AP Sports Report for May 31st, 2024:
Doncic's 36 points spur Mavericks to NBA Finals with 124-103 toppling of Timberwolves in Game 5
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 to breeze through the Western Conference finals in five games. Kyrie Irving also scored 36 points for the Mavericks. They built a 29-point halftime lead on 61% shooting to deflate the once-energized crowd and went up by 36 in the third quarter. The Mavs have a week to rest before the NBA Finals begin in Boston. Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolves.
The NBA Finals are set, with Boston set to face Dallas for the Larry O'Brien Trophy
Kyrie Irving returning to Boston. Luka Doncic's first trip to the title round. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, getting another chance at a ring. Kristaps Porzingis facing his former team, too. Pick a storyline. There are many in these NBA Finals. The matchup is now set: It'll be Boston vs. Dallas for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, a series that starts on the Celtics' home floor on June 6 — meaning everyone will be sitting around and waiting for about a week, a byproduct of the Celtics and Mavericks making short work of their respective conference finals.
Panthers beat Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 to move within win of Stanley Cup Final return
NEW YORK (AP) — Anton Lundell broke a tie with 9:38 left and the Florida Panthers moved within a victory of returning to the Stanley Cup Final, beating the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night. Gustav Forsling and Sam Bennett also scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves to help the Panthers win their second straight in the best-of-series series after losing Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves in another magnificent effort. The Panthers can end the series Saturday in Florida. If a seventh game is necessary, it will be at Madison Square Garden, where the Panthers have won twice this series.
Oh, Nelly! Korda makes a 10 on one hole and posts an 80 in U.S. Women's Open
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — For Nelly Korda, this was a most imperfect 10. The No. 1 player in women's golf had a shocker of a start in the U.S. Women's Open when she made a 10 on her third hole. She wound up with an 80, matching her worst score as a professional. Korda hit into the water three times on the par-3 12th hole. Korda hit her tee shot into a back bunker. Her sand shot went through the green into the water. She dropped on the other side of the stream, and her next two chips rolled back into the water. Korda says "today was just a bad day."
Jorge López cut by Mets, a day after the reliever threw his glove into the stands following ejection
NEW YORK (AP) — Jorge López has been cut by the struggling New York Mets, a day after the reliever threw his glove into the stands following his ejection at Citi Field. The Mets have seven days to trade or release López or to assign him outright to the minors if he goes unclaimed. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had called the outburst "not acceptable" and said it would be handled internally. López expressed no remorse. López gave up a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani late in a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander was ejected moments later for shouting at third base umpire Ramon De Jesus.
American Peyton Stearns leads unseeded players pulling off upsets on a long day at the French Open
PARIS (AP) — Unseeded American Peyton Stearns' elimination of No. 10 Daria Kasatkina at the French Open was one of several losses for seeded women on a rainy day filled with matches. Play was still continuing after midnight as Thursday turned to Friday because weather delays kept stopping the action and organizers were determined to complete the second round. It's a good thing the French tennis federation installed artificial lights on every court at Roland Garros in 2021. Stearns is a 22-year-old from Cincinnati who won an NCAA singles title at the University of Texas. She used 17 forehand winners through the cold, damp and slow conditions to defeat Kasatkina 7-5, 6-2.
Saso survives brutal starts of US Women's Open that sent Korda to an 80
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Yuka Saso is leading the U.S. Women's Open with a 68 on a day of survival at Lancaster Country Club. The course is playing so difficult that only four players broke par. One of them was Adela Cernousek, the recent NCAA champion from France. Nelly Korda turned in the biggest shocker. She made a 10 on her third hole and went on to shoot 80. Korda wasn't alone. The leading 10 players in the women's world ranking averaged 75.5. Brooke Henderson and Lydia Ko each shot 80. Rose Zhang had a 79. Saso won the Women's Open three years ago.
Dolphins agree to 3-year, $84.75 million contract extension with WR Jaylen Waddle, AP source says
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has agreed to a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension with the Miami Dolphins. The deal includes $76 million guaranteed and keeps Waddle under contract through the 2028 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract details have not been announced. Waddle will now become one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL after three productive seasons to start his pro career.
Schools in basketball-centric leagues face different economic challenges with NCAA settlement
Schools in basketball-centric leagues face the challenge of generating revenue to pay future players without the lucrative revenues from football. The NCAA and major college conferences approved the settlement of a federal class-action lawsuit on paying athletes. That includes paying $2.77 billion to former athletes over 10 years. But leagues like the Big East, Atlantic 10 and West Coast Conferences depend on basketball, which lags behind football in terms of generating revenue. That could create challenges in keeping up with teams in the power conferences when it comes to the ability to pay future players.
Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen appears headed to injured list after straining right hamstring
NEW YORK (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen appears headed to the injured list after straining his right hamstring five pitches into a 3-2 loss to the New York Mets. The 28-year-old right-hander, who finished among the top five in NL Cy Young Award voting in each of the last two seasons, was scheduled to return to Phoenix on Friday for a scan. Gallen felt the injury on his knuckle-curve that Francisco Lindor lined to center for a leadoff single. Gallen also felt a hamstring issue in an April 26 start at Seattle and a May 18 outing against Detroit.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Minnesota 7 Kansas City 6
Final Tampa Bay 6 Oakland 5
Final Houston 4 Seattle 0
Final Detroit 5 Boston 0
Final N.Y. Yankees 8 L.A. Angels 3
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Milwaukee 6 Chicago Cubs 4
Final N.Y. Mets 3 Arizona 2
Final Washington 3 Atlanta 1
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Dallas 124 Minnesota 103
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Florida 3 N-Y Rangers 2
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Seattle 103 Indiana 88
Final Chicago 83 Los Angeles 73
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Pittsburgh at Toronto 7:07 p.m.
Texas at Miami 7:10 p.m.
Washington at Cleveland 7:10 p.m.
Oakland at Atlanta 7:20 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Milwaukee 8:10 p.m.
San Diego at Kansas City 8:10 p.m.
N-Y Yankees at San Francisco 10:15 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 p.m.
Detroit at Boston 7:10 p.m.
Minnesota at Houston 8:10 p.m.
L-A Angels at Seattle 10:10 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati at Chi Cubs 2:20 p.m.
St. Louis at Philadelphia 6:40 p.m.
Arizona at N-Y Mets 7:10 p.m.
Colorado at L-A Dodgers 10:10 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Edmonton at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Dallas at Connecticut 7:30 p.m.
Las Vegas at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Washington at New York 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota 9:30 p.m.
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
San Jose at New York City FC 7:30 p.m.
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