MEN’S BASKETBALL: Super League champions London Lions face Newcastle in the first leg of their semi-final play-off at the Copper Box Arena this evening. 

The Lions finished 20 points and four places above the north easterners during the regular season. 

The other last four clash sees runners-up Sheffield taking on third-placed Leicester. Both second legs will take place on Sunday, with the final a week later.

MEN’S CYCLING: The 108th Giro D’Italia starts in Albania on Friday without defending champion Tadej Pogacar. In his absence, Bury-born Adam Yates and Spain’s Juan Ayuso will jointly lead the UAE team. 

Joining them on the start-line will be the last three champions; Primoz Roglic, Jai Hindley and Egan Bernal, as well as 12 British riders including Adam Yates’ twin brother Simon and double Olympic mountain bike gold medallist Tom Pidcock.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: It’s second against third in the English Premiership Friday evening when Leicester host Sale at Welford Road. 

Leicester are 15 points behind runaway league leaders Bath with Sale a further three points off the pace. 

Regardless of tomorrow night’s result, Bath, who have also reached the final of the European Challenge Cup, will get the chance to seal the Premiership title when they visit fourth-placed Bristol on Saturday. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Defending NBA champions Boston Celtics are 2-0 down to the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference semi-final play-off after losing 91-90 this morning. 

Number one seeds Cleveland are trailing by the same score after going down 120-119 to Indiana. 

In the west, Oklahoma City thumped Denver 149-106 to level their series at 1-1 and Golden State lead Minnesota 1-0 before Friday morning’s second match.