This Week In Sport: Tough times for Arsenal, James v Curry, the Kentucky derby and more

Sports fans have plenty to look forward to this week, with a plethora of top-class events taking place across the world.

Basketball and horse racing are among the sports you can watch this week, while soccer and mixed martial arts are also staging unmissable events.

Read on as we look at what’s on the agenda this week, starting with the annual post-season basketball extravaganza in North America.

NBA Play-Offs

Excitement is mounting among basketball fans worldwide, with just eight teams remaining in the 2023 NBA Play-Offs.

Boston Celtics remain the favourites with the bookmakers despite suffering a 119-115 home defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

The standout tie and one that will drive the demand for NBA streams could be the clash between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers – a series that will see NBA legends Stephen Curry and LeBron James do battle.

Kentucky Derby

The 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be staged at Churchill Downs on Saturday and trainer Todd Pletcher has a strong contingent of runners in the race.

Pletcher has three of the first six in the betting but may ultimately be thwarted in his bid to win the prestigious race for the third time.

Angel of Empire was an eye-catching winner of the Arkansas Derby in April, and the step up in trip could bring about further improvement in the horse.

Newcastle United vs Arsenal

Arsenal’s Premier League title bid has stuttered in recent weeks, and they will be desperate to rectify matters at Newcastle United this weekend.

The Magpies will be a tough nut to crack, with the team’s record of just four defeats in 33 games helping them mount a strong bid for a top-four finish.

Newcastle have won their last three matches by an aggregate 13-3 scoreline and will fancy their chances of putting the Gunners to the sword at St James Park.

Copa del Rey Final

With Real Madrid’s hopes of winning the La Liga title looking remote, the final of the Copa Del Rey against Osasuna has taken on added importance.

Madrid are playing in their 40th final in this competition and the La Liga giants will understandably be desperate to add to their tally of 19 previous successes.

By contrast, this will be Osasuna’s second appearance in the final. They last reached this stage of the competition in 2005 but were defeated by Real Betis.

UFC 288

Elite-level mixed martial arts returns to Newark this weekend, with a UFC bantamweight title fight topping what looks to be a high-class card.

Reigning champion Aljamain Sterling meets returning former two-division world champion Henry Cejudo in a contest that could be one for the ages.

Cejudo has been out of action for almost three years but could give Sterling plenty to think about if he can produce his best form.

And there’s more to watch still – we have the Formula 1 race in Miami, the Indian Premier League continues, Napoli need just a point to secure the Serie A title, the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals will be decided and plenty more.