Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal proved to be too much to handle Monday as the Washington Wizards stayed alive in the NBA playoffs by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 122-114 in game four at Washington.

Wales will go into Euro 2020 without their beleaguered boss Ryan Giggs, putting the spotlight on Gareth Bale's bid to silence critics who say he has lost his appetite for success.

From the dark days of Italy's 2018 World Cup qualifying fiasco to the eve of the European championships, Roberto Mancini has transformed the fortunes of fallen footballing giants Italy.

The pan-European format has been derided, the tournament postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, host cities have been dropped and matches moved, but Euro 2020 finally gets underway next week when Italy face Turkey in Rome on Friday, June 11.

South America's largest football tournament, the Copa America, was shifted Monday from Argentina, battling a coronavirus surge, to even harder-hit Brazil, bracing for a third pandemic wave.

Naomi Osaka announced she was withdrawing from the French Open on Monday after she was threatened with disqualification for boycotting media duties, while on court, Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek all reached the second round.

Sergio Aguero said Monday that he was hoping to have the "pleasure" of playing alongside Lionel Messi after signing a two-year deal with Barcelona.

In the ceremony, Desra joined Tranmere Rovers chairman Mark Palios, vice chair Nicola Palios and Mark Pennifold, the chief people officer of Essar, the primary sponsor of the soccer club.

The Belgium international had to go off on the hour mark with a concussion injury in City's 1-0 defeat at Porto's Estadio Do Dragao after an accidental clash with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger left him on the ground.

The 54-year-old Abramovich, who took over Chelsea in 2003 and has since overseen five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns, has employed 15 different managers in the intervening 18 years and is not known for his patience.

Giannis Antetokounmpo managed his first NBA playoff triple double Saturday and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated Miami 120-103 to sweep the Heat out of the post-season in the opening round.

Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time as a Kai Havertz goal secured a tense 1-0 victory over Manchester City in Saturday's final in Porto, shattering Pep Guardiola's dream of lifting the trophy for the third time.

A first ever title in Europe's premier club competition would complete City's rise from Manchester's "second club" to England's top team and experts believe that could be the missing element in creating a truly global brand.

Jayson Tatum busted out of a mini-slump, exploding for 50 points Friday as the Boston Celtics clawed their way back into their Eastern Conference first-round series with a 125-119 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea are in Porto as tension builds towards Saturday's all-English Champions League final showdown in the Portuguese city which was named as a last-minute host for the match.

Neymar said Friday Nike's claim that it parted ways with him last year because he refused to cooperate with its internal investigation into an employee's accusation he sexually assaulted her was an "absurd lie."

Kevin De Bruyne believes Manchester City's season will be judged on the outcome of Saturday's Champions League final against Chelsea despite already winning the Premier League and the League Cup.

Wales manager and former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs will face trial next year accused of deliberately headbutting his ex-girlfriend and controlling her throughout their relationship.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Friday he is "moderately optimistic" Lionel Messi will stay but would not guarantee the future of Ronald Koeman, with further talks planned between club and coach next week.

Massimiliano Allegri has returned to Juventus after the Turin giants sacked coach Andrea Pirlo following a single season in charge, the deposed Italian champions announced on Friday.

Anthony Davis scored 34 points and 11 rebounds and LeBron James delivered 21 points and nine assists as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the short-handed Phoenix Suns 109-95 in a heated Western Conference playoff game Thursday.

Women's world number two Osaka stunned the tennis world when she announced she would not do any press conferences at the Grand Slam to protect her mental health, prompting criticism from French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton.

Three NBA teams said Thursday they had banned fans from their arenas for inappropriate behavior -- including a Philadelphia 76ers fan who dumped popcorn on Washington star Russell Westbrook.

Nike said Thursday it parted ways with Neymar last year after the superstar Brazil attacker "refused to cooperate in a good faith investigation" as the company probed an employee's claim that he sexually assaulted her.

Marcus Rashford says he was racially abused on social media following Manchester United's defeat in the Europa League final.

Argentina was waiting on Thursday to hear back from South American football's governing body to see if CONMEBOL will be able to follow strict coronavirus health protocols during the Copa America.

Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis has been fined $50,000 for breaching NBA Covid-19 protocols, the league said Tuesday.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, the three most successful men in Grand Slam tennis history, were on Thursday all drawn in the same half of the French Open.

French international goalkeeper Mike Maignan has signed a five-year contract with AC Milan, the Serie A club announced on Thursday.  

"I'm writing this to say I'm not going to do any press during Roland Garros," the Japanese player wrote on Twitter.