AP Sports Digest
The highlights of Friday'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.
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AUDIO HEADLINES
Hurricanes top Devils, go up 2-0 in 2nd-round playoff series https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/HurricanestopDevilsgoup2-0in2nd-roundplayoffseries/7361fe7bfc9c4139a639d6dd518a4989
Arozarena homers, hit by 2 pitches as Rays beat Yankees 5-4 https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Arozarenahomershitby2pitchesasRaysbeatYankees5-4/44c6cf4669074367bf3a12d2194fbd2d
Booker scores 47, Durant adds 39, Suns beat Nuggets 121-114 https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/Bookerscores47Durantadds39SunsbeatNuggets121-114/ed12c917673d4faba696825989a7b09e
Tatum, Brown spark Celtics past 76ers 114-102 in Game 3 https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/TatumBrownsparkCelticspast76ers114-102inGame3/d76db1d78ee141ecb2084a7d2463d62e
All times EDT
TOP STORIES
BKN--CELTICS-76ERS PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum scored 27 points, Jaylen Brown had 23 and the Boston Celtics spoiled Joel Embiid’s MVP coronation, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-102 Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia. Embiid had 30 points and 13 rebounds in his second game back from a sprained right knee. Embiid accepted his MVP trophy before the game. By Dan Gelston. SENT: 865 words, photos.
BKN--NUGGETS-SUNS PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 47 points, Kevin Durant added 39 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Nuggets 121-114 to cut Denver’s lead to 2-1 in their Western Conference semifinal series. Booker — who came into the game averaging 35.4 points in these playoffs — had another massive offensive effort, shooting 20 of 25 from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Durant shot just 12 of 31 from the field, but made 14 of 16 free throws. Denver’s Nikola Jokic finished with 30 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds. The Suns will try to even the series in Game 4 on Sunday in Phoenix. By David Brandt. SENT: 725 words, photos.
HKN--DEVILS-HURRICANES RALEIGH, N.C. — Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored twice in a roughly 2 1/2-minute span during Carolina’s four-goal second period that helped the Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Friday night. That gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. Jordan Staal and Martin Necas also scored in the decisive second period. Jordan Martinook and Stefan Noesen added clinching third-period goals. Frederik Andersen finished with 28 saves for Carolina. Miles Wood scored for New Jersey, which saw goaltender Akira Schmid chased early for the second straight game. The Devils will host Game 3 in the best-of-seven series on Sunday. By Aaron Beard. SENT: 820 words, photos.
BBA--YANKEES-RAYS ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Randy Arozarena homered in the first inning and then was hit by pitches in his next two plate appearances, leading to Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash being ejected as the MLB-best Rays beat the New York Yankees 5-4 in the first meeting this season between the AL East rivals. Arozarena homered to center field off Jhony Brito before the rookie right-hander plunked the outfielder on the elbow guard in the third. Yankees reliever Albert Abreu then hit Arozarena around belt high with a fifth-inning pitch. There was yelling between the dugouts, but no trouble on the field. The umpires issued a warning to both teams, however. That’s when Cash came out to argue and was tossed. SENT: 650 words, photos.
NOTABLE
BBO--RED SOX-PHILLIES PHILADELPHIA — Chris Sale struck out 10 in six innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 for their seventh consecutive victory. The game was delayed for about 10 minutes in the first inning when a spectator fell over a protective railing and into the Red Sox bullpen while reaching for a baseball. Boston rookie Masataka Yoshida extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Kiké Hernández and Enmanuel Valdez each had two hits and drove in a run. Phillies slugger Bryce Harper was saluted with a 25-second standing ovation prior to his first at-bat. It was the slugger’s first game in Philadelphia since he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. SENT: 715 words, photos.
BBN--DODGERS-PADRES
SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs off Clayton Kershaw and had three RBIs for San Diego, which beat NL West rival Los Angeles 5-2 in the first meeting between the teams since the Padres eliminated the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. Yu Darvish outpitched Kershaw, who was knocked out in the fifth inning in front of a loud, festive crowd on Cinco de Mayo. The division-leading Dodgers had their six-game winning streak snapped. By Bernie Wilson. SENT: 775 words, photos.
GLF--WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tyrrell Hatton shot a 6-under 65 to move into a share of the second-round lead at the Wells Fargo Championship, while Rory McIlroy’s bid for a record fourth tournament title hit a major snag. Hatton played the final four holes at Quail Hollow in 4 under to reach 8-under 134, matching Nate Lashley and Wyndham Clark through 36 holes. Hatton and Lashley each have one PGA Tour victory, while Clark has zero. Among the players one shot back were Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Adam Scott. Defending champion Max Homa was three back. McIlroy shot 73 to make the cut on the number. By Steve Reed. SENT: 555 words, photos.
GLF--LPGA TOUR SAN FRANCISCO — The semifinal field is nearly set at the International Crown LPGA team event with one day of pool play to go as Sweden, Australia and Thailand all clinched spots and the United States swept both matches to move to the verge of advancing. Sweden remained perfect in Pool A by winning both matches against China, while Thailand swept defending champion South Korea and Australia beat Japan to advance out of Pool B on a blustery day at TPC Harding Park. The U.S. will clinch the final spot in the knockout round by getting at least half a point Saturday against Sweden or if China doesn’t sweep England. By Josh Dubow. SENT: 760 words, photos.
RAC--KENTUCKY OAKS
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Pretty Mischievous took charge in the stretch and held off a late push by Gambling Girl to win the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks by a neck at Churchill Downs. The Brendan Walsh-trained filly started from the No. 14 post at 10-1 odds in the premier race for 3-year-old fillies. Pretty Mischievous stayed within reach of pacesetters Flying Connection and Defining Purpose through the far turn before making her move through the final turn. Pretty Mischievous covered 1 1/8 mile in 1:49.77 with Tyler Gaffalione aboard and paid $22.74, $10.10 and $7.40. The Alys Look was third. By Gary B. Graves. SENT: 690 words, photos.
With:
— RAC--KENTUCKY DERBY PREVIEW. By Beth Harris. SENT: 660 words, photos.
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Saturday's Time Schedule
HORSE RACING Kentucky Derby, Louisville, Ky., 6:57 p.m.
NBA PLAYOFFS New York at Miami, 3:30 p.m. Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m.
NHL PLAYOFFS Edmonton at Vegas, 7 p.m.
BASEBALL Detroit at St. Louis, 2:15 p.m. Miami at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m. Colorado at N.Y. Mets, 4:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay, 4:10 p.m. Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m. Toronto at Pittsburgh, 6:35 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m. Oakland at Kansas City, 7:10 p.m. Baltimore at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m. Boston at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m. Milwaukee at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. Washington at Arizona, 8:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at San Diego, 8:40 p.m. Texas at L.A. Angels, 9:07 p.m. Houston at Seattle, 9:40 p.m.
MLS New York City FC at Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. D.C. United at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. Atlanta at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Orlando City at CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at New York, 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles FC at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. New England at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. Saint Louis City SC at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Houston, 8:30 p.m. Chicago at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Colorado at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. Austin FC at Portland, 10:30 p.m. Minnesota at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m.
