SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The New York Knicks’ winning streak lives on, and they struck first in the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the finals on Wednesday night. OG Anunoby had 17 points for New York — which has won 12 consecutive playoff games, the sventh team to have such a streak in NBA history. Victor Wembanyama had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, but he shot 6 for 21 from the field in his finals debut.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama got blessed by nuns before the game, got the loudest ovation when the starters were announced, pumped his fist to the crowd a few times and generally seemed to enjoy his first taste of the NBA Finals. Until the ending. The French star had 26 points in his finals debut, though had to work for all of them. The worst part of all for Wembanyama, the best defensive player in the game, was seeing the Knicks score the game’s final 11 points and stealing away home-court advantage with a 105-95 victory.
ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Iran is heading to the World Cup amid tensions with the main host nation, creating a unique situation in tournament history. Two Iranian players shared their struggles to stay focused on soccer. Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder, said it's challenging to manage the political situation while preparing for his third World Cup. The team has been training in Turkey and plans to move to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa issues. Mohammad Ghorbani, attending his first World Cup, emphasized the importance of playing for their people. He said the team aims to bring joy and pride to Iranians.
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi is preparing for what could be his final World Cup with Argentina, aiming to retain the trophy he won in Qatar in 2022. At nearly 39, Messi will play in his sixth World Cup, an unprecedented record. Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, relies on 17 players from the previous World Cup-winning squad, despite some not being in peak condition. Injuries, including Messi's hamstring strain, are a concern. Scaloni lacks a clear replacement for Ángel Di María, but forward Julián Álvarez is emerging as a key player. Messi acknowledges other favorites like France and Brazil but remains hopeful.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred worries the owners' salary cap proposal could lead to a work stoppage like the one that canceled the 1994 World Series. Owners last week made their first cap proposal since then, citing the failure of the luxury tax system. Manfred says the current system isn't working and emphasized the need for a framework to address competitive balance. Players have vowed to fight the cap. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, and management is expected to impose a lockout. MLB would limit spending in 2027 and establish a payroll floor to force some teams to spend more.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speeding. District attorney's spokesman Sean Webby confirmed the warrant has been issued in response to a video Aiyuk posted to social media last December that appeared to show him speeding on the road in front of Levi’s Stadium.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes stars are struggling in the Stanley Cup final against the Vegas Golden Knights. Their top scorers, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov, have gone cold in the playoffs. This wasn't a problem in earlier rounds, but now it could cost them the championship. Vegas won the opener 5-4, and Game 2 is Thursday night. Coach Rod Brind'Amour is urging his stars to step up. The trio has only scored three times at even strength in 14 playoff games. Teammates and coaches remain hopeful they'll find their rhythm before it's too late.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — There has been no announcement that President Donald Trump plans to attend an NBA Finals game at New York’s Madison Square Garden next week. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hinted at Trump’s intentions Wednesday when he said sports remain something that unifies even in divided times. Silver, without saying Trump’s name, responded to a question about “unique people” coming to finals games in New York and how the league prepares for such events. The New York Post, citing anonymous sources, reported Wednesday that Garden officials have “performed security walkthroughs” in anticipation of a Trump visit.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban has testified in support of a bipartisan bill to overhaul college athletics. Saban told the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday that it's time to “tap the brakes” on a system where players can increasingly earn millions of dollars while moving between freely between schools. The leaders committee held the hearing as they push legislation that they hope can break the congressional gridlock over how to regulate college athletics. But the SEC and the Big Ten oppose the bill and said it “leaves critical issues unresolved.” GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno also said he had “grave concerns” about the legislation.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Argentina is drawing a crowd wherever it goes as it prepares for the World Cup. Fans have gathered outside their Kansas City hotel, and hundreds of reporters attended their first open training session on Wednesday. Argentina will begin its title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium. Coach Lionel Scaloni revealed the 26-man roster last week, featuring Lionel Messi and 17 players from the team that won four years ago. Messi is dealing with muscle fatigue and may miss upcoming friendlies. The team will train in Kansas City until departing for matches against Honduras and Iceland.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Mets 7 Seattle 1
Final Atlanta 7 Toronto 3
Final Kansas City 5 Cincinnati 2
Final St. Louis 5 Texas 3
Final Athletics 5 Chicago Cubs 4
Final Houston 11 Pittsburgh 9
Final L.A. Angels 11 Colorado 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Detroit 7 Tampa Bay 2
Final Chicago White Sox 8 Minnesota 0
Final Boston 8 Baltimore 1
Final Cleveland 5 N.Y. Yankees 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Miami 4 Washington 1
Final Philadelphia 3 San Diego 2
Final San Francisco 1 Milwaukee 0
Final L.A. Dodgers 7 Arizona 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final New York 105 San Antonio 95