MEN’S ICE HOCKEY: Cardiff Giants have announced that head coach Pete Russell has left the club after two seasons in charge. The Giants won the Continental Cup, their first European trophy, in January and finished as runners up in this year’s Challenge Cup before losing out in the end of season play-offs final against Nottingham after two periods of over-time. Russell is the current head coach of the British national team.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 27 points as Oklahoma City, who topped the NBA table in the regular season, saw off Memphis 118-99 to take a 2-0 lead in their best of seven first round play-off. LA Lakers beat Minnesota 94-85 to level their series at 1-1 while Indiana went two up with a 123-115 win over Milwaukee. Reigning champions Boston Celtics lead Orlando 1-0 before this morning’s second leg.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: St Helens will be missing forward Joe Batchelor when they visit Warrington for tonight’s opening game of the latest Super League round. Batchelor sustained a hamstring injury in the Saints 24-14 loss at Wigan last week and is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks. St Helens are currently fifth, four points behind Super League table-toppers Hull KR with Warrington two points further back in ninth.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo are in Buenos Aires this morning to face Estudiantes in a crucial Group A game. Both teams have lost one and won one of their opening games. Amongst today’s other fixtures Argentina’s River Plate visit Ecuador to face Independiente Valle, unbeaten Palmeiras host Bolivar in Group G, Sao Paolo are in Paraguay to play Libertad and Colombia’s Atletico Bucaramanga take on Brazil’s Fortaleza.