National Sports - The Morning Sun

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) leaps to the basket to shoot as Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford, left, defends in the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 34, Thunder overcome Mavs defense to even series 2-2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a Dallas franchise playoff record of 13 blocks, rallying for a 100-96 victory to even their Western Conference … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 5/14/24

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) battles for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, in the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Wyatt Johnston scores twice as Stars push Avs to brink of elimination with 5-1 win in Game 4

Wyatt Johnston scored twice on the eve of his 21st birthday as the Dallas Stars pushed Colorado to the brink of elimination with a 5-1 win in Game 4 that came hours after Avalanche standout Valeri … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/14/24

New York Rangers center Jack Roslovic (96) skates with the puck past Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal in the first period during Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Monday, May 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Hurricanes score 4 in third period, rally to beat Rangers 4-1 in Game 5 to avoid elimination

Jordan Staal and Yevgeny Kuznetsov scored 3:06 apart in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes got four goals in the third period for a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5, staving off … more

By VIN A. CHERWOO | 5/13/24

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, right, during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Jayson Tatum's 33 points help Celtics down short-handed Cavaliers 109-102 to take 3-1 lead in semis

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points with LeBron James watching from a courtside seat and the Boston Celtics beat the severely short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102 in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/13/24

FILE - Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin celebrates his goal during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Feb. 4, 2020, in Buffalo, N.Y. Nichushkin was suspended and placed in stage 3 of the the league's player assistance program before Game 4 on Monday, May 13, 2024, night of a second-round series with Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended for at least 6 months an hour before Game 4 against Stars

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program before Game 4 on Monday night of a … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/13/24

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a high school basketball game Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. NBA teams were told Monday, May 13, 2024, that Bronny James, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league and is expected to participate in the draft combine this week, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

LeBron James attends Game 4 between Celtics and Cavaliers in Cleveland, his old stomping grounds

LeBron James attended Monday night’s playoff game between the Boston Celtics and Cavaliers, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar’s future. James, who can opt out of his … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/13/24

New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson (23) dunks against Philadelphia 76ers' Paul Reed (44) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the second half of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Mitchell Robinson has surgery on ankle that knocked him out of Knicks' playoff run, AP source says

A person with knowledge of the situation says Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has had surgery on his left ankle. Robinson was knocked out of the Knicks' playoff run after sustaining an injury to that … more

By BRIAN MAHONEY | 5/13/24

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, shoots over Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell to miss Game 4 against the Celtics with a strained left calf

Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell will miss Game 4 against the Boston Celtics on Monday with a left calf injury, a devastating loss that will make it even tougher for Cleveland to get back in the … more

By TOM WITHERS | 5/13/24

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) goes up for a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, bottom, defends during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

It's crunch time after Nuggets, Pacers made sure their semifinal best-of-7 series would go deep

The Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets were on the ropes after two games in their semifinal series and both won twice to knot things up. The Pacers beat the New York Knicks twice at home and the … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 5/13/24

Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at the Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Duran Duran: Substitute bags two late goals in comeback 3-3 draw with Liverpool

Substitute Jhon Duran has scored twice in the last five minutes for Aston Villa to come back from the dead and draw with Liverpool 3-3 in the English Premier League. The action on Monday went from … more

5/13/24

It's a boy! Scheffler arrives at PGA Championship with a newborn at home

Scottie Scheffler made it to the PGA Championship with a newborn at home. The Masters champion took off the last three weeks with his wife expecting the couple's first child. She gave birth to a boy … more

5/13/24

Kyle Larson, center, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Halfway Home: Count on surprises, familiar faces in second half of NASCAR's regular season

The first half of NASCAR's regular season ended Sunday with Brad Keselowski ending his three-year winless drought at Darlington Raceway. There have been plenty of usual suspects out front this season … more

By PETE IACOBELLI | 5/13/24

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning a match against Germany's Angelique Kerber at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Swiatek on course for Madrid-Rome double; facing Keys in the quarters

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek remains on course for an uncommon Madrid-Rome double after beating Angelique Kerber to reach the Italian Open quarterfinals. Swiatek needed eight set points to secure the … more

5/13/24

FILE - Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin shows his approval at his players efforts in a number of non-football events that were part of the the NCAA college football team's spring game, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. The spring portal window in college football is closed. Kiffin lived up to the portal king moniker as the Rebels went all in. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

College football portal classes: Ole Miss all in, Ohio State shops high end. Prime restocks again

The spring transfer portal window is closed in college football and several teams made huge upgrades. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin has built a contender for the first year of the 12-team College … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 5/13/24

Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday walks to the dugout after striking out against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

After a rookie renaissance the past couple years, some top prospects have struggled this season

Just when it appeared baseball’s young standouts had mastered the transition from Triple-A to the majors, a few of the game’s prized prospects showed up and went through a humbling experience. … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 5/13/24

FILE - Southern California's Bronny James (6) drives up the court against Washington during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Las Vegas. NBA teams were told Monday, May 13, 2024, that Bronny James, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league and is expected to participate in the draft combine this week, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Bronny James receives medical clearance to play in the NBA, AP source says

NBA teams have been told that Bronny James, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league and is expected to participate in the draft combine … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 5/13/24

FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Todd Reirden, center, gives instructions during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Penguins fired assistant coach Todd Reirden on Friday, May 3, 2024, just over two weeks after the organization missed out on the playoffs for a second straight season. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

The coaching carousel spins fast in the NHL: Job security just doesn't exist

Job security is basically an oxymoron in the world of professional coaching. The turnover rate right now in the NHL is wild. There are 124 teams in Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NFL and the … more

By TIM REYNOLDS and STEPHEN WHYNO | 5/13/24

Jordan Spieth hits from the fairway on the 16th hole during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP '24: Spieth gets another Grand Slam shot. Hardly anyone is talking about it

Jordan Spieth is next in line to chase the career Grand Slam. The PGA Championship is the only major he hasn't won. But it sure doesn't get the same attention as Rory McIlroy gets at the Masters. … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 5/13/24

FILE - New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart holds her daughter Ruby while speaking to reporters, Sept. 26, 2023, at Barclays Center in New York. Stewart, who has two children with wife Marta, appreciates the WNBA's new travel perk of charter flights — as well as other benefits for parents under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Charter flights for WNBA road games was an early Mother's Day gift for players with children

Katie Lou Samuelson says her life as first-time mom got a littler easier with the WNBA's announcement that players will fly on charter flights for road games. The Indiana Fever wing gave birth to her … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 5/13/24

Vancouver Canucks players celebrate the win over the Edmonton Oilers after Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boeser, Lindholm score 2 each as Canucks beat Oilers 4-3 to take 2-1 lead in West playoff series

Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, Elias Lindholm also scored twice, and the Vancouver Canucks held on to beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff … more

5/13/24