MLB-SCHEDULE
A twin bill in Cleveland
UNDATED (AP) β A rare thing is taking place in Major League Baseball today, a single-admission doubleheader. Because of a rain out earlier in the week, the Padres and Indians are playing back to back games this afternoon in Cleveland.
In other day games, the Twins are hosting the Athletics, Tampa Bay is at Kansas City, the Rockies are home to the White Sox, St. Louis is hosting Cincinnati, and the Rangers play another game in Boston.
The evening portion of the schedule has Baltimore at New York, the Blue Jays at home to Houston, Detroit playing in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, Seattle at home to the Angels, the Nationals hosting the Marlins, Milwaukee at Philadelphia, the Mets in Atlanta, the Cubs hosting the Pirates, and Arizona at San Francisco.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Who wants first in the East?
UNDATED (AP) β The Pacers and Heat resume their battle for supremacy of the NBA’s Eastern Conference tonight. As play starts the Heat will have a half-game lead over the Pacers for the top-seed with Miami playing in Memphis tonight and the Pacers at Milwaukee.
In the Atlantic Division race, the first-place Raptors can improve on their position tonight with a win over the 76ers in Toronto. The Raptors start the day with a two-game lead over the idle Brooklyn Nets.
Two of the top three clubs in the West are squaring off tonight in Los Angeles as the Clippers play host to the Thunder. Oklahoma City is 3 1/2 games back of front runner San Antonio, while the home-standing Clippers are five back of the Spurs.
The two eighth place clubs have games tonight. In the East, Atlanta is a game and a half in front of the Knicks for the final playoff berth, and this evening the Hawks are home to Boston. In the West, the Suns have a one-game lead over Memphis for the final berth, and tonight the Suns are in New Orleans.
The rest of the schedule features two teams headed to the playoffs squaring off in Washington as the Wizards entertain the Bobcats, while Detroit is at Cleveland, the Timberwolves are home to Chicago, Houston is at Denver and the Kings are at Portland.
NBA-LAKERS
New deal for Kupchak
LOS ANGELES (AP) β As they watch one of the worst seasons in team history come to an end, ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers announced late in last night’s loss to Houston that general manager Mitch Kupchak has agreed to a multiyear contract extension. He had one year left on his current contract.
The Lakers’ latest defeat was their 53rd of the season, matching the franchise record set in 1958.
Kupchak has been in the Lakers’ front office since the three-time NBA champion center’s playing career ended in 1986. He took charge of the basketball operations when Jerry West departed in 2000.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Excellent matchup in Anaheim
UNDATED (AP) β There is no doubt about it, the marquee game of the night on ice is taking place in Anaheim as the Ducks entertain the Sharks. In the Pacific Division standings the Ducks lead the Sharks, 110 points to 107. If Anaheim wins, the Ducks will clinch the division championship. They would also set a season record for points as 110 is the franchise watermark.
This is the fifth and final meeting of the teams this regular season with the Sharks having won three of the previous encounters. If San Jose fails to win the division, the Sharks can look back on games played since the Olympics against non-contenders. Against teams headed to the playoffs the Sharks are 7-1-0 since Sochi (SOH’-chee), but 5-4-3 against teams not in the playoff picture.
Two teams battling for a playoff spot are facing off tonight in Dallas as the Stars play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Stars currently are holding down the eighth and final playoff berth in the West while the Jackets are eighth in the East.
This is a makeup game from March 10 when Stars center Rich Peverely collapsed on the Dallas bench due to a cardiac event. The teams will play a full 60 minutes plus any potential overtime and shootout, but the game will begin with Columbus leading 1-0, the score when play was halted after Peverly’s medical emergency.
The remaining games tonight have the Blackhawks at home to Montreal, Detroit at Pittsburgh, and the Kings at Calgary.
MASTERS
One day away
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) β As is the case every year at Augusta National, the day before the start of the Masters is highlighted by the annual par-3 contest. That’s when members of the Masters field take part in a par-3 contest on a nine-hole course located in the northeast corner of the Augusta National grounds.
This year’s event is taking place this afternoon.
The main event, the Masters itself, starts play tomorrow with one noticeable player being absent, Tiger Woods. The world’s top-ranked player withdrew from the event because he is rehabbing from back surgery. Phil Mickelson summed it up by saying, “It’s a weird feeling not having him here.”
