Victor Wembanyama suffered the first ejection of his career after elbowing Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid during Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The San Antonio Spurs star was assessed a flagrant foul penalty two by officials during the second quarter of Sunday’s playoff clash in Minneapolis.
Following a fierce battle for a rebound between two opposing defenders, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year aggressively swung his right arm to clear space.
The forceful motion caught Reid flush on the right side of his jaw and neck area, sending the Minnesota player spinning and crashing heavily to the hardwood.
Automatic dismissal for Spurs standout
Referee Zach Zarba reviewed the physical altercation at the courtside monitor before announcing the severe penalty to the arena.
Under NBA rules, a flagrant two foul is deemed unnecessary and excessive, resulting in an immediate and automatic ejection from the contest.
The 20-year-old Frenchman appeared confused by the unprecedented ruling, visibly asking teammate Harrison Barnes to explain the officials’ decision from the bench.
Playoff tensions boil over
The towering center subsequently departed the floor and headed down the tunnel to the locker room with 8:39 remaining in the first half.
Minnesota held a narrow 36-34 advantage over San Antonio at the exact moment of the dramatic dismissal.
The high-stakes postseason matchup had already featured immense physicality as both franchises battle desperately for a spot in the Western Conference finals.
World number one Scottie Scheffler and recent Masters champion Rory McIlroy headline a unified field at the 108th PGA Championship, which begins this Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia.
The prestigious tournament marks the first time players from the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf League will compete together since the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund announced it will cease funding the breakaway circuit after this season.
Eleven competitors from the Saudi-backed tour are in the 155-man field, including former major champions Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
Two-time winner Phil Mickelson will be absent from the historic event, skipping his second consecutive major due to an ongoing family health matter.
McIlroy targets historic major double
The Northern Irishman arrives in Pennsylvania just a month after securing his second consecutive green jacket at Augusta National.
A victory this week would make the 35-year-old the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 to win both the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same calendar year.
He previously lifted the Wanamaker Trophy twice, with his most recent triumph coming at Valhalla Golf Club a decade ago.
Scheffler aims for successful title defence
The defending champion enters the week looking to replicate his dominant five-stroke victory from last year’s event at Quail Hollow.
Despite recent concerns over his form, the American star remains a formidable threat after finishing second in three consecutive tournaments.
The top-ranked player currently leads the tour in total strokes gained and scoring average, making him a prime candidate to retain his crown.
New contenders emerge at Aronimink
Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick have firmly established themselves as strong challengers to the established elite following exceptional recent form.
The American runner-up is chasing his maiden major championship after claiming three tour victories since August, fuelled by significant improvements on the putting greens.
Rounding out the field are recent tournament winners Brandt Snedeker and Kristoffer Reitan, with the 45-year-old veteran notably ending a seven-year victory drought to secure the final qualification spot.
The historic Aronimink layout last hosted this specific major championship in 1962, when South African legend Gary Player triumphed by a single stroke.
The New York Knicks have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers with a record-breaking 144-114 Game 4 victory.
Deuce McBride scored 25 points, hitting seven of his team’s 25 three-pointers, as the visitors dominated Sunday’s contest.
Jalen Brunson added 22 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart both contributed 17 in another lopsided triumph.
Historic three-point barrage
The Eastern Conference hopefuls set an NBA postseason record by connecting on 11 three-pointers in a blistering first quarter.
McBride became the first player in franchise playoff history to hit four triples in the opening period.
That early dominance propelled the team to 144 points, marking their highest-ever scoring tally in a playoff fixture.
It also secured their first best-of-seven series sweep since defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the 1999 conference semi-finals.
Brown’s remarkable impact
Mike Brown’s squad have now outscored opponents by 194 points across 10 postseason games.
This unprecedented margin represents the best point-differential in any 10-game span in NBA playoff history.
The sweeping victory also extends the franchise’s longest-ever postseason winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
They will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Detroit Pistons for a place in the NBA Finals.
Sixers’ misery continues
Philadelphia had arrived full of momentum following a gutsy first-round comeback against the Boston Celtics.
However, despite 24 points from Joel Embiid and 17 from Tyrese Maxey, the hosts were entirely outclassed.
The defeat means the 76ers’ painful wait for a conference finals appearance extends, having failed to progress past the second round since 2001.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi admits it is highly unlikely that forward Dejan Kulusevski will be fit to represent Sweden at this summer’s World Cup.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined with a severe patella injury since May 2025 and is yet to return to full training at Hotspur Way.
He underwent a second surgical procedure on his knee during the March international break.
The attacking talisman is now considered a major doubt to make Graham Potter’s national squad for the upcoming tournament.
World Cup dreams fading
The former Juventus winger had previously expressed absolute determination to feature in his first global tournament after his nation secured qualification against Poland.
However, his club manager cast significant doubt on those aspirations given the prolonged lack of match fitness.
“For me, it’s difficult to understand how he can play at the World Cup if he didn’t play any games this season,” De Zerbi stated.
“But I texted him after the Villa game and he told me in the next week he comes back.”
“I hope he can be available to stay with us in the last game because he is an amazing player.”
Richarlison absence explained
Spurs recently alleviated their relegation fears with a vital 2-1 victory away to Aston Villa last weekend.
Despite the positive result, supporters grew concerned when Richarlison was notably absent from squad training on Wednesday afternoon.
The Brazilian forward had been substituted in the closing stages at Villa Park following an industrious display.
De Zerbi quickly moved to dispel any fears regarding a potential new fitness crisis for the London club.
“He missed training because he worked very hard against Villa,” the Italian coach confirmed.
“I think my mistake was not to substitute him before the end of the game.”
“Richarlison was playing very well, he was important in the set-pieces and he played a great game, but it is just fatigue.”
Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso has declared he will not let online racist abuse define him after being targeted on social media following a recent Premier League match against Brighton.
The North London club strongly condemned the vile and dehumanising racism directed at the Austria international following their 2-2 draw on 18 April.
Spurs have officially reported the discriminatory messages to the police for further investigation.
Breaking the silence
Speaking to ITV News, the 27-year-old revealed he had previously suffered racial discrimination while playing in Germany but chose to keep it to himself.
“The last time I did experience it, I was very young and I didn’t tell anybody about it,” Danso explained.
“I feel like this time it was important to say something, just address it and make sure that people are aware I’ve seen it.”
The former Lens and Augsburg centre-back insisted that the online vitriol would not impact his performances on the pitch.
“It’s not going to make me play any different and definitely there’s no need for it and basically you’re wasting your time.”
No Room For Racism campaign
This latest incident occurred during the Premier League’s dedicated campaign aimed at promoting diversity and eradicating discrimination from the sport.
League officials released a strong statement reiterating that discriminatory behaviour has absolutely no place in football or wider society.
They emphasised that authorities will continue working alongside clubs, law enforcement, and social media platforms to identify and ban perpetrators.
“I grew up in Austria, facing racism quite a bit, being in a predominantly white country, but I think I’ve learned how to deal with it,” the defender added.
“It just doesn’t define me and it doesn’t belong in the world of football.”
A wider footballing issue
The abuse directed at the Spurs star is part of a deeply concerning trend of online hate targeting professional footballers this season.
Earlier in May, Merseyside Police arrested an Everton supporter for allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.
The UK Football Policing Unit is also investigating widespread abuse aimed at several other players, including Wesley Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri, during a single weekend in February.
Iga Swiatek has set up a blockbuster Italian Open fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka after dismantling home favourite Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Rome.
The Polish world number three needed just 67 minutes to record a ruthless 6-1 6-0 victory.
She won an impressive 76% of points behind her first serve and dropped a mere six points on her second delivery.
The 24-year-old is now finding her best form under new coach Francisco Roig, having recently parted ways with Wim Fissette.
Osaka awaits in highly anticipated clash
Swiatek will now face four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who has enjoyed a strong run on the European clay.
The Japanese star breezed past 19th seed Diana Shnaider with a commanding 6-1 6-2 victory of her own.
Despite previously describing her movement on the surface as being like a “baby giraffe”, the 28-year-old is finding her footing.
She came agonisingly close to defeating the dominant clay-court specialist at the 2024 French Open, holding a match point before ultimately falling short.
Excitement builds for fourth-round showdown
When informed of her upcoming opponent, Osaka was quick to acknowledge the difficulty of her recent draws.
“Life is a little cruel. Damn. Sabalenka, now Iga.”
However, the former world number one remains highly motivated for the challenge ahead.
“For me that’s where I show up. Even though it hasn’t been in my favour the last couple of times, for me those matches are the most fun. I’m excited at the thought.”
Rybakina and Pegula advance
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, world number two Elena Rybakina secured her place in the fourth round.
The highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament following Aryna Sabalenka’s exit defeated Alexandra Eala 6-4 6-3.
Fifth seed Jessica Pegula also progressed, delivering a flawless 6-0 6-0 demolition of Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova in just over an hour.
Mookie Betts is set to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for Monday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants after missing over a month with a right oblique strain.
The four-time World Series champion has been sidelined since 4 April following an injury sustained against the Washington Nationals.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the versatile star will hit second or third upon re-entering the batting order.
Roster reshuffle looming
His impending activation creates a difficult selection dilemma for the National League West franchise.
Roberts acknowledged that a corresponding move will be required to free up space for the returning veteran.
“It’s a good problem in a sense of where we’re at, but it’s a potential tough conversation.”
The manager explained the situation prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Atlanta Braves.
Minor league preparations complete
While the 2018 American League MVP recovered, Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland and Santiago Espinal successfully shared middle infield duties.
Before his setback, the highly decorated player had recorded a .179 batting average with two home runs and seven runs batted in.
He finalised a brief rehabilitation assignment over the weekend with Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City.
The returning standout registered two hits and a walk across two minor league games to prove his match fitness.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone has been ruled out of Sunday’s Western Conference semi-final Game 4 against the Anaheim Ducks with an undisclosed injury.
The 33-year-old appeared to tweak his lower body while chasing a puck late in the first period of his team’s Game 3 victory.
Despite returning to the bench in the second period, the two-way specialist was unable to take another shift.
Prior to his early exit, the captain had already made an impact by assisting on defenceman Shea Theodore’s opening goal.
Saad answers the call
Veteran winger Brandon Saad will now draw into the lineup to replace the injured skipper.
“That’s a tough guy to replace,” Saad said regarding the significant void left on the ice.
The absent forward has been a crucial playoff performer for Vegas, registering 70 points in 94 career postseason appearances.
He previously recorded two goals and three assists during the elimination of Utah in the first round, adding another two points against the Ducks.
Tortorella opts for experience
Head coach John Tortorella chose between two highly experienced options, ultimately selecting Saad over Reilly Smith to fill the vacancy.
“Either one, it’s not a bad choice,” Tortorella explained.
“They’ve both given us good minutes. Saader goes in tonight.”
Now in his 15th NHL season, the two-time Stanley Cup winner has yet to feature in the 2026 postseason.
The former Chicago Blackhawks winger tallied three goals and nine assists in 49 regular-season games this year.
“You just want an opportunity to get in and prove yourself,” he said of dealing with being a playoff scratch for the first time.
“Staying in shape and all of that is easy. Getting in the games mentally, when you’re not playing the games every day, it’s a different energy.”