Napoli and Inter title-deciding matches moved to Friday

MILAN (AP) — The two potential title-deciding matches of the Serie A season have been moved to Friday night.

The Italian league’s governing body announced on Monday that Napoli’s home game against Cagliari and Inter’s match at Como will kick off simultaneously at 8:45 p.m. local time (1845 GMT).

Antonio Conte’s Napoli has a one-point lead over defending champion Inter Milan heading into the final round.

If both teams finish level at the top of the league, there will have to be a playoff to decide the destination of the title.

Given that very real possibility and that Inter is also in the Champions League final — against Paris Saint-Germain — on May 31, a scheduling issue arose.

The league council met on Monday morning and Italian media reports that the meeting was immediately suspended because of disagreements: with Inter wanting to play the final matches on Thursday and Napoli on Friday, in order to celebrate more fully with its fans.

Discussions eventually got back underway and it was decided to play the Napoli and Inter matches on Friday.

The six matches that involve teams battling against relegation or fighting for fourth spot and the final Champions League place will be played Sunday. AC Milan vs. Monza and Bologna vs. Genoa will take place on Saturday.

Conte and Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will not be in their respective dugouts, however. Both were sent off at the end of their team’s penultimate matches: a 0-0 draw at Parma for Napoli, and Inter’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Lazio.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries celebrates after scoring 2-1, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter and Lazio at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Romelu Lukaku, foreground and Parma's Alessandro Circati vie for the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Parma and Napoli at Parma's Ennio Tardini Stadium, Italy, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Inter Milan's head coach Simone Inzaghi celebrates after the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at San Siro stadium in Milan , Italy, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte shouts on the sideline during a Serie A soccer match against Genoa at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples, southern Italy, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their first game since Victor Wembanyama injured his left knee, beating the Indiana 123-113 on Friday night for the Pacers' 11th straight loss.

Wembanyama hyperextended his knee Wednesday night in a home victory over New York. An MRI showed no ligament damage and the 7-foot-4 center stayed in San Antonio to rehabilitate the injury.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama is day-to-day but wouldn’t rule out the possibility he could play against Portland on Saturday night in San Antonio. The Spurs are 10-3 with Wembanyama doesn’t play.

Dylan Harper added 22 points for the Spurs, and Stephon Castle had 19.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard had 19 points, and Micah Potter added 16 in his first start in five games with Pacers.

The Pacers shot 51% while the Spurs made 44% overall. San Antonio made 22 of 28 free throws while Indiana was 13 of 15.

The Spurs scored the first six points of the third quarter to to make it 77-58. The Pacers regrouped to cut it to 93-85 after three quarters. San Antonio maintained control throughout the fourth quarter.

Spurs Host Portland on Saturday night.

Pacers: At Orlando on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in Indianapolis, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) makes contact with San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, right, tips a rebound in to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk, right, scores over the top of Indiana Pacers center James Wiseman (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)