AP Sports Digest

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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UPCOMING

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BKL--ALL-STARS-GOING HOME

DESCRIPTION: All-Stars Brittney Griner, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins and Satou Sabally all found new places to play this season taking advantage of free agency while Angel Reese has a new home after she was traded to Atlanta, This might have been the most movement by All-Stars in WNBA history which isn’t a huge surprise with more than 80% of the league able to change teams after the new collective bargaining agreement was signed in March.

UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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US-PATRIOTS-DIGGS-STRANGULATION

DESCRIPTION: Continuing coverage of the assault trial of former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs in connection with a heated dispute he had with his private chef.

UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 8:00 a.m. EDT, Photo, Video, Text

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BKN-NBA PLAYOFF COVERAGE

FORMATS: Photo, Text

1. WITH: BKN-TIPOFF

2. DESCRIPTION: The final two second-round NBA playoff series begin on Tuesday when the Pistons hosts the Cavaliers and the Thunder host the Lakers. By David Brandt. 700 words, photos.

3. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT

4. WITH: BKN-NBA PLAYOFF COVERAGE

5. DESCRIPTION: Coverage of the NBA playoffs

6.

BKN--LAKERS-THUNDER

DESCRIPTION: The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Thunder won all four meetings with the Lakers this season, but Los Angeles still has LeBron James, who at 41, still is delivering. By Cliff Brunt. 400 words, with photos. Game time 7:30 p.m. Central.

7. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

8. BKN--CAVALIERS-PISTONS

9. DESCRIPTION: The Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of their second-round series. By Larry Lage. 400 words, more on merits, photos. Game starts 7 p.m. EDT.

10. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT

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HKN--NHL PLAYOFFS COVERAGE

FORMATS: Photo, Text

11. WITH: HKN--FACEOFF

12. DESCRIPTION: Neither team was happy about the Vegas Golden Knights’ 3-1 Game 1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night. The Golden Knights said their play wasn’t good enough, and it was a missed opportunity for the Ducks. Both teams hope Game 2 provides a much different feel, but for different reasons.

13. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT

14. WITH: HKN--FLYERS-HURRICANES-OT TAKEAWAYS

15. DESCRIPTION: Rick Tocchet got the response he wanted from his Philadelphia Flyers while Rod Brind’Amour’s Carolina Hurricanes are taking too many penalties. Yet the Hurricanes are still unbeaten in the NHL playoffs. By Aaron Beard. 700 words, photos.

16. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 7:00 a.m. EDT

17. WITH: HKN--WILD-AVALANCHE

18. DESCRIPTION: DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche look to take a 2-0 lead Tuesday night in the second-round series with Minnesota. Colorado beat the Wild 9-6 in Game 1. By Pat Graham. 500 words, photos. Game time is 8 p.m. ET.

19. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT

20. WITH: HKN--CANADIENS-SABRES PREVIEW

21. DESCRIPTION: Sabres coach Lindy Ruff’s memory is a little fuzzy from his playing days, in recalling Buffalo’s three-game series sweep over Montreal in 1983. “Yeah, it was in black and white,” he said with a chuckle. Dust off the history books as the upstart Sabres and Montreal Canadiens square off in the playoffs for the eighth time -- and first since 1998 -- in a second-round series that opens at Buffalo on Wednesday. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. 700 words, photos by 5 p.m. EDT.

22. UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT

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BKL--WNBA-OH CANADA

DESCRIPTION: The WNBA not surprisingly chose Canada as the country to extend its footprint outside of the U.S. for the first time. The expansion Toronto Tempo with make their debut this season. While the league will have a new franchise in the country, women’s basketball has a long history in Canada. The infux of Canadian players over the years in both the NCAA and WNBA has been on the rise in recent years.

UPCOMING: By 05/05/2026 11:48 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--TIMBERWOLVES-SPURS

Edwards returns and Timberwolves overcome big game by Wembanyama to beat Spurs 104-102 in Game 1

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 506 - MOVED: 05/05/2026 1:39 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5c70a8def68dc19713533cefa5edd3eb&mediaType=text

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BBO--YANKEES-JUDGE-STERLING

Judge wants new Bronx tradition: Sterling’s voice booming “Theee Yankees win!” before Sinatra song

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 597 - MOVED: 05/05/2026 1:04 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c28ccdd0932e3a3565e062e5cb4df1e8&mediaType=text

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BKN--LAKERS-THUNDER INJURIES

Lakers’ Doncic, Thunder’s Williams ruled out for Game 1 of West semifinals with hamstring injuries

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 250 - MOVED: 05/05/2026 12:54 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bb297a21449626ade21066eb669d0e43&mediaType=text

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HKN--DUCKS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Barbashev scores late as the Golden Knights beat the Ducks 3-1 in Game 1

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 421 - MOVED: 05/05/2026 12:44 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f1906f91408ba725eb6c57398ac8cec5&mediaType=text

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BKN--76ERS-KNICKS

Knicks crush the 76ers 137-98 to start the second round and keep up a historic postseason roll

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 590 - MOVED: 05/05/2026 12:08 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e5b78409396408bd5c8984bf93abe59c&mediaType=text

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HKN--FLYERS-HURRICANES

Hall’s OT score helps Hurricanes top Flyers 3-2 to take 2-0 lead in 2nd-round series of NHL playoffs

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 575 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 11:43 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e0740a387359597fb9c868f622604c7b&mediaType=text

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BBO--OBIT-STERLING

John Sterling, theatrical Yankees broadcaster known for enduring home run calls, dies at 87

SUMMARY: John Sterling, the longtime radio broadcaster known for extravagant, individualized home run calls and declaring “theee Yankees win!” after each of New York’s victories, died Monday. He was 87. Sterling had undergone heart bypass surgery this winter. After the procedure, he was attended by health care aides at his home in Edgewater, New Jersey. He had called 5,420 regular-season games plus 211 postseason games when he retired in April 2024 just after the season’s start. Sterling broadcast 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 through July 2019. He came out of retirement to call Yankees games during the 2024 postseason.

WORDS: 1400 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 9:51 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b57e21b00cc259cb2118ecf2c1662aaa&mediaType=text

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BKN--TIMBERWOLVES-EDWARDS

Edwards cleared to play for Timberwolves in series opener against Spurs after expedited rehab

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 578 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 8:31 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:900aaaa760937b71a7329f53a678c1d7&mediaType=text

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BBC--SEC-ABS CHALLENGES

NCAA rules committee approves robot ump for challenging balls and strikes in SEC Tournament

SUMMARY: The robot umpire is coming to college baseball, at least on an experimental basis. The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee on Monday approved the Southeastern Conference’s request to implement a challenge system for balls and strikes for each game of the 2026 SEC Tournament. It would be a system similar to the one used in Major League Baseball. The system will permit teams to challenge an umpire’s strike or ball call via an automated ball tracking system that monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the specific batter’s zone. The system also would be allowed in other conference tournaments.

WORDS: 250 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 7:57 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c5b2bb4f5deaeea4dd24e39decfbaa86&mediaType=text

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BKW--UCONN-AURIEMMA

Auriemma says he felt ‘dumb’ for the way his exchange with Staley played out following Final Four game

SUMMARY: A little more than a month after Geno Auriemma’s UConn women’s basketball team’s title bid ended with a Final Four loss to South Carolina, Auriemma reflected on his heated postgame exchange with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. “You couldn’t keep it in for five more seconds? You feel dumb for the way it played out.” Auriemma is turning his attention to making a run at a national title during the 2026-27 season.

WORDS: 744 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 7:19 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:269adc37973d692ac7d95e5e37ddb818&mediaType=text

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US--PATRIOTS-DIGGS-STRANGULATION CHARGE

Assault trial of former Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs begins with contrasting accounts

SUMMARY: Opening statements and testimony began in the assault trial of Stefon Diggs, with his former live-in chef accusing the ex-New England Patriots receiver of slapping and choking her during a dispute at his home. Jamila “Mila” Adams told jurors Diggs struck her and wrapped his arm around her neck, leaving her struggling to breathe. Defense attorney Andrew Kettlewell said the attack never happened, citing a lack of evidence and suggesting Adams had a financial motive. Prosecutors say the case centers on what occurred on Dec. 2. Diggs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charges.

WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 6:54 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5e98d1ab24f1846e32f4b4ef8a52a6bc&mediaType=text

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US--PULITZER PRIZES-PABLO TORRE

Pablo Torre’s podcast wins Pulitzer Prize for Clippers report, capping a remarkable rise

SUMMARY: The “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast won a Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting for its deep dive into the finances of the Los Angeles Clippers and star Kawhi Leonard, capping a remarkable rise for the influential show. Torre’s show has reported on several major stories since its debut in 2023. Topics include Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Harvard, Madison Square Garden’s use of facial recognition software at games and team collusion in the NFL. The Pulitzer judges called Torre’s project on how the Clippers seemingly evaded the NBA’s salary cap rules by funneling money through an environmental startup a “pioneering and entertaining form of live podcast journalism.”

WORDS: 368 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 6:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5f978ae234a3bbbf166ee502567145f7&mediaType=text

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BBO--TIGERS-SKUBAL

Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to have elbow surgery to remove loose bodies

SUMMARY: Two-time American League Cy Young Award 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.

WORDS: 434 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 5:50 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ca2a2245ef14f1b9483b1847437a33de&mediaType=text

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

Man City’s last-gasp draw at Everton hands Premier League momentum to Arsenal

SUMMARY: Manchester City has fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Everton in a dramatic encounter that hands the title momentum to Arsenal. Jérémy Doku scored twice for City, the second in the 97th minute, to break the home fans hearts. Everton had led 3-1 with the help of a Thierno Barry double. City is now five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. Everton is in 10th place. Earlier, Chelsea slumped to a sixth straight Premier League defeat and saw its Champions League qualification hopes virtually disappear after losing to Nottingham Forest 3-1. Taiwo Awoniyi scored two either side of a penalty by Igor Jesus. Joao Pedro’s overhead kick was a late consolation for Chelsea. Forest is six points above the relegation zone with three rounds left.

WORDS: 825 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 5:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:efab3d0f95b028b4978bd1c14d90e666&mediaType=text

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BKN--PISTONS-BICKERSTAFF

Detroit Pistons announce extension with coach J.B. Bickerstaff

SUMMARY: 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.

WORDS: 216 - MOVED: 05/04/2026 5:47 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7ce4746edd7d453115674b251457b013&mediaType=text

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