BILBAO, Spain (AP) — There he was, kissing the trophy before lifting it in front of his teammates.
It was a dream-come-true moment for Son Heung-min, the South Korea star who finally won his first title in Europe as Tottenham defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
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Tottenham's Son Heung-min and Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur celebrate at the end of the Europa League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds up the trophy after winning the Europa League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Tottenham's Heung-Min Son raises the trophy of the Europa League after the final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Europa League final soccer match against Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
“I felt the pressure. I wanted it so badly,” Son said. “The last seven days, I was dreaming about this game every single day. It finally happened, and I can sleep easy now.”
Only a few weeks ago, Son was congratulating Harry Kane, his former Tottenham teammate. Kane for finally won the first trophy of his own career after leaving Spurs and joining Bayern Munich.
Son and Kane had teamed up for one of the best attacking partnerships in the Premier League, setting each other up for more goals than any other attacking duo in the competition. Kane had to move to Bayern to finally earn his first trophy. But Son was able to do it while still with Spurs, which hadn't won a major title since 2008.
“Let’s say I’m a legend. Why not? Only today," he said of the drought-breaking win with Spurs. "In 17 years, nobody has done it. Today’s the day — probably I will say I’m a legend. Let’s enjoy it, let’s celebrate. It feels amazing. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of. Today is the day the dream came true. I’m the happiest man in the world.”
Son and Kane were together when Tottenham lost the 2019 Champions League final to Liverpool in another all-English decider. Son is the only starter from that match who is still at Tottenham.
Son just recently returned from a foot injury and came off the bench in Wednesday's final in the 67th minute. After the final whistle, he celebrated wildly with his teammates and later — draped with the South Korea flag — he saluted the fans in the stands.
It had been a mostly disappointing season for Tottenham, which is in 17th place in the Premier League. It's only hopes to play in European competitions next season was by winning the title on Wednesday to qualify for the Champions League.
“When you look at the whole season, there was always some situations where you’re having a tough time, but we as players always stuck together,” the 32-year-old Son said. "The young players always stepped up. I always tried to give them good advice, speak positively. I’m very lucky I have such an amazing group of players with me.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Tottenham's Son Heung-min and Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur celebrate at the end of the Europa League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds up the trophy after winning the Europa League final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Tottenham's Heung-Min Son raises the trophy of the Europa League after the final soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Europa League final soccer match against Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.
Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.
Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.
“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”
Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.
“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”
The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.
Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.
With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.
Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.
The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.
“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."
The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.
Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.
“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”
This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
