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Watch: Tyrese Haliburton gives Indiana Fever an assist with stuck ball

Editor's note: USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates for the Fever vs. Mercury here.

It might be the NBA offseason, but Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is still dishing assists.

Haliburton was sitting courtside at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indiana Fever's matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on Monday, June 22 when he sprang into action.

After the ball got lodged behind the backboard with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter, Haliburton used a Fever court mop to poke it free so play could resume. After successfully completing the task, Haliburton gave a triumphant fist pump as the crowd applauded his efforts.

good looks, Ty 🦸‍♂️ https://t.co/CF8nCCM5By pic.twitter.com/XMcTAGBiFj

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 23, 2026

Haliburton has been a mainstay at Indiana Fever games and attended the Fever's season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings last month.

Haliburton is just returning the favor. Caitlin Clark and several Fever players, including Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston, attended multiple NBA playoff games in support of the Pacers' run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton suffered a right Achilles tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and subsequently missed the 2025-26 season.

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyrese Haliburton gives Indiana Fever an assist with stuck ball

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had relatively few hiccups this season as they look to win a third consecutive World Series championship.

If another team doesn’t stand in their way, injuries might be their biggest obstacle. The Dodgers lost two players to injuries in the first three innings of their game against the Minnesota Twins on June 22: catcher Dalton Rushing and right fielder Kyle Tucker.

More news: Surprising Dodger Has More All-Star Votes Than Any NL Outfielder

Tucker was removed with low back spasms in the second inning after advancing from first to second base on a Tommy Edman single. Rushing was removed shortly thereafter to undergo concussion testing.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 19: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his hit with teammates, for a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

No injuries are welcome, but the Dodgers were already without one corner outfielder and catcher. Backstop Will Smith (neck) and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) are both on the injured list. Although both could be activated from the IL this month, the injuries to Tucker and Rushing struck arguably the Dodgers’ two most vulnerable positions.

We've got a big name rehabbing in Reno this week 👀

Per Dave Roberts, Teoscar Hernandez will rehab with Triple-A Oklahoma City at Greater Nevada Field this week! pic.twitter.com/WUP22OqE5i

— Reno Aces (@Aces) June 22, 2026

Smith received a cortisone shot and, if he responds well, could join one of the Dodgers’ minor league affiliates to begin a rehab assignment soon. Hernandez was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on June 23.

More news: Baseball’s Feel-Good Story of 2026 Hits an Abrupt Snag

Tucker and Rushing aren’t necessarily bound for the injured list — yet. For a day at least, the Dodgers were forced to play their final six innings against the Twins with only two players (infielders Miguel Rojas and Kyle Freeland) on their bench.

Backup outfielder Alex Call pinch ran for Tucker. Backup catcher Chuckie Robinson — whose contract was purchased from Triple-A when Smith went down — took over for Rushing behind the plate in the third inning.

More news:Top-100 Prospect Who Signed $51 Million Extension Set for MLB Debut

For all their strengths, neither Call nor Robinson has the ability of the men they replaced. Rushing is hitting .252 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 46 games. Tucker, baseball’s highest-paid player this season at $60 million, is hitting .234 with six home runs and six stolen bases in 74 games.

The Dodgers’ farm system is loaded with possible outfielders if Tucker is placed on the injured list. If Rushing is diagnosed with a concussion, the Dodgers might need to look outside the organization for added help. They have no other catchers on their 40-man roster.

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Alex Cora Seemingly Takes Shots At Rafael Devers/Red Sox In Viral Tweet originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox making the decision to fire long-time manager Alex Cora rubbed some baseball fans the wrong way. The 50-year-old took the separation with grace, but did not shy away from making his displeasure known in the media.

Cora has gone viral on a few occasions since being fired. The Puerto Rican native is more active on X than one would assume. He posts with semi-regularity to his 80,000 followers.

He made a post on Sunday night that caught a lot of attention, nearly two million views, in fact.

The post was simply, "But, but..." with an emoji that pictured a mouth zipped closed.

But, but… 🤐

— Alex (@ac13alex) June 21, 2026

Some fans thought Cora was alluding to the fact that the Red Sox's record since firing him showcases that it may not have been the manager holding them back.

However, the viral Rafael Devers incident on Sunday seems much more likely to be the subject of Cora's post.

Cora and the Red Sox received a lot of immediate backlash when they moved Devers last season.

Cora was never able to get Devers to be the team-first player that he wanted him to be. Those same critics felt justified when they saw that Devers was now doing things for his new team, the San Francisco Giants, that he refused to do in Boston.

So perhaps Cora's coy post was responding to those critics, saying that maybe it wasn't Cora's managerial style that made Devers an unruly superstar, but purely the 29-year-old's nature.

More MLB: Buyers Warned To 'Beware' Impressive Red Sox All-Star

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Argentina forward Julián Álvarez wants out of Atletico Madrid.

Álvarez spoke after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the World Cup in Arlington, Texas.

“The best thing for everyone is a transfer,” the 26-year-old player told ESPN. “I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about this, but I can’t hide either. I have to be honest, and I spoke with people at the club, the ones I needed to talk to.”

Not long after his comments were published in Spain, images of some Atletico fans burning the player's jersey were posted on social media.

Earlier this month, Real Madrid said Atletico rejected an offer of 150 million euros ($171 million) for the 26-year-old Álvarez.

The offer was part of the campaign promises made by Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez ahead of his re-election.

Barcelona is also reportedly interested in signing the talented Argentina forward.

Atletico has said it does not intend to negotiate.

Spanish media reported that there was a release clause for Álvarez worth 500 million euros ($571 million).

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

‪Yossi Gozlan‬: The Bucks clear $20 million in the current two-team Giannis Antetokounmpo trade framework. They'd create a massive $25.5 million trade exception, which could grow if they expand the trade. It would be useful for taking on bad salaries with draft picks to add to their surplus.

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Bucks clear $20 million in the current two-team …

CINCINNATI (AP) — Brandon Woodruff took a perfect game into the sixth inning in his return and Joey Ortiz's sacrifice fly in the 10th drove home the go-ahead run as the first-place Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Monday night.

In the 10th, Garrett Mitchell walked then Sal Frelick bunted Mitchell and designated runner Jake Bauers into scoring position. Ortiz's sacrifice fly drove home Bauers with the game's first run and Mitchell scored on a wild pitch by Tony Santillan (1-4) to make the score 2-0.

Joel Kuhnel allowed one run in the 10th on a groundout but notched his fifth save. Trevor Megill (2-2) got the win for Milwaukee.

Woodruff, who was making his first start since April 30, allowed one hit with no walks and 10 strikeouts. He retired the first 16 batters before Tyler Stephenson singled with one out in the sixth.

The 10 strikeouts were two shy of his career-high, which he'd done three times. He has fanned 10 or more batters 21 times in his career, most recently on July 12, 2025, against the Washington Nationals.

Woodruff had been on the injured list since May 1 with right shoulder inflammation after he experienced a sudden drop in velocity.

Cincinnati starter Brady Singer and Woodruff allowed one hit each through six with a combined 15 strikeouts.

Singer walked the first two batters in the second but retired the next three. He held the Brewers hitless until Brice Turang's double leading off the fourth. Turang went 2 for 3.

Woodruff was replaced by Aaron Ashby after throwing 79 pitches, 53 strikes.

Singer allowed two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts on a season-high 104 pitches. Singer's seven innings were a season high.

Up next

Brewers RHP Brandon Sproat (1-4, 5.94 ERA) will face Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 6.12) on Tuesday night.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Portugal's Spanish head coach Roberto Martinez talks to the media ahead of his team's crucial group game with Uzbekistan (RONALDO SCHEMIDT)

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez praised Cristiano Ronaldo as "a good example for all of us" but refused to confirm if the veteran captain would start his team's World Cup clash with Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

Portugal, considered outside favourites to win the tournament in North America, were held 1-1 by the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening game last week.

Former Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo was largely anonymous and player and coach were criticised afterwards.

Asked about his veteran captain on the eve of their second group match, on Tuesday against Uzbekistan in Houston, Martinez said: "I think he's a player that he focuses so much, (he is) probably the biggest example of how to focus on the aspects that you can influence -- the way he recovers, the way he prepares, the way he trains.

"He's a good example for us, for all of us.

He added: "It is the sixth time he plays a World Cup, and he is a player who's been defending and playing for his country for a long time.

"So he really wants to keep on improving, to contribute to the team, and he's really a role model for our team."

But asked by reporters if Ronaldo will start against the Uzbeks, Martinez refused to say "because I haven't informed my players yet".

Martinez said the disappointment Portugal felt after drawing with the DRC will be motivation against Uzbekistan, who are on their World Cup debut and will be heavy underdogs.

"The feeling of frustration that we all had as a team, the feeling of disappointment after the game, probably that's the best starting point to prepare for the next game," said the Spaniard.

He added: "We are more united, we are stronger, and we work very hard.

"And also the players have a wonderful attitude."

Martinez said that the flak that came their way after the flat performance against the DRC was "part of the game".

"We are playing a World Cup, so of course we have lots of noise and tension," he said.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 16: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park on June 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a series win against the Brewers in which in the two wins were one run games. Tonight they will face another tough test where they have to travel out west and face a Padres team that is two games over .500 looking to prove that they are a legitimate playoff caliber team.

In the month of June the Braves are dead last in MLB with sixty-one runs scored, but the Padres have not done much better having scored sixty-nine which places them twenty-fifth. The difference will likely come down to the pitching. Grant Holmes who has an ERA over nine in his last two starts will be facing Michael King who currently has a 3.60 ERA but an xERA in the bottom 25.0 percent of pitchers.

Follow along in the comments below while you are sipping your coffee. First pitch is at 10:10 pm EDT.

Lineup

Preview

World Cup: Bundesliga trio start for Algeria against Jordan

Ramy Bensebaini, Farès Chaïbi, and Ibrahim Maza maintain their place in Algeria’s starting lineup for their second World Cup game in Group J against Jordan. After their decent start, in which Eintracht Frankfurt’s Chaïbi saw his goal nullified for an offside, Vladimir Petković’s side were undone by Lionel Messi’s masterclass on matchday one.

Borussia Dortmund’s defender Bensebaini and Bayer Leverkusen's Player of the Season Maza keep their places for the different test against Jordan, who have lost to Austria on their World Cup debut.

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg’s Mohamed Amoura is out of the game due to an injury. The Rennes striker Musa Al-Tamari is the only Europe-based player from Jamal Sellami’s squad. Argentina are already through to the Round of 32 after Lionel Messi added two more goals against Austria to go past Miroslav Klose in the World Cup all-time list.

Confirmed Algeria vs. Jordan Lineups

Algeria: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Boudaoui, Maza, Zerrouki; Mahrez, Gouiri, Chaïbi

Jordan: Abulaila; Nasib, Al-Arab, Abu Dahab; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabdeh, Abu Taha; Al-Mardi, Olwan; Al-Tamari

Lionel Messi's two goals against Austria saw him become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer (Aric Becker)

He knew what Lionel Messi was going to do and had a plan to stop it -- and then the Argentina captain struck twice anyway in becoming the leading scorer in World Cup history.

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick may not be all that fondly remembered by Manchester United fans, where he pitched up in 2021-2022.

But at 67 the German coach is vastly experienced and also widely admired in football.

Rangnick has revived the Austrian team since taking over in 2022, and they beat debutants Jordan 3-1 to launch their World Cup last week in North America.

Talking ahead of his side's group match on Monday against reigning champions Argentina in Texas, Rangnick spoke about the latest iteration of Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday.

"Lionel Messi maybe doesn't put in the same legwork as in the past," said Rangnick.

"He likes to stay on the side, and sometimes he likes to stop in front of the goal, in the offside position.

"That doesn't mean that they have one man less, but they have one man less that works in the counter-pressing.

"But that makes him so dangerous, because he might be in a position, free in a position, and we need to be prepared for that.

"We shouldn't have too many transition moments, and not allow transition moments, and not allow him to be free to accept the ball."

- 'Very angry' -

That notion unravelled in front of a frenzied crowd of 70,000 dominated by Argentina fans decked out in light blue and white.

Messi, the best player of all time, pulled an early penalty wide to pass up the chance to move clear of Miroslav Klose for the most World Cup goals.

Messi said afterwards that he was "very angry" with himself and he twice came close after that to scoring, only for Austria captain David Alaba to twice deny him.

And then came the big moment, Messi sweeping in on 38 minutes after being set up by Facundo Medina.

Just like Rangnick had warned, Messi had ambled into space and was all alone to score with a trademark swing of his left foot.

It was his 17th World Cup goal and 18 arrived when Messi pounced again in the fifth minute of injury time.

This time the veteran squeezed home as several defenders threw themselves desperately at the ball.

Messi, at his sixth World Cup, was still going strong in the 95th minute.

It took the maestro to five goals at this edition, having hit a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria.

That was Messi's first treble at a World Cup.

- Last Messi the best one? -

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, Messi's team-mate at the 2006 World Cup, has built an ecosystem around Messi to allow his captain to do his thing.

That means letting others do the running around him.

Not that Messi is totally exempt from the dirty work.

"Today, when the team was struggling without possession, he put in the work," said Scaloni.

"You could see his commitment, that speaks volumes about him."

Renowned Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who wrote an authoritative biography of Messi, said before the World Cup that this version of the player was "very different" to the one that burst onto the scene with Barcelona in the early 2000s.

"Messi has reinvented himself at least five times to evolve into the player he is now for Argentina and Inter Miami," Balague wrote in a column for the BBC.

"He has adapted so he can dominate and stay ahead of a game that has always been chasing him," he added.

He noted how Pablo Aimar, Messi's childhood idol, once said: "The last Messi is always the best Messi."

That version is a player that walks more than he runs, said Balague, but "still sees everything first".

"Critics once used this (lack of running) against him. Now it reads as mastery," he wrote.

"He is reading the game, conserving energy for the moments that matter."

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