25 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.

Michael Brantley of the Houston Astros in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park on May 7, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

This photo is special to me because prior to Covid, Minute Maid Park stadium workers informed me that the roof opens in Houston less than one percent of the season. During this game between the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays, the roof was open, and we were graced with a beautiful sunset. I was focused on getting upstairs to get a better frame with the sunset in the background, but I was stuck until the break. I took this shot before I headed upstairs, but as luck would have it, when I got upstairs the sky display was gone. This photo ended up being the more pleasing frame — the color of the sky with the Astros’ orange uniforms made for a beautiful contrast. Each game, I always try to document with a relentless pursuit to make moments more beautiful than they need to be, and this night nature did all the work for us.

— Carmen Mandato

Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets dunks the ball during the third quarter of their game against the Denver Nuggets at Spectrum Center on May 11, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The biggest challenge with shooting NBA games in an elevated position is cleaning up the background. For this game, I was able to move from my original position during the season to a spot better positioned behind the net. This allowed me to clean up the background a bit and avoid a socially distanced metal bench in the background. I was also able to see Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier’s face during this dunk, which made for an even better photo.

— Jared C. Tilton

Albert Almora Jr. of the New York Mets catches a hit by Austin Hays of the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning but drops it after he collides with the wall giving Hays a triple at Citi Field on May 11, 2021, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

This was a very tight game and scoreless until the seventh inning. With games like these, where scoring happens late in the game, every play is important. Austin Hays of the Baltimore Orioles hit this fly out to center-right field. I often follow hits like this because you never know if a catch will be made for the out, if it will fly over the wall for a home run or if the play goes horribly wrong. In this case, Albert Almora Jr. of the New York Mets initially made the catch, but he hit the wall so hard that the ball flew out of his glove. I am not sure if it was the quiet of the stadium or if he hit the wall that hard, but as he hit it, everyone could hear a very loud “thud”. In fact, he hit the wall so hard that it tore the padding cover and left an imprint where his body hit the wall. Almora Jr. was taken out of the game after this play and the Mets went on to win in the bottom of the ninth.

— Elsa

J.T. Compher of the Colorado Avalanche reacts after scoring a third-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during their game at T-Mobile Arena on May 10, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Avalanche defeated the Golden Knights 2-1.

This was the biggest game of the year for both the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, with the Golden Knights leading the Avalanche in the West Division by four points. The game came down to the final period after a tough two periods of the score being tied 1-1. With under 10 minutes left, the Golden Knights had a poor line change, and the Avalanche had a mini-rush. Left winger J.T. Compher took a pass at the front of the net and scored what would be the game-winning goal in the team’s 2-1 victory. Compher immediately turned away from the goal, raised his arms, went down on his knee, and pumped his fist. Everyone knew it was a big goal in a tight game. As he celebrated, he lowered his shoulder enough for me to get just a couple of images where I could see the great reaction on his face before his teammates swarmed him. I filed one tight shot of just him and this image, with the body language of the Vegas players skating toward their bench adding a storytelling element to the photo.

— Ethan Miller

Juan Toscano-Anderson of the Golden State Warriors reacts after teammate Jordan Poole made a shot from behind half-court at the end of the third period against the Utah Jazz at Chase Center on May 10, 2021, in San Francisco, California.

It was nice that fans were back in the arena for a moment like this. Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors had just made a shot from half-court at the end of the third period and the crowd went wild. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that teammate Juan Toscano-Anderson was celebrating. I was able to focus on him and shoot the picture loose, so I got the fans cheering in the foreground. Hopefully, there will be more moments like this for the Warriors as the NBA playoffs begin next week.

— Ezra Shaw

Collin Sexton of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 12, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 102-94. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers blocks James Johnson of the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center on May 7, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Lorenzo Cain of the Milwaukee Brewers can’t catch a home run hit by Miguel Rojas of the Miami Marlins (not pictured) during the first inning at loanDepot park on May 8, 2021, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Joey Wendle of the Tampa Bay Rays steals second before the tag by Tony Kemp of the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on May 8, 2021, in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves slides into home to score in the twelfth inning of an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on May 8, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars celebrates scoring the game-winning goal with teammate John Klingberg as Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks looks over at defeated goalie Collin Delia at the United Center on May 10, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. The Stars defeated the Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Andy Greene of the New York Islanders and Damon Severson of the New Jersey Devils pursue the puck at the Nassau Coliseum on May 8, 2021, in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Devils 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/True Timber/BRCC Chevrolet, and Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 20 DEX Imaging Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 8, 2021, in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Elwin Soto punches Katsunari Takayama, during their fight for Soto’s WBO junior flyweight title at AT&T Stadium on May 8, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Canelo Alvarez celebrates after defeating Billy Joe Saunders who did not answer the bell for the eighth round during their fight for Alvarez’s WBC and WBA super-middleweight titles and Saunders’ WBO super middleweight title at AT&T Stadium on May 8, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Tyler Strafaci of Team USA plays his shot from the bunker on the 18th hole during Sunday singles matches on Day Two of The Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club on May 9, 2021, in Juno Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates winning on the 18th green during the final round of the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 9, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

A goal slips by goalkeeper Didi Haracic of NJ/NY Gotham FC in penalty kicks during the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship at Providence Park on May 8, 2021, in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal looks dejected following the UEFA Europa League Semi-final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Villareal CF at Emirates Stadium on May 6, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Yeremi Pino of Villarreal CF is challenged by Nestor Araujo of Celta Vigo during the La Liga Santander match between Villarreal CF and RC Celta at Estadio de la Ceramica on May 9, 2021, in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Midfielder Lindsey Horan of the Portland Thorns kicks the ball against forward Carli Lloyd of NJ/NY Gotham FC in the second half during the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship at Providence Park on May 8, 2021, in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Jonathan Osorio of Toronto FC struggles for the ball against Roberto Alvarado of Cruz Azul during the quarterfinals second leg match between Cruz Azul and Toronto FC as part of the Concacaf Champions League 2021 at Azteca Stadium on May 4, 2021, in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Exercise rider Humberto Gomez takes Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entrant Medina Spirit over the track during a training session for the upcoming Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 12, 2021, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada serves in his men’s singles match against Casper Ruud of Norway during day six of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 4, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic serves during her quarterfinal match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia during day seven of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magicaon May 5, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)