Sports Break: Concussed cyclist crashes in Tour of California, tries to rejoin race and is pulled

National sports stories and blog updates

That’s the way the ping-pong ball bounces: The NBA draft lottery, explained

It’s a slightly confusing process, but we’re here to help.

By Matt Bonesteel • Early Lead • Read more »

The life and death of Aaron Hernandez: His fiancee disputes suicide finding, gay rumors

Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez tells Dr. Phil, “They want to make him out to be this monster, and he’s not … I just think that it’s time for Aaron to be free.”

By Cindy Boren • Early Lead • Read more »

Concussed cyclist crashes in Tour of California, tries to rejoin race and is pulled

A tour official helped Toms Skujins back on his bike before his team Cannondale-Drapac later pulled him from the competition.

By Marissa Payne • Early Lead • Read more »

Peyton Manning will give people a really good reason to watch the ESPYs in July

The former NFL quarterback will host the annual awards show.

By Cindy Boren • Early Lead • Read more »

Think mid-majors get hosed on Selection Sunday? Consider the 54-3 Minnesota softball team.

How much more could the Gophers have done to earn an NCAA tournament home game?

By Matt Bonesteel • Early Lead • Read more »

Finally, stamp collectors can feel like ballers

The Postal Service has eight new offerings that mimic the feel of sports balls.

By Cindy Boren • Early Lead • Read more »

Liberty to pay ODU more than $1.3 million to guarantee FBS home opener in 2018

President Trump announced the home opener during his commencement speech at Liberty on Saturday.

By Marissa Payne • Early Lead • Read more »

Three-point shooting separates John Wall from the NBA’s elite. Game 7 showed why.

Wall hit two of his 13 shots from the field in a second half that included less-than-optimal ball management.

By Neil Greenberg • Fancy Stats • Read more »

During the day, ESPN is putting ‘SportsCenter’ on the back burner

A Sage Steele-hosted version of the show will air on ESPN2, but the main network is moving away from daytime highlight shows.

By Matt Bonesteel • Early Lead • Read more »

Lonzo Ball’s ailing mother, Tina, is the only Ball who flies under the radar

Tina Ball is recovering from a stroke she suffered in February, news the loquacious LaVar has been reluctant to share.

By Cindy Boren • Early Lead • Read more »

‘Embrace the Suck’: The story of the 2017 Atlanta Falcons

No, it’s not all about 28-3.

By Matt Bonesteel • Early Lead • Read more »

NFL teams are taking risks on players with legal issues, but not Colin Kaepernick. Interesting.

One NFL executive: “If you base it on his play, he clearly should be signed somewhere.” And yet he remains a free agent. It’s getting harder to believe politics aren’t playing a role.

By Mark Maske • Read more »

Wizards fall to Celtics, 115-105, in Game 7, missing out on their first Eastern Conference finals berth since 1979

Washington couldn’t overcome the dismal play of its bench, which was outscored 48-5. Bradley Beal scored a game-high 38 points but needed more help from his fellow starters down the stretch. Boston advances to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. This is a developing story. It will be updated.

By Washington Post Staff • Read more »

Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery is the most consequential in history

The fates of prominent franchises such as the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks and 76ers are at stake when the NBA sorts out who gets first crack at Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and a loaded class.

By Tim Bontemps • Read more »

Gregg Popovich lights into Zaza Pachulia for play that injured Kawhi Leonard

The Spurs coach made his feelings known in a withering tirade Monday. ‘I’m not a dirty player,’ replied the Warriors center. ‘I just love this game, and I play hard.’

By Tim Bontemps • Read more »