NBA:
In the NBA playoffs, Cleveland beat Indiana 119-114 to put them within one game of a series sweep 3-0, Milwaukee bested Toronto 104-77 to take a 2-1 series lead, and it was Memphis over San Antonio 105-94, the Spurs lead the series 2-1. The Boston Celtics face Chicago at 7 p.m. tonight and trail in the series 2-0.
The Utah Jazz will be without center Rudy Gobert for Game 3 of their NBA first-round series Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers in Salt Lake City. Gobert also missed Game 2 after hyperextending his left knee and suffering a bone contusion seconds into the series opener. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate led the league in blocks and defensive win shares. The Jazz and Clippers split the first two games in Los Angeles. In other Jazz news, police are investigating an allegation of domestic violence against backup center Jeff Withey. Authorities in Manhattan Beach, California, say a police report had been filed accusing Withey of domestic violence. No charges have been filed.
NHL:
In the NHL playoffs, the Rangers beat Montreal in overtime 3-2 to take a 3-2 series lead, Pittsburgh won against Columbus 5-2 to advance to the conference semifinals after winning the series 4-1, Nashville swept the top seeded Chicago Blackhawks four games-to-none to advance to the second round after last night’s 4-1 win, and it was Edmonton over San Jose 4-3 to lead the series 3-2. Boston takes on the Senators tonight in Ottawa at 7:30 p.m. The Senators lead the series 3-1.
The NHL has announced the finalists for the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year. Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and Jets winger Patrik Laine are up for the award, which will be presented June 21 in Las Vegas.
The Buffalo Sabres have fired general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma after the youthful team missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. Owner Terry Pegula made the announcement Thursday after spending the past two days holding season-ending meetings with Murray.
MLB:
In Major League Baseball, Boston beat Toronto 4-1 in 10 innings and it was Philadelphia over the Mets 6-4. The Yankees had a day off start a series against Pittsburgh tonight at 7 p.m. and Boston starts one with the Orioles in Baltimore at 7 p.m. The Mets start its series with Washington tonight at 7 p.m.
Red Sox manager John Farrell says pitcher David Price has been dealing with "soreness" in his recovery from an injured left elbow. Price threw on flat ground for the second straight day before Thursday afternoon's game against Toronto. He is to throw a bullpen session in Baltimore on Friday. Price is in the second season of a $217 million, seven-year contract.
Mets closer Jeurys Familia has rejoined the team after serving a 15-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. New York activated Familia before Thursday night's game against Philadelphia. The Mets made a series of roster moves and cleared space for him.
Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes has limped off the field with a hamstring cramp and exited the game against Philadelphia. Cespedes was replaced in the top of the sixth inning Thursday night. The left fielder walked in the fifth, was forced out in a double play and was finished.
— Cardinals infielder Jhonny Peralta was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday because of an upper respiratory issue. St. Louis recalled left-hander Tyler Lyons before Thursday night's game against Milwaukee.
— The Blue Jays will recall right-hander Mat Latos from Triple-A Buffalo to start against the Angels on Friday. Manager John Gibbons says right-hander Casey Lawrence will be called up to face the Angels on Saturday night. Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez and left-hander J.A. Happ are on the 10-day disabled list.
NFL:
An angry Eli Manning denies providing fake game-used memorabilia to a collector. A 2014 lawsuit accuses the New York Giants quarterback of doctoring jerseys, helmets and other equipment to make it look as if they had been used during play. Giants owner John Mara is among those named in the suit.
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul says the injury that sidelined him late last season was more serious than a sports hernia. Speaking at a team availability Thursday, Pierre-Paul said surgeons fixed two spots in his abdomen and two in his groin in December.
The New England Patriots are taking issue with a New York Times photo comparison that suggested a significantly smaller turnout for a Super Bowl celebration at the White House with President Donald Trump than one two years ago with President Barack Obama. The Times on Wednesday tweeted an Associated Press photo of the Patriots standing behind Obama on the south side of the White House in 2015. Stairs on either side of the main group were filled with people. The tweet compared it with a Times photo taken Wednesday showing both staircases empty.
Authorities in Massachusetts say Aaron Hernandez's brain is being turned over to university researchers now that they've ruled his death in prison a suicide. The Worcester County district attorney says the state's chief medical examiner had withheld some tissue samples from the ex-NFL star's brain as part of the effort to confirm he took his own life in prison.
The NFL has released its 2017 schedule, and it begins with the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 7. The Pats earned that honor with their record comeback to beat Atlanta in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs are the defending AFC West champions. Week 1 of the schedule will conclude Monday, Sept. 11 with New Orleans at Minnesota and the Los Angeles Chargers at Denver. It will be the Chargers' first game as a Los Angeles franchise since 1960. Week 1 also features a Sunday night matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and visiting New York Giants.
The Oakland Raiders wouldn't pay rent at a proposed tax-funded stadium they want to call home in Las Vegas. That's according to the most recent version of a lease agreement unveiled Thursday during a meeting of the public entity overseeing plans for the $1.9 billion project. The stadium authority board justified the lack of rent for the Raiders with the investment that the team is making on the 65,000-seat domed stadium. Guests of hotels and other lodging facilities in the Las Vegas area are contributing $750 million through a room tax increase.
NCAA:
Boston College has hired Martin Jarmond as its new athletic director. Jarmond was the deputy AD at Ohio State and chief of staff for Buckeyes athletic director Gene Smith. He succeeds Brad Bates, who is leaving to become a consultant.
Soccer:
Prosecutors say a 28-year-old German-Russian citizen has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the bomb attack against a bus carrying members of the Borussia Dortmund soccer team last week. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the suspect, identified only as Sergej W., was arrested Friday in the Tuebingen area. They say the man is suspected of having acted for financial reasons and had speculated on Dortmund's share value dropping after the attack. A Dortmund player and a policeman were injured in the triple blasts as the bus was heading to the stadium for a match against AS Monaco.
PGA:
Branden Grace is the first-round leader at the PGA's Texas Open in San Antonio. Grace shot a 6-under 66 that puts him one stroke ahead of Stewart Cink, Will MacKenzie, John Huh and Steven Alker.
Tiger Woods will go another year without playing in a major after undergoing a fourth back surgery yesterday to alleviate pain. The announcement on his website Thursday said typical recovery from a single-level fusion surgery is six months. He went 15 months without competition before making a brief return in December and January.
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