt went off a sliding Blake and the rebound hit Harriel and went into the goal.
Crew defender Mo Farsi entered for Arfsten in the 81st minute for his first appearance since July 6, 2025, after undergoing sports hernia surgery.
Union defender Japhet Sery Larsen was red-carded in the 90+5 minute for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Josh Jung’s two-run blast lifts Rangers past Athletics
Apr 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
Kevin Denkey's 2nd straight brace helps Cincinnati best Red Bulls
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