The New York Knicks have reportedly put together a strong trade offer for Donovan Mitchell as the Utah Jazz appear to be going all-in on a rebuild.
Sirens were sounding in Utah about a potential change of direction for the franchise when they opted to trade three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a bevy of future draft picks, while also picking up a first-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets for starting wing Royce O'Neale.
The Jazz had been publicly claiming the Gobert move was on its own merits and in no way signified that Mitchell would also be on his way out, although it appears the 25-year-old three-time All-Star has now played his last game for the team.
According to Shams Charania from The Athletic, the Knicks have become the most likely destination for a potential Mitchell trade.
Judging by the return from Gobert, it can be expected that any trade for Mitchell would require at least four first-round draft picks plus at least one promising young player.
The Athletic's report says the Jazz had been gauging interest from a number of teams, but "the Knicks have emerged as the focused destination over the past several days".
Charania added that "both sides have discussed a deal framework in the past 24 hours."
The Knicks will undoubtedly be trying to figure out a way to get a deal done without including key building block R.J. Barrett, with the Jazz reportedly valuing second-year guard Quentin Grimes.
The New York Mets prevailed 7-3 against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday in a clash between two of the National League's top-three teams.
Both sides hit three home runs, with the Mets jumping out to the early advantage through a solo homer to Eduardo Escobar in the second inning.
An inning later, after a walk to Tomas Nido and a base hit to Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor came through with a much-needed, three-run blast to right-field as he looks to return to the kind of form that saw him become a four-time All-Star with the Cleveland Guardians.
Mark Canha made it 5-0 for the Mets in the sixth inning with his own solo shot, before Matt Olson's 412-foot home run in the bottom of the frame finally put the Braves on the scoreboard.
Olson's launch was the only run Mets starting pitcher Chris Bassitt conceded, finished with one earned run from six full innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out six.
Luis Guillorme added one more run for the Mets in the seventh inning with his RBI double, which also put Lindor on third base in the process. Lindor then scored in one of the more unique ways in baseball, with Braves relief pitcher Jesse Chavez being called for a balk.
Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario added consolation home runs in the eighth and ninth inning respectively, with Riley hitting his 25th of the season. Only three players have more: Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros (26), Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies (28) and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees (30).
Twins win with walk-off whack
The Minnesota Twins sent their fans home happy after Jose Miranda's walk-off home run to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1.
Both starting pitchers performed well, with Milwaukee's Aaron Ashby giving up one run in four-and-two-thirds innings, while rookie Joe Ryan gave up only two hits and two walks for one run in five-and-a-third.
An RBI single from Gilberto Celestino in the second inning and a solo home run from Jace Peterson in the third were the only scores prior to the final frame.
With star Brewers closer Josh Hader on the mound trying to force extra innings, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler both got on base as the first two batters of the inning, setting up Miranda to drill the game-winning shot over the left-field wall.
Orioles and Mariners both win 10th in a row
The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-1 for their 10th consecutive win, while the Seattle Mariners accomplished the same feat with their 2-1 and 6-4 victories in their double-header against the Washington Nationals.
For the Orioles, it is their longest winning streak since 1999, and the first time since 2005 that they have swept three series in a row. Austin Hays was the star on Wednesday, collecting four hits from his five at-bats, while Spenser Watkins was credited with the win on the mound.
Meanwhile, the Mariners have not won 10 straight since 2002, and they also have the heavy favourite for AL Rookie of the Year in star center-fielder Julio Rodriguez, who is the only rookie to be named for the All-Star Game.
The biggest name in this year’s NHL free-agent market has found a new home, as high-scoring forward Johnny Gaudreau signed a seven-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
According to reports, the deal has an average annual value of $9.75 million.
Gaudreau had the best season of his nine-year career in 2021-22, setting career-highs with 40 goals, 75 assists and 115 points in 82 games with the Calgary Flames. Only Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid (123) had more points last season than Gaudreau, who led the NHL with a plus-64 rating.
A native of Salem, New Jersey, Gaudreau had been speculated to be eyeing a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers or New Jersey Devils, but the Blue Jackets, by all accounts, entered the mix later in the day and landed the six-time All-Star.
Columbus finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division last season and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
Gaudreau has 210 goals and 609 points in 602 career games, all with the Flames.
Casper Ruud was a surprise second-round loser as the Swedish Open defending champion fell to Francisco Cerundolo, while the favourites battled through at the Hall of Fame Open.
Ruud, a French Open finalist and defending champion in Bastad , lacked his usual composure as world number 39 Cerundolo broke him three times to win 6-4 3-6 7-5 on Wednesday.
That marked a first top-10 career victory for Cerundolo after defeating world number five Ruud, guiding him to his first quarter-final appearance at the tournament.
"I'm feeling amazing, I'm really happy," said Cerundolo, whose previous best result was beating world number 24 Gael Monfils. "It's amazing getting my first Top 10 win. It's been the best year so far in my career.
"He's a French Open finalist and was the defending champion here, so it was a big challenge for me and I'm happy to go through."
Aslan Karatsev awaits in the quarter-finals Cerundolo after downing Frenchman Hugo Gaston 6-2 6-4.
Fifth seed Pablo Carreno Busta survived a first-set scare to defeat 2016 champion Albert Ramos-Vinolas 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5.
The victory was Carreno Busta's 250th tour-level triumph and he will next face third favourite Diego Schwartzman, who overcame Elias Ymer in straight sets.
Third seed Alexander Bublik was made to work for a 6-3 3-6 6-2 second-round victory over Jack Sock in Newport and Andy Murray edged past Wimbledon doubles champion Max Purcell.
Murray needed almost two-and-a-half hours to get the better of Purcell, eventually triumphing 4-6 6-2 6-1 to tee up a last-eight meeting with Bublik.
Fourth favourite Maxime Cressy had little trouble in beating fellow American Mitchell Krueger 6-3 6-4 and will next face Steve Johnson, who progressed past seventh seed Jiri Vesely with a walkover.
Benjamin Bonzi, ranked as fifth seed in the United States, eased past Christopher Eubanks in straight sets, while James Duckworth triumphed 7-5 3-6 6-2 over Quentin Halys.
John Isner joined the list of favourites who made the third round in routine fashion, beating Peter Gojowczyk in straight sets 6-3 7-6 (8-6), before top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime faced some adversity against Jason Kubler following the Australian's strong run into the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Auger-Aliassime has a slight advantage, leading 6-4 3-6 6-5 before play was suspended due to poor light. When play resumes, Kubler will serve with a chance to force a third-set tiebreak.
The Washington Capitals have filled their biggest need on the NHL's first day of free agency by signing Stanley Cup champion goaltender Darcy Kuemper to a five-year, $26.25million contract.
Kuemper joins the Capitals off a highly successful lone campaign in Colorado in which he tied for fourth in the NHL in wins (37) and shutouts (five) and ranked fifth among qualified goaltenders with a .921 save percentage during the regular season.
The 10-year veteran then posted a 10-4-1 record with a 2.57 goals against average in 16 postseason starts to help the Avalanche to their first championship since 2001.
"Darcy is an established starting netminder who proved that he can win on the game's biggest stage, and we are excited to welcome him to Washington," Capitals senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan said Wednesday in a statement.
"We feel this signing will provide our team confidence and stability in net."
Kuemper, an All-Star in 2019-20 with the Arizona Coyotes, will be asked to stabilise a position that was often inconsistent for the Capitals last season.
Washington netminders combined for an .898 save percentage in 2021-22, the lowest of any team who reached the playoffs, and the team have since parted ways with their two main goalies from last season in Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov.
Vanecek was traded to the New Jersey Devils last week, and Samsonov signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs after the Caps declined to tender a qualifying offer to the restricted free agent.
Washington also signed former St. Louis Blues goaltender Charlie Lindgren to back up Kuemper, who owns a 143-95-36 record with a 2.48 GAA and .918 save percentage in 299 career games with Minnesota, Los Angeles, Arizona and Colorado.
The Avalanche prepared for Kuemper's expected departure by acquiring Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers last week and signing him to a three-year, $10.2m deal. Georgiev will compete with holdover Pavel Francouz for Colorado's number one netminder job.
The Carolina Hurricanes have completed a trade with the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Brent Burns.
The six-time All-Star was expected to be moved this week, with both the Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars said to be interested.
And the Canes soon confirmed Burns was dealt on a busy Wednesday in the NHL as free agency opened.
Former Norris Trophy winner Burns is heading to Carolina, along with AHL forward Lane Pederson, while the Sharks receive forward Steven Lorentz, AHL goalie Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional 2023 third-round pick.
Burns has three years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8million, although the Sharks have retained a third of his cap hit.
"Brent has been an elite offensive defenseman in the NHL for a long time," said Canes president and general manager Don Waddell.
"He has produced at a consistent level throughout his career, and we believe adding him brings us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup."
Rory McIlroy finds it hard to foresee any player shooting 59 or under at The Open Championship on the challenging Old Course that Tiger Woods says 'still stands the test of time'.
With a fair forecast in Scotland and the big-hitting stars descending on the final major of the year, many are expecting low scores across the weekend at the 150th Open.
The lowest round ever shot at a men's major was carded by Branden Grace, who managed 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017.
McIlroy, the 2014 champion, shares the lowest round (63) at The Open at St Andrews alongside Paul Broadhurst, but does not envisage any player carding a sub-60 round.
"Fifty-nine is 13 under par round this golf course. There are 7,300 yards," said McIlroy, who has finished no lower than eighth at the first three majors in 2022.
"It's got greens that are running at 10-and-a-half to 11 [considered medium speed], it's got fairways where the ball is bouncing 50 yards if it's hit and more if it catches the downslope.
"I'll tell you what if someone shoots that [13 under] I will be the first person on the 18th green to shake their hand because they have played outstanding golf."
Woods is no stranger to success at St Andrews, where two of his three Claret Jugs have come, sitting in an exclusive club with Bob Martin, JH Taylor, James Braid and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win two Opens at the home of golf.
The American, who has battled injury struggles and retirement fears to feature at what could be his final St Andrews Open, echoed the sentiments of McIlroy as he outlined the challenges ahead.
"Even with the advancements in technology, this golf course still stands the test of time," Woods said.
"It's still very difficult, and it's obviously weather dependent. You get the winds like we did today, it's a helluva test.
"On 10, I hit a six-iron from 120 yards. It was blowing so hard. So you just don't get – you just don't have opportunities to hit shots like that anywhere else.
"Then again, if you get a calm day on this golf course, you can see some players probably have four to five eagle putts. It is weather dependent.
"The fairways, I think right now, are faster than the greens. So it's funny, when you hit some of the chip shots and some of the bump-and-runs, you have to allow more speed early, then play for breaks when they hit the green.
"Again, with the amount of slope that's on these greens, if they get them too fast, it's unplayable when the wind gets up.
"We saw that when Louis [Oosthuizen] won. We had a wind-out. We don't want that to happen. And it's understandable why they're a little bit on the slower side."
Lesia Tsurenko prevailed at the Hungarian Grand Prix in the longest match on the WTA Tour this year.
Tsurenko progressed to the quarter-finals in Budapest with a three-set victory over Kamilla Rakhimova.
It took three hours and 54 minutes for the Ukrainian to complete the 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 7-5 triumph, the match breaking the previous 2022 WTA record for duration, set in February when Daria Saville beat Emma Raducanu, the US Open champion retiring after three hours and 34 minutes in Guadalajara.
Martina Trevisan and Anna Bondar join Tsurenko as the first players through to the last eight.
Second seed Trevisan beat Natalia Szabanin and ninth seed Bondar overcame Despina Papamichail.
Sixth seed Zhang Shuai won her first-round match but top seed and 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova fell at the first hurdle to Wang Xiyu, losing in straight sets.
Fourth seed Anna Kalinina retired from her match with Katerina Siniakova and fifth seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich was defeated by Bernarda Pera.
At the Ladies Open Lausanne, Simona Waltert followed up her shock win over top seed Danielle Collins by beating Cristina Bucsa 6-1 5-7 6-4.
Third seed Irina-Camelia Begu lost to Anastasia Potapova, but fourth seed Sara Sorribes Tormo came through against Clara Burel.
Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria withdrew from her match against Leolia Jeanjean.
The Toronto Blue Jays fired manager Charlie Montoyo on Wednesday, despite sitting in a playoff position in the American League
Toronto entered the day with a 46-42 record and a half-game lead on the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild-card spot in the AL. Bench coach John Schneider has been named the interim manager for the rest of the season.
The Blue Jays gave Montoyo his first MLB managerial job after John Gibbons was let go following the 2018 season. Toronto went 67-95 under Montoyo in 2019, then reached the wild-card round in 2020 after going 32-28 during the pandemic-shortened season.
Montoyo finished third in AL Manager of the Year voting in 2020, then guided the Blue Jays to a 91-71 record last season – the team's most wins since 2015. However, Toronto missed an AL wild-card spot by just one game.
The Blue Jays signed Montoyo to a contract extension through 2023 days before this season started, but seeing their wild-card chances dwindling due to a current 2-9 stretch that has coincided with an eight-game winning streak for Seattle led to his departure on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old Montoyo finished with a 236-236 record in the regular season with Toronto.
Evander Kane re-signed with the Edmonton Oilers on a four-year, $20.5 million contract shortly before the start of NHL free agency, having resurrected a career in the midst of turmoil after joining the team midway through the 2021-22 season.
Kane, who totalled 35 goals in 58 games with Edmonton when including the playoffs, announced his decision in a Twitter post late on Tuesday.
The 13-year veteran forward signed with the Oilers in January following an ugly departure from the San Jose Sharks, who terminated his contract earlier that month for violating COVID-19 protocols while playing in the American Hockey League.
Kane did not play a game for the Sharks last season due to a handful of off-field issues. The 30-year-old began the campaign away from the team as the NHL investigated accusations from his ex-wife that he assaulted her and wagered on league games, and he also served a 21-game suspension for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccine card to the Sharks and the NHL.
The NHL announced in October that it could not corroborate the domestic assault claims and said it found no evidence that Kane gambled on league games.
"Throughout the last 12 months, there have been lots of road blocks, tons of adversity and many tough days," Kane wrote. "I'm grateful for the tremendous amount of support from family, friends, team-mates and others who have helped me stay strong through these difficult times.
"I want to thank the Edmonton Oilers for giving me the opportunity to REMIND people who I am as a player and person."
A two-time 30-goal scorer, Kane rediscovered his touch by producing 22 goals and 17 assists in 43 regular-season games with Edmonton. He was even better in the postseason, tallying 13 goals and four assists in 15 games to help the Oilers advance to their first Western Conference final since 2006.
"A big part of my decision to stay in Edmonton was because of the opportunity given to me only seven months ago but also the chance to be a part of a championship team," he said.
"I want to win, and I believe after signing this deal we will be able to add the right pieces along with myself to accomplish that goal, a championship."
Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the fourth overall pick of the 2009 draft, Kane has compiled 286 goals and 259 assists in 812 career regular-season games. The Vancouver native is one of seven players to have scored 20 or more goals in each of the past seven seasons.
Suzuki have confirmed they will depart MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season after reaching an early release agreement with promoters Dorna.
The Japanese manufacturer previously indicated their intent to seek a withdrawal from the sport, citing economic difficulties behind their decision.
Suzuki had been contracted to MotoGP through to 2026, having previously returned to the premier class in 2015 afterling quitting in 2011.
They have now been handed an early termination following negotiations, president Toshihiro Suzuki confirmed.
The company will also exit the World Endurance Championship - which includes the Le Mans 24 Hour race - at the end of the current campaign.
Suzuki last won the MotoGP title in 2020, their first for 20 decades, with Spanish rider Joan Mir crowned champion.
They will support both Mir and his team-mate Alex Rins - eighth and ninth in the standings respectively until the end of the season, with the pair currently eighth and ninth in the standings re
Jonas Vingegaard's attack paid off in style as the Dane took the lead in the Tour de France, severely denting Tadej Pogacar's hopes.
Wednesday's 152kilometre route through the Alps looked set to be crucial in the general classification standings, though few would have predicted this outcome up the Col du Granon.
Pogacar seemed in complete control of the GC and was expected to maintain his advantage, such is his proficiency up the slopes.
Yet led by Primoz Roglic and Wout van Aert, Jumbo-Visma attacked early and lured Pogacar and his fellow UAE Team Emirates riders into responding.
Those early moves seemed to have backfired, with Pogacar and team-mate Rafal Majka looking strong heading onto the final climb, but it all fell apart for the two-time reigning champion when Vingegaard sensed a weakness and lodged a brilliantly timed attack 5km out from the finish, leaving the yellow jersey in his wake.
Geraint Thomas soon followed suit, making his own dent in the GC standings, as for the first time in his career Pogacar showed real vulnerability.
While Pogacar floundered, Vingegaard wrapped up a sensational ride by overtaking Romain Bardet, who is up to second in the GC, and Nairo Quintana to seal his maiden Grand Tour stage triumph.
Thomas pushed over in fourth, with David Gaudu and Adam Yates getting up to the summit before Pogacar – his yellow jersey unzipped and flapping – limped across the line, close to three minutes behind Vingegaard.
"It's really incredible, it's hard for me to put words on," said Vingegaard, whose lead over Pogacar in the GC standings is well over two minutes. "This is what I dreamt of, always, a stage in the Tour. Now the yellow jersey, incredible.
"We made the plan from the start of the day, you can see what it was, we wanted to make it a super hard race in my favour, the favour of Primoz. I took a lot of time today, but I'd never have done that without my team-mates, they were all incredibly strong today.
"On the last climb I was thinking if I don't try, I'm not going to win. Second place is a nice result, but I had this last year, now I want to try to go for the victory."
Van der Poel calls it quits
One of the big names at this year's tour, Mathieu van der Poel, has failed to really get going and he called it a day on stage 11, abandoning the race. It has been a frustrating stint for the Dutchman, who impressed on his Tour de France debut last year. He was dropped on the Lacets de Montvernier, after initially getting involved in the early breakaway.
STAGE RESULTS
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 4:18:02
2. Nairo Quintana (Team Arkea–Samsic) +0:59
3. Romain Bardet (Team DSM) +1:10
4. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) +1:38
5. David Gaudu (Groupama–FDJ) +2:04
CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS
General Classification
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 41:29:59
2. Romain Bardet (Team DSM) +2:16
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) +2:22
Points Classification
1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 304
2. Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 155
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) 148
King of the Mountains
1. Simon Geschke (Cofidis) 43
2. Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies) 35
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 30
Darren Clarke believes he has "a few more decent days left on the golf course" after revealing he turned down the offer of joining the LIV Golf Invitational.
Clarke, who won The Open in 2011, is competing at St Andrews this week in the season's final major.
It marks the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship, golf's oldest major.
Yet the lingering dispute over LIV Golf - the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway tour - continues to cast a shadow over the sport.
Clarke has now revealed he was approached to take up a broadcast role for LIV Golf, an option that the Northern Irishman was keen to explore.
However, his desire to continue playing on the PGA Tour meant he had to turn it down.
"I could still have gone and done it but it would have basically meant me retiring from playing professional golf. I wasn't ready to do that just yet," Clarke said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
"Unfortunately I asked for permission to do it and it was denied, [I am] not allowed to do it as part of my PGA Tour membership.
"I respect that decision. I would love to have gone and done it and played both but they decided in their rules and regulations that it wasn't viable for me to do so.
"I want to play. Hopefully I've got a few more decent days left on the golf course and I wasn't ready to hang the clubs up just yet."
While Clarke understands why golfers would take up the chance to play on the lucrative tour, he believes it is fair that there are consequences for those decisions.
"I can understand why the guys have done it. That's fine, they get paid a lot of money to go and join the LIV tour," the 53-year-old added.
"It's a different question if you ask should those guys be allowed to play. It's like asking should Liverpool be allowed to play in the Premier League and go play in LaLiga at the same time?
"As [DP World Tour chief executive] Keith Pelley said, every action comes with consequences. So if you want to go and do this, then you can't do that.
"It's not my position to say what's right and what's wrong but at the moment the rules are that those guys are ineligible to play."
Queensland emerged victorious in a pulsating series finale to reclaim the State of Origin shield in a thrilling 22-12 win over New South Wales in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The Maroons looked to be in danger of slipping to a fourth series defeat in the last five in their own backyard, after the Blues handed them a blowout defeat in Perth for Origin II following a narrow win in Sydney in Origin I.
But in one of the modern great deciders in series history, Billy Slater's wounded hosts held on in the final quarter of a bruising encounter to win at Suncorp Stadium in Origin III.
Both teams lost players to injury straight out of the gate, with New South Wales' Cameron Murray and Queensland duo Selwyn Cobbo and Lindsay Collins all forced off with head injuries in the first five minutes.
Despite being down two men, the Maroons still struck first through Valentine Holmes' tackle-busting dart out wide in the 12th minute, though the Penrith Panthers half-back combo of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai promptly combined for a Blues response six minutes later
Debutant Jacob Saifiti steamrollered through after repeat sets for the visitors to hand them the lead nine out from the break, but Queensland reduced the deficit to two heading into the interval after Kurt Capewell leapt onto a sublime Harry Grant grubber.
An ill-tempered start to the second half saw Dane Gagai and Matt Burton both sin-binned for a dust-up, before Ben Hunt helped quell a Blues resurgence with a superb 40-20, setting the stage for a chain of repeat sets eventually finished by Kalyn Ponga.
Grant looked to have potentially sealed the deal for the Maroons with a dozen minutes left on the clock, only for the bunker to chalk it off - but when Hunt picked off a last-gasp Cleary chip to go the length of the field with two minutes to go, the release of emotion around Brisbane ensured this would be remembered as one of the all-time series encounters.
Daniel Ricciardo has rubbished rumours that he is planning to retire, adding that he is committed to McLaren until the end of the 2024 season.
Former Red Bull and Renault driver Ricciardo signed for McLaren ahead of the 2021 season, but the Australian has struggled to find his best form for the team.
He claimed one race win last season - at the Italian Grand Prix - marking his first F1 triumph since the Monaco Grand Prix in 2018.
That was Ricciardo's only podium finish of 2021, however, and the 33-year-old has failed to finish in the top three at all so far this season, with his best finish, sixth, coming at home in the Australian Grand Prix.
Speculation has mounted that Ricciardo would soon announce his decision to quit F1, but he has insisted that is not the case.
"There have been a lot of rumours around my future in Formula One, but I want you to hear it from me," Ricciardo, who finished ninth in last week's Austrian Grand Prix, posted on his social media channels.
"I am committed to McLaren until the end of next year and [I] am not walking away from the sport. Appreciate it hasn't always been easy, but who wants easy!
"I'm working my a** off with the team to make improvements and get the car right and back to the front where it belongs. I still want this more than ever. See you in Le Castellet."
Ricciardo is 12th in the drivers' standings, having collected just 17 points in 2022, with McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in seventh place.
Dan McKellar says Australia must avoid getting "sucked into" England's "niggle" when they do battle in the decisive Test at the SCG on Saturday.
The Red Rose levelled the three-match series with a 25-17 victory at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.
Eddie Jones' men came out firing as they stepped up the physicality in Brisbane to bring Australia back down to earth.
Assistant coach McKellar says the Wallabies must keep their discipline if England attempt to get under their skins again with the series on the line.
"It's pretty pointless these days isn’t it?" he said. "You go rushing in and [you're] third man in and you're on the receiving end of a yellow card.
"It all comes down to emotional control and making sure you're not getting sucked into those sort of tactics.
"The officials will be world-class on Saturday and it's their job to look after.
"It's not something we plan or put tactics to in this environment. We have much more important things to worry about that'll go a fair way towards deciding a Test match than a little niggle."
Australia are waiting to learn the extent of a knee injury suffered by Cadeyrn Neville, while they will have to do without Darcy Swain (suspension), Izack Rodda (foot), Jed Holloway (calf) and Ned Hanigan (knee).
McKellar says they must show their strength in depth.
"I think what makes it seamless is the preparation we've done over the past three-four weeks and understanding whoever's playing will be involved heavily in preparation over that period of time," he added.
"You can't be throwing your eggs in one basket thinking they'll get through a series. The game is played at an incredibly high intensity these days, very physical, and sadly we've seen a fair few injuries.
"We've been unlucky in that area and every now and again you get clusters in a position, you just have to make sure your whole squad is prepared and ready to step up if required."
Former Wales centre Jamie Roberts says playing rugby has been "the best job in the world" and he intends to remain with the sport after announcing his retirement at 35.
The ex-Cardiff Blues back, who has enjoyed a prolific club and international career that saw him play his domestic trade in five countries and win 94 caps for his nation, finishes his time after a brief stint with the Waratahs.
Roberts, who also won three caps for the British and Irish Lions, says he plans to stay in the game after hanging up his boots, and has spoken of the honour he has enjoyed to be able to live out his career.
"There's no doubt I'll stay with the sport past retirement," he said. "Whilst I figure everything out, that'll be predominantly in a broadcasting capacity.
"My experiences in the game have indeed taken me to immeasurable highs as well as desperate lows, eliciting every emotion possible along the way. Above all, the game has provided a sense of belonging, friendship and healthy competition.
"I'll miss the changing room, the matchday buzz and the aches and pains. I guess most of all I'll miss the lads.
"I've had the privilege of playing alongside and against many of the modern day greats; not just great players but great men. To all those I've been fortunate to share the field with, it was a pleasure.
"For a short while, we have the best job in the world. Never forget it."
Roberts made his debut for Wales in 2008, in a Six Nations win over Scotland on the wing, and retires as the joint-eighth most-capped man in the country's history.
He featured in their 2011 and 2015 World Cup campaigns - helping them to fourth in the former - and was a member of two separate Lions tours, to South Africa in 2009 and Australia in 2013.
"Representing my country was always a childhood dream, I'm fortunate it became reality," said Roberts. "It meant the world to me and forever will.
"I'll also never forget the immense pride of captaining my country. Singing the anthem had the same impact whether at home in Cardiff, away at some of the most iconic stadiums in World rugby, or during two Rugby World Cups.
"I'll remember fondly reaching the pinnacle of representative rugby and touring twice with the Lions. The joys and despair I experienced on both tours amounted to nothing short of experiences of a lifetime."
The Open Championship boasts a history practically unmatched in the sporting world, with the famous St Andrews primed to host the 150th edition of golf's oldest major this week.
As the world's best players prepare to tee it up at the home of golf, all in the field will be hoping to write their names into the pages of this storied event.
Ahead of what promises to be a thrilling week of action on the east coast of Scotland, Stats Perform has delved into the history books to bring you the most intriguing facts and figures surrounding the most historic of golf's majors.
HARD LUCK JACK AND HAPPY HARRY
Nobody boasts more Open triumphs than the six claimed by the legendary Harry Vardon, who first prevailed in 1896 and last lifted the Claret Jug in 1914.
But for every winner there are those who nurse the heartbreak of narrowly missing out, and nobody became more familiar with that feeling than Jack Nicklaus.
With 18 major wins to his name, including three at The Open, it might be a stretch to summon too much sympathy for Nicklaus, but he had to make do with finishing second or in a tie for second on no fewer than seven occasions.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...
When Collin Morikawa won at Royal St George's last year, he became the 10th player to taste success on debut.
That tells you that most players have to be patient when it comes to laying hands on the famous silverware, and for some that wait never ends.
But there are those for whom persistence has paid off handsomely – namely Darren Clarke and Phil Mickelson, who both finally triumphed at the 19th time of asking.
WIRE-TO-WIRE WINS ARE RARE
Only seven players have enjoyed wire-to-wire victories at a 72-hole Open, whereby they have held the outright lead at the end of all four rounds.
Rory McIlroy was the most recent example, achieving the feat at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
The last player to manage it at St Andrews was a certain Tiger Woods in 2005 – the second of his three Open wins as he retained his title the following year.
START FAST, FINISH STRONG
In 2010, St Andrews was the stage for the lowest opening round by an eventual winner as Louis Oosthuizen flew out of the traps with a 65.
Jordan Spieth equalled that with his first-round effort at Royal Birkdale in 2017, which was the year after Henrik Stenson had showed the importance of finishing with a flourish when his closing 63 saw off the challenge of Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon.
It also helps if your middle two rounds are solid, but very few players manage to put together four consistent sets of 18. Indeed, Woods is the only player to card four sub-70 rounds at St Andrews, doing so en route to his 2005 victory.
DON'T THROW IT AWAY NOW!
There is arguably no other sport that tests the psychological limits of its protagonists more than golf, which has seen more than its fair share of mental meltdowns.
Many will be familiar with the nightmare story of Jean Van de Velde's Open collapse in 1999 when he below a five-stroke lead after 54 holes – his hopes left to drown in Carnoustie's Barry Burn.
But that is not the biggest lead surrendered at The Open, with that dubious honour still belonging to Abe Mitchell, who led by six after two rounds in 1920 but ended up four adrift of champion George Duncan.
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