TMZ Sports - Page 9

The NBA Finals won't end Thursday night ... so says coach Mike Woodson, who tells TMZ Sports he's confident the Indiana Pacers will force a Game 7.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are one win away from their first championship as they head into Game 6 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse ... and if the Pacers don't win, their season is cooked.

Woodson -- who coached the Indiana Hoosiers from 2021 to 2025 -- believes Tyrese Haliburton and Co. can live to see a few more days ... with homecourt advantage being the main factor.

Former NFL superstar Adrian Peterson got into a fistfight with a poker player following a dispute over a hand ... and the tussle was all captured on video, obtained by TMZ Sports.

The shocking scene unfolded back on May 27 ... while Peterson and others were playing cards at JokerStars -- a social club in Houston, Texas.

Peterson tells us ... he and one of his buddies were involved in a disagreement while at a gaming table, "one thing led to another," and they squared up.

The Vatican City is slowly turning into the Windy City ... 'cause Pope Leo XIV was back showing major love for his Chicago White Sox this week!!

The Pontiff put his fandom on display as White Sox chants erupted during the General Audience address on Wednesday ... acknowledging the message of support for the ball club as he cruised around on the Popemobile.

Since being elected, Leo has embraced his South Side ties with open arms ... and he is no stranger to wearing his fandom on his sleeve.

Serena Williams looks ready to come out of retirement -- the tennis legend put her incredible figure on display on Thursday ... and her fans can't get enough of her look!!

The 43-year-old posted the snaps of her in a two-piece 'fit at cryotherapy ... posing under a sign that read just how cold the treatment was -- an unimaginable -110 degrees.

The practice exposes the body to intense cold temperatures ... and is believed to be effective for weight loss and other health benefits.

AEW star Brody King had fans talking Wednesday night in Mexico City -- but it wasn't just about his match -- the pro wrestler rocked an "Abolish ICE" shirt as he made his way to the ring.

King's bold statement came during AEW's "Grand Slam Mexico" event ... as he prepared to compete in a 12-man tag team match in the country's capital.

As he took off his jacket ... the message was revealed, calling for the dismantling of Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement -- the federal agency charged with enforcing immigration laws in the United States.

The sale of the Los Angeles Lakers is getting a big stamp of approval from one of the organization's biggest stars ... with Luka Doncic saying he's ready to win some championships under new owner Mark Walter.

"The Lakers are an amazing organization," the 26-year-old Slovenian hooper said Thursday. "I'm looking forward to meeting Mark and excited about the future."

As we previously reported, the Buss family is giving up their majority stake in the historic franchise ... but Jeanie will remain as team governor for years to come, which Doncic was thrilled about.

Johnny Damon -- like so many Red Sox fans -- wishes Rafael Devers' Boston career had ended differently ... telling TMZ Sports this week the situation is "just horrible for everyone."

The former Sox outfielder sat down with us on Wednesday, some three days after Devers was jettisoned to San Francisco, and he made it clear, he would have preferred both sides work their differences out.

He said the trade is unfortunate for nearly every party, but noted Red Sox supporters are likely hurting the most.

Latin American pop singer Vanessa Hernández is getting death threats for singing the National Anthem in Spanish at a baseball game ... but, she's still proud she did it, and she says big-time celebs have her back.

We spoke with Vanessa -- better known by her stage name Nezza -- Wednesday ... and, she tells us George Lopez, Becky G and many more stars have reached out and offered her support during this particularly trying time.

ICYMI ... Nezza sang the song at Dodger Stadium in L.A. Saturday -- later claiming a Dodgers team official told her she was not to sing it in Spanish ... and posting a behind-the-scenes TikTok as proof. She sang it in Spanish anyway ... and, she says it feels good to be on the right side of history.

3:17 PM PT -- Lakers legend Magic Johnson is speaking out about the Buss family agreeing to unload their majority ownership stake in the Lakers ... congratulating them for striking "an incredible deal" and choosing the best person to carry the team's legacy going forward.

Jeanie Buss and her family have agreed to unload their majority stake of the Lakers, selling the team to L.A. Dodgers owner Mark Walter -- the largest sale of a sports franchise in history!!

Shams Charania broke the news Wednesday afternoon, revealing the Busses -- who own 66% of the organization -- reached a deal to sell the team to the 65-year-old businessman on an approximately $10 BILLION valuation.

Jerry Buss, Jeanie's dad, purchased the team for a paltry $67.5 million in May 1979. Under his tenure, the Lake Show became one of the most popular, successful, and culturally relevant American sports franchises ... exploding in value.

The viral video of fans being dragged out of SoFi Stadium over the weekend was NOT a result of the anti-Donald Trump attire they were wearing during the game ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Footage was shared on TikTok this week ... showing Apex Security Group staffers removing several spectators from the upper deck during the Mexico vs. Dominican Republic Concacaf Gold Cup opening match on June 14.

The social media user captioned the video, "SoFi Stadium security brutally remove young man and woman over FDT Shirt!!" ... FDT, of course, an abbreviation for "F*** Donald Trump."

Shedeur Sanders was busted for allegedly driving over 100 miles per hour on the highway early Tuesday morning ... this according to court records.

The 23-year-old fifth-round pick and his girlfriend were pulled over in separate cars around 12:24 AM ... when cops stated he was driving 41 miles over the posted speed limit.

The quarterback was issued a citation ... and will be able to plead his case in front of a judge on July 3 -- or just pay a $250 fine and move on with his life.

Antonio Brown is still clearly not stressing over the warrant that was just recently issued for his arrest ... he was seen on a livestream on Wednesday smoking, joking and gambling.

The former NFL wideout popped up on Kick in an effort to promote a crypto casino platform ... and in video from his time in front of the camera, you can see he was in great spirits despite the felony attempted murder charge he's now facing in Florida.

Brown lit up an unknown substance, took several puffs of it ... and gambled on screen.

Former NBA star Eric Bledsoe was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly struck a woman in the face ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The California Highway Patrol tells us officers placed Bledsoe into custody at around 2:30 AM following an investigation into a report of a domestic violence incident that occurred on a Los Angeles-area freeway.

According to the CHP, officers' probe into the matter led them to a gas station near US-101 ... where they found Bledsoe and a woman who was suffering from "bruising and swelling to her face."

The WWE is collecting NBA stars like Infinity Stones at this point ... 'cause the promotion's official video game just added Jalen Brunson into the mix!!

The news was revealed on Wednesday ... when "WWE 2K25" dropped a new trailer featuring the Knicks guard as part of the upcoming "Dunk & Destruction Pack."

In the clip, the two-time NBA All-Star does a walk-out entrance to the wrestling ring ... wearing the same shirt he rocked when he was in the actual WWE ring last year.

Hulk Hogan is NOT on his last legs -- TMZ Sports is told the WWE legend was hospitalized to address lingering neck and back issues this week ... but he is by no means on his deathbed.

The speculation started when local radio guy Bubba the Love Sponge went on air and stated he heard the wrestling icon was in bad shape -- to the point where his loved ones were getting called in to say their goodbyes.

Bubba couched a lot of his intel ... claiming his source was rock solid, but things could have changed since his last communication with them.

Bad blood clearly remains between Bill Belichick's current girlfriend and his former one ... as Jordon Hudson was spotted on Tuesday throwing shade at Linda Holliday.

The dig from Hudson came on her Instagram page ... as she was shoveling praise on one of her beauty pageant friends, Melissa Sapini.

On a carousel of Sapini-related photos, Hudson wrote a lengthy caption that congratulated the former Miss Massachusetts winner on completing her run with the crown. Toward the end is where she placed her Holliday jab.