Sports

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN Expectations were low for the Philadelphia 76ers without MVP candidate Joel Embiid but, led by James Harden, the Sixers secured a huge 119-115 win against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal clash. There have always been question marks surrounding Harden’s performances in the playoffs. Critics

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN The Akron General Medical Center, Ohio — the birthplace of the modern NBA‘s greatest matchup and where our story starts. On December 30, 1984, LeBron James was born in that very hospital and, in a script that only the basketball gods could have written, just four years later so was Stephen

By Matt Foster, CNN After retiring from professional football in the NFL earlier this year, JJ Watt is turning his hand to soccer as he and his wife Kealia announced their investment in English club Burnley FC on Monday. In a statement released by the club, JJ Watt said: “When you invest in a club

By George Ramsay, CNN Two stoppage-time goals, including a dramatic winner from substitute Diogo Jota, saw Liverpool’s 4-3 victory against Tottenham Hotspur come to a frenetic conclusion — so much so that manager Jürgen Klopp injured himself while celebrating. Richarlison’s late header, which followed goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, appeared to have secured

By Ben Morse, CNN There have been plenty of games in which Steph Curry’s basketball greatness has been evident. Sunday was another one. Curry scored a playoff career-high 50 points in Golden State’s 120-100 Game 7 victory against the Sacramento Kings, securing a 4-3 best-of-seven NBA playoff series win for the Warriors. He set the

By Issy Ronald and Jacob Lev, CNN “Mr. Irrelevant” — the playful name given to the final player selected each year in the NFL Draft — suddenly became relevant last year when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy went 5-0 in the regular season and led his team to the NFC Championship game. So there

By Jacob Lev, CNN The President’s Trophy curse will continue for at least another year as the Boston Bruins fell to the Florida Panthers 4-3 Sunday in an electric Game 7 of the first round of the NHL playoffs. The Panthers got out to a quick start, going up 2-0. The high-powered Bruins came storming

By Aimee Lewis, CNN The final day of the World Chess Championship was always going to be a nervy affair, but few could have predicted just how tense the battle would be. After the classical section of the tournament ended 7-7 after 14 games, the championship between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren went to tiebreaks.

By Issy Ronald, CNN Sergio Perez took a clinical victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, completing a perfect weekend in which he also won the sprint race while his teammate Max Verstappen finished in second. Red Bull’s dominance already this season has been so comprehensive that it seems any fight for the world championship will

By Aimee Lewis, CNN It has been quite the weekend for Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. On Saturday she celebrated her 16th birthday and also continued her remarkable progress at the Madrid Open. Andreeva, ranked world No. 194 and a wildcard for the tournament, beat world No. 19 Magda Linette 6-3 6-3 on the clay in

By Jacob Lev and Aimee Lewis, CNN When the Toronto Maple Leafs last won a playoff series, George W. Bush was the US President, Lance Armstrong was winning Tour de France titles and The Facebook had just been launched. A lot has happened since 2004, and it has been quite the wait for the Maple

By Issy Ronald, CNN Back in 2007, in the months before Lamine Yamal was born, the first iPhone was released and Lionel Messi was already announcing himself as one of the greatest footballing talents ever. Fast forward to 2023 and smartphones have taken over the world, Messi has won the World Cup and it was

By Issy Ronald, CNN Sergio Perez won the first sprint race of the season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, overtaking pole-sitter Charles Leclerc almost halfway through the 17-lap race, and continuing Red Bull’s dominance in every aspect of the sport this year. Behind them, Perez’s teammate Max Verstappen came to blows with Mercedes’ George Russell

By Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN The Vesuvius national park authority in Naples, Italy, has announced it will be closing access to the live volcano on Saturday, ahead of Napoli’s potential title-winning game on Sunday. Should Lazio drop points against Inter Milan in an earlier kickoff on Sunday, the Italian side could win its first Italian