AP Sports Digest

The highlights of Thursday'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

The latest in sports: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/f8d36ce4a2e64b13badc4aaea1d04f5b?ext=true

Butler, Jokic lead Heat, Nuggets into a NBA Finals after unconventional paths: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/ButlerJokicleadHeatNuggetsintoaNBAFinalsafterunconventionalpaths/7b59c30ee98a4fb0ab9f3ecbb6267f5e

Canha, Carrasco lead Mets to 4-1 win over slumping Phillies: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/CanhaCarrascoleadMetsto4-1winoverslumpingPhillies/4a476ef5996c45cabe93aa01ed7bf8db

García, Ruiz lead Nats’ 5-homer barrage in 10-6 win over Dodgers: https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/GarcaRuizleadNats5-homerbarragein10-6winoverDodgers/0f911c9a16a74ccaa2bfe676abbd5774

All times EDT

TOP STORIES

BKN--NBA FINALS

DENVER — Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets open the NBA Finals against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Thursday night, a matchup of two teams that took wildly different paths to the title series. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos. Game begins at 8:30 p.m.

With: BKN--NBA FINALS-REFEREES (sent), BKN--NBA FINALS-THINGS TO KNOW (sent) and BKN--NBA FINALS-SILVER (upcoming at 8:30 p.m.)

BKN--NBA MOCK DRAFT

There's no doubt who the San Antonio Spurs are going to select with the fist pick in this year's NBA draft. Victor Wembanyama could have started packing for Texas once the Spurs learned they had won the NBA draft lottery. But once the 7-3 French phenom is off the board minutes after the draft begins on June 22, that's when the intrigue will begin. Here's a look at how it will unfold in the first edition of the AP’s 2023 mock draft. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. SENT: 1,900 words, photos.

TEN--FRENCH OPEN

PARIS — Spot coverage of the French Open. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 400 words, photos. Updates coming. Play began at 5 a.m.

With: TEN--FRENCH OPEN GUIDE (upcoming)

TEN--FRENCH OPEN-SOCIAL MEDIA HATE-AI

PARIS — The group that runs the French Open tennis tournament has hired an artificial intelligence company to monitor players' social media accounts in a bid to try to protect athletes from cyberbullying. Several players say they receive death threats via apps after they lose matches. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 1,150 words, photos.

RAC--HORSE DEATHS-SYNTHETIC SURFACES

The deaths of 12 horses at Churchill Downs, including two on Kentucky Derby day, in the last month have reignited public outcry about what horse racing is doing to prevent catastrophic injuries. From owners to trainers to jockeys to bettors, the debate is vigorous on whether synthetic surfaces are a potential answer to creating safer training and racing conditions. By Racing Writer Beth Harris. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 3 p.m.

NOTABLE

BKN--NUGGETS-PORTER’S BACK

DENVER — Michael Porter Jr. was once considered a risky pick by the Denver Nuggets due to his balky back. Without taking that gamble on Porter, the Nuggets might not be here starting their first NBA Finals on Thursday night against Miami. He’s become their X-factor. By Pat Graham. SENT: 750 words, photos.

HKN--GOLDEN KNIGHTS-COMPARISON

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights are in the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in their six-year history. The circumstances are radically different. Vegas was that year's version of the Florida Panthers. Now the pressure is on the Knights to fulfill owner Bill Foley's "Cup in six" prediction. By Mark Anderson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos, by 8 p.m.

SOF--NCAA-WCWS-WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

OKLAHOMA CITY — It's opening day at the Women's College World Series. Games: Alabama vs. Tennessee, 12 a.m. Stanford vs. Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma State vs. Florida State, 7 p.m. Utah vs. Washington, 9:30 p.m. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos by 3 p.m. Will be updated.

GLF--LPGA TOUR

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang makes her professional debut in the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club. By Tom Canavan. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos at about 7:30 p.m.

GLF--MEMORIAL

DUBLIN, Ohio — Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy lead a stacked field at Muirfield Village for the start of the $20 million purse at the Memorial. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 8 p.m.

BKN--76ERS-NURSE

CAMDEN, N.J. — Doc is out. Nurse is in. The Philadelphia 76ers are set to introduce Nick Nurse as their coach days after he was hired to replace the fired Doc Rivers. By Dan Gelston. SENT: 300 words, photos. Updates after 3 p.m. news conference.

FBN--JETS-HALL'S COMEBACK

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Breece Hall was running his way to the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season when a knee injury cut short his first NFL season. The New York Jets running back is working his way back to the field and is expected to be a big part of a revamped offense led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. By Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.

FBN--PACKERS-BAKHTIARI

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari is adapting to playing without his good friend Aaron Rodgers, the latest in a long line of former teammates who have departed. His own future with the team beyond this season seems uncertain. But the good news is he finally enters a summer healthy as he helps lead a team that got significantly younger over the last few months. By Steve Megargee. SENT: 750 words, photos.

FBC--SEC MEETINGS-TAMPERING

DESTIN, Fla. — With college football players freer to transfer than ever before, coaches are frustrated that the recruiting starts even before an athlete's name pops up in the portal. Southeastern Conference coaches all say tampering is an issue, but there are few — if any — solutions. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 4 p.m.

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Thursday’s EDT Time Schedule

NBA Finals

Miami at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

WNBA

Connecticut at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

MLB

Milwaukee at Toronto, 1:07 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.

San Diego at Miami, 1:10 p.m.

Colorado at Arizona, 3:40 p.m.

Cincinnati at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

L.A. Angels at Houston, 8:10 p.m.