‘VJ’ and 76ers in 2-0 hole
By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@ tribunemedia.net
VALDEZ "VJ" Edge-
combe continued to show why Philadelphia trusts him in major playoff moments, delivering a strong two-way performance last night despite the 76ers falling 108-102 to the New York Knicks in game two of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden.
The rookie guard finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 40 minutes while again taking on the difficult defensive assignment of guarding Knicks star Jalen Brunson for much of the night.
Philadelphia pushed New York into a much more competitive game after the game one blowout, but the Knicks closed strong in the fourth quarter to take a 2-0 series lead heading back to Philadelphia.
The series moves to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.
Wednesday’s game featured 14 ties and 25 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than seven points all night.
After Brunson erupted in the opener, Philadelphia adjusted defensively by having Edgecombe pressure him much earlier in possessions. The Bahamian rookie routinely picked Brunson up near the backcourt and disrupted New York’s offensive rhythm before the Knicks could fully settle into their halfcourt sets.
The approach changed the pace of the game.
On several possessions, Edgecombe defended Brunson the full length of the floor after made baskets, while Philadelphia occasionally trapped aggressively to force the ball out of Brunson’s hands. What stood out most was the discipline and effort from the 20-year-old rookie.
Edgecombe consistently fought through screens,
Rookie guard Edgecombe scores 17 for Philadelphia but New York takes control of the series with 108-102 win
Ayton has double double but Thunder get win in West semis opener
By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer
recovered quickly in space and stayed attached to Brunson without reaching
Even when Brunsoncombe repeatedly battled back into the play and made him work for nearly Brunson still led New York with 26 points and sixing 9-of-21 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
OG Anunoby added 24 points, four steals and five rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Mikal Bridges also chipped in 18 points for the Knicks.
Edgecombe’s impact extended well beyond defence with Tyrese Maxey constantly facing pressure near the top of the floor.
Edgecombe became one of Philadelphia’s steadiest secondary playmakers and scorers throughout the night. The rookie shot 6-of13 from the field and knocked down 3-of-7 from three-point range while continuing to show growth offensively in difficult playoff situations.
He attacked gaps in the defence with confidence, hit perimeter shots from both corners and created several difficult baskets late in possessions when Philadelphia’s offence stalled.
Edgecombe also showed increasing comfort operating in the mid-range, using hesitations and changes of direction to create space against rotating defenders.
Several of Philadelphia’s best offensive stretches
came directly from his decision-making and ability to remain composed under pressure.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 26 points and six assists in 47 minutes despite shooting just 1-of-6 from three-point range and committing six turnovers.
Paul George added 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks while Kelly Oubre Jr also scored 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Andre Drummond started in place of Joel Embiid who was ruled as out hours before the game
and contributed six points and eight rebounds.
Philadelphia shot 45 per cent from the field and made 13 three-pointers, but turnovers proved costly.
The Sixers committed 18 turnovers that led to 23 Knicks points, while New York finished with a 56-30 advantage in points in the paint.
The Knicks also made the decisive push late.
After the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 90, Philadelphia managed just 12 points in the final period while New York closed the game on a 19-12
quarter behind Brunson’s shot creation and timely baskets from Anunoby and Bridges.
Even in the loss, Edgecombe continued to look comfortable in one of the league’s toughest playoff environments.
For the Sixers to climb back into the series as it shifts to Philadelphia for game three, Edgecombe will likely need to continue playing this type of highlevel basketball on both ends of the floor. Through two games, he has shown he is more than ready for that responsibility.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chet Holmgren had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each added 18 points for the Thunder. The defending champions improved to 5-0 in the playoffs, despite missing 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams with an injured left hamstring for the third straight game. The Thunder shot 49.4% from the field and made 13 of 30 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City will host Game 2 tonight.
Los Angeles struggled to find offence without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who has missed the past month with an injured left hamstring. LeBron James scored 27 points and Rui Hachimura added 18 for the Lakers.
Deandre Ayton contributed a double double - 10 points and 12 reboundswith two assists and a block in 27 minutes. Austin Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points in the regular season, was held to eight on 3-for-16 shooting.
Oklahoma City won all four regular-season matchups by an average of 29.3 points, and this one was only slightly closer. The Thunder held the Lakers to 41.7% shooting and forced 17 turnovers.
Oklahoma City led 61-53 at halftime, despite 16 points from James. Mitchell, who started in Williams' place, made a corner 3-pointer and was fouled by Marcus Smart in the final minute of the third quarter. His free throw put the Thunder up 84-72, a score that held up until the end of the period.
Alex Caruso's fast-break dunk early in the fourth put Oklahoma City up 88-73, and the Thunder maintained control from there.
Windsor senior girls complete undefeated season with championship win over Kingsway
By JONATHAN BURROWS
Reporter
THE Windsor School completed an undefeated senior girls’ volleyball season with a championship win over Kingsway Academy on Monday at the Aquinas College volleyball courts.
Head coach Eugene Stuart said the team stayed focused throughout the season and carried that into the championship match.
“Well first and foremost, thank God for this opportunity,” Stuart said. “The senior girls, they won the pennant for the season. We went undefeated. You know, it was a very intense season for the girls. They managed to win every game, like I said.”
Stuart said the players stayed committed from the opening game of the season through the playoffs.
“For me, I think they left it all on the court,” he said.
“They were very focused from the first point of the season and up until the last point of the playoffs game, which is now against NCS. They really left it all on the floor and I’m very proud of them.”
Windsor entered the playoffs looking to finish matches quickly and avoid long stretches where opponents could regain momentum.
Stuart said that remained one of the team’s goals during the championship.
“For us, it’s more so about really sealing the deal,” he said. “I know the girls, they would have implemented a new strategy in terms of urgency. And so for them, really fine-tuning those details and really making sure that you can really run with it.”
Although Windsor controlled most of the championship match, Stuart admitted there were moments where the team lost focus.
“I would say that we had some lulls throughout
the game,” he said. “There were a few moments where the girls kind of went and fell short a few points but, nonetheless, we still dominated throughout the entirety of the match.”
Stuart also praised Kingsway Academy for making Windsor work throughout the contest.
“I have to say Kingsway is a very scrappy team,” he said. “They were not allowing us to score points. So we
had to really fight for those points.”
Despite that pressure, Windsor stayed committed to its approach and continued to execute its game plan.
“We implemented rather our strategy and we were able to keep the strategy,” Stuart said. “And that is what maintained our dominance today.”
The veteran coach said the players deserved most
of the credit for the championship run because of the work they put in throughout the year.
“And I have to say hats off to the girls,” Stuart said. “They put in all the work. I pretty much just guided them from the sidelines. From day one, they were brought into the programme, and I can’t be more proud of them.”
Windsor’s focus on urgency and execution became even more important during the playoffs as the competition intensified.
“They won, but it was a slow win,” Stuart said. “And so for us to utilise our energies and utilise our strengths, it’s very hard out here.
“And so I told them to win quickly. And so that’s our goal was to win quickly and go home victorious.”
Windsor player Priya Alexander said Kingsway Academy made the championship difficult despite the final result.
“It was a really good game,” Alexander said.
“Kingsway put up a really, really good fight and made us work for it. But it was just, we came out on top. It’s been four years in the making and we played a really, really good game.” Alexander said the victory was especially meaningful for the senior players competing together for the final time.
“We came so close last year, making it to playoffs, and it was really nice to close it out,” she said. “We played a good game and it was just a good way to end it.”
After completing the undefeated season with a championship win, Alexander said the team planned to celebrate accordingly.
“Oh, we’re going to party hard,” she said. With the championship secured and an undefeated season completed, Stuart said the programme will address the future later on.
“We’ll see when that moment comes,” he said.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
WINDSOR School senior girls in action.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
PHILADELPHIA 76ers’ Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe reacts to a call during the first half of Game 1 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York.
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Sherman ‘The Caribbean Tank’ Williams honoured
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
ALTHOUGH he’s now retired, the accolades continue to pour in for Grand Bahamian professional heavyweight boxer Sherman “The Caribbean Tank” Williams.
The 53-year-old native of Naples, Florida, who retired in 2018 with a 40-15 win-loss record, was one of several persons honoured with the Excellence Awards presented by Orlando Health.
In a report featured on WPTA, a NBC affiliate of West Palm Beach, Florida network, Williams talked about his transformation from knocking out opponents in the ring, to saving lifes in the medical field. It comes just before Williams will be inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame over the weekend of June 5-7 at the Hilton Lake Carillon in St Petersburg, Florida, for his stellar 39-year career as an amateur and pro fighter.
The event is being organised by promoter/trainer
Steve Canton of the SJC Boxing Club in Fort Myers, who previously inducted his fighter Freeman “The Natural” Barr as the first Bahamian into the Hall of Fame.
After starting off as a private contractor as a security and prevention protection officer, Williams was engaged in teaching staff at Orlando Health about how to be aware of their surroundings at all times and he was able to add some of his skills developed in the ring in self defence.
"With the Hall of Fame and Induction ceremony coming up next month, I am delighted to receive this award," said Williams, who was certified as an International Association of Medical and Security seven years ago.
"I've been working in executive protection at golf courses for PGA events and attending a number of exclusive events for medical directors and CEOs.”
The last two years, Williams has been working with Orlando Health where he has impacted his boxing
Arsenal reaches its first Champions League final in 20 years as Saka’s goal seals victory over Atletico
By MATTIAS KAREN Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — The last time Arsenal played in the Champions League final, Bukayo Saka was still four years away from joining the club’s academy.
Now Saka, the winger who first signed for Arsenal at age 8, has put his club back onto the biggest stage.
Saka scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to put Arsenal into its first Champions League final since 2006 — and only its second ever. No wonder he was reluctant to stop celebrating with the crowd and his teammates after the final whistle and do a TV interview on the field instead.
“You’re taking me away from the celebrations,
man," Saka told Amazon Prime with a laugh. “It is so beautiful. You see what it means to us and what it means to the fans. We're so happy.”
The 24-year-old Saka was on hand to slot in the rebound after Leandro Trossard’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak in the 45th minute to put Arsenal up 2-1 on aggregate in the second leg of their semifinal.
The Gunners’ stingy defence did the rest. Arsenal has now kept a clean sheet at home in all three knockout rounds after conceding a competition-low four goals in winning all eight of its matches in the league phase.
It will be Arsenal's second final in Europe’s premier competition,
experience through training persons in the health care unit here.
Williams said he's pleased to share his expertise in the
ring. "It's good to see that Orlando Health is going to be a part of my induction into the Florida Hall of Fame," Williams said.
having lost the 2006 title match to Barcelona.
It could prove a special season for the London cub, which is now one game away from its first European Cup title and three games away from a first Premier League crown in 22 years.
The Gunners are guaranteed the domestic league title if they win their remaining three matches, after closest rival Manchester City was held to a 3-3 draw at Everton on Monday.
“Now we are in the final of the Champions League and we’re fighting for the Premier League,” Saka said. “It’s a beautiful a story and I hope it ends well in Budapest.”
Fellow academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly hadn't been born yet when Arsenal
was last in the final, but the 19-year-old again looked assured in midfield after being handed a surprise start by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Atletico had a chance to equalise in the 51st when Giuliano Simeone chased down a poor backward header from William Saliba to round goalkeeper David Raya, but centre back Gabriel did just enough to make him put his effort wide. “Unbelievable,” Arteta said about Gabriel's challenge. “That's probably the only action that (Atletico) had. But in the Champions League there are moments, and in those moments someone has to deliver a magic moment.
And Gabriel again, he delivered that.” Atletico was then denied a possible penalty when
"I'm just excited and happy to see that here in the state of Florida, the United States, Europe and in Denmark, they are
still recognising me for my accomplishments as a fighter."
Williams walked away from the sport as a fighter after he won his last fight on May 26, 2018 with a TKO over Epifanio Mendoza at the A Social Affair and Convention Center in his hometown of Grand Bahama.
The highlight of his career came on January 22, 2011 when he fought former American world champion Evander Holyfield for the World Boxing Federation's heavyweight title. However, that fight was stopped due to a cut over Holyfield's left eye in the second round.
During his career, Williams held the North American Boxing Federation, United States Boxing Association, WBA's FEDECARIBE, WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation and the NBA and WBF Intercollegiate heavyweight titles.
While less than 10 of his fights were staged here in The Bahamas, Williams was never given the opportunity to fight for The Bahamas’ heavyweight title.
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori stepped on the foot of Antoine Griezmann in the area, as referee Daniel Siebert awarded a free kick to the hosts for an earlier incident instead.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone, clad in his customary all-black attire, grew increasingly agitated on the sidelines as the decisions went against his club and the search for an equaliser proved fruitless. He was eventually booked in injury time after pushing Andrea Berta — his former sporting director at Atletico who is now in the same role at Arsenal.
Afterward, though, Simeone refused to blame the referee and said Arsenal deserved to advance. “I’m not going to get into something as simple as the action involving Griezmann,"
Simeone said through a translator — although perhaps with a hint of sarcasm.
"Of course we all know that it was a foul by (Atletico defender) Marc Pubill on one of their players beforehand.
“We all thought the referee had got it right. I don’t want to get involved in that because I don’t want to make excuses.”
Simeone led his team to the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to Real Madrid, but will have to wait for a third chance to deliver the club’s first European Cup. Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres had a great chance to double the lead on a counterattack in the 66th when Piero Hincapie picked him out with a cross but he side footed his effort over the bar.
SHERMAN ‘The Caribbean Tank’ Williams with Orlando Health executives.
ARSENAL’s Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Fulham in London, England, Saturday, May 2, 2026.
(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
NEW York Yankees’ Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr hits a home run during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
‘Jazz’ hits go-ahead homer as Yankees beat Rangers 7-4 for 15th win in 17 games
By LARRY FLEISHER Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr hit a go-ahead homer off Jacob deGrom in the sixth inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 7-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight win and 15th in 17 games.
Chisholm Jr lifted deGrom's 98 mph fastball into the right field seats to snap a 3-3 tie. The 413foot shot was the second baseman’s second career homer off deGrom (2-2), who allowed a homer to
Chisholm at Citi Field on a 100.4 mph fastball on April 10, 2021.
Ryan McMahon hit a tying two-run homer off deGrom in the second inning after the Yankees trailed 3-0 before their first at-bats. McMahon joined teammate Giancarlo Stanton, Freddie Freeman and Austin Riley as the only players with at least three homers off deGrom.
Cody Bellinger started New York’s comeback with an RBI double off the top of the right-centre field fence after Aaron Judge singled.
Bellinger also had a tworun double off Jalen Beeks one pitch after Judge drew his fourth intentional walk this year.
Paul Goldschmidt added his 374th career homer in the eighth for a four-run lead. DeGrom allowed six runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. It was the most runs allowed by the two-time Cy Young award winner since May 17, 2019, for the Mets at Miami. Texas opened the game by loading the bases on two walks and a single by Josh Jung off rookie Elmer
Rodríguez. Joc Pederson hit a sacrifice fly, Ezequiel Duran hit an RBI single and Jung scored on a wild pitch.
In his second career start, Rodríguez allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked four.
Brent Headrick (2-0) earned the win by striking out pinch hitter Sam Haggerty with the bases loaded in the fifth.
David Bednar retired Josh Jung with the bases loaded in the eighth and got the final five outs for his 10th save.
