NBA-COACH OF YEAR
Hawks’ bench boss honored
ATLANTA (AP) β Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer (BOO’-dehn-hol-zur) has been named NBA coach of the year. In his second year on the bench he led the Hawks to a franchise-best 60-win season. Budenholzer received 67 first-place votes and 513 points overall in balloting by sports writers and broadcasters. Golden State’s Steve Kerr, who guided the Warriors to an NBA-best 67-15 record, received 56 first-place votes and 471 points.
NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
First round action continues
UNDATED (AP) β The second game in three of the NBA first round playoff series will be played this evening. In Cleveland, the Cavaliers will be entertaining the Celtics once again. The Cavaliers, who won the first game 113-100, hope to head to Boston for Game 3 Thursday with a 2-0 lead.
The visiting Wizards hope to head home to Washington for Friday’s third game with the same advantage after tonight’s game with the Raptors in Toronto. The Wiz won the opener 93-86 in overtime.
And in Houston, the Rockets look to take a 2-0 lead over the Mavericks after winning the first game 118-108. The third game is slated for Dallas Friday night.
NBA-MAVERICKS-CUBAN-PLAY HOOKY
Cuban issues “doctor’s” note for fans
DALLAS (AP) β Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants fans in the seats for the early start of their home opener in the playoffs.
The team distributed an email Tuesday with what resembled a doctor’s note from the outspoken Dallas team owner, under the heading “Mark Cuban, MC.”
With Game 3 against Houston in a first-round series set for 6 p.m. local time Friday, the note includes a blank line for a name, lists the date and indicates the person has been under Cuban’s supervision for “severe Mavs fever.”
The bottom of the note includes a disclaimer that Cuban isn’t a medical doctor but adds that the billionaire businessman is “an expert negotiator and will vouch for your excused absence.”
NBA-BULLS-MIROTIC
Mirotic hurting
CHICAGO (AP) β The Bulls may be without forward Nicola Mirotic (NEE’-koh-luh MEER’-uh-tich) for Thursday’s Game 3 of their NBA playoff series against Milwaukee. He suffered a knee injury during the Bulls win Tuesday. Mirotic suffered a strained left quadriceps in a scramble for a loose ball. He has the knee and thigh wrapped and is walking with a noticeable limp.
NBA-HAWKS
Horford is a go
ATLANTA (AP) β Hawks center Al Horford says he’s definitely playing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night. Horford dislocated his right pinky finger in the Hawks’ series opening win Sunday. Atlanta’s other ailing starter, forward Paul Millsap, practiced without a padded shirt on that he’s worn since missing five games with a shoulder injury. He’s hoping to go without it in Game 2, believing that will improve his range of motion.
NBA-SUNS-MORRIS BROTHERS-ASSAULT
Morris brothers indicted
PHOENIX (AP) β A Maricopa County grand jury has indicted the Phoenix Suns’ Marcus and Markieff Morris on felony aggravated assault charges. Court documents show the twins are accused of joining three other men in beating a man on Jan. 24 at a Phoenix recreation center.
According to a Phoenix police report, 36-year-old Erik Hood says five people including the Morris brothers repeatedly punched and kicked him. Hood says he suffered a fractured nose, abrasions and a large bump on his head.
NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Four games on ice this evening
UNDATED (AP) β There are two Stanley Cup playoff games in each conference tonight. In the Eastern Conference, the Islanders can take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Capitals with a win on home ice. After splitting the first two games in Washington, the Islanders won at home Sunday in overtime, 2-1. And in Detroit, the Red Wings and Lightning are facing off in Game 3 of their series, which is tied at one win apiece.
Chicago enters tonight’s Western Conference game against Nashville with the same 2-1 lead. After splitting the opening two games in Nashville, the Blackhawks treated their home fans to a 4-2 win last Sunday.
In Calgary, the Flames are looking for the same 3-1 advantage as they entertain Vancouver tonight. The Canucks will be without forward Alexandre Burrows, who suffered an upper body injury during the morning skate. He was in obvious pain as he left the ice.
MLB-SUSPENSIONS
Royals and Red Sox hit
UNDATED (AP) β Major League Baseball has announced the suspension of Kansas City’s Kelvin Herrera for five games and Boston’s David Ortiz for one.
Herrera and fellow Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura both targeted Brett Lawrie with ptiches during a testy series against Oakland over the weekend. Ventura has been hit with an undisclosed fine.
Herrera was tossed in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game after throwing behind Lawrie. Ventura was ejected from Saturday’s game when he hit Lawrie with a pitch after Josh Reddick’s home run.
Ortiz has been suspended for one game and fined by Major League Baseball. MLB says Ortiz made contact with umpire John Tumpane after he ejected the Red Sox slugger in Sunday’s game against Baltimore.
Ortiz has appealed the penalty and will continue to play until the appeals process is complete.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Tigers going for win No. 12
UNDATED (AP) β The Tigers take a major league-best 11-2 record into the continuation of their home series with the Yankees tonight.
The Mets are the hottest team in the majors with an eight-game winning streak heading into a home game with Atlanta.
Five pitchers are going for their third win of the season. Toronto’s Mark Buehrle (BUR’-lee) gets the start against the Orioles. Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer pitches against Boston and Tommy Milone of the Twins faces Kansas City. Also, the Rangers Nick Martinez starts against Arizona and Houston’s Colin McHugh takes the mound against visiting Seattle.
The rest of the card tonight has the Cubs in Pittsburgh, the Phillies home to the Marlins, St. Louis in Washington, the Indians in Chicago to play the White Sox, the Reds in Milwaukee, San Diego at Colorado, the Angels home to Oakland and the Dodgers are in San Francisco to meet the long-time rival Giants.
MLB-REDS-PRICE
Manager sorry for language, sticks with sentiment
MILWAUKEE (AP) β Cincinnati manager Bryan Price says he’s sorry for using bad language. But he’s standing firm on his stance that reporters are divulging too much information when reporting on team developments.
Price apologized to reporters in Milwaukee before the Brewers-Reds game on Tuesday for a profanity-laced tirade during a pregame meeting a day earlier. The apology echoed sentiments of an earlier apology issued through the team’s Twitter account.
However, Price said the “content between the profanity” is exactly how he felt, adding: “I won’t apologize for that under any circumstances.”
