The highlights of the 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, …
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AP Sports Digest
Posted
The highlights of the 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.
For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
The supervisor is Vin Cherwoo until 3 a.m. The day supervisor will be Ryan Kryska at 9 a.m. The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918.
BKN--LAKERS-PELICANS NEW ORLEANS — LeBron James had 23 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers secured a playoff berth with a 110-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Zion Williamson had 40 points and 11 rebounds in his NBA postseason debut. But shortly after tying the game at 95 on a driving layup with 3:19 to go, Williamson went to the locker room, throwing a towel to the floor in disgust as he walked into the tunnel with an unspecified leg injury. Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson had “left leg soreness.” Anthony Davis had 20 points and 15 rebounds. De’Angelo Russell scored 21, hitting five 3-pointers. The Lakers open the playoffs Saturday at Denver. By Brett Martel. SENT: 800 words, photos.
BKN--WARRIORS-KINGS SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Keegan Murray scored 32 points, De’Aaron Fox added 24 and the Sacramento Kings stayed alive in the play-in tournament, eliminating the Golden State Warriors with a 118-94 victory. Sacramento advanced to play at New Orleans on Friday night with a chance to return to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference after snapping an NBA record 16-year playoff drought last season. The loss kept Golden State out of the playoffs for the third time in the past five seasons, including two eliminations in the play-in tournament. By Josh Dubow. SENT: 715 words, photos.
BBN—ROCKIES-PHILLIES PHILADELPHIA — Ranger Suárez pitched a seven-hitter, Bryce Harper homered and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0. Suárez struck out eight and walked one in the majors’ second complete game this season. It was the first shutout for a Philadelphia pitcher since Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter against Washington on Aug. 9. Harper hit an RBI double in the sixth inning and a two-run shot in the eighth. J.T. Realmuto also went deep for Philadelphia, which moved two games over .500 for the first time this season. SENT: 480 words, photos.
BBN—PIRATES-METS NEW YORK — Jose Hernandez balked home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, Jeff McNeil added an RBI double and the New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1. Joey Wendle came off the bench and delivered a tying double for the Mets, who have won nine of 12 following an 0-5 start to move over .500 for the first time since early June last year. New York came back to beat the Pirates for the second consecutive night and has won four straight series after dropping its first two. Wendle replaced an ailing Brett Baty at third base in the top of the seventh and doubled off losing pitcher Luis Ortiz moments later. Reed Garrett struck out six over two scoreless innings in relief of Mets starter Jose Quintana. By Mike Fitzpatrick. SENT: 710 words, photos,
NOTABLE
FBN--DRAFT-FEWER UNDERCLASSMEN The lure of starting a pro career early apparently isn’t quite as tempting for underclassmen now as it was in the days before college stars could profit off their name, image and likeness. This month’s draft features 58 early entrants. That represents the lowest number of players to enter the draft with college eligibility remaining since 2011. At least 100 underclassmen entered the draft ever year from 2016 to 2022. The 2021 draft had a record 100 underclassmen selected. The number of underclassmen entering the draft has dropped every year since the NIL policy change for college athletes took effect in the summer of 2021. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 6 a.m.
OLY--PARIS 2024-MEDALS FORECAST The Paris Olympics open in 100 days and the United States and China are expected to finish 1-2 in the overall and gold-medal count. The United States is projected to win 123 medals overall, including 39 golds. China is projected to win 35 gold and 89 overall. This forecast is done by Nielsen’s Gracenote Sports, which supplies statistical analysis for sports leagues around the world. It also tracks major competitions involving Olympic sports leading up to the Games. By Stephen Wade. SENT: 470 words, photos.
HKN—MAPLE LEAFS-PANTHERS SUNRISE, Fla. — Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart scored 10 seconds apart midway through the second period, and the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. With the victory and Boston’s 3-1 loss to Ottawa, Florida clinched the Atlantic Division title. The Panthers finished with the season with a four-game win streak to make up a five-point deficit in the standings. They will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the playoffs. John Tavares and Noah Gregor scored for the Maple Leafs, and Joseph Woll made 37 stops. Toronto will play Boston in the first round of the playoffs. SENT: 370 words, photos.
HKN--CAPITALS-FLYERS PHILADELPHIA — T.J. Oshie scored into an empty net in the rare situation of a team pulling its goaltender in a tie game, and the Washington Capitals are in the playoffs after beating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1. Philadelphia coach John Tortorella pulled goalie Samuel Ersson for an extra attacker because his team needed to win in regulation to keep its hopes alive. Oshie’s goal with exactly 3 minutes left came perhaps a minute after Detroit scored to force overtime in Montreal, eliminating the Flyers. The Capitals will face the NHL-best New York Rangers in the first round. By Stephen Whyno. SENT: 570 words, photos.
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Wednesday’s Time Schedule
NBA Play-In Tournament Miami at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Chicago, 9:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
San Francisco at Miami, 12:10 p.m. Minnesota at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. Pittsburgh at NY Mets, 1:10 p.m. Texas at Detroit, 1:10 p.m. San Diego at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m. Atlanta at Houston, 2:10 p.m. Kansas City at Chicago White Sox, 2, 2:10 p.m. NY Yankees at Toronto, 3:07 p.m. Washington at LA Dodgers, 3:10 p.m. St. Louis at Oakland, 3:37 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Arizona, 3:40 p.m. Cincinnati at Seattle, 4:10 p.m. Colorado at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m. LA Angels at Tampa Bay, 6:50 p.m. Cleveland at Boston, 7:10 p.m.
NHL Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, 7 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. St. Louis at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. Edmonton at Arizona, 10 p.m.
