The Boston Bruins continued their historic season with a 3-1 Game 1 victory in the first-round series against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden on Monday.
Boston put together the greatest regular season record in NHL history at 65-12-5, beating the previous record held by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (62-13-7) by three wins.
Kicking off their Eastern Conference playoff campaign, the Bruins jumped ahead in the first period through a David Pastrnak goal, before Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk added one each in the second period either side of Matthew Tkachuk's lone Panthers score.
While the Bruins came out with the win, they finished on the wrong end of the total shot count 32-29, also trailing slightly in hits (44-43).
Head coach Jim Montgomery said the score was not indicative of the general play, but at this time of year they will take whatever they can get.
"Results matter more than the process right now," he said. "When we look at our five-on-five game, we were not very happy with our process.
"So we can get better there, but the result was really good, and I think the result comes from we had some players play really well, especially our goaltender.
"The intensity of the playoffs, it surprised us a little bit, and I think we had a little bit of nerves."
Marchand is no stranger to playoff hockey, winning the Stanley Cup with the Bruins back in 2011, and he made it clear Boston are not happy with just the regular-season record.
"I don't think we've ever been satisfied with any game we've had this year," he said. "It's always good to start the first game with a win, but we haven't accomplished anything yet."
Tkachuk credited the Bruins with the way they improved the longer the game went on.
"There were parts of our game that were good, and I feel like [the Bruins] got a little bit better as it got on," he said. "Especially when you have a two-goal lead, it's easier to play.
"You're playing safer, and they packed it in pretty good on us, but I'm confident in our team, in our game, and seeing a lot of things that I think we could hang with these guys."
Game 2 will also take place in Boston on Wednesday before the series heads to Florida.
Shohei Ohtani helped his Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing streak on Sunday, igniting a 5-4 road win against the Boston Red Sox.
Ohtani started on the mound at Fenway Park, giving up one run while striking out three batters across the opening two innings.
He also collected a base hit in the first frame, and followed it with another single in the second, before rain arrived and forced a weather delay.
With his arm cooling down during the lengthy break, Ohtani was replaced by Tucker Davidson upon resumption, but the five runs the Angels put up in the first two innings proved to be enough.
The catalyst for their bright offensive start was Hunter Renfroe, connecting on a three-run homer with the game's fourth at-bat. Renfroe then added his fourth RBI of the contest an inning later with a ground-out.
Red Sox star Rafael Devers tried to ignite a late comeback in the bottom of the ninth, with his RBI single bridging the gap to 5-4 while runners remained on first and second base with one out, but Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida could not muster a hit from either of the final two at-bats.
After the win, Angels manager Phil Nevin said the team would discuss moving up Ohtani's next start due to his limited workload this time out.
Rangers pitch combined one-hitter
There was an injury scare for Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, but it could not sour their terrific 4-0 shutout of the Kansas City Royals.
DeGrom was withdrawn after four innings of work with what the team called a precaution due to wrist soreness, but he held the Royals hit-less during those four innings, and the bullpen only allowed one hit the rest of the way.
Dane Dunning came in and tossed four innings in relief, allowing one hit and one walk in a great showing, while the bulk of the offensive damage was done by a three-run homer from Josh Jung in the first inning.
It was Jung's third home run of the season, and team-mate Marcus Semien joined him with three for the campaign after a solo homer of his own.
Rays keep home run streak alive in loss
The Tampa Bay Rays suffered a disappointing 8-1 road defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, but not before keeping their historic home run streak alive.
The Rays were down 8-0 in the last inning when Josh Lowe hit a consolation home run, but with it, he marked the 17th consecutive game Tampa have hit a home run in to start the season.
Tampa Bay slipped to a still league-leading 14-3 record with the loss, but they are now just three games with a home run away from tying the 2019 Seattle Mariners for the longest streak to start a season in MLB history.
The Golden State Warriors' title defense is on rocky ground after Monday's 114-106 loss to the Sacramento Kings left them 2-0 down in their playoffs first round series.
To make matters worse for the reigning champions, Draymond Green faces a ban for Game 3 back at Chase Center after being ejected for stomping on Domantas Sabonis with 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Kings led 91-87 at the time with the contest wide open until Sacramento pulled away with 12 of the final 17 points. The Warriors were left to rue 20 turnovers, along with making 13-of-40 three-point attempts.
De'Aaron Fox, who finished with 24 points on 10-of-23 shooting with nine assists, made a three-point shot with 2:17 remaining before Sabonis assisted Davion Mitchell's triple for 112-103 with 1:17 left. Sabonis scored 24 points on eight-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds and four assists.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry shot three-of-13 from three-point range, finishing with 28 points and six assists, while Klay Thompson made five-of-10 from beyond the arc in his 21-point haul.
Andrew Wiggins contributed strongly again with 22 points and five rebounds, while Green had four rebounds, five assists and eight points before his ejection.
The Green incident came when Sabonis fell to the ground amid a scrum of players attempting to rebound Malik Monk's failed two-point attempt.
The Kings center appeared to grab Green's leg as the Warriors tried to launch a break, prompting the reaction. Green's right foot landed heavily on Sabonis' chest, with the Lithuanian remaining on the floor in pain as the officials reviewed the play.
The officials called Sabonis for a technical foul for grabbing Green's leg, with the Warriors center given a flagrant-2 foul, prompting his automatic ejection and potential suspension.
The Kings fans at Golden 1 Center yelled at Green during the review, with the four-time All-Star egging them on, waving them on and holding a hand to his ear calling for more.
Maxey stars as 76ers open up 2-0 lead
Tyrese Maxey drained six three-pointers as the Philadelphia 76ers claimed a 2-0 lead in their playoffs first round series with a 96-84 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Maxey scored a game-high 33 points for the 76ers, including a triple from Joel Embiid's pass with 1:54 remaining to open up a 12-point lead. Maxey's total was a playoff career-high.
Embiid pulled down 19 rebounds, with 20 points on six-of-11 shooting and seven assists, while Tobias Harris added 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Philadelphia showcased their depth, with James Harden only having eight points on three-of-13 shooting and seven assists.
The Nets had started strongly, leading by 10 points in the second quarter with Cam Johnson having 22 first-half points but he finished with only 28. Brooklyn only used eight players.
The 76ers turned the game in their favour with a 24-14 third quarter, condemning the Nets to their seventh straight postseason loss, having been swept by the Boston Celtics at this stage last year.
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes revealed he is still rehabbing the high ankle sprain that he battled through during last season's playoffs.
Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl LVII title with an MVP display in their 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on February 12.
The Chiefs QB dealt with the ankle issue throughout the postseason after sustaining the injury in their divisional round playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mahomes said he is back throwing to receivers and running backs but still working through the issue as the Chiefs commenced their offseason program on Monday.
"It's been more about just kind of managing it, getting the mobility back as best as I possibly can," Mahomes told reporters.
"I wouldn't say I'm 100 per cent. ... It's just when you go through a grind of a week of training and you're trying to push it and go through the rehab process.
"But at the same time you want to make sure you're still building, you might be a little sore on the weekends. But I think we've done a great job of pushing it to the right limit to where now I'm throwing.
"There will still be a little bit of limitations going the next few weeks, but I'm going to be happy with where I'm at and we'll keep pushing it and getting me to the right spot before the beginning of the season."
Mahomes did not require surgery on the high ankle sprain, which was different to a toe/foot injury two years ago that impacted his start to the corresponding season.
"The foot, with having the surgery and having that cast on it, it just really cut my mobility down a lot and so I had to really work through that even into the season that next year," Mahomes said.
"With the ankle, I've felt like we've improved, especially these last few weeks, a ton as far as the swelling. That went down finally. I don't have that soreness just as much as I was having it after a few days of work.
"With the improvements that we're making these last few weeks, I have a great feeling that by the time we get to training camp, it wouldn't even be any question at all. We'll continue to work through it.
"By OTAs [starting in May], I don't think there'll be any limitations on reps or anything like that, especially if I'm not running around a ton.
"But at the same time, we'll continue the rehab process and making sure by the time we get to training camp, I can just roll out there and feel perfectly fine."
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is itching to get into the 2023 season after an injury-riddled campaign as reigning Super Bowl champion.
After winning it all in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford went into his offseason program dealing with a lingering elbow issue that would not allow him to throw. He ended up being held out from throwing altogether in the offseason program and was still limited during training camp.
Stafford's spotty preparation led to one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. In his nine starts before a season-ending spinal cord contusion, Stafford led the Rams to a 3-6 record with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
His 10 touchdowns were the fewest in any of his 13 seasons where he has made at least eight starts, while his 10.1 yards per completion was also a career low, and his 231.9 yards per game were the fewest since his rookie year back in 2009.
After two concussions and his spinal cord injury, while also playing on a Rams team seemingly trending in the wrong direction looking forward, there was plenty of speculation if Stafford would play on in 2023, but he told reporters on Monday that he is raring to go.
"I'm not 25, but I definitely feel good," Stafford said after turning 35 in February. "It's fun to be as refreshed as I am coming back into this building.
"I'm in a good head space as far as how I'm feeling [and] what I'm able to accomplish while I'm here, and that puts me in a good mood.
"It gets me excited to be here and kind of helps me make sure that my attitude, my energy level, is at the correct place every single time I come in here – and I feel like it's there right now."
While admitting he is not able to throw every day with reckless abandon like he once could, Stafford said he is "ready to go [and] ready to play".
"It's kind of nice that I'll be able to go out there and have a much more normal offseason experience and be able to be out there and do what I love to do," he said.
"I'm probably not a human Jugs machine like I used to be, [but I] can still get it out there and throw it around a bunch.
"So, it'll be a process as it always is to try and stay as healthy as you possibly can at all times. But I definitely feel like I can go out there and compete and do everything I want to do, which is fun and exciting for me."
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr has been rewarded for his spectacular shot-blocking season by being named the 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year.
The first of the NBA's annual regular season awards was announced on Monday prior to Game 2 between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets, with more to follow in coming days.
Jackson, 23, was drafted fourth overall by the Grizzlies in the 2018 NBA Draft as an 18-year-old, showing a rare skill-set during his time at Michigan State.
Standing at six-foot-10 with a seven-foot-five wingspan, Jackson was the only player in all of college basketball during his draft year to average at least three blocks per game and a made three-pointer per game.
He struggled mightily with foul trouble early in his professional career – leading the league in fouls per game in each of his first two seasons – but after injuries derailed his third campaign, he returned in his fourth season as a new player.
In the 2021-22 season he began to fulfil the potential he promised on the defensive end, playing a career-high 78 regular season fixtures while leading the league in blocks per game (2.3) for the first time.
Entering this campaign as the reigning blocks king, Jackson took things a step further, posting a career-high 3.0 blocks per game while boasting one of the gaudiest block rates of all time.
While Jackson was on the floor, he blocked 9.58 per cent of all opponent shots – the seventh-highest rate of all-time – and an even higher figure than Myles Turner's 8.85 per cent when he averaged 3.4 blocks per game in the 2020-21 season.
Among full-time starters, no player in the NBA this season boasted a better individual defensive rating than Jackson's 106.6, turning the Grizzlies into the league's best defense during his minutes on the court.
Meanwhile, during the 19 games Jackson has missed this season, the Grizzlies' defensive rating of 114.8 would rank them 21st, between the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards.
While it does not go into consideration for his Defensive Player of the Year award, Jackson also had a career-best season on the offensive end, scoring a career-high 18.6 points per game while averaging career highs in field-goal makes (6.6), field-goal percentage (50.6) and free-throw makes (3.8).
He is currently in the first year of a four-year, $105million extension – which has turned into a bargain deal due to his rapid ascension into fringe All-NBA status.
Also receiving votes were Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, Cleveland Cavaliers second-year star Evan Mobley and Golden State Warriors future Hall-of-Famer Draymond Green.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's MRI came back clean, leaving Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer "mostly optimistic" over his availability for Game 2 on Wednesday.
Antetokounmpo exited Sunday's 130-117 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series after landing heavily on his back in the first quarter.
A post-game X-ray came up clear, and Monday's MRI has given his team hope the two-time MVP can return for Game 2 in Milwaukee on Wednesday, with Budenholzer thankful for the two days of rest between games.
"He's still sore, but I think progress," Budenholzer said. "He's getting some treatment, and we'll just continue to monitor him for the next day or two.
"[We're] probably fortunate there's two days between games.
"I think still mostly positive, mostly optimistic. But we'll see how he feels over the next day or two."
Play was halted at the World Snooker Championship on Monday after two Just Stop Oil protesters interrupted matches at the Crucible.
The first-round match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry was disrupted when a man wearing the movement's slogan climbed onto table one and threw orange paint over it before he was removed by security.
A woman attempted to glue herself to table two, on which Mark Allen was playing Fan Zhengyi, but she was stopped by the match referee.
Action on table two was able to continue, yet the match between Milkins and Perry was suspended for the day as table one needed to be re-clothed.
Just Stop Oil released a statement claiming responsibility for the protest, saying: "Two supporters of Just Stop Oil have disrupted the World Snooker Championship, climbing onto the snooker tables and throwing paint over one.
"They are demanding that the government stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and are calling on UK sporting institutions to join in civil resistance against the government's genocidal policies."
Just Stop Oil was behind another prominent sporting protest last year when a man attached himself to a goal post at Goodison Park during Everton's Premier League win over Newcastle United.
Iga Swiatek will open the defence of her Stuttgart Open title against Qinwen Zheng after the world number 25's 6-4 6-4 win over Alycia Parks on Monday.
Lucky loser Parks hit eight aces but also 11 double-faults and was undone once in each set as Zheng took a straight-sets victory to tee up a second-round clash with the world number one.
Cristina Bucsa came up with a third-set bagel to join Zheng in round two, having initially made hard work of fellow qualifier Tamara Korpatsch in her 3-6 6-4 6-0 win.
Bucsa will meet the winner of the clash between seventh seed Daria Kasatkina and last year's semi-finalist Paula Badosa.
Meanwhile, Donna Vekic will take on either Karolina Pliskova or Maria Sakkari after she battled to a 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5) triumph over Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The star-studded line-up sees grand slam winners including Emma Raducanu, Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko get their campaigns underway on Tuesday.
Ons Jabeur, who claimed victory at the Charleston Open earlier this month, kicks off her tournament on Wednesday.
Nuno Borges will face reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the Barcelona Open after a 6-2 6-3 triumph over Ilya Avashka on Monday.
Borges created a remarkable 20 break points, converting only five but still comfortable against his 61st-ranked opponent.
That sets up a clash with number one seed Alcaraz, who beat Pablo Carreno Busta in the 2022 final.
Ben Shelton's 7-5 6-4 success over countryman Mackenzie McDonald means he will take on Casper Ruud, while Bernabe Zapata Miralles will play Roberto Bautista Agut in an all-Spanish second-round affair after earning a routine 6-2 6-2 win over unfancied Attila Balazs.
Meanwhile, Emil Ruusuvuori beat Alexander Bublik in Barcelona for a second straight year to set up a second-round meeting with fifth seed Frances Tiafoe.
At the BMW Open in Munich, 2022 winner Holger Rune will open his defence against Yannick Hanfmann after the German battled from a set down to beat Thiago Monteiro 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
Marcos Giron reached the second round with a 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory over Roberto Carballes Baene.
Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. have both been fined for their pre-fight taunts that marred the build-up to January's middleweight clash.
Former world champion Smith stopped Eubank Jr. in the fourth round at Manchester Arena, although the bout was clouded by comments made by the pair in a press conference two days before the fight.
Smith, who apologised after, aimed a seemingly homophobic jibe at his opponent, asking Eubank Jr.: "Nobody in this room has ever seen you with a woman. Do you have something you want to tell us?"
Eubank Jr. responded by taunting Liverpool-born Smith about his social class and private life, with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) subsequently opening an investigation.
British boxing's governing body called both fighters to a hearing and announced on Monday the pair had been sanctioned.
A widely reported BBBofC statement read: "The stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control considered comments made by Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. at the press conference dated January 19 2023 at their meeting on Wednesday, April 12 2023.
"Mr Smith did not appear nor was legally represented. Mr Eubank Jr. did not appear but was legally represented.
"Following full consideration of all facts placed before the stewards, the stewards found that the misconduct charge was proven for both boxers.
"Mr Smith and Mr Eubank Jr. were both fined, payment to be made within twenty-eight days."
Smith and Eubank Jr. are set for another bout after the latter activated his rematch clause, with suggestions that clash could take place at Liverpool's home stadium Anfield.
Simon Kjaer is relishing being back in the knockout stages of the Champions League, as Milan aim to secure a semi-final spot.
Milan hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg, having last reached the Champions League semi-finals in the 2006-07 campaign.
They have only been eliminated twice after winning the first leg of a knockout tie, though have kept a clean sheet in their last five Champions League matches, the best run by a side since Manchester City in the 2020-21 season.
The Rossoneri have beaten Napoli twice in April, though overcoming the Serie A leaders at home will be no easy task.
For Kjaer, he is revelling in having another shot at playing in the latter stages of UEFA's flagship club competition.
"We are very happy to be here, we deserved this chance and last time we were in this stadium, it went well, so we hope to repeat it," Kjaer said in a press conference.
"You never know when this opportunity will come around again.
"These are evenings that stay with you for the rest of your life, whether good or bad. This is why we play football.
"The other night at San Siro was one of the best experiences of my career with our fans. It will be different tomorrow, but it gives you a sensation that you cannot find anywhere else."
Napoli's star striker Victor Osimhen returned from an adductor injury on Saturday, though could not help Luciano Spalletti's team beat Verona.
Even if Osimhen is fit to start on Tuesday, Kjaer does not hold any fear.
"We will meet Osimhen, just as we do other strikers," he said. "It is never just the work for one defender, it is teamwork and respect."
Stefano Pioli echoed Kjaer's sentiment when it comes to Osimhen, who has netted 25 goals this season.
"He is such a powerful, impressive and decisive striker, so we take his characteristics into account, but at the same time we have our own way of playing football and we won’t move away from that," said Pioli.
"We saw with previous Napoli games that a lot of it is about knowing the moment to slow down and speed up, and that is even more crucial with a player like Osimhen."
Jalen Hurts has been rewarded with a massive, record-breaking contract extension two months after leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl.
The Eagles announced on Monday that Hurts has agreed to a five-year extension through the 2028 season.
No financial terms were given, but it is reportedly for $255million with $179m in guaranteed money, including $110m fully guaranteed at signing.
The deal, which includes a no-trade clause, makes the 24-year-old Hurts the highest-paid player in NFL history.
A second-round pick by the Eagles in the 2020 draft, Hurts is coming off his second full season as their starting quarterback, helping lead the franchise to a 14-3 record and an appearance in the Super Bowl.
Although Philadelphia suffered a 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts played well, completing 71.1 per cent of his 38 attempts for 304 yards with a touchdown for a 103.4 passer rating.
This came after he passed for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 101.5 QB rating in 15 regular-season games to earn his first Pro Bowl selection.
The dual-threat quarterback is also one of the league's best at making plays with his legs, as he scored 13 touchdowns on the ground this past season – the second-most rushing TDs by a QB in a single season in NFL history.
With 760 rushing yards in 2022, he joined the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 3,500 passing yards and 750 rushing yards in a single season.
Matt Fitzpatrick believes learning to be patient has been his secret to success.
The reigning U.S. Open champion went into the final round of the RBC Heritage on Sunday with the outright lead after a spectacular career-best round of 63 on Saturday, but had to survive a three-hole playoff against Jordan Spieth before securing victory.
Fitzpatrick fell two shots off the lead at one point, before recovering to force a playoff against Spieth.
"The big thing for me, that I feel like I've learnt when I play well, is just having patience. Just letting it happen and just giving myself time," Fitzpatrick said.
"I just felt as long as I was within two shots going into the back nine, I was easily in with a shout."
The Englishman moved up to a career-high number eight in the world after his win at the Harbour Town course at Hilton Head, just his second PGA Tour win after the U.S. Open.
"Before winning the U.S. Open, before last year really, I probably got overworked over majors," he said. "I was that desperate to try and win one, just changing things, trying a bit harder.
"I probably made myself tired from that, and then you come to this week and you just feel tired from the week before.
"I think sometimes it can be tough, particularly if you really had a grind, if you had a good result. I think it can be difficult to get yourself up for it."
The trainer of Hill Sixteen says protesters who held up the start of Saturday's Grand National race were responsible for the death of the horse.
The 10-year-old, ridden by Ryan Mania, fell at the first fence and after being tended to on the course, had to be put to sleep.
The incident came after animal rights campaigners had succeeded in delaying the race at Aintree as police arrested 118 people amid scenes of chaos.
The start was held up for 14 minutes after a large number of activists attempted to gain access to the course before the main event.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, trainer Sandy Thomson pointed to the fact his horse had never had a problem on the course in previous rides, and suggested the fall was due to being "buzzed up" from the protesters' actions.
"It was all caused by these so-called animal lovers who are actually ignorant and have absolutely no idea about the welfare of horses," he said.
"There were quite a lot of the horses buzzed up... When they got down to the start, nobody quite knew what was happening.
"The starter wanted to get them off as quickly as possible, then the horses were drawn forward then told to get back.
"One of the other things missing was the parade. I think that gives the horses and the jockeys that couple of minutes to gather their thoughts and that didn't help the situation either."
Activist group Animal Rising, whose supporters disrupted the race, said: "We want to offer our deepest condolences to anyone connected to Hill Sixteen or who has been impacted by their death.
"Horse deaths and injuries are an unavoidable consequence of the way we use animals for sport."
The Grand National is among the world's most famous races but also has its detractors, with concerns over the number of horses that suffer serious injuries or die from falls.
Two horses died at the Liverpool course in earlier races during the week's festival, before Hill Sixteen became the third fatality.
"If we look at the last nine years since the course has been modified there's been an average of under two fallers at the first two fences," Thomson added.
"This year everyone got very uptight about [the protests] – horses, jockeys – and there were eight fallers at those first two fences.
"We as a sport are continually moving forward, we're continually trying to make the sport safer."
Corach Rambler won the 175th running of the famous steeplechase.
Formula One is working "very hard" to bring a race back to Africa, F1 president Stefano Domenicali revealed.
The continent last held an F1 event in 1993 at South Africa's Kyalami circuit, a venue widely touted as the favourite to play host if the series returns to Africa, and there is a growing desire for that to happen.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton is among those to call for an African Grand Prix, while critics point out that Africa is the only continent, Antarctica excluded, not to hold a race.
F1's plan is to add Africa to the schedule, however, with Domenicali revealing there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes.
"100 per cent, Africa is still a continent that we are working very hard," he told Sky Sports. "As I always said, we need to find the right partners, the right middle-term plan.
"What I want to avoid is that we go there one year and then forget it. We are working, trying to find a solution for the best of the sport, for the best of the country."
F1's rise in popularity has increased the desire from more locations to hold a race, with big-money reportedly being offered from America and the Far East, though that is not a decisive factor in the eyes of Domenicali.
Neither is the history of venues, with the focus instead on the long-term development of F1.
"Today, the money is huge, but we need to protect the quality of the events and the sport," he added.
"When 'historical' is only connected to looking behind, that is a problem. When 'historical' is a value, if you are focused on developing the sport for the future, it's a great value.
"That's our duty - to make sure that, for example Monza, it's an incredible place but they need to make sure [they invest in] the future infrastructure, in services for the fans."
Russell Westbrook delighted in his match-winning play after a mixed Los Angeles Clippers turn during victory against the Phoenix Suns in the NBA playoffs.
The point guard shot only 3-for-19 during Sunday's 115-110 Game 1 victory in the first round, and was involved in a fan confrontation at half-time.
But eight assists and 11 rebounds, coupled with the clinching defensive block on Devin Booker, saw him still register a vital contribution to start the postseason.
Speaking afterwards, Westbrook spoke of his glee at being able to showcase his all-around skills, particularly in his efforts to close down Booker.
"My whole career, I [have] prided myself every season on doing everything," he said. "Whatever is needed of me to win the game, I'll do it.
"You [have] just got to make sure [Booker] sees you, make sure he knows that you're there. He's a hell of a shot-maker, one of the elite scorers. [You have to] try to make it difficult for him."
With Westbrook posting single-figures with ball in hand, it fell to Kawhi Leonard to lead the way for the Clippers with an excellent 38-point performance.
His turn drew plaudits from his team-mates, with Westbrook adding: "His patience [and] his awareness throughout the game was amazing.
"He's been like that for us since I've been here. We had his back on the defensive end. We'll make sure we find ways to keep making the game easy for him."
The Clippers face the Suns on the road at Footprint Center again on Tuesday, and could take a 2-0 record home to California ahead of Game 3 if they claim victory.
Jamal Murray said the adrenaline of his first NBA playoff game since 2020 affected his early performance in the Denver Nuggets' win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray finished with a team-high 24 points in the 109-80 victory in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Timberwolves, though it was a slow start at Ball Arena.
Missing his first five shots, Murray attributed his early struggles to the adrenaline in what was his first playoff appearance since the NBA bubble in 2020 and first home playoff game since May 2019.
"I haven't felt that much excitement in a minute, probably since the beginning of the season," he said, per ESPN.
"You want to play so good, it's much anticipated. Sometimes that can affect you too much. Gotta slow down, get my legs back and just play basketball."
Murray's performance was recognised by his teammates, with Michael Porter Jr believing he is a better player than he was prior to his ACL injury.
"I told him the other day, I feel like he's better now than before his injury. I know he probably doesn't feel it, but just his all-around game, his awareness," he said.
"He had a year off where he just had to watch. So, I just feel like his awareness and just the right plays he's making -- the assists, being able to play a true point guard for our team and knowing the guys around him and how to get them open."
The Nuggets host the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Wednesday, then travelling to Minnesota as the series continues on Friday and Sunday.
Nikola Jokic recorded a double-double while Jamal Murray top scored as the Denver Nuggets re-discovered their form with a dominant 109-80 blowout of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
The Western Conference top seed Nuggets had gone 7-8 in their final 15 regular-season games, but snapped back into form in Game 1 of their first round playoffs series at Ball Arena.
Denver pulled away with a 32-14 third quarter, highlighted by five three-pointers.
Murray top scored with 24 points, making four-of-10 from three-point range, with eight rebounds and eight assists, while Michael Porter Jr also made four triples in his 18 points with 11 rebounds.
Porter Jr's game was capped by a hammer jam late in the first half as the Nuggets started to pull clear.
Jokic scored 13 points on six-of-12 shooting with 14 rebounds, including five offensive rebounds, and six assists.
Despite his modest stats, the Serbian center was influential in the first half with a no-look pass for Bruce Brown's three-pointer along with a classy spin to glide past Rudy Gobert in the lane.
The Timberwolves were no match for the top seed with Karl-Anthony Towns, who was the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year in Jokic's rookie season, struggling for 11 points on five-of-15 shooting.
Former NBA Draft top overall pick Anthony Edwards only managed 18 points with five assists, while veteran point guard Mike Conley had eight points, four rebounds and three assists.
Clutch Kawhi leads Clippers past Suns
Kawhi Leonard came up clutch with two late three-pointers among his 38 points while Russell Westbrook made a critical block as the Los Angeles Clippers won 115-110 over the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers put together three straight three-pointers in three plays in the final three minutes, including two from Leonard before kicking out a pass to Eric Gordon to make it 109-103 with 1:33 left.
With Suns cut it back to one point but Westbrook blocked Devin Booker with before making two free-throws to seal the win. Westbrook shot three-of-19 but never stopped, finishing with 10 rebounds including five in offense and eight assists.
Leonard went 13-of-24 from the field with three triples along with five rebounds and five assists, while Gordon added 19 with Paul George still out injured. Kevin Durant top scored for Phoenix with 27 points and 11 assists while Booker had 26 points and Chris Paul added 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Lakers down Grizzlies, Heat shock Bucks
The Los Angeles Lakers claimed an early road win 128-112 over the Memphis Grizzlies with Ja Morant suffering a fourth-quarter hand injury to throw their first round series wide open.
Rui Hachimura scored a playoff career-best 29 points with 21 in the second half as the Lakers rallied back from a 65-59 half-time deficit, pulling clear late after Morant exited with 5:48 remaining at 105-101.
Morant was kept to 18 points with six rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr had 31 points with five rebounds and two blocks.
LeBron James had 21 points and 11 rebounds with two steals and three blocks, while Anthony Davis contributed 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. Lakers guard Austin Reaves added 23 points.
Eastern Conference eight seed Miami Heat pulled off an upset 130-117 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks who lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a lower back contusion before half-time. The Heat lost Tyler Herro to a broken hand but Jimmy Butler stepped up with 35 points and 11 assists.
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