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Thunder overwhelm Timberwolves to reach NBA Finals

WASHINGTON: Oklahoma City, sparked by 34 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 by routing Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 on Wednesday.Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA Most Valuable Player, added eight assists and seven rebounds as the Thunder captured the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series 4-1 and will host game one of the NBA Finals on June 5.“This is a step in the right direction but we have a lot more work to do and we know that and that’s what we’re focused on so let’s buckle up and get ready,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.“We’ve got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal and this is not it. That’s all that I’m focused on.”Oklahoma City will face the Eastern Conference champion, either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, for the NBA title.Gilgeous-Alexander, a 26-year-old Canadian who was named the series MVP, could become the first NBA scoring champion since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win an NBA title in the same season.Chet Holmgren added 22 points and Jalen Williams netted 19 for the Thunder, whose average age of 25.6 years makes them the youngest team in the NBA Finals since Portland in 1977.“We have 17 dudes on the roster who will bring it every single game whether it’s a closeout game or not,” Holmgren said.“It’s a step in the journey.

Defending champion Panthers head back to Stanley Cup Final with 5-3 Game 5 win over Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C.: Carter Verhaeghe broke a tie off a feed from Aleksander Barkov with 7:39 left and the defending champion Florida Panthers advanced to their third straight Stanley Cup Final, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 on Wednesday night in Game 5. The Panthers beat the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three seasons.

A major test: Golfers face new track at 80th US Women’s Open

ERIN,Wisconsin: When it comes to the USGA’s desire to challenge the best players in the world, the US Women’s Open is no different from the men’s version.

Alcaraz into French Open third round as Swiatek and Sabalenka cruise

PARIS: Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a minor blip to reach the French Open third round on Wednesday as women’s title rivals Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka made short work of their opponents. Second seed Alcaraz came through 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 against Hungarian Fabian Marozsan to earn his 17th win in 18 matches on clay this season. “Second set, he started to play better and he didn’t miss a lot so it was a little bit difficult to deal with his game,” said Alcaraz. “I’m really happy I stayed strong and refreshed myself. In the third set, I started to play better and better which helped me have a really good last two sets.” Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner, goes on to face Bosnian journeyman Damir Dzumhur for a place in the last 16. In the women’s draw, Swiatek continued her bid for a fourth straight Roland Garros crown as she outclassed fellow former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. The Pole beat Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 to make it five wins in as many meetings with the Briton.

Chelsea roar back to beat Real Betis in UEFA Conference League final

WROCLAW: Chelsea roared back to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw on Wednesday, becoming the first club to claim all four major European trophies. Manuel Pellegrini’s enterprising Betis caught the favorites cold in Poland through an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli but Enzo Maresca’s team were a changed side in the second half. Two goals in five minutes changed the complexion of the game, with man-of-the-match Cole Palmer creating both openings for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson. Substitute Jadon Sancho made the game safe in the 83rd minute, finishing from an tight angle and Moises Caicedo added gloss to the scoreline. It means Chelsea become the first club to win the full set of Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup. It is also the first silverware for the club since Todd Boehly’s consortium took over from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022, following an era of unprecedented success for the club. After a bright start from both sides, Betis broke the deadlock in the ninth minute through Ezzalzouli, who scored the goal against Fiorentina that took his side to the final. Malo Gusto lost the ball in midfield and Betis surged forward.

Egypt’s Al Ahly earn record-extending 45th league title

CAIRO: Al Ahly clinched a record-extending 45th Egyptian Premier League title with a 6-0 rout of Pharco after Wesam Abou Ali scored four goals in their final game on Wednesday. Abou Ali also provided the assist for the fifth goal, scored by Hussein Elshahat, with Imam Ashour wrapping up the win in added time as Al Ahly earned a third consecutive league crown. The win brings Al Ahly’s tally to 58 points, two ahead of their closest rivals Pyramids. Local media reported that Pyramids have gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport demanding three points to be deducted from the champions for failing to show up for a match against arch-rivals Zamalek. The Egyptian Professional Football Club Association had punished Al Ahly with a three-point deduction for not playing the match in March – after the club’s request for foreign officials was turned down – but backed down after the Cairo-based club complained to the local Olympic Committee.

Italian flag flies high on damp French Open day

PARIS: Italians Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Musetti lit up a damp day at Roland Garros as they both surged into the third round of the French Open with commanding victories, while two-time runner-up Casper Ruud suffered a shock exit on Wednesday.

Ex-Turkiye international Turan appointed Shakhtar boss

ISTANBUL: Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk have announced former Turkiye midfielder Arda Turan as their new head coach, replacing Marino Pusic.

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Thunder overwhelm Timberwolves to reach NBA Finals

Defending champion Panthers head back to Stanley Cup Final with 5-3 Game 5 win over Hurricanes

A major test: Golfers face new track at 80th US Women’s Open

Alcaraz into French Open third round as Swiatek and Sabalenka cruise

Chelsea roar back to beat Real Betis in UEFA Conference League final

Egypt’s Al Ahly earn record-extending 45th league title

Italian flag flies high on damp French Open day

Ex-Turkiye international Turan appointed Shakhtar boss