Sports News Roundup: 76ers fend off Knicks in OT, keep season alive; Celtics' Brad Stevens named NBA Executive of the Year and more

Stevens spent the offseason revising the roster of the reigning Eastern Conference champions to create a team that posted an NBA-best 64-18 record in the 2023-24 regular season. MLB roundup: D-backs buzz past Dodgers in 10 innings Christian Walker hit two home runs, including a game-ending two-run shot in the 10th inning, as the Arizona Diamondbacks stung the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in Phoenix on Tuesday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NBA roundup: 76ers fend off Knicks in OT, keep season alive

Tyrese Maxey scored 46 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a tiebreaking layup in overtime as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers avoided elimination with a 112-106 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference series is Thursday in Philadelphia, and if the 76ers can continue to stay alive, the teams will play a seventh game on Saturday in New York. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 40 points.

Celtics' Brad Stevens named NBA Executive of the Year

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was named NBA Executive of the Year on Tuesday. Stevens spent the offseason revising the roster of the reigning Eastern Conference champions to create a team that posted an NBA-best 64-18 record in the 2023-24 regular season.

MLB roundup: D-backs buzz past Dodgers in 10 innings

Christian Walker hit two home runs, including a game-ending two-run shot in the 10th inning, as the Arizona Diamondbacks stung the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in Phoenix on Tuesday. Six Arizona pitchers held the Dodgers to zero RBIs through nine innings. The victory came after a 1-hour, 55-minute delay at the outset, as a colony of bees formed on the netting behind home plate. A beekeeper removed the cluster to a standing ovation, and he stayed to throw out the first pitch before play ultimately began.

Tennis-Rybakina survives Putintseva scare to reach Madrid semis

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to beat fellow Kazakhstani Yulia Putintseva 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5 in a two-hour and 48-minute battle as she advanced to her first Madrid Open semi-final on Wednesday. The 50th-ranked Putintseva looked on course to cause an upset as she put on a near-flawless display to take the opening set in 45 minutes, but Rybakina managed to regain her composure and saved two match points at 5-2 down in the final set.

Horse racing-Fierceness the favorite for 150th Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby arrives at Churchill Downs with Fierceness as the favorite but the bay colt is expected to face stiff competition from speedy Sierra Leone and Japan's Forever Young in the 150th Run for the Roses. Fierceness (5-2) produced a dazzling display of speed to notch a record 13-1/2 lengths victory at the Florida Derby and if he breaks well from post 17 and has a clean trip, he should be wearing the roses come Saturday evening in Louisville.

Tennis-Nadal bids farewell to Madrid after defeat by Lehecka

Twenty-two time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal fell 7-5 6-4 to Czech Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday, marking his final appearance at a tournament he has won five times. In just over two hours, a feisty Lehecka thwarted Nadal's hopes of reaching his 100th Masters 1000 quarter-final after a fairytale run in only his second tournament since January as the Spaniard struggled with injury.

Athletics-Knighton sets his own pace for success ahead of Olympic trials

The best is yet to come for American Erriyon Knighton, with the young sprinter telling Reuters he had far from reached his full potential ahead of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. The 20-year-old has had enormous expectations on his shoulders after breaking retired great Usain Bolt's junior records in the 200 metres and becoming the youngest individual sprint medallist at the worlds with bronze two years ago.

Olympics-Brazilian swimmer Fratus, feted for Tokyo bronze joy, to miss Paris

Brazilian swimmer Bruno Fratus, whose jubilation at winning a freestyle bronze medal went viral at the Tokyo Olympics, has opted out of the Paris Games after a long battle with injuries. Fratus at 32 became the oldest swimmer to claim a first Olympic medal when he finished third in the 50 metres freestyle won by American Caeleb Dressel at Tokyo.

NHL roundup: Leafs outlast Bruins in OT, force Game 6

Matthew Knies scored 2:26 into overtime as the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs extended their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins with a 2-1 win in Game 5 on Tuesday. After John Tavares drove toward the net, a loose puck popped off the pads of Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman and went to Knies, who potted it after charging down the slot.

Soccer-US defender Dest to undergo ACL surgery, miss Copa America

United States' Sergino Dest will miss the Copa America after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), with the defender confirming he will undergo surgery soon. Dest, who has spent this season on loan at PSV Eindhoven from Barcelona, suffered the injury late last month while training with the Dutch club.

(With inputs from agencies.)