Stan Van Gundy selected his words with thought.

He called Dallas Mavericks star guards Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic “the most talented backcourt in NBA history.”

The TNT analyst was careful. He didn’t say “best” backcourt in history. He said talented. It’s a distinction.

Doncic and Irving have prompted a discussion about their place among the all-time great backcourts.

That’s sports talk show debate, and at the very least, it’s a worthwhile conversation so that great backcourt combos are remembered in historical context. Knowing what Detroit’s Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars brought to the game is as important as understanding the impact and contribution Golden State’s Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have had.

More specificly, Doncic and Irving are the best shotmaking guards in the same backcourt the league has seen in a long time. Yes, Curry and Thompson have an argument, but in terms of creativity and proficiency, Doncic and Irving are a unique pair with their outside shooting and nifty work near the rim.

Do they have enough shotmaking – and defensive grit – to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals? Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday in Boston.

Celtics will counter with Tatum and Brown

And the Celtics also have two talented shotmaking perimeter players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Doncic and Irving, and Tatum and Brown are the stars in the series, and while others will help determine the outcome, those four will have the biggest impact.

Irving has a title with the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers, but Tatum and Brown or Doncic will win their first NBA title – the kind of achievement that begins to cement legacies.

This is Doncic’s first Finals appearance, and Tatum and Brown lost to Golden State in the 2022 Finals. Irving will play in his fourth Finals, and he is responsible for one of the biggest shots in Game 7 Finals history, making the go-ahead and winning 3-pointer against Golden State with 53 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

The Doncic-Irving combination has worked in Dallas. It took time. The Mavs had searched for the right player around Doncic and tried with Kristaps Porzingis, who is now with Boston. Dallas acquired Irving from Brooklyn at the 2023 trade deadline, but the Mavs missed the play-in game and the playoffs (intentionally so they could retain their lottery pick in the draft).

Doncic, who finished third in this season’s MVP voting, averaged a career-high in in points (33.9) and assists (9.8) and posted 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 48.7% from the field and 38.2% on 3s, another career-high.

Irving had an unappreciated season and just missed a spot in the respected 50-40-90 club. He shot 49.7% from the field, 41.1% on 3s and 90.5% on free throws and averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals.

They have continued that production in the playoffs. Doncic and Irving have scored 51.6 points per game in 17 playoff games. Doncic has eight playoff games with at least 30 points, and Irving has six.

Each scored 36 points in the decisive Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, marking the fourth time in this season’s playoffs that they have each scored at least 30 in the same game – an NBA record for a backcourt duo in the same playoffs.

“It’s a beautiful combination,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Those two play off of each other, and you can see that they care about one another. They’re in competition right now with who’s playing the best defense. And that’s kind of cool to see because we used to look at Kai and Luka a lot of times they’re not known for our defensive guys, but they’re competing and it’s fun to see internally and it’s a healthy thing.”

Can they keep that offense going against the Celtics? The Mavs just beat Minnesota, which owned the league’s best regular-season defense. Now, they get the Celtics, who were No. 2 defensively and have better perimeter defenders than Minnesota when you include All-Defensive selections Jrue Holiday and Derrick White alongside Tatum and Brown

Boston will make it difficult on Doncic and Irving with double-teams on Doncic and different defenders on both players. The Celtics will try to wear them down. Will Doncic and Irving have enough to give defensively against the Celtics who have four wings capable of scoring 20 points? That’s the next challenge, and so far, the Mavs have aced whatever comes their way.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

With two goals in the final 20 minutes, Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, extending the club’s record with a 15th European title.

Dani Carvajal (74th minute) and Vinicius Junior (83rd minute) were the goal-scoring heroes for Real Madrid, which claimed its sixth Champions League win in the past 11 seasons.

‘That’s Real Madrid for you,’ 20-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham told CBS Sports after winning the Champions League in his first season with the club. ‘We have game-winners all over the pitch and we showed that again tonight.’

Bellingham called it ‘the best night of my life.’

Dortmund had been dominant in the first half but were unable to convert on some big opportunities, letting Madrid off the hook as halftime reset the momentum at London’s Wembley Stadium.

‘After the first half we didn’t even deserve to go to the changing room with a level score,’ said Carvajal, whose goal was his first in the Champions League since 2015. ‘But we came out of the first half alive, knowing that we would have our moment … and here it is’.

Said Dortmund manager Edin Terzi: ‘We did a lot of things right but they had this killer instinct. They were ice cold and they are deserved champions.’

Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded:

Final: Real Madrid 2, Borussia Dortmund 0

Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for a record-extending 15th time with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday.

Huge favorites going in to the game, the Spanish side were outplayed for long periods but broke Dortmund’s resistance with late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jr.

Veteran right back Carvajal glanced in a header from a Toni Kroos corner in the 74th minute, sparking Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

It was also a record-extending fifth triumph as a coach for Ancelotti, who also won it twice as a player with AC Milan.

– Reuters

Goal! Vinicius Jr. seals it for Madrid in 83rd minute

With Dortmund looking tired, Vinicius Junior put a left-footed shot past Gregor Kobel in the 83rd minute to extend Real Madrid’s lead to 2-0, all but clinching the club’s 15th European championship.

Goal! Dani Carvajal makes it 1-0 Real Madrid

Defender Dani Carvajal scored a header off a corner kick in the 74th minute, putting Real Madrid ahead 1-0 with less than a quarter-hour left to play.

Carvajal turned Toni Kroos’ corner across the face of goal and past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, the Spanish international an unlikely goal-scorer as Madrid can now taste its 15th European championship.

Playing his 11th season with Real Madrid, the 32-year-old Carvajal scored for just the second time in more than 80 European appearances.

Madrid vs. Dortmund still scoreless in 55th minute

The second half is underway at Wembley Stadium with Borussia Dortmund trying to keep up the pressure after a dominant performance in the first 45 minutes.

Seeking its 15th European championship, Real Madrid looked vulnerable on the counterattack and required two big saves from Thibaut Courtois.

Halftime: Real Madrid 0, Borussia Dortmund 0

After dominating the first 45 minutes, Dortmund must be unhappy to the hear the halftime whistle. The Germans were the much better team in the first half, managing eight shots (three on goal) against the 14-time champions. They should probably be on top, but squandered a couple of big opportunities before the intermission.

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has come through to keep Dortmund out, but his team needs to clean things up at the back in the second half.

27′: Borussia Dortmund comes close twice

Minutes after Karim Adeyemi couldn’t navigate around Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a 1-on-1, Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug hit the post, though replays showed that he likely would have been called offside had he scored.

We’re still scoreless in the 27th minute.

Champions League final underway in London

The two sides have split possession in the first 15 minutes, with Real Madrid managing two shots to Dortmund’s one. Vinícius Júnior had a decent chance in the 15th minute for Real Madrid, but skied his attempt from inside the penalty area.

Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund lineups

Here’s how Real Madrid is lining up on Saturday:

Borussia Dortmund’s starting XI:

Where is the Champions League final in 2024?

London’s Wembley Stadium is hosting the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday.

It’s the third final to be played at the new Wembley, with Barcelona defeating Manchester United in 2011 and Bayern Munich beating Dortmund in 2013’s all-German affair.

Thibaut Courtois back in goal in Real Madrid lineup

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti ended his side’s goalkeeper debate on Friday by announcing that Thibaut Courtois will start over Andriy Lunin in Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Widely considered one of the best keepers in the world, Courtois has started five games since returning from a long lay-off after suffering a torn ACL in August.

His return had left the Italian coach with a tricky decision as stand-in Lunin shone during Real’s La Liga title campaign and was the hero when they beat Manchester City on penalties to reach the Champions League semifinals.

– Reuters

Clubs with most Champions League titles

Real Madrid has won the tournament 14 times, the most of any club.

Here’s a look at all the clubs to have won the competition on multiple occasions:

Real Madrid: 14 times
AC Milan: 7
Bayern Munich: 6
Liverpool: 6
Barcelona: 5
Ajax: 4
Inter Milan: 3
Manchester United: 3
Juventus: 2
Benfica: 2
Chelsea: 2
Nottingham Forest: 2
Porto: 2

Marco Reus playing final match for Borussia Dortmund 

Long considered one of the most talented players of his generation, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus has failed to taste major success in an injury-plagued career but the German is now ready to leave the club with the Champions League trophy.

The 34-year-old attacking midfielder is departing Dortmund after 12 years at the club and hopes to do so on a high in his last match for them by beating mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

‘Borussia Dortmund means everything for me,’ Reus said this week. ‘When you are 12 years at a club then it just has to mean everything.’

– Reuters

Champions League final preview: Dortmund must be ‘brave’ to win

Borussia Dortmund have not traveled so far in this season’s Champions League to be mere witnesses to Real Madrid lifting the trophy for a record-extending 15th time, coach Edin Terzic vowed on Friday on the eve of the Wembley showdown.

‘You don’t play a final, you win a final and that is our clear goal,’ said Terzic, who will be up against his role model Carlos Ancelotti.

Dortmund finished a distant fifth in the Bundesliga this season and few would have given them much hope of reaching their first Champions League final since 2013 when Wembley also hosted their defeat against favorites Bayern Munich.

‘(Real) have a role as the favorites, but we weren’t favorites against Atletico or Paris either,’ Terzic said.

‘If we are brave and not here to see Madrid win their next trophy, then we’re going to have a chance.’

– Reuters

Jadon Sancho shines for Dortmund after Manchester United falling out

Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho said it feels surreal to be playing in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday after struggling for game time at Manchester United.

The 24-year-old joined United from Dortmund for 85 million euros ($92 million) in August 2021 but failed to hold down a regular spot and returned to Germany on loan in January after becoming embroiled in a row with manager Erik ten Hag.

‘To be fair, it felt surreal. Again, it still hasn’t hit me,’ he told CNN in an interview published on Thursday.

‘It’s kind of crazy, you know, I don’t think anyone would have expected this – me being in the Champions League final, especially where I came from? I’m just happy.’

– Reuters

List of Champions League winners

2022-23: Manchester City
2021-22: Real Madrid
2020-21: Chelsea
2019-20: Bayern Munich
2018-19: Liverpool
2017-18: Real Madrid
2016-17: Real Madrid
2015-16: Real Madrid
2014-15: Barcelona
2013-14: Real Madrid
2012-13: Bayern Munich
2011-12: Chelsea
2010-11: Barcelona
2009-10: Inter Milan

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Columbus Crew standout Darlington Nagbe is one of 10 players in Major League Soccer history to win at least four league titles.

But he hasn’t been able to sleep without hearing a wise joke from his wife, Felicia, for the latest sacrifice he and his teammates have made to prepare for another title pursuit this weekend.

Crew players have been altitude training, which includes sleeping while wearing a contraption around their upper body, to help them adjust for the nearly 8,000-feet altitude they’ll be playing in when they face Pachuca at Estadio Hidalgo in Mexico during the Concacaf Champions Cup final on Saturday night.

“She just thinks it’s funny. She makes fun of it. We’ve been together for a long time so she’s seen everything I have to do to try and win a soccer game,” Nagbe told USA TODAY Sports of his experience. “She says she’s going to burn it and throw it away. I told her it’s here to stay forever. So, we just joke about things like that. I can’t let her win, so I have to say something back.”

The Crew have a chance to be recognized as the best soccer team in North America, and earn a spot to compete for best in the world at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

They enter as a +400 underdog on the road, with +310 odds to draw, while Pachuca is a -165 favorite at home, according to BETMGM.

The lack of oxygen at the high elevation above sea level will surely play a factor for the reigning MLS champions competing in Saturday’s final.

“Perceived exertion is maybe the most brutal of all. It just feels so much more challenging,” Hypoxico CEO Brian Oestrike said Thursday before driving a packed, 16-foot U-Haul truck with the training equipment Columbus used back to company headquarters in Hudson Valley, New York.

“So, you get winded faster, and your body just can’t transport oxygen as efficiently, which leads to increasing lactic acid, and on a cellular level, it’s debilitating as well. No matter how acclimatized you are, you’re still limited at altitude. It just helps if you’re more acclimatized, the effects of it are less.”

Crew players – along with sleeping inside the Hypoxico head bivy, or tents around their beds – have also endured 30-minute stationary bike rides while wearing oxygen masks attached to altitude training machines to enhance their endurance.

Crew head of sport science and medicine Chris Shenberger suggested the regime, which lasted about two weeks, and put it in motion three weeks ago when the club qualified for the Champions Cup final.

“We’ve done a number of things over the last handful of weeks to try and help the guys prepare and put them in what we feel like is the best position to go down there and be successful,” Shenberger said.

“We understand and know that the game is going to be won in between the lines by playing well and executing our game plan. But if we can make adjustments here that help us better prepare for that, that’s what we want to do.”

Oestrike said there have been at least six other instances teams have employed their equipment before a big game. Here are the results:

The U.S. Men’s National Team played Mexico in World Cup qualifying matches in 2017 and 2022 at Estadio Azteca, around 7,200 feet above sea level. They played to 1-1 and 0-0 draws.
The NFL’s Raiders, before leaving Oakland for Las Vegas, played two games in Estadio Azteca – winning 27-20 against the Houston Texans in 2016 but falling 33-8 to Tom Brady and the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in 2017.
MLS club Toronto FC played to a 1-1 draw against Club America at Estadio Azteca in 2018, winning 4-2 on aggregate to reach the Concacaf Champions League final.
Sporting Kansas City beat Deportivo Toluca FC 2-0 in 2019 to become the first MLS club in the Concacaf Champions League history to beat a Mexican club in a two-legged series when the second match was played in Mexico.

So, there’s a chance for Columbus Crew.

“I think they did a great job of smashing all this exposure into this short amount of time,” Oestrike said.

The Crew has already beaten Mexican teams Tigres UANL and Monterrey at relatively lower altitudes in Mexico during their run to the Champions Cup final.

They hope their altitude training can help them navigate the elements to win another major championship.

“We try to maximize everything in terms of the tools we have. The idea is not to scare them. The idea is to give them confidence with tools and to adapt,” Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be how we play on the pitch.”

It’s been roughly five years since the Columbus Crew have been saved.

But Tim Bezbatchenko, president and general manager of the reigning Major League Soccer champions, still sees #SaveTheCrew bumper stickers during his 10-minute drive to the team’s facility on a weekly basis.

“I assume many people have probably gotten new cars and moved that sticker to their next car,” Bezbatchenko said with a laugh.

Columbus has a chance to be recognized as the best team in North America when it faces LIGA MX club Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final at Estadio Hidalgo in Mexico on Saturday at 9:15 p.m. ET. FS1 will broadcast the game.

With a win, the Crew also earn a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to compete against soccer giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Al-Hilal to be crowned the best club in the world.

“The idea when I came here was to put Columbus on the map, the soccer map worldwide,” Crew coach Wilfried Nancy, hired before the 2023 title run, said. “They fought a lot to keep the club. The fans also fought a lot. The city fought a lot. So, we know that they are all proud of us.”

Columbus has become a soccer town, just as much as it’s a football town supporting the Ohio State Buckeyes. Since its current ownership took over in 2019, the Crew have won the 2020 MLS Cup, the 2021 Campeones Cup, and 2023 MLS Cup.

Still, the bumper stickers are a reminder of that contentious two-year battle the franchise and its fanbase endured to stay in central Ohio before becoming a powerhouse in MLS.

“It’s hard to find words to describe the feeling. We look at each other, and think, ‘Is this a dream?’” Bezbatchenko told USA TODAY Sports. “It is moving. It is emotional. It’s much like what soccer provides – moments in life that you remember with those around you that you care about. That’s what the game is about.

‘I think that’s what this community in Columbus has seen with the Crew.”

Former owner Anthony Precourt had a desire in 2017 to move the Crew to Austin, Texas, sparking the #SaveTheCrew movement by diehard fans and local businesses.

Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, their daughter Whitney Haslam Johnson and her husband JW Johnson, and former Crew team doctor Pete Edwards saved the Crew in 2019 with a new stadium and training facility, which opened in 2021, among other commitments.

Columbus governor Mike DeWine and mayor Andrew Ginther also played integral roles locally to save the historic team, the first announced when MLS began in 1996.

“If you look at everything Columbus has achieved since the Haslams bought the club five years ago, it’s remarkable how they have transformed the Crew,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber told USA TODAY Sports. “Columbus has become one of the best clubs in our league, and one of the top teams in pro sports in this country. Now they’re in the final of the Champions Cup and a victory away from FIFA Club World Cup.”

Although Precourt eventually got his wish fulfilled with Austin FC (which began play in 2021), the two-year limbo Crew fans experienced from 2017-19 before new ownership stepped in left its mark.

“It was as dire as it could possibly be,” Bezbatchenko said of the Crew’s potential to leave Columbus. “Something resonated with the fans of Columbus to stand up and take action, and it’s incredible that their work led to the team staying in Columbus. Their voices were heard.”

Now, Crew fans are heard cheering loudly as they stroll during their supporters’ parade into Lower.com Field on game days.

The Crew sold out their season-ticket allotment before the season, and have sold out every MLS home match this season. They’re riding a record streak of 24 consecutive sellout crowds (and counting), dating back to last season.

“After being in a really weird scenario like that, to having two MLS Cups in four years, it’s really fulfilling,” said homegrown talent Aidan Morris, who has risen through the organization the past seven years. “We go out there, and not only we’re winning, but we’re creating so many good memories.”

On Saturday night, most Crew supporters will be tuned in from home with hopes their favorite team can beat another Mexican powerhouse in Mexico – like they did against Tigres UANL and Monterrey en route to the Champions Cup final.

Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte surrendered a goal in the third minute of the second leg quarterfinal on the road against Tigres UANL. But he left his mark with two stops in a penalty shootout to help the Crew advance 1-1 (4-3 on PKs) on April 9.

The Crew also smashed Monterrey 5-2 on aggregate score in the semifinal, including a 3-1 win at Monterrey on May 1, to reach the final.

“It was huge for us, not just as a team but as a whole organization. It put some respect on our name. And it gave us momentum moving forward,” Schulte said of the Champions Cup run. “Everyone talks about how hard it is for MLS teams to go down there and win, but it allowed us to believe we can do it.”

Now, the Crew must do it again against Pachuca, a club that hasn’t played since May 11 after being eliminated in the Liga MX Clasura quarterfinals by Club America, the same team it beat to reach the Champions Cup final.

Columbus Crew enters as a +400 underdog on the road, with +310 odds to draw, while Pachuca is a -165 favorite at home, according to BETMGM.

The Crew’s rise to soccer prominence is a successful underdog story, but don’t tell them they’re underdogs.

Especially after everything they endured to reach this point.

“We absolutely are grateful for the Save the Crew moment. It is a critical part of our history and we do not want to move away from that narrative that is a cornerstone of our history. But that said, it is a painful one,” Bezbatchenko said. “At the same time, we want the club to be about winning and trophies, and making the playoffs consistently so those emotions are tied to something positive.”

Added Nancy: “We created this story already, and now, this is the final step.”

LANCASTER, Pa. – World No. 1 Nelly Korda shaved 10 strokes off her first-round score at the U.S. Women’s Open, but it wasn’t enough to stick around for the weekend. While the fans at Lancaster Country Club tried to will her inside the cut line, Korda’s second-round 70 put her at 10 over for the tournament and two shots outside the number.

“Tried to give it my all,” said Korda, who hadn’t missed a cut on tour in nearly a full year. “That’s what I do with every round. I had nothing to lose, so that was kind of like the mentality. Just go for it.”

The cut line fell at 8 over with 75 players advancing to the weekend. Only four players finished the first two rounds under par, with Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai leading the way at 4 under.

Notable players who missed cut at 2024 U.S. Women’s Open

Ariya Jutanugarn, 10 over

The 2018 U.S. Women’s Open champion has missed the cut in her last three USWO starts.

Nelly Korda, 10 over

After winning six of her last seven starts on tour, Korda’s epic run hit a wall after an opening 80 at Lancaster. She’s missed the cut in three of her last five U.S. Women’s Open starts.

Rose Zhang, 11 over

Zhang won her second LPGA title earlier this month at the Cognizant Founders Cup but never got anything going at Lancaster despite the championship’s logo, a rose, adding some synergy.

Ingrid Lindblad, 11 over

One of the most decorated players in college golf history had her last amateur event come to an early close. Lindblad will make her professional debut next week on the Epson Tour in Michigan.

In Gee Chun, 12 over

Chun, the most beloved player on property as an honorary member of Lancaster, couldn’t muster a fairy-tale run. She started an education foundation to benefit the community of the club and comes back to Lancaster ever year.

Brooke Henderson, 12 over

Henderson tied for fifth at the 2015 Women’s Open at Lancaster as a determined teen trying to play her way onto the LPGA. She opened with an 80 this time around and never recovered.

Jennifer Kupcho, 12 over

The 2022 Chevron Championship winner missed the cut in her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Open after rounds of 77-75.

Lottie Woad, 12 over

After finishing in the top 25 in her LPGA debut earlier this year at the Chevron Championship, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion will miss the weekend this time around.

Allisen Corpuz, 12 over

The 2023 U.S. Women’s Open champion exited early after rounds of 75 and 77. She tied for 57th at the first major of the year.

Lexi Thompson, 13 over

After announcing that 2024 would be her last season playing full-time on the LPGA, Thompson bowed out before the weekend, shooting rounds of 78-75 to miss the cut in her 18th USWO appearance.

Lydia Ko, 13 over

The LPGA Hall of Fame will have to wait another week as Ko, who shot 80-73, missed the cut for the first time at a USWO in her 13th appearance.

The Dallas Stars, once in good shape in the Western Conference final, are on the verge of elimination thanks to a big turnaround by the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers lead the best-of-seven series three games to two after Friday night’s 3-1 victory and need one more win to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in the Connor McDavid era.

The Stars had a major comeback in Game 3 and held a 2-0 lead in Game 4, but Edmonton scored five consecutive goals to win Wednesday’s game. The Oilers lifted that to eight consecutive goals over two games before Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston scored in the third period.

The Oilers can reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006 if they win Sunday night in Edmonton (8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV). If they lose, the Stars will come up short for a second consecutive season in the conference final.

In beating the Stars Friday, the Oilers had several positives that could carry into Game 6:

—Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his first two goals of the series. He had only two assists in the first four games.

—The Oilers’ vaunted power play finally connected in the series. Edmonton’s two power-play goals by Nugent-Hopkins were scored quickly, 18 and 16 seconds respectively after the Stars took penalties.

—Edmonton held Dallas to 10 shots over the first two periods.

—Once Dallas began threatening, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner robbed Johnston, Logan Stankoven and others.

—The Oilers killed off two more penalties and are perfect in their last nine games.

Chris Tanev returns to action

Stars defenseman Chris Tanev, who left Game 4 after blocking a shot, returned to action on Friday. He played more than 19 minutes and blocked four shots. … Edmonton’s Corey Perry left the game after being hit by Joe Pavelski, but returned to the game.

The summertime bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that had social media abuzz and the boxing community chattering is on hold – for now.

In a release Friday evening, Most Valuable Promotions said both parties had agreed to postpone the fight to allow Tyson time to recover from an ulcer flare-up he suffered last weekend during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.

In an earlier story Friday, USA TODAY Sports reported that several gastroenterologists – none of whom have treated Tyson or were familiar with his case – expressed concern about Tyson continuing the rigors of training for the sanctioned bout while dealing with the medical condition. One went so far as to say Tyson should postpone the fight.

Rama Behara, a gastroenterologist in Texas who said he has treated college and professional athletes with ulcers, told USA TODAY Sports he likely would recommend Tyson stop training for a minimum of three weeks.

‘It’s hard sometimes to convince (athletes) to take that time off in when they’re in the middle of a heavy training,” said Behara, who works at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Centennial in Frisco, Texas. ‘But overall we usually want to play the conservative route of at least a few weeks depending on the severity (of the ulcer).”

What does this mean? Here’s what you need to know:

When was the fight scheduled?

The bout, sanctioned as a pro fight and scheduled for eight rounds, was scheduled for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

When will Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight now?

Most Valuable Promotions said in its release that the new date would be announced no later than Friday, June 7.

in videotaped remarks posted on his X account, Paul said, ‘Mike, if you want to do this like you said behind closed doors, behind the scenes, you’ve said you want to do this in Q4, you just need a little time, so I’m ready whenever you are.’

Q4 refers to the fourth quarter of the year, typically from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

What happened to Mike Tyson?

Tyson, 57, suffered an ‘ulcer flare-up’ in the final 30 minutes of the flight from Miami to Los Angeles on Sunday. His team said in a release Monday that he endured nausea and dizziness. An ambulance met the plane upon landing, according to American Airlines. Tyson was vomiting, weak and dizzy and transported to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

What did Mike Tyson say about his condition?

Tyson said medical professionals advised him to ‘lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover,’ prompting the postponement.

On Tuesday, less than 48 hours after the medical emergency, Tyson posted this message to his social media accounts: ‘Now feeling 100% even though I don’t need to be to beat Jake Paul.’

Tyson’s representatives did not respond to an email from USA TODAY Sports seeking details about the type of ulcer Tyson has, when he was diagnosed with the ulcer or whether it could complicate his preparation.

What did Jake Paul say about Mike Tyson and the delay?

“My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake – when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish,’ Paul added in a statement. ‘Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup.”

What if Mike Tyson can’t fight?

It’s unclear at this time what the promoter, Jake Paul and his camp and Netflix, which is streaming the bout, would do if Tyson had to pull out of the bout completely.

So what are the fight rules?

The rules include two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves for a sanctioned pro bout scheduled for eight rounds. The shorter rounds are believed to favor Tyson, who is 57. The lighter gloves would favor Paul.

Because it is a sanctioned pro fight, the outcome will count toward their records. Tyson is 50-6 with 44 knockouts and Paul is 9-1 with six knockouts.

Who was on the undercard on the scheduled fight?

The scheduled undercard includes: Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano (super lightweight); Ashton Sylve vs. Floyd Schofield (lightweight); Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes (middle heavyweight); and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Darren Till (light heavyweight).