AP Sports

Mitchell’s 29 points help Cavaliers blow out Celtics 118-94, tie series at 1 game apiece

BOSTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Evan Mobley had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the top-seeded Boston Celtics 118-94 and tie their second-round playoff series at one game apiece. Two nights after losing by 25, the Cavaliers seized the lead in the third quarter and answered with a blowout of their own. Mitchell scored 16 in the third. Jayson Tatum scored 25 for Boston, and Jaylen Brown added 19 points. The series moves to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, with a return trip to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Doncic scores 29 points as Mavericks top Thunder 119-110 to tie series at 1-1

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-110 to even their Western Conference semifinals series at one win apiece. The Thunder held Doncic to 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting in Game 1. He bounced back and made 11 of 21 field goals in Game 2. P.J. Washington added 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists and Jalen Williams added 20 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City lost for the first time in the postseason.

Artemi Panarin scores in overtime, Rangers beat Hurricanes 3-2 to take 3-0 series lead

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Artemi Panarin redirected a pass between his legs at the crease to beat Pyotr Kochetkov just 1:43 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the second-round playoff series. Panarin scored after Carolina defenseman Dmitry Orlov lost control of a puck in the corner in the defensive zone. Vincent Trocheck collected it on the right side and sent it toward the crease to Panarin, who tipped the puck behind him as defenseman Jalen Chatfield tried to push him away from the crease. The puck slipped under the right elbow and past the ribs of Kochetkov. The Rangers can complete the sweep in Game 4 here Saturday night.

Miro Heiskanen scores 2 power-play goals and Stars beat Avs 5-3 in Game 2 to even series

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen scored two power-play goals, Roope Hintz had a goal and three assists and the Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the second-round Western Conference series. Tyler Seguin got his first goal this postseason on a short-hander at the end of a 3-on-1 breakaway for the Stars that put them up 4-0 late in the second period. Esa Lindell added an empty-netter with 20 seconds left. Jake Oettinger had 28 saves for Dallas. Joel Kiviranta, Brandon Duhaime and Valeri Nichushkin scored in the third period for the Avalanche

Raucous crowd roars its approval for Caitlin Clark in her home debut with Fever, an 83-80 win

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark walked into her new home arena with No. 22 shirts and jerseys peppered from floor to ceiling. A late-arriving but louder-than-usual crowd roared during her first official introduction to Fever fans on Thursday night. And when the former Iowa star made the layup for her first basket with 7:00 left in the first quarter, the applause grew. It was even louder when she completed a three-point play a few minutes later. She had 12 points to help lead the Fever to an 83-80 preseason win over the Atlanta Dream. It was a moment Fever fans have dreaming about since they won the lottery in December.

Stanford names basketball court “Tara VanDerveer Court” for retired Hall of Famer, winningest coach

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford will now play on Tara VanDerveer Court. The school is naming the court inside Maples Pavilion for the Hall of Fame coach who retired in April as the winningest coach in college basketball. There will be an unveiling and celebration for the court at a home game in November. In addition, the 70-year-old VanDerveer will be honored by having her name associated with one of the assistant coaching positions – ‘The Tara VanDerveer Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach.” VanDerveer’s final day of work was Wednesday. She departs with 1,216 career victories over 45 years at Idaho, Ohio State and Stanford.

Suns fire coach Frank Vogel after getting swept out of the playoffs in the opening round

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have fired coach Frank Vogel after one disappointing season. The team made the announcement on Thursday, less than two weeks after getting swept out of the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns finished the regular season with a 49-33 record. Vogel won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Vogel was hired last summer to lead the Suns’ All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but the group was never quite able to gel.

President Joe Biden cheers the Las Vegas Aces and women’s basketball

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has welcomed the reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to the White House, celebrating what he called a “banner year” for women’s basketball. “It matters to girls and women, finally seeing themselves represented,” Biden said during the celebration. “It matters to all Americans. That’s why as a nation, we need to support women’s sports.” Both he and Vice President Kamala Harris were given the customary jerseys from the winning team. As he held his up, Biden yelled, “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play!” The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty last October to win their second consecutive WNBA title.

Schauffele shoots 67 to take Wells Fargo lead. McIlroy in contention again at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rory McIlroy hoped that his victory with Shane Lowry two weeks ago in the Zurich Classic team event would serve as a springboard for the remainder of the season. He’s off to a good start. McIlroy positioned himself for a run at a record fourth Wells Fargo Championship title Thursday, opening with a 4-under 67 that left him three shots behind leader Xander Schauffele. Collin Morikawa and Alex Noren also shot 67, and Justin Thomas topped the group at 68. Quail Hollow is one of McIlroy’s favorite courses, and with good reason after victories in 2010, ‘15 and ’21.

Nelly Korda shoots 69 in Founders, leaving her 6 shots back in bid for 6th LPGA Tour win in a row

CLIFTON, N.J. (AP) — Nelly Korda is going to have some work to do if she wants to win a record sixth straight LPGA tournament, especially the way Rose Zhang is playing. Korda shot a relatively mistake-free 3-under 69 early in the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup on Thursday and then could only watch as the 20-year-old Zhang posted a tournament record-tying 63 in the afternoon to take the lead. In her winning streak, Korda has never trailed by more than eight strokes after the opening round. The 25-year-old is six back heading into the second round at the Upper Montclair Country Club.