Sports

While title-winning teams typically spend the last weeks of May collecting their winners' medals, some matches on the calendar are different than others – not only do they come with impressive prize purses, they also ensure direct passageways to some of the game's greatest revenue streams.They are known as some of the richest games in soccer, with winners lifting trophies that carry much more significance than just adding a hard-earned piece of silverware to their club's trophy cabinet. Be it the Championship promotion playoff final, the UEFA Europa League final or the first-of-its-kind FIFA Club World Cup play-in match, the physical accolade the champions will collect in the next several weeks will come with an even greater reward after the fact. Spots in the Premier League, UEFA Champion...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he's "very concerned" that the NBA's increased pace of play combined with its condensed 82-game schedule is leading to an increase in soft tissue injuries.In the past two days, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a groin strain, and the San Antonio Spurs announced that center Victor Wembanyama has a left calf strain and guard Stephon Castle has a hip flexor strain.Five other NBA players are also currently out with calf strains: Anthony Davis, Ty Jerome, Dylan Harper, Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday."[The Warriors' medical staff] believes that the wear and tear, the speed, the pace, the mileage is factoring into these injuries," Kerr said.According to ESPN Research, the league is playing at its fastest average collec...

“We’re returning home,” read a Barcelona statement on Monday afternoon.After 909 days away, Barca will play again at the Camp Nou when they host Athletic Club in La Liga on Saturday.The Catalans have not played at their iconic home ground since they started a €1.5billion (£1.3bn; $1.8bn) refurbishment project more than two years ago.“Saturday’s game will be a historic moment,” club president Joan Laporta told RAC 1 radio station on Tuesday. “It’ll be wonderful to be back”.Barca played all their home games across the city at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Montjuic during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Progress at the Camp Nou was slower and much more complicated than the club and its fans expected.Even now, as the stadium reopens with a limited capacity of 45,000 (under half of the ...

Cade Cunningham remembers his 2021 draft day well, but deep down, he was dreading going to one team in particular.Widely predicted to be the number one overall pick, Cunningham sat down at the Barclays Center, hopeful that what many had predicted for him would come true.The top three destinations were Detroit, Houston and Cleveland, and when asked by Kevin Durant for The Boardroom’s November cover story, which destination did he prefer? Cunningham didn’t hesitate. The response was instantaneous.When it started cutting down, I’m like, it’s the final three,” Cunningham said. “It’s Cleveland, Houston, and Detroit. I’m like, don’t let me go to Cleveland. … I’m not trying to go to Cleveland.”In the end, Cunningham’s wish came true, and he was selected number one overall by the Pistons, with the...

Basketball fans can start winning bonuses on the NBA or college basketball with BetMGM bonus code NOLA150. Set up a new account in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or West Virginia and start with a $10 bet. Anyone who picks a winner will receive $150 in bonuses.New users in other states will be eligible for a $1,500 first bet. Any losses on this initial wager will be offset with five bonus bets that match the original stake. Of course, players who pick a winner on this first bet will receive straight cash winnings. BetMGM Sportsbook will have a variety of ways to bet on Tuesday's NBA and college basketball games. It all starts with these welcome bonuses, but don't forget about the other in-app offers. Let's dive deeper in...

MILWAUKEE — Appearing on the Milwaukee Bucks’ “Courtside with Gale Klappa” podcast, coach Doc Rivers said Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss some time with a left groin strain.“It went pretty well,” Rivers said of Antetokounmpo’s MRI. “I don’t know what grade (the strain) is, but I know it’s not a bad one, so that’s good news for us. But yet, he’s still probably two weeks, he’ll be out. And we’ll see. Hopefully less, but most likely in that area.”Antetokounmpo sustained the injury during Monday night’s 118-106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After playing seven games in 11 days, the Bucks (8-7) do not play again until Thursday when they welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to Fiserv Forum, but they will play seven games in the next two weeks: • Thursday — vs. Philadelphia• Saturda...

The Cleveland Cavaliers won 130-116 over the Miami Heat on Nov. 12 despite sitting All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Nick Cammett / Getty ImagesThe NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 on Tuesday for sitting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against the Miami Heat on Nov. 12. The league determined that the Cavaliers violated the league’s Player Participation Policy by resting their two All-Stars.The policy, which was adopted prior to the 2023-24 season to prevent load management, states that teams must “ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game.” A star is any player who was selected to an All-NBA Team or an All-Star in any of the prior three seasons, according to the policy. The policy includes exceptions for injuries, personal reasons and pr...

NEW YORK — The NBA fined the Cavaliers $100,000 on Tuesday for violating the league’s player participation policy by resting both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against the Heat on Nov. 12. The league noted the policy adopted before the 2023-24 season was designed to promote participation in the NBA’s regular season. Cleveland beat Miami, 130-116 without Mitchell, a six-time All-Star, and Mobley, a first-time All-Star last season. The Cavaliers also were without All-Star Darius Garland, who aggravated his surgically repaired left toe in a game on Nov. 10. Source link

Whether you're betting the NBA, NHL, college basketball, or college football on Tuesday, use the latest DraftKings promo code to get $200 in bonus bets if your first $5 wager wins and three months of free NBA League Pass. It's a huge night, particularly in college hoops, where the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden will give us No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 17 Michigan State at 6:30 p.m. ET and No. 5 Duke vs. No. 24 Kansas at 9 p.m. ET. Claim your DraftKings promo code here:For the full terms and conditions and how to claim the promo, read our DraftKings promo code review.   How to claim the DraftKings promo code There's no code required for this online sports betting offer, but you have to be of legal age in a state where DraftKings legitimately operates. You must also be a new user at ...

Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss one to two weeks due to a “low-grade” groin strain, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The Bucks are not required to make anything official until Tuesday, and the team did not practice or meet on Monday. However, coach Doc Rivers did appear on the Bucks’ official podcast Courtside and said this (hat tip Eric Nehm of The Athletic):“I don’t know what grade it is, but I know it’s not a bad one, so that’s good news for us...Probably two weeks he’ll be out — hopefully less.”Antetokounmpo had to leave Monday night’s game against Phoenix late in the second quarter after injuring his groin on a drive to the rim, though it might have started earlier, coach Doc Rivers said after the game. “He grabbed his groin, I think in the first quarter, and I asked him righ...