Less than a week ago, the Toronto Raptors looked indomitable. After polishing off the Orlando Magic with four consecutive wins, the Raptors handled the Philadelphia 76ers in the opener of their conference semifinals by playing the kind of ferocious team defense that often signals championship potential. With a 45-point performance in Game 1, Kawhi Leonard added to what was shaping up to be one of the great individual postseason campaigns in NBA history.

The 76ers, on the other hand, looked a mess -- an offense stuck in the mud, no response for Leonard, and a star center in Joel Embiid who was rendered ineffective by either health issues, Marc Gasol's resistance or a combination of both. The Sixers found some defensive answers in Game 2, as they escaped Toronto with a split, and although they maximized Jimmy Butler in the half court, a lot of offensive questions remained.

In Game 3, the Sixers assembled an exhibition of their best-case basketball. In 95 possessions, they were able to find quality shot opportunities in a variety of ways -- a pick-and-roll attack led by Butler, clever off-ball actions to free up the likes of JJ Redick, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, a dash of mismatch basketball and a handful of timely transition buckets.

Meanwhile, the Raptors were unrecognizable in Game 3. One of the smartest units in basketball looked befuddled in the half court, unable to capitalize on its multifaceted skill sets to find creative solutions to the problems posed by the Sixers' long, versatile defense. Leonard managed an efficient 32 points, but as Kyle Lowry said after the game, "We have to help him."

For the Raptors, there might be fewer hands to provide that help. Pascal Siakam is listed as doubtful as he nurses as right calf contusion suffered during the loss on Thursday night.

The Sixers now lead the series 2-1, and Game 4 (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC) presents some interesting tactical challenges for both teams.

If Siakam doesn't play, what do the Raptors do?

Siakam's emergence has been one of the dominant themes for the Raptors this season, giving them another potent attacker who presents matchup nightmares. Siakam's scoring output has also alleviated pressure on Lowry, allowing Lowry to facilitate, manage and keep mouths fed.

With OG Anunoby still recovering from an appendectomy, no comfortable options exist for Toronto should Siakam be unable to dress in Game 4. Anunoby is the ideal understudy at the power forward spot, with size, athleticism and range to keep defenses honest.

The Raptors like the pace and ball movement they've traditionally gotten from lineups featuring Lowry alongside backup guard Fred VanVleet. But that would be a painfully small backcourt for a Raptors team already at a size disadvantage. Guard Norman Powell has a few inches on VanVleet, yet that would still necessitate upsizing Leonard to the 4 spot.

The Raptors could start Serge Ibaka, although the backup center has struggled during this series, looking downright detached at crucial moments. Alternatively, Raptors coach Nick Nurse could plug in Patrick McCaw into the starting lineup, which would maintain the rotation -- although it's worth asking, given the poor performance of the backup units, whether that rotation is worth preserving.

Can the Raptors unlock their offense with some ball movement?

Since the offense fell into the doldrums in Game 2, the Raptors and their coaching staff have emphasized ball movement as the antidote. Right now, they're failing at that objective.

One way to achieve better movement: Facilitate more offense through Gasol, who has been rendered ineffectual. The 5-out, drive-and-kick sequences are efficient when they're working, but Gasol has some natural gifts as a big man with size, instincts and finesse beyond just stretching the floor. Throughout his career, Gasol has been a savant at the high post, where he knows how to make good things happen. He's a skilled big who can find high-percentage looks for teammates with handoffs, high-low actions, hitting baseline cutters and more. Right now, he's not being asked to do any of that.

How can the Raptors rediscover their defensive mojo?

At their most effective, the Raptors field one of the most devastating defenses in the league, and for good reason: The personnel on an individual level is exceptional, and the collective intelligence of the unit is unparalleled in the East.

That combination is most obvious when the Raptors are deploying help defense. Take a guy such as Leonard, who has an uncommon ability to help off his primary assignment and wreak havoc while intuitively knowing when and how he'll get back if the possession demands it. Lowry and Green both excel at these calculations, as well. And if a rotation is in order, Siakam's quickness and versatility allow him to pick up any Sixer on the floor in a pinch.

Given this capacity, perhaps Toronto should be more aggressive in its half-court approach. The Raptors have doubled selectively, but given their personnel, they can probably tolerate more risk. The Sixers are a turnover-prone team, particularly Embiid, and a Raptors team that aggressively deploys some guerrilla tactics could potentially fluster a Sixers team that was far too comfortable running its stuff on Thursday night.

Can the Sixers keep Butler rolling?

While Butler certainly qualifies as a player who can create shots for himself, it's much easier on him if the Sixers work as a unit to help him, which they have with good results.

Butler has given the Sixers their first legitimate pick-and-roll threat in years, and when Embiid rolls with any kind of conviction, all kinds of options open up. Embiid's inclination will generally be to pop -- it requires less work, and shooting 3s is fun. But if Embiid were willing to roll with Nikola Jokic-like frequency, he would help make both Butler and the Sixers' overall offense more efficient.

Butler isn't strictly a high-screen and isolation practitioner in this series. He has also worked off the ball along the baseline to free himself up as a potent second-side option, something we saw a couple of times in the first half on Thursday.

There are other avenues for Butler to pressure the Raptors' defense and plenty of series left for the Sixers to explore that menu. In the meantime, movement and variety can keep the Raptors off-balance.

Make or miss?

When momentum seems to favor one team so radically, as it does for the Sixers heading into Game 4, it's worth examining the quality of shots each team is generating. The Raptors concede that their defense in Game 3 and their ball movement over the past couple of games haven't been up to their standards, but on Saturday, Nurse emphasized that he feels there have been plenty of opportunities available for the Raptors' offense -- they simply haven't converted.

There's some truth to that premise. Per Second Spectrum data over the three games in this series, the Raptors have generated a respectable quantified shot probability of 53 percent (the stat measures the team's likely effective field goal percentage when you take into account the shooter, the attempt and the defense). No team in the second round has more greatly underperformed relative to its diet of shots -- and it's not even close.

The Sixers have to be pleased with what they concocted offensively in Game 3, and if Embiid can beat Lowry from long range in the series, they're likely in good shape. But they'll need to continue to cultivate some more high-percentage looks, because what came easy on Thursday is unlikely to be replicated.

In 2001, a relatively unknown rookie named Albert Pujols was invited to major league spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was there after spending most of the previous season in the Low-A Midwest League. Back then, the Cardinals and the Montreal Expos shared the same spring facilities at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. That circumstance gave Pujols, then just 21 years old, a chance to be around Expos slugger Vladimir Guerrero.

Guerrero was coming off what would be the best overall offensive season in his 16-year major league career, belting 44 home runs with a remarkable slash line of .345/.410/.664, adding up to an OPS of 1.074. But for Pujols, what he remembers the most was how humble Guerrero was -- and the amount of time he spent listening to Guerrero and Cardinals teammate Edgar Renteria talk baseball.

"When I was in spring training with the Cardinals, the Expos were there and we played a lot of dominoes [with Guerrero] and Edgar Renteria," Pujols recalled in an interview with ESPN. "I was a young player too, and there were so many guys that embraced me and are close friends of mine now. And I grew close with [Guerrero]. The way he's treated me since Day 1 when I got to the big leagues is the same way he treats me 19 years later."

At the start of an illustrious career that has seen him become one of the greatest first basemen of all time, Pujols was named the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year and finished fourth in MVP balloting.

Nowadays, another rookie, far from unknown, is trying to make his own way in the majors with the weight of his very famous name -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. And for Pujols, it has been a reality check of just how long he has been fortunate enough to play baseball.

"I was really close to his dad. Not only is he a great ambassador for all Dominicans, everyone looks at him for all he did on the field but also for what he has done off the field," Pujols explained. "We still keep in touch. I remember giving him a call four days ago, when [his son] made his debut. He was in his suite, and I was just congratulating him because it's an honor, and now to be able to say that I played with his dad and his son -- that I used to see running around in the All-Star Game -- I am either getting too old or he just grew up too quick!"

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s call-up has been one of the most hyped in recent baseball history, and while "Vladdy" has gotten off to a slow start at the plate, going 5-for-26 with a lone double, no home runs and just one RBI, Pujols doesn't doubt for a second that he is where he belongs.

"Talent is in his blood," Pujols said. "My advice to him is continue working hard. This is a very difficult game. There are many people who struggle -- five, six, seven, eight years and maybe they never get to the big leagues. But now that you have reached this level, you have to remain humble. Try to improve all the time. And don't think that you know everything.

"[I told Vladdy] as soon as he gets that home run, heads up because he is going to hit many more!" Pujols added. "I think sometimes the tendency is you want to get that first hit. You want to get that first home run, like, 'Ah, yeah, here we go, I belong here.' I just told him he belongs here. He has the tools to play with anybody."

Pujols also wanted to make sure to relay to the 20-year-old phenom some of the best baseball advice he ever got from early in his career, with players such as Renteria, Placido Polanco, Jim Edmonds, Fernando Vina and Mark McGwire being instrumental in his tenure with the Cardinals.

"You have to remember that this is not a sprint, it's a marathon," Pujols said. "There are 162 games. There's a lot of baseball left; there are many at-bats left. You are a kind of player that in three months you'll do what it takes others a whole season, like Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Nolan Arenado, players like that. That's the kind of player you are."

Major league players have to confront that grind every season, from the best to the worst. But in dealing with it, Pujols closed by offering Vladdy one simple suggestion about how to approach the six-month mountain every player has to climb.

"You have to turn the page and start with a clean slate every day," Pujols said. "No matter how successful you were that night, or even if you failed, tomorrow is another day."

Steve Smythe shares his thoughts following a running trip to Macedonia

Macedonia is not in most runners’ thoughts as a marathon venue but the city of Skopje and its main race – the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon – are making a big effort to publicise its worth. This year around 60 countries were represented and the event should continue to grow.

In 2014 former men’s world record-holder Wilson Kipsang was flown across to promote it and in 2018 it was women’s world record-holder Paula Radcliffe who ran the 5km and delighted the organisers with her presence and enthusiasm.

There was one decidedly bigger name this weekend, though not running-related, as the Pope was in the city a few days later which meant the race had to be held on the Saturday rather than the Sunday and the square closure meant a few changes to the course and start.

The race took place for the 15th time having been first held in 1997 but stopped for a few years due to mainly financial reasons but resumed in 2007, and the race now attracts around 12,000 entries in the three main races.

As Skopje is the capital of Macedonia (formerly a part of Yugoslavia), this is their London equivalent but with a much smaller country and running pedigree, is on a much smaller scale.

The number of spectators and consequently the atmosphere and support is not comparable but the race is well organised and dominated up front by Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes. The course is flat and fast and the city has some impressive landmarks and statues.

This year there were around 300 finishers in the marathon, around 4000 in the half-marathon and nearer 8000 in the 5km.

The race used to be in March but because of EEC assistance, the race is held on European May day weekend.

Unfortunately, this date is often the hottest weekend of the year, unlike March when it used to snow, and means they may consider holding next year’s marathon in October and hold a shorter race in May.

However, while it was very hot the day before, Saturday was mostly cloudy and conditions were quite good (mostly around 17-18 degrees for the elite races and little wind).

The marathon course is over two laps and has a 5:30 time limit.

There are some big roads in the city and they were needed as at one stage on the same road, half of it was taken up by the finish which had 5km runners on their right and half-marathon on their left and the rest of the road was taken up by the marathoners going on to their second lap on their right and the other side with half-marathoners and marathoners going the other way after about 10 miles of their race.

Start of the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon in Macedonia pic.twitter.com/RsJGsIvFZs

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 4, 2019

Kenya’s Eunice Muchiri was winner of a keenly-contested women’s race. She broke clear on the second half of the race to win in a big PB of 2:33:38 from compatriots Euliter Tanui (2:35:32) and Naomi Limamurei (2:38:32).

Eunice Muchiri of Kenya wins the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon in 2:33:38 pic.twitter.com/PMldhhv0k4

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 4, 2019

Ethiopia won the men’s race with Chalachew Asmamaw Tiruneh winning in 2:15:37 from Kenya’s Wilfred Korir (2:16:54) and Ethiopia’s Getaye Gelaw (2:19:32) but the lack of depth is illustrated by only these three beating the first woman.

Chalachew Tiruneh of Ethiopia wins the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon in 2:15:37 pic.twitter.com/1zjoyEVcM2

— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 4, 2019

The top home runners were Aleksandar Kiradjiev (2:37:41) and Adrijana Pop Arsova  (2:52:52) who both took their national titles.

The half-marathon race was more of a domestic event with Macedonia’s top runner Danio Ivanovski winning with plenty in hand in 72:31 with Hungarian Miljana Ristic winning the women’s race in 87:09.

The over-distance 5km is the most popular race and space is at a minimum further back as around 10 runners stream across the line every second.

Even though I ran like I had run two marathons in the past few weeks, I did finish in the top 40 which meant I was easily in the top 1% which is very unusual for me these days but I cannot recommend the 5km race in scenery terms – there was no way I could have run further – but the half-marathon and marathon looks a more interesting option, especially the marathon if you like space to run freely.

Skopje is an impressive historic city and I can recommend Macedonia for a visit for those who haven’t been before. I would like to go back another time.

While the race itself sticks to the city areas, Skopje has superb trails along the river and parks to run along and the hotel I stayed in (Park Hotel and Spa) was one of the best I have been to in 40 years of travelling to athletic events and races all over the world.

A hearing into Israel Folau's sacking by Rugby Australia after he said "hell awaits" gay people in a social media post will go into a third day on Tuesday.

It comes as Australian media reported Folau rejected a 1m Australian dollars (£533,000) offer from RA to cancel his contract before the hearing.

Folau, 30, gave evidence on Saturday before a three-member panel in Sydney.

RA chief executive Raelene Castle has given evidence over both days so far.

The panel also heard from New South Wales Waratahs chief executive Andrew Hore on Sunday.

Folau, who signed a four-year deal with Sydney-based Super Rugby side the Waratahs in March and had a contract with Rugby Australia until 2022, escaped punishment for similar comments last year.

He requested a code of conduct hearing after his dismissal.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has said Folau, who won 73 caps and was expected to play at this year's World Cup, was unlikely to be selected again.

In addition to his rugby union career, Folau has also played professional rugby league and Australian rules football.

In April, Australian rugby league's governing body ruled out Folau returning to the NRL.

ANDERSON, Ind. – Four-time defending Must See Racing Sprint Car Series champion Jimmy McCune made one thing abundantly clear Saturday night at Anderson Speedway: he’s not about to slow down.

McCune charged to his milestone 30th career Must See Racing victory and sixth at Anderson during the season-opening Must See Racing 50, firing past Tom Jewell on a lap-19 restart and never looking back.

The Toledo, Ohio veteran led the final 32 laps uncontested en route to his fourth-straight season-opening victory with the 410ci winged asphalt sprint car tour.

It marked a virtual sweep of the night’s festivities for McCune, who won both practice sessions, set fast time in qualifying and won the main event. He finished fourth in his heat.

“I’m pretty dang pleased,” said McCune, who started 10th. “We made a lot of changes over the winter, and this is one of the places where we knew we had to get better. We’d been so strong over the years, but just missed something last year and I think we got a lot of it back tonight, for sure.”

Saturday night’s marathon feature took more than an hour to complete the 50-lap distance, in part due to a 20-minute red flag with six laps complete for a track wrecker that was stuck deep in the mud in turn one, after steady morning rains drenched the already-saturated grounds.

Despite that delay, the racing on the track was fast and furious throughout the night.

Jewell and 16-year-old rookie Trey Osborne led the field to green from the front row, after engine issues for provisional polesitter Ryan Litt left the Canadian unable to take the start under power.

Osborne stumbled on the green flag, allowing Jewell to get away and pace the first four laps, before a spinning Tom Geren in turn three brought out the first caution of the night and bunched the field up.

That incident was followed two laps later by a hard crash between Christian Koehler and Joshua Sexton in turn one, eventually leading to the delay for the stuck wrecker.

Both Koehler and Sexton were uninjured in the crash, which occurred while the pair was racing for 12th.

Jewell held serve once racing finally resumed, while McCune – who was up to fifth at the time of the yellow – got up on the wheel and started making moves. He passed Tyler Roahrig for fourth on lap seven, then dispatched Geoff Kaiser for third on the 11th revolution with a dive in turn two.

A three-wide move in slower traffic gave McCune the second spot on lap 14, setting him up on Jewell’s back bumper when Jerry Caryer smacked the outside wall off turn four to draw the third and final caution flag of the night with 18 laps in the books.

Jewell attempted to time the ensuing restart and get away from McCune, but McCune gave Jewell a shot in the back nerf bar that sent Jewell sideways, allowing McCune to duck to the inside and get away.

From there, it was all but over as McCune pulled away to a straightaway-plus advantage over the rest of the field, cruising to the twin checkers over a 32-lap, green-flag run to the finish.

“Unfortunately for him (Jewell), he likes to play with the starts,” McCune noted. “I’ve told him not to do that, but he waited for me to thump him … and he wrung the tires. I just ran on by after that.”

McCune’s nephew, Anthony McCune, powered past Jewell with an inside dive in turn four coming to three laps to go and hung on for second. The run tied the 21-year-old’s highest Must See Racing finish.

“This was a really good night; we just started really far back and had to pick our way through the field,” said Anthony McCune. “Jimmy got a really good start, got ahead of me and passed cars way before I could. That was the difference tonight, but I’m pleased with our effort tonight.”

Jewell completed the podium and lamented the restart where he lost the lead, but still carried a smile after a strong run to open the season.

“If we keep running like this, a win will come,” Jewell noted. “Gene (Fogel, car owner), had it dialed in. You always want to win, but we’ll take this one. … Jimmy just flat hit me, anticipating my start. I’m not really mad at him; it just happened. We’ll learn from all this and come back stronger next time.”

Roahrig and Joe Liguori, a pair of rookie-of-the-year contenders, were fourth and fifth, respectively.

To view complete race results, advance to the next page.

The Premier League season is set for a frantic conclusion at both ends of the table, with the battle for the title and the top four set to go down to the wire.

With permutations updated after each game, we run through what is left to play for and ESPN FC senior writer Mark Ogden offers his thoughts and predictions.

Jump to: Title race | UCL qualification | Relegation

- Premier League table

- SPI odds for the Premier League season

RACE FOR THE TITLE

1. LIVERPOOL (94 points from 37 games)

Still to play: Wolves (h)

Liverpool were on the brink against Newcastle until they found a late, late winner. But they will still need a favour from Leicester or Brighton if they are to win the title. They also have the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against Barcelona while Man City rest.

In short: Liverpool must beat Wolves and hope Man City fail to win one of their games.

Ogden: Saturday's late win at Newcastle ensures that the title can still be won at home to Wolves on Sunday if Manchester City drop points against either Leicester or Brighton. A win will take Liverpool to 97 points, yet that still might not be enough.

2. MAN CITY (92 points from 36 games)

Still to play: Leicester (h), Brighton (a)

Victory at Man United meant the way was set clear for Man City to retain the title. They know that by winning their final two matches the trophy will remain at the Etihad. They are out of the Champions League, will those free midweeks prove key for their sharpness and results?

In short: City are guaranteed to win the title with two victories

Ogden: The long-awaited derby clash at United was successfully navigated, and that should leave a home run to the title.

2. LIVERPOOL (91 points from 36 games)

Still to play: Newcastle (a), Wolves (h)

Liverpool have set a new club record for Premier League points, but they will need a favour from Leicester or Brighton if they are to win the title. They also have to navigate a two-legged Champions League semifinal against Barcelona while Man City rest.

In short: Liverpool must win both their remaining games and hope Man City fail to win one of theirs.

Ogden: Jurgen Klopp's team have done all they can do, but their fate now lies in the hands of others. Even if Liverpool win their final two games, as they probably will, it may not be enough. The time has come for one of City's remaining opponents to deny them a win and, looking at City's remaining fixtures, it may be a forlorn hope.

RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The top four in the Champions League will qualify direct to the group stage, with fifth and sixth into the Europa League.

3. TOTTENHAM (70 points from 37 games)

Still to play: Everton (h)

Defeat at Bournemouth means Spurs still need a win at home to Everton to secure Champions League football for definite, but results elsewhere over the weekend could yet seal it before the final weekend.

In short: Spurs must beat Everton to be mathematically certain of the top four, but if Man United fail to win or Arsenal lose it will be confirmed.

Ogden: Tottenham are well and truly stumbling over the finishing line for a top-four spot and they must now beat Everton at home to be certain of Champions League qualification. With Harry Kane still sidelined, the loss to suspension of Son Heung-Min following his red card in the defeat at Bournemouth could leave Spurs dangerously short of firepower against an the in-form Toffees.

4. CHELSEA (68 points from 36 games)

Still to play: Watford (h), Leicester (a)

Maurizio Sarri's men looked to be outsiders a few weeks ago, but now have their destiny in their own hands. The draw at Manchester United, combined with another defeat for Arsenal, made it a good weekend for the Blues. But you feel there might be some more twists yet. Along with Arsenal, they have the chance to reach the Champions League via winning the Europa League; Chelsea face Eintracht Frankfurt in the semifinals.

In short: Chelsea need two wins to be certain of finishing in the top four, but four will be enough unless Arsenal win both their remaining games.

Ogden: A big week for Chelsea began with a disappointing home draw against Burnley. The draw at Old Trafford might go a long way to sealing a top-four finish.

5. ARSENAL (66 points from 36 games)

Still to play: Brighton (h), Burnley (a)

Arsenal's away form has been their Achilles heel with only two wins on the road in five months, going back to Nov. 25. Any kind of decent recent away record and a place in the Champions League would already be theirs. Instead, the defeat at Leicester makes it incredibly difficult. Help is now required from Chelsea's remaining opponents, Watford and Leicester. They also have a tough Europa League semifinal -- the competition winners earn a UCL place -- against Valencia to navigate.

In short: Arsenal must pick up at least two more points than Chelsea. If they win both their games, and Chelsea draw one, Arsenal could finish fourth on goal difference but it would be very tight.

Ogden: Losing at home to Palace and also to Wolves and Leicester has put Arsenal's top-four chances in real jeopardy. Arsenal may regret a horrible week at a crucial point of the season.

6. MAN UNITED (65 points from 36 games)

Still to play: Huddersfield (a), Cardiff (h)

United have suffered a dramatic collapse in form just at the wrong time, but their rivals haven't fared much better. Failure to win at home to Chelsea has just about killed off their top-four hopes, three points behind Chelsea who have a far superior goal difference. Already-relegated Huddersfield and struggling Cardiff are left to play but wins in those games will surely too little, too late for the Champions League.

In short: United must win both their remaining games to have any realistic chance. Due to their inferior goal difference they would also need Chelsea to pick up no more than two points and Arsenal a maximum of four.

Ogden: A disastrous run of results has seen United slip down to sixth place and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are now needing others to drop points if they are to sneak a top-four finish. Nothing less than six points from their final two games will be enough, but the ship has probably already sailed.

RELEGATED

18. CARDIFF (31 points from 37 games)

Cardiff were relegated on May 4.

19. FULHAM (23 points from 35 games)

Fulham were relegated April 2.

20. HUDDERSFIELD (14 points from 36 games)

Huddersfield were relegated March 30.

If the second half of IPL 2019's league stage were viewed in isolation, then Royal Challengers Bangalore's four wins and a point from a no-result in seven games would be about the best performance by any team. Had the points table consisted of only those matches, Royal Challengers would've been near the top of the charts.

But the IPL league stage is contested over 14 games, not seven, and Royal Challengers - despite their valiant attempts - could not undo the damage the six-straight defeats at the start of the season had done to their campaign. After winning their final league game, their captain Virat Kohli described Royal Challengers' IPL 2019 campaign as a "strange" one, but lauded his boys for showing character in turning their season around from disastrous to respectable.

"We haven't finished in the position we wanted to, but because the second half has been so nice for us, it doesn't really feel like a bad season to be honest," Kohli said after the match. "It sounds strange, but having lost six and then getting six [five] results out of the [last] seven games with one point [for the no-result] is something you can be proud of as a team."

Kohli also stressed the importance of hitting the ground running in a short tournament like the IPL. He said that even an odd victory here or there during the first-half of the season would've seen them into the final-four stage.

"If we focus on the second half, I think it was exactly what we wanted in the first half," Kohli said. "After losing six games in a row, it's very difficult to come back in a tournament like the IPL. You understand the importance of winning at least two out of the first six, and then you're in the playoffs.

"I think the first couple of weeks really matter in terms of setting your intensity and path as a team and then following that non-stop. But the way the guys have turned things around, a lot of credit has to go to the whole team, to the management to get players in the right mindset. We're just happy we were able to play the kind of cricket we can. At the end of the day, as cricketers, you don't want to go out there and feel like hopeless every game. I think the way we played the second half, we showed what kind of a team we are."

Despite Royal Challengers languishing in last place for most of the season, their fan support has been remarkable. In the rain-hit match against Rajasthan Royals last week that eventually began at 12.26am - nearly four-and-a-half hours after the scheduled start - the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was close to full capacity, with spectators staying through the torrential rain.

Kohli said the fans deserve better results from the team. "I just want to tell all the people in the stadium, every year we come and the support is even better than last year," he said. "Hats off to you guys for turning up in numbers every year. We are so thankful and grateful to have fans like you all.

"I certainly feel your pain, because I'm emotionally attached to this team like all of you. Next year we'll definitely improve our performances and give what you guys deserve in return, much better than this year. You're the best fans in the IPL."

Australia will play New Zealand in the second half of March - their latest series of home internationals outside a World Cup in more than 40 years - as a result of the dispute with the BCCI that has forced an ODI tour of India in the middle of January.

That aside, ESPNcricinfo can also reveal that a day/night Perth Test in mid-December may be the start of a tradition for Western Australia's Test match, as Perth Stadium and Cricket Australia look for more consistent programming to attract bigger crowds to the long form of the game outside of the popular Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney matches.

Not since a two-Test series against Pakistan in late March 1979 - the last matches to be played in Australia during the two-year World Series Cricket split wrought by Kerry Packer - have Australia hosted bilateral matches so late. It underlines the extent that the Board and its host broadcaster Fox Sports have been stretched by the BCCI's insistence that it host the Australians for an ODI series in mid-January.

That stipulation causes a knock-on effect whereby India then travel to New Zealand for a series, while the Australians are occupied by visits to Bangladesh and South Africa before returning home in mid-March for the three ODIs against the Black Caps. At the same time, Australia will host the women's Twenty20 World Cup in February and early March.

ALSO READ: BCCI-CA conflict leaves female stars in limbo

CA and the BCCI remain fundamentally at odds over whether dates were ever agreed for the series, with arguments dating back to ICC-facilitated workshops to iron out the FTP for the 2019 to 2023 cycle. Two major meetings in late 2017 and then February this year failed to bring a uniformity of views, but seemingly the BCCI has ultimately held sway. CA's chief executive Kevin Roberts and chairman Earl Eddings are expected to visit India for talks with their opposite numbers around the IPL final on May 11.

Given the dominance of the AFL on most major grounds in Australia after February, plenty of last-minute negotiations loom to ensure suitable venues for the series. While the 2015 World Cup was played deep into the last week of March, this was done with plenty of advance warning and planning before Australia thrashed New Zealand in the tournament final at the MCG. Similar arrangements were made for 1992 World Cup, won by Pakistan.

There will be two day/night Tests during the summer, with Pakistan ultimately acceding to CA's request for a floodlit match at Adelaide Oval to conclude their two-match series, which will begin with the return of the Gabba as the first Test of summer after missing out in 2018-19.

More intriguing will be the scheduling of the first Test of the New Zealand series as a day/night affair at Perth Stadium, given the vast time difference with Australia's major eastern states markets. Perth Stadium's management, helmed by the former CA commercial and marketing chief Mike McKenna, are eager for a more reliable time slot in the calendar, the better to attract fans to the ground not only from WA but the rest of the country.

Through Boxing Day and New Year, the Melbourne and Sydney Tests attract a major recurring following irrespective of the touring opponent each summer. Adelaide has also managed to have a similar pull for spectators given the attractiveness of the venue and its sheer convenience just a short walk from the heart of hospitality districts in the South Australian capital.

The domestic season will feature a significant change as the domestic limited-overs tournament is played in brackets interspersed with the first half of the Sheffield Shield competition to build adaptability and relevant performances in the 50-over format after six years of its use as a pre-season carnival of sorts.

Australia's first international assignment of the season will be a Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka starting in early November. CA will reveal the schedule for the Chappell-Hadlee Series on Tuesday.

LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez, boxing's biggest star, scored one of his biggest wins on Saturday night.

In a performance in which he mixed offensive firepower, boxing skills and sound defense, Alvarez won a unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs to unify three middleweight world titles -- leaving him one shy of the undisputed 160-pound championship -- before a wildly pro-Alvarez crowd of 20,203 on Cinco de Mayo weekend at T-Mobile Arena.

Alvarez won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 in the year's biggest fight so far. ESPN also had Alvarez winning 116-112 in the second fight of his five-year, 11-fight, $365 million deal he signed last fall with the sports streaming service DAZN.

"It was just what we thought. We knew he was going to be a difficult fighter, but thank god we did things the right way, what we were going to do," Alvarez said through an interpreter. "It was just what we thought because of the style of fight that he brings, but we just did our job."

Jacobs, who came into the ring with a clear size advantage that was enhanced by the fact he missed weight for a contractual Saturday morning weight check, did not complain about the decision.

"I feel accomplished, l feel great. I have to go back to look at the tapes to see exactly what the judges thought," Jacobs said. "They said to me [in the corner] that I was up, so I was still pushing forward because I wanted to finish strong. He's a tremendous champion, and I tip my hat to him. I gave my all out there. You'll see Daniel Jacobs bigger and better next time."

The boxers made weight at Friday's official weigh-in, Alvarez at 159.5 and Jacobs at 160, but they had a contractual clause that called for neither man to be over 170 pounds at the morning weight check or they would face financial penalties of $250,000 per pound over. While Alvarez checked in at 169 pounds, Jacobs was 173.6 pounds, meaning a $1 million fine of his more than $10 million guarantee.

"I didn't feel any different. I'm just a naturally big middleweight," Jacobs said. "I made the sacrifice of coming in 173 and paying a hefty fine for it, but end of the day, I made sacrifices. I got the short end of the stick, but to my fans, to all my [cancer] survivors out there who appreciate me and my story, for what I represent, I thank you. The journey is not over. I continue to strive for success and be the best I can be."

Jacobs nearly died from a rare form of bone cancer in 2011 and was told he would never fight again; he not only returned, but he became one of the world's best middleweights.

Jacobs' size advantage was not an issue for Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs), 28, of Mexico, who was making the first defense of the two belts he won from Gennady Golovkin by majority decision in September.

After Alvarez beat Golovkin, he went to super middleweight to face an overmatched Rocky Fielding in December and knocked Fielding out in the third round to win a secondary world title. But Alvarez always intended to return to middleweight, which he did to face Jacobs in the much-anticipated fight.

Alvarez, who earned $35 million with the win Saturday, dominated in the CompuBox punch statistics, landing 188 of 466 shots (40 percent); Jacobs landed 131 of 649 (20 percent).

The bout began slowly, with Alvarez coming forward and trying to make the fight, while Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs), 32, of Brooklyn, New York, was content to go backward and fire only the occasional punch.

The crowd began to chant, "Mexico! Mexico!" in the second round, in which Alvarez continued to go after Jacobs and land body punches. Alvarez also connected with flush jabs, while most of Jacobs' came up short of the target.

"It definitely took me a couple rounds to get my wits about me, to figure out his rhythm, because he's a pop-shotter," Jacobs said. "He was a fast guy, very slippery. It was a great contest. I look forward to the future. I feel like I gave enough to get the victory, so I'll have to go back to the tapes to see exactly what happened."

Alvarez landed a left hand that rocked Jacobs' head back in the early moments of the fourth round in a fight he was controlling with his activity level and crisp punches, along with very sound defense. Jacobs, who claimed a vacant belt by split decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko in October and was making his first defense, didn't seem to have much of a plan. He missed with wild punches, could barely land his jab and spent stretches backing up.

Jacobs, who sometimes switched between right-handed and southpaw stances, finally got something going in the sixth round with a flurry that backed Alvarez up and continued to land more shots in the seventh, including a big left hand.

"It's normal," Alvarez said of Jacobs' changing stances. "It's obviously just a matter of adapting when they switch righty to lefty."

There was fierce back-and-forth action in the eighth round, when both landed solid punches during lengthy exchanges, but it was Alvarez who seemed to stun Jacobs multiple times, including with a right hand and a hook behind it.

There was more sustained action in the ninth round when they took turns landing powerful shots. Jacobs landed his best punches of the fight when he connected with a pair of clean left hands, although Alvarez took them well.

Jacobs' right eye was swelling by the 10th round, but he unloaded some heavy punches on Alvarez along the ropes in one of his best sequences of the fight. Alvarez appeared to bounce back in the 11th round. And they both came out for the 12th round firing.

Jacobs launched a left hook that he missed badly as he slipped to the mat on the wet canvas. Referee Tony Weeks called a timeout to clean up the moisture, and when the fight resumed, Alvarez landed a left hook to the head. With a minute left in the fight, Alvarez landed an uppercut. And they finished in a heated exchange that brought fans to their feet.

After the fight, Jacobs' 10-year-old son, Nate, joined him in the ring.

"I asked him, 'Do you think Daddy did a good job?' He said, 'Yes, Dad, you did a great job.' That's all that matters to me," Jacobs said. "I'll go home and be the best I can be."

With Jacobs vanquished, Alvarez can look forward to more major fights, including a possible third showdown with Golovkin or an undisputed title fight with Demetrius Andrade. Both fights are very makeable, because Golovkin and Andrade also are signed to DAZN. Both also watched from ringside Saturday night.

Golovkin and Andrade have other business first with fights they need to win next month. Golovkin will take on Steve Rolls at 164 pounds on June 8 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and Andrade will defend his belt against contender Maciej Sulecki on June 29 in the first fight of his career in his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Alvarez has said repeatedly he wants to unify the division this year, which would make Andrade the obvious choice. But a third bout with Golovkin, with whom he fought to a controversial draw in their first contest that many thought Golovkin won, would be a much bigger and richer event.

Alvarez wasn't calling out anyone after the fight, electing to enjoy his moment of triumph.

"I'm just looking for the biggest challenge. That's all I want. No, for me, it's over," he said regarding any unfinished business with Golovkin. "But if the people want another fight, we'll do it again, and I'll beat him again.

"That's why I'm here. That's what I was born for -- to fight, to defend what's mine. I'll fight anyone."