TL;DR

Pacers lead NBA Finals 2-1; Suns shop Durant; Brazil, Ecuador clinch 2026 World Cup spots.

Highlights

• Pacers take 2-1 NBA Finals lead over Thunder; Bennedict Mathurin scores 27 off the bench 1.
• Suns actively exploring Kevin Durant trade before NBA Draft; Spurs are leading suitor 2.
• Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau; coaching search stalls amid denials from target candidates 3.
• Real Madrid sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool 4; Manchester United acquire Matheus Cunha from Wolves (MANCHESTER UNITED PLC ) 5.
• Brazil and Ecuador qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup; 13 teams now confirmed 1520.
• U.S. deploys ICE and Border Patrol for Club World Cup opener security, raising fan attendance concerns (Leidos Holdings, Inc. , OSI Systems Inc , Elbit Systems Ltd ) 8.
• Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits 25th homer; Kyle Schwarber reaches 21 for Phillies 9.
• Cale Makar wins second Norris Trophy as NHL’s top defenseman; Werenski finishes second 10.
• WNBA national TV viewership drops 55% since Caitlin Clark’s injury 16.
• House GOP introduces federal NIL bill; Title IX appeal delays $2B in back-pay for college athletes 617.
• Porsche Penske No. 6 disqualified from Le Mans qualifying for weight violation 13.
• Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers forced to switch helmet due to NFL safety standards (Amer Sports, Inc. , Connexa Sports Technologies Inc. Common Stock , Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. ) 11.

Commentary

Indiana’s Game 3 win in the NBA Finals, powered by Mathurin’s efficient 27-point outing off the bench, highlights the Pacers’ depth advantage as they move within two wins of a title 1. For DFS and prop bettors, Indiana’s bench rotation—especially Mathurin and McConnell—should be closely monitored heading into Game 4 1. Meanwhile, the Suns’ efforts to trade Kevin Durant before the draft, with the Spurs emerging as favorites, could significantly alter NBA futures and fantasy valuations, particularly if Durant joins Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio 2.

The Knicks’ decision to dismiss Tom Thibodeau after a deep playoff run leaves their roster and offseason plans in flux, with uncertainty likely to affect player projections and betting markets until a new coach is named 3. In European football, Real Madrid’s signing of Alexander-Arnold 4 and Manchester United’s acquisition of Cunha (MANCHESTER UNITED PLC ) 5 signal notable changes for fantasy and outright markets as both clubs reshape their squads for the upcoming season.

Brazil and Ecuador’s World Cup qualification brings the confirmed field to 13 1520, while Mexico’s Estadio Azteca renovation and U.S. immigration enforcement at Club World Cup matches (Leidos Holdings, Inc. , OSI Systems Inc , Elbit Systems Ltd ) 820 introduce operational variables for fans and stakeholders, with potential implications for attendance and event atmosphere. In MLB, Aaron Judge’s continued power surge and Schwarber’s midsummer form are relevant for home run props and fantasy lineups 9.

Elsewhere, Cale Makar’s Norris Trophy win reaffirms his status as a top fantasy defenseman 10. The WNBA’s steep viewership drop following Caitlin Clark’s injury underscores her impact on league engagement and betting volume 16. The ongoing NIL legal dispute delays back-pay to college athletes, but revenue-sharing for current players is still targeted for July 1 617. Porsche Penske’s Le Mans disqualification reshuffles the grid 13, and Aaron Rodgers’ forced helmet switch is a minor but notable adjustment for the Steelers (Amer Sports, Inc. , Connexa Sports Technologies Inc. Common Stock , Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. ) 11.