AP Sports Digest
The highlights of the 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.
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All times EDT
AUDIO HEADLINES
Luka Doncic and defensive-minded Mavs take a chippy 101-90 win over Clippers for 2-1 series lead https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/LukaDoncicanddefensive-mindedMavstakeachippy101-90winoverClippersfor2-1serieslead/2b9d4f7339984a4280dc918e7b463467
Haliburton breaks tie with 3-point play, Pacers beats Bucks 121-118 in OT to take 2-1 series lead https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Haliburtonbreakstiewith3-pointplayPacersbeatsBucks121-118inOTtotake2-1serieslead/f5006661803b41ceb416042a8b7f51f9
MacKinnon, Nichushkin lead 5-goal outburst in 3rd period, Avs rally for 6-2 win over Jets in Game 3 https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/MacKinnonNichushkinlead5-goaloutburstin3rdperiodAvsrallyfor6-2winoverJetsinGame3/48aa1bafc87049ca8aa2b17360e91a00
Casey DeSmith makes 30 saves as the Canucks take 2-1 series lead over the Preds https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/CaseyDeSmithmakes30savesastheCanuckstake2-1seriesleadoverthePreds/fa64321c20714b9687f22623e5bf04e4
Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/SpecialteamscarryRangerstoaGame3winanda3-0seriesleadontheCapitals/80892c356799433ab8a14c083bc78768
TOP STORIES
FBN--NFL DRAFT-BEST AVAILABLE
The top 100 prospects have been scooped up by NFL teams through the first three rounds of the draft. But there’s plenty of potential difference-makers sitting there Saturday when Round 4 begins. In all, there will be 257 selections in the 2024 NFL draft, capped with the New York Jets owning the final pick in Round 7. By AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos by 6 a.m.
AND:
— FBN--NFL BLOODLINES: Marvin Harrison Jr., Joe Alt, Kris Jenkins and Jonah Ellis have turned the NFL draft into a family affair. All sons of former NFL stars, they heard their names called in the draft in Detroit. By AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 500 words, photos.
— FBN--NFL DRAFT-WILLIAMS: Caleb Williams was ready to embrace the attention after the Chicago Bears grabbed him with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The prized quarterback knows all eyes are on him in a city craving a consistent winner. By Andrew Seligman. SENT: 740 words, photos.
BKC—TRANSFER PORTAL
Kansas star center Hunter Dickinson announced Friday he would return for a final season with the Jayhawks. Coach Bill Self also said he has signed a fourth player from the transfer portal in Rylan Griffen, a starter on the Alabama team that reached the NCAA Final Four. Dickinson was a first-team All-Big 12 pick and conference newcomer of the year after averaging 17.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in his first season with the Jayhawks after transferring from Michigan. SENT: 390 words, photos.
US-WOMEN'S SPORTS BAR-OREGON
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Sports Bra, a women-owned sports bar that got national attention in 2022 for being the first to air only women’s sports on its TVs, has announced plans to expand with financial support from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The move to start franchises in other U.S. cities comes as interest in women’s sports is at an all-time high, driven most recently by women’s college basketball star Caitlin Clark -- and now that interest is working its way into a sports bar culture that was for decades geared towards men’s athletics. By Claire Rush. SENT: 970 words, photos, video.
NOTABLE
FBN—NFL-GUARDIAN CAPS
NEW YORK — The NFL says it will allow players to wear protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games next season if they choose. The league is also expanding the use of the devices during practices. Defensive backs and receivers have joined the position groups now required to wear the caps during all contact practices. SENT: 210 words, photos.
TEN--MADRID OPEN
Rafael Nadal faces Alex de Minaur at the Madrid Open on Saturday, while Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are all in action. Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz won his opening match at the Madrid Open on Friday in his first match in nearly a month. SENT: 700 words, photos. New story planned with Saturday's matches.
BKW--TCU-VAN LITH
Hailey Van Lith, who joined LSU this past season and reached the Elite Eight with the defending national champion before a loss to Caitlin Clark and Iowa, is transferring to TCU for her fifth and final season. SENT: 310 words, photos.
GLF—ZURICH
AVONDALE, La. — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry held onto a share of the lead Friday in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, with the Irish duo shooting a 2-under 70 in alternate play in the PGA Tour’s only team event. The teams of Davis Thompson-Andrew Novak, Ryan Brehm-Mark Hubbard and Aaron Rai-David Lipsky matched McIlroy and Lowry at 13-under 131 at TPC Louisiana. By Richard Meek. SENT: 400 words, photos.
GLF-LPGA
LOS ANGELES — Grace Kim opened a four-stroke lead Friday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship, shooting a 5-under 66 in tricky afternoon conditions at Wilshire Country Club. A stroke ahead after an opening 64, Kim had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey to get to 12-under 130. SENT: 350 words, photo.
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Saturday's EDT 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.
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