UNDATED (AP) – After taking a day off, the NBA resumes play this evening with two games. In Chicago the Bulls and Heat square off in Game 3 of their best-of-seven second-round series. They split the first two games in Miami, with Chicago taking the opening contest. Luol Deng (LOO’-ul dehng) returned to the Bulls’ practice yesterday but appeared to be in no shape to rejoin the team for tonight’s game. The All-Star forward had to be hospitalized after suffering from bad headaches and weakness during the first-round series with Brooklyn. Tonight’s other game is being played in Oakland, where Golden State plays host to San Antonio. The Spurs and Warriors split the opening two games of that Western Conference series. Golden State evened things up with a nine-point win in Game 2 Wednesday night.
NHL PLAYOFFS
Bruins, Ducks and Kings look to advance
UNDATED (AP) – This evening’s NHL playoff schedule consists of four games and three of the series are on the verge of being decided.
In Boston the Bruins are looking to finish off the Maple Leafs. The Bruins top the best-of-seven affair 3-1 with wins in the last two games. Game 6, if needed, will be played in Toronto on Sunday. Detroit is home tonight and skating for the chance to continue its series with Anaheim. The Ducks have a 3-2 lead with Game 7, if needed, Sunday as well.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Kings fell behind St. Louis 2-0 but have come back to win the last three games. What could be the deciding sixth game is tonight in Los Angeles. If a Game 7 is called for, it will be held Monday in St. Louis.
And in the final game of the night the Washington-New York Rangers series returns to D.C. for Game 5. The Caps and Rangers have split the first four games, with the home team winning every contest, and the series is knotted up at 2-2. The sixth game will be in Madison Square Garden Sunday.
MLB-SCHEDULE
All 30 teams in action as weekend play starts
UNDATED (AP) – The current longest winning streak in baseball is four with three teams riding the hot streak. Washington is one of the clubs and tonight the Nationals are home to the Cubs while Arizona, which has won four in a row, is home to Philadelphia. In the American League Cleveland has a four-game winning streak and tonight opens up a weekend set with the Tigers in Detroit.
Tonight’s interleague game has San Diego playing at Tampa Bay.
PGA-TOURNAMENT PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Castro starts with the lead
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Roberto Castro tied the course record with a bogey-free 9-under-63 yesterday to grab the opening-round lead at The Players Championship. His round featured seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 second hole. Rory McIlroy and Zach Johnson finished play tied for second at 66.
Tiger Woods is playing in his first event since the Masters and he shot a 5-under 67.
Kevin Chappell and Lee Westwood have started the second round in good fashion. Each is 4-under for the day, Chappell through 11 and Westwood through seven, to stand 7-under for the tournament.
NASCAR-SOUTHERN 500
Pole to be determined
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) – The pole will be decided today for tomorrow night’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Jimmie Johnson is the points leader, by 43 points over Carl Edwards.
The winner of last week’s race was David Ragan (RAY’-guhn) as he took the checkered flag in the rain-delayed race at Talladega.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Judge tosses petition
MIAMI (AP) – A federal judge has denied a petition by Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith, who wanted to subpoena Bank of America employees to determine if his financial records were illegally accessed during the NCAA’s investigation of Miami athletics. Haith was Miami’s basketball coach from 2004-2011.
The NCAA wanted to know if three checks Haith wrote to former assistants for $3,200 each were used to repay a former Miami booster, who says he paid $10,000 to recruit former Miami player DeQuan Jones.
