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UPCOMING

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GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-RAI

DESCRIPTION: NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. -- Aaron Rai stood straight with his arms behind his back, perfect posture, as he waited to be introduced as the latest — and among the most remarkable — winners of the PGA Championship. Next to him on a small table was the Wanamaker Trophy, big and silver and shiny. Rai couldn’t resist a quick glance at the 27-pound trophy and all those names. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 875 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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BBO--WHITE SOX-MURAKAMI

DESCRIPTION: CHICAGO — Munetaka Murakami has a fun handshake with fellow infielder Miguel Vargas. He playfully agreed that a magic wand routine with teammate Mike Vasil helped him slam another homer. His No. 5 jersey dots the stands at Rate Field. The Japanese slugger wasn’t supposed to end up with the Chicago White Sox. But it’s working out quite well at the moment. By Baseball Writer Jay Cohen. AP Photos.

UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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BBO—THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL

DESCRIPTION: A couple years ago, the Kansas City Royals were in the playoffs as a wild card and won a round. With Bobby Witt Jr. signed to a lengthy contract, their future looked pretty interesting. Then the Royals slid back in 2025 — but only slightly, to 82 wins. This year’s start is more concerning.

UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, Text

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BKN--NBA PLAYOFF COVERAGE

FORMATS: Photo, Text

1. WITH: BKN--TIPOFF

2. DESCRIPTION: The daily look at the NBA playoffs, featuring news, stats, notes and quotes. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

3. UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 10:00 a.m. EDT

4. WITH: BKN--NBA PLAYOFF COVERAGE

5. DESCRIPTION: Coverage of the NBA conference finals

6. UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

7. WITH: BKN--CAVALIERS-KNICKS PREVIEW

8. DESCRIPTION: GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers met in their season openers and on Christmas Day, marquee spots on the schedule because they were expected to be the Eastern Conference’s top teams. They start finding out which one is the best Tuesday night in Game 1 of the conference finals.

9. UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 6:00 p.m. EDT

10. WITH: BKN--SPURS-THUNDER

11. DESCRIPTION: OKLAHOMA CITY -- MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder open defense of their Western Conference title on Monday night, when Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visit to open that series. Game begins 8:30 p.m. EDT. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. Text, photos.

12. UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT

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HKN--NHL PLAYOFFS COVERAGE

FORMATS: Photo, Text

13. WITH: HKN--GOLDEN KNIGHTS-MARNER

14. DESCRIPTION: Mitch Marner continues to prove his skeptics wrong that he can’t perform in the postseason with 18 points, which leads all skaters in the NHLK playoffs. That includes what might be the goal of the year in the clinching victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

15. UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 8:00 p.m. EDT

16. WITH: HKN--CANADIENS-SABRES

17. DESCRIPTION: The Buffalo Sabres are 2-4 at home in the postseason, and host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series on Monday night. The winner advances to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals that open on Thursday. By John Wawrow. 600 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

18.

UPCOMING: By 05/18/2026 11:00 p.m. EDT

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IRAN FOOTBALL TEAM DEPARTURE

DESCRIPTION: 500 words on-merit

ON MERITS: By 05/18/2026 3:00 a.m. EDT, Text, Photo, Video

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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BKN--CAVALIERS-PISTONS

Mitchell scores 26 and the Cavaliers rout the Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 to reach the East finals

SUMMARY: Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers ousted the East’s top seed and will face the third-seeded New York Knicks. Game 1 of that series tips off Tuesday in New York. Evan Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in team history.

WORDS: 590 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 12:12 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:510f024245127d69e844489e6375ade2&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-MVP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder becomes the 14th player to win back-to-back NBA MVPs

SUMMARY: He’s the best player on the best team. And the voters say he’s the best player in the league, too. Again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder — the reigning NBA champion and the team with the best record this year — won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Sunday for the second consecutive year. He becomes the 18th player to win at least two MVP awards and the 14th to win them in back-to-back fashion.

WORDS: 1018 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 11:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:88b1c6463dd21ec924b21ad9b76011a0&mediaType=text

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GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Aaron Rai runs away with the PGA Championship, first English-born winner in more than a century

SUMMARY: Aaron Rai has become the first English-born player in more than a century to capture the PGA Championship. Rai, who dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver until he turned to golf, was three shots behind and approaching the turn at Aronimink Golf Club when he delivered a performance worthy of a major champion. He made a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth during a stretch when he one-putted seven straight greens. Then he holed a birdie putt of some 70 feet across the 17th green for the clincher. The 31-year-old Rai is the first player of Indian heritage to win a major. He closed with a 5-under 65.

WORDS: 1140 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 9:28 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1de289b32e148a35edcd919284f01096&mediaType=text

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BBO--DODGERS-SASAKI’S SURGE

Dodgers think Roki Sasaki is finally on his way to realizing his potential after dominating Angels

SUMMARY: Roki Sasaki’s eventful major league career finally appears to be going the way most everyone expected when he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers at the start of last season. Sasaki pitched a career-high seven innings of four-hit ball in a 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, turning in the longest and most dominant start of his strange tenure in blue. The 24-year-old right-hander racked up a career-best eight strikeouts with no walks while doing it all with a burgeoning confidence he lacked for most of last season, when he flamed out as a starter before becoming an improbably successful reliever.

WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 8:31 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:db46ae3aeb020e871b005d877f29045d&mediaType=text

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BBO--SUBWAY SERIES

Tyrone Taylor and Carson Benge rally Mets to Subway Series win over stumbling Yankees

SUMMARY: Carson Benge drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning chopper, leading the New York Mets to a 7-6 victory over the Yankees at Citi Field. It marked the second time in five days Benge secured a victory in extra innings. Tyrone Taylor tied the game with a three-run homer off David Bednar with two outs in the ninth. The Mets, despite missing key players, have improved to 10-5 in May. The Yankees went 2-7 on a challenging trip and start a seven-game homestand Monday night against division rivals Toronto and Tampa Bay.

WORDS: 979 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 8:25 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:67f964966fea5e7a637ed259d0366d27&mediaType=text

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CAR--INDY 500 QUALIFYING

Alex Palou starts his Indianapolis 500 title from the pole after taking the top spot in qualifying

SUMMARY: Alex Palou had his best qualifying attempt on his final four-lap run Sunday and took his second career Indianapolis 500 pole with an average speed of 232.248 mph. He’s the first defending champion to claim the No. 1 starting spot since 2010. Palou also is the only starter on this year’s traditional 33-car starting grid with a qualifying average topping 232 mph. Alexander Rossi will start a career-best second after going 231.990. He’ll start between Palou and Team Penske driver David Malukas on the front row. Malukas went 231.877. Felix Rosenqvist was in position to become Indy’s first pole-winner from Sweden after he posted the fastest averages in the first two rounds of qualifying. But he finished the final round of qualifying at 231.375 and will start fourth.

WORDS: 954 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 8:21 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:15529232e35e2d0260ba58bcd1a46533&mediaType=text

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GLF--PGA CHAMPIONSHIP-MCILROY

McIlroy has angry exchange with fan at PGA. Rahm, Smith, Schauffele also fade

SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy’s frustrating final round at the PGA Championship boiled over with an angry exchange with a fan after a “U-S-A!” shout from the gallery at Aronimink Golf Club. The costly errant shot out of heavy rough at the 16th hole derailed McIlroy’s come-from-behind bid Sunday, and he appeared to respond to the shout by using an expletive while telling the fan to “shut up.” The exchange summarized the two-time PGA and six-time major winner’s confounding final round. He was not alone, as Jon Rahm, Cam Smith and Xander Schauffele had their chances and failed to catch Aaron Rai.

WORDS: 828 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d458130f189de8e40c67f3acbdac3ab5&mediaType=text

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CAR-INDY 500 QUALIFYING STRUGGLES

Josef Newgarden and Kyle Kirkwood fall out of the pole mix early during Indianapolis 500 Pole Day

SUMMARY: Josef Newgarden found some solace in his inexplicable qualifying run. At least he has a better starting position in this year’s Indianapolis 500 than last year. Kyle Kirkwood endured a much rougher day. His car was slow, his team was shut out of Indy’s 12-car pole shootout, making it even less likely he can cut into Alex Palou’s 27-point lead during next Sunday’s race. Yes, it was an abysmal afternoon for the two American drivers and others on a challenging day that had the hottest air temperatures of the week, soaring track temps and some of the windiest qualifying conditions Kirkwood could remember at the Brickyard’s 2.5-mile oval. Newgarden qualified 24th and Kirkwood will start 26th.

WORDS: 602 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:16 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:34fc827fe54f0a6a65c22e1e2a95f181&mediaType=text

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GLF--LPGA TOUR

Lottie Woad wins Kroger Queen City Championship for 2nd LPGA Tour title

SUMMARY: Lottie Woad held off Haeran Ryu on a gusty Sunday afternoon at Maketewah Country Club in the Kroger Queen City Championship. Three strokes ahead of playing partner Amanda Doherty and four ahead of Ryu entering the round, Woad closed with a 1-under 69 for a two-stroke victory. The 22-year-old English player finished at 12-under 268. Ryu had a double bogey on the par-4 13th in a 67. Nelly Korda shot a 67 to tie for eighth at 5 under after winning in her previous two starts. She began the day nine strokes back after a third-round 72. Woad won for the second time on the LPGA Tour, following a victory last year in the Women’s Scottish Open in her professional debut.

WORDS: 535 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:873ccd1bcdd084f3d1dbbc0c094a32b5&mediaType=text

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BKN--SPURS-THUNDER PREVIEW

The 64-win Thunder, the 62-win Spurs, and the possibility of an epic matchup in the West finals

SUMMARY: This is not a one-of-a-kind matchup in the Western Conference finals. And it’s not the NBA Finals, either. It may just seem that way. In one corner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, winners of 64 games this season. In the other corner, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, winners of 62 games this season — and four wins against the Thunder. That’s the West finals matchup, with Game 1 on Monday in Oklahoma City.

WORDS: 938 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 6:29 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:401812aa815c9ec59c36f7d930ba9efb&mediaType=text

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CAR--NASCAR-ALL-STAR-DOVER

Denny Hamlin beats teammate Chase Briscoe at Dover for 2nd NASCAR All-Star Race win

SUMMARY: Denny Hamlin avoided trouble by starting from the pole for what turned out to be a caution-plagued event and outdueled Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe for his second victory in the NASCAR All-Star Race. Hamlin led the final 30 laps at Dover Motor Speedway, which became the sixth track to hold the exhibition event in the Cup Series. His No. 11 Toyota finished 0.887 seconds ahead of Briscoe’s No. 19 to earn the $1 million prize. It’s the third consecutive win on the 1-mile oval for Hamlin, who won points races at the Monster Mile in 2024 and ’25.

WORDS: 894 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 6:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bdb8e4bf61cd892b43863cae4e12dbdb&mediaType=text

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BBO--YANKEES-METS

Taylor’s 3-run homer in 9th and Benge’s bouncer in 10th rally Mets past Yankees 7-6 to take 2 of 3

SUMMARY: Tyrone Taylor tied the score with a three-run homer off All-Star closer David Bednar with two outs in the ninth inning, rookie Carson Benge hit a game-ending bouncer in the 10th and the New York Mets stunned the Yankees 7-6 to take two of three from their crosstown rival in their Subway Series at Citi Field. The Mets had lost 91 consecutive games when trailing after eight innings since Pete Alonso’s home run off Devin Williams led them to victory at Milwaukee in the 2024 NL Wild Card Series. Williams, now with the Mets, got Austin Wells to ground into an inning-inning double play in the 10th. While the Mets improved to 10-5 in May, the Yankees completed a 2-7 trip.

WORDS: 456 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 5:26 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:3d0ad7af0dae29b2bf837f51292d10a2&mediaType=text

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HKO--WORLDS

Defending champion US rebounds from loss to Switzerland by beating Britain 5-1 at ice hockey worlds

SUMMARY: The United States bounced back from a loss to Switzerland with a 5-1 win over Britain at the ice hockey world championship. Isaac Howard scored twice, while Paul Cotter and Mathieu Olivier each contributed three points in the Group A game in Zurich. Cotter broke the deadlock in the first period and Howard restored the lead after Britain drew even. Olivier and Declan Carlile scored early in the final period and Howard added his second on a power play. The U.S. faces Finland next on Monday. Sweden recovered from a defeat to Canada by beating Denmark 6-2. A day after a stunning 3-2 victory over the Czechs in overtime, Slovenia was outplayed 4-0 by Norway.

WORDS: 452 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:56 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e2def645fb664a54d8381118fe9fabb2&mediaType=text

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HKN--FACEOFF

Topsy-turvy Sabres-Canadiens 2nd-round playoff series to be decided with Game 7 at Buffalo on Monday

SUMMARY: The Sabres and Montreal Canadiens’ topsy-turvy and sometimes logic-defying second-round playoff series is going the distance with Buffalo set to host Game 7. As much as Sabres coach Lindy Ruff would like a venue change because of Buffalo’s 2-4 home record, he vows the team will be at its best on Monday night. Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis cited physics in wanting his team to bounce forward, as opposed to bounce back after failing to clinch the series following an 8-3 loss in Game 6 at home. The winner advances to face the well-rested Carolina Hurricanes.

WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0624ff7011e065890f0615fd71ae2612&mediaType=text

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TEN--ITALIAN OPEN

Sinner becomes 1st Italian man to win Italian Open in 50 years and matches Djokovic’s Masters sweep

SUMMARY: Jannik Sinner is the first Italian man to win the Italian Open since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago. The top-ranked Sinner’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud in the final on the red clay of the Foro Italico on Sunday also made him only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 events. With his only real rival Carlos Alcaraz currently sidelined due to a right wrist injury seemingly nobody can beat Sinner. Sinner extended his winning streak to 29 matches. And he’s now 17-0 on clay this year entering the French Open. Roland Garros starts next Sunday.

WORDS: 818 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 3:22 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b32c307a8ed919a333bd4168e7122eab&mediaType=text

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SOC--BRAZIL-NEYMAR

Neymar angry at being accidentally substituted in last match before Brazil announces World Cup squad

SUMMARY: An apparent mistake by the fourth official has forced Neymar off the field in the 65th minute of Santos’ 3-0 home loss to Coritiba in the Brazilian league, the last match before Brazil’s World Cup squad is announced Monday. The 34-year-old Neymar has struggled to be fit since he tore his ACL in 2023 and has tried for more than a year to show Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti he deserves a place. Neymar was replaced by Robinho Jr. on Sunday after his number was held up on the substitution board while Neymar was having medical treatment. The substitution sheet said No. 31 Gonzalo Escobar should have left the field instead. Neymar got a yellow card for refusing to be substituted.

WORDS: 411 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 2:53 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d647904801311b1b5518da475c9d3c5c&mediaType=text

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SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

West Ham on brink of relegation from the Premier League as Bruno Fernandes ties assist record

SUMMARY: West Ham’s 14-year stay in the Premier League is almost over. The London club lost 3-1 at Newcastle to stay in the relegation zone and two points from safety with one match left. That’s against Leeds at the Olympic Stadium in the final round next Sunday. The Hammers will be relegated before then if Tottenham, which is the only other team that can mathematically go down, beats Chelsea on Tuesday in the first of its two remaining games. Bruno Fernandes has grabbed his record-tying 20th assist of the Premier League season to help Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in an end-to-end match featuring the latest VAR controversy.

WORDS: 700 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 2:39 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f7e23eb26864fe16333cefa87a832040&mediaType=text

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