Sports

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks recovered from a bumpy beginning and rediscovered their championship form in plenty of time to dispose of the Chicago Bulls in their opening-round series. They likely won’t make it past the next round unless they’re playing at this level right

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Neptune knows pressure is high to keep Villanova’s basketball team a national championship contender as he takes over for the retired Jay Wright. Neptune started his coaching career at Villanova as a video coordinator. He rose the ranks and became Wright’s top assistant during two

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — This year’s NFL draft prospects reluctantly recall their personal COVID-19 experiences. Some consider them inspirational reminders of obstacles already overcome. Others sound more reminiscent of old war stories. And while the stories change, each comes with unforgettably vivid detail and heartfelt emotion about a challenging two-year

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer Kayvon Thibodeaux doesn’t lack any confidence, already proclaiming himself the best player in the NFL draft.  The All-American defensive end from Oregon already talks like an All-Pro. He can go anywhere in the top 10 after initial projections had him as the potential No. 1 pick Thursday night.

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Taylor Ward hit a grand slam and finished a single shy of the cycle, Shohei Ohtani showed off his two-way prowess and the surging Los Angeles Angels rolled to a 9-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians for their fourth consecutive win. Mike Trout added a

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Paul Blackburn and five relievers combined on a three-hitter, making Chad Pinder’s leadoff homer stand up for the Oakland Athletics in a 1-0 victory over San Francisco that ended the Giants’ five-game winning streak. Blackburn allowed three hits in five innings, lowering his ERA to 1.35.

By MARK MOSCHETTI Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Lias Andersson’s first goal of the season for Los Angeles snapped a tie early in the third period and the Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 5-3. Gabriel Vilardi, Phillip Danault, Trevor Moore and Andreas Athanasioiu also scored for playoff-bound Los Angeles. Jonathan Quick made 36 saves to

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicolás Lodeiro scored on a pair of penalty kicks late in the second half, and the Seattle Sounders rallied for a 2-2 draw with Pumas in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final on Wednesday night. Lodeiro scored the first penalty kick in the 77th minute and the second

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 30 points in his return to Golden State’s starting lineup and the Warriors beat Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets 102-98 to end their first-round playoff series in five games. Curry converted a three-point play with 1:33 left and scored again with

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League joined forces to play a charity match Wednesday night to benefit relief efforts in Ukraine. The two teams raised at least $500,000 from the game, dubbed PTFC For Peace,

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Willson Contreras gave Chicago the lead with a run-scoring double in the 10th inning, Patrick Wisdom followed with a two-run homer, and the Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3. Contreras lined his double to the left field wall off Tyler Matzek to drive in automatic runner

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyle Tucker hit a three-run double in the fifth inning and Cristian Javier won his first start of the season as the Houston Astros held off the Texas Rangers 4-3. Javier allowed two runs in five innings, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out four. Tucker, a late

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer DALLAS (AP) — Jani Hakanpaa scored on the first shot of the game for Dallas, Joe Pavelski had two assists to reach a career high in points at age 37 and the Stars wrapped up the Western Conference’s final playoff spot in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Arizona

By TIM CRONIN Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Johnson scored in the seventh round of the shootout, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat Vegas 4-3, eliminating the Golden Knights from the playoff race. Johnson scored on a wrist shot seconds before Dallas, which needed a point to eliminate Vegas regardless, went into overtime at home

By PATRICK DONNELLY Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Ryan threw seven innings of one-hit ball and Max Kepler stayed hot with a pair of home runs as the streaking Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-0. Ryan Jeffers homered, doubled and drove in three runs for the Twins, who won their sixth game in

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Eric Comrie made 35 saves for his first NHL shutout in the Winnipeg Jets’ 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. The 26-year-old Comrie played his 27th NHL game, making his 15th start this season for Winnipeg. Kyle Connor had an empty-net goal and two assists to push his