NBA-STERLING
Wheels in motion
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA owners’ advisory and finance committee is holding a meeting today to discuss the next steps in the removal of Donald Sterling as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 10-member committee is engaging in a conference call two days after Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life from the league and fined him $2.5 million for making racist comments. Silver also said he would urge owners to use their power to force Sterling to sell the team. Such a move requires support from three-fourths of the league’s owners.
NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Three teams look to advance
UNDATED (AP) — The Hawks, Grizzlies and Clippers can all advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs with a win this evening. Should the Hawks and Grizzlies realize their dream, they’ll have completed a surprising first-round victory over a higher seed.
In Atlanta the Hawks are playing host to the Pacers in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series. The Hawks top the affair 3-2 and if the Pacers walk off the court with a win, a seventh and deciding game will be played Saturday in Indianapolis.
It’s much the same story in Memphis as the Grizzlies entertain the Oklahoma City Thunder leading 3-2. If the Grizz win they advance, if the Thunder prevail, the seventh game will be Saturday in Oklahoma City.
In the final game of the night the much-publicized Los Angeles Clippers are playing at Golden State with a 3-2 lead. If L.A. loses tonight the seventh game will take place Saturday night on the Clippers’ home court.
NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Bruins and Canadiens set to go
BOSTON (AP) — The opening game of the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series between the Bruins and Canadiens is being played tonight in Boston. Montreal won the season series 3-1. In the first round the Bruins advanced in five games over Detroit while it took the Habs just four games to eliminate Tampa Bay.
For hockey purists, the series features two of the original six teams.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Day-night action in three locations
UNDATED (AP) — There are three day-night doubleheaders on tap today in baseball. In Boston the Red Sox are playing host to the Rays in an afternoon game before a contest this evening. The same thing applies for the Dodgers and Twins, who are playing this afternoon in Minneapolis with a second game to follow tonight. And in Baltimore the Orioles are hosting the Pirates in a late afternoon game followed by a second contest.
In the evening portion of play Seattle is in New York to face the Yankees, Miami is home to the Braves, Milwaukee is in Cincinnati, the Royals are hosting the Blue Jays and the Mets are in Denver to face the Rockies.
PGA-WELLS FARGO
PGA Tour hits Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — This week’s stop on the PGA Tour is the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C. The field includes Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy, who are making their first starts since the Masters.
The winner a year ago was Derek Ernst, who won his first tour title with a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff with David Lynn, which Ernst won on the first hole.
Last week South Korea’s Seung-Yul Noh won the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., for his first PGA Tour victory. Andrew Svoboda and Robert Streb tied for second, two strokes back.
LPGA-NORTH TEXAS
Thompson returns to action
IRVING, Texas (AP) — The LPGA Tour features a four-round event this week, the North Texas Shootout. Lexi Thompson is making her first start since winning the Kraft Nabisco last month for her first major title. The 144-player field will be cut to the top 70 and ties after the second round and to the top 50 and ties after third.
Last week’s winner of the Swinging Skirts event in Dale City, Calif, was Lydia Ko.
