NBA Finals sees viewership go up

SAN ANTONIO — The star power of Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson helped this year’s NBA Finals get off to a huge start in terms of viewership, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the last finals matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry eight years ago.

Game 1 of the finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks averaged nearly 17 million viewers on Wednesday night, up 90% when compared to last season’s finals Game 1. It was the most-watched Game 1 since 2018, the most recent time James — then of Cleveland — and Golden State’s Curry faced off in the title round.

Wednesday’s game had a peak audience of 19.63 million viewers around 11 p.m. EDT, which would have been in the fourth quarter of New York’s 105-95 victory.

It was the most-watched finals Game 1 ever on ABC and the most-watched finals contest since Game 6 of the 2019 title series between Toronto and Golden State.

The viewership numbers for Game 1 on Wednesday were higher than the opening game of 15 of the past 16 World Series, including the 2024 series opener between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers — a matchup pitting the country’s top two media markets. That game averaged 15.2 million viewers.

FIFA cancels free World Cup tickets

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — FIFA has canceled World Cup tickets issued to about 60 fans who mistakenly got them for free because of a website error.

The tickets were “allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process,” FIFA said in a statement Thursday.

“FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” soccer’s ruling body said. “The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount.”

It is the latest glitch in an often controversial World Cup ticketing program that the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey are investigating for possible violations of consumer protection laws.

The mispriced tickets were sold through the official World Cup site on May 21, FIFA said in an email message to buyers.

That date was more than three months after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said all 104 World Cup games had sold out.

Tickets are still being sold by FIFA for games at the World Cup, which opens next Thursday in Mexico City. It is unclear if seats for games in less demand will drop in price under FIFA’s surge pricing model that has been controversial for fans.

FIFA also is operating its own resale platform — and taking 15% commission from both buyers and sellers — in order to cut out ticket dealers from the market. However, sales platforms such as Seat Geek were offering widespread availability Friday for many games.

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are wildly more expensive than any previous edition, which FIFA has justified as helping earn billions of dollars it will give to member federations for developing the game globally.

FIFA took control of pricing and selling tickets as part of bringing World Cup operations in-house. The long-time model at previous editions was working with host nations’ local organizing committees.

When the soccer federations of the United States, Canada and Mexico won hosting rights in 2018, they promised to sell hundreds of thousands of tickets at $21 each for group-stage games.

Cowboys finish signing draft picks

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys signed first-round pick Malachi Lawrence on Friday, putting all seven of their draft choices under contract.

Lawrence, the 23rd overall pick out of UCF in April, agreed to a $20.2 million, four-year contract at the end of the first week of voluntary offseason practices. Workouts resume Monday.

Safety Caleb Downs out of Ohio State was the 11th pick of the first round and signed his $28.95 million, four-year deal on May 1, the day rookie minicamp started.

The Cowboys have fifth-year options on both contracts, and must make those decisions during the 2029 offseason.

The other Dallas draft picks signed at the same time as Downs. They included third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham and three fourth-round choices in offensive lineman Drew Shelton, cornerback Devin Moore and defensive end LT Overton. Receiver Anthony Smith was the last Dallas pick in the seventh round.

Brewers place Hall on injured list

DENVER — Milwaukee Brewers left-hander DL Hall went on the injured list and right-hander Jake Woodford was designated for assignment as part of a bullpen shakeup to start a six-game trip.

The Brewers also recalled left-hander Brian Fitzpatrick and right-hander Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville before their game Friday night at Colorado.

Hall went on the 15-day injured list with a left pectoral strain. The injury had forced him out of the Brewers’ 12-9 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

Woodford allowed four runs over three innings later in that game.

Hall is 0-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 24 games with 32 strikeouts and 24 walks over 31 innings. Woodford is 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in 16 games.

Yoho is 0-0 with a 1.00 ERA and three saves in 16 relief appearances with Nashville. Yoho has a 1.14 ERA in 110 career minor league outings, but he had a 7.27 ERA in eight games with Milwaukee last season.

Fitzpatrick had a 1.59 ERA in four games with Milwaukee earlier this season. He is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in 15 games with Nashville.