​L’image provient de Reuters. Written by Elizabeth Botcherby. Auteur pour BBC Sports. 6 minutes ago. The Atlanta Hawks clinched a playoff berth and the Southeast Division title with a 124-102 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The Hawks, needing just one victory from their final two games to lock in a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference, dominated the third quarter with 35 points to turn their 61-48 halftime edge into a 96-65 lead. Guard CJ McCollum led the Hawks with a game-high 29 points, securing their first divisional title since 2003 and bypassing the play-in tournament—reserved for teams seeded seventh through tenth—for the first time in five years. Veteran LeBron James became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 12,000 career assists, aiding the Los Angeles Lakers in earning home-court advantage for the first playoff round via a 101-136 victory over the Phoenix Suns. James added 45 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists as the Lakers notched their 21st win in 30 games, ensuring a top-four finish in the Western Conference. Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton holds the NBA’s all-time assists record at 15,806, followed by Chris Paul (12,057), Jason Kidd (107,725), and James (12,000). Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a commanding 144-118 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 18-time NBA champions matched a record with 23 three-pointers, powered by forward Sam Hauser’s eight, while also capturing the Atlantic Division crown. As a result, the New York Knicks—who had previously defeated the Celtics—must settle for the third seed despite a 112-95 win over the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors dropped to sixth place after the loss, tying the seventh-place Orlando Magic at 45-36 with one regular-season game remaining. The Magic defeated the Chicago Bulls 127-103, extending their winning streak to five games. Victor Wembanyama, back after missing one game due to injury, shone for the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs in their 139-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old MVP candidate tallied 40 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. The Denver Nuggets kept their pursuit of third place in the Western Conference alive with a 127-107 victory over the reigning champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Related topics: Basketball.  

​Photo credit: Getty Images. Paul Battisonin kirjoittama. – Mikä tuo on? – Ei mitään. Journalist for BBC Sport. 28 minutes ago. Carlos Ulberg has often pictured himself winning a UFC title, and in those moments, he reflects on his childhood. The 35-year-old has led a varied life—from rugby league player to reality TV personality to UFC title contender—but it all began as a foster child. Between ages four and 13, Ulberg bounced between foster homes in New Zealand, staying with dozens of families. He describes some as “good homes” and others as “not so good,” with times when he’d be “beaten up every day” by fellow foster kids—yet those experiences molded him. “That’s what has shaped me into who I am today, and it’s a good thing.” “That’s what has brought out the best in me,” Ulberg tells BBC Sport. “I outgrew that self-pitying mentality and began pushing forward, which built resilience in me.” At UFC 327 in Miami’s Kaseya Center on Saturday, Ulberg will face former champion Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light-heavyweight title after Alex Pereira vacated the belt to move up to heavyweight. [embedded content]. Ulberg, ranked third in the UFC light-heavyweight division, has secured the shot after a nine-fight winning streak. He pauses to reflect on his path from a childhood in foster care to contending for a world title. “What pulls me in most is rewinding the clock and thinking, ‘wow, man.'”  

​Photo credit: Getty Images. One hour ago. 18 commentaires After a 15-month absence from the ring, Tyson Fury returns to heavyweight boxing on Saturday, facing Arslanbek Makhmudov in London. The two-time heavyweight world champion will take on the Russian at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. At 37, Fury seeks to rebound from back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, which led to a short-lived retirement. He confronts a towering 6ft 3in opponent with 19 stoppage victories in 21 wins, despite two defeats. With a possible blockbuster bout against Anthony Joshua on the horizon—or another title opportunity—can Fury secure a victory and reclaim his spot in heavyweight contention? Everything you need to know about Fury vs. Makhmudov. Could 36-year-old Makhmudov pull off a massive upset in north London? BBC Sport consulted boxing figures for their predictions on Saturday’s fight. [embedded content] What data does this quiz collect from us?  

​Photo credit: Getty Images. Written by Elizabeth Botcherby. Auteur pour BBC Sports. 56 minutes ago. Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage secured their doubles match in straight sets, propelling Great Britain into the September Billie Jean King Cup finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Australia. Partnering for the first time, Dart and Burrage beat Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3, 16-3, 6-4 on the hard courts in Melbourne to seal the best-of-five qualifying tie. Great Britain had previously taken both singles rubbers on Friday, as 17-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic upset Talia Gibson – ranked over 200 spots higher – in straight sets on her debut, followed by Dart’s comeback win from a set deficit against Kimberly Birrell. “That feels amazing,” said Burrage. “I’m proud of how we played, how we started strong, and how we managed to seal the win.” Great Britain, the 2025 semi-finalists, entered the tie as underdogs, missing four singles top-100 players—Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Fran Jones, and Sonay Kartal. Yet they surpassed the gap in rankings and experience to advance to the finals for the third consecutive year. After getting broken in their first service game and falling behind 3-1, Dart and Burrage rallied with five straight games to claim the opening set. All four players faltered on serve during a chaotic second set, featuring four breaks in a row before tying at 3-3. Great Britain clinched the crucial break in the ninth game, after which Burrage stayed composed to seal the victory. “They’re two great players.”  

​Photo credit: Getty Images. By Shamoon Hafez, Manchester City correspondent, and Chris Collinson, BBC Sport data analyst. 139 comments.

As the Premier League season nears its conclusion, April could prove pivotal for table-toppers Arsenal and their nearest rivals Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s squad is chasing the club’s first title since 2004, and with a nine-point advantage and seven games remaining, they control their own destiny.

City, meanwhile, are determined to push them all the way, boasting a game in hand and a proven track record of thriving in crunch moments.

Pep Guardiola’s team, seeking to close the gap, will intensify the contest by hosting the leaders in a blockbuster clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 22 April 2021.

Recent history suggests this is the month when City tend to shine and Arsenal struggle.

“We need to rack up a lot of points,” Guardiola said. “We haven’t been consistent enough this season. We’ve dropped points we shouldn’t have, leaving us with little room. We must win every single game.