National Sports

Capsules for the NBA first-round series that begin this weekend: EASTERN CONFERENCE No. 1 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (49-23) vs. No. 8 WASHINGTON WIZARDS (34-38, 1-1) Season series: 76ers, 3-0.

Canada will play the Czech Republic and Brazil in soccer friendlies next month as part of its preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. The Canadian women, ranked eighth in the world, will face the 27th-ranked Czechs on June 11 and No.

Canadian-born forward Daniel Jebbison had two reasons to celebrate Friday. Sheffield United rewarded the 17-year-old from Milton, Ont., with a new long-term contract.

GENEVA — Canada's Denis Shapovalov says a heartbreaking loss against Rafael Nadal last week is now paying off. The second-seeded Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont.

CALGARY — With the attitude of better late than never, Canada's top women's hockey players are relieved to have the chance to finally play meaningful games.

The pride of Indian mixed martial arts is back home after dethroning Brandon (The Truth) Vera in Singapore to win One Championship's heavyweight title. And for Arjan Singh Bhullar, home is Richmond, B.C.

BELGRADE, Serbia — Canada's Leylah Annie Fernandez is out of the Serbia Open after a second-round loss today. Fernandez, from Laval, Que., fell 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria at the WTA Tour 250 clay-court event.

TOKYO (AP) — The IOC wraps up its final planning sessions on Friday with Tokyo Olympic organizers, just two months before the games are to open.

TOKYO (AP) — As she struggled to breathe, Shizue Akita had to wait more than six hours while paramedics searched for a hospital in Osaka that would treat her worsening COVID-19.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Friday expanded a coronavirus state of emergency hours after it approved the use of two more vaccines in an effort to contain a worrying surge in infections nine weeks ahead of the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.