Latest - The Boston Celtics staged a furious fourth quarter comeback to beat the Golden State Warriors 120-108 in Game One of the NBA Finals on Thursday in San Francisco.
Photo: Mark Halmas/Icon SMI
The Warriors turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 92-80 lead entering the fourth quarter and it looked like the "Dubs" might cruise to the finish before their gold-and-blue clad fans at Chase Center.
But the Celtics roared back in the final 12 minutes, outscoring the Warriors 40-16 to steal home court advantage.
Game Two in the best-of-seven series is on Monday in San Francisco.
-Reuters
Coll into another final
New Zealand squash star Paul Coll has avenged his defeat in the World Championships semifinals, beating Mohamed ElShorbagy to reach the final of the El Gouna International.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Beaten by the Egyptian at the Worlds a fortnight ago, Coll came from two games to one down to clinch a 3-2 victory in El Gouna on Friday (NZ time).
The match ended in unique circumstances when Coll was awarded two penalty strokes after ElShorbagy persistently disagreed with a video referee decision.
After the match, Coll was a little disappointed with the way things finished.
"We were going hard for over 100 minutes again and it's a shame for a match to end like that.
"I don't really know what to say. It's a shame. We're pretty close off court and it's a shame the match ended like this. It was a good battle."
Coll was set to face another Egyptian, world No 4 Mostafa Asal, in the final on Saturday (around 6am NZ).
Black Sticks improve
Australia has beaten the Black Sticks Men 4-0 in the second hockey test of their four game series in Auckland.
After an 8-1 hiding in the first game the Black Sticks showed marked improvement with the score line not necessarily reflecting the competitiveness of the game.
New Zealand goalkeeper Dominic Dixon Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Black Sticks limited the Kookaburras' scoring chances from open play, instead conceding all goals from penalty corners with the Australian's putting their world class flickers to good use.
With the return of Sean Findlay and Dylan Thomas the kiwis were able to hold the ball and pressure their opponents in the midfield which helped to slow the Kookaburras down.
The Black Sticks were also able to create a lot more chances as a result of the improved midfield battle and were unlucky not to score late in the first half, off a penalty corner, and thanks to some great second half keeping from Andrew Charter.
Aidan Sarikaya played his 50th game for New Zealand.
The two sides meet twice more over the weekend.
Average start for Ko
Lydia Ko has made a slow start to the US Open in North Carolina.
The world number three has fired an opening round one-over par 72 to be eight shots off the lead.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ko mixed three birdies with four bogeys to be in a tie for 47th at the Southern Pines Golf Club.
American Mina Harigae sat atop the leaderboard after an impressive seven-under par 64, with Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindbland one shot back.
The other New Zealander in the field, Julianne Alvarez, carded a three-over par opening round to be tied for 86th.
The Wellingtonian turned pro in 2020 and qualifed for the US Open in April.
Mata latest to leave United
Manchester United's Juan Mata. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata will follow Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard through the exit door at Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of the month.
The Spaniard, 34, moved to United from Chelsea in January 2014 and made 285 appearances, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during an eight-year spell.
A skilful playmaker, Mata managed 51 goals and 47 assists for United but failed to consistently replicate the form that made him an indispensable part of Chelsea's attacking set-up.
-Reuters
Neymar continues to score
Brazilian star Neymar. Photo: Photosport
Neymar scored a pair of penalties to move to within four goals of Pele at the top of the country's all-time scoring list as Brazil cruised to a 5-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The Paris St Germain striker netted either side of halftime to move onto 73 goals in 118 appearances for his country and close in on the three-time World Cup winner's record in a comfortable win for Tite's side.
Billed in some quarters as a battle between Neymar and South Korea's Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, it was the Brazilian and his team mates who dominated in an often one-sided contest.
-Reuters
Quartararo staying with Yamaha
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo will remain with Yamaha until the end of 2024, bringing an end to months of speculation over his future.
Quartararo, who currently leads the drivers' championship by eight points, was rumoured to be in talks with other MotoGP manufacturers.
"Yamaha believed in me from the very beginning, and that is something I do not take lightly," Quartararo said.
The 23-year-old, who won six races and bagged 14 podiums with Yahama in the 2021 season and in 2022 so far, became the first Frenchman to win the MotoGP world championship last year.
-Reuters
Referee comes out
Scottish referee Craig Napier has come out as gay, becoming the first openly gay figure in the Scottish game since late Hearts forward Justin Fashanu in the mid-1990s.
The Category One official follows Blackpool's Jake Daniels in coming out after the 17-year-old revealed his sexuality last month.
Napier, 32, said he was inspired by the youngster and felt the need to "change the climate" and remove the stigma and fear that others in a similar position may feel.
Daniels became the first active male British professional football player to come out as gay since former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest forward Fashanu in 1990.
Lower-league referee Lloyd Wilson also came out as gay following Napier's announcement.
-Reuters
South Africas involvement in Europe increases
Five South African teams will be included in next season's European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions as the country's growing rugby links with the northern hemisphere were further strengthened.
The Stormers, Sharks and Bulls, who all finished in the top eight of this season's United Rugby Championship (URC), will play in the Champions Cup, while the Lions and Cheetahs will contest the Challenge Cup.
South African teams already compete in the URC, previously known as the PRO14, against sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales and the new involvement now pits them against English and French opposition too.
There has also been speculation about world champions South Africa becoming part of a competition involving the Six Nations sides, with the Springboks reportedly keen to re-align with northern hemisphere rugby.
-Reuters
