Sports
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pours in 42 points as Thunder beats 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 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.
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 remaining in the third quarter.
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.
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 13.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 14 of 15 from inside the arc and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line.
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.
The Thunder took a nine-point lead into halftime with a 12-2 run to close the second quarter.
Brooks led the Suns with 33 points while Jalen Green added 26 points. Booker scored just 16 points.
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
Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail
People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.Apr. 25, 2026.
Early favorite Renegade was picked to start on the rail for the 152nd Kentucky Derby during the official draw on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, opened at 4-1 as the 20-horse field became official for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Ky.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has raced Renegade just twice as a 3-year-old, but he has come through both times. He came from well back to capture the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, then he pulled away to win the Arkansas Derby by four lengths on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Renegade’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., has not won a Derby in nine tries, but he has raced to victory in two Belmont Stakes (2016, 2022).
Renegade’s assignment to the first gate will have it fighting against history along with the other 19 horses. Ferdinand, the Derby champion in 1986, was the last horse to win from the rail. Seven other horses have won from Gate No. 1, but most were long ago when Derby fields were smaller.
Commandment, which will start from the No. 6 gate, and Further Ado, which will come from the outside at No. 18, both opened at 6-1. They are trained by Brad Cox.
Bob Baffert, the legendary trainer who returned to the Kentucky Derby last May after serving a three-year suspension, has two horses in the field: Potente and Litmus Test
Here’s the entire field with their opening odds:
1) Renegade 4-1
2) Albus 30-1
3) Intrepido 50-1
4) Litmus Test 30-1
5) Right To Party 30-1
6) Commandment 6-1
7) Danon Bourbon 20-1
8) So Happy 15-1
9) The Puma 10-1
10) Wonder Dean 30-1
11) Incredibolt 20-1
12) Chief Wallabee 8-1
13) Silent Tactic 20-1
14) Potente 20-1
15) Emerging Market 15-1
16) Pavlovian 30-1
17) Six Speed 50-1
18) Further Ado 6-1
19) Golden Tempo 30-1
20) Fulleffort 20-1
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles draft North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton (QB15) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback North Dakota State Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Payton was selected with the 178th overall pick and was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first five rounds.
Payton established himself as a dynamic dual threat quarterback at North Dakota State. After four seasons as a seldom-used reserve, he took over as starting quarterback last season, throwing for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns.
As a backup, he was a two-time FCS champion (2021, 2024).
At the NFL combine, the 6-foot-3 left-hander ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical.
The 23-year-old will join a crowded Eagles’ quarterback room that includes Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Magic withstand Pistons’ rally to gain series lead
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley looks on in the second half against the Detroit Pistons during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons 113-105 on Saturday in Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Detroit trailed 96-79 with 8:34 remaining before Cade Cunningham’s 3-pointer capped a 25-8 run and tied the game at 104-all with 3:15 left.
Cunningham made one of two free throws to put top-seeded Detroit ahead by one with 2:52 left before Orlando closed on a 9-0 run to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is set for Monday in Orlando.
Banchero had 12 rebounds and nine assists for the eighth-seeded Magic, who improved to 7-1 in their last eight home postseason games, including play-in tournament games. Bane was 7-for-9 from 3-point range.
Franz Wagner added 17 points for Orlando. Jalen Suggs scored 15, and Wendell Carter Jr. had 14 points and 17 rebounds
Cunningham scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for the Pistons. Tobias Harris scored 23 points, Ausar Thompson had 17 and Duncan Robinson added 10.
The teams were tied at 26-all after the first quarter. Suggs was held scoreless before hitting a 3-pointer to put the Magic ahead 42-36 with 6:50 left in the second quarter.
Suggs had 12 points in the second quarter to help Orlando take a 61-54 at the half.
Thompson tallied 15 points to lead all scorers in the first half. Bane’s 14 points paced the Magic.
Bane made his first six 3-point attempts, including one with 8:32 left in the third quarter to give Orlando a 74-62 lead.
The Magic led 87-79 at the end of the third quarter and opened the fourth on a 7-0 run to move ahead 94-79 with 10:05 remaining.
Cunningham committed nine turnovers and was 8-for-23 shooting from the field and 3 of 10 from 3-point range for Detroit, which shot 34.4% (11 of 32) from beyond the arc.
–Field Level Media
Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail
Eagles draft North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
