MINNEAPOLIS —  Injuries, tears, chaos and then, mercifully, Simone Biles. A mere 15 minutes into the U.S. Olympic Trials, the entire evening felt unhinged, if not off the rails. Shilese Jones, a prohibitive favorite to make the five-woman team as an all-arounder, injured her left knee during vault warmups and then 15 minutes later, 2020 Olympic alternate Kayla DiCello exited the arena in a wheelchair, hurt on the first vault of the night. Into the abyss stepped the surest thing in gymnastics. Biles grabbed the uneven bars, hit her routine and scored a 14.425, the second best of the evening. She was not entirely immune to the mayhem. She barely saved her mount onto the balance beam, appearing visibility miffed with herself for the miscue and punctuated her frustration with an exclamation that rhymes with duck after completing her set. But she then stepped onto the floor for her next rotation and did things no other human on the planet can do (or really should be able to do) — seemingly with ease. She scored a 14.850, the crowd loudly gasping as she ran through her signature moves — the Biles II, and then the Biles I. …Ready for it? SIMONE BILES’ FLOOR ROUTINE 🤩 #USAGTrials24 pic.twitter.com/kUcQsBDqw4 — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 29, 2024 She finished the evening with an equally impossibly difficult double pike on vault, with every single gymnast on the floor turning their eyes to her as she began her sprint. Biles lofted into the air and landed with just the smallest of steps backwards, earning an extended standing ovation. She scored an eye-popping 15.975 to finish day one of trials where she generally lands — atop the all-around leaderboard standings. Right behind her stood fellow Tokyo Olympians Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee, the veterans helping to restore some other to an otherwise unsettled evening. Lee, the reigning all-around Olympic gold medalist who has been dealing with two kidney diseases for the past year, missed a connection on uneven bars and fought hard for a save on beam, but the difficulty of both sets made up for the bobbles. The Minnesota native, enjoying the hometown crowd’s adoration, scored a third-best 14.400 on bars and the top score on beam with a 14.400. She also unveiled an entirely new floor routine, scoring a 13.700, leaving the floor looking equal parts happy and relieved. Chiles, the vivacious crowd pleaser, punctuated her 14.100 on floor with a fist bump and “let’s go,‘’ to the crowd. Another powerhouse on vault, she added a score of 14.325. The crowd and the team needed their levelheadedness after a rocky start to the evening. Two days after Skye Blakely had to withdraw after rupturing her Achilles during training,  Jones injured her left knee just as warmups were winding down and had to be helped off the floor. Slated to start on that same apparatus, she instead sat it out, walking away from the vault and grabbing a sweatshirt. One rotation later, however, she completed her uneven bars set — despite getting a large blister on her palm in the process. She landed gingerly on her dismount and then scratched from the remainder of the meet. Jones only had to compete on one apparatus, however, to still be eligible for a spot on the Olympic squad. While the Trials factor largely into the decisions from the three-person selection committee, there is plenty of wiggle room for discretionary choices. Jones did not, however, compete in the U.S Championships as she nursed a shoulder injury. DiCello’s return appears doubtful. Introduced as the first athlete of the evening, she never really got into her vault, and landed on the mat unable to move and in tears. Medical staff immediately scooped her up and placed her in a wheelchair. She did not return to the competition floor. That leaves 14 women — presuming Jones can continue — fighting for the five spots at Sunday’s trials finale. Required reading They have one of Team USA’s toughest jobs: Picking Simone Biles’ Olympics teammates The story in Simone Biles’ new floor routine: The ‘big boss of gymnastics’ is back (Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton took their rivalry from the NBA court to the pro wrestling ring Friday night. The two All-Star guards made appearances on WWE’s “SmackDown,” which took place at Madison Square Garden, home of Brunson’s New York Knicks. It’s also the place where Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals a few weeks ago, eliminating the Knicks from the playoffs. That background was the perfect setup for a potential confrontation. Before a match, United States champion Logan Paul — yes, that Logan Paul — introduced Haliburton, a well-known wrestling fan, to the crowd. Haliburton strutted down the aisle with Paul, embracing the chorus of boos and engaging in a short stare down with Brunson, who was seated at ringside. .@LoganPaul 🤝 @TyHaliburton22 Watch out, @TyHaliburton22! @jalenbrunson1 is watching you 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4bHSyz1HcS — WWE (@WWE) June 29, 2024 Toward the end of the match, Paul asked Haliburton for a little assistance with the help of a pair of brass knuckles, a tactic Paul has used to win matches in the past. That led to more jeers from the crowd — and Brunson jumping into the ringside area to prevent the interference, much to the delight of the MSG crowd, which showered him with “M-V-P!” chants. The Knicks/Pacers rivalry moves to the WWE 🍿 Jalen Brunson stopped Tyrese Haliburton from helping Logan Paul cheat to win his Money in the Bank match. 🎥 @WWEpic.twitter.com/BnmSeF1vdt — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 29, 2024 Paul’s rival LA Knight ended up winning the match, but that didn’t stop Paul and Haliburton from threatening another attack. That is, until Brunson got involved again, this time with a steel chair. .@jalenbrunson1 has @RealLAKnight's back 😤💪#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GElH909pJe — WWE (@WWE) June 29, 2024 No punches were thrown (would NBA commissioner Adam Silver even allow that?), and Paul and Haliburton slowly exited the ring as Knight and Brunson celebrated his win. It’s not the first time WWE has leaned into NBA hatred. Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young made his own MSG appearance on “SmackDown” a couple years ago, months after after the Hawks beat the Knicks in the playoffs. What a way to get ready for free agency. Required reading Breaking down Jalen Brunson’s star card, Julius Randle’s future and more What’s next for Pacers? Conference finals run shows path to sustainable success How Jalen Brunson’s constant movement is a staple for the Knicks offense On Tyrese Haliburton’s tough times and why he’s sure smiles will return for him and Pacers (Photo: David Dow / NBAE via Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS — Kayla DiCello, an alternate on the 2020 Olympic team, was taken off the floor in a wheelchair on the very first routine on day one of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials. USA Gymnastics said DiCello would not compete Friday and added that “her condition is being evaluated by the medical team,” in a statement posted to X. Her status for day two of trials is unclear. DiCello was the first competitor up on vault and intended to perform a double-twisting skill in a laid-out position but instead flipped over the vault table in a tuck position without twisting. She appeared to suffer the injury as she launched off the springboard. DiCello, 20, sat down immediately on the mat in tears, and was carried off by medical staff before being wheeled out of the arena. NBC broadcasters said she had been dealing with Achilles soreness. Reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee, who is sharing a room with DiCello while in Minneapolis for trials and was the second gymnast up on vault, was in tears after seeing her close friend’s injury. A standout gymnast at the University of Florida, DiCello took a break from NCAA gymnastics this past season to focus solely on earning a ticket to Paris. She was an alternate on the team that took gold at the 2023 World Championships and earned an individual bronze medal in the all-around at 2021 worlds.  At U.S. Championships earlier this month, DiCello finished third in the all-around and second on floor exercise. DiCello’s injury came a mere 15 minutes after Shilese Jones, a prohibitive favorite to make the team, had to be helped off with a knee injury during vault warmups. Jones was introduced at the start of the meet, but did not compete on that event, walking away from the warmup rotation and grabbing a sweatshirt. She did compete on uneven bars, her best event, and scored a 14.675 before withdrawing from the remaining events. Jones is still in contention for the Olympic team and could compete more events on Sunday, the final day of trials. Two days earlier, Skye Blakely, another strong contender to make the five-women team, ruptured her Achilles during training. Blakely was on the competition floor on crutches Friday. Required reading How Simone Biles and the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team is shaping up They have one of Team USA’s toughest jobs: Picking Simone Biles’ Olympics teammates (Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)

Follow our live coverage of the 2024 NHL Draft. Follow along with our NHL Draft grades and analysis. LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Blackhawks’ last Stanley Cup window shut permanently with the demise of their defense. Johnny Oduya left in free agency. Niklas Hjalmarsson was traded. Brent Seabrook couldn’t physically maintain his high level. Duncan Keith tried to carry the load, but it wasn’t enough as younger and older reinforcements failed to fill the holes. Now, after years of defensive struggles, the blue line is the first area Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has worked to address in the franchise’s rebuild. After drafting a defenseman in the first round in each of his first two drafts, Davidson selected his third and arguably most significant one Friday when the Blackhawks took Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Although the Blackhawks debated internally and were immensely intrigued by draft prospect Ivan Demidov’s offensive ability, Chicago opted for the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Levshunov, whom they believe has the size, strength and two-way upside to be a future No. 1 defenseman. The Blackhawks did their homework throughout the past two years on Levshunov and were convinced of his potential. GO DEEPERExclusive: Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz on Davidson, rebuild, draft Levshunov is originally from Belarus and arrived in the United States before the 2022-23 season. He played for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL in his first season, then went on to play college hockey and was a freshman defenseman at Michigan State this past season. The Blackhawks have another major decision ahead: whether to ask Levshunov to return to Michigan State for a sophomore season or turn pro. The Blackhawks could sign Levshunov and assign him to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Aside from what the Blackhawks envision him to be, Levshunov also helps fill a need for right-handed defensemen within the organization. Outside of current NHL defensemen Seth Jones and Connor Murphy, the Blackhawks only have a few prospects who are right-handed. Sam Rinzel, who is returning to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore season, is also right-handed. Required reading 2024 NHL Draft prospect Artyom Levshunov on Ivan Demidov, Blackhawks and Michigan State Chicago Blackhawks NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysis (Photo: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS — On Friday night at the Sphere, the San Jose Sharks said out loud what had already been not-so-quietly suggested for weeks: Boston University star Macklin Celebrini was the No. 1 prospect — and their No. 1 pick — in the 2024 NHL Draft. Sharks general manager Mike Grier, a Boston University alum himself, made it official. There were never any what-ifs at the top of this year’s draft. Celebrini, a 6-foot, 197-pound center, held the pole position for two years. A shark is born. With the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks select center Macklin Celebrini.@SanJoseSharks | #NHLDrafthttps://t.co/IZzBdrcYYt pic.twitter.com/LX4azSvFYh — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 28, 2024 At 16, he was named USHL Player of the Year and led Canada in scoring at U18 worlds with 15 points in seven games — as an underager and while playing through a shoulder injury that would require surgery. That year, his 46 goals and 86 points (in just 50 games) shattered the USHL’s single-season under-17 mark. That season, one rival USHL head coach told The Athletic Celebrini was “an outlier, Sidney Crosby type.” As the youngest player in college hockey this season and in return from that shoulder surgery, Celebrini also became the youngest player in NCAA history to win the Hobey Baker Award, registering 64 points in 38 games as a freshman and leading the Terriers to the Frozen Four. At midseason, he also registered eight points in five games as Canada’s leading scorer — and youngest player — at the world juniors. GO DEEPERWhat makes Macklin Celebrini so good? 4 stories that reveal why he’ll transform the Sharks On a Tuesday phone call in advance of the draft, BU head coach Jay Pandolfo said, “The Sharks are getting a player that you can really build around.” The fit is a natural one for both Celebrini (who played minor hockey for the San Jose Jr. Sharks AAA program and whose father, Rick, is the Golden State Warriors’ longtime director of sports medicine and performance) and San Jose (which got a cornerstone potential first-line center to rebuild around). Pandolfo called it a full-circle moment. “I think it’s special just because of how it transpired, with his family moving to California for his dad’s job and then him playing for the Jr. Sharks,” he said. “And it has been talked about for a long time that he’s a potential No. 1 pick, so for him to have all that pressure and the expectations and still separate himself as the No. 1 and then end up in San Jose where his family’s at, I think it’s pretty special for him and his family. And I think for a young kid like that with high expectations, to be close to home can certainly help.” My feature on Macklin Celebrini, who is scoring s goal per game to start his freshman season at BU, and how a lifetime spent around top athletic performers helped him beat his timeline after off-season shoulder surgery via @TheAthletic: https://t.co/JiSuhJowI2 — Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) November 2, 2023 Celebrini joins a recent cast of Sharks first-round picks led by Boston College center Will Smith, OHL 100-point man Quentin Musty, Russian defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and Swedes William Eklund, Filip Bystesdt and David Edstrom in San Jose’s growing pool of prospects. How Celebrini fits in San Jose This is a historic day for the Sharks. They’ve had a No. 1 pick and Joe Thornton’s brilliant 15-year run will be commemorated with his No. 19 being retired sometime next season, but Thornton was the result of the greatest trade in franchise history. But this was the first time they’ve drafted No. 1 and Celebrini will undoubtedly be seen as the player that leads San Jose back to prominence. Four years removed from playing in the San Jose Jr. Sharks program after his family moved from North Vancouver to the Bay Area, Celebrini now becomes a senior Shark and could make his NHL debut on opening night if he decides to leave Boston University and sign with the team. The 18-year-old has nothing more to accomplish at the collegiate level outside of winning an NCAA title after reaching the Frozen Four. The allure of starting his pro career right away with college rival, and eventual teammate Will Smith, could be tempting after Smith signed with San Jose following his terrific one-and-done season at Boston College. If they evolve into top NHL talents, Celebrini and Smith could give the Sharks the kind of one-two punch Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were for Chicago Blackhawks. Celebrini is lauded for his all-around ability at center, equally able to be a game-changing force on the offensive end while displaying a high level of defensive acumen at such a young age. Grier hasn’t been all that coy about who he’d pick No. 1 since winning the draft lottery and he didn’t need to be. The draft from the No. 2 pick carries intrigue in terms of which highly rated prospect goes where with several at the top rated evenly. No one was higher than Celebrini, whose maturity beyond his years won over Grier off the ice, as well as his feats on it. “We had dinner with him, and he sat at a table with eight grown men and held the conversation and was at ease and was comfortable,” Grier said earlier this week. “I think he’s a great kid. His parents did a really good job raising him. Well-mannered. Polite. But when you sit down with him for two minutes, I think you really feel his drive and competitiveness. Kind of just seeps out of him. “I think that’s what you notice most. He’s a driven kid. He’s an alpha. Kind of all the things to expect and (based on) experience from other No. 1 picks, he has all that stuff and the belief in himself and the will and the want to get better and work on his craft. He’s an impressive kid.” Such is the excitement over a potential new and marketable franchise face that SAP Center in San Jose was nearly filled to the brim for the Macklin Celebration draft party. The Sharks, in a symbolic and franchise-defining way, turned the page from an NHL-worst 19-win season. While Celebrini won’t execute an immediate turnaround on his own, his presence at the heart of a new young core brimming with possibilities makes them relevant again and a team to watch in the coming seasons. — Eric Stephens, Sharks staff writer Required reading: What makes Macklin Celebrini so good? 4 stories that reveal why he’ll transform the Sharks How NBA superstars showed the NHL’s next top prospect the way How does Macklin Celebrini compare to recent No. 1 NHL Draft picks? Scouts, execs weigh in NHL Draft Guide 2024: Prospect rankings, mock drafts and more (Photo: Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images)

James Franklin has landed how many verbal commitments in the past week? It’s been a critical few days during a busy month in which the Nittany Lions’ 2025 class has now picked up commitments from nine players in June. Six of those pledges have come since June 21. GO DEEPERWhat's the secret to Penn State landing elite 2025 edge rushers? Nittany Lions recruiting notebook Four-star wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr. of Maryland’s McDonogh School is the newest pledge. Exinor picked Penn State over Maryland and Virginia Tech on Friday night. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect is ranked 273rd nationally per the 247Sports Composite and is the 11th-best athlete this cycle. Exinor, who is the 20th prospect verbally committed to this class, helps fill a pressing need. Exinor joins wide receiver Lyrick Samuel, a four-star prospect from Brooklyn’s Erasmus Hall High School, as just the second wide receiver in this group. 1000% Commited‼️ pic.twitter.com/wM2GAUgK6f — Jeff “El Jefe” Exinor (@JrExinor) June 28, 2024 While much of the past week has been about Penn State snagging pledges from edge rushers in Kansas and Texas and a 2026 quarterback commit from San Marcos, California, Exinor’s pledge is a reminder that Penn State’s grip remains strong on McDonogh. No, the Nittany Lions won’t land every McDonogh prospect, a detail they were reminded of earlier this week when cornerback Brandon Finney picked Oregon over a group of finalists that included Penn State, but the Nittany Lions hit rate is still remarkably high there. It’s still the school that’s located 40 miles from College Park, Md., the one Franklin has strong ties to from his time at Maryland and the one Kenny Sanders, Penn State’s director of player personnel, graduated from in 2000. Because of these factors, McDonogh has become one of the biggest pipelines of talent for Penn State football. GO DEEPERPenn State recruiting: Why Kenny Sanders returned ‘back home’ from Oregon to bolster the Nittany Lions’ department Former Nittany Lions like Curtis Jacobs and PJ Mustipher once starred at McDonogh while Penn State’s current roster features three scholarship players — defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, defensive end Mason Robinson and defensive tackle Dvon Ellies — who all matriculated from the school. Exinor closed out his official visits this month with trips to Penn State and Maryland. It was Terrapins offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis, one of the original members of Franklin’s Penn State staff, who was recruiting him to Maryland. (Photo: Matthew OHaren / USA Today)

By Shams Charania, Hunter Patterson and Will Guillory The Atlanta Hawks have traded guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources confirmed Friday. The Hawks are receiving Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, E.J. Lidell and two first-round picks from the Pelicans in return. Pelicans are moving Larry Nance Jr. and two first-round picks to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2024 Murray averaged 22.5 points, a career-high 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals on 36.3 percent shooting from 3-point range for the Hawks last season, his second in Atlanta after arriving from the San Antonio Spurs in a 2022 blockbuster. The 27-year-old guard was an All-Star during his final season with the Spurs and was named to the All-Defensive second team during 2018. Murray has posted at least 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and a steal per game for the last three years. The Hawks underwhelmed in both of Murray’s years with the team, going 41-41 in 2022-23 and 36-46 in 2023-24. Murray also reportedly clashed with Hawks star guard Trae Young, who is a three-time All-Star and signed a five-year max deal in 2022. What motivated New Orleans to get this done? New Orleans pulls off a fascinating move that’s been in the making for quite some time. The Pelicans and Hawks were deep in negotiations on a potential Murray deal before the trade deadline in February, but both sides decided to walk away. While New Orleans has been in constant trade rumors lately involving Brandon Ingram as he enters the last year of his contract, pulling off a deal like this to acquire a former All-Star without including Ingram is a massive win for the Pelicans. Murray brings a true point guard with defensive chops to a team that struggled mightily to execute late in games last season. New Orleans will have to figure out how to fit Murray next to CJ McCollum in the backcourt, but having another ballhandling option with size, vision and scoring ability should make life much easier for Zion Williamson. The big question now will be is this trade an indication that Ingram is staying with the Pelicans or is this just the first move before New Orleans pull off another blockbuster at a later date? —  Will Guillory, Pelicans beat writer Required reading Pelicans-Hawks trade grades: Is New Orleans a contender with Dejounte Murray? With Dejounte Murray trade, Hawks finally move forward and reset around Trae Young — for now Pelicans enter NBA Draft needing to find their center of the future (Photo: Stephen Lew / USA Today)