WIMBLEDON, England – They had fought some four hours and 26 minutes, an epic duel on the fabled grass at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club that ranked as the longest three-set match in Open history. It was an exhausting, thrilling afternoon on Centre Court that neither Roger Federer nor Juan Martin del Potro seemed willing to let end, and somewhere in the midst of the madness, tennis's greatest player allowed himself a small moment of clarity.

"I got a sense," Federer would later say, "that this was something special."

In an Olympics that have been staged at some of England's most historic venues, Federer and del Potro delivered a match for the ages, an exhausting 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 battle that gave the first week of these London Games one of their most memorable moments. Once del Potro scuffled a backhand into the net in the eighth point of the 58th game to finally close the match, Federer looked over to the stadium box holding his wife and raised his arms in

Read More »from Roger Federer keeps gold-medal hopes alive with epic win over Juan Martin del Potro

LONDON – It wasn't long into their opening game at these London Olympics that Team USA's stars realized they were being forced out of their comfort zone. Not so much by France. It was the Olympic basketball arena that made the Americans adjust.

The 12,000-seat facility is much smaller than NBA arenas, most of which hold 19,000 to 20,000 fans. Thefans also are set back from the court at the Olympic venue, giving it a more spacious feel and confusing the sight lines for the Americans.

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said teams were only allowed to spend about an hour of time in the venue before the walk-up to the Games. And Team USA forward Kevin Love admitted that both teams' poor shooting in the opening quarter probably had something to do with them getting acclimated to the arena.

"The fans are pretty removed," Krzyzewski said. "You'd think they would want to put more people closer."

The facility is temporary and might even be used for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. The unique

Read More »from Fresh Take: U.S. men's basketball

LONDON – Kevin Durant fell short trying to win his first NBA championship this summer. He looks determined to make up for it with his first Olympic gold medal.

Durant delivered 22 points and nine rebounds in his Olympic debut as Team USA crushed France 98-71 to open the London Games with a dominating performance that had First Lady Michelle Obama on her feet and cheering.

Durant led the U.S. to the gold medal at the 2010 world championships, and quickly took center stage from LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in his first Olympic game. He drove through the middle of the lane early in the first quarter and threw down a vicious dunk that brought a smile from the First Lady. Moments later, James threaded a stunning cross-court bounce pass to Durant for another dunk.

Bryant had only five words of advice for Durant before his first Olympic game: "Just shoot the damn ball."

Durant did that, making six of his 13 shots, including three of his five 3-pointers as he rose up over France's

Read More »from Kevin Durant leads Team USA past France in Olympic opener

Tim Duncan will sign a three-year contract with the Spurs this week, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Duncan's representatives and the Spurs are finalizing a few items in the contract, but the structure has been agreed upon. The contract has a player option for the third season and is fully guaranteed. The deal also has a no-trade clause, sources said, and should take Duncan to the end of his playing days.

The Spurs have reached agreements with free agents Danny Green (three years, $12 million) and Boris Diaw (two years, $9.2 million). They also have struck a deal to re-sign guard Patty Mills, who opted out of his contract after last season, and intend to add French guard Nando De Colo.

Duncan, 36, declared himself "a Spur for life" during the Western Conference finals, and showed little interest in testing the free-agent market. He averaged 15.4 points and nine rebounds last season.

MIAMI – Kevin Durant walked off the court and into his mom's arms. He stood there, all 6-foot-whatever of him seemingly folded in half, sobbing in the embrace of his parents as the Miami Heat's championship celebration thundered down the tunnel behind them. In these swollen-eye moments – mother consoling child – it's easy to remember Durant and so many of the Oklahoma City Thunder are still so young. No one buys you a snow cone after you lose the NBA Finals, and Durant let the emotion wash over him.

Tears dried, head held high, Durant walked out of the arena about an hour later. His innocence had given way to the cool detachment of a man who knew where he was headed. He would be back, if not here in Miami, then Chicago, Boston. Somewhere. Durant didn't exit the Finals stage for good. This week – this championship – belonged to LeBron James, but Durant isn't done fighting.

Kevin Durant averaged 30.6 points for the Thunder in the five games of the NBA Finals. (AP)"This is not the last time we'll see Oklahoma City," James said.

Durant isn't done growing. Nor are many

Read More »from Kevin Durant moved to tears after OKC's NBA Finals loss to LeBron James, Heat

MIAMI – These used to be the moments that suffocated LeBron James. End of a game, the world watching, everyone expecting greatness. A TV camera would catch James sitting on the bench, gnawing on his fingernails during a timeout. He'd take the court, and the ball – and the game – would find their way into his large hands. Too often, he'd give them both to a teammate. The pressure, the responsibility to live up to his enormous talent, was too much for him to shoulder.

No longer is James haunted by his demons. He embraces these moments now, and as the final seconds ticked off the clock late Thursday, James was finally free of the burden he had carried for so long. Finally, the world could call him a champion.

LeBron James wrapped up his first NBA title. (AP) James had walked off the court a few minutes earlier, the Miami Heat's 121-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder long since secure. He dominated these NBA Finals, and he saved his best for last with a 26-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound triple-double performance. James

Read More »from LeBron James captures his first championship as Heat win NBA Finals

MIAMI – Russell Westbrook hugged a couple well-wishers lining the arena's hallway, said his goodbyes and off he went to the Oklahoma City Thunder's idling bus. He exited the night as he entered it: throttle locked forward, no looking back, few, if any, regrets. This is both Westbrook's greatness and his curse. He's always moving at one pace, his dial forever cranked to 11.

Westbrook had just delivered one of the most relentless NBA Finals performances, scoring 43 points while attacking the Miami Heat from every angle. He'd nearly single-handedly squared the series, almost giving the Thunder an improbable victory in the closing minutes. "A hell of a game," LeBron James said.

Russell Westbrook scored 17 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter of OKC's Game 4 loss. (AP)And yet for all of Westbrook's brilliance, the Thunder didn't win, falling 104-98 in a Game 4 decision that's now left them a single loss from the end of their season. No glory on this night. Instead, Westbrook had to answer for the role he played in the stinging defeat. He's one of the true game-changing

Read More »from With 43 points and one mistake, Russell Westbrook still learning in NBA Finals

MIAMI – LeBron James had controlled this night as he's controlled most of these NBA Finals, and as he knelt on the sideline watching the game – and maybe even his best chance at winning his elusive NBA title – slip away, he vowed one thing: No more. James had limped off the court moments earlier with leg cramps and now he limped back on it. Not this night, not this year. Not again.

James raised up and buried a 3-pointer, and the Miami Heat suddenly had new life. It was an improbable shot, given James' condition, and a necessary one, helping the Heat turn back the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-98 Tuesday night and move within a single victory of the championship. LeBron James had to be helped off the court in the fourth quarter after suffering a leg injury. (Reuters)

James would have to hobble off again in the game's tense final minute, but he left with a near triple-double: 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. With Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers each scoring 25, it was enough for the Heat to overcome an epic performance by Russell Westbrook, whose 43 points came on the 24-year

Read More »from Injured LeBron James hits big shot to help beat Thunder in Game 4 of NBA Finals