CNN
 — 

The fan who fell onto the field at PNC Park less than a week ago, identified as Kavan Markwood, took his first steps on Monday since the incident, according to a post on a fundraiser set up by the mother of Markwood’s girlfriend.

Jennifer Phillips, who is the mother of Alonna Brown, said that Markwood’s first steps since the fall “definitely lifted everyone’s spirits” but admitted that he “still has a long way to go.”

“It’s a slow slow process, but seeing him up and moving was a huge win,” Phillips wrote.

“He’s dealing with a broken neck, clavicle, and back so there are plenty of obstacles ahead. But he’s showing real strength, and we’re staying hopeful for a smooth recovery. This will also require plenty of rest and following instructions from the great doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital.”

The incident happened during the seventh inning in a game Wednesday between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 20-year-old fell from the right field wall onto the field and was listed in critical condition. Players from both teams could be seen kneeling down, while others put their hands on their heads in concern for Markwood.

The fall is being treated as accidental, police have said.

“Thanks so much for all the love, support, and good vibes. It really means a lot as he keep giving his all to push forward. #KAVANSTRONG,” Phillips continued.

The fundraiser organized to help assist with Markwood’s medical bills has raised nearly $43,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Markwood graduated from South Allegheny High School in 2022. The school, in a post sent to CNN, said he was the team MVP of the football team and earned first team All-Conference honors: “Kavan is best known for his resilience, strength, and kindness. He is a friend to all – someone who lifts others up and faces challenges with courage and grace.”

Markwood played college football at Walsh University and Wheeling University.

CNN
 — 

Monday evening in the NBA was filled with plenty of late playoff drama as the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks picked up shocking road victories in their respective Game 1’s against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics.

The Nuggets capped off a 14-point comeback with a game-winning three-pointer from Aaron Gordon to knock off the Western Conference’s No. 1-seeded Thunder, prevailing 121-119.

And earlier in the day, the Knicks came back from 20 points down to beat the Celtics 108-105 in overtime of their opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Here’s how an eventful night of NBA playoff action played out.

While the Thunder entered the Western Conference semifinals riding high off an emphatic four-game sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Nuggets came into the series needing a Game 7 to beat the Los Angeles Clippers in a hard-fought contest.

The Thunder are many people’s favorites for the NBA title after finishing with a league-best record of 68-14 while Denver has had a turbulent season, firing head coach Michael Malone a few games before the end of the regular season.

And Game 1 of the series between the two began like many people expected, with the Thunder dominating proceedings and having their way of things.

The clash between the two teams sees a match-up between two frontrunners for this season’s MVP award – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder and Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets.

The pair shone brightly in Game 1 with Gilgeous-Alexander racking up 33 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and two steals and Jokić posting a monster stat-line of 42 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

But in the end, it was another Nuggets player who made the difference after a controversial decision by the Thunder.

After Gilgeous-Alexander dunked to give the Thunder a three-point lead with 11 seconds left, Oklahoma City decided to foul Gordon without running time off the clock. The Nuggets forward converted both free throws to cut the lead to one before Denver’s Russell Westbrook fouled center Chet Holmgren with 9.5 seconds remaining.

Holmgren missed both of his attempts and Nuggets guard Christian Braun grabbed the rebound, passing the ball to Westbrook who in turn set up Gordon’s triple and leaving Oklahoma City 2.8 seconds to respond.

Thunder guard Jalen Williams attempted a heave from deep in his half as time expired, but the ball hit the backboard and bounced away, sparking wild celebrations from the Denver squad.

The game-winning shot from Gordon is his second final-minute, game-winning moment of this postseason already after his dunk in Game 4 against the Clippers turned that series on its head.

“We just didn’t want to miss the moment, didn’t want to miss the opportunity,” Gordon said afterwards. “We knew that if we waited, it may be too late. I’m glad we showed our mettle, our grit, but we’re not satisfied.”

The Nuggets will provide a stern test for the Thunder through their combination of size and all-around magic in Jokić, with a potential all-time series brewing between two contenders as Game 2 in Oklahoma City looms on Wednesday.

The Celtics were many people’s preseason favorites to repeat this season after maintaining the core of their 2024 championship-winning team while the Knicks retooled in the offseason with title aspirations of their own.

And in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the two on Monday, it was the reigning champions who looked seasoned on this stage.

Boston – playing with all six of its most important players for just the 19th time in 88 games this season – had built a 20-point lead in the second half, although the team lost center Kristaps Porziņģis at halftime due to an illness.

Although they held a lead, the Celtics’ usual proficiency from beyond the three-point line went historically awry. Boston set two unwanted records in Game 1, for the most three-pointers attempted and missed in a playoff game, misfiring on 45 attempts as they shot 15-for-60 (25%) from deep.

The Celtics’ reliance on shots from deep allowed New York to grow back into the game through two its star players, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby.

The pair combined for 39 points over the final 23 minutes of the game in which the Knicks outscored the Celtics 53-30 to send the game to OT.

In front of a raucous, hostile TD Garden crowd, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns had big buckets in the extra period and the Knicks defense was able to step up to halt the Celtics.

Brunson and Anunoby finished with 29 points each as the Knicks stole Game 1 with Game 2 set for Wednesday night.

“We told each other just keep believing. Just keep fighting and sticking together and keep chipping away. There wasn’t going to be a 20-point shot,” Brunson said afterwards.

Sheffield, England
Reuters
 — 

Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship with a victory over Welshman and three-times winner Mark Williams at the Crucible Theatre on Monday, the latest chapter in Zhao’s remarkable rise and fall story.

The 28-year-old won by 18 frames to 12 to become the first amateur to win the world title, despite a spirited comeback attempt from Williams.

“I can’t believe what I’ve done. It’s very exciting,” said Zhao, draped in a Chinese flag. “I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.

“It’s a very special moment for me, for Chinese snooker, for everyone.”

Zhao received a 20-month ban in January 2023 after a match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport, the repercussions of which meant he was classed as an amateur at this event and needed to get through four rounds of qualifying to reach the Crucible – a grueling run to the title that began on April 7.

The Chinese player, who lives just a 10-minute walk from the Crucible venue, took an 11-6 overnight lead into Monday’s third session.

While Zhao looked completely unflappable and kept smiling throughout the afternoon session, Williams struggled for accuracy and appeared powerless to stop his opponent from taking a seemingly unassailable 17-8 lead, meaning Zhao needed to win just one frame in the evening final to claim the world title.

But a free-wheeling Williams made things interesting by winning the evening’s first four frames with a flurry of excellent shots before the younger player answered in the fifth to secure victory.

The final was already historic no matter the result, as the 50-year-old Williams became the oldest player to reach the final with his semi-final win over world No. 1 Judd Trump.

“It’s been a brilliant tournament for me,” said Williams, momentarily fighting back tears. “The support I’ve had for the past two weeks has been unbelievable.

“But what a potter Zhao is. I’m glad I’ll be too old when he’s dominating the game. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn’t played for two years, bashed everybody up. There’s a new superstar of the game.”

Zhao had swept aside seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-finals to set up what was billed as the coronation of a new snooker king.

The Chinese player, nicknamed “the Cyclone”, raced out to an early 7-1 advantage in the best-of-35-frame contest but Williams staged a mini revival in Sunday’s second session to keep alive his hopes of a fourth title.

No player, however, had overcome such a large overnight deficit since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977.

Zhao joined Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as the only qualifiers to capture snooker’s most prestigious trophy.

He banked a check for £500,000 pounds ($664,000) with Monday’s victory, while Williams won £200,000 ($265,000) and climbed to No. 3 in the world ranking.

Williams has been struggling with vision problems and played without glasses or contact lenses while he awaits lens replacement surgery in June.

“I’m still playing quite good stuff, even though my eyesight is a bit blurry,” Williams said.