NBA
The Philadelphia 76ers may have a bevy of outstanding young talent, but the Boston Celtics demonstrated they also have some productive youngsters while taking Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Terry Rozier scored 29 points and first-year Celtics forward Jayson Tatum added 28 in a 117-101 win over the Sixers. Rozier also delivered eight rebounds and six assists, while veteran Al Horford contributed 26 points and seven boards for Boston.
Rozier had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter and was 7 for 9 from 3-point range overall.
The game was tied at 33 until Horford hit four baskets during a 10-0 run that put the Celtics in control. The lead grew to 87-70 in the final minute of the third quarter, and the 76ers never got closer than nine points the rest of the game.
Joel Embiid scored 31 points with 13 rebounds for Philadelphia. Ben Simmons finished with 18 points, seven boards and six assists.
Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.
In other NBA news:
The Golden State Warriors are about to get their two-time MVP back in the lineup for the first time since mid-March. Point guard Stephen Curry is expected to return from a left knee injury to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night against New Orleans. Coach Steve Kerr is listing Curry as probable with the idea that he's a go as long as no issues arise in the morning shootaround or before the game. Kerr didn't say whether Curry would start or come off the bench, but he won't have a minutes restriction.
Heat president Pat Riley said in his annual end-of-season assessment that no player on the team's roster will be considered untouchable this offseason. However, he quickly added the caveat that the franchise is not looking for a total revamp after going 44-38 in the regular season and making the playoffs. Riley held exit meetings with players Friday, three days after the Heat's season ended in a five-game first-round ouster at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.
NHL
the Tampa Bay Lightning were able to even their second-round series at a game apiece by bouncing back from a 6-2 loss to Boston in the opener.
Brayden Point scored an empty-net goal and had three assists as the Lightning doubled up the Bruins, 4-2. Ondrej Palat provided the eventual game-winning goal with 5:52 remaining, less than two minutes before Torey Krug got the Bruins within 3-2. Palat also set up Tyler Johnson's tiebreaking goal midway through the second period.
Yanni Gourde also scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy needed to make just 18 saves for Tampa Bay.
Sean McAvoy provided the Bruins' first goal and Brad Marchand set up both Boston tallies.
Game 3 is Wednesday in Boston.
The Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks played extra hockey for the second straight game. This time, it was the Knights coming out on top to take a two-games-to-one lead in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Vegas blew a two-goal lead in the third period before William Karlsson scored 8:17 into OT to lift the Golden Knights past the Sharks, 4-3. Karlsson emerged as the hero after Tomas Hertl tied it for San Jose with 1:57 left in regulation.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 39 saves, including a brilliant one to rob Logan Couture early in the overtime. Couture had another chance in the sequence before the winning goal.
Game 4 is Wednesday at San Jose.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the hunt for a new general manager after Lou Lamoriello quickly rebuilt the franchise into a playoff contender.
Team President Brendan Shanahan says he's sticking to a plan that called for the 75-year-old Lamoriello to serve as GM for three years and then transition to senior adviser for four years. Shanahan says he doesn't have a timeline for filling the GM position.
The Leafs have made the playoffs the last two postseasons following a three-year absence.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
A person with direct knowledge of the decision says there will not be a disciplinary hearing for Capitals winger Tom Wilson for his hit to the head of Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin. Wilson struck Dumoulin in the head with his left shoulder 4:36 into the second period of Game 2 Sunday. It was the latest questionable hit leveled by the physical Wilson, who has logged 806 penalty minutes in 391 regular-season NHL games over the last five seasons.
The Hurricanes have terminated the contract of demoted general manager and Hall of Fame player Ron Francis. Carolina announced the move nearly two months after Francis was reassigned to another front-office position while the team began a search for a new GM.
MLB
This year's National League leaders continue to have their way with last year's NL champs.
A.J. Pollock slammed three home runs and the Diamondbacks opened a four-game series by beating the Dodgers, 8-5. Pollock hit solo shots off three different pitchers and helped Arizona beat Los Angeles for the 12th time in their last 13 meetings, including six of seven this year.
Nick Ahmed drove in two runs and fell a triple shy of the cycle to help the Diamondbacks improve to 20-8.
Zach Greinke struck out a season-high 10 while holding his former team to two runs and four hits over six innings.
Checking out Monday's other major league finals:
Jon Lester worked into the sixth inning before Luke Farrell and Steve Cishek finished out the Cubs' fifth straight win, 3-2 over Colorado. Lester tossed shutout ball until the Rockies scored twice in the fifth, ending a streak of 33 2/3 innings in which Chicago starters didn't allow an earned run.
The Brewers regained their hitting stroke by getting homers from Manny Pina and Lorenzo Cain in a 6-5 win at Cincinnati. Closer Josh Hader became the first pitcher ever to strike out eight batters in an appearance lasting fewer than three innings.
Tanner Roark allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings as the Nationals beat the Pirates, 3-2. Roark also picked up his first RBI in two years with a single that put Washington ahead, 2-1 in the fourth inning.
Brian Anderson drove in four with a two-run homer and a two-run double as the Marlins trounced the Phillies, 8-4. Miami has a season-high, three-game winning streak after tagging Jake Arrieta for six earned runs over 3 2/3 innings.
The Giants scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 6-5 victory over the Padres. San Francisco was down to its last out when Evan Longoria hit an RBI single and Nick Hundley won it with a two-run single.
Xander Bogaerts belted a grand slam and Mitch Moreland went 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs scored as Boston knocked off the Royals, 10-6. The Red Sox fell behind 3-0 before picking up their team-record 19th win of April. The series continues Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.
The Yankees' nine-game winning streak is over after Charlie Morton pitched two-hit ball into the eighth inning of Houston's seventh straight home win, 2-1. Morton fanned 10 and allowed just one hit until Gleyber Torres chased him with a two-out double in the eighth. Game two is Tuesday at 8:10 p.m.
Jose Ramirez doubled home the tiebreaking run while the Indians scored four times in the eighth inning to beat the Rangers, 7-5. Ramirez and Yonder Alonso drove in two runs apiece to help Cleveland bounce back from consecutive lopsided losses to the Mariners.
Justin Smoak slammed a two-run homer and Russell Martin added a solo blast while Yangervis Solarte provided three hits in the Blue Jays' 7-5 verdict over the Twins. Lance Lynn's ERA is up to 8.37 after he was rocked for six runs in five innings.
The Rays won for the ninth time in 10 games as C.J. Cron and Brad Miller belted ninth-inning homers in a 3-2 victory at Detroit. The home runs came in handy after Jose Alvarado gave up a two-run single by Victor Martinez before collecting his first career save.
The Mets had the night off, however, they begin a three-game series Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.
Also in the majors:
Nick Kingham is now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation after flirting with a perfect game in his major league debut. The 26-year-old Kingham was in his ninth minor league season when he was recalled to start Sunday's 5-0 win over the Cardinals. He retired his first 20 batters before Paul DeJong hit a two-out single in the seventh. Kingham left after seven innings, allowing one hit on 98 pitches. It was the best debut by a major league starter in more than a half-century. Pittsburgh moved left-hander Steven Brault to the bullpen to make room for Kingham.
Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner is headed to Arizona to meet with the same doctor who performed surgery on his left pinkie. If Bumgarner is cleared to start throwing, the four-time All-Star is still likely a month away from rejoining the big league club.
Dodgers’ shortstop Corey Seager will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of the season. The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star was hitting .267 with two home runs and 13 RBIs this season after averaging 24 home runs the previous two years.
The Diamondbacks have placed left-hander Robbie Ray on the 10-day disabled list with a strained oblique. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said there is no timetable for the return of Ray, who won 15 games and made the NL All-Star team last year.
The Rockies have placed second baseman DJ LeMahieu on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain suffered in Friday's win at Miami. LeMahieu says he is feeling better, but "it's just not good enough to be a productive player." The Rockies also activated outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who had been on the DL since injuring his right hamstring during a game at Pittsburgh on April 18.
Rangers’ left-handed starter Martin Perez has been placed on the 10-day disabled list because of right elbow discomfort. Reliever Jose Leclerc was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock for his third big league stint this season.
The Phillies have placed right-handed reliever Víctor Arano on the 10-day disabled list because of a mild right rotator cuff strain. The move was made after Arano underwent an MRI in Philadelphia, and before the Phils opened a series at Miami.
NFL
The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed cornerback Terence Newman, bringing the NFL's oldest active defensive player back for a 16th season that will begin five days after he turns 40.
The move was made Monday with Newman, who has played the last three years with the Vikings. His 42 career interceptions are the most among active players in the league.
Also in the NFL:
The 49ers have exercised their fifth-year option on defensive end Arik Armstead, putting him under contract through 2019. The option is worth about $9 million, is guaranteed for injury and will become fully guaranteed next March. Armstead has recorded six sacks and 56 tackles in 30 career games since being taking with the 17th overall pick in 2015.
The Steelers have released veteran safety J.J. Wilcox just days after selecting a pair of safeties in the NFL draft. Wilcox had one interception with Pittsburgh while playing primarily as a reserve.
The Texans have re-signed running back Alfred Blue to a one-year deal. Blue has rushed for 1,908 yards and scored six touchdowns in his four-year career.
The Jaguars have signed 13 undrafted rookies and cut veteran punter Brad Nortman and third-year receiver Jaelen Strong. The Jaguars selected Mississippi State punter Logan Cooke in the seventh round of the NFL draft and chose LSU receiver DJ Chark in the second, making Nortman and Strong expendable.
The Browns exercised the fifth-year option on defensive back Damarious Randall, acquired during the offseason from Green Bay. Cleveland traded quarterback DeShone Kizer and swapped draft picks on March 14 with the Packers for Randall.
Former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo didn't get out of the opening stage in a failed attempt to play in the U.S. Open. Romo three-putted his opening hole at Gleneagles Country Club, made only two birdies and shot a 5-over 77 in the 18-hole local qualifier.
The ex-girlfriend of 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster has submitted a video to prosecutors to support her statement that she lied when she told authorities Foster had hit her. But Santa Clara County prosecutor Jim Dermertzis says the district attorney's office will continue to prosecute the domestic violence case against Foster even if his ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, does not cooperate with the investigation.
Former NFL player and general manager Matt Millen says he is being treated for a rare disease that has robbed his heart of most of its normal function. The 60-year-old Millen told the Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, that he has been diagnosed with amyloidosis, a life-threatening illness that may force him to seek a heart transplant.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
University of Massachusetts Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced the extension of football head coach Mark Whipple’s contract through the 2020 season Monday. Whipple is in his fifth season coaching the program at the NCAA Division I FBS level in 2018 and his 11th year overall as the leader of the team, including six when the Minutemen competed at the NCAA Division I-AA level from 1998-2003.
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