PHOENIX (AP) — Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said it was around December when he thought this could be a championship-caliber team.
Jamal Murray was a believer even sooner. Like in 2019.
Heat, Lakers get another chance to move to conference finals; Knicks, Warriors on brink
May 11, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — New York guards Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes played an entire elimination game with no rest, just to extend their season.
And Miami’s Jimmy Butler — even after being on the losing end of that effort — tipped his cap out of respect.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jayson Tatum humbly believes he is one of the best basketball players in the NBA and not even a lengthy streak of missed shots in a win-or-else Game 6 could shake his faith.
Sometimes, though, a pep talk in the heat of the moment lifts even the most confident stars.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — It wasn't long after the Carolina Hurricanes had closed out a second playoff opponent when defenseman Brent Burns began heaping praise on the team's forwards for making it easy for the defensemen to jump into the offense.
NHL suspends Pietrangelo, Nurse on eve of critical Game 5 between Golden Knights, Oilers
May 12, 2023 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights will be without their best defenseman in Game 5 with their second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers hanging in the balance.
The Denver Nuggets are headed to the NBA's Final Four.
The top seed in the Western Conference became the first team to make it to the conference final round of these NBA playoffs, after ousting the Phoenix Suns 125-100 on Thursday night.
The NBA draft lottery has offered teams a quick path from bad to good for nearly four decades. The stakes this year are unusually high with French phenom Victor Wembanyama the top prospect.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Derby winner Mage will run in the 148th Preakness following an encouraging workout at Churchill Downs, its co-owner said.
Mage galloped about 1 1/2 miles at a brisk pace with exercise rider J.J.
Only the NFL can turn a schedule release into a two-day event that dominates sports headlines in the middle of the NBA and NHL playoffs.
Major golf championships are nothing new at Oak Hill. The Donald Ross gem in upstate New York already has hosted three U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and the Ryder Cup. And yet the PGA Championship's return to Oak Hill feels like a debut.
MLB
Marlins' 20-year-old Eury Pérez to debut Friday as club's youngest pitcher ever
ROME (AP) — Local hope Jannik Sinner was nearly unbeatable on his serve while seeing off Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4 in his opening match at the Italian Open on Friday.
Sinner won all 16 of his service points in the first set and 36 of 39 overall behind strong home support.
Soccer
Real Madrid plays Barcelona in preseason Clásico on July 29 in Arlington, Texas
Facts and figures for the PGA Championship at Oak Hill
May 12, 2023 GMTPITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — A brief look at the 105th PGA Championship:
TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — The United States overcame defending champion Finland 4-1 to open the ice hockey world championship on Friday.
Alex Tuch scored two goals and Drew O’Çonnor had a goal and two assists to lead the U.S.
A hole-by-hole look at Oak Hill for the PGA Championship
May 12, 2023 GMTPITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — A hole-by-hole look at the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club, site of the 105th PGA Championship that starts Thursday:
No. 1, 460 yards, par 4: The tee shot is from an elevated tee to a fairway that bends to the left and has a slope about 290 yards out.
CAMPO IMPERATORE, Italy (AP) — The first mountain stage of the Giro d’Italia ended without any changes to the top of the overall standings on Friday.
The leaders all crossed together amid big banks of snow, three minutes behind a group of three breakaway riders.
0.002-second margin of victory stands test of time as Craven, Busch recall 2003 Darlington thriller
May 12, 2023 GMTDARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Ricky Craven wasn't sure what to expect at the Darlington Raceway starting line more than 20 years ago. By the end, he had his final NASCAR Cup Series victory, a lifelong friend in racing rival Kurt Busch and a place in the sport's history.
Race teams ask NASCAR for ‘meaningful’ talks as their business model dispute skids toward summer
May 12, 2023 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The fight between NASCAR and its teams over a new revenue model prompted the owners of 16 chartered organizations to send a letter to NASCAR's board of directors earlier this month requesting “meaningful dialog” regarding the franchise model system.
PARIS (AP) — Paychecks for the two French Open singles champions will return to the pre-pandemic amount of 2.3 million euros each — about $2.5 million — and the total prize money is rising to a tournament-record 49.6 million euros — about $54 million.
Russia, Belarus have Paralympic membership suspension overturned, but athletes still barred
May 12, 2023 GMTBONN, Germany (AP) — Russia and its ally Belarus have had their suspension from membership of the International Paralympic Committee overturned on appeal but their athletes remain barred from competing in IPC-run events.
Stars aim to clinch series win over the Kraken
May 12, 2023 GMTDallas Stars (47-21-14, second in the Central Division) vs. Seattle Kraken (46-28-8, fourth in the Pacific Division)
Seattle; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NHL LINE: Stars -152, Kraken +130; over/under is 6
Vegas and Edmonton tied 2-2 heading into game 5
May 12, 2023 GMTEdmonton Oilers (50-23-9, second in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (51-22-9, first in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NHL LINE: Oilers -132, Golden Knights +112; over/under is 7
Florida takes 3-1 series lead into game 5 against Toronto
May 12, 2023 GMTFlorida Panthers (42-32-8, fourth in the Atlantic Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (50-21-11, second in the Atlantic Division)
Toronto; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NHL LINE: Maple Leafs -175, Panthers +148; over/under is 6.5
AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa
May 12, 2023 GMTMay 5-11, 2023
From the war in Ukraine and Russia's celebration of Victory Day, to people fleeing fighting in Sudan and the coronation of U.K. King Charles III in London, this gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa.
Martinez and Inter Miami host the New England Revolution
May 12, 2023 GMTNew England Revolution (7-1-3, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Inter Miami CF (4-6-0, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLS LINE: Inter Miami CF +149, New England +173, Draw +233; over/under is 2.5 goals
Columbus Crew play Orlando City in conference action
May 12, 2023 GMTOrlando City SC (4-4-2, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Columbus Crew (4-4-2, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Columbus, Ohio; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLS LINE: Columbus -138, Orlando City SC +366, Draw +277; over/under is 2.5 goals
Mukhtar leads Nashville against D.C. United
May 12, 2023 GMTNashville SC (5-3-3, third in the Western Conference) vs. DC United (4-5-2, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Washington; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLS LINE: DC United +122, Nashville SC +226, Draw +226; over/under is 2.5 goals
Austin brings home draw streak into matchup against Dallas
May 12, 2023 GMTFC Dallas (4-3-3, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Austin FC (2-4-4, 13th in the Western Conference)
Austin, Texas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLS LINE: Austin FC +123, FC Dallas +210, Draw +243; over/under is 2.5 goals
White and the Vancouver Whitecaps visit the Portland Timbers
May 12, 2023 GMTVancouver Whitecaps FC (3-2-5, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Timbers (3-5-3, ninth in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLS LINE: Portland +134, Vancouver +197, Draw +233; over/under is 2.5 goals
PHOENIX (AP) — Two years ago, the Denver Nuggets were embarrassed by the Phoenix Suns in a postseason sweep.
This time, it was the Nuggets who dished out the embarrassment.
Nikola Jokic scored 32 points in another triple-double, Jamal Murray added 26 and the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2020 by beating the short-handed Suns 125-100 in Game 6 on Thursday night.
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars have their top line back together — and are a victory away from advancing to the Western Conference finals.
Roope Hintz had two goals and an assist, Joe Pavelski scored his seventh goal of the second-round series and Jason Robertson assisted on all the goals by his primary linemates in a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken in Game 5 on Thursday night.
PHOENIX (AP) — Rookie Casey Schmitt had four more hits, including a two-run homer, and Alex Cobb blanked Arizona into the eighth inning as the San Francisco Giants beat the Diamondbacks 6-2 on Thursday night.
Lowe, Rasmussen help Rays rout Yankees 8-2, improve to 30-9
May 12, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Josh Lowe drove in a career-high five runs, Drew Rasmussen extended his scoreless streak against the Yankees to 21 innings and the Tampa Bay Rays kept up their domination of New York with an 8-2 rout on Thursday night.
Hurricanes eliminate Devils on Jesper Fast’s OT power-play goal
May 12, 2023 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jesper Fast deflected in a shot by Jesperi Kotkaniemi on a power play at 7:09 of overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a series-ending 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
Ex-NRL star Hayne sent back to jail on sexual assault charges, eligible for parole in 2025
May 12, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Former National Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne is expected to remain in jail until at least 2025 after being found guilty on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
Hayne denied sexually assaulting a woman in her Newcastle home, north of Sydney, in 2018 and faced three trials on the charges.
AHL Playoff Glance
May 12, 2023 GMTAll Times EDT