Today is
Monday May 12, 2025
Making his season debut in the Cup Series for 23XI Racing, Truck Series regular Corey Heim came together with Justin Haley and triggered a crash that also eliminated teammate Bubba Wallace and and Austin Dillon from contention Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
23XI tried to repair the damage suffered to Wallace but it was too severe and the No. 23 was forced to accept a second straight 33rd place finish that dropped its driver from seventh to tenth in the standings, derailing a solid start to the season.
“Not sure if the 67 (Corey Heim) got into somebody, and I just tried to hang a left and stay in the gas and I got clipped in the right rear,” Wallace said. “It’s unfortunate. I hate it. It all stems back from our penalty earlier on. We tried so hard to fight back but it wasn’t meant to be. We had a lot of confidence coming into this race. Felt good about it yesterday, but just not our day. Not our last couple of weeks, but Happy Mother’s Day. Excited to get back home to see my wife and our baby boy and focus on that.”
Heim wasn’t entirely sure what happened.
“I don’t know who I wiped out there, and I don’t want to destroy any race cars, but I feel like I was squeezed there,” Heim said. “My goal was just to get down to the bottom and I saw (John Hunter Nemechek) peeking inside of me, and when you have someone on your left rear fender, it makes you tight and I had to flinch and caused a big wreck.
“I’d like to think I didn’t do anything wrong but I also haven’t seen it yet. I guess we’ll see.”
Heim went onto finish 13th, best amongst his team and in his season debut, spent mostly learning this radically different racing platform.
“I think from the very beginning I was trying to settle in. Such a different experience than my Truck Series regular style driving. Such a different approach with aero balance and trying to find clean air and trying to get grip. It is tough. We are at the top level, and I had to settle in. It has been about a year since I drove one of these things. First stage was messy to say the least. I went a lap down, but the team stuck with me and made really good adjustments, and we climbed back through the field all day. We kind of just made consistent steps forward. I’m super proud of everyone at 23XI, Toyota – very thankful for Robinhood for coming on board. The Robin Neon looked great out there running top-15 at the end. Just proud of the consistent progress, and team definitely stuck with me in the first stage. It wasn’t pretty on my part, but grateful for everyone believing in me and grateful for the opportunity.
DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, including on the disputed tiebreaking goal off defenseman Alexander Petrovic’s skate that was finally confirmed after a lengthy review as the Dallas Stars beat top-seeded Winnipeg 5-2 on Sunday to take 2-1 lead in the second-round Western Conference series.
Officials looked at Petrovic’s goal for well over five minutes after the NHL’s situation room initiated a video review to determine if he kicked the puck into the net for a 3-2 lead with 16:09 left. The final decision was that replays supported the referee’s on-ice call that goalie Connor Hellebuyck propelled the puck into his own net.
“At that point, you want them to take as much time as they need to get it right,” said Stars coach Pete DeBoer, adding that the explanation he got was that Hellebuyck was trying to make a play on the puck.
Jets coach Scott Arniel certainly didn’t agree.
“The rule states that if the puck gets kicked, if it hits a body or a stick of anybody else other than the goaltender, it counts as a goal. It hit our goaltender’s stick and went in the net. That is no goal,” Arniel said. “So they said that Helly propelled the puck in, and I haven’t seen the word propelled in the rulebook.”
Then only 49 seconds after play resumed, Rantanen scored his ninth goal of the playoffs — all coming in the last six games.
For Petrovic, who has played has played in all 10 postseason games after only five in the regular season for the Stars, got his first playoff goal since 2016 for Florida.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in Dallas.
Roope Hintz had a goal and an assist for the Stars, and Wyatt Johnston added a late goal. Sam Steel and Mikael Granlund each had two assists.
Rantanen, who has 18 points this postseason, had the primary assist on a power-play goal by Hintz only 2:27 in for a 1-0 lead. When Dallas scored again late in the first period for a 2-1 lead, Rantanen was on the ice for defenseman Thomas Harley’s goal, but the assists went to Granlund and Steel.
That ended Rantanen’s NHL playoffs-record streak of consecutive goals involved in at 13 in a row for the Stars since Game 5 of their first-round series against Colorado.
“Obviously I’m happy to help the team, I’ll try to keep doing that as much as I can on both ends of the ice,” said Rantanen, who was traded to the Stars on March 7. “I’m just trying to stay in the moment and even keel after wins and good games.”
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger stopped 23 shots.
Hellebuyck, the odds-on favorite to win his third Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie and also among three finalists for the Hart Trophy that goes to the MVP of the NHL regular season, dropped to 0-4 with a 6.65 goals against average in road games this postseason after giving up the five goals on 26 shots.
Nino Niederreiter got Winnipeg even at 2 midway through the second period on his shot from the bottom of the right circle after Josh Morrissey made a nifty move to get around Stars center Colin Blackwell before making the pass for the score.
The Stars had gone ahead 2-1 late in the first after Niederreiter tripped Granlund, who slid with the puck along the boards behind the net and got his knees to swipe it to Harley in the slot.
Kyle Connor scored for Winnipeg on a wraparound goal that got under Oettinger’s extended glove.
“I don’t think (the game) got away from us. We were right there in the game,” Connor said. “One deciding goal that may or may not be a goal and we are right there in the game.”
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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas A&M earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division I softball tournament on Sunday, edging four-time defending national champion Oklahoma for the top spot and leading seven Southeastern Conference teams seeded in the top eight.
Oklahoma won the SEC regular-season title by a game over Texas A&M in its first season in the conference. Texas A&M and Oklahoma tied for the conference tournament title after the championship game was canceled because of bad weather.
No. 3 seed Florida, a national semifinalist last season, and No. 4 Arkansas also represent the SEC. Oklahoma State, which has made five consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances, is in the regional with Arkansas.
The final eight teams in the 64-team field will play in the WCWS from May 29-June 5 in Oklahoma City.
No. 5 seed Florida State, the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season champion, is the top-seeded team from outside the SEC. The Seminoles won the national title in 2018 and were runners-up in 2021 and 2023.
Florida State is followed by three more SEC teams. Texas, the national runner-up two of the past three seasons, is No. 6. Tennessee, with hard-throwing Karlyn Pickens, is No 7. South Carolina is No. 8 after being picked 15th out of 15 teams in the preseason SEC poll.
No. 9 UCLA hosts a regional in its first season as a Big Ten member.
No. 10 seed LSU could be challenged. Nebraska, led by former Oklahoma pitcher Jordyn Bahl, also will be in the Baton Rouge Regional. Bahl was the Most Outstanding Player of the World Series in 2023.
Clemson, the ACC tournament champion after knocking off Florida State in the title game, is No. 11.
No. 12 seed Texas Tech, the Big 12 regular-season and tournament champion, features NiJaree Canady, the reigning National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Year. Canady did not allow a run in 16 2/3 innings at the Big 12 Tournament and was named its Most Outstanding Player.
Arizona, which lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game, earned the No. 13 seed.
Duke reached the WCWS for the first time last season and will host a regional this year as the No. 14 seed.
Another SEC team, Alabama, is the No. 15 seed.
Oregon (47-7), the Big Ten regular-season champion, was seeded 16th.
WACO – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Whitehouse native and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Waco on Saturday.
Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl Champion, was quarterback for the Whitehouse High School Wildcats before playing for Texas Tech University in college. Whitehouse ISD Athletics congratulated him on his achievements and being a part of the 2025 Texas High School Football Hall of Fame class.
“Congratulations to our very own Patrick Mahomes on being inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame! From Friday night lights at Whitehouse High to the brightest stage in the NFL, Patrick has always represented our community with class, grit and heart. This honor is a testament to his hard work, leadership, and the legacy he continues to build both on and off the field. Congratulations, Patrick! Your journey continues to inspire young athletes here in East Texas and across the country. We’re so proud to call you one of our own!”
Whitehouse ISD Athletics
Mahomes wasn’t the only #bEASTTexas legend to be honored this year. Legendary Gilmer Buckeyes football coach Jeff Traylor and longtime East Texas sports broadcaster David Smoak were right alongside Mahomes in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
NEW YORK (AP) — Cade Horton handled his second New York City traffic jam Saturday much better than his first.
After sitting through a 90-minute bus ride to the ballpark, Horton twice worked out of trouble against the New York Mets’ best hitters to win his major league debut for the Chicago Cubs.
The team’s top pitching prospect was called up from Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day and struck out five in four impressive innings as a bulk reliever to help the Cubs beat the Mets 6-5.
Horton relieved opener Brad Keller following a perfect first inning and gave up three hits, including Brett Baty’s three-run homer in the fourth. The right-hander walked none and threw 49 of 77 pitches for strikes in his first professional relief appearance.
“I thought he did a nice job,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Obviously, the three-run homer’s a big play in the game. But he threw a ton of strikes. I think he learned his stuff definitely works here, plays here.”
Horton found out his changeup worked at an opportune time in the fifth. After throwing nothing but fastballs, curveballs and sweepers in his first 71 pitches, Horton struck out $765 million slugger Juan Soto — the potential go-ahead run in a 4-3 game — on an 86 mph changeup as Francisco Lindor stole second.
“That pitch is overlooked — I hadn’t thrown it all day and that’s the exact reason I wanted to use it there is because I knew he probably wasn’t expecting a changeup,” Horton said. “I threw it so little on the scouting report and he’d already seen a lot of breaking stuff, so I just wanted to mix something in.”
Horton then ended his outing by retiring four-time All-Star Pete Alonso, who lined out to third on an 82 mph sweeper.
“I gain confidence from this and just knowing that my stuff does play,” Horton said. “Just trusting that, just refining some breaking balls and being more in the zone.”
Two innings earlier, Horton set down Lindor and Soto with two runners aboard to end a scoreless third.
After the game, Horton greeted 18 family members and friends who were on hand at Citi Field. It was a happy conclusion to a day that began with the 23-year-old pitcher pondering worst-case scenarios as he endured a 90-minute bus ride from the Cubs’ midtown hotel.
“Getting stuck in traffic — I won’t forget that,” Horton said with a grin. “My gosh, I’m showing up an hour late.”
Horton made his major league debut almost three years after the Cubs selected him seventh overall in the 2022 amateur draft out of the University of Oklahoma. He posted a 2.65 ERA in 21 starts between three minor league affiliates in 2023 before a lat injury limited him to nine starts last season.
Horton was 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 29 innings in six starts this season at Triple-A. He pitched bulk innings Saturday in place of rotation stalwart Shota Imanaga, who strained a hamstring last Sunday.
“It’s been a lot of ups and downs and there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs in the future,” Horton said. “It’s all just about staying present and taking it one day at a time.”
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
HOUSTON (AP) — Ronel Blanco struck out a career-high 11 in eight innings and Shawn Dubin completed the two-hitter to lead the Houston Astros to a 6-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Yainer Diaz hit a three-run homer in the third to give Houston an early lead and Christian Walker added two hits and three RBIs to help the Astros take the series 2-1.
It was the second-longest start of Blanco’s career and longest since he tossed a no-hitter in his season debut last year in a 10-0 win over the Blue Jays on April 1.
Blanco (3-3) retired the first nine batters, with six strikeouts, before walking TJ Friedl to start the fourth. He sat down the next four batters before Spencer Steer got Cincinnati’s first hit on a double to the corner of left field with one out in the fifth.
But Blanco quickly got back on track and retired the next nine batters before Jose Trevino doubled with one out in the eighth. Will Benson grounded out before Blanco struck out Santiago Espinal to end his day and head to the dugout to a standing ovation.
It was a much-needed performance for a team that used six relievers in a 13-9 loss Saturday night after starter Lance McCullers Jr. allowed seven runs and was pulled after getting just one out.
The soaring home run by Diaz off rookie Chase Petty (0-2) came with one out in the third inning to make it 3-0 and extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Astros led by four when they loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. Walker singled on a line drive to center field to score two and make it 6-0.
Petty allowed six hits and four runs with six walks in three-plus innings in his second major league start.
The Astros were without Jose Altuve a day after he left in the third inning with tightness in his right hamstring.
Manager Joe Espada said Altuve was feeling better Sunday and he expects him to return to the lineup in a couple of days.
Key moment
Blanco struck out the side in the first inning to set the tone for a dominate outing.
Key stat
Blanco had struck out nine batters three times before his career-high strikeout performance Sunday.
Up next
The Reds are off Monday and RHP Ryan Gusto (3-1, 2.93 ERA) will start for Houston in the opener of a three-game series against Kansas City on Monday night.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
DETROIT (AP) — Josh Jung delivered a special Mother’s Day gift to his mom, Mary.
The Texas Rangers third baseman hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning of his team’s 6-1 win at Detroit on Sunday. Jung’s brother, Jace, was in the Tigers’ lineup at the same position.
Before the game, Mary Jung delivered the game ball to the mound and her sons joined her on the field.
“My heart is just exploding. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day gift,” Mary Jung said in an interview on the Rangers’ telecast. “We’re all in the same place, to begin with. But then to watch them live their dream, do what they love to do, I couldn’t be more proud.”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since the first national Mother’s Day in 1914 that a major league player homered against his brother.
“It’s a pretty cool feat, pretty rare,” Josh Jung said.
The Jungs’ parents, Mary and Jeff, were in attendance throughout the three-game series. The brothers also started on Saturday when Texas won 10-3.
“To everybody involved — parents, my brother and I, his girlfriend — all encompassing, I think everyone had a great time, a great moment,” Josh Jung said. “Any time we all get to be in the same city, which is kind of rare now, it’s special. To be able to play against each other, I know my parents are super proud. All the emotions come out because of all the sacrifices they’ve made for us. There’s no way to say thank you, but hopefully they were super proud watching us both going out there and playing the same position for these last two days.”
The Jung brothers gave their parents jerseys prior to the game — half with Texas blue, the other side with Detroit white. Their mom had already purchased a similar jersey.
The Jung brothers escorted Mary to the mound and she placed the ball there before Tigers starter Reese Olson’s first pitch.
“Super cool moments, pinch-me moments,” Josh Jung said. “It will probably never happen again.”
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Giovanni Williams watched his older brothers chase their NFL dreams and become playmaking teammates with the New York Jets.
Now, the young linebacker is getting a chance to join them — and perhaps make some history.
Williams, the younger brother of defensive tackle Quinnen and linebacker Quincy, is in rookie minicamp with the Jets as a tryout after going undrafted out of Miles College, a Division II historically Black college in Fairfield, Alabama.
“It feels good,” Giovanni Williams said Saturday after practice. “It feels, I’d say, honestly, bittersweet just because living behind them, making my own name, I had to still live behind them. But it’s sweet because me and my brother (Quincy) play the same position. So it’s like, I can call on him for help and we’ve got the same competition level. So it’s going to be like competition, just like always.
“Just like we’re back home, just a big competition.”
If the younger Williams can make the team, it’s believed the Jets would be the first NFL squad in nearly 100 years to have three brothers on the same active roster. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, brothers Bill, Cobb and Joe Rooney were all members of the 1927 Duluth Eskimos after also previously being on the 1924 Duluth Kelleys’ roster together.
“Honestly, it will mean a lot to me just to know that I came to the minicamp and I was coachable, I had urgency,” Williams said. “And just to be on the team with my brothers, it’ll feel good. It’ll be historical.”
He still has plenty of work to do to pave that path to potential football history. But getting on the field with the rest of the Jets’ rookies was a good start.
“I just think it’s outstanding that he has a Jets jersey on and both of his brothers are actually here with us, so it’s a beautiful story,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “He’s working his butt off.”
Quinnen was a first-round draft pick of the Jets — No. 3 overall — out of Alabama in 2019. He has since been selected once as an All-Pro and three times for the Pro Bowl.
Quincy, the oldest of the three brothers, was a third-rounder the same year as Quinnen, taken by Jacksonville out of Murray State. He has also made an All-Pro team and become one of the league’s top middle linebackers.
Giovanni, meanwhile, spent three years at Texas A&M Kingsville and played the 2021 and 2022 seasons after sitting out as a freshman during the 2020 COVID-19 year. He transferred to Miles and played in two games in 2023 and had 29 total tackles and a sack in 11 games last season — after breaking his right hand in the season opener — while helping the school win a conference championship.
“I’m in the middle — I’ve got Quincy’s speed, but I’ve got Quinnen’s build,” said Giovanni, who said he weighs 222 pounds and was listed as 6-foot-1 in college. “So it’s like I’m the middle of both of them. So everybody compares me as the hybrid of both.”
It wasn’t always that way, though. In fact, Giovanni said, he weighed more — a lot more — than the 303-pound Quinnen when he was younger.
“Yeah, I was like 350 pounds in high school,” Giovanni said smiling and shaking his head. “I know, I know. I was huge. I’ve got pictures you need to see now.”
He has videos and photos posted on his Instagram page, showing how he dramatically transformed his body.
“Yeah, actually, there’s a funny story about that,” Giovanni said. “So I went from 350 (pounds) to like 185 in like three or four months and then I had to build it all the way up to like 220 just to get solid because when I was like 350, that was like, all right, you know, you’ve got to look the part. So I didn’t look like I was a middle linebacker.
“So I kind of was, like, I got in my head a little bit. I won’t say depressed, but I just got in my head a little bit and I was like, ‘You’ve got to work now, you’ve got to look the part.’ So I just did everything I could do and just got all my weight down and then just built it back up solid.”
And now he’s on an NFL field after getting a call from his agent saying that the Jets were going to give him an opportunity to join his brothers.
“Honestly, seeing my chances, all I can do is just come out here and do me and just handle my business,” he said. “Put my best foot forward and see whatever happens, happens.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
The Celtics took another big lead and didn’t let it slip away. The Timberwolves had to rally in the fourth quarter.
And now, Game 4s in the NBA conference semifinals await — with New York, Minnesota, Indiana and Denver holding 2-1 series leads.
Boston — which wasted 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 against the Knicks — led by as many as 31 points and never trailed in its Game 3 win at New York on Saturday. That was followed by Minnesota holding off Golden State, which was without Stephen Curry because of a hamstring injury and then lost Draymond Green in the fourth quarter after he fouled out.
On Sunday, a pair of Game 4s are on the slate: East No. 1 seed Cleveland at Indiana, and West No. 1 seed Oklahoma City at Denver.
Sunday’s national TV schedule
All times Eastern
3:30 p.m. — Oklahoma City at Denver (ABC)
8 p.m. — Cleveland at Indiana (TNT)
Monday’s national TV schedule
All times Eastern
7:30 p.m. — Boston at New York (ESPN)
10 p.m. — Minnesota at Golden State (ESPN)
Tuesday’s national TV schedule
All times Eastern
7 p.m. — Indiana at Cleveland (TNT/truTV/Max)
9:30 p.m. — Denver at Oklahoma City (TNT/truTV/Max)
Betting odds
Oklahoma City (+175) continues to be favored to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by Boston (+250).
Cleveland (+500) is next, followed by Minnesota (+900), Denver (+1000), New York (+1700), Indiana (+2500) and Golden State (+5500).
Award season
There’s no word yet on when the NBA will announce this season’s MVP. It’ll be Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic or Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Also coming in the next few weeks: the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams.
Other awards so far:
— Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti won executive of the year.
— Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson won coach of the year. He also won the same award from the National Basketball Coaches Association.
— Boston’s Jrue Holiday won the social justice award and 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.
Scoring leaders
The highest-scoring games by players so far in this year’s playoffs:
48 — Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland vs. Indiana, May 6
43 — Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland vs. Indiana, May 9
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
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 Sunday’s games: Cavaliers-Pacers and Thunder-Nuggets.
— Mitchell Robinson can’t make a free throw. Knicks fans cheered him anyway.
— Timberwolves say fan was ejected for conduct toward Draymond Green.
— Pat Riley speaks: On Heat future, on Jimmy Butler, on being 80
— Tyrese Haliburton was willing to pay a fine. The NBA warned him instead.
— 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
— The Knicks have faced deficits of 20 or more points in six games against Boston this season. Against the rest of the league, the Knicks have trailed by 20 or more six times combined.
— There have been 55 playoff games so far this year. Home teams won 28, road teams won 27.
— Julius Randle had a triple-double for Minnesota on Saturday. He’s now the second player to have one in the playoffs for the Timberwolves; Kevin Garnett did it three times, most recently in 2004.
Quote of the day
“You’ve got to beat us four times. That’s what it comes down to. Not twice, not once, not three. You’ve got to win four games. So, it’s a lot of basketball to be played.” — Boston’s Jaylen Brown, after the Celtics closed within 2-1 of the Knicks with their win Saturday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t wake up their slumbering offenses in an early Game 4 tip on Sunday, resulting in a record-tying bad start to an NBA playoff game.
The teams combined for 25 points to open the game, matching the record for fewest in a first quarter.
The score after 12 minutes of action: Thunder 17, Nuggets 8. The last time two teams combined for that low of score after the opening period was May 20, 1999, when Portland led Utah 14-11.
Detroit (16) and Toronto (9) also combined for just 25 on April 21, 2002.
With so many misses, clanks and airballs, it looked straight out of a Sunday morning pickup game at the rec center. The Thunder and Nuggets combined for 8-for-44 shooting. That’s 18.2%.
It was even worse from farther out. Denver was 0 for 14 from 3-point range, while the Thunder were 1 of 11.
Both coaches maintained before the game the early start — just after 1:30 p.m. local time — wouldn’t make much of a difference.
“It’s the same time for them. It’s the same rest for them,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Neither team is at an advantage or disadvantage with that. We really don’t think about it. It’s an equal playing field today for both teams.”
Both teams combined for more turnovers (9) than made baskets (8) in the first quarter. There were so many misses that Nikola Jokic had six rebounds in the opening frame, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each had five.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
The latest version of Connor Hellebuyck certainly resembles the goalie that was so dominant in the regular season for Winnipeg. Now he has to go on the road again in the NHL playoffs against Dallas.
Florida is back in its series against Toronto, avoiding the dreaded 3-0 deficit thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky’s eight saves in overtime before Brad Marchand’s game-winning goal.
Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg and reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida resume their respective second-round series Sunday. The Jets and Stars are even switching to Dallas for Game 3, while the Panthers are home again for Game 4 against the Maple Leafs.
Hellebuyck is the odds-on favorite to win his third Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie, and also among three finalists for the Hart Trophy that goes to the MVP of the NHL regular season. But he is 0-3 on the road this postseason, with a .758 save percentage and a 7.24 goals-against-average while not finishing any of the three games at St. Louis in the first round.
Since those road losses, Hellebuyck won Game 7 in overtime against the Blues and split the first two games against Dallas. The Stars got only Mikko Rantanen’s natural hat trick in the second period of their 3-2 win in the series opener, then Hellebuyck had a 21-save shutout in Game 2 late Friday night.
“There were stretches in the first round where I really liked my game, just wasn’t in the results. But, built it back better. I like where we’re at,” said Hellebuyck, who had a 25-save shutout at Dallas the final week of the regular season. “The team in front of me is playing phenomenal, so, we’re going to have fun. Just continue to have fun.”
There’s still a hill to climb for the Panthers after their 5-4 win in Game 3 — and they will have to win at least one game in Toronto to advance — but there’s new life in Sunrise going into Game 4.
“The context changes up until the puck dropping (Sunday),” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “The eight teams that are left are all legitimate teams. They can all win.”
Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. EDT (TBS/truTV/Max)
Series: Tied 1-1.
The Stars took over home-ice advantage when finally winning a Game 1 in their eight postseason series with coach Pete DeBoer over the past three seasons. They never really gave themselves a chance in Game 2, when Tyler Sequin’s double-minor penalty only 17 seconds in set up the Jets for fast 1-0 lead that they doubled 3 1/2 minutes later.
“They score on the power play and then one goes off our own skate into the net, and you’re down 2-0. … That’s a big hole in this rink. Self-inflicted. The one was kind of unlucky,” DeBoer said after Game 2.
Dallas in its last home game overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period of Game 7 against Colorado, when Rantanen had a hat trick as part of a four-point third period against his former team. He had only one shot on goal in Game 2 at Winnipeg, when Stars defensemen accounted for 10 of their 21 shots.
“We’re a resilient group and we have a lot of confidence in our game,” Stars center Wyatt Johnston said.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers
When/Where to Watch: Game 4, Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TBS/truTV/Max)
Series: Toronto leads 2-1.
Toronto has scored four or more goals in each of its last four playoff games, one of three such streaks in Maple Leafs postseason history and the first time that’s happened since 1999. They’re also the first team to have such a run in this year’s playoffs.
Scoring isn’t the problem. The issue is whether Florida has found its scoring groove as well.
The Panthers are now 21-0-0 this season — and winners of 52 consecutive games since 2023, including playoffs — when scoring at least five goals. And they needed all five on Friday, with Marchand’s OT winner cutting Toronto’s series lead to 2-1.
“It’s a battle,” said Toronto’s John Tavares, who had two goals in Game 3. “Excited about the opportunity that we have on Sunday. We’re right there, so just keep going. We know we can be better in a lot of areas.”
Goaltenders have taken some hits in this series.
The Leafs said Saturday that Anthony Stolarz, who left Game 1, is progressing but has not resumed skating — indicating that Joseph Woll makes his third consecutive start on Sunday. Woll has allowed 11 goals on 84 shots, an .869 save percentage. Bobrovsky has allowed 13 goals on 81 shots, an .840 save percentage.
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AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Sunrise, Florida, contributed to this report.
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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
(NEWYORK) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves announced in a press release on Friday that the team has launched an investigation after some of their fans violated the NBA's Fan Code of Conduct by allegedly making "racially charged" comments towards Warriors power forward Draymond Green during the team's second game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night at the Western Conference NBA semifinals.
In a statement posted to the Timberwolves PR account on X, the team said that one Minnesota fan was ejected during the fourth quarter of Thursday night's game at the Target Center in Minneapolis, while another left voluntarily before security could identify him, but an investigation is ongoing to determine his identity.
"A fan was ejected by Target Center security for violating the NBA Fan Code of Conduct in an incident involving Draymond Green. A second individual who was identified by surrounding patrons as making racially charged comments towards Green left on his own before the arena security could confirm his identity. The team is continuing to investigate an additional action may be taken," the statement said.
"The Timberwolves and Target Center are firmly committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and safe environment. for all racist hateful or threatening behavior has no place at our games or in our community, and will not be tolerated under any circumstances," the statement continued.
ABC News has reached out to the Timberwolves and the Warriors for additional comment.
The fan ejection took place after Green got his fifth technical foul during this year's playoffs during an incident during the second quarter with Timberwolves center Naz Reid. After Green was fouled by Reid, Green appeared to wave his arms and smack Reid in the face with his elbow. During the playoffs, a player is automatically suspended for one game after a 7th technical foul.
According to ESPN, Green claimed during comments to reporters after the game on Thursday that there's an "agenda" against him.
"Looked like the angry Black man," Green said. "I'm not an angry Black man. I am a very successful, educated Black man with a great family, and I am great at basketball and great at what I do."
"The agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry Black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. It's ridiculous," he added.
The incident took place during Minnesota's Game 2 win in the second round of the NBA playoffs, where they defeated the Gold State Warriors 117-93 and leveled the Western Conference semifinal series at 1-1.
The win came during the absence of Warriors star Steph Curry, who suffered a strained left hamstring and is set to be reevaluated in a few days.
The Timberwolves and the Warriors will face off again on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET for Game 3 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Warriors.
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HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros placed right-hander Hayden Wesneski on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with right elbow discomfort.
Wesneski pitched four innings of four-run ball in Tuesday’s 4-3 loss at Milwaukee. It was his first start since April 25.
The Astros skipped Wesneski’s previous turn in the rotation after he showed diminished velocity, but manager Joe Espada said he did not report any elbow soreness until Thursday.
“He called (athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall) and said his elbow was sore,” Espada said. “We decided to put him on the IL to make sure that we get him back on the mound healthy.”
Wesneski, 27, was acquired by Houston in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Chicago Cubs in December. He is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts with the Astros.
Wesneski missed two months of last season due to elbow soreness.
The Astros recalled right-hander Logan VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land to take Wesneski’s place on the 26-man roster, but Espada said the team likely will call up another starting pitcher as it starts a stretch of 17 straight games on Friday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
HOUSTON (AP) — Reds ace Hunter Greene was placed on the 15-day injured list with a groin strain, one of six roster moves by Cincinnati ahead of Friday night’s game at Houston.
Greene struck out six in three scoreless innings at Atlanta on Wednesday before summoning a trainer while warming up for the fourth. An All-Star last season, the right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.36 ERA in eight starts this season.
Reds manager Terry Francona told reporters in Atlanta on Thursday the injury isn’t “terrible” and “all things considered, he’s going to be OK.”
Chase Petty, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Friday, will take Greene’s spot in the rotation and is scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale at Houston.
Also Friday, the Reds activated outfielder Austin Hays, who hasn’t played since April 28 because of a left hamstring strain.
A left calf strain sidelined Hays for the first 16 games of the season. He is batting .365 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 13 games. Hays will hit cleanup for a Reds lineup that has produced baseball’s fifth-worst batting average in May (.217).
“He’s such a professional. Everything he does he does with a purpose, and he does for the right reasons,” Francona said.
The Reds, who have lost five of six, also recalled outfielder Will Benson from Louisville and optioned outfielders Blake Dunn and Jacob Hurtubise. Dunn has gone hitless in his last 17 at-bats, dropping his average to .150, and he failed to execute a sacrifice bunt in the 11th inning of Thursday’s loss to the Braves.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
DETROIT (AP) — Tarik Skubal struck out a season-high 12 and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning as the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.
Skubal (4-2), whose strikeout total was one shy of his career high, limited Texas to one run on two hits in seven innings.
Tommy Kahnle pitched the eighth and Will Vest got the last three outs for his fourth save.
Dillon Dingler drove in Detroit’s first run with a double in the second inning.
Colt Keith had two hits, scored a run and drove in a fourth-inning run for the Tigers, who have won eight of their last nine games.
Rangers starter Patrick Corbin (2-2) gave up two runs and three hits while walking four and striking out three in seven innings. Sam Haggerty, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock earlier in the day, drove Texas’ run with a single in the sixth inning. The Rangers have lost 12 of their last 16 games.
Key moment
The Rangers had runners on first and second with one out after Haggerty’s run-scoring single. Skubal responded by striking out Wyatt Langford and retiring Jonah Heim on a fielder’s choice.
Key stat
Skubal has struck out 50 batters over the last 37 innings while issuing just one walk. His strikeout total on Friday was the ninth time in his career he’s reached double digits.
Up Next
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.61 ERA) will seek his third straight victory in the second game of the three-game series on Saturday, while Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (1-4, 3.79 ERA) will look to snap a four-game losing streak.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB