AP Sports Digest
The highlights of Saturday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports
For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
The supervisor is Jay Cohen, followed by Bob Lentz at 5 p.m. and John Nicholson at 1 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636. Agate, 800-300-8340.
The AP’s Ralph Russo hosts the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-us-podcast-ap-top-25-college/id1138957862
The AP’s Rob Maaddi hosts the latest AP Pro Football Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ap-pro-football-podcast/id1531528440
AUDIO HEADLINES
MacKinnon, Nichushkin lead 5-goal outburst in 3rd period, Avs rally for 6-2 win over Jets in Game 3
All times EDT
TOP STORIES
BKN--NUGGETS-LAKERS
LOS ANGELES — Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets go for a four-game sweep of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
FBN--NFL DRAFT
DETROIT — The NFL draft wraps up with teams hoping to make the most of their fourth through seventh-round picks. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 8 p.m.
—With:
—FBN--NFL DRAFT-GRADES — Grading a team's draft usually takes two to three years but here's an early look at how it went. By Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 7 p.m.
HKN--BRUINS-MAPLE LEAFS
TORONTO — Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins take on Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. Boston won two of the first three games. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m.
NOTABLE
BKN--CELTICS-HEAT
MIAMI — Boston, the No. 1 overall seed in the NBA playoffs, visits Miami in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference first-round series tied at a game apiece. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 6 p.m.
BKN--THUNDER-PELICANS
NEW ORLEANS — The Oklahoma City Thunder has a chance to put the Pelicans in a 3-0 hole as their first-round playoff series resumes with Game 3 in New Orleans. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 3:30 p.m.
BKN--CAVALIERS-MAGIC
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Cleveland Cavaliers aim for a 3-1 series lead when they face the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff matchup. By Dick Scanlon. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts 1 p.m.
HKN--OILERS-KINGS
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings host the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series. The series is even at one game apiece after the Kings won Game 2 in overtime Wednesday night. By Joe Reedy. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 10:30 p.m.
HKN--HURRICANES-ISLANDERS
NEW YORK — The New York Islanders look to avoid elimination when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of their first-round series. The Hurricanes are one win away from advancing to the second round for the fifth time in six years. By Vin A. Cherwoo. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 2 p.m.
HKN--PANTHERS-LIGHTNING
TAMPA, Fla. — Intrastate rivals Florida and Tampa Bay meet in Game 4 of their NHL playoff series, with the Panthers aiming for a four-game sweep of the first-round matchup. By Mark Didtler. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts 5 p.m.
FBC--COLORADO-SPRING GAME
BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado coach Deion Sanders will get a glimpse of his team at the spring game following all the transfer-portal movement. The stadium isn't expected to be packed — like Sanders' first spring game — and the weather is iffy, with rain and cooler temperatures anticipated. By Pat Graham. UPCOMING: 450 words, photos by 7 p.m.
CAR--INDYCAR-BARBER
A week of controversy for Team Penske, Josef Newgarden and defending Barber winner Scott McLaughlin has brought IndyCar into the glare of the spotlight. Now, the drivers, at least, turn their attention to qualifying. By John Zenor. UPCOMING: 600 words by 4:30 p.m.
CAR--NASCAR-DOVER
DOVER, DEL. — The NASCAR series shifts to Dover this weekend. By Dan Gelston. UPCOMING: 760 words, photos by 6 p.m.
—With:
—CAR--NASCAR-Xfinity. Race starts at 1:50 p.m.
RAC--KENTUCKY DERBY-POST DRAW
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Post positions and morning line odds for the 150th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be drawn at Churchill Downs' opening night. Both draws were moved up two days earlier than normal for the milestone races on May 3 and 4, respectively. By Gary B. Graves. UPCOMING. 500 words, file photos, developing from draw beginning at 7:15 p.m.
GYM--AMERICAN CLASSIC
KATY, Texas — Former Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Douglas competes for the first time in eight years at the American Classic. Douglas won gold in the all-around at the 2012 Olympics and is eyeing an outside shot at making that five-woman U.S. team that will compete in Paris this summer. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos.
___
Saturday Time Schedule
NBA PLAYOFFS
Eastern Conference
Cleveland at Orlando, 1 p.m.
Boston at Miami, 6 p.m.
Western Conference
Oklahoma City at New Orleans, 3:30 p.m.
Denver at LA Lakers, 8:30 p.m.
NHL PLAYOFFS
Eastern Conference
Carolina at NY Islanders, 2 p.m.
Florida at Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.
Boston at Toronto, 8 p.m.
Western Conference
Dallas at Vegas, 10:30 p.m.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LA Dodgers at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.
Cincinnati at Texas, 4:05 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore, 4:05 p.m.
St. Louis at NY Mets, 4:05 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Boston, 4:10 p.m.
Washington at Miami, 4:10 p.m.
Houston vs. Colorado, at Mexico City, 6:05 p.m.
Kansas City at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.
NY Yankees at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.
Cleveland at Atlanta, 7:20 p.m.
Philadelphia at San Diego, 8:40 p.m.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco, 9:05 p.m.
Minnesota at LA Angels, 9:38 p.m.
Arizona at Seattle, 9:40 p.m.
MLS
LA Galaxy at Austin FC, 1:45 p.m.
CF Montreal at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Charlotte FC at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado Rapids at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Inter Miami CF at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta United FC at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
Houston Dynamo FC at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m.
Sporting Kansas City at Minnesota United FC, 8:30 p.m.
Portland Timbers at LAFC, 10:30 p.m.
NWSL
Seattle Reign FC at North Carolina Courage, 7 p.m.
Houston Dash at Utah Royals, 7:30 p.m.
Portland Thorns FC at Chicago Red Stars, 7:30 p.m.
Bay FC at San Diego Wave FC, 10 p.m.
PWHL
Montreal at Ottawa, 12:30 p.m.
Boston at Minnesota, 2 p.m.
