JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 843

Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points with nine assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 120-107 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference playoff series. Jalen Williams left in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury after scoring 19 points, and did not return to the game.

This win followed Oklahoma City's 119-84 Game 1 victory on Sunday and featured team shooting of 47.3 percent and 21 forced turnovers, statistics WKMG and Sportsnet reported. Coach Mark Daigneault described adjustments as a 'menu' approach this week; medical evaluation will determine Williams' recovery timeline and any immediate rotation changes.

Washington — The Trump administration is engaged this week in advanced discussions to provide up to $500 million in government-backed financing to Spirit Airlines as the carrier navigates a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy. President Trump signaled support on Tuesday and directed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to review possible options while reporters cited multiple outlets reporting talks.

The package under discussion, reported Wednesday, could be structured initially as a loan and include warrants that potentially give the government up to a 90 percent stake if converted; officials say the step aims to preserve roughly 14,000 jobs and stabilize fares. Democratic lawmakers voiced opposition this week, and DOT officials said no final decision has been reached as review continues.

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a redistricting referendum that shifts authority over congressional maps to a Democratic-majority mechanism, altering how districts will be drawn going forward. The statewide vote endorsed transferring map-making power to the General Assembly or a bipartisan commission, a change framed by supporters as corrective and criticized by opponents as politically motivated.

The decision could flip as many as four Republican-held U.S. House seats and influence control of Congress in subsequent elections; analysts and party leaders have publicly framed the outcome as pivotal for the 2026 cycle. This week the state Supreme Court began reviewing the plan's legality, and if the commission deadlocks courts may be asked to implement new maps.

SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh said Tuesday he has faith in the team despite a slow start to the 2026 season, noting he has used the same swing since age nine and trusts his approach after a 2025 season in which he hit 60 home runs and finished as AL MVP runner-up.

This week the Mariners are 10-15 through 25 games, including a 5-2 loss to the Athletics where Raleigh hit a solo home run; his batting average sits at .177 with a .538 OPS, leaving Seattle fourth in the AL West and prompting focus on adjustments by players and coaches in the coming days.

New York: Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said on April 22 that Tehran will enter negotiations only after the United States ends what he described as a naval blockade, calling the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and stating that Iran is prepared for talks or, if necessary, military response.

Iravani told Rudaw, as reported by Tasnim, that he had received signals the blockade might be lifted and that the next round of negotiations could take place in Istanbul once it is; the statement was circulated this week by multiple international outlets and has prompted diplomatic monitoring and calls for clarification from mediators.

San Francisco — The Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Tuesday night at Oracle Park after an early Dodgers defensive miscue produced a three-run first inning. Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed three first-inning runs before settling, Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak with a seventh-inning infield single, and the Giants held the lead.

The Giants' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings to preserve the victory while Landen Roupp allowed one run over five innings with seven strikeouts. The Dodgers managed only three hits and one run, lost three of four games this week, and are now tied atop the NL West with the San Diego Padres.

Boston — VJ Edgecombe scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday, tying the first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and nine assists, and the series shifts to Philadelphia for the upcoming Game 3 on Friday.

Portland beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-103 on Tuesday after Victor Wembanyama exited with a head injury and entered the league concussion protocol; Scoot Henderson scored a season-best 31 for the Trail Blazers. The Spurs had led late in the fourth quarter, and both series will resume with Game 3 scheduled on Friday in each respective home arena.

Las Vegas. Logan Cooley scored on a rebound with about six minutes remaining Tuesday night, lifting the Utah Mammoth to a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series; the win evened the series 1-1 and sends both teams back to Salt Lake City for Game 3 on Friday night.

The goal gave Cooley his second straight postseason goal and made him the youngest U.S.-born player to score in each of his first two playoff games; it was the Mammoth’s first playoff victory since relocating two years ago. Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist, Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves, and Vegas’ Carter Hart suffered a regulation loss under coach John Tortorella.

Washington, DC. On April 22, a Pentagon intelligence assessment cited by NBC concluded that Iran still retains key military capabilities, contradicting recent public assertions by President Donald Trump and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that Iran's air force and navy had been destroyed. The assessment stated Iranian forces remain a potent regional power despite recent operations.

On April 22, President Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran, saying Pakistan requested a delay to planned strikes and indicating a maritime blockade would remain until Tehran presents a unified proposal. Also this week, the UAE Embassy in Washington publicly thanked the U.S. for discussing a potential currency swap and stated it holds over USD 2 trillion in sovereign assets, USD 300 billion in reserves, and about USD 1.5 trillion in bank deposits.

DENVER — During the second period on Tuesday, a pane of glass behind the Los Angeles Kings' bench shattered after fans pounded it following Scott Wedgewood's penalty-shot save on Quinton Byfield; broken glass fell onto interim coach D.J. Smith, who briefly left the bench while arena staff cleared fragments and installed a replacement pane.

Arena workers cleared debris during a roughly 17–19 minute delay, after which play resumed and Nicolas Roy scored 7:44 into overtime to give Colorado a 2-1 win, moving the Avalanche ahead 2-0 in the first-round series; Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles and both teams returned to competitive play.