Thunder cruise past Suns again but lose Jalen Williams (hamstring)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and dished out nine assists, leading Oklahoma City to a 120-107 home win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday and giving the Thunder a 2-0 lead in a first-round Western Conference playoff series.

The victory, however, might have been a costly one.

Thunder star Jalen Williams, who was limited to just 33 games during the regular season due to injuries, left the game midway through the third quarter due to a left hamstring injury.

"We'll take a look at it in the next couple of days, and we'll update you guys appropriately," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said of Williams' status postgame.

Williams pulled up during a drive toward the bucket and then grabbed at the hamstring as action went the other way.

Williams, who did not return, missed two long stretches of the season with an injuries to his right wrist and right hamstring.

Before getting hurt, Williams was excellent, logging 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and four assists in 23 minutes.

Oklahoma City seized control in the third quarter, thanks in large part to Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren grabbed rebounds on each of the first three possessions of the half and had 11 points and three blocks in the quarter while Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points and four assists in the period.

Holmgren finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

The Thunder stretched their lead to 23 with a 13-2 run to end the third and then to 26 early in the fourth.

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The Suns cut the deficit to 10 with nearly four minutes remaining, but coming out of a timeout, Ajay Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to stretch the gap to 113-100.

"We did a really good job building the lead that we did in the third heading into the fourth," Daigneault said. "Obviously the fourth was a little wacky. We'll watch that ... But generally, it was a good one. We built a strong lead and were able to hold it."

Phoenix's Dillon Brooks scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth.

After a slow start in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first three shots on Wednesday, then found the range. He hit 7 of 10 shots the rest of the first half.

After going 5 of 18 from the field in the series opener, Gilgeous-Alexander finished 13 of 25 in Game 2.

"Shai made the right play all night," Daigneault said. "His floor game was outstanding. He got us really good shots."

Early in the third quarter, Brooks and Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort got tangled up battling for a potential rebound off a free throw. The two quickly stepped away from each other, but each was whistled for a technical foul.

Late in the quarter, Devin Booker was called for a technical after bouncing the ball off Williams while trying to keep the ball in play.

"This is a playoff series so a lot of stuff happens," said Suns coach Jordan Ott, who added that he didn't get an explanation of the call. "We can do a better job keeping our composure at times."

Booker finished with 22 points while Jalen Green had 21 in the loss.

Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday in Phoenix.

--Field Level Media

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April 22, 2026

Thunder cruise past Suns again but lose Jalen Williams (hamstring)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points and dished out nine assists, leading Oklahoma City to a 120-107 home win over the Phoenix Suns...

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Mets snap losing streak in Juan Soto's return, but see Francisco Lindor exit

TheNew York Metsentered Wednesday less than 10 games away from the longest MLB losing streak of the 21st century. That title still belongs to the2024 Chicago White Sox, who lost 21 straight contests during their historically bad season, and the Mets will get no closer after they defeated theMinnesota Twins,3-2, on Wednesday night.

The victory snaps a 12-game losing streak that had plummeted the Mets to the very bottom of the standings. Mark Vientos, who had been cut down at the plate while trying to score earlier in the game, was the hero, his two-out single in the bottom of the eighth plating the winning run.

The win — which came in Juan Soto's return — was notentirelysatisfactory to the reeling Mets. They saw star shortstopFrancisco Lindor exitwith what the team called left calf tightness.

While they hold their breath over Lindor, they can at least rest easy knowing their winners for a night:

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA's Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season

When did the Mets' losing streak begin?

The Mets' losing streak began after the team started 7-4. They then lost 7-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 8, which started a catastrophic chain of events that led us to where we are now.

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Since then, the Mets lost another game to the Diamondbacks, were swept by theAthletics, Dodgers, and Cubs, and then dropped their opener to the Twins.

Longest losing streaks in Mets history

The longest losing streak in Mets history came during the team's inaugural season in 1962. That team not only lost a franchise record 17 straight games during the season but also had other losing streaks of 13 and 11 games.

Since the turn of the century, the longest losing streak in Mets history stands at 12 games, a tie between their losing streak coming into Wednesday night and the 2002 team, which lost those 12 consecutive games between Aug. 20 and Aug. 31 that year.

Longest losing streaks in MLB history

The longest losing streak of the 21st century belongs to the 2024 Chicago White Sox, who lost 21 straight games. However, that is not the longest such streak in MLB history. That dishonor belongs to the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight games.

Here is a list of every team in the modern era (since 1901) to have lost at least 20 consecutive games:

• 1961 Philadelphia Phillies – 23

• 2024 Chicago White Sox – 21

• 1988 Baltimore Orioles – 21

• 1969 Montreal Expos – 20

• 1943 Philadelphia Athletics – 20

• 1916 Philadelphia Athletics – 20

• 1906 Boston Americans – 20

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mets losing streak ends with victory over Twins

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April 22, 2026

Mets snap losing streak in Juan Soto's return, but see Francisco Lindor exit

TheNew York Metsentered Wednesday less than 10 games away from the longest MLB losing streak of the 21st century. That title still belo...

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Tyler Reddick passes Kyle Larson on the final lap of OT to win NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is riding the kind ofCup Series hot streakthat Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his playing days.

NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing

Oh, you can bet the NBA Hall of Famer is enjoying this one, too.

Reddick roared by Kyle Larson on the final lap of overtime to win atKansas Speedway on Sunday, becoming the fourth driver to win five of the first nine races in NASCAR's top series in a season. Chase Briscoe wound up third while Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing along with Jordan, had to watch from fourth as his driver reached victory lane yet again.

“This kid is on fire. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down,” Jordan said. “When you win it’s always fun, and right now it’s fun for everybody at 23XI. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team.”

All four of the 23XI cars finished in the top 15 on a banner day for the team.

“Got to deliver for the boss man,” Reddick said of Jordan. “If he's going to come hang out with us, we have to get him dubs.”

Sunday's race had been caution-free except for stage breaks until Cody Ware spun as the white flag was about to fly.

Hamlin was leading at that point, and it looked as if he was about to win his record-extending fifth race at Kansas. Instead, all of the leaders had to pit, and even though Hamlin beat Reddick off pit road, the field was bunched up for the overtime restart.

Larson, trying to end a 32-race winless streak, lined up behind Hamlin on the inside, and he launched to the lead when the green flag flew. Chaos ensued behind them as Christopher Bell bounced off Reddick and Hamlin and the No. 5 car began to pull away.

Reddick came charging down the backstretch on the final lap, though, and he pulled alongside Larson as they went through the final corners. The No. 45 edged ahead as the checkered flag flew, and Jordan began to pump his fist in the pits in celebration.

The last driver to win five of the first nine Cup Series races was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.

“Just really blessed with the late caution,” Reddick said. “Was that nuts or what? I couldn't believe it.”

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Hamlin was happy Reddick won again. But it came at his expense, and he was decidedly unhappy about that. Asked of his frustration level, Hamlin replied: “Obviously it's not winning. It's Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking. I don't know. Add it up.”

Larson, the defending race winner, said his car's balance was off after taking two tires on the final stop, leaving him on the podium for the third time without a win this season. Briscoe and Hamlin were followed across by another 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace.

“It was good execution for the restart there,” Larson said. “I got to the lead and I thought I could cruise right there to the checkered.”

Except that Reddick is the only one who seems to be doing that these days. Even when he doesn't win, he's had his Toyota running up front. He was fourth last week at Bristol and has been in the top 15 in every start this season.

He's a big reason Toyota is the first manufacturer since Chevrolet in 2007 to win seven of the first nine races in a season.

“I just think the whole team all year has been really poised,” 23XI President Steve Lauletta said. “It's not the first time we've had any kind of adversity come at us, and they've continued to stay calm, keep each other grounded and know we have a fast car. And if you have a fast car, all you have to do is make sure you execute, and that's what they've managed to do.”

Stage winners

Hamlin won the first stage, giving him three consecutive stage wins at Kansas going back to last fall and eight for his career. Larson snapped the streak in Stage 2 with his third stage win of the season.

Wrong way AJ

Ryan Blaney was accelerating out of his pit box during the first stage when he got into the rear of AJ Allmendinger, who was trying to pit, sending him into a half-spin. It took Allmendinger a while to get straightened out, putting him several laps down.

“Our race is done,” Allmendinger told his team over the radio.

Up next

The Cup Series heads next week to Talladega, where Austin Cindric edged Ryan Preece by 0.022 seconds for his third career win last season. In the post-race inspection, both Preece and Joey Logano were found to have infractions and were disqualified.

AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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April 22, 2026

Tyler Reddick passes Kyle Larson on the final lap of OT to win NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is riding the kind ofCup Series hot streakthat Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his ...

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Who won the Giants-Bengals trade of Dexter Lawrence? Here are the grades

Latest NFL mock draft| Big Boards:Consensus Top 75•Nate Tice•Charles McDonald

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veachexpected fireworks in the form of big deals during the NFL Draft. "There’ll probably be a lot of trades," Veach told reporters earlier this past week of the NFL's crown jewel offseason event, which begins Thursday in Pittsburgh.

We got at least one big one before the weekend finished in the form of theNew York Giants dealing star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick in this draft.

Earlier this month, Lawrence reportedly told the Giants he wanted out of town. The Giants countered that demand with talks of a contract extension, but that hit a wall and now Sexy Dexy is off to the AFC North, with that extension likely waiting for him in Cincinnati.

So who won this deal? Here are the grades:

Bengals gambling on a rebound … at a steep price

It's stunning what the Bengals gave up for Lawrence considering that in their team history, they've never surrendered a top-10 draft pick for a player,according to ESPN.

Sure, they got a two-time Pro Bowler on a defense starving for talent, particularly after the loss of Trey Hendrickson to free agency. However, Lawrence had a down 2025 season and is approaching the wrong side of 30, turning 29 midway through the 2026 season.

Is Lawrence's "down" season overblown? Here'swhat Yahoo Sports senior writer Jori Epstein wrote on the statistical downturn:

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"Lawrence followed up a career-best nine sacks in 2024 with a career-low half a sack in 17 games during the 2025 season. Lawrence’s pass-rush win rate, per ESPN, registered at 8%, per ESPN’s advanced metric, while his run-stop win rate did not rank in the league’s top 10.

And yet, Lawrence also faced more double teams (71%) than 18 of the 19 interior defensive linemen who won their pass rushes within 2.5 seconds at a higher clip than he did.

There are data points to support a dip in Lawrence’s production in 2025, which some personnel evaluators also believe was reflected in the intensity of his effort — especially in defending the run. And then there are other data points that suggest the Giants’ 28th-ranked defense and 26th-ranked scoring defense would have fallen even further without Lawrence trying to fight through midseason firings at head coach and defensive coordinator as well as a personnel deficit that may not have set the group up for success.

Perhaps the Bengals didn't believe they could've landed their needed defensive prospect in the draft at No. 10. Spending that premium pick on a proven commodity, coupled with a hefty extension for that player, was bold, but it feels like they could've gotten more than a one-for-one swap. The price looks especially bonkers considering an NFC executive told Epstein that they didn't believe the Giants could get more than a second-round pick for Lawrence.

The Bengals said otherwise, investing on an older, more expensive player who won't have as much club control contractually compared to a rookie first-rounder.

John Harbaugh is a big winner

Losing a prime talent like Lawrence hurts, but new Giants head coach John Harbaugh probably couldn't have dreamed of better compensation than the No. 10 pick of this draft.

The Giants are sitting in prime position for next week's big event, holding these picks in the top 40: Nos. 5, 10 and 37. That's a helluva hand to be dealt in Year 1 of a rebuild. And it's not like the Giants don't have talent on defense with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The team's recent doldrums seemed to be more on the coaching side, which Harbaugh was brought in to fix.

New York also avoids any more offseason drama over Lawrence's contract and dodge a potential monster extension that would eat up the salary cap.

This draft isn't stocked with potential superstars, but there is high quality available. And the Giants just gave themselves a better shot at landing multiple elite players with the Bengals' unprecedented surrender of draft capital.

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April 22, 2026

Who won the Giants-Bengals trade of Dexter Lawrence? Here are the grades

Latest NFL mock draft| Big Boards:Consensus Top 75•Nate Tice•Charles McDonald Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veachexpec...

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Man pleads guilty to religiously aggravated rape and assault of Sikh woman in Walsall

A sex attacker who subjected a stranger to racist and anti-Muslim abuse as he raped her at her home has changed his pleas to guilty after being verbally abused in the dock.

John Ashby admitted charges of rape, robbery, intentional strangulation and religiously aggravated assault on Tuesday at Birmingham Crown Court.

The 32-year-old, of no fixed abode, asked to see his barrister and changed his pleas around an hour after being sworn at and told to “sort your s**t out” by a member of public who approached the dock.

The outburst, which the judge described as an “ugly incident”, happened after Ashby started mumbling during the Crown’s evidence.

His victim, a Sikh woman who was hit with a stick, had been due to enter the witness box to give evidence against Ashby later on Tuesday.

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Opening the case for the Crown on Monday, prosecution KC Phil Bradley said Ashby “targeted” the woman when he spotted her on a bus and followed her to her home in Walsall on foot last October.

Adjourning the case for sentence on Friday, Mr Justice Pepperall warned Ashby that he was considering the imposition of a life sentence.

Extracts from “harrowing” body-worn police footage showing the young woman, who was in court to see Ashby change his pleas, had been played to a jury of six men and six women, during which she was comforted by a female officer and said her attacker had called her a “bloody Muslim b***h”.

The woman told police she had been raped in a bathroom by the intruder, who claimed to be a “British master”.

In a video interview played to the trial, the complainant told police: “He had a stick in his hand. I said ‘who are you’ and I started screaming.

“He switched off the light. He said ‘I just want fun with you’. He said ‘you are a f****** Muslim bitch’, I said ‘I am not a Muslim, I am a Sikh’.”

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April 22, 2026

Man pleads guilty to religiously aggravated rape and assault of Sikh woman in Walsall

A sex attacker who subjected a stranger to racist and anti-Muslim abuse as he raped her at her home has changed his pleas to guilty aft...

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Guardians' Austin Hedges proposes to girlfriend on field after win

Austin Hedgeshad the best Sunday.

Hedges scored the first run in theCleveland Guardians'8-4win over theBaltimore Orioles, then saved his best score for the postgame, when he proposed to his girlfriend, Lexi Dickinson, on the field.

With a few friends and teammates present, a "Lexi, will you marry me?" message was displayedon the scoreboardat Cleveland's Progressive Field.

"Really hoping to win that game,"Hedges said. "I was going to do it regardless, but I really wanted to win that game to make it extra special."

Hedges, 33-year-old, 12-year major-league veteran catcher, admitted to being nervous the entire day.

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"Lots of nerves, lots of nerves," Hedges said. "A lot of nerves about – I'm always nervous for baseball games. I mean, obviously that's a good team over there and we want to win the series. And just trying to stay present, knowing that there was some activities after. But special day, special day to be able to soak it all in."

Hedges said that he's had the engagement ring since spring training and was looking for the right moment to propose to Dickinson, who he has had been dating since November 2024. After the successful proposal, Hedges' teammates joined in an on-field celebration.

Hedges has played six of his 12 big-league seasons in Cleveland, and also spent time with theSan Diego Padres,Pittsburgh PiratesandTexas Rangers, with whom he was a member of the team's 2023 World Series winners.

USA TODAY's eNewspaper is here- your source for timely, relevant stories, updated continuously.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Austin Hedges gets engaged after Guardians' win over Orioles

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April 22, 2026

Guardians' Austin Hedges proposes to girlfriend on field after win

Austin Hedgeshad the best Sunday. Hedges scored the first run in theCleveland Guardians'8-4win over theBaltimore Orioles, then...

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Learner driver charged after fatal crash outside Australian Comic-Con event

A learner driver has been charged after a car struck pedestrians outside an Australian comic con event, killing one man and seriously injuring another.

Police allege aToyotasedan mounted the kerb nearMelbourne’s Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event in Ascot Vale shortly before 5pm on Saturday and hit two men as three male pedestrians were leaving the convention.

A 20-year-old man died, while another man of the same age was seriously injured and hospitalised. A third young man who was with them avoided the vehicle and was not hurt.

The accused, Awer Dau, 33, was named in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday evening after being charged with dangerous driving causing death and culpable driving causing death, news.com.au reported.

He appeared by video link from Melbourne West Police Station. He was not required to speak and sat hunched over with his arms on his knees. His lawyer said there would be no application for bail.

Magistrate Jarrod Williams remanded Mr Dau in custody until 15 September.

Police said the man was unlicensed and held only a learner permit.

A prosecutor was granted 16 weeks to prepare the case, saying substantial inquiries remain outstanding. Those include a toxicology report, forensic examination of the vehicle, mechanical reconstruction of the crash, and review of CCTV and witness statements.

Victoria Policesaid the car continued east along the footpath after the impact before an off-duty officer and a member of the public intervened and detained the driver.

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“The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and the ⁠investigation remains ongoing,” police said on Saturday.

Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the vehicle’s path was highly unusual.

“It’s extremely unusual that the car has travelled across an entire lane before getting up onto the footpath,” he said.

“The footpath is not in the same direction as he was travelling … so to get across the lane, up onto the footpath and then travel 120 metres along the footpath in between a 2-metre-high fence, trees and power poles, is extremely rare.”

A witness toldThe Agehe restrained the alleged driver and stopped him leaving before police arrived. He said his wife, a paramedic, treated one of the badly injured men for about 20 minutes until emergency crews took over.

Victoria premier Jacinta Allan called it a “tragic incident that should never have happened”.

“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the individual who has been tragically killed … it would have been an incredibly distressing incident,” she told the reporters.

At the convention on Sunday, organisers held a minute’s silence.

“We here at Supanova Comic Con & Gaming are deeply saddened and distressed by the incident that occurred outside the Melbourne Showgrounds,” organisers said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the unspeakable tragedy that has happened on our doorstep.”

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April 21, 2026

Learner driver charged after fatal crash outside Australian Comic-Con event

A learner driver has been charged after a car struck pedestrians outside an Australian comic con event, killing one man and seriously i...

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