KTBB News, Weather, Talk – Page 2 – KTBB News, Weather, Talk

Acting FEMA head fired a day after he testified against closing the agency: Sources

(WASHINGTON) -- Cameron Hamilton, who had been acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was fired Thursday, a day after telling Congress the agency should not be disbanded, putting him at odds with President Donald Trump's suggestions that FEMA be downsized or dissolved.

The change at the top of the agency that coordinates federal disaster relief comes a few weeks before the start of of hurricane season on June 1.

“Cameron Hamilton is no longer the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Administrator,” Julia Moline, the acting chief of staff, wrote in an email to all employees Thursday that was reviewed by ABC News.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Hamilton was called to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s office at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. He returned to the FEMA office a short time later and told staff he was fired, according to sources.

Speaking to the House Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Hamilton told lawmakers that FEMA should not be disbanded, putting him at odds with public comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the agency has “failed” and should be “eliminated” or downsized.

“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he told lawmakers.

His comments came on the same day as Noem testified before the same committee.

“The president has indicated he wants to eliminate FEMA as it exists today, and to have states have more control over their emergency management response. He wants to empower local governments and support them and how they respond to their people,” Noem said.

Trump has been sharply critical of the agency's work, and suggested that the federal government send funds directly to states to assist with disaster relief, rather than have a role coordinating responses to major disasters.

David Richardson, who recently served as DHS assistant secretary for countering the weapons of mass destruction office, will now lead the agency on an interim basis, an administration official told ABC News.

The email sent to all FEMA employees also announced the news of Richardson's new role.

"Effective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator," a FEMA spokesperson told ABC News. "Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity."

A DHS spokesperson also confirmed to ABC News that Richardson is serving as acting administrator but didn't mention Hamilton.

Chicago reacts to the election of the city’s own Pope Leo XIV

(Photo by Francesco Sforza - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

(CHICAGO) -- When Sherry Stone learned that childhood friend Robert Prevost was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, she got on her computer and did what few people can do: She emailed him a note of congratulations.

"I told him we're thinking of having our next grade school reunion at the Vatican," she said.

The election of a former Hyde Parker named Barack Obama to the White House in 2009 catapulted this city into a joyous frenzy for months, and having produced a president still remains a source of pride.

When news broke Thursday about Prevost's election as the first American pope, the mood throughout the city was similar. Immediately, memes went viral showing Pope Leo XIV holding a hot dog, dipping his Italian beef into gravy and gripping a bottle of Malort, the city's unofficial liqueur. Outside Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs marked the moment by announcing on its legendary sign: "Hey Chicago, He's a Cubs Fan!" Similarly, Bennison's, a bakery in Evanston, just north of the city, announced a new sugar cookie with Prevost's likeness that it promised was "as divine as the moment."

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker released a statement calling the news "historic."

"Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace," he said.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson used the news to send a more informal message to the new pope: "Everything dope, including the pope, comes from Chicago!" he posted on X. "Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon."

While Leo spent two decades in northern Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, his early roots are in the southwest side, an area known for its legacy of steel mills and auto plants, White Sox and Blackhawks fans, rows of brick bungalows and neighborhood churches and grade schools.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Leo attended St. Mary's of the Assumption, a now-shuttered grade school on the city's edge, and he grew up in Dolton, a southwest suburb located just across the street from the school. He later earned his Master of Divinity in 1982 from Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park, which is situated along the lakefront, and was ordained the same year. He started his ministry with the Augustinian Province of Chicago and later was named prior general of the worldwide Augustinian Order, according to the Catholic Theological Union.

The Rev. William Lego, who is also a member of Augustinian Order, attended grade school, high school and seminary with Leo before both men became young priests. He said on Thursday that he is still getting used of calling "Father Bob" by his new name.

"He was always very intelligent, never jumped to conclusions, he held people with respect, and he listened. I'm sure that's what he will bring to the papacy," said Lego.

As for their shared Chicago roots, Lego added, "There will always be a note of pride."

As with Obama, many locals have a personal connection with Leo. Because their last names both ended with a "P" at the time, Nadia Weer sat next to Leo for eight years in the classroom. She said even back then he was so devout and studious his nickname was "Father Robert."

"We always assumed he would be a priest," she said. "He was true blue. He was good. I'm really proud of him. You like people to be successful when they deserve it. And Robert does deserve it."

The intensity Leo had with his faith, even as a young boy, impressed Stone, who said he once told people he wanted to eventually lead the church as pope.

"Midwest people are very even keeled. I think having grown up in that environment that he'll be a centralist pope. He'll bring people together. He'll be one of the great popes," she said.

Leo's brother John Prevost told ABC News on Thursday that Leo never "questioned" his vocation in life and that, as a child, he often "played priest" using the ironing board as his altar.

"I don't think he's ever thought of anything else," John Prevost said.

Many remembered Leo's family as similarly dedicated to their faith. His father, a school principal on Chicago's South Side, volunteered at the Archdiocese of Chicago in the 1990s. Janet Sisler, associate superintendent of schools for the archdiocese at the time, remembered that "Father Bob" would stop by when he returned to his hometown.

It was obvious, there was "a family history of being dedicated to their faith and dedicated to service," she said. "He grew up in that life and continued to imbue his life decisions with service of faith and the promotion of justice."

Chicago's roots in the labor movement were likely an influence, as well.

"He came from a family where both his mother and father worked. He understood how people can have a commitment to work and to family and to their faith," she said. "This is a new pope who understands the importance of community and the importance of church interacting in a positive way to serve the world."

Destined to be pope: Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest

John Prevost, brother of newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, speaks with ABC News in New Lenox, Illinois, May 8, 2025. Image via ABC News.

(CHICAGO) -- When Robert Prevost was in the first grade, his neighbor told him he would be the first American pope, his brother told ABC News.

On Thursday, that prophecy came true, when Prevost, a 69-year-old cardinal, was elected to be the 267th pontiff -- and the first from the United States.

Before he was Pope Leo XIV, Prevost grew up the youngest of three brothers in the South Chicago suburb of Dolton.

He always wanted to be a priest, his older brother, John Prevost, told ABC News outside his home in Illinois on Thursday.

"He knew right away. I don't think he's ever questioned it. I don't think he's ever thought of anything else," John Prevost said.

As a child, Pope Leo XIV "played priest," John Prevost said. "The ironing board was the altar."

The pope is a White Sox fan, his brother confirmed. "He's a regular, run-of-the-mill person," he said.

Leo started to emerge as a frontrunner for the papacy in the days before the conclave began, according to the Rev. James Martin, a papal contributor to ABC News.

John Prevost said he spoke to his brother on Tuesday, before the cardinals went into the secretive conclave, and told his younger brother that he also believed he could be the first American pope. At the time, his younger brother called it "nonsense" and "just talk," saying, "'They're not going to pick an American pope," John Prevost said.

"He just didn't believe it, or didn't want to believe it," John Prevost said.

John Prevost said he expects his brother will follow in the late Pope Francis' footsteps as a voice for the disenfranchised and poor.

"I think they were two of a kind," John Prevost said. "I think because they both were in South America at the same time -- in Peru and in Argentina -- they had the same experiences in working with missions and working with the downtrodden. So I think that's the experience that they're both coming from."

Louis Prevost, the eldest of the three Prevost brothers, was feeling under the weather and lying in bed at his home in Florida when the big moment came.

"My wife called to tell me there's white smoke from the chapel," he said.

Louis Prevost said he tuned in to the live broadcast of the Vatican announcement.

"They started reading his name, and when he went, 'blah, blah, blah, Roberto,' immediately I knew -- that's Rob," he said. "I was just thankful I was still in bed lying down, because I might have fallen down."

Louis Prevost said he got out of bed and started "dancing around like an idiot."

"It's just incredible," he said. "I'm suddenly wide awake and feeling wonderful."

He described his brother as "down to earth," someone who has a good sense of humor and is "smart as a whip." He loved his work as a missionary in Peru and being with the people, and through his work with the Vatican has traveled the world, Louis Prevost said.

"I thought I had done traveling in the Navy, but, my God, he blew me away," he said.

His brother surmised that global experience may have stood out to the other cardinals in electing him pope.

Louis Prevost said his brother seemed to always know his calling, and that as young as 4 or 5, the family knew he was destined for great things in the Catholic Church. When his brothers were playing cops and robbers, Leo would "play priest" and distribute Holy Communion with Necco wafers, Louis Prevost said.

“We used to tease him all the time -- you’re going to be the pope one day," he said. "Neighbors said the same thing. Sixty-some years later, here we are."

Football fan alleges discrimination, collusion in NFL draft against Shedeur Sanders: Lawsuit

(NEW YORK) -- A football fan is suing the NFL for $100 million, claiming the league worked together to prevent quarterback Shedeur Sanders from being picked early in this year's draft, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

The lawsuit was filed last week in Atlanta by someone identified only as "John Doe," who says he's a big fan of Sanders from his time playing college football at Colorado.

Sanders was widely expected to be one of the first players chosen in the 2025 NFL draft. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper ranked him as the second best quarterback available and predicted he would be picked in the top five.

Sanders' completion percentage for the 2024 college football season was 74%. He completed 353 of 477 passes, which led college football and helped the Colorado Buffaloes to their first nine-win season since 2014.

However, Sanders wasn't picked until the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns passed on Sanders six different times and even chose another quarterback, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, in the third round. Kiper had ranked Gabriel as only the eighth-best quarterback in the draft.

Sanders' unexpected drop became the biggest story of draft weekend. The drama led to record TV ratings for the draft's final day, while the average of 7.5 million viewers per day made it the second-most watched draft ever, according to ESPN.

"The NFL's actions and the spread of harmful statements about Sanders have caused me severe emotional distress and trauma," the fan claims in the lawsuit.

According to court documents, Doe lives in Georgia and is a "dedicated fan of Colorado football" who attended the Colorado vs. TCU football game in 2023. That was the debut of Sanders after he transferred from Jackson State University. The Buffaloes won 45-42, with Sanders throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns.

The lawsuit claims that reports about Sanders' interviews with NFL teams "unfairly hurt his reputation and chances as a player."

The lawsuit accuses the NFL of breaking three different laws. First, it claims NFL teams worked together to push Sanders to a later round, which would violate the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The suit also suggests racial discrimination might have played a role in Sanders' draft position, which would violate the Civil Rights Act. Finally, it claims the NFL misled fans about how the draft process works and how players are evaluated, which would violate consumer protection laws.

The case was filed in federal court in Atlanta. The NFL has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

Pope Leo XIV: How his views compare to those of Pope Francis

(ROME) -- Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen as Pope Francis' successor on Thursday, taking the papal name Leo XIV. The world is wondering how the first American pope compares to his predecessor.

In his first public remarks, Pope Leo XIV called for unity.

"We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open, like this very piazza, welcoming," he said.

The 69-year-old Chicago native, known for being reserved and private, brings a different style to the papacy compared to his predecessor, according to Time. While Francis was famous for his outgoing personality and spontaneous interactions with crowds, Leo is described by those who know him as more cautious and measured.

Before becoming pope, Leo played a key role in the church, leading Francis' team that chose new bishops. He made history by adding three women to the group that recommends bishop appointments to the pope -- a major change in church tradition, according to the Associated Press.

Many Catholics are watching closely to see how Leo will handle important issues that Francis championed during his time as pope. Francis took progressive positions on many issues, including allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples in December 2023 and strongly defending immigrants' rights.

The contrast between the two leaders' styles is already clear. While Francis was known for blessing babies and engaging with crowds until his death last month, Leo reportedly takes a more reserved approach.

"He does not have excesses," the Rev. Michele Falcone told the New York Times about Leo. "Blessing babies, yes. Taking them in his arms, no."

LGBTQ+ issues and role of women in the church

Leo's past statements suggest he may take different positions on some social issues than his predecessor did.

In 2012, he expressed concern about Western media promoting what he called "beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," including same-sex relationships, according to the Times. As a bishop in Peru from 2015 through 2023, he opposed teaching gender studies in schools, stating that "gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist."

That appears to mark a departure from Francis's more welcoming approach to LGBTQ+ issues. Francis famously asked "Who am I to judge?" when discussing gay clerics, and made headlines with his decision to allow same-sex couple blessings.

In other areas, like women serving in leadership roles in the Catholic Church, Leo has taken a more progressive stance.

In a 2023 interview with Vatican Media, Leo XIV highlighted his experience with having women in church leadership, particularly discussing the three women appointed to help select bishops -- a reform he oversaw under Francis.

"Their opinion introduces another perspective and becomes an important contribution to the process," he told Vatican Media, emphasizing that their roles represent "real, genuine, and meaningful participation."

Immigration and treatment of migrants

During his time in Peru, Leo earned praise for supporting Venezuelan immigrants, the Times reported.

Francis had been particularly vocal on this issue, recently condemning the Trump administration's deportations of migrants in the U.S. after the president's second inauguration, calling it a "major crisis."

In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Pope Leo's brother John Prevost cited his brother's missionary work.

"I think because he was trained in missionary work in South America for so many years, I think he will be looking out for the disenfranchised," John Prevost said. "He will be looking out for the poor. He will be looking out for those who don't have a voice."John Prevost also said immigration is an important issue for his brother.

"I think because the way our country is going, I don't think he necessarily will always agree [with] what's happening. I think a big thing for him is immigration and is it right -- what's going on? I think that will be a challenge for him, because I think he'll say something about it, too."

Church sexual abuse scandals

Questions have emerged about Leo XIV's handling of abuse cases in both the U.S. and Peru. In Chicago, activists raised concerns about his role in a case involving a monastery placement, the Times reported.

When discussing the ongoing challenge of sexual abuse in the church, Leo acknowledged there is "still much to learn" in handling these cases. He stressed the importance of supporting abuse victims, saying "silence is not the solution" and emphasized the need for transparency.

"We must be transparent and honest, we must accompany and assist the victims, because otherwise their wounds will never heal," Leo told Vatican Media in 2023, adding that cultural differences often affect how abuse cases are handled in different regions.

The new pope's more recent comments indicate he plans to continue addressing the abuse crisis that has plagued the church, while maintaining the reforms started under Francis' leadership, though with his characteristically more measured approach.

Leadership style

Those who know Robert Prevost before he became Pope Leo XIV describe his communication style as more measured than Francis', the Times reported.

"Where Francis might immediately speak his mind, Cardinal Prevost holds himself back a bit," the Rev. Moral Antón, who succeeded Leo as leader of the Augustinian order, said.

Despite these differences in style, some expect Leo to maintain certain aspects of Francis' legacy.

The Rev. Mark R. Francis, who knew Leo XIV as a classmate, told the Times he believes the new pope will continue Francis's practice of including regular Catholics in church discussions.

"I know that Bob believes that everybody has a right and a duty to express themselves in the church," he said.

Last-place Pittsburgh Pirates fire manager Derek Shelton, promote bench coach Don Kelly

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Last-place Pittsburgh Pirates fire manager Derek Shelton, promote bench coach Don Kelly.

Rafael Devers homers and drives in two runs as the Red Sox beat the Rangers 5-0

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers homered and drove in two runs, and five Boston pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers 5-0 on Thursday afternoon.

Devers hit a solo shot for his sixth home run of the season, sending it into the Green Monster seats in the seventh inning. His first RBI of the game came on a single in the fifth inning. Carlos Narvaez also produced a run-scoring single for the Red Sox, which took two of three against the Rangers.

Red Sox starter Bryan Bello teamed up with four relievers to produce Boston’s third shutout of the season. Justin Slaten (1-3) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings. Garrett Whitlock tossed one inning with Liam Hendricks finishing off Texas with two innings.

Texas starter Jack Leiter (2-2) took the loss, giving up four runs and walking four in 5.1 innings. No. 9 hitter Tucker Barnhart collected two of the Rangers’ five hits. Texas has now dropped nine of its last 12 games.

Boston took advantage of Leiter issuing two walks and throwing a wild pitch in the second inning en route to building a 2-0 lead. Trevor Story led off with a single and scored on a wild pitch while Jarren Duran’s grounder to second plated the second run of the frame.

Bello ran into control problems that left him one out short of qualifying for his third win. Boston manager Alex Cora turned to the bullpen after Bello issued his fifth walk to set up a two-on, two-out scenario for the Rangers in the fifth inning.

Slaten came on and got a grounder for the final out and closed the book on Bello, who tossed 4.2 innings but only threw 44 of his 83 pitches for strikes.
Key moment

Whitlock found himself in trouble in the seventh after throwing a wild pitch that moved the two Texas baserunners into scoring position with two down. Trying to avoid getting charged with his third blown save in as many outings, Whitlock kept Boston’s shutout bid alive by getting Rangers No. 3 hitter Joc Pederson to fly out to center for the inning’s final out.
Key stat

Bello lowered his ERA to 1.10 in three starts at Fenway Park this season.
Up next

Rangers: Travel to Detroit with Texas slated to start LHP Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.28) against Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.21) on Friday.

Red Sox: RHP Hunter Dobbins (2-1, 3.78) is expected to start against Kansas City RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 4.32) on Friday in the first game of a two-city, six-game road trip for Boston.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kerry Washington is a ‘bada** mom’ in new action movie, ‘Shadow Force’

Kerry Washington plays a secret agent who’ll stop at nothing to protect her son in the thriller, Shadow Force, out in theaters Friday. She says she was drawn to the film because it balances action and emotion.

"It's this incredible opportunity to do action and stunts and weapons training and all of that," she tells ABC Audio of her role as Kyrah in Shadow Force, which marks her first time in the driver's seat of an action movie. "But at the heart of it, it's really about these two parents who love each other and love their child so much that they're willing to do everything and anything to protect him."

Kerry notes she was also drawn to the shift in gender roles that's portrayed in the film between Kyrah and her son's father Isaac, played by Omar Sy.

"I really love that you get to see this bada** mom who's kind of out conquering the world but also this really nurturing dad who's doing the primary parenting and super present and connected with his son," she explains. "To see a Black dad and son in that light, I think is so important and really beautiful in the culture."

As a mother in real life, she says her character is an exaggerated reflection of mothers all over the world.

"I do think, to some extent, every mom I know is a bada** mom," Kerry says. "We're not all walking around with AK-47s and killing people for a living, but to be a mom requires an enormous amount of courage and strength and discipline and also love and nurturing. So that balance I think is part of what motherhood really is and Kyrah just does it sort of at the extremes."

NBA playoff guide: Who plays when, how to watch, what the odds are

The defending champion Boston Celtics are in trouble in the NBA playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back with a record-setting win, and the Warriors know that Stephen Curry is going to miss a few games.

New York did it again, rallying from exactly 20 points down in Boston to beat the Celtics for a second consecutive time and taking a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night. Oklahoma City scored 87 points in the first half — an NBA playoff record — and beat Denver by 43 to even that Western Conference semifinal series.

Golden State got the word on Curry’s hamstring: It’s a strain and he’ll be evaluated in a week, which means he’ll likely miss at least three games in their West semifinal series against Minnesota. That matchup resumes with Game 2 on Thursday, the only game on the night’s schedule.
Thursday’s national TV schedule

All times Eastern

8:30 p.m. — Golden State at Minnesota (TNT)
Friday’s national TV schedule

All times Eastern

7:30 p.m. — Cleveland at Indiana (ESPN)

10 p.m. — Oklahoma City at Denver (ESPN)
Saturday’s national TV schedule

All times Eastern

3:30 p.m. — Boston at New York (ABC)

8:30 p.m. — Minnesota at Golden State (ABC)
Betting odds

Oklahoma City (+130) is favored to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by Boston (+375). But the Celtics’ odds took a big hit after they lost the first two games of this East semifinal series to New York.

Cleveland is next (+900), followed by Minnesota (+1000), New York (+1100), Indiana (+1400), Denver (+1700) and Golden State (+2200). The Knicks’ chances got a ton better now that they have the 2-0 lead on Boston, and the Warriors are now a much longer shot after the news that Curry will miss at least a week.
Award season

On Monday, Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers was announced as the NBA coach of the year. It was a sweep for Atkinson; he already had been announced as the winner of the award given out by the coaches’ association.

On Tuesday, Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti won executive of the year. And on Wednesday, Boston’s Jrue Holiday won the NBA’s social justice award — less than a week after he won the sportsmanship award for the second time in his career.

Other awards so far:

— Boston’s Jrue Holiday won the sportsmanship award.

— Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels won most improved player.

— San Antonio’s Stephon Castle won rookie of the year.

— Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the year award.

— Golden State’s Draymond Green won the hustle award.

— Cleveland’s Evan Mobley won defensive player of the year.

— New York’s Jalen Brunson won clutch player of the year.

— Boston’s Payton Pritchard won sixth man of the year.

The league has not announced when MVP, as well as the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams, will be revealed.
Scoring leaders

The highest-scoring games by players so far in this year’s playoffs:

48 — Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland vs. Indiana, May 6

43 — Jamal Murray, Denver vs. LA Clippers, April 29

43 — Anthony Edwards, Minnesota vs. LA Lakers, April 27

42 — Nikola Jokic, Denver at Oklahoma City, May 5

40 — Jalen Brunson, New York at Detroit, May 1

39 — Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers at Denver, April 21

38 — Luka Doncic, LA Lakers at Minnesota, April 27

38 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City at Memphis, April 26

38 — LeBron James, LA Lakers at Minnesota, April 25

38 — Jalen Green, Houston vs. Golden State, April 23
Key upcoming events

Monday — Draft lottery, Chicago.

May 18 or 20 — Game 1, Western Conference finals.

May 19 or 21 — Game 1, Eastern Conference finals.

June 2 — Last possible date for Game 7 of Eastern Conference finals.

June 3 — Last possible date for Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.

June 5 — Game 1, NBA Finals. (Other games: June 8, June 11, June 13, June 16, June 19 and Game 7, if necessary, will be June 22.)

June 25 — NBA draft, first round.

June 26 — NBA draft, second round.
Stories of note

— Preview of Thursday’s game: Warriors-Timberwolves

— These are the playoffs of the big comeback, where no 20-point lead is safe.

— Gregg Popovich’s new job: ‘El Jefe’

— Spurs coach Gregg Popovich steps down.

— Mitch Johnson takes over for Pop in San Antonio.

— Appreciation: Gregg Popovich changed the NBA.

— Grizzlies promote Iisalo to head coach, remove interim tag.

— A look inside the numbers of this season, headed into the playoffs
Comeback season

There have been five wins by teams that trailed by 20 points or more so far in these playoffs. That’s the most in any postseason during the play-by-play era, which started with the 1997 playoffs.

The biggest deficits that were successfully overcome:

29 — Oklahoma City at Memphis, April 24 (Thunder won 114-108)

20 — Indiana vs. Milwaukee, April 29 (Pacers won 119-118)

20 — New York at Boston, May 5 (Knicks won 108-105)

20 — Indiana at Cleveland, May 6 (Pacers won 120-119)

20 — New York at Boston, May 7 (Knicks won 91-90)
Stats of the day

— In the play-by-play era (from 1997) the Celtics were 42-0 at home in playoff games where they led by 20 points. That is, until this week, when they’ve gone 0-2 in that scenario.

— Boston has missed 75 3-pointers in the first two games of its series against New York. That’s the most missed 3s in Games 1 and 2 of any playoff matchup in NBA history.

— Before Wednesday night, when New York scored 91 at Boston and won, road teams scoring 91 points or less had won only 16 times in the last 502 games of such an instance happening.
Quote of the day

“It means we’re up two-zip. But it doesn’t really mean anything.” — New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns after the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead on Boston.

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

Pacers, Nuggets trying to hold court after swinging playoff series with road victories

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Denver Nuggets accomplished one goal by stealing Game 1 of their second-round playoff series at Oklahoma City.

The Indiana Pacers were even more productive in Cleveland, sweeping both games.

Now the two lower-seeded teams head home for their respective Game 3s on Friday with a new goal — taking advantage of those early road wins by keeping the upper hand in their series.

“The series isn’t over, it’s far from over,” Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said Thursday. “This is a team that earned the No. 1 seed for a reason. It’s probably rare they lose two games in a row. I don’t know the exact number, but it probably doesn’t happen often. So we’re going to see a desperate team, a team that’s coming in here to win two games.”

Actually, the Cavaliers lost three straight during a four-day stretch in late January and four straight during a seven-day stretch in mid-March. Otherwise, they’ve been dominant on the road where they earned the league’s third-best mark at 30-11.

The Cavs may not even be in this hole if the league’s “Last 2-Minute Report” is correct.

It said Aaron Nesmith’s late dunk off a missed free throw and Haliburton’s final rebound should have been jump balls because of lane violations by both teams in both cases. Haliburton’s rebound led to his winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left.

Even Donovan Mitchell’s incredible game — 48 points, 17 made free throws and nine assists — wasn’t enough to salvage a split. This time, though, Cleveland could be closer to full strength.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and key backup De’Andre Hunter could both return. They both missed Game 2, Mobley with a sprained left ankle and Hunter with a sprained right thumb. The bigger question is starting guard Darius Garland. He’s missed four straight games with a sprained left big toe.

All three are listed as questionable.

“They all touched the ball. They all got some reps up, but we didn’t do anything live,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said after Thursday’s practice. “They kind of participated in the walkthrough and you know, hoping for the best.”

Haliburton said he intends to play despite with a heavily taped left wrist that he injured in Game 2. He’s a perfect 9-0 when appearing in home playoff games.

One person who won’t be at the game is Haliburton’s father. This will be Indiana’s first home game since John Haliburton confronted Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court moments after Haliburton’s winning layup eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5.

Oklahoma City’s Game 2 performance also shows it can rally in its series.

The Thunder endured just two two-game skids this season, making sure it didn’t happen a third time with a 43-point victory Wednesday in Game 3. The Thunder also went 35-6 on the road, including an early regular-season split in Denver.

Winning the 2023 NBA crown also has given the Nuggets some perspective on how to turn the page after such an embarrassing loss.

“They were being aggressive, they were hitting us,” three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic said. “We weren’t disciplined, and everybody was kind of doing their own thing and we can’t play like that. Every single person needs to step up and be better.”

And playing at home should help — both the Nuggets and the Pacers.

“Cleveland’s building was so loud,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “So we need our fans to bring every ounce of energy and noise and everything they have. Each game going forward is going to be a monumental challenge. Their support has meant a lot to us this year and it’s important right now.
Thunder at Nuggets

When/Where to Watch: Game 3, 10 p.m. EDT (ESPN)

Series: Series tied, 1-1.

BetMGM says: Nuggets by 4.5.

What to know: Oklahoma City became the first team to protect its home court in this round after road teams won each of the first five games, and they did it by setting franchise and league records with an 87-point first half. Nothing went right for the Nuggets. They shot 37.9% from the field, had 20 turnovers and never looked like the team that played Game 1. MVP finalist Shea Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 33.5 points to lead the Thunder despite sitting out the fourth quarter Wednesday. Jokic knows what must be done: Watch the tape, learn the lessons and move on to a pivotal game that could swing the series. The Thunder need to replicate their Game 2 performance while the Nuggets need to rediscover their Game 1 form.

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Uncomfortable replay of Nuggets’ blowout loss to OKC in Game 2 essentially a group therapy session

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets held what essentially was a group therapy session Thursday after their 43-point demolition at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series.

“You can’t just say, ‘Hey, let’s just have a mental day. Move on. We’re good, we split,” interim coach David Adelman said. “That’s not the case. If we want to win Game 3 things have to be different.”

Starting with their mentality, he said.

“In the NBA playoffs, a lot of the time the whistle and the way the game is played is who hits first,” Adelman said. “And I thought they hit first, second and third. … And tomorrow we have to be the aggressor, and I expect us to be.”

Adelman said the film review, albeit uncomfortable, proved productive.

“A lot of guys had thoughts on what they felt last night,” Adelman said. “And that allows you to move on and do things better tomorrow night.”

Adelman said the general sentiment was one of embarrassment.

“There was a lot of people speaking up and saying, ‘I can do better,’ which I love,” Adelman said. “And then there’s the film never lies, that kind of thing.”

The series shifts to Denver on Friday night, the Nuggets’ sixth game since April 29 whereas the top-seeded Thunder entered this semifinal series on nine days’ rest after sweeping Memphis in Round 1.

Denver survived a brutal seven-game series with the Los Angeles Clippers and 48 hours later beat Oklahoma City in the opener on Aaron Gordon’s 3-pointer that capped a frenetic comeback in the final minutes.

It all caught up to them Wednesday night when they fell behind in the opening minutes of Game 2 and watched the Thunder run away with it without any real resistance.

“I don’t want to say we weren’t ready to play,” Adelman said. “I think we weren’t ready to play at that level. And when they came out the way they did, I thought our reaction to it took a really long time to understand what kind of game it was.”

Adelman said of all the things the Nuggets need to correct, “it comes down to the mentality of how we play tomorrow. And we had a great mentality in Game 1. People can say, ‘Oh, you were behind in Game 1, too.’ But it never felt like we let go of the rope. And yesterday I felt we let go of the rope and I felt they also played at an extremely high level.”

Adelman acknowledged fatigue was a factor in Denver’s dismal performance.

“I’ll say this: fatigue is a word you can use when you lose in the playoffs and that is a factor, but fatigue is part of what the postseason is,” Adelman said. “And finding that next level, your second wind, your third wind, collectively finding energy from each other, is how you win these games.

“And there’s a million ways to break things down: oh, they’re playing more people than you or they had eight days off. All those things are true. But the other truth is well, we had enough energy to win Game 1 two days after winning a Game 7. So, why not have enough energy last night? I think the guys have it in them and I think they’ll bring it tomorrow night.”

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Receiver George Pickens points north with Cowboys after Steelers tenure turned south

George Pickens says he joins the Dallas Cowboys focused more on a future with quarterback Dak Prescott and fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb than a past of why the Pittsburgh Steelers would trade one of their top playmakers in his prime.

Dallas gave up a third-round draft pick next year, and the teams swapped late-round choices in 2027 to end Pickens’ three-year stint with the Steelers.

There were enough questionable antics for coach Mike Tomlin to declare bluntly last year that the former Georgia star and 2022 second-round pick needed to grow up. He isn’t worried about that perception following him to Dallas.

“I can’t really change anyone’s opinion of me personally,” Pickens said in a conference call with reporters Thursday, a day after the trade was announced. “I feel like everybody in the world has to grow. You get older and older as you grow. We’re trying to build a winning culture, which they already have at the Cowboys. I’m just glad to be joining it.”

The Cowboys weren’t winners last season, finishing 7-10 to end a three-year stretch of 12-5 playoff seasons. All three of those ended without a trip beyond the divisional round of the playoffs. Dallas is the only NFC team that hasn’t played in a conference championship game since the 1995 season, when the Cowboys won their fifth Super Bowl title.

Looking to rebound under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas didn’t address the need for a No. 2 receiver behind Lamb during the draft. The trade for Pickens might have been why. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said before the draft the Cowboys were working on a couple of “substantive” trades.

Pickens has the skills to match Lamb, who was an All-Pro in 2023 when he set career highs in catches (an NFL-best 135), yards (1,749) and touchdowns (12). The 24-year-old Pickens — two years younger than Lamb — led the Steelers in receiving yards each of the past two seasons and is among the NFL’s best in yards per catch.

“You guys making a 1A, 1B, and all this, honestly, that’s the first time I’ve heard any of that stuff,” Pickens said. “I feel like two receivers are kind of normal. When I used to watch football, there was always a good receiver, and then there was also another good receiver on the side of him.”

Pickens has consistently struggled to keep his emotions in check. Last season alone he twice ended games by getting into dust-ups with opposing defensive backs, first when he grabbed Dallas’ Jourdan Lewis by the facemask and then when he tussled with Cleveland’s Greg Newsome II rather than try to get in position for a last-second desperation pass.

That doesn’t include a fine for using an expletive on his eye black against the Cowboys, a rule he said he was unaware of at the time. Pickens also drew criticism in 2023 for what could generously be described as inattentive downfield blocking for his teammates.

Pickens won’t have to worry about making nice with Lewis, who signed with Jacksonville as a free agent in March. Prescott was among the first to reach out to Pickens, who will need time to get settled in his new home and meet most of his new teammates.

“I like the mojo here,” Pickens said. “I like the swag.”

Considering Pickens’ volatility, the Steelers didn’t seem interested in a contract extension, and he became expendable when they traded for two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf in March. Metcalf promptly signed a five-year contract.

Pickens brushed off the question of signing an extension before the end of his four-year rookie deal this season.

“I’m kind of where my feet are right now, to be honest,” Pickens said. “I’m not really thinking about contract talks.”

Pickens led the league by averaging 18.1 yards per catch in 2023 and has 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 scores in 48 games. Lamb was a model of consistency and improvement his first four years, and now Pickens is trying to prove he can be reliable in his fourth year.

“It excites me a lot because … we can work off each other,” Pickens said. “There’s no, ‘He gets the ball, I get the ball.’ We’re working off each other. That’s why I always come back to building a winning culture. And that’s kind of what we’ve been talking about in Dallas.”

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AP National Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.

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Mikko Rantanen has second straight hat trick as Stars beat Jets 3-2 in series opener

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mikko Rantanen had a natural hat trick in the second period, Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots and the Dallas Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the second-round series.

Rantanen, who had a hat trick in the third period of the Stars’ Game 7 win over his former Colorado teammates, is the third player in NHL history — and the first in nearly 40 years — with hat tricks in consecutive playoff games.

Edmonton’s Jari Kurri accomplished the feat in Games 5 and 6 of the 1985 Campbell Conference final, and Chicago’s Doug Bentley did the same in Games 4 and 5 of the 1944 Stanley Cup Final.

“Sometimes it goes that way,” said Rantanen, acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline. “The third goal goes off them and goes five—hole. Or when you’re going through a tough stretch, you feel like you could only pray for those and those never come.”

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in Winnipeg.

Nino Niederreiter and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets, who had won four in a row at Canada Life Centre. Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves.

Scheifele returned after sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 5 in the first round against St. Louis. Dallas forward Jason Robertson was back after injuring a knee in the final game of the regular season.

The Jets led the NHL with 116 points to earn home-ice advantage through the playoffs, while Dallas was second in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference with 106.

“We know we just gave up home-ice advantage,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “And that wasn’t a game where they rolled over top of us for three periods. That was a game where we weren’t at our best.”

Niederreiter got the sold-out crowd cheering when his sharp-angled backhander beat Oettinger at 3:30 of the second period. He became the NHL’s first Swiss-born player to skate in 100 postseason games.

Rantanen tied it at 8:43 with his sixth goal of the playoffs. His second goal was a tip of Thomas Harley’s point shot with 5:39 left, and he made it 3-1 on the power play 2:17 later when his shot went in off Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg.

“Sometimes it’s ups and downs in hockey and now it’s going well individually and as a team,” Rantanen said.

Rantanen extended his points streak to four games with eight goals and six assists across the stretch. He has 15 points this postseason.

“He’s one of the best players in the world and he’s just on fire right now, so we’re just trying to get him the puck,” said center Sam Steele, who assisted on Rantanen’s first goal of the night.

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Mikko Rantanen and other trade deadline additions are having big impacts on the NHL playoffs

Mikko Rantanen is showing exactly why Dallas was willing to pay such a hefty price to put him the roster. One of the players the Stars traded for Rantanen is also making a positive impact for his new team.

Nearly every team in the second round of the NHL playoffs is benefitting from moves they made at the trade deadline. That includes Toronto with Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton; Florida with Brad Marchand and Seth Jones; Washington with Anthony Beauvillier; Edmonton with Jake Walman and Trent Frederic; Winnipeg with Brandon Tanev and Luke Schenn; and the Carolina Hurricanes also with Taylor Hall and Mark Jankowski.

One of those teams — or maybe Vegas, which made a move to get Reilly Smith back — will hoist the Stanley Cup in June and have a trade or two to credit for the journey.

The Stars and Hurricanes are co-Cup favorites according to BetMGM Sportsbook after making the biggest deadline deal: Rantanen to Dallas for Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and a third-rounder to Carolina. Rantanen has had a hat trick in each of the past two games — last weekend in Game 7 to knock out the Colorado Avalanche who traded him in late January and then in Wednesday’s series opener at Winnipeg.

“It’s a treat,” teammate Sam Steel said. “He’s one of the best players in the world and he’s just on fire right now, so we’re just trying to get him the puck.”

Stars coach Peter DeBoer said Rantanen had an easy transition. That may be an understatement, as the 28-year-old Finn leads the postseason with eight goals and 15 points.

“We all know how elite he is,” Jets winger Nino Niederreiter said. “He’s really done it these last few games and throughout his whole career — always a fantastic player.”

That was the Hurricanes’ thinking when they sent Martin Necas, Jack Drury and two picks to Colorado for Rantanen in an unexpected, blockbuster trade more than a month before the deadline. Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic — who drafted Rantanen with the 10th pick in 2015 — heard after that move that the possibility of another trade back West was possible.

With the clock ticking toward the deadline on March 7, first-year Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky made the most of the situation and dealt Rantanen to the Stars, who then signed him to an eight-year, $96 million extension.

Rantanen is a playoff producer (101 points in 81 games before this spring, including helping Colorado win the Cup in 2022).

Carolina has gotten three goals this playoffs from Stankoven and three points from Hall, while Jankowski was a big reason for a perfect penalty kill in the first round.

“They’ve all helped in a lot of different ways on both sides of the puck,” captain Jordan Staal said. “Three great players that have really kind of solidified our lineup and played really well for us.”

So has Marchand for defending champion Florida, so far scoring at a point-a-game pace this playoffs. He and Jones felt welcomed right away.

“This team is built to want to win, and they have that drive,” Marchand said. “And when you walk in the room, everyone was really excited for each and every one of us to come in and be part of the group.”

The Capitals got Beauvillier in part because he has had some high-scoring playoffs. He had 27 points combined over two New York Islanders trips to the Eastern Conference Final and put up five points in his first six games with Washington.

“There’s something about important games and meaningful games that get me, I guess, a little bit more fired up and get my a little bit more focused,” Beauvillier said.

Some of the additions have been more subtle: Laughton has a couple of points and Carlo is playing important minutes for the Maple Leafs as they try to get past the second round for the first time in more than two decades. Schenn and Tanev toughened up Winnipeg, and Walman and Frederic helped the Oilers fill holes vacated by Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway leaving last summer.

Dallas also loaded up beyond Rantanen. General manager Jim Nill’s February trade for Cody Ceci and Mikael Granlund, also involving a first-round pick, has paid dividends.

“I can’t say enough about Granlund and what he’s brought, Cody Ceci — (without them) we don’t get through the first round,” DeBoer said.

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AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, Stephen Hawkins in Frisco, Texas, Pat Graham in Denver and the Canadian Press contributed.

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Friday’s NHL games: Leafs seek 3-0 lead in Florida, Rantanen and Stars aim at 2-0 lead over Jets

Mikko Rantanen is on a history-making tear. The Florida Panthers need a history-making comeback.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will seek a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers on Friday night, while Rantanen — on a scoring roll the likes of which hockey hasn’t seen in generations — will lead the Dallas Stars into Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Winnipeg Jets.

Florida lost a pair of one-goal games at Toronto to open their series, which resumes on the Panthers’ home ice for Game 3 on Friday.

History says the Panthers are in big trouble: Toronto has won all 11 of its previous best-of-seven series when taking a 2-0 lead at home, Florida is 0-5 all-time in series where it dropped both Games 1 and 2, and leaguewide, teams facing 0-2 deficits come back to win those series only about 14% of the time.

There are no magic words to say now, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Thursday.

“If there was, you would have said it two games ago, right? We’re not holding back any gems,” Maurice said. “That’s probably the most important thing that you realize. We went on the road and lost two one-goal games. Our game’s not perfect. Neither is theirs. So, you’re looking for an adjustment to foundation more than an adjustment to something unusual.”

Over in the West, where Dallas stuck first in Winnipeg with a 3-2 win, Rantanen is indeed doing something unusual — lots of things that are unusual, actually.

He’s the third player in NHL playoff history to have a hat trick in back-to-back games: Jari Kurri for Edmonton in 1985 and Doug Bentley for Chicago in 1944 are the others. He’s had a hand in each of Dallas’ last 12 goals, a streak unmatched by any player on any team in playoff history. He’s the first player in playoff history with at least eight goals and six assists in a four-game span. The first player with two three-goal periods in the same postseason. And on, and on, and on.

“Let’s see how long he can run this for,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. “He’s rolling. He’s feeling it. Pretty impressive, what he’s doing. I mean, considering the opponent and the time of year and how he’s dominating games, really impressive.”
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers

When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Friday, 7 p.m. EDT (TNT/truTV/Max)

Series: Maple Leafs lead 2-0

If losing a pair of one-goal playoff games wasn’t bad enough — 5-4 in Game 1, 4-3 in Game 2 — the Panthers can look at two goals given up in those games and really lament how those scores factored into creating their current situation.

In Game 1, Seth Jones scored to get Florida within 2-1 — and the Panthers gave up a goal to Morgan Rielly 19 seconds later. In Game 2, Anton Lundell scored early in the third to pull Florida into a 3-3 tie — only to have Mitch Marner score what became the game-winner 17 seconds later.

The Leafs held serve at home, which is what they were supposed to do. Toronto became the first team to get to six wins in these playoffs and will be feeling very good about its game going into Game 3.

“It doesn’t change how we go about our day today,” Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said Thursday before Florida hopped aboard its charter flight back home. “It’s about recovering and putting the best foot forward to play our best game tomorrow night and get back in this thing.”
Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets

When/Where to Watch: Game 2, Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT (TNT/truTV/Max)

Series: Stars lead 1-0

Playoff hockey is different. Every opponent at this time of year is obviously proven. But the Winnipeg Jets — who needed seven games and a Game 7 miracle to escape St. Louis in Round 1 — are right back into some hot water, in large part because they’re giving up a lot of goals.

The Jets have given up 26 goals in the last six games, after not giving up more than 20 in any six-game span of the regular season.

Rantanen’s hot streak is one thing, but Winnipeg’s defense wasn’t exactly airtight going back to Round 1 either. And while the Jets survived a Game 7 at home to get here, the last thing they need is to go back to Dallas in a 2-0 hole.

That starts with doing more against Rantanen.

“He’s just somebody that you always have to know when he’s on the ice,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said of facing Rantanen. “Whenever you face elite players, you’ve got to know where they are. And he’s feeling it. We’ve got to know when he’s on the ice.”

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