NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Hawks and Warriors look to advance
UNDATED (AP) β The Atlanta Hawks can join Cleveland’s Cavaliers in the NBA’s Eastern Conference final with a win tonight over the Wizards in Washington. The Hawks top the series 3-2 after winning the last two games in the series. Should the Wizards hold on and win tonight’s game, the seventh and deciding game will be played in Atlanta on Monday evening.
The Cavaliers finished off Chicago in the other Eastern semifinal last night with a decisive 94-73 victory in the Windy City to win the series in six games.
Golden State can become the first team to clinch a spot in the Western Conference final with a win tonight in Memphis over the Grizzlies. After dropping two of the first three games of the series the Warriors have won the last two to take a 3-2 series lead. Should the Grizz prevail this evening, the seventh game would be played Sunday in Oakland.
In the other Western Conference semifinal the Rockets beat the Clippers 119-107 last night to even things out at 3-3. The final game of that series will be played Sunday night as well.
BASEBALL-SCHEDULE
Cubs hosting Pirates this afternoon
UNDATED (AP) β A day game in Chicago jump-starts today’s Major League Baseball schedule. The Cubs are playing host to the Pirates and enter the contest with a four-game winning streak. The Cubs stand in second place in the National League Central with 19 wins and 15 defeats while the Bucs are 17-18.
Bartolo (bar-TOH’-loh) Colon of the Mets goes for his seventh win of the season tonight at home against the Brewers. The ageless wonder, who is listed as weighing 285 pounds, enters the game 6-1 with a 3.30 earned run average. He has 40 strikeouts this season while giving up just one walk. Colon is a huge part of why the Mets lead the National League East with a record of 20-15.
Michael Pineda (pin-AYD’-uh) of New York’s American League team is off to a good start as well. He is 5-0 and hits the mound tonight as the Yankees face the Royals in Kansas City. It may be hard to believe but this will be New York’s first game of the season outside of the eastern time zone. In his last outing Pineda struck out 16 against Baltimore.
The remaining games this evening feature the Diamondbacks in Philadelphia, the Orioles home to the Angels, the Braves in Miami, Cincinnati at home to the Giants, Cleveland at Texas, the Rays in Minneapolis, Houston home to Toronto, Detroit at St. Louis, the A’s entertaining the White Sox, Boston at Seattle, the Dodgers home to the Rockies and Washington at San Diego.
PREAKNESS
The fillies get their chance
BALTIMORE (AP) β The annual pre-Preakness Black-Eyed Susan is today at Pimlico in Baltimore. This is the race that features 3-year-old fillies and is worth $250,000. One of the top entrants is Ahh Chocolate, which has won both of her career races. The favorite is Luminance, trained by Bob Baffert, who also trains Kentucky Derby winner American Pharaoh.
The Preakness takes place tomorrow on the same track.
PGA-CHARLOTTE
Streb leads in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The second round of the PGA event in Charlotte is taking place today. The leader at the end of the first 18 holes was Robert Streb, who shot a 7-under 65. Patrick Reed and Kevin Chappell are one stroke back and one ahead of six others.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy opened with a 70 that included a double-bogey on the par-3 17th hole. Phil Mickelson opened with three birdies but had a double bogey on 18 for a 1-under 71.
LPGA-KINGSMILL
Opening round for the women
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) β An opening-round 6-under 65 secured the lead for France’s Joanna Klatten yesterday in the LPGA event in Williamsburg, Virginia. At one point in the round she had five birdies in a six-hole stretch. Morgan Pressel, Alison Lee and Pat Hurst share second as second-round play begins.
Michelle Wie (wee) withdrew because of a hip injury after a 78.
CHAMPIONS-REGIONS TRADITION
Maggert in front
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) β Round 2 of the first major of the year on the Champions Tour is today in Birmingham, Alabama. Jeff Maggert was the leader through 18 holes of the Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek after he birdied three of the final four holes for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke edge over Kevin Sutherland.
Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie and Wes Short Jr. start the day two strokes back.
INDIANAPOLIS 500
All female team planned for 2016
UNDATED (AP) β An all-female team might be competing at next year’s Indianapolis 500. Driver Katherine Legge (leg) is teaming with veteran motorsports executive Beth Paretta to form an organization that hopes to be at the 100th running of the showcase race.
Legge has a long career as a driver, with two career Indy 500 starts.
