Edwards returns and Timberwolves overcome big game by Wembanyama to beat Spurs 104-102 in Game 1
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 18 points in his unexpected return from injury and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a huge game by Victor Wembanyama and held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals. Wembanyama had 11 points and 15 rebounds and set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocks. He’s the third player to get a triple-double in the playoffs including blocks since the league began tracking blocks in 1973-74. Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series after suffering a bone bruise and hyperextending his left knee on April 25 during Game 4 of Minnesota’s opening-round series against Denver.
Knicks crush the 76ers 137-98 to start the second round and keep up a historic postseason roll
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half and the New York Knicks emphatically added to a historic postseason roll by overwhelming the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks became the first team in NBA history to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points, continuing a wave that began midway through the first round against Atlanta by shooting 63% from the field and leading by 40 points. OG Anunoby added 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting. After trailing 2-1 against Atlanta, the Knicks have won four straight games by a total of 135 points.
Hall's OT score helps Hurricanes top Flyers 3-2 to take 2-0 lead in 2nd-round series of NHL playoffs
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Taylor Hall slipped the puck past Dan Vladar at 18:54 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-0 lead in their second-round series in the NHL playoffs. Seth Jarvis had the third-period goal that forced overtime for Carolina, while Nikolaj Ehlers also scored. Frederik Andersen finished with 34 saves to help the Hurricanes improve to 6-0 in the postseason. Jamie Drysdale and Sean Couturier scored in a 39-second span of the first period for the Flyers, but Philadelphia couldn’t beat Andersen again. Vladar had 40 saves. Game 3 is Thursday.
Two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to have elbow surgery to remove loose bodies
DETROIT (AP) — Two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will have surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow after being scratched from Monday’s start against the Boston Red Sox. Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters that the left-hander felt pain in his elbow on Sunday, less than a week after an injury scare against the Atlanta Braves. The 29-year-old — set to become a free agent next offseason — underwent tests that showed the loose bodies. The surgery hadn’t yet been scheduled. There is no immediate timetable for his return.
Lakers' Doncic, Thunder's Williams ruled out for Game 1 of West semifinals with hamstring injuries
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams have been ruled out of Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Both have left hamstring injuries. The teams notified the league on the injury reports they turned in on Monday. Doncic was injured about a month ago in Oklahoma City and hasn't played since. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in the regular season. Lakers coach JJ Redick hasn't specified when Doncic might return. Williams missed games 3 and 4 of the first-round series against Phoenix with a left hamstring injury.
Edwards cleared to play for Timberwolves in series opener against Spurs after expedited rehab
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, returning 10 days after hyperextending his left knee. Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series in San Antonio, but the 6-foot-4 guard expedited his rehabilitation to play in the opener. Minnesota coach Chris Finch announced Edwards' return by saying, “He's in.” Finch said Edwards will be on a minutes restriction.
Barbashev scores late as the Golden Knights beat the Ducks 3-1 in Game 1
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ivan Barbashev scored off a terrific pass from Pavel Dorofeyev with 4:58 left to put the Golden Knights ahead for good, and Vegas went on to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 on Monday night in the opener of their second-round series. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Vegas’ Brett Howden extended his goal streak to a career-long four games, his fifth over that span. Mitch Marner, who also assisted on Howden’s goal, added a 162-foot empty-net goal with 6 seconds left and Carter Hart made 33 stops. Mikael Granlund scored for Anaheim, and Lukas Dostal recorded 19 saves.
Judge wants new Bronx tradition: Sterling's voice booming “Theee Yankees win!" before Sinatra song
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hopes John Sterling's iconic call, “Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theee Yankees win!” becomes a new tradition at Yankee Stadium. Judge shared this after the Yankees defeated Baltimore 12-1, completing a four-game sweep on the day of Sterling's death at age 87. Sterling, who called games from 1989 to 2024, was honored with a pregame tribute — and then his familiar call that punctuated Yankees wins was played over the ballpark's public-address system following the final out. Judge hit his 14th homer in the first inning and added a two-run single in the eighth. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also supports the idea of Sterling's call becoming part of the victory routine.
Magic fire Jamahl Mosley after 5 seasons as coach, 3 first-round playoff appearances
Jamahl Mosley has been fired as coach of the Orlando Magic, paying the widely expected price after the team blew a 3-1 series lead and got eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. It was Orlando’s third consecutive first-round playoff exit, and easily the most disappointing. Not only did the eighth-seeded Magic lose all three chances to upset the top-seeded Pistons, but one of those games saw Orlando have a 24-point second-half lead at home and still lose. That loss probably was the one that sealed Mosley’s fate.
Detroit Pistons announce extension with coach J.B. Bickerstaff
DETROIT (AP) — Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff has agreed to a contract extension on the heels of Detroit’s first-round playoff series victory over the Orlando Magic. Details regarding the value and length of the extension were not released by the Pistons when they announced the deal on Monday. The Pistons have gone 104-60 in regular-season games under Bickerstaff and made two playoff appearances since he took over at the start of the 2024-25 season. This season, the Pistons had the best record in the Eastern Conference at 60-22 and on Sunday defeated Orlando 116-94 to close out a playoff series victory for the first time since since 2008.
