National Sports - The Morning Sun

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner, right, gets a hug after Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. The Pacers won 120-98. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Young Pacers exceed expectations by advancing to Eastern Conference semifinals

Coach Rick Carlisle keep insisting the Indiana Pacers wanted to do more than just make the playoffs. He believed this young team could win, advance and perhaps even extend its season again. On … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 5/3/24

New York Knicks' Josh Hart (3) and teammate Isaiah Hartenstein (55) celebrate after winning Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Knicks' trio of Villanova stars help them advance to 2nd round of East playoffs

Josh Hart made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 24.4 seconds left, and the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference … more

By DAN GELSTON | 5/3/24

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Italian Open with right forearm injury

Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he is withdrawing from the Italian Open because of the right forearm injury that already prompted him to pull out of tournaments in Monte Carlo and … more

5/3/24

FILE - Emma Coburn leaps over the water pit during the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. Championships athletics meet, on June 23, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa. Three-time U.S. Olympian Emma Coburn says her “dream of Paris is over” after breaking her ankle at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai and undergoing surgery. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Three-time US Olympian Emma Coburn says Paris dream 'is over' after ankle fracture and surgery

Three-time U.S. Olympian Emma Coburn says her “dream of Paris is over” after breaking her ankle at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai and undergoing surgery. A bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter … more

5/3/24

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) is congratulated by teammates after hitting the game-winning basket at the buzzer against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jamal Murray is saving the defending champion Nuggets with clutch playoff performances

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray scuffled with his shot in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers. But he kept coming through in the clutch by the time the fourth … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 5/3/24

Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) celebrates after his goal against the Boston Bruins during third-period action in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Nylander and Woll help Maple Leafs beat Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7

William Nylander scored twice, Joseph Woll made 22 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night to force a seventh game in the first-round Eastern Conference series. … more

5/3/24

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola looks out from the bench prior the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Manchester City at the Falmer Stadium in Brighton, England, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Title, relegation and European spots in the balance as Premier League heads for exciting finale

The Premier League season is down to its final two weeks and there’s still plenty at stake from top to bottom. The title race is down to two teams in Arsenal and Manchester City, the relegation … more

By STEVE DOUGLAS | 5/3/24

New York Knicks' Josh Hart reacts during the second half of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Knicks advance to the Eastern Conference semis, topping 76ers 118-115 in Game 6

Josh Hart made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 24.4 seconds left, and the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference … more

By DAN GELSTON | 5/3/24

Matt Wallace of England gestures before teeing off on the ninth hole during the first round of the Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Matt Wallace takes 1-shot lead at Byron Nelson, with defending champ Jason Day 3 back

Matt Wallace has a one-shot lead over seven players in the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The 34-year-old Englishman finished three strokes ahead of defending champion Jason Day. Hometown … more

By SCHUYLER DIXON | 5/2/24

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, right, gets a hug from teammate James Johnson after Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. The Pacers won 120-98. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Pacers celebrate 1st playoff series victory in a decade, beating Bucks 120-98 in Game 6

Obi Toppin scored 21 points, T.J. McConnell had 20 points and nine assists and the Indiana Pacers won a playoff series for the first time in a decade, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 120-98 in Game 6 on … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 5/2/24

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives past Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cavaliers, Mavericks trying to close out 1st-round NBA playoff series in Game 6s

The Orlando Magic desperately want an opportunity to go back on the road. The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to go home, though not for good. There are two more elimination games in the NBA playoffs … more

By FRED GOODALL | 5/2/24

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart walks past the Black Team huddle during the second half of an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Georgia's Kirby Smart becomes the nation's highest-paid college football coach at $13m annually

Georgia’s Kirby Smart has agreed to a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13 million. Smart surpasses Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, … more

5/2/24

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski (5) is congratulated after his solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A visit from 'Papa Yaz' and a home run makes for a memorable day for Giants OF Mike Yastrzemski

A visit from “Papa Yaz” before the game and a home run during it made for a memorable afternoon for Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. The grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski hit a solo … more

By JIMMY GOLEN | 5/2/24

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards celebrates a foul against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Anthony Edwards and the T-wolves take a stronger dose maturity into this playoff rematch with Denver

The brilliance of Anthony Edwards will likely be the reason if the Minnesota Timberwolves knock down the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in their second-round playoff matchup. Edwards missed … more

By DAVE CAMPBELL | 5/2/24

New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo prepares to make a catch on a sacrifice fly by Baltimore Orioles' Jorge Mateo during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Mouncastle and Mateo propel Orioles to 7-2 win over Yankees in series clincher

Ryan Mountcastle and Jorge Mateo each homered and drove in two runs to lift the Baltimore Orioles to a series-deciding 7-2 victory over the New York Yankees. Ryan McKenna also connected and Jordan … more

By IAN NICHOLAS QUILLEN | 5/2/24

New York Mets catcher Omar Narváez, left, watches as Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel crosses home plate after hitting a three-run homer during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Citi Field, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Average game time drops 1 minute to 2:37 in second season of MLB pitch clock

The average time of a nine-inning game is 2 hours, 36 minutes through the first full month of the major league season, down 1 minute from 2023 in the second year of the pitch clock. Over objections … more

By RONALD BLUM | 5/2/24

Ryan Garcia celebrates after winning a super lightweight boxing match against Devin Haney early Sunday, April 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Promoter stands by Ryan Garcia after a report he tested positive for a banned substance

Golden Boy Promotions said in a statement Thursday that it stands by Ryan Garcia after a report that he had tested positive for a banned substance before his dominant victory over Devin Haney in New … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 5/2/24

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Aug. 26, 2023, in Boston. The former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Urías has been charged with five misdemeanors stemming from his his arrest last September on suspicion of domestic violence, authorities said Tuesday April, 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías pleads no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery charge

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías has pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. According to court records, four other misdemeanor charges were dropped. All the … more

5/2/24

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts after defeating Madison Keys of USA during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Swiatek returns to Madrid Open final by beating Keys in straight sets

Iga Swiatek has cruised to a straight-set win over Madison Keys to reach the Madrid Open final for the second consecutive year. Top-ranked Swiatek beat 20th-ranked Keys 6-1, 6-3 on Thursday. The … more

By TALES AZZONI | 5/2/24

FILE -Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard celebrates as time runs out in the team's MLS soccer match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Commerce City, Colo. The Rapids won 2-1. Tim Howard will join Tony Meola, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel on Saturday, May 4, 2024, as modern-era American goalkeepers in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Tim Howard, last in line of top American goalkeepers, enters U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame

Tim Howard will join Tony Meola, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel on Saturday as modern-era American goalkeepers in the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. Now 45, Howard was the U.S. goalkeeper at the … more

By RONALD BLUM | 5/2/24