AP Sports Audio Report for Saturday, May 11th, 2024:
Nuggets bounce back with 117-90 blowout of Timberwolves behind 24 points from energized Murray
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jamal Murray rebounded from a rough start to the Western Conference semifinals with 24 points to lead the Denver Nuggets on a 117-90 romp in Game 3 that made the Minnesota Timberwolves the last team in the NBA to lose in this postseason. Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points and the Nuggets cut the series lead to 2-1 on the strength of 14-for-29 shooting from 3-point range. Game 4 is Sunday. Anthony Edwards had a quiet 19 points to lead the Wolves, who went just 9 for 31 from deep.
Andrew Nembhard's late 3 gives Pacers 111-106 victory over Knicks. Indiana moves within 2-1
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Nembhard made a 31-foot, tiebreaking 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, Tyrese Haliburton scored 35 points and the Indiana Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the banged-up and short-handed New York Knicks 111-106 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Sunday in Indianapolis. New York led by nine with 9:45 remaining and was in position to take a commanding 3-0 lead, but with Jalen Brunson slowed by a right foot injury, the Knicks couldn't hold on. Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points.
Mike Budenholzer agrees to coach Phoenix Suns, AP source says
PHOENIX (AP) — Mike Budenholzer has agreed to coach the Phoenix Suns, according to a person familiar with the decision, as the franchise turns to the man who beat them in the 2021 NBA Finals. The 54-year-old Budenholzer replaces Frank Vogel, who was fired Thursday after one season. ESPN and The Athletic both reported that Budenholzer's deal was for five years. Budenholzer — from Holbrook, Arizona — was coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 when they roared back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Suns in the Finals. He will be charged with getting the more out of the team's All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Suns were 49-33 and got swept by Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.
Panthers take a 2-1 series lead over the Bruins, scoring 4 power-play goals in a 6-2 victory
BOSTON (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko and Carter Verhaeghe scored on the same Bruins double-minor, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 14 shots and the Florida Panthers beat Boston 6-2 on Friday night and take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Evan Rodrigues scored twice, and Brandon Montour also connected for the Panthers, who have won back-to-back games after dropping the opener at home. A 6-1 winner Wednesday night, Florida scored 10 straight goals before Jakub Lauko made it 4-1 early in the third and Jake DeBrusk followed with 11:31 left to make it a two-goal game. But Boston, which played the final 20 minutes without captain and No. 2 scorer Brad Marchand, could get no closer. Game 4 is Sunday night in Boston.
Charlie Morton just reached 2,000 innings at age 40. How has he lasted when so many pitchers don't?
NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Morton just surpassed 2,000 career innings during another win for the Atlanta Braves. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw are the only other active pitchers to reach that milestone — all three likely headed to the Hall of Fame. So how has the 40-year-old Morton been able to last this long when so many other pitchers can't stay healthy nowadays? He says he was fortunate to be given time and grace to figure out a delivery that doesn't cause pain.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus says No. 1 pick Caleb Williams will open season as No. 1 QB
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback. Just in case there was a shred of doubt the No. 1 overall draft pick is the team's No. 1 QB, coach Matt Eberflus erased it on Friday. He says there was "no conversation" and Williams is "the starter." Eberflus' comment was hardly a surprise considering the Bears have been all in on Williams since the early stages of the draft process. They made their intentions clear when they traded Justin Fields to Pittsburgh in March. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, is widely viewed as a generational talent.
Korda shoots 66 to keep bid alive for 6th straight LPGA Tour win. She trails Zhang, Sagstom by 4
CLIFTON, N.J. (AP) — Nelly Korda has no intention of letting anyone run away with the Cognizant Founders Cup and end her bid become the first player to win six straight LPGA tournaments. Faced with a 10-stroke deficit starting her second round in the event that honors the tour's founding members, Korda shot a 6-under 66 in cold, damp conditions to move into third place, four shots behind co-leaders Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagstrom with 36 holes to play this weekend. Yan Liu of China was fourth at 138, a shot ahead of Mel Reid of England.
Xander Schauffele shoots 67, leads by 4 over Rory McIlroy, Jason Day at Wells Fargo Championship
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Xander Schauffele has consistently been near the top of the leaderboard most of the year. Now he's hoping to close the door. Schauffele shot a 4-under 67 on Friday after opening with a 64, leaving him at 11-under 131 and four shots ahead of Rory McIlroy and Jason Day heading into the weekend at the Wells Fargo Championship. Taylor Moore and Sungjae Im were five back at 6 under. The 30-year-old Schauffele has seven top-10 finishes this season, but no wins. He's looking to snap a winless streak that dates to July 2022 at the Genesis Scottish Open.
Pacers' Carlisle fined $35,000 by NBA for criticizing referees, implying bias against small markets
NEW YORK (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officials and "questioning the integrity of the league" with his pleas for fairness for small-market teams. Carlisle made his comments after the Pacers' 130-121 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He was called for two technical fouls and ejected late in the game as Indiana fell into a 2-0 hole in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Carlisle complained about a number of missed calls, which the Pacers subsequently sent to the league for review, and implied a bias in favor of New York.
Commanders' Daniels and Giants' Nabers call off their $10K bet between ex-LSU teammates
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The bet is off between Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers. The former LSU teammates and friends agreed to a $10,000 wager on who would win NFL offensive rookie of the year. Each player said Friday he was educated about the league's gambling policy upon appearing at his respective team's rookie minicamp. Daniels said he and Nabers had a conversation afterward and decided it was not worth getting in trouble over the bet. Daniels is Washington's new franchise quarterback after being drafted second, and Nabers is in the same division after the Giants picked the receiver sixth.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Washington 5 Boston 1
Final Baltimore 4 Arizona 2
Final Colorado 4 Texas 2
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Houston 5 Detroit 2
Final N.Y. Yankees 2 Tampa Bay 0
Final Minnesota 3 Toronto 2
Final Chicago White Sox 6 Cleveland 3
Final Kansas City 2 L.A. Angels 1
Final Seattle 8 Oakland 1
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 7 Pittsburgh 2
Final Atlanta 4 N.Y. Mets 2
Final Philadelphia 8 Miami 2
Final Milwaukee 11 St. Louis 2
Final San Diego 2 L.A. Dodgers 1
Final Cincinnati 4 San Francisco 2
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Indiana 111 New York 106
Final Denver 117 Minnesota 90
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Florida 6 Boston 2
Final OT Edmonton 4 Vancouver 3
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Arizona at Baltimore 4:05 p.m.
Washington at Boston 4:10 p.m.
Texas at Colorado 8:10 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota at Toronto 3:07 p.m.
N-Y Yankees at Tampa Bay 4:10 p.m.
Houston at Detroit 6:10 p.m.
Cleveland at Chi White Sox 7:10 p.m.
Kansas City at L-A Angels 9:38 p.m.
Oakland at Seattle 9:40 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Chi Cubs at Pittsburgh 4:05 p.m.
Atlanta at N-Y Mets 4:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Miami 4:10 p.m.
Cincinnati at San Francisco 7:15 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee 7:15 p.m.
L-A Dodgers at San Diego 8:40 p.m.
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Oklahoma City at Dallas 3:30 p.m.
Boston at Cleveland 8:30 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
N-Y Rangers at Carolina 7 p.m.
Dallas at Colorado 10 p.m.
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
D.C. United at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Nashville at Charlotte FC 7:30 p.m.
Miami at CF Montréal 7:30 p.m.
New England at New York 7:30 p.m.
Orlando City at Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
New York City FC at Toronto FC 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati at Columbus 7:45 p.m.
Austin FC at FC Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Houston at Sporting Kansas City 8:30 p.m.
Chicago at St Louis City 8:30 p.m.
San Jose at Colorado 9:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy 10:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Los Angeles FC 10:30 p.m.
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