NHL:
In the NHL playoffs, Washington topped the Islanders 5-1 to gain a 3-2 series lead, Nashville grabbed a 3-2 series lead after downing Chicago 5-2, Vancouver staves off elimination by improving the series to 2-3 under Calgary 2-1, and it was Tampa Bay over Detroit in overtime 3-2 evening the series at 2 games apiece.
NBA:
In the NBA playoffs, Cleveland bested Boston 103-95 for a 3-0 series lead, Chicago squeaked by Milwaukee in double overtime 113-106 for a 3-0 series lead, and it was Golden State over New Orleans 123-119 for a 3-0 series lead.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the Yankees edged Detroit 2-1, Tampa Bay slid past Boston 2-1, Toronto topped Baltimore 7-6, the Angels blanked Oakland 2-0, and it was Kansas City over the White Sox 3-2 in 13 innings.
In the National League, the Mets doubled up Atlanta 6-3, Pittsburgh bested the Cubs 5-4, Miami topped Philadelphia 9-1, Milwaukee doubled up Cincinnati 4-2, Colorado beat San Diego 2-1, San Francisco trumped the Dodgers 3-2 in 10 innings, and it was St. Louis over Washington 4-1.
Meanwhile Commissioner Rob Manfred believes Major League Baseball can engage in some fastball diplomacy by holding some Spring training games in Cuba next year. Cuban players in the major leagues have increased in recent years, many of them defectors. There were 74 players under major and minor league contracts on opening day, up from 29 in 2008.
Tigers closer Joe Nathan will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. Nathan suffered the injury while pitching on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old is a six-time All-Star, but is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career as he had a 4.84 earned run average in 2014 and blew seven saves.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says Pete Rose will be allowed to participate in activities surrounding this summer's All-Star Game in his hometown of Cincinnati.
This isn't the first time the disgraced former star has been allowed to attend a top Major League event. MLB permitted Rose to take part in the All-Century team announcement at Atlanta's Turner Field during the 1999 World Series and a Reds ceremony in 2013 honoring their 1975 and '76 championship teams.
Rose is baseball's career hits leader and a former Reds star player and manager. He agreed to a lifetime ban from the sport in 1989 after a Major League Baseball investigation concluded he bet on his team to win while he was managing the club.
NFL:
President Barack Obama is honoring the New England Patriots for winning the Super Bowl despite a "huge distraction and media circus." Obama recognized the football champions yesterday during a White House ceremony on the South Lawn. The Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24.
Six months after undergoing knee surgery, wide receiver Victor Cruz has no doubt that he will play in the New York Giants' regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. The 28-year-old Cruz says his right knee feels great and he believes he can return to being one of the league's top receivers.
The New York Jets have exercised their fifth-year option for 2016 on outside linebacker Quinton Coples, the Jets' first-round draft pick in 2012 out of North Carolina. Coples had a career-high 6 1/2 sacks last season. He has 16 1/2 career sacks, 104 tackles and two forced fumbles in his three seasons in New York.
The family of late Pro Bowl safety Dave Duerson will appeal this week's NFL concussion settlement amid concerns it doesn't include future awards for the brain decay diagnosed after his 2011 suicide.
An appeal could hold up the settlement approved Wednesday by a federal judge in Philadelphia. The potential $1 billion deal is designed to monitor more than 20,000 NFL retirees over 65 years and compensate those with dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other serious neurological conditions.
NCAA:
The University of Connecticut is planning to spend $10 million to fix the roof and peeling ceiling of its basketball arena. The project will be presented to the school's Board of Trustees for approval. The 10,000-seat Gampel Pavilion was built in 1990.
Golf:
Boo Weekley and Brendon de Jonge both shot an 8-under 64s to take the first round lead at the Zurich Classic. That gives them a one shot lead over David Hearn and Sean O'Hair.
Lydia Ko settled for a tap-in birdie on the par-5 14th after her eagle chip deflected off the pin and the defending champion shot a 5-under 67 to take the first-round lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
The top-ranked Ko holds a one-stroke lead over three others, including 54-year-old Juli Inkster. Stacy Lewis, last year's runner-up to Ko at Lake Merced (mur-SEHD') Golf Club, was two strokes back at 3 under.
WNBA:
Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner and her fiancee, fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson, were arrested on suspicion of assault and disorderly conduct after an argument in the home they recently purchased together became physical.
The two 24-year-olds were each arrested Wednesday on counts of assault by recklessly causing physical injuries and disorderly conduct for fighting. They were booked into the Maricopa County Jail in downtown Phoenix and later released.
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