South African coach Shukri Conrad has laid out the increased motivation to “topple” Australia in the World Test Championship final, hitting out at the “big three” notion after making it to the Lord’s decider ahead of India and England.
Rumor: Sacramento to test trade market for DeMar DeRozan
It was a long road, but the Sacramento Kings — particularly ownership — seems to understand this team was just not that good.
Said ownership was not happy with how things started last season, the team was 13-18 and losing a lot of close games, so coach Mike Brown was fired and replaced by organizational favorite Doug Christie. How that we t down left a bad taste in the mouth of De'Aaron Fox, who asked for a trade, a complex deal that brought back Zach LaVine to provide some scoring. The result of all that? A core of DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and LaVine, coached by Christie, which went 12-15 after the All-Star break and could not get out of the play-in. That led to GM Monte Morris being shown the door and Scott Perry being brought back from the Knicks to turn things around.
How does he turn things around? Possibly trade DeRozan, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports.
The focus in the California capital shifts now to what sort of dealing we could see from the Kings' new regime. There has been no shortage of rumbles, since the hiring of Scott Perry as general manager, that Sacramento is expected to gauge the trade market for veteran swingman DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan, 35, is still an efficient bucket getter, especially from the mid-range. He averaged 22.2 points and 4.4 assists per game last season. DeRozan will make $24.8 million next season and $25.7 million in the 2026-27 season, at which point he becomes a free agent.
The Kings may find the market for DeRozan limited, he is seen more as a floor raiser than a piece to add for a deep playoff run. While he can score points, he prefers to work in isolation and doesn't shoot many 3-pointers, which means he's not a natural fit on a lot of rosters. He's also a minus defender.
For his part, DeRozan sounded like a guy resigned to the idea he might be on the move when speaking to the media after the end of the Kings' season.
"You don't have many opportunities left to give yourself a chance to compete in the playoffs. That's all you kind of want at this stage of your career..." DeRozan said. "I'm not trying to play another five, six years. You've only got so many years. That window closes quick."
Chad Baker-Mazara transfers to USC after helping Auburn reach the Final Four
The 6-foot-7 forward started 34 of 38 games for the Tigers last season, averaging 12.3 points and 3.0 rebounds while earning All-SEC third-team honors. The Tigers lost 79-73 to eventual national champion Florida in the national semifinals, with Baker-Mazara scoring 18 points.
Wilson makes explosive hometown return in Athletics' rout of Dodgers
Wilson makes explosive hometown return in Athletics' rout of Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Sometimes, the stories write themselves.
That certainly was the case on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, as Jacob Wilson’s multi-home run game propelled the Athletics to a commanding 11-1 series-opening win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Not only did the 23-year-old shortstop prove yet again why he’s the franchise’s top prospect, but he did so in his hometown. Wilson grew up in Thousand Oaks, a suburb around 30 miles northwest of the iconic ballpark.
It was a full-circle moment for Wilson.
“It’s awesome being able to come home and play in a stadium that I’ve seen so many games here as a fan,” Wilson told NBC Sports California’s Jenny Cavnar and Dallas Braden on “A’s Cast.”
“I had a bunch of family in the stands today. It was a pretty special game for me, knowing that I get to come back home and see all these people again in front of friends and family.”
Wilson opened the game with a leadoff single before adding two-run homers in the top of the third and the top of the fifth.
WELCOME HOME, J-WILLY 💥 pic.twitter.com/mXlVlmW7on
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 14, 2025
In front of so many familiar faces, Wilson registered the first multi-homer game and first four-RBI game of his young MLB career.
YOUR EYES DO NOT DECEIVE YOU.
JACOB WILSON HAS DONE IT AGAIN 😱 pic.twitter.com/3rgRfvPZj3
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 14, 2025
Wilson finished the day 4-for-5 as the Green and Gold unloaded 18 hits against the defending champions in a game that also saw rookie Nick Kurtz hit his first career home run.
🚨 NICK KURTZ FIRST MLB HOMER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0PDAMZwhzG
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 14, 2025
“It’s so awesome to see him come up and do his thing, especially so soon after the draft,” Wilson said about Kurtz. “It’s awesome to share the field with him. He’s doing a great job.”
Wilson has slashed .363/.389/.513 with five home runs and 26 RBI through his first 40 games this season.
And while the offense piled in the runs, pitcher Jeffrey Springs held star Shohei Ohtani and Co. to one run over seven strong innings.
It was the perfect return back home for Wilson.
IU Indianapolis fires Paul Corsaro for his treatment of players
Corsaro went 10-24 overall and 6-14 in the Horizon League in his only season with the Jaguars.
Royals sign veteran Rich Hill to minor league deal. They would be his 14th team if called up
HOUSTON — The Kansas City Royals are giving Rich Hill another chance to pitch in the big leagues.
The Royals signed the 45-year-old left-hander to a minor league deal Tuesday, and he will report soon to the club’s spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona. Once he gets up to speed, Hill likely will head to Triple-A Omaha and try to prove he can still help a major league ballclub with designs on contending for the postseason.
Kansas City entered Tuesday night’s game in Houston tied for second in the AL Central.
Hill made his big league debut with the Cubs in 2005, and he has made 248 starts and appeared in 386 games over the past two decades. He has a 4.01 ERA with 1,428 strikeouts while pitching for 13 different franchises; the Royals would be the 14th should he get called up, joining Edwin Jackson as the only players to play for that many clubs.
Hill made four appearances out of the Red Sox bullpen last season before he was designated for assignment in September. His best season was in 2016, when he went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA while pitching for the Athletics and the Dodgers.
Larry Miller, star on North Carolina’s ACC championship teams in 1967-68, dies at age 79
The UNC athletic department said Miller died Sunday in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. No cause of death was given. An athletic department spokesman said Miller was in hospice care and dealing with medical issues for some time.
OT Jackson Cantwell, No. 1-ranked college football recruit, commits to Miami
Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1-ranked recruit of the 2026 announced his commitment to Miami on Tuesday:
Koss slam gives Giants ‘energy' for much-needed offensive outburst
Koss slam gives Giants ‘energy' for much-needed offensive outburst originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — At some point for just about every big league hitter, the moment comes. But few can say they did it in as cool a way as Christian Koss.
The rookie infielder picked up his first career home run on a grand slam to left that gave the Giants the lead for good on Tuesday night. He became the 17th player in franchise history to hit a slam for his first big league homer, and the first since Brandon Crawford in 2011 to have it be a go-ahead slam.
The moment was memorable, even if Koss will have to piece some of it together with replays. He blacked out as he ran the bases. It was the way you dream it up in just about every way, except one.
“I kinda messed up the handshake with Willy [Adames],” he said after a 10-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. “He kinda got on me for it, but I haven’t been in that position before.”
To be fair to Koss, the handshake appeared to be a very complex one.
“The moment got a little too big,” he said, laughing. “I panicked a little.”
Koss’ slam wiped out an early three-run deficit and Robbie Ray did the rest, getting through six to become the first Giant since John Burkett in 1993 to go 6-0 through his first nine starts. The Giants have won all nine of them, and this one snapped a four-game skid that included three one-run performances from a lineup that saw a shakeup Monday afternoon.
Adames was moved down, and after two days of working on a smaller, calmer leg kick, he hit a homer to left and came a few feet away from putting one in the arcade. Jung Hoo Lee did clear that wall, picking up his first homer at Oracle Park this year and doing so on Korean Heritage Night.
The Lee blast got the biggest pop from the 30,960 in attendance. But it was the Koss slam that made the biggest difference.
“That home run brought in a different vibe, a different energy in the dugout,” Lee said.
Ray called it “huge,” saying the players had a sense that Koss might do something noteworthy. He has looked comfortable with runners on base all year, but this was something different. Koss got a low sinker and blasted it into the first row in left.
“He’ll never forget that moment,” Ray said. “He’ll be telling his grandchildren about it.”
For now, there’s just one young child in the Koss family. She was there on Opening Day in Cincinnati as Koss celebrated making the initial roster with a strong spring, and he has shown enough defensive versatility to stick on a roster that is desperate for more offense from the bottom of the lineup.
Koss made the team in part because of how simple his swing is in bigger spots. If there’s a runner on second, he’ll try to slap the ball to the right side. If he needs to move a runner over, he’s shown he can do that, too. It’s an old-school approach, and if the Giants need a spark, well, apparently he’ll hit a slam.
“You definitely don’t draw up a grand slam as the first one,” he said. “Even in that situation, I wasn’t really trying to put a big swing on it. I was trying to stay out of a double play and elevate something. I put a good swing on it.”
Rangers place Corey Seager on 10-day injured list with right hamstring strain
ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager was placed on the 10-day injured list again Tuesday by the Texas Rangers after the two-time World Series MVP shortstop had already missed four of their previous five games because of right hamstring soreness.
Seager is on the IL for the second time this season, with the latest move retroactive to Sunday. He had played in only five games since being activated May 3 after missing 10 games with a right hamstring strain. He homered twice Saturday at Detroit.
There was no immediate move for right-handed closer Luke Jackson, who was struck on his pitching hand by a 111-mph comebacker liner on the only pitch he threw after coming into the ninth inning of their 2-1 win over Colorado on Monday night.
Jackson still had some swelling Tuesday, but X-rays and a CT scan showed no broken bones and he said he didn’t anticipate having to go on the IL. He was in the clubhouse squeezing a squishy stress ball in his right hand in an effort to help relieve what swelling remained on the top of his hand and the wrist area where the ball struck him.
The Rangers activated catcher Kyle Higashioka from the 10-day IL after he missed 12 games because of a mild left intercostal strain.
Seager, who is in the fourth season of his 10-year, $325 million contract with the Rangers, is hitting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this season.
The five-time All-Star missed the end of last season after his second hernia surgery in less than eight months. That operation last September was a right sports hernia repair, on the opposite side of his abdomen from a procedure the previous January.
He dealt with the left hernia issue at the end of 2023, when he still hit .318 with six homers, 12 RBIs and 15 walks in 17 postseason games as the Rangers won their first World Series title. He was on the IL twice that season, for a left hamstring issue and a right thumb sprain.
Ryan McMahon was leading off the ninth for Colorado in the series opener when he hit the ball right back at Jackson. The ball struck the pitcher’s hand and popped up in the air before falling to the ground for an infield single.
Jackson said that had “to be the hardest ball” to ever hit him.
“The second it hit my hand. I didn’t know, like, how bad it was. You know, adrenaline,” he said. “Then my hand swelled up so fast I couldn’t even, like, think about holding the ball ... It wasn’t comfortable last night. But this morning I woke up, felt pretty good.”
Jackson, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent in February, is 0-3 with a 5.54 ERA and eight saves.
Aussie stars vow to return to the subcontinent for T20 commitments after ceasefire
Pakistan’s T20 League is set to resume from Saturday after it was postponed following a series of attacks by India and Pakistan last week, with Australian David Warner vowing to return.
Report: Ex-Hurricanes Forward Finalist For Canucks Coach Gig
Late last month, Rick Tocchet announced that he was moving on from the Vancouver Canucks. With this, the Canucks are now looking for a new head coach, and a former Carolina Hurricanes forward is reportedly one of the favorites for the job.
According to The Province's Patrick Johnson, former Hurricanes forward Manny Malhotra and current Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote are the frontrunners for Vancouver's head coaching gig. Johnson also added that Malhotra is the "slight favourite" in the race.
Hearing that Malhotra is getting serious consideration for the Canucks' head coaching job is understandable. The 44-year-old is currently the head coach of the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks and led them to a 44-24-2-2 record this season. Abbotsford is also set to play the Colorado Eagles in the Pacific Division Final.
If the Canucks end up going with Malhotra, it will be the Mississauga, Ontario native's first NHL head coaching job. However, he has experience as an assistant coach at the NHL level, as he previously held the role with the Canucks (2017-18 to 2019-20) and Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21 to 2023-24).
Malhotra spent the 2013-14 season as a member of the Hurricanes, where he served as an alternate captain. In 69 games with the Metropolitan Division club, the 1998 seventh-overall pick posted seven goals, 13 points, 82 hits, and an even plus/minus rating. His time with the Canes ended when he signed a one-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2014 NHL off-season.
Recent Hurricanes News
Hurricanes Benefiting From Taylor Hall Addition Big TimeThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals by a 5-2 final score in Game 4. This victory was massive for the Hurricanes, as they now have a 3-1 series lead over the Capitals and only need one more win to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
Former Hurricanes Forward Fined For Dangerous HitNHL Player Safety has announced that former Carolina Hurricanes forward Max Domi has been fined $5,000 for boarding Aleksander Barkov during the Toronto Maple Leafs' Game 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers on May 12. This is the most Domi could have been fined under the current CBA.
Hurricanes Legend Eric Staal Lands Exciting New GigThe Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have hired Carolina Hurricanes legend Eric Staal as special assistant to the general manager. Yankees sign veteran RHP Anthony DeSclafani to minor league deal
The Yankees have signed veteran right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to a minor league deal on Tuesday and will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
DeSclafani, 35, was with the Giants a year ago but was part of a trade to the Twins in the Robbie Ray deal to the Mariners. He was then part of a trade with the Twins for shortstop Jorge Polanco. Unfortunately for DeSclafani, he suffered an elbow injury in his throwing arm that required season-ending surgery.
Prior to going under the knife, DeSclafani pitched 19 games (18 starts), where he pitched to a 4-8 record and a 4.88 ERA. His best season came in 2021 with the Reds when he pitched to a 13-7 record and a 3.17 ERA across 31 starts.
Over his nine-year career, DeSclafani has a 54-56 record with a 4.20 ERA with the Marlins, Reds and Giants.
With Carlos Carrasco recently DFA'd and sent to Triple-A after clearing waivers, the Yankees are looking for a potential arm in the rotation to pitch alongside Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren and Clarke Schmidt.
Five NHL Playoff Underachievers: Who's Failing to Meet Expectations In Big Moments?
The NHL playoffs have already provided a fair share of players reaching another level, but for some high-profile names, the spotlight's not flattering.
Based on their regular-season results or post-season expectations, these five NHL players are underachieving when it matters most. While some of them simply have another gear they can reach in the second round, others are just not good right now.
Mason Marchment, LW, Dallas Stars
Mason Marchment enjoyed a solid regular season with more than 20 goals but has vanished in the playoffs for the Dallas Stars, contributing just one goal and three points.
Worse, his growing frustration boiled over when he tapped an official with his stick – a move widely condemned by broadcasters.
“You can’t make contact with an official under any circumstances,” said Sportsnet’s Kelly Hrudey.
Added ESPN’s Ray Ferraro: “I don’t know what the hell he was thinking.”
Marchment’s emotional edge, often an asset, has become a liability in the post-season. While he should feel fortunate that he escaped supplementary discipline, he’s taken five penalties and only drawn two. Combined with his low scoring, he’s not living up to the moment right now.
Darnell Nurse, D, Edmonton Oilers
Credit should go to the Edmonton Oilers and their blueline, which has stepped up in the absence of the injured Mattias Ekholm.
That said, Darnell Nurse struggles as often as he is useful in the playoffs, and this year is no different.
As the Edmonton Journal’s David Staples pointed out, in nine games, the Oilers’ highest-paid defenseman made major mistakes on nine even-strength goals against.
With Ekholm sidelined, Nurse was elevated to play alongside Evan Bouchard, but playing alongside a top-tier defenseman hasn’t changed Nurse’s underlying numbers.
Perhaps the most obvious of mistakes came in Game 3’s collapse against Vegas, which saw Nurse caught on his knees during critical goals.
Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner has excelled at times during this year’s playoffs with 12 points in 10 games. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs' pending UFA should achieve even more.
Marner has just two goals in the post-season, including zero shots in his last two games against the Florida Panthers. If Marner wants his next cap hit to be around Auston Matthews’ $13.25 million on his next contract, he can’t lack another gear when the Leafs had a chance to take a stranglehold on the second-round series.
Marner and Auston Matthews have now played four more games than Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, but they have combined for as many goals as their first-round opponent, with four.
It’s tough to complain about Marner recording 12 points, the sixth-most in the NHL, but a fellow right winger whose contract expires this summer is showing how it’s done.
The Stars’ Mikko Rantanen, who signed an eight-year contract extension worth $12 million per season, has nearly as many assists as Marner’s 10, with nine. The biggest difference is that Rantanen has nine goals, including two hat tricks, two game-winners and 12 even-strength points, double Marner’s six.
One X user put it bluntly: “Marner when it comes time to negotiate his contract: ‘Pay me like Rantanen.’ Marner when it comes time to play like Rantanen: ‘LMAO I’m not Rantanen.’ ”
Can Someone Please Tell Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews There's A Playoff Series Going On?Can someone please let the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews know that there’s a playoff series going on that desperately needs his help.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Washington Capitals
Pierre-Luc Dubois is an interesting case study of how a player can be hot and cold throughout an NHL career. His playoff woes continue after a productive 66-point regular season.
Dubois has yet to score in the post-season and has just three assists. Now with his fourth NHL team, Dubois’ reputation for disappearing remains a problem.
With the Washington Capitals on the verge of elimination now, Dubois is a key reason the team has struggled despite being one of the hottest clubs this season.
Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck’s playoff numbers are staggering – and not in a good way.
With a .848 save percentage and 3.51 goals-against average, the Hart Trophy finalist has been a liability on the road, going 0-4 with a .772 SP and 6.65 GAA.
Outside of a Game 2 shutout, he’s failed to look anything like the goalie most expect to be a shoo-in for the Vezina this season. Not only that, but the Winnipeg Jets are now two losses away from elimination, and he must win a game in Dallas to avoid the Jets going down 3-1 in the series.
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Trading Into First Overall Pick Is Possible For Blackhawks
The New York Islanders jumped ten spots to select first in the 2024 NHL Draft by winning the first lottery. The Utah Hockey Club jumped from 14th to 4th by winning the second. That left the San Jose Sharks with the second overall pick and the Chicago Blackhawks at third.
There is a lot of speculation about who each team in the top four will take. It will shape how the rest of the draft goes from there, as there is no clear-cut order that any of these top prospects could go in.
Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman, is considered the number one prospect in the draft. Right behind him is forward Michael Misa. After that come names like James Hagens, Porter Martone, and Anton Frondell.
Hagens, however, is a native of Long Island. This may make the Islanders think twice about passing on him. They already had one number one overall pick leave on them to go home. Hagens would already be home.
If the Islanders wanted to select the hometown kid, the Blackhawks could help them while also helping themselves. With Connor Bedard, a smaller offensive-minded center, already in the mix, they would likely rather have Misa.
Swapping with the New York Islanders would cost Chicago, as they’d be moving up two spots and getting a player that everyone deems to be better. They have plenty of other draft picks in 2025 and 2026 to offer, and they also have a cupboard loaded with outstanding prospects.
It has been a long time since the number one overall pick in the NHL Draft has been traded. If there were a year that the streak would end, it would be this one. There isn’t a generational talent coming out, there isn’t even a sure-fire number one guy. There are plenty of great players, however, that will make teams take a pause.
This wouldn’t be the first time that these two organizations swapped first-round picks, either. In fact, it has happened within the last year. On May 24th, 2024, the Islanders took an extra 2024 second-round pick from the Blackhawks to swap their 2024 first and second picks.
Some new people are (and will be) in charge of the Islanders this time, but the organizations have worked well together many times before. If Kyle Davidson feels that Misa (or Schaefer) is his guy, he should be on the phone with the Islanders daily.
The risk is there, considering the Islanders could take Hagens first overall without trading down. He did come into the year as the projected number one guy. However, trading up guarantees the guy that the Blackhawks want, and it stops other teams from potentially trading into that spot. Anything can happen.
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