Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox has suffered a fractured fingertip on his shooting hand, although he will reportedly attempt to play in Game 5 of his team's series against the Golden State Warriors.
Fox, 25, is in his first ever playoff series, having been named the NBA's first ever Clutch Player of the Year as he helped the Kings qualify for their first postseason since 2006.
In the opening four games against the Warriors – which they have split 2-2 – Fox averaged 31.5 points, 7.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Fox is expected to be listed as doubtful for Game 5, but the team will give him the opportunity to try out a protective covering on the finger before a final decision is made.
The home team has won each of the first four games, and with Game 5 headed back to Sacramento, a loss would hand the Warriors the chance to seal the series at home in Game 6.
If Fox is unable to suit up, the Kings will need a special performance from fellow All-Star Domantas Sabonis, who has averaged 16.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the series. However, his field goal percentage has dropped from a career-high 61.5 per cent in the regular season down to 48.2 as the Warriors dare him to shoot jump shots.
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is seemingly a fitness concern for the final weeks of the season after being photographed with a protective boot and crutches.
Fernandes suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's FA Cup semi-final penalties win over Brighton and Hove Albion, appearing to twist his foot awkwardly in the turf.
Although he was able to continue until his eventual withdrawal in extra time, Fernandes was seen limping on the touchline before full-time and during the shoot-out.
Now it would appear the damage he sustained was more significant than first thought, with the 28-year-old's wife posting a photo to Twitter on Monday showing him sitting on a sofa wearing a protective boot and having crutches within reach.
As such, it seems extremely unlikely he will be able to feature for United when they go to Tottenham on Thursday. They host Aston Villa three days later.
United have not provided any official updates about Fernandes' condition or availability, with Erik ten Hag not due to face the media until Wednesday.
Fernandes has been one of United's most reliable performers this season, with the Portugal international clearly considered key by Ten Hag given his 4,363 minutes played is over 600 more than any other outfield player in the squad.
He also leads United for chances created (146 – Christian Eriksen is second with 61), assists (11) and expected assists (14.4) – for the latter metric, Marcus Rashford is second with just 5.2.
Fernandes (21) is also one of just two United players to tally more than 11 goal involvements, with Rashford leading the way on 36.
United were last without Fernandes on Thursday, with the Red Devils losing 3-0 to Sevilla and suffering Europa League elimination in his absence.
Aaron Rodgers will be traded to the New York Jets after they agreed a deal with the Green Bay Packers to acquire the four-time MVP quarterback.
Rodgers confirmed last month that he wished to be traded by the Packers to the Jets.
The two sides had struggled to find an agreement in trade talks but reportedly resumed negotiations over the weekend.
Those discussions have netted the desired result, according to multiple reports, with the Jets sending four draft picks to Green Bay to land Rodgers.
Green Bay, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, will receive the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, which starts on Thursday, along with the Jets' second-round pick (No. 42) and a sixth-round pick, as well as a conditional second-round pick in the 2024 draft.
That second-rounder will become a first if Rodgers plays 65 per cent of the offensive snaps in 2023.
In return, the Jets get the Packers' first-rounder this year (No. 15), as well as their fifth-rounder.
The deal ends a saga that has been rumbling since the opening night of the draft in 2021, when reports of Rodgers' dissatisfaction with the Packers first emerged.
Rodgers did eventually report to play in the 2021 season and duly captured a second successive and fourth MVP, though the Packers lost at home in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers responded to a dismal offensive showing in that 13-10 loss by signing Rodgers to a three-year, $150million extension, a move that appeared increasingly questionable as Green Bay slumped to an 8-9 season, missing the playoffs.
Rodgers endured one of the worst seasons of his career, failing to throw for 4,000 yards in a season in which he played double-digit games for the first time since 2015. He threw 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, his highest tally since his first season as a starter in 2008.
Yet, with his relationship with the Packers broken beyond repair, the Jets are backing Rodgers to rediscover his old magic, having seen their playoff hopes in 2022 derailed by poor quarterback play, their decision to select Zach Wilson second overall in 2021 backfiring spectacularly.
With an extremely talented roster on both sides of the ball, the Jets could arguably become Super Bowl contenders if Rodgers excels, and will be one of the dominant stories of the 2023 season.
Rodgers bids farewell to Green Bay having delivered just one Super Bowl title, which came back in the 2010 season. The Packers, meanwhile, will turn to Jordan Love, the man the Packers selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, drawing Rodgers' ire.
Love will not have the pressure of Super Bowl expectations on his shoulders but, after some promising flashes in limited action last season, Green Bay will look for him to become the next great Packer quarterback having experienced three decades of stellar play at the position between Rodgers and his predecessor Brett Favre, who also left for the Jets in 2008.
Barcelona have finally secured funding to regenerate Camp Nou and the surrounding areas.
The club initially announced renovation plans in 2014, but a host of problems since have meant only a small part of the work has taken place.
The project now looks set to accelerate quickly upon the completion of the season, however, with Barca confirming on Monday that 20 investors have made €1.45billion available.
Barca assured concerned fans that "club assets were not used as a guarantee and a mortgage wasn't taken out on the stadium", with repayments set to be made in instalments paid at five, seven, nine, 20, and 24 years "with a flexible structure".
"This operation once again confirms the club's credibility regarding the Spotify Camp Nou project, the epicentre for Espai Barca," a statement added.
"The project is essential when it comes to keeping Barcelona at the forefront of world sport, is one of the foundations for the club's economic recovery and future viability and is a tool to enable continuation of the governance model, whereby the over 146,000 Club members are its owners.
"In the coming days the club will hold a press conference regarding the details of the operation."
While Barca will play out the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign at Camp Nou, it had already been confirmed they are to move to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic for next season.
Barca reportedly hope to be back at Camp Nou in late 2024.
Jalen Hurts' record-breaking Philadelphia Eagles contract extension left him with "mixed emotions", with the quarterback declaring: "Money is nice, championships are better".
The Eagles announced Hurts agreed a five-year extension through the 2028 season last week, after he led the team to Super Bowl LVII in his second full season as a starter.
Hurts' deal makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history, with the extension reportedly worth $255million with $179m in guaranteed money.
However, after failing to get Philadelphia over the line against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Hurts is focused on building a legacy, rather than counting his cash.
"Money is nice, championships are better," Hurts said at a press conference called to mark his extension on Monday.
"I have mixed emotions right now. I am grateful, I am thankful, but I am just so hungry. The hard work continues, and the fire continues to burn.
"I've just been on this constant quest of trying to be the best player I can be with no limits, trying to be the best version of myself, the best player, leader and man I can be. That will never change."
Hurts led the Eagles to a 14-3 record last season, passing for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 101.5 QB rating in 15 regular-season games.
Given his young age, Philadelphia chief executive Jeffrey Lurie believes the franchise can expect much more from Hurts in the coming years.
"Franchises go through special moments, and this is one for the Philadelphia Eagles," Lurie said.
"It's crucial, no matter what, that you can find your quarterback for the present and the future, and to have that person be as sterling a character and as passionate about his craft and as dedicated as this young 24-year-old is... is remarkable."
Delhi Capitals secured their second win of the Indian Premier League season as the strugglers made it back-to-back victories by beating Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Having lost their first five matches, Delhi got off the mark with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders last week, and they followed it up with a seven-run success over Sunrisers.
The Capitals, despite strong contributions from Manish Pandey (34) and Axar Patel (34) failed to set an imposing total. Washington Sundar (3-28) helping Sunrisers restrict them to 144-9.
Sunrisers looked poised to canter to 145 when Mayank Agarwal (49) guided them to 69-1. However, they subsequently lost four wickets for 16 runs, leaving Heinrich Klaasen (31) and Sundar (24 not out) to lead a recovery mission.
Though Klaasen fell with nine balls remaining, Sundar was in a position to get them over the line, Sunrisers needing 13 off the last.
But Mukesh Kumar did not allow a single boundary in the final six balls, frustrating Sunrisers with superb death blowing to seal triumph for Delhi.
Delhi celebrate new low
The Capitals' total of 144 is the lowest they have successfully defended in the IPL. Their previous best in that regard came back in 2009, when they prevailed against Rajasthan Royals when defending 150.
Bhuvneshwar brilliance not enough
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will feel aggrieved to be on the losing side. The Sunrisers seamer bowled 16 dot balls in his four overs, the most by any bowler this season. His 11 runs conceded also marked the lowest total by any bowler to complete his allocation of overs in the 2023 campaign.
FIFA has received four expressions of interest in hosting the 2027 Women's World Cup, including a joint bid from the United States and Mexico.
Brazil and South Africa have also submitted expressions of interest alongside another joint bid from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, with the hosts set to be appointed next May.
USA hosted the Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003 – winning the former edition – while Germany are the only other potential host to have previously staged the competition, doing so in 2011.
The US and Mexico – alongside Canada – are already set to host the next edition of the men's World Cup in 2026.
Federations hoping to host the tournament now have until May 19 to confirm their involvement in the bidding process.
FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura said: "We are thrilled by the expressions of interest received, not least because they come from member associations with a strong football tradition representing four confederations, thus confirming the consistent popularity of women's football across the world.
"All member associations can rely on the most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup."
The 2023 edition of the tournament – taking place in Australia and New Zealand – will kick off on July 20, with the Matildas facing the Republic of Ireland and their co-hosts taking on Norway on the opening day.
Tottenham have dismissed Cristian Stellini from his role as acting head coach, replacing the Italian with Ryan Mason in the aftermath of Sunday's humiliating 6-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
Stellini took charge on an interim basis following Antonio Conte's exit last month, but the former assistant has been unable to inspire a turnaround in Spurs' ailing bid to secure Champions League qualification.
Tottenham found themselves 5-0 down within 21 minutes of an extraordinary meeting with top-four rivals Newcastle on Sunday, the second-earliest a side have ever gone five goals down in a Premier League match.
The result represents Spurs' first five-goal Premier League defeat since a 5-0 loss to Liverpool in December 2013, leaving them six points adrift of the third-placed Magpies having played a game more.
With Stellini overseeing just one victory in four games since Conte's exit, chairman Daniel Levy has opted to make his second coaching change in under a month.
In an update posted on the club's website, Levy wrote: "Sunday's performance against Newcastle was wholly unacceptable. It was devastating to see.
"We can look at many reasons why it happened, and whilst myself, the board, the coaches and players must all take collective responsibility, ultimately the responsibility is mine.
"Cristian will leave his current role along with his coaching staff. Cristian stepped in at a difficult point in our season and I want to thank him for the professional manner in which he and his coaching staff have conducted themselves during such a challenging time. We wish him and his staff well.
"Ryan Mason will take over head coach duties with immediate effect. Ryan knows the club and the players well. We shall update further on his coaching staff in due course.
"I met with the player committee today – the squad is determined to pull together to ensure the strongest possible finish to the season.
"We are all clear we need to deliver performances which earn your amazing support."
Mason previously led Spurs on an interim basis following Jose Mourinho's exit in 2021, overseeing a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final.
His second stint in charge will begin against Manchester United on Thursday, with the Red Devils entering that game six points clear of Spurs with two games in hand.
Luke Shaw hailed the "amazing confidence" shown by Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to take penalties in Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final shoot-out win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Sancho and Rashford stepped up third and fourth respectively for United at Wembley, where the game finished 0-0 after extra time, and were both successful from 12 yards as United prevailed 7-6 on penalties.
The United team-mates, along with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, suffered racist abuse on the back of missing penalties in England's shoot-out defeat to Italy at the same venue in the Euro 2020 final.
Shaw, who was on the scoresheet in that meeting with Italy, believes his international and club colleagues deserve huge praise for stepping up and converting in the tense showdown against Brighton.
"I was next to Jadon. I said, 'Whatever happens happens, just be confident. It's part of football, things happen, these things happen’," Shaw said.
"I think maybe what was playing on their minds are the things that come with it, the racism and stuff that they experienced last time.
"For me, they showed amazing confidence to step up and because the last time they took one in a shoot-out it was here and the memories that come with that.
"But I'm really happy for both of them to put themselves forward and take really good penalties."
Versatile defender Shaw was shifted to centre-back against Brighton to cover for the absences of suspended Harry Maguire and injured pair Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
The 27-year-old helped keep a clean sheet and, fitness depending, is certain to start next month's first ever FA Cup final between United and fierce rivals Manchester City.
And Shaw, who has won the EFL Cup and Europa League with United, insists he will never take appearing in major finals for granted after playing his part in the Red Devils' latest run to Wembley.
"As players we can never take anything for granted," he said. "Every day with this manager you have to be 100 per cent at it in training; around the place because he sets high standards.
"If you don't meet them, you don't play no matter what the circumstances are – whether there's injuries, suspensions, it does not matter.
"So, for me, I don't take it for granted. Still, the back end of the season is the most important – that's when you win stuff, and we want to win this trophy so we have to give it everything."
Erik ten Hag expects Raphael Varane to return to fitness in time to feature in Manchester United's FA Cup final clash with cross-city rivals Manchester City.
Varane was substituted at half-time after sustaining an ankle injury during the first leg of United's Europa League quarter-final tie against Sevilla, which the Red Devils lost 5-2 on aggregate.
Varane's central defensive partner Lisandro Martinez suffered a season-ending metatarsal fracture in the same game, forcing Ten Hag to use a makeshift backline in recent matches.
With club captain Harry Maguire suspended, Luke Shaw partnered Victor Lindelof in the centre of defence as United reached a record-equalling 21st FA Cup final with Sunday's penalty shoot-out win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
United will now face treble-chasing rivals City in a Wembley Stadium final on June 3, and the Red Devils are hopeful of having Varane available.
Asked whether Varane could feature in United's second domestic cup final of the season, Ten Hag told talkSPORT: "I think so, yeah. Varane, for the cup final, he can return."
Varane has made a total of 27 starts for United this campaign, having also been sidelined with ankle and leg injuries prior to last year's World Cup.
United have fared well in Varane's absence, winning 20 of their 25 games without him in the starting lineup across all competitions (L5), compared to 16 of their 27 with the Frenchman involved from the off (D7 L4).
Nicholas Paul completed a successful weekend Sunday winning gold in the Men’s Elite Sprint at the Tissot UCI Nations Cup meet in Milton, Canada.
The 25-year-old Trinidadian, the 2022 Commonwealth Games Keirin gold medalist, out-sped Poland’s Mateusz Rudyk to take the win and 800 points on Sunday.
Australia’s Matthew Richardson finished third.
Paul and Richardson reversed positions in the Men’s Keirin on Saturday with the Australian taking gold over Maximillian Dornbach of Germany. Paul had to settle for third.
Leeds United are not putting all their eggs in one basket ahead of facing Leicester City on Tuesday, even if this is "a crucial game".
The two teams directly above the Premier League relegation zone meet at Elland Road following contrasting weekend results.
As Leicester came from behind to beat Wolves, Leeds lost again against Fulham, leaving them only a point outside the bottom three.
Leicester are still below Javi Gracia's side, though, meaning their next match presents a rare opportunity to get three points – even if Gracia is not prioritising one game over another.
"It's a very important game, a crucial game," Gracia said. "We give the value of the game, and we are really focused on it.
"There are six games left and all the remaining games are important. You never know where you can get points.
"Playing at home is the next game, and we have to be focused. Leicester come from a win, and it will be demanding for us."
Although Leicester are 17th, ahead of the drop zone only on goal difference, they have a little momentum while remaining wary of a Leeds response.
"They've had a bit of a struggle," Dean Smith said of Leeds.
"They've been on the back of heavy defeats at home, but they will see this one as a big one to try to pull away from where they are, just like us.
"We can't give them any reason to get lifted. We can't give cheap free-kicks away and cheap goals. We have to keep them quiet for as long as we can."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leeds United – Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson finding some form would go a long way to helping Leeds' cause. He has endured a miserable barren run, going 35 shots without scoring since his first and only Premier League goal to date. Thirteen Leeds players have scored in the competition since then.
Leicester City – Harvey Barnes
Leicester are set to welcome Barnes back from injury, and that spells bad news for Leeds. The winger has scored in all five of his Premier League appearances against Leeds, with only two players in the competition's history ever netting in their first six matches against a side – Raheem Sterling and Mohamed Salah, both against Bournemouth.
MATCH PREDICTION – LEICESTER WIN
Leeds have won just one of their past eight league games against Leicester, and even that was away from home in January 2021.
Leicester have won four of those matches, although this presents a big opportunity to do a league double over Leeds for the first time since 1997-98.
There should be goals regardless, with Leeds conceding 2.6 goals per game under Gracia in the Premier League – a club high – while Leicester are the only side in Europe's top five leagues without a clean sheet since the World Cup.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Leeds United – 29.1 per cent
Leicester City – 43.9 per cent
Draw – 27.0 per cent
Bahamian swimming star Joanna Evans intends to appeal before the Court of Arbitration, a decision by the FINA Doping Panel to ban her from the sport for two years after she tested positive for Clostebol. The decision was handed down on February 15, 2023.
She will do so, she said, with the support of the Bahamas Aquatic Federation, her family, coaches, friends and community.
Clostebol is a synthetic anabolic–androgenic steroid and is the 4-chloro derivative of the natural hormone testosterone. The chlorination prevents conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) while also rendering the chemical incapable of conversion to estrogen.
A multiple CAC Games gold medalist and two-time Olympian, the 25-year-old Evans claims in a recent lengthy and emotional post on Instagram that she would never knowingly use a banned substance, adding that the situation has put her in a constant state of distress.
“Anyone who knows me, knows without hesitation that I would never, ever intentionally take a banned substance,” she said.
“The results show an unfathomable low amount of the substance which absolutely could not have enhanced my performance.”
Evans said she was tested in Austin, Texas on December 3, 2021 and was “stunned” when she was informed over the phone that her sample contained a banned substance.
She explained how she believes she came to test positive saying that while attending a meet in Naples, Italy on September 11, 2021, she cut her finger on a “jagged, rusty balcony” at the hotel where she was staying.
“Concerned about infection, I walked to a nearby pharmacy and asked for an antibiotic cream,” she said.
“I was given a tube of Trofodermin, which I believed was similar to the antibiotic Neomycin. Unknown to me at the time, an ingredient of Trofodermin is the banned substance Clostebol.”
She used the cream for three days.
On her return to Austin on October 30, 2021, she slipped on a concrete pavement and sustained a substantial gash on her knee. She used the same cream she bought in Italy. She said she used the cream for five days and then once or twice a week until the end of November that year.
A distraught Evans stated that life has been difficult since she received news of her positive test.
“Since my test result, I have been unable to function. I am broken and devastated as swimming has been my life for many years,” she said while reiterating that she is not a drug cheat.
“I would never cheat and I take pride in representing my country, college, family, friends and community to the best of my ability.
“I have a history of dozens of clean tests and conduct myself with integrity in all aspects of my life. I find it incredulous that a miniscule amount of a banned substance applied unknowingly through a topical cream can have such life-altering consequences.”
As such, Evans has hired a “specialist attorney” in this field to represent me in legal proceedings to defend my integrity and the reputation of Bahamas swimming.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed both Karim Benzema and Eduardo Camavinga will miss Tuesday's LaLiga trip to Girona.
However, Ancelotti expects the pair to be available again for Saturday's home game with Almeria, before Los Blancos play the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna and their Champions League semi-final with Manchester City.
David Alaba is also anticipated to be back for the Osasuna clash on May 6, having not played in the 2-0 win against Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ancelotti ran through the players he will have missing as his team attempts to close ground on leaders Barcelona.
"Benzema and Camavinga will miss out and [Dani] Ceballos has got accumulated cards,"he said. "Camavinga lasted the game [v Celta] but then he felt some discomfort from a knock. I think they should be available for Almeria.
"[Ferland] Mendy and Alaba won't be there either. Alaba is recovering well and I don't think he should be a problem for the Copa del Rey final."
Elaborating on Benzema's situation, Ancelotti added: "If he recovers from his knock, he'll play against Almeria.
"He's hugely important for us. He's shown a fantastic level in recent games and you keep that up by playing, not by resting. If he's fit, he wants to play and that's what we want as well."
The gap at the top of LaLiga remains 11 points with eight games to play after Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 on Sunday, and Ancelotti is keen to close that to better reflect what he believes is a true representation of how close the Clasico rivals are.
"If we're talking about the quality of the two teams, there's no way there should be 11 points between us, and that's been clear in the games we've played against each other," he said. "We're two evenly matched sides and the deficit has come about through small details. We want to cut it down."
Despite their victory against Celta, there were more concerns about the surface at the Santiago Bernabeu, which has been affected by the ongoing renovations at the famous stadium.
Marco Asensio scored and assisted in the game, but also hit a wayward shot in the second half that appeared to bobble up off the surface, and Ancelotti previously confirmed it will be replaced before they play City on May 9.
“Every team wants to play on a beautiful pitch," Ancelotti said. "We are aware of the problems we have at the Bernabeu and we won't complain.
"We're talking about something which is clear to see, our playing surface is suffering due to the ongoing works and they will fix that as soon as possible."
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