AP Sports Audio Reports for April 24th, 2024:
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving lead Mavs over Clippers 96-93 to tie series as Kawhi Leonard returns
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 32 points and the Dallas Mavericks overcame the return of Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard to beat Los Angeles 96-93 and tie their Western Conference first-round playoff series at a game apiece. Leonard had 15 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes of his first game since March 31. He had been out with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Kyrie Irving added 23 points and P.J. Washington Jr. had 18 for the Mavs. Game 3 is Friday in Dallas.
Timberwolves take 2-0 lead on Suns behind 25 points and ace defense from Jaden McDaniels
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points for a career best in the playoffs and spearheaded another stifling defensive performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 105-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert each added 18 points to help the Timberwolves offset the smothering of Anthony Edwards by the Suns. He went 3 for 12 from the floor for 15 points. Game 3 is in Phoenix on Friday. Minnesota has held a 2-0 series lead one other time in franchise history, against Denver in the first round in 2004.
Bobrovsky makes incredible save during Panthers-Lightning playoff game
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky might have had the save of the year. The Panthers' goaltender was facing the other way when Tampa Bay's Matt Dumba had a chance at what looked it would be an easy goal in Game 2 of the teams' NHL playoff series on Tuesday night. Dumba had nothing but net to shoot at — and Bobrovsky, without his stick and diving blindly at a puck he couldn't see — somehow made the save.
Havertz scores 2 as Arsenal routs Chelsea 5-0 to cement Premier League lead
LONDON (AP) — Kai Havertz scored twice against his former team and Ben White also got a brace as Arsenal brushed aside a dismal Chelsea side 5-0 for its biggest league win over its London rival. The win ensures Arsenal will go into the weekend atop the Premier League standings, lifting it three points in front of Liverpool ahead of Wednesday's Merseyside derby at Everton. Manchester City is now four points back before it plays at Brighton on Thursday, with another game in hand. For Chelsea, it was another dispiriting loss after a 1-0 defeat to Man City in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday that ended any hope of finishing a disappointing season on a high note.
Suns guard Grayson Allen aggravates ankle injury vs. Timberwolves. Phoenix falls into 0-2 hole
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen appeared to aggravate the sprained right ankle he suffered in the playoff opener. Allen hobbled off in the third quarter of Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first-round series. Allen was guarding Mike Conley on a drive to the lane when he went airborne to try to block the shot and landed awkwardly on his right leg. Allen had to be helped away from the court and into the locker room. He had three points in 17 minutes.
Pacers' Haliburton says fan directed racial slur at his younger brother during playoff game
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said a fan directed a racial slur at his younger brother during Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks. Haliburton said after the Pacers' Game 2 victory on Tuesday that "my little brother in the stands the other day was called an N-word." Neither the Bucks nor the NBA immediately responded to an email asking whether the team or league had been made aware of this before Haliburton's comment, and whether any investigation had been conducted.
Caitlin Clark is set to sign a new Nike deal valued at $28 million over 8 years, reports say
Caitlin Clark appears to be on the cusp of setting another record. The most prolific scorer in NCAA Division I history and No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft is preparing to sign a second contract with Nike, this one paying $28 million over eight years and coming with a signature shoe. The Wall Street Journal and The Athletic reported the pending deal, citing unnamed people familiar with the negotiations between the sportswear giant and Clark's agents. Excel Sports Management, which represents Clark, declined to comment. Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
US government agrees to $138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is paying a $138.7 million to settle more than 100 claims that it badly mishandled allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016. It was a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue preying on victims before his arrest. Nassar worked at Michigan State University and at USA Gymnastics. He's serving decades in prison for assaulting female athletes, including Olympians. For more than a year, FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles had knowledge of allegations against Nassar but apparently took no action.
NBA says Tyrese Maxey was fouled -- twice -- before turnover that led to Knicks' go-ahead shot
NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey was fouled twice before his turnover that led to the go-ahead 3-pointer by Donte DiVincenzo in the New York Knicks' victory over the 76ers in Game 2. That's according to the NBA's report on the officiating that the league released Tuesday. The league also says 76ers coach Nick Nurse was attempting to call a timeout that was "neither recognized nor granted by the officials" at the start of the possession. The league says Jalen Brunson grabbed Maxey's jersey to prevent him from cleanly catching a pass before Josh Hart made lower body contact that caused the All-Star guard to fall.
Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad lead Rangers to 4-3 win over Capitals for 2-0 series lead
NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and an assist and the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers held on to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 for a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Jack Roslovic and K'Andre Miller also scored for the Rangers, and Erik Gustafsson and Alexis Lafreniere each had two assists. Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots. New York has won four straight and 12 of its last 15 games. Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist, and Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome also scored for the Capitals. Charlie Lindgren finished with 23 saves. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Friday at Washington.
AP-Scorecard
TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
___
INTERLEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 7 Houston 2
___
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 4 Boston 1
Final Detroit 4 Tampa Bay 2
Final N.Y. Yankees 4 Oakland 3
Final Kansas City 3 Toronto 2
Final Minnesota 6 Chicago White Sox 5
Final Seattle 4 Texas 0
Final L.A. Angels 7 Baltimore 4
___
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 2 Milwaukee 1
Final Atlanta 5 Miami 0
Final Cincinnati 8 Philadelphia 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 4 Washington 1
Final Arizona 14 St. Louis 1
Final Colorado 7 San Diego 4
Final San Francisco 5 N.Y. Mets 1
___
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Minnesota 105 Phoenix 93
Final Indiana 125 Milwaukee 108
Final Dallas 96 L.A. Clippers 93
___
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final N-Y Rangers 4 Washington 3
Final OT Florida 3 Tampa Bay 2
Final Colorado 5 Winnipeg 2
Final Nashville 4 Vancouver 1
___