CNN
 — 

After a Saturday full of multiple close games, the Sunday slate delved into more of the decidedly not-so close contests.

The four-game lineup was headlined by Stephen Curry and No. 7 seeded Golden State taking on the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on Sunday night, where the two-time MVP scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Warriors to a 95-85 Game 1 win.

The game looked like a sure-fire blowout halfway through the third quarter with Golden State up by 23 points, but the young Houston squad cut the deficit to nine heading into the final frame and got the lead down to as low as four with just over five minutes remaining.

After a Curry three-pointer put the Warriors up by seven points, a few minutes later, an Amen Thompson’s basket would yet again make it a four-point game.

However, Golden State forward Moses Moody hit his only triple of the game, leading to a 7-0 run to close out Game 1.

Game 1, WON. pic.twitter.com/D2ZOgNxLCV

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 21, 2025

After the contest, Curry said the advantage of experience come playoff time comes in the form of “not getting rattled.”

“If there’s runs, you understand it’s a 48-minute game,” Curry told the TNT broadcast. “Especially on the road, hostile environment, a team playing relentless, physical, tough basketball. You just kind of got to stick with it. There’s going to be runs.

“We were up 20 in the second half and nobody was really happy on the bench because we understood it was a long game. So, when they made the run, the composure matters because then you can make plays down the stretch. Whether it goes your way or not, you kind of rely on that.”

Game 2 is on Wednesday in Houston.

In the early game Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a massive statement of intent.

The regular season NBA-best Thunder blew out the Memphis Grizzlies, winning 131-80 to take a 1-0 series lead. The 51-point margin of victory is the largest Game 1 win in NBA playoff history.

Oklahoma City already goes into the next game with an advantage not reflected in the box score: rest.

None of OKC’s starting five played more than 26 minutes after the game appeared to be out of reach from the jump.

Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins was one of six OKC players to hit double figures, coming off the bench to score a game-high 21 points.

Memphis star Ja Morant and forward Marvin Bagley III both had 17 to lead the way for the visitors. The Grizzlies will have a chance to bounce back on Tuesday in Game 2.

The No. 2 Boston Celtics were in control all game in their 103-86 win over the No. 7 Orlando Magic at the TD Garden to take a 1-0 series lead.

The reigning NBA champions were led by Derrick White’s 30 points, including seven three-pointers, with Payton Pritchard adding 19 points off the bench.

Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum – who finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds – had a scary moment late in the game after falling on his wrist after going up for a dunk. Tatum was hit hard by Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who tried to block the shot.

The foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1 and Tatum would finish the game.

Afterwards, the 27-year-old said X-rays came back negative and that his wrist was “throbbing” after landing on it, but the pain had since gone away.

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday.

The No. 1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers got off to an auspicious start in their NBA title quest, blowing out the Miami Heat 121-100 to take Game 1 at Rocket Arena in Ohio.

Two players led the charge for the Cavs: Donovan Mitchell and Ty Jerome, who combined for 58 points.

Six-time All-Star Mitchell led the way with 30 points, his seventh straight series hitting the mark in a Game 1, tying the legendary Michael Jordan.

Jerome, who earlier was named a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, scored 28 points off the bench.

GOODNIGHT CLEVELAND. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/oq7thDFRvb

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 21, 2025

Cleveland was up 16 points at one point, but the Heat came roaring back into the game, cutting the deficit to eight with just over seven minutes remaining.

However, Jerome scored 10 straight points to pave the way for the Cavs to go on a 13-4 run and put the game to bed.

Game 2 is on Wednesday at the Rocket Arena.

CNN
 — 

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was so sure that the umpire had made an incorrect call during her Stuttgart Open quarterfinal victory over Elise Mertens that she used a mobile phone to photograph the mark left by the ball.

Tied at three games each in the first set but down two break points, Sabalenka’s volley was called out. The Belarusian challenged the decision and umpire Miriam Bley went over to check the mark, but confirmed the original call.

During the changeover, an apparently bemused Sabalenka crossed the court to check the mark, before urging Bley to check it again. When the umpire refused, the three-time Grand Slam singles winner collected a phone from a member of her team and took a photograph of the mark in the clay, to a mixture of cheers and whistles from the crowd.

She promptly received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Sabalenka said in her on-court interview afterward that she thought the umpire was irritated by the picture she took.

“When I gave her a handshake there was a very interesting look and a very strong handshake, never had it before,” Sabalenka said.

Asked whether she squeezed back, the 26-year-old replied: “No, it’s okay. Why would I play this game with someone like her?”

Seemingly unaffected by the controversy, Sabalenka broke back instantly and went on to win the match 6-4, 6-1.

The quarterfinal against Mertens, her former doubles partner, was Sabalenka’s first match at this year’s tournament after she got a bye through the first round and a walkover in the second. She will face No. 5 Jasmine Paolini in the semifinal on Sunday after the Italian beat No. 4 Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3.

Elsewhere at the Stuttgart Open, Jelena Ostapenko beat world No. 2 Iga Świątek 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to extend her remarkable record over the Polish player to six wins and no losses.

“I have so much respect to her and her team and everything she is doing for tennis,” said the world No. 24. “But every time I step on the court with her it’s another battle. I’m ready for it. Even if I don’t feel great on the day, I will just fight and leave it all on the court.”

CNN
 — 

Teenage phenom Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest ever cricketer to appear in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he made his debut for the Rajasthan Royals on Saturday at the age of just 14 years and 23 days.

Suryavanshi, who was opening the batting for the Royals against the Lucknow Super Giants, promptly hit his first ball for six to the delight of the packed crowd at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

He eventually scored 34 off 20 balls before he was stumped by Rishabh Pant off Aiden Markram’s delivery in the ninth over, ending an 85-run partnership he shared with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the first wicket.

And as Suryavanshi walked off, television cameras caught him wiping away a tear, perhaps caught in the enormity of the moment.

The IPL is India’s most lucrative sporting competition and one of the biggest leagues in the world, valued at $12 billion in 2024, according to Reuters.

Even Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated Suryavanshi on his debut, posting on X: “Woke up to watch an 8th grader play in the IPL!!!! What a debut!”

Despite the history-making day for Suryavanshi, the Royals succumbed to an agonizing two-run loss against the Super Giants.

“It was important to give Vaibhav the opportunity when the right moment presented itself and I think today was the day,” Sairaj Bahutule, the Rajasthan Royals spin bowling coach, said after Saturday’s game, according to the franchise.

“Vaibhav is a great kid with a good head on his shoulders. He almost has a 360-degree game. He is courageous, brave and always wants to dominate. He doesn’t care much for who is bowling to him. His philosophy is see the ball and hit the ball.”

Before making his debut, Suryavanshi had already made history last November as the youngest player to have his rights purchased at the IPL auction. The Royals bought them for 11 million Indian rupees (around $130,000) after a bidding spree with the Delhi Capitals forced his price up.