AP Sports

Celtics on the brink of an 18th title, can close out Mavericks in Game 4 of NBA Finals on Friday

DALLAS (AP) — It’s over. That’s what the numbers say. There will be a record-setting 18th championship for the Boston Celtics to celebrate soon, maybe very soon. They have a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals, a lead that has never been wasted in any NBA series, ever. The stats are absolute. The Celtics, to their credit, are taking nothing for granted. On perhaps the next-to-last day of the NBA’s 78th season, the Celtics — who could finish off the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 on Friday night — were desperately trying to keep things as close to business as usual as could be expected.

US cricket team advances to second round in Twenty20 World Cup debut at Pakistan’s expense

LAUDERHILL, Fla. (AP) — The United States cricket team has made more history by qualifying for the second round in its Twenty20 World Cup debut after its last group game against Ireland was washed out in Florida. Rain meant the match was abandoned without a ball bowled on Friday. That advanced the U.S. to the Super Eight stage and automatically qualified the Americans for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The U.S. qualified for this T20 World Cup only as a co-host with the West Indies, but it has used home advantage to make a stunning first impression in its first global cricket tournament.

Scheffler goes without a birdie for a 74 and fears an early exit from US Open

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has gone from overwhelming favorite at the U.S. Open to what might be an early exit. Scheffler went birdie-free at Pinehurst No. 2. He hasn’t had any round without a birdie in just over two years. It led to a 74 and left him outside the cut line with the afternoon taking on extremely hot conditions. Most of the damage came one one hole. Scheffler hit driver and a 3-wood just left of the green into a sandy area. That’s where his problems started. It took three shots to get on the green and he made double bogey.

Florida Panthers are calm and businesslike on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup in a sweep

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Florida Panthers are calm and collected on the verge of ending the NHL season and winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. Players are approaching Game 4 against the Edmonton Oilers like it’s Game 44 of the regular season. That businesslike approach and the experience of facing elimination in the final last year against Vegas have them poised to finish off the sweep on the road Saturday night. The league has not had a 4-0 Stanley Cup Final since Detroit swept Washington in 1998 to go back to back.

Astros release José Abreu with $30.8 million remaining on his contract

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros have released José Abreu, cutting ties with the former AL MVP less than halfway through a three-year, $58.5 million contract. The 37-year-old Abreu was batting .124 with two homers and seven RBIs this season, during which he spent time in the minors trying to fix his swing. The Astros still owe him $30.8 million from the deal he signed before last season. A three-time All-Star during his nine years with the Chicago White Sox, Abreu was named MVP during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014 after defecting from his native Cuba the previous year.

U.S. Olympic trials feels like Super Bowl of swimming at home of NFL Colts

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Olympic swimming trials will make a splash on their grandest stage yet — a temporary pool inside the massive domed stadium that is home to the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The powerhouse American team will be determined over the nine-day, prime-time competition, which starts Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The spotlight will be on stars such as Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel and Simone Manuel. But there are plenty of other potential storylines at a meet that many swimmers find more nerve-wracking than the actual Olympics. The massive venue, which can seat up to 32,000 fans, only adds to the feeling that this is the Super Bowl of swimming.

Guardians first-year manager Stephen Vogt has taken young team to top of AL Central

CLEVELAND (AP) — Stephen Vogt never managed a game at any level before this season. You’d never know it. Cleveland’s first-year manager has guided the Guardians to the top of the AL Central. A team that lost 86 games in manager Terry Francona’s final season in 2023 has become one of this season’s biggest surprises under the 39-year-old Vogt. He was a journeyman catcher who became an All-Star and his climb has made him very relatable to Cleveland’s players. Vogt said he’s borrowed a little from every manager he’s played for. While it remains to be seen if he’ll have a Hall of Fame career like Francona, he’s off to a great start.

Tyrrell Hatton keeps winning over US Open fans not only with brilliant play but amusing explosions

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Tyrrell Hatton is known for his combustible temper. It was on display early in the U.S. Open, when the ardent Liverpool FC fan tried to free kick an iron off a tee box. He also tends to speak his mind in a wholly endearing way, and that has made him a favorite among golf fans. The fiery Englishman has finished in the top 10 at every major championship, but he has never truly contended on a Sunday. Hatton hopes that will change this weekend at Pinehurst No. 2. He was 1 under and firmly in the mix after Friday’s second round.

It’s closest 38-year-old Al Horford has come to an NBA title, with Celtics on verge of their 18th

DALLAS (AP) — Al Horford has never been this close to winning an NBA championship. Boston is on the verge of an unprecedented 18th title, which would be the first for the 38-year-old Horford. The Celtics could close out a four-game sweep of the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. The game will be the center’s 185th in the playoffs. His teams have made the playoffs in 15 of his 17 NBA seasons. The only player with more career postseason games than Horford without an NBA title is Karl Malone. The Hall of Famer played in 193 from 1986-2004.

Conor McGregor out of UFC 303 because of an undisclosed injury

LAS VEGAS (AP) — An injury caused Conor McGregor to pull out of the upcoming pay-per-view event June 29 in Las Vegas that he was scheduled to headline. Organization President Dana White announced the change Thursday night on X. White saying light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will face top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka in UFC 303. McGregor was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler. The first indication that bout was in trouble when his news conference June 3 in Dublin was abruptly canceled. No immediate explanation was provided.