From The Sports Desk: Knicks beat down Cavs, pull within two wins of NBA finals - BERITAJA

The New York Knicks hit the Cleveland Cavaliers convincingly past nighttime and are now 2 wins distant from their first NBA finals since 1999. Yes, the New York Knicks.

Also, tons of shot successful today’s newsletter. Haiti’s Duckens Nazon is our World Cup subordinate spotlight of the day, and Joe Prince-Wright breaks down the last play of Premier League action, taking you done each the qualification scenarios.

For much coverage, arsenic always, cheque retired the Beritaja website.

NBA Playoffs

The New York Knicks are 1 measurement person to the NBA Finals aft beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 past night, taking a 2-0 lead successful the Eastern Conference finals.

After a miraculous comeback successful Game 1, the Knicks were mostly successful power of Game 2, starring by 15 headed into the 4th quarter.

The leader for New York was do-it-all swingman Josh Hart. After struggling successful Game 1 because of his iffy extracurricular shot, Hart led the Knicks successful scoring past night, dropping 26 points to spell on pinch 7 assists and 4 rebounds. He changeable 5-of-11 from 3-point scope arsenic Cleveland dared him to sprout from deep.

“Just a whale of a crippled from Josh,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said.

Hart added: “I knew I had to conscionable support shooting and if I did that, I’d beryllium good.”

While New York sewage a balanced effort from its full starting lineup, the Cavs are struggling to get going. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, but was laboring connected the court, starring to questions about his health.

James Harden besides had an disconnected night. He had 18 points but changeable only 40% from the section pinch 2 assists. Cleveland was outscored by 22 pinch Harden connected the floor. The Cavs are now facing an 0-2 shortage for the 2nd consecutive series.

“This isn’t our first clip astatine it,” Mitchell said. “This isn’t our first clip facing adversity. We’ve been done 2 Game 7s, truthful being down 2-0 is not the biggest challenge.”

Cleveland Cavaliers defender James Harden reacts during the 2nd 4th of crippled 2 of the eastbound convention finals of the 2026 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks astatine Madison Square Garden.Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images

World Cup Countdown

Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, we’re counting down 26 players to watch. Today’s introduction is Haiti’s Duckens Nazon.

Nazon is the top scorer successful the history of Haiti, pinch 44 goals successful 76 appearances. After a turbulent year, he will beryllium bringing his striking prowess to a squad hopeless for World Cup success, arsenic Haiti competes successful the tourney for the first clip since 1974.

Born successful France to Haitian parents, Nazon has played for respective leagues during his nine career, bouncing about from India to England to Turkey, among different countries. He’s presently a striker for the Persian nine Esteghlal, pinch whom he’s scored 2 goals successful 19 appearances.

Duckens Nazon of Haiti dribbles the shot during an International Friendly against Iceland connected March 31 successful Toronto, Canada.Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images file

Nazon and his teammates will beryllium representing a federation that’s endured overmuch turmoil since its past World Cup appearance, peculiarly complete the past 2 decades. From the January 2010 earthquake to the ongoing governmental situation successful Haiti, the nationalist squad has not been immune to the country’s geopolitical issues.

Despite not being capable to big immoderate qualifying games, Haiti clinched a berth successful the 2026 World Cup. Nazon played a awesome role, scoring six goals during the qualifying period, including an electrical chapeau instrumentality arsenic a substitute against Costa Rica past September.

Nazon, who besides had to make his measurement retired of Iran aft the commencement of the war, knows the upcoming World Cup could supply dream for his country.

“We are ambassadors of our state and we cognize we person a responsibility,” Nazon told BBC’s “Sacked successful the Morning” podcast. “We cognize the young group besides spot america arsenic examples. But we don’t person to put other unit connected ourselves and, erstwhile we play for our country, it’s much a ngo and we do it pinch passion and pinch love.”

Yesterday’s introduction was Iran’s Mehdi Taremi. Read about him here.

Premier League Preview

Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth during the Premier League lucifer betwixt Fulham and Bournemouth astatine Craven Cottage connected May 9 successful London.Robin Jones / AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images file

The title for European qualification is going to beryllium epic connected the last day, pinch truthful galore variables meaning location is plentifulness connected the statement for up to 8 teams.

Bournemouth has secured astatine slightest a Europa League spot, qualifying for Europe for the first time. And there’s still a chance it could scope the Champions League.

It has 2 ways it could do it. Beat Nottingham Forest and Liverpool loses astatine location to Brentford, pinch a six-goal plaything successful extremity difference, meaning Bournemouth would decorativeness successful fifth. Or if Europa League victor Aston Villa finishes fifth, a Champions League spot would autumn to whichever squad finishes sixth. So, if Brighton aliases Bournemouth finishes successful sixth successful that scenario, it would suffice for the Champions League.

Brentford, Chelsea and Sunderland (the second 2 quadrate off) are each locked successful a scrap for seventh place, which is Europa League qualification, while eighth spot is simply a Conference League spot.

For Chelsea successful particular, qualifying for 1 of Europe’s second- aliases third-tier competitions could beryllium seen arsenic a hindrance arsenic it intends to rebuild for a Champions League push nether Xabi Alonso adjacent play and would for illustration other clip to activity and remainder connected the training crushed each week.

But for Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Sunderland, qualifying for the Europa League aliases Conference League would not only beryllium a awesome achievement, but it would besides boost their finances and let them to enlistee amended players complete the summer.

What We’re Reading

The sports world was shocked to study that Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, had died astatine 41 after a little illness.

A caller sporting event’s arguable pitch: Performance-enhancing narcotics are welcome. Our Andrew Greif previews the Enhanced Games.

Alexi Lalas said U.S. players citing unit are a “bunch of whiners.”

Titans coach Robert Saleh said removing seed oils from the team’s installation was a apical priority.

NFL MVP Matthew Stafford is reportedly signing a one-year, $55 cardinal hold pinch the Los Angeles Rams. His statement will now tally done 2027.

What We’re Watching

The Western Conference finals person turned into a warfare of attrition. With Game 3 tonight, 3 cardinal players are listed arsenic questionable connected the wounded report: De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper for the San Antonio Spurs, and Jalen Williams for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The bid is tied 1-1 and feels arsenic if it could spell either way. Whichever squad gets healthier, faster, mightiness person the edge. So agelong arsenic Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are retired there, we’ll beryllium watching this 1 connected Peacock.

All times are Eastern:

• 8 p.m.: No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 1 Colorado Avalanche, connected ESPN
• 8:30 p.m.: No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, on NBC/Peacock

That’s it for now! We’ll beryllium backmost Tuesday.