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Deadspin | Preds stay within point of Kings with tight win over Wild Apr 11, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; The Nashville Predators celebrate a goal by Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) during the first period of their game against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist for the Nashville Predators in a 2-1 win against the visiting Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon. Matthew Wood also scored and Justus Annunen made 21 saves for Nashville (38-32-10, 86 points), which stayed within a point of the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Predators have two games left and the Kings have three. Michael McCarron scored and Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves for Minnesota (45-23-12, 102 points), which will open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Dallas Stars. The Predators took a 1-0 lead at 15:01 of the first. Stamkos pulled the puck out of a corner in the Minnesota zone, then passed it from below the goal line to Luke Evangelista. He passed it back to Stamkos, who scored on a wraparound for his 40th goal of the season. It’s the eighth time Stamkos has reached the 40-goal mark in his 18 NHL seasons. Nashville stretched the lead to 2-0 at 6:34 of the second. Wallstedt saved a shot from the right face-off circle by Nick Perbix and the rebound fell at the feet of Stamkos, who made a short backhand feed to Wood that set him up for a score from the inside edge of the right circle. McCarron scored on a rebound off Jonas Brodin’s shot to cut it to 2-1 at 6:54 of the third period. With the Wild nearly locked into their playoff spot, they rested forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Jared Spurgeon. Nashville captain Roman Josi returned to the Preds’ blue line after he was a late scratch in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth because of an upper-body injury. Annunen was coming off a 5-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, the first shutout of the season for Nashville. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Preds #stay #point #Kings #tight #win #Wild

Deadspin | Preds stay within point of Kings with tight win over Wild
Deadspin | Preds stay within point of Kings with tight win over Wild Apr 11, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; The Nashville Predators celebrate a goal by Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) during the first period of their game against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist for the Nashville Predators in a 2-1 win against the visiting Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon. Matthew Wood also scored and Justus Annunen made 21 saves for Nashville (38-32-10, 86 points), which stayed within a point of the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Predators have two games left and the Kings have three. Michael McCarron scored and Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves for Minnesota (45-23-12, 102 points), which will open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Dallas Stars. The Predators took a 1-0 lead at 15:01 of the first. Stamkos pulled the puck out of a corner in the Minnesota zone, then passed it from below the goal line to Luke Evangelista. He passed it back to Stamkos, who scored on a wraparound for his 40th goal of the season. It’s the eighth time Stamkos has reached the 40-goal mark in his 18 NHL seasons. Nashville stretched the lead to 2-0 at 6:34 of the second. Wallstedt saved a shot from the right face-off circle by Nick Perbix and the rebound fell at the feet of Stamkos, who made a short backhand feed to Wood that set him up for a score from the inside edge of the right circle. McCarron scored on a rebound off Jonas Brodin’s shot to cut it to 2-1 at 6:54 of the third period. With the Wild nearly locked into their playoff spot, they rested forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Jared Spurgeon. Nashville captain Roman Josi returned to the Preds’ blue line after he was a late scratch in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth because of an upper-body injury. Annunen was coming off a 5-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, the first shutout of the season for Nashville. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Preds #stay #point #Kings #tight #win #WildApr 11, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; The Nashville Predators celebrate a goal by Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) during the first period of their game against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images

Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist for the Nashville Predators in a 2-1 win against the visiting Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon.

Matthew Wood also scored and Justus Annunen made 21 saves for Nashville (38-32-10, 86 points), which stayed within a point of the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Predators have two games left and the Kings have three.

Michael McCarron scored and Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves for Minnesota (45-23-12, 102 points), which will open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Dallas Stars.

The Predators took a 1-0 lead at 15:01 of the first.

Stamkos pulled the puck out of a corner in the Minnesota zone, then passed it from below the goal line to Luke Evangelista. He passed it back to Stamkos, who scored on a wraparound for his 40th goal of the season.


It’s the eighth time Stamkos has reached the 40-goal mark in his 18 NHL seasons.

Nashville stretched the lead to 2-0 at 6:34 of the second.

Wallstedt saved a shot from the right face-off circle by Nick Perbix and the rebound fell at the feet of Stamkos, who made a short backhand feed to Wood that set him up for a score from the inside edge of the right circle.

McCarron scored on a rebound off Jonas Brodin’s shot to cut it to 2-1 at 6:54 of the third period.

With the Wild nearly locked into their playoff spot, they rested forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Jared Spurgeon.

Nashville captain Roman Josi returned to the Preds’ blue line after he was a late scratch in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth because of an upper-body injury.

Annunen was coming off a 5-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, the first shutout of the season for Nashville.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Preds #stay #point #Kings #tight #win #Wild

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Apr 11, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; The Nashville Predators celebrate a goal by Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) during the first period of their game against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images

Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist for the Nashville Predators in a 2-1 win against the visiting Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon.

Matthew Wood also scored and Justus Annunen made 21 saves for Nashville (38-32-10, 86 points), which stayed within a point of the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Predators have two games left and the Kings have three.

Michael McCarron scored and Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves for Minnesota (45-23-12, 102 points), which will open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Dallas Stars.

The Predators took a 1-0 lead at 15:01 of the first.

Stamkos pulled the puck out of a corner in the Minnesota zone, then passed it from below the goal line to Luke Evangelista. He passed it back to Stamkos, who scored on a wraparound for his 40th goal of the season.

It’s the eighth time Stamkos has reached the 40-goal mark in his 18 NHL seasons.

Nashville stretched the lead to 2-0 at 6:34 of the second.

Wallstedt saved a shot from the right face-off circle by Nick Perbix and the rebound fell at the feet of Stamkos, who made a short backhand feed to Wood that set him up for a score from the inside edge of the right circle.

McCarron scored on a rebound off Jonas Brodin’s shot to cut it to 2-1 at 6:54 of the third period.

With the Wild nearly locked into their playoff spot, they rested forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Jared Spurgeon.

Nashville captain Roman Josi returned to the Preds’ blue line after he was a late scratch in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth because of an upper-body injury.

Annunen was coming off a 5-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, the first shutout of the season for Nashville.

–Field Level Media

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Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty loses to Shi Yuqi in final, settles for silver <div id="content-body-70853793" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Ayush Shetty was denied a fairytale ending by China’s Shi Yuqi at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 as the Indian lost 8-21, 10-21 in 42 minutes to the home favourite in the final in Ningbo on Sunday, thus finishing with a silver medal.</p><p>World No. 2 Yuqi dominated the majority of the match, stretching his head-to-head advantage over the 20-year-old Indian to 3-0. The Chinese shuttler also bagged his maiden gold at the continental event, having previously won three bronze medals.</p><p>Barring the loss in the summit clash, it was a memorable week for World No. 25 Ayush who became the seventh Indian to win a men’s singles medal at the event after Dinesh Khanna (gold in 1965 and bronze in 1969), Suresh Goel (bronze in 1965), Prakash Padukone (bronze in 1976), Pullela Gopichand (bronze in 2000), Anup Sridhar (bronze in 2007) and H. S. Prannoy (bronze in 2018).</p><p>Ayush, the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships bronze medallist, had reached the final by stunning defending champion and World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 in the semifinals.</p><p>Earlier, Ayush, the reigning U.S. Open Champion, had taken down World No. 4 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the quarterfinals, World No. 20 Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in the round of 16, and World No. 7 Li Shi Feng of China in the first round.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 12, 2026</p></div> #Badminton #Asia #Championships #Ayush #Shetty #loses #Shi #Yuqi #final #settles #silver

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Sawan Barwal breaks oldest National Record, betters Shivnath Singh’s 48-year-old mark by two seconds in his debut marathon <div id="content-body-70853851" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Growing up in the village of Radabhanker, situated in the rolling hills of Himachal’s Mandi district, Sawan Barwal didn’t have very lofty ambitions when he started running. It’s not rare to find scores of runners pounding the mountain trails early in the morning in this part of the country. It’s something most young men do in this region in preparation for Army recruitment.</p><p>Sawan though wasn’t even thinking of that. “A lot of children from my area run because they want to prepare for Army <i>bharti</i> (recruitment). But when I started running in school, it was just because I enjoyed running. At first, I was just happy to run. Then slowly, as I improved, my goals got bigger. I wanted to win a school medal, then a district medal, then state medal and national medal, then become an international athlete. Every time I won a medal, I kept thinking what I could accomplish next,” Sawan tells <i>Sportstar</i>.</p><p>On Sunday morning in Rotterdam, the 28-year-old got his biggest accomplishment yet. Competing in the Rotterdam marathon, Sawan crossed the finish line in a time of 2:11:58. In doing so, he had broken the longest standing record in Indian track and field — Shivnath Singh’s men’s marathon record of 2:12:00 set in 1978.</p><p>Sawan’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering he was making his marathon debut, having only switched to the event five months ago. It’s easily the highest mark in the career of Sawan, whose previous biggest claim to fame was a bronze medal in the Asian half marathon championships in 2023.</p><p><b>READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/athletics/lokesh-sathyanathan-story-career-ncaa-long-jump-title-journey-coach-bengaluru/article70802992.ece" target="_blank">The Lokesh Sathyanathan story: How the long jumper from Bengaluru leapt into history with his maiden NCAA title</a></b></p><p>While it’s a mark that’s eluded many generations of Indian long-distance runners, Sawan had been confident about setting a new national record in his first race. “Before coming to Rotterdam, I had done some research. I knew the course is very flat. I knew I had a good chance to get the record,” he says.</p><p>Growing up though, Sawan wouldn’t have thought he was going to be the one to script history. “I first started running seriously when I was in class 8th in school. I was introduced by my coach. I wasn’t thinking so much of the future. I ran because it focuses your mind and gives you a goal to chase,” he says.</p><p>It soon became obvious that Sawan had talent. He started as an 800m runner and soon progressed from the school to the state and eventually, the national level. In 2015, he finished fourth in the men’s 3,000m at the U-18 national championships. Although he hadn’t medalled, he continued running.</p><p>Although it hadn’t been the reason he started running in the first case, Sawan was eventually recruited by the Army the following year – he’s currently a <i>havaldar</i> with the Engineering Corps. The shift didn’t immediately transform his fortunes. He’d have to wait another five years to win his first medal – a silver in the 10,000m at the National Open Athletics Championships in 2022.</p><p>The following year, he won his first international medal – bronze at the Asian half marathon championships.</p><p>While it was clear he had potential to compete at the longest distance in Olympic track and field, Sawan held off the decision. “The first time I thought about running in the marathon was in 2023. But because we had the Asian Games that year and because I had already done well in the 5,000m, I thought I should stick to that distance,” he says.</p><p>Sawan continued to do well in the 5,000m and 10,000m, winning gold in the latter with a personal best time at last year’s National Games and then, later at the Federation Cup. But coaches continued to nudge him towards the marathon. “Last year, Scott Simmons (who had previously coached Commonwealth Games medallist Avinash Sable) suggested I try the marathon as well. I thought it might be a good chance to qualify for the Asian Games so I decided to make the move,” he says.</p><p>The shift didn’t go smoothly at first. Two months into marathon preparation, Sawan fell in the middle of a run. “I was supposed to make my marathon debut last year but because of the fall, I had to give up that plan,” he says.</p><p>This season though, the plan was to take on the Rotterdam marathon. The goal heading in was to break the national record. Sevaral senior runners said that plan was too ambitious but Sawan says he was always confident. “Because the record has stood for so long, a lot of runners think we can’t even train to run that fast. A lot of old runners told me this. But I didn’t think this time was that hard,” he says.</p><p>Indeed, in recent years, a number of runners have come close to the record. Sawan’s army teammate Gopi Thonackal ran a time of 2:12:12 at the Valencia marathon last year while Kartik Karkera ran 2:13:10 at the New Delhi marathon earlier this year. While those two had come close, at Rotterdam, Sawan would shatter the mark.</p><p>Even with the record, it’s unlikely Sawan would be satisfied. Before the race, Sawan had told <i>Sportstar</i> what his goals were. “I don’t think it’s enough to break the record. I would like to be able to run a sub 2:09:00 race. I also want to win a medal at the Asian Games,” he said.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 12, 2026</p></div> #Sawan #Barwal #breaks #oldest #National #Record #betters #Shivnath #Singhs #48yearold #mark #seconds #debut #marathon

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Deadspin | Brewers’ Kyle Harrison dominates as Cubs shut out for fifth straight loss May 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Kyle Harrison allowed two hits over seven shutout innings to help the visiting Milwaukee Brewers finish off the three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 5-0 win on Wednesday evening. Harrison (5-1) struck out 11 and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.77. David Hamilton singled twice, tripled, scored two runs and drove in another in the No. 9 spot, and William Contreras also had three hits and scored a run for Milwaukee, which has won three in a row and six of seven. Left-hander DL Hall pitched two innings of no-hit ball to complete the shutout. Edward Cabrera (3-2) started for the Cubs and allowed four runs and four hits in three innings before getting lifted one pitch into the fourth inning because of a blister on his right middle finger. The right-hander struck out two and walked two. The Cubs have lost a season-high five in a row and nine of eleven after getting off to a 27-12 start. The Brewers successfully challenged for catcher’s interference on Carson Kelly with one out in the second, putting Sal Frelick on base. Joey Ortiz then walked, bringing up Hamilton, who hit a hard single up the middle that Pete Crow-Armstrong charged, but the ball rolled under his glove and continued to the warning track, allowing all three runners to score for a 3-0 lead. Contreras walked to lead off the third inning. He stole second, continued to third on a throwing error by Kelly and scored on Jake Bauers’ two-out single through the right side to make it 4-0. With one out in the seventh, Hamilton tripled into the right field corner on a ball that went off the chest of right fielder Seiya Suzuki. Hamilton then scored on a wild pitch by Phil Maton to make it 5-0. Harrison allowed a leadoff double into the left field corner by Nico Hoerner in the first. Hoerner tried to advance to third on deep fly to left-center and he was initially ruled safe, but Milwaukee challenged and the replay showed center fielder Garrett Mitchell’s throw was in time. Harrison also walked Suzuki to start the second, but the 24-year-old left-hander retired the next 15 batters in a row before Alex Bregman singled to lead off the seventh. He was left stranded at first base. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Brewers #Kyle #Harrison #dominates #Cubs #shut #straight #lossMay 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Kyle Harrison allowed two hits over seven shutout innings to help the visiting Milwaukee Brewers finish off the three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 5-0 win on Wednesday evening.

Harrison (5-1) struck out 11 and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.77.

David Hamilton singled twice, tripled, scored two runs and drove in another in the No. 9 spot, and William Contreras also had three hits and scored a run for Milwaukee, which has won three in a row and six of seven. Left-hander DL Hall pitched two innings of no-hit ball to complete the shutout.

Edward Cabrera (3-2) started for the Cubs and allowed four runs and four hits in three innings before getting lifted one pitch into the fourth inning because of a blister on his right middle finger. The right-hander struck out two and walked two.

The Cubs have lost a season-high five in a row and nine of eleven after getting off to a 27-12 start.


The Brewers successfully challenged for catcher’s interference on Carson Kelly with one out in the second, putting Sal Frelick on base. Joey Ortiz then walked, bringing up Hamilton, who hit a hard single up the middle that Pete Crow-Armstrong charged, but the ball rolled under his glove and continued to the warning track, allowing all three runners to score for a 3-0 lead.

Contreras walked to lead off the third inning. He stole second, continued to third on a throwing error by Kelly and scored on Jake Bauers’ two-out single through the right side to make it 4-0.

With one out in the seventh, Hamilton tripled into the right field corner on a ball that went off the chest of right fielder Seiya Suzuki. Hamilton then scored on a wild pitch by Phil Maton to make it 5-0.

Harrison allowed a leadoff double into the left field corner by Nico Hoerner in the first. Hoerner tried to advance to third on deep fly to left-center and he was initially ruled safe, but Milwaukee challenged and the replay showed center fielder Garrett Mitchell’s throw was in time.

Harrison also walked Suzuki to start the second, but the 24-year-old left-hander retired the next 15 batters in a row before Alex Bregman singled to lead off the seventh. He was left stranded at first base.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Brewers #Kyle #Harrison #dominates #Cubs #shut #straight #loss">Deadspin | Brewers’ Kyle Harrison dominates as Cubs shut out for fifth straight loss May 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Kyle Harrison allowed two hits over seven shutout innings to help the visiting Milwaukee Brewers finish off the three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 5-0 win on Wednesday evening. Harrison (5-1) struck out 11 and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.77. David Hamilton singled twice, tripled, scored two runs and drove in another in the No. 9 spot, and William Contreras also had three hits and scored a run for Milwaukee, which has won three in a row and six of seven. Left-hander DL Hall pitched two innings of no-hit ball to complete the shutout. Edward Cabrera (3-2) started for the Cubs and allowed four runs and four hits in three innings before getting lifted one pitch into the fourth inning because of a blister on his right middle finger. The right-hander struck out two and walked two. The Cubs have lost a season-high five in a row and nine of eleven after getting off to a 27-12 start. The Brewers successfully challenged for catcher’s interference on Carson Kelly with one out in the second, putting Sal Frelick on base. Joey Ortiz then walked, bringing up Hamilton, who hit a hard single up the middle that Pete Crow-Armstrong charged, but the ball rolled under his glove and continued to the warning track, allowing all three runners to score for a 3-0 lead. Contreras walked to lead off the third inning. He stole second, continued to third on a throwing error by Kelly and scored on Jake Bauers’ two-out single through the right side to make it 4-0. With one out in the seventh, Hamilton tripled into the right field corner on a ball that went off the chest of right fielder Seiya Suzuki. Hamilton then scored on a wild pitch by Phil Maton to make it 5-0. Harrison allowed a leadoff double into the left field corner by Nico Hoerner in the first. Hoerner tried to advance to third on deep fly to left-center and he was initially ruled safe, but Milwaukee challenged and the replay showed center fielder Garrett Mitchell’s throw was in time. Harrison also walked Suzuki to start the second, but the 24-year-old left-hander retired the next 15 batters in a row before Alex Bregman singled to lead off the seventh. He was left stranded at first base. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Brewers #Kyle #Harrison #dominates #Cubs #shut #straight #loss

Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.

If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

#Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren">Why Victor Wembanyama hates Chet Holmgren so much Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it allWant to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBAHolmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this seasonThe Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theaterThe Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.This tweet summed it up perfectly:This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better. #Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren

hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

#Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren">Why Victor Wembanyama hates Chet Holmgren so much

Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.

If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

#Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren

The French Open main draw ceremony for singles will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 2 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST) in Paris.

This year’s French Open is set to begin from May 24 and concludes on June 7 at Roland Garros.

Where can you watch French Open 2026 draw ceremony?

French Open 2026 draw ceremony will be live streamed on the tournament’s official YouTube channel..

Where to watch French Open 2026 in India?

French Open 2026 will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and live streamed on Sony Liv (app and website) and FanCode (app and website) from May 24 to June 7

Round-wise details of the ranking points on offer

Men’s Singles

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,300 points

Semifinals: 800 points

Quarterfinals: 400 points

Fourth Round: 200 points

Third Round: 100 points

Second Round: 50 points

First Round: 10 points

Women’s Singles

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,300 points

Semifinals: 780 points

Quarterfinals: 430 points

Fourth Round: 240 points

Third Round: 130 points

Second Round: 70 points

First Round: 10 points

Men’s Doubles (per team)

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,200 points

Semifinals: 720 points

Quarterfinals: 360 points

Third Round: 180 points

Second Round: 90 points

First Round: 0 points

Women’s Doubles (per team)

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,300 points

Semifinals: 780 points

Quarterfinals: 430 points

Third Round: 240 points

Second Round: 130 points

First Round: 10 points

What is the total prize money for French Open 2026?

Prize money at this year’s French ​Open has jumped by 9.5 per cent, taking ‌the total purse to 61.7 million ​euros (USD 72.69 million).

Men’s and women’s champion each will receive 2.8 million euros.

Who are the defending champions?

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men’s singles champion. However, he has withdrawn from this year’s tournament due to a wrist injury.

In women’s singles, USA’s Coco Gauff is the reigning champion.

In men’s doubles, Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos won the title while in women’s doubles, the all-Italian duo of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani were the winners last year.

Errani also clinched the mixed doubles title with compatriot Andrea Vavassori.

Alfie Hewett of Great Britain and Yui Kamiji of Japan were the winners in men’s and women’s wheelchair singles.

Israel’s Guy Sasson won the wheelchair quad singles.

Wheelchair men’s doubles title was clinched by the all-British duo of Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid while in the women’s category, Japan’s Yui Kamiji and South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane lifted the winner’s trophy.

Sasson and Dutchman Niels Vink emerged victorious in wheelchair quad doubles.

Published on May 21, 2026

#French #Open #draw #ceremony">When is French Open 2026 draw ceremony? The French Open main draw ceremony for singles will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 2 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST) in Paris.This year’s French Open is set to begin from May 24 and concludes on June 7 at Roland Garros.Where can you watch French Open 2026 draw ceremony?French Open 2026 draw ceremony will be live streamed on the tournament’s official YouTube channel.. Where to watch French Open 2026 in India? French Open 2026 will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and live streamed on Sony Liv (app and website) and FanCode (app and website) from May 24 to June 7 Round-wise details of the ranking points on offerMen’s SinglesWinner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,300 pointsSemifinals: 800 pointsQuarterfinals: 400 pointsFourth Round: 200 pointsThird Round: 100 pointsSecond Round: 50 pointsFirst Round: 10 pointsWomen’s SinglesWinner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,300 pointsSemifinals: 780 pointsQuarterfinals: 430 pointsFourth Round: 240 pointsThird Round: 130 pointsSecond Round: 70 pointsFirst Round: 10 pointsMen’s Doubles (per team)Winner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,200 pointsSemifinals: 720 pointsQuarterfinals: 360 pointsThird Round: 180 pointsSecond Round: 90 pointsFirst Round: 0 pointsWomen’s Doubles (per team)Winner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,300 pointsSemifinals: 780 pointsQuarterfinals: 430 pointsThird Round: 240 pointsSecond Round: 130 pointsFirst Round: 10 pointsWhat is the total prize money for French Open 2026?Prize money at this year’s French ​Open has jumped by 9.5 per cent, taking ‌the total purse to 61.7 million ​euros (USD 72.69 million).Men’s and women’s champion each will receive 2.8 million euros.Who are the defending champions?Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men’s singles champion. However, he has withdrawn from this year’s tournament due to a wrist injury.In women’s singles, USA’s Coco Gauff is the reigning champion.In men’s doubles, Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos won the title while in women’s doubles, the all-Italian duo of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani were the winners last year.Errani also clinched the mixed doubles title with compatriot Andrea Vavassori.Alfie Hewett of Great Britain and Yui Kamiji of Japan were the winners in men’s and women’s wheelchair singles.Israel’s Guy Sasson won the wheelchair quad singles.Wheelchair men’s doubles title was clinched by the all-British duo of Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid while in the women’s category, Japan’s Yui Kamiji and South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane lifted the winner’s trophy.Sasson and Dutchman Niels Vink emerged victorious in wheelchair quad doubles.Published on May 21, 2026 #French #Open #draw #ceremony

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