NEW YORK — He was done answering questions and reporters scattered off, leaving Josh Hart to ponder what had just happened.

The Knicks forward sat at his locker and leaned with his elbows resting on his knees, his face buried in his hands. Then, for a few minutes, he stared ahead vacantly, presumably processing how his team let a 14-point lead inside the final three minutes slip away — how his team let Game 1 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals slip away.

For the first 44 minutes of the game, the Knicks matched the speed and tempo of the Indiana Pacers. And for the first 44 minutes, it worked.

The Knicks controlled the middle portion of the game, grabbing a lead with 8:20 to play in the second quarter and retaining it until Tyrese Haliburton’s improbable game-tying shot at the end of regulation bounced high off the back rim, hung in the air, and fell through the net, sending the game to overtime.

“We didn’t finish the game out,” Hart told reporters moments earlier. “We didn’t run through that finish line. I feel like defensively we let off the gas; the intensity and physicality wasn’t there. Offensively, we were playing slower, a little stagnant, and it looked like we were playing not to lose. We got to make sure we don’t make that mistake again.”

In the interview room down the hallway here at Madison Square Garden, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau also summed it up succinctly.

“You just can never let your guard down against them,” Thibodeau said. “No lead is safe.”

These assessments from Hart and Thibodeau reveal a truth simmering below New York’s collapse: the Knicks, who excel in the halfcourt, ranking 26th in pace, are better served grinding games down, making the Pacers slog through their offense when confronted with physical transition defense. Indiana wants to play fast, and spending 48 minutes matching its speed often leaves opponents sucking wind at the end of games, trying — and often failing — to do anything to stop its late-game onslaughts.

This postseason alone, the Pacers have won a pair of games in which they trailed by seven inside the final 48 seconds — putting the record of teams facing such situations at 3-1,679.

On Wednesday, the Knicks scored 69 points in the first half, tying a franchise record for most in a half of a playoff game. New York had set that mark last year in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals … against the Pacers, a series New York lost in seven games.

Throughout the early part of Game 1, the Knicks scooped boards and fed players streaking down the court on outlets, generating high-percentage looks at the rim or kickouts along the perimeter.

In essence, they outpaced the Pacers — until they couldn’t.

Late in the fourth, as New York was trying to cling to its lead, Knicks players appeared gassed, doubling over, slow to rotate. Their play, particularly on defense, suffered.

In the fourth quarter, New York allowed Indiana shooting guard Aaron Nesmith to drain five consecutive 3s — the Pacers as a team connected on seven straight from deep to close the period — and score 20 of his 30 points in the quarter. For the most part, the shots were open looks that the Knicks could not contest in time.

In the final minutes, the Pacers played quicker and more assertively. They closed the fourth on a 31-14 run. Nesmith was the catalyst, and it’s safe to question whether fatigue set in on New York.

“I mean, yeah, once he hits one, you have to be on high alert,” Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson told reporters after the game. “I got to do a better job of finding him. I think he had one or two with me in the vicinity that started it off. That’s not a way to close a game.”

“It’s a tough one,” Hart said. “We’re all disappointed in it, but the series is not over after one game.”

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has died. The team confirmed his death in a statement Wednesday evening. He was 65.

“We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon,’ Pete Ward, the team’s chief operating officer, revealed.

‘Jim’s dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed. Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them.’

Irsay dedicated most of his adult life to the Colts.

After spending years around the team – his father, Robert Irsay, acquired the then-Baltimore Colts in 1972 – Jim Irsay worked in various capacities for the club, including as a ball boy, scout and in the personnel department. He became the organization’s youngest general manager in 1984, the same year of his father’s controversial relocation of the franchise from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Jim Irsay became the Colts’ controlling owner following Robert Irsay’s death in 1997.

‘Some of Jim’s fondest memories came from his youth working training camps in Baltimore and growing relationships with players, coaches, and staff whom he considered his extended family,’ according to the team’s statement.

‘Jim’s love and appreciation for the NFL in addition to its history, tradition, and principles influenced him to become a steward of the game throughout his 50-plus years in the League.’

Beloved for decades in Baltimore, the Colts didn’t win much initially after landing in Indianapolis. Irsay made a momentous trade with the Los Angeles Rams for legendary running back Eric Dickerson during the 1987 season, but the Indianapolis Colts didn’t win their first playoff game until 1995.

But the franchise became a powerhouse at the turn of the century. Quarterback Peyton Manning won a record five league MVP awards after the Colts picked him atop the 1998 NFL draft. Manning benefited greatly from the staff Irsay put around him, including general manager Bill Polian and head coach Tony Dungy. The Colts also selected a host of other future Hall of Famers, including wideout Marvin Harrison, running back Edgerrin James and defensive end Dwight Freeney.

After years of coming up short to the dynastic New England Patriots, Manning and Co. finally broke through to win Super Bowl 41 following the 2006 season. Indianapolis played again on Super Sunday three years later but lost to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl 44. With Manning on the field, the Colts captured eight division titles and only missed the playoffs twice.

However, the organization has largely struggled since, despite Irsay’s aggressive attempts to restore ‘The Shoe’ to glory. He made the decision to part with injured Manning in 2012 and drafted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck No. 1 overall that year. Manning went on to lead the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl 50 (his final game), while Luck’s once-promising career was short-circuited by injuries that led to his surprise retirement shortly before the 2019 season. The Colts have not won a postseason game since.

‘We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim Irsay’s passing today,’ NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. ‘Jim was a friend, and a man deeply committed to his family, the game, the Colts, and the Indianapolis community.

‘Within the League, Jim was an active Chairman of the Legislative Committee and member of the Finance Committee. He led with integrity, passion and care for the Colts’ players, coaches and staff, and his courageous work in support of mental health will be a lasting legacy. Outside of football, he was a talented musician and built an extraordinary collection of historical and musical artifacts that he shared with people across the country. On behalf of the entire NFL, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Jim’s daughters and their families, and to his many friends throughout the NFL.’

Despite the Colts’ up-and-down fortunes under Irsay, he had other notable successes during his tenure. After playing in the RCA Dome for years, the club moved into beautiful Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008. Indianapolis staged Super Bowl 46 in 2012 and was widely acclaimed as the host city. Irsay also earned praise for his willingness to speak out against controversial Washington owner Daniel Snyder in 2022, sparking momentum that eventually led to Snyder’s departure.

Irsay was a colorful character off the field, too. He embraced power lifting as a young man. Later in life, he collected guitars, among other musical memorabilia, and fronted his own band – singing at events around Indianapolis.

Irsay battled substance abuse during his lifetime. He was arrested in 2014 amid suspicion of driving under the influence and drug possession. He eventually pleaded guilty to a pair of misdemeanors and was consequently suspended by the NFL for six games and fined $500,000.

In recent years, he was the face of the team’s ‘Kick the Stigma’ campaign in a bid to help people suffering from mental health issues.

‘Jim’s generosity can be felt all over Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the country,’ read Ward’s statement. ‘He made philanthropy a daily endeavor. He never hesitated to help countless organizations and individuals live better lives. Music was one of Jim’s passions and the ability to share his band and collection with millions of people across the world brought him tremendous joy. Simply put, he wanted to make the world a better place and that philosophy never wavered all the way up to his passing. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, the Colts organization, and fans everywhere, but we remain inspired by his caring and unique spirit.”

Irsay spent recent years grooming his daughters to take the Colts’ reins. Irsay-Gordon ran the team during her father’s absence in 2014 and is expected to assume his role moving forward. However no formal succession plan has yet been revealed.

This story has been updated with new information.

A Bahamas native, Larry Demeritte moved to the United States in 1976 to chase his dream of reaching the Kentucky Derby. He finally realized it in 2024 when West Saratoga reached the Run for the Roses.
West Saratoga, who finished 12th in Kentucky Derby 150, was an $11,000 purchase, leading Demeritte to famously quip, “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget.”
Demeritte became the first Black trainer in the Kentucky Derby since 1989, when Hank Allen finished sixth with Northern Wolf.
In 1996, Demeritte was diagnosed with bone cancer and told by doctors he had five years to live. In 2018, doctors told Demeritte he had six months remaining.

Thoroughbred trainer Larry Demeritte, whose underdog story inspired horse racing fans across the world prior to the 2024 Kentucky Derby, died Monday evening in Louisville. He was 75.

Inga Demeritte, Larry’s wife, said her husband suffered cardiac arrest after a long battle with cancer.

“He had chest pains, and they rushed him to the ER,” Inga Demeritte said. “Cardiac arrest, and that was it. He never came to.”

A Bahamas native, Larry Demeritte moved to the United States in 1976 to chase his dream of reaching the Kentucky Derby.

He finally realized it in 2024 when West Saratoga reached the Run for the Roses and finished 12th.

“That was his ultimate goal to get to the Kentucky Derby,” Inga Demeritte said. “It meant so much to him. He just wanted to get there. … He’d always ask people in the industry, ‘Are you coming to the Kentucky Derby?’ They’d be like, ‘Oh, no, I’m not going to the Derby.’ He’d be like, ‘Why are you in the sport then?’”

West Saratoga, a gray son of Exaggerator, won the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old and then was the runner-up in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby.

West Saratoga was an $11,000 purchase, leading Demeritte to famously quip, “I have champagne tastes with a beer budget.”

Demeritte became the first Black trainer in the Kentucky Derby since 1989, when Hank Allen finished sixth with Northern Wolf.

In 1996, Demeritte was diagnosed with bone cancer and told by doctors he had five years to live. In 2018, doctors told Demeritte he had six months remaining.

“I’m still here,” Demeritte said before the 2024 Kentucky Derby. “God had a better plan for me than what man has. … I never felt defeated. I always say, ‘I’ll do the chemo, but I think the doctor’s wrong.’”

Demeritte went out on his own as a trainer in 1981 and won 184 races in 2,138 career starts with purse earnings of more than $5.3 million.

According to Equibase.com, Demeritte’s last race came on May 13 when Mendello finished fourth in a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

A statement from Kentucky’s Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association said Demeritte ‘epitomized the best in horse racing with his horsemanship and love and passion for the game and its equine athletes.’

‘We’re all so glad and proud that Larry achieved his dream of being in the Kentucky Derby with West Saratoga. It showed yet again that the little guy, with some luck and a lot of skill, can compete with stables with far greater numbers and bankroll. Larry, with his backstory, engaging personality and wide smile, was a terrific ambassador for horse racing, and the industry lost one of its bright lights with his passing. Our heart goes out to Inga. We hope she takes comfort knowing how many people loved Larry and will continue to get inspiration from him.”

Inga Demeritte said her husband was looking forward to getting back to the Kentucky Derby at some point.

“He was like, ‘Once you get your foot in, you always want to back,’” she said. “Everyone wanted to take pictures with him. He was like a celebrity. He inspired so many people.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue their journey in the NBA playoffs with the 2025 NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the shoe brand Converse celebrated the star in a unique style.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named MVP on Wednesday, has left his mark not just on the court but also on the streets of downtown Oklahoma City and at his former high school, Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario. Several murals, a collaborative effort between SGA and Converse, have been updated to celebrate his MVP win, adding a unique touch to the city’s landscape and connecting the fans to the celebration.

Converse was not the only one celebrating Gilgeous-Alexander; the SGA logo was featured on the Devon Tower in downtown Oklahoma City. The tallest building in the city displayed ‘SGA’ followed by ‘MVP’ throughout the day after the announcement.

In his first game as the MVP in the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to debut his latest shoe color, named ‘Hail Clay.’ This unique color, inspired by his wife Hailey Summers’ eye color, is a heartfelt tribute to her as his ‘Most Valuable Person,’ adding a personal touch to the celebration.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoe

Here is a look at how Converse celebrated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP:

Approaching Memorial Day, it’s becoming increasingly less ‘early’ in the 2025 Major League Baseball season.

Three managers have already been fired, the Colorado Rockies are on pace for the worst in record in history and the kind of discourse normally reserved for New York sports talk radio broke containment, making Juan Soto’s daily stats a topic of national conversation.

Here’s a look at two of the biggest disappointing storylines from the first two months of the season:

Baltimore Orioles

Manager Brandon Hyde was fired, paying the price for the 2023 AL East champions’ inexplicable winter inactivity, falling further out of the division race just about every single day, bottoming out at 15-32. The team’s 5.45 ERA is the worst mark in the AL and the offense hasn’t been much better, ranking near the bottom of baseball in OPS.

Everybody is still (relatively) young, but after tailing off down the stretch in 2024, does this group need a shakeup?

‘You go back to last June, we were on top of the sport in almost every facet of the sport, including majors and minors,’ GM Mike Elias told reporters three days after Hyde was fired, his first time facing the media after the move. ‘Now we find ourselves where we find ourselves. This has been hitting us all very hard, but it’s unusual for that to be so sudden.’

Charlie Morton, 41, is 0-7 with a 7.68 ERA in 41 innings and was demoted to the bullpen. Kyle Gibson was released after giving up 23 earned runs in four starts, good for a 16.78 ERA.

‘I think I’ve been pretty clear that our pitching staff, our starting pitching staff, has been a huge problem,’ Elias said. ‘I put that on myself and the front office in terms of roster construction.’

There’s also concern over catcher Adley Rutschman, the All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick who is hitting .221 with a .646 OPS over his last 150 games dating back to last year.

‘The position player group, again, we haven’t had perfect health, but this is a universally lauded group and (has) had a lot of success,’ Elias said. ‘There’s underperformance happening there, and that’s something we need to address via player development, via coaching.’

Juan Soto

To be clear, Soto has played well. The $765 million man has an adjusted OPS that’s 34% better than the league average and the Mets are battling for first place.

‘He’s human,’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. ‘He’s gonna be fine. He’s Juan Soto.’

But Soto is yet to really get going, currently with career-low marks in OBP (.374) and slugging (.429) through his first 49 games with the Mets. And his hustle – or lack thereof – has already been called into question after a pair of perceived lapses in recent days.

Even with about 14 ⅔ seasons left on Soto’s deal, there’s no reason for anybody to panic. The 26-year-old will find his footing in Queens and be every bit the hitter that earned himself the largest deal in sports history. And Soto’s early-season struggles have personal precedent, with March/April historically the worst months of his career (.258 average, .848 OPS in 156 games).

‘When you sign that type of contract, there’s going to be more eyes on you and he knows that and he embraces that,’ Mendoza said.

Introducing … the NFL on the Olympic stage.

That is so inviting if you’re Roger Goodell, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill and among many others, organizers bent on making the L.A. Summer Games in 2028 even more of an event to remember. Sponsors also can undoubtedly envision a field day. Nothing sells like the flag. Wrap that around the USA’s most popular sports league and it is, well, solid gold.

Listen to Jefferson, the Minnesota Vikings’ star receiver, endorse the idea of repping the USA in the world of flag football: “Just to think about the chance of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal is a dream.”

So, here comes an NFL version of the “Dream Team” to not only prove to the world that football, American football, is ours to dominate … but to also sell to the rest of Earth.

And hey, maybe nothing will boost the NFL’s fine product to the international market like the flag, as in flag football. The NFL has been all-in on flag football for quite a while, as it provides an entry point for growing fans. Yet aligning with the Olympics is like a Magic-to-MJ slam dunk (can’t help the flashback to the original ‘Dream Team”) for Roger & Co.

As team owners unanimously passed the resolution this week to allow NFL players to compete in the Olympics, it was no coincidence that Goodell, the revenue-driving NFL commissioner, voiced the expectation that within five years the NFL will play 17 games abroad.

This season, the league will stage a record seven international games, three shy of the number in a season already covered in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players. To get to 17 abroad, the NFL will have it on its checklist, along with the 18-game season, when it negotiates the next CBA with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

As it stands now, the NFLPA whole-heartedly endorses the league’s flag football vision, pending some details, such as the mesh with the NFL calendar, standards for playing surfaces and equipment, and insuring the contracts for the real jobs. And why not? NFL growth flowing from flag football – the dots connect to expanding the consumer base with greater appeal to women and the younger generation, at home and abroad – translates to fatter wallets for players.

In my opinion, Team USA probably could still dominate if it filled its roster with 10 recently retired players. Yet apparently there is no shortage of active NFL players – and definitely a robust number of wide receivers, I’m told – who want this. After all, on top of the gold, it would be so cool to represent the country.

Hill, the electric Miami Dolphins receiver, has made no secret of his desire to be a part of Team USA. Shoot, he might even be prone to celebrate with a backflip on the medal stand. Just what you’d expect from a home-run threat who carries the moniker, “The Cheetah.”

Then there’s Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner seeking to go both ways as a receiver and cornerback with the Jacksonville Jaguars like he did for Coach Prime at Colorado. I’m not sure if Hunter wants in, but I’m guessing that any guy who is wired to play more than 100 snaps every game would be, well, golden for another layer of multi-tasking.

Still, is chasing the gold worth the risk?

You know the risk. Blowing out a knee on a cutback move. Tearing up an ankle on a spin move. Snapping a hamstring on a sprint to pay dirt. Think of the non-contact injuries that occasionally pop up on a football field. There are no guarantees they can’t happen on an Olympic stage.

USA! USA! US Ouch!

“I’d love it if we kept the NFL players out of it,” Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, alluding to the injury risk, told team beat writers during the league meetings in March.

If you’re aiming to win a Super Bowl, it might be a bit nerve-wracking to consider your hopes could be derailed by some freak injury. Typically, NFL players are contractually prevented from engaging in ventures that involve extra risk (think skydiving, for example), but for flag football there’s a pass.

“I’m afraid I have a quarterback that’d probably be pretty good at it,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters during the league meetings in March. “So, no, I’m not excited about that in all honesty. I believe in America. I want gold medals, but…”

Maybe Harbaugh can rest easy on this matter. While Lamar Jackson would be at the top of the list for Team USA attractions – and growing up, he played flag football at the Boys and Girls Club – he seemingly has no interest.

Asked about the prospect last summer on “The Lounge” podcast, Jackson said: “I doubt it. I’m a professional NFL player. So, I’m just going to stay over here and let those guys have fun.”

When reached by USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, Harbaugh was not exactly sweating in hypotheticals. Asked what his comfort level would be if Jackson wanted to play in the ’28 Olympics, Harbaugh replied in a text, “Hmmm. The reality is that’s a football lifetime from now.”

You might expect that NFL teams, interested in protecting their most valuable assets, would be hesitant. But no, this is bigger than that in another context, considering the chance for the league to put down a major international footprint.

Remember, the resolution passed with a 32-0 vote.

“I absolutely think it’s a great opportunity for the league and it’ll be a great opportunity for some of the players who participate,” Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II told USA TODAY Sports.

I asked Rooney if he would have any hesitation if one of Pittsburgh’s key players, say, star receiver DK Metcalf, wound up on Team USA. He pointed out that the resolution limited teams from losing more than one player to any single Olympic squad, although theoretically a team could lose up to three players if one played for Team USA and one or two played for other countries.

“That’s part of what the proposal is all about,” Rooney said. “To kind of limit the exposure that one team might have, having more than one of their star players get injured in something like this.

“Look, I think the risk of injury in flag football is low. I’m overall comfortable with it. But I think this proposal is just an effort to manage, to make sure that no one team bears too heavy of a burden of having more than one or two players participate.”

In the eyes of the NFL, the reward is far greater than the risk.

Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell