NBA:
The Golden State Warriors have opened the NBA Finals with a 104-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shaun Livingston came off the bench to score 10 of his team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green added 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to the victory.
The New York Knicks have hired Jeff Hornacek, who emerged last month as Phil Jackson's surprising coaching choice. Jackson went with the former Phoenix Suns coach over anyone who had played or worked under him, even though he had said after the season he would likely pick somebody he already knew. The Knicks finished last year at 32-50 under interim coach Kurt Rambis. Jackson said in a statement Thursday that Hornacek has "tremendous basketball acumen and possesses strong leadership skills."
NHL:
The New York Islanders have agreed to terms on a $16.75-million, five-year contract extension with forward Casey Cizikas. The team announced the deal Thursday. Agent Mark Guy confirmed the terms in an email to The Associated Press. The 25-year-old set a career high in points last season.
Voice of the New York Rangers Sam Rosen will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for hockey broadcasting and Chicago Blackhawks team historian Bob Verdi will get the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism. They will be honored during the Hockey Hall of Fame's induction weekend in November. Rosen has been the television play-by-play broadcaster for the Rangers since 1984.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the Yankees slid past Detroit 5-4, Baltimore topped Boston 12-7, Minnesota won against Tampa Bay 6-4, and it was Cleveland over Kansas City 5-4.
In the National League, San Francisco blanked Atlanta 6-0, the Cubs bested the Dodgers 7-2, Milwaukee beat Philadelphia 4-1, Miami edged Pittsburgh 4-3 in 12 innings, and it was Cincinnati over Colorado 11-4.
In interleague play, Arizona shut out Houston 3-0 and it was Seattle over San Diego 16-13.
WNBA:
In the WNBA, the Sparks beat San Antonio 68-61.
NFL:
Browns Pro Bowl tight end Gary Barnidge could miss the start of training camp next month after undergoing sports hernia surgery. Barnidge is coming off a breakout season in which he established career highs with 79 receptions, 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns. He had been practicing with the injury before the team's medical staff decided an operation was necessary.
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns has a new deal. A person familiar with the process says Hurns has signed a four-year extension worth $40 million that includes a guaranteed $20 million. The former Miami Hurricanes standout has 115 receptions for 1,708 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons, making him the best undrafted rookie to ever sign with Jacksonville. Hurns caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
PGA:
Dustin Johnson is the first-round leader in the Memorial at Muirfield Village. Johnson opened and closed his front nine with three straight birdies and carded four straight birdies on the back nine for an 8-under 64 and a one-shot lead over Brendan Steele. Matt Kuchar and Jason Day are among five players at minus-6, Jordan Spieth opened with a 70 and Rory McIlroy carded a 71.
MLS:
Juan Manuel Martinez broke a tie midway through the second half and Real Salt Lake beat New York City FC 3-2 on Thursday night in their first ever meeting at Yankee Stadium. New York City is winless in four games.
Horse Racing:
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has handed down punishments to seven harness-racing drivers and owners accused of providing a banned substance to horses. WCSH-TV reports all seven were convicted of providing cobalt to their hoses. Cobalt is a banned substance that can boost the performance of horses. The substance can be harmful to a horse's health, sometimes leading to death.
Tennis:
Top seed Novak Djokovic has marched into the semifinals at the French Open for a record sixth consecutive year. Djokovic beat seventh seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to make it into his 30th career major semifinal. Djokovic improved to 24-2 lifetime against Berdych.
The world's No. 1 player is trying to win the French Open for the first time and earn his fourth consecutive Grand Slam title. The last time a man accomplished that was Rod Laver in 1969. Dominic Thiem advanced to a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time by beating David Goffin 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Top seed Serena Williams continued her drive for a record-tying 22nd major championship title when she beat Yulia Putintseva 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Williams will take on 58th-ranked Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands in the semifinals.
Boxing:
Boxing great Muhammad Ali is hospitalized in the Phoenix area with what two people familiar with his condition say may be more serious than his previous hospital stays. The people told The Associated Press that Ali is fighting respiratory issues that are complicated by the Parkinson's that he was diagnosed with in the 1980s. The two spoke separately in describing Ali's condition that they say is concerning to family members.
A spokesman for Ali sent out a release earlier Thursday saying the three-time former heavyweight champion is being treated at an unidentified hospital for a respiratory issue. Spokesman Bob Gunnell said that the 74-year-old was in fair condition, and that a brief hospital stay was expected.
Olympics:
American cyclist Tejay van Garderen has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Rio Olympics amid concerns that he may contract the Zika virus and pass it along to his pregnant wife. He is believed to be the first athlete to back out of the Summer Olympics because of the mosquito-borne illness. The member of the 2010 Olympic team would have been a likely choice for the U.S. team.
Fantasy Sports:
Two separate bills to legalize and regulate daily fantasy sports in New York State are moving through the legislature despite blowback from anti-gambling groups.
NCAA:
The MAAC Tournament will stay at the Times Union Center beyond 2017. The Times Union reports that officials decided to extend their agreement with the arena that was due to expire at the end of this season.
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