24 incredible sports photos from Getty Images this week

The sports world makes for a beautiful palette but individual images can get lost in the constant shuffle. Here are the best Getty Images sports photos from this week.

Benches clear after Nick Castellanos of the Cincinnati Reds slides safely into home base to score on a wild pitch and celebrates over pitcher Jake Woodford of the St. Louis Cardinals during their game at Great American Ball Park on April 3, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cincinnati Reds won 9-6.

I had just moved positions directly above home plate for a straight-on angle of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford when Nick Castellanos of the Cincinnati Reds rushed from third base to home on a wild pitch. He got on base after being hit in the chest by a pitch and celebrated over Woodford, causing benches to clear. St. Louis took offense to his celebration and it resulted in some interesting photos. Having to shoot from an elevated position and behind netting makes covering a game a bit harder, so I was happy to be in the right spot at the right time when this dispute broke out.

— Emilee Chinn

Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals celebrates his walk-off single with teammate Trea Turner against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Nationals Park on April 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. The Washington Nationals won their 2021 Opening Day game, 6-5.

The Washington Nationals delayed their season opener due to a COVID outbreak that sidelined 11 players. The team’s Opening Day came days later after multiple postponed games. In front of a limited audience of 5,000 fans, the Nationals played a seesaw battle against the Atlanta Braves. It was then that Juan Soto of the Nationals cracked a walk-off single that gave them the win in the bottom of the ninth inning. Having been in this walk-off situation many times in the past, I knew that the picture of the game would either be at home plate or of a player rounding the bases. After Soto made contact, my instincts and knowledge of the game kept my lens glued on him as he celebrated by jumping up and down, eventually enjoying the win with his teammates.

— Patrick Smith

Sungjae Im of South Korea warms up on the range during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia.

As I headed to the range for some early morning photos of Preview Day 2 of the Masters Tournament, I decided to try to recreate a picture first done years ago by another Getty Images Sports Photographers, Jamie Squire. There were some cutouts of the Masters logo behind the seating area of the driving range so thought I’d give it a go. It can be a bit of a challenge because coaches and caddies usually stand behind the players on the range so it’s hard to get a clean view. After a little while of checking a few spots, I was able to capture Sungjae Im all by himself. The thing that made it even more special is that I was able to capture a flag in the top of the logo above Im.

— Kevin C. Cox

Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils takes a first-period penalty for goaltender interference against Vitek Vanecek of the Washington Capitals at the Prudential Center on April 2, 2021, in Newark, New Jersey. The Capitals defeated the Devils 2-1 in overtime.

Commentary: When I place a camera in the rafters directly over the net shooting straight down, I describe that view as being more creative and generic as the results are often more graphical than simply factual. The factual view for me would be more of an angled-in shot towards the goalie where faces could be readily seen. But the gold standard for the direct overhead shot is when the goaltender sprawls on his back facing up towards the camera. From my perch 100’ below, I shoot blindly at 12 frames per second, hoping that something decent is captured as New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt bumped into and interfered with goaltender Vitek Vanecek of the Washington Capitals.

— Bruce Bennett

Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers is fouled by Robert Williams III of the Boston Celtics in the first half at TD Garden on April 6, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, my usual floor position during NBA games has been moved up to the suite level at TD Garden in Boston. I knew that this game would be intense due to the intense long-time rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. One of the benefits of shooting higher up is being able to get different angles of the action, especially of facial expressions. Unlike most sports I cover, there are no helmets obstructing player’s faces in basketball so you can really see how the players react in the heat of the moment. Ben Simmons of the 76ers was fouled on this play, and you can tell from the photo just how intense the moment was.

— Kathryn Riley

Fans look on as the Texas Rangers take on the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning on Opening Day at Globe Life Field on April 5, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth inning at Fenway Park on April 3, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

C.J. Cron of the Colorado Rockies slides in to score and collides with Austin Barnes of the Los Angeles Dodgers on a wild pitch on Opening Day at Coors Field on April 1, 2021, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Ty France of the Seattle Mariners runs to first base as smoke clears from fireworks that fired after a home run by Mitch Haniger of the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park on April 3, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Fernando Tatis Jr. collides with Jorge Mateo of the San Diego Padres while making the catch of a fly ball hit by Eduardo Escobar of the Arizona Diamondbacks for an out during the fifth inning of a game at PETCO Park on April 2, 2021, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Jonathan India of the Cincinnati Reds breaks his bat as he grounds out in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on April 4, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Justin Schultz of the Washington Capitals hits the boards against the New York Islanders during their game at Nassau Coliseum on April 6, 2021, in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Barclay Goodrow of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Eric Robinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets fights for the puck during a game at Amalie Arena on April 1, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz jokes with teammate Donovan Mitchell during the NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 3, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Patrick Williams of the Chicago Bulls is fouled by Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center on April 4, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Dustin Johnson of the United States plays his shot from the 11th tee during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Dustin Johnson of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walk on the sixth hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand celebrates with the trophy after winning the final round of the ANA Inspiration at the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club on April 4, 2021, in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Players of Leicester City celebrate following the Barclays FA Women’s Championship match between Leicester City and London City Lionesses at Farley Way Stadium on April 4, 2021, in Loughborough, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund is challenged by Stefan Ilsanker of Eintracht Frankfurt during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park on April 3, 2021, in Dortmund, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Robert Sanchez of Brighton & Hove Albion saves a shot from Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on April 4, 2021, in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Avilés Hurtado of Monterrey fights for the ball with Ramiro González of San Luis during the 13th round match between Monterrey and Atletico San Luis as part of the Torneo Guard1anes 2021 at BBVA Stadium on April 3, 2021 in Monterrey, Mexico. (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Jamel Herring of the USA punches Carl Frampton of Northern Ireland during the WBO World Super Featherweight Title Fight between Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton at The Rotunda at Caesars Palace on April 3, 2021, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Alejandro Sancho (bottom) competes against Ellis Coleman in their Grecco-Roman 67kg finals match on day 2 of the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials at Dickies Arena on April 3, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)