Cavs to name Atkinson as new coach

Just days ahead of the NBA draft, the Cavaliers picked their coach. Kenny Atkinson, an assistant with the Warriors who helped the Nets rebuild before a puzzling departure, will be the Cavs’ new coach, according to reports Monday. The Cavaliers have been looking for a new leader for their young team since firing J.B. Bickerstaff last month despite two straight playoff appearances and continued progress. Atkinson spent the last three seasons as Steven Kerr’s top assistant with the Warriors. In 2022, Atkinson accepted the Hornets’ head coaching job but backed out a week after agreeing to a four-year contract. Atkinson’s hiring ends an expansive search by the Cavs’ front office. Atkinson was one of at least six known candidates to interview with the team since Bickerstaff’s firing on May 23 — a week after the Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs in five games by the eventual champion Celtics. The 57-year-old Atkinson checked all the boxes in what the Cavs were looking for: head coaching experience, offensive-minded and a strong reputation for player development.

US cruises in Copa America opener

Christian Pulisic spread his arms wide with a big smile, then wanted to find the coach in the stands who drew up the fastest goal for the U.S. against a South American team. Plenty of emotion against an overmatched opponent, in a tournament the Americans call their biggest test ahead of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup. Pulisic scored in the third minute and assisted on Folarin Balogun’s goal in the 44th as the United States cruised past Bolivia 2-0 in their Copa America opener on Sunday night in Arlington, Texas. “I feel like I’m always pretty excited after I score,” Pulisic, above, said. “This is a big moment. It’s a major tournament. ... We came out flying with a lot of intensity. ... All around, a pretty dominant performance.” Playing a day before his 30th birthday, goalkeeper Matt Turner had three saves in his 25th international shutout. Among six invited guests to South America’s championship, the U.S. is expected to advance from Group C to the quarterfinals along with Uruguay. The 11th-ranked U.S. plays Panama on Thursday in Atlanta.

Lyles stays on right track at US trials

The bright red running suit, the white pearls and the gold medal said it all. Noah Lyles is the flashiest, and the fastest, sprinter in the United States — maybe even the world. We’ll all get to find out later this summer in Paris thanks to a come-from-behind victory for Lyles in the 100 meters at U.S. track trials on Sunday at the University of Oregon — a 9.83-second sprint that secured his spot at an Olympics. Lyles came from the back half of the field to match his best time ever in the sprint that crowns the Fastest Man in the World. This marks the second national title in the 100 for 26-year-old Lyles, who has three 200-meter world titles but reimagined his goals after a disappointing third-place finish at the Tokyo Games in that race. Last summer, Lyles rebounded in a big a way. He won the world championship at 100, 200 and the 4x100 relay last year in Budapest, Hungary. If Lyles can pull off the triple again, he would be in company with Usain Bolt, the Jamaican great who went 3 for 3 all three times he raced at the Olympics. —Associated Press