National Sports - The Morning Sun

Vancouver Canucks' Conor Garland, back, scores the winning goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Darnell Nurse (25) defends during the third period of Game 1 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canucks overcome 3-goal deficit to stun Oilers 5-4 in Game 1

Conor Garland broke a tie with 5:34 left and the Vancouver Canucks overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the second-round playoff series. … more

5/9/24

Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard (2) defends against New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) during the first half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Jalen Brunson returns from foot injury, sparks Knicks past Pacers for 2-0 lead in East semifinals

Jalen Brunson returned from a right foot injury to score 24 of his 29 points in the second half, leading the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern … more

By BRIAN MAHONEY | 5/8/24

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period of Game 2 of a second-round series of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Aleksander Barkov scores twice, Panthers rout Bruins 6-1 in Game 2 to tie series

Aleksander Barkov had two goals and two assists, Sam Reinhart added four assists and the Florida Panthers beat the Boston Bruins 6-1 on Wednesday night to tie the second-round series at a game … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 5/8/24

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) runs on the court after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Jalen Brunson returns for second half of Game 2 vs. Pacers after injuring right foot in first half

Jalen Brunson has returned to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals after missing the second quarter with a sore right foot. Brunson was hurt with about 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the first … more

5/8/24

Tiger Woods waves after his final round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tiger Woods to be lone player on negotiating committee with Saudis

Tiger Woods is the only player on a five-member subcommittee that will be negotiating with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Woods is on the PGA Tour Enterprise transaction subcommittee. That group is … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 5/8/24

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras, left, is helped off the field by trainer Adam Olsen, right, after being injured during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in St. Louis. Contreras left the game. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Contreras' injury highlights the danger of big league catchers moving closer to home plate

When Willson Contreras was struck on his left arm by a swing, it was felt by former and current catchers all over the major leagues. Contreras’ broken left forearm was a scary reminder of the … more

By JAY COHEN | 5/8/24

FILE - Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla., March 4, 2024. Skenes, who has a 0.99 ERA in seven Triple-A starts, will make his major league debut for the Pirates on Saturday, May 11, when they face the Cubs, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Pirates are calling up top pitching prospect Paul Skenes for his major league debut, AP source says

A person with direct knowledge of the decision says the Pittsburgh Pirates will promote top pitching prospect Paul Skenes for his major league debut Saturday. The person spoke to The Associated Press … more

By WILL GRAVES | 5/8/24

CORRECTS FROM CAITLYN TO CAITLIN - Pailynn Amos, center, holds a sign for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark in front of her mother Rebecca Amos, of Ennis, Texas, prior to an WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever embrace notion of using charter flights for WNBA travel

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark may be as recognizable as any established WNBA star. Naturally when the league's top overall draft pick made her first official trip last week, she became a popular … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 5/8/24

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front, looks to drive past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Coach Malone reminds the Nuggets they're the defending champs and asks them to play like it

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone says he reminded his team they are the defending champions and issued a challenge to both act like it and play like it. The Nuggets are coming off a blowout loss … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 5/8/24

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández, left, is hit with sunflower seeds thrown by Mookie Betts after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Teoscar Hernández hits 2-run homer in 6th inning to propel Dodgers to 3-1 victory over Marlins

Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer in the sixth, Gavin Stone continued the run of solid Dodgers’ starts and Los Angeles beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 to win its sixth straight and complete an … more

By JOE REEDY | 5/8/24

FILE - A trainer cleans blood off of the uniform of Xavier forward Jack Nunge (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Butler, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. Colleges and universities are having a difficult time hiring, recruiting and retaining members of their athletic training staffs because of a number of below-market conditions, a survey shows. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)

Underpaid and overworked. Colleges, universities having trouble hiring, retaining athletic trainers

Colleges and universities are having a difficult time hiring, recruiting and retaining members of their athletic training staffs because of a number of below-market conditions, a survey shows. The … more

By HANK KURZ Jr. | 5/8/24

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, right, drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Mavericks star Luka Doncic looks to bounce back from rough Game 1 against the Thunder

Lu Dort was the defensive catalyst as the Oklahoma City Thunder held Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic to 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. … more

By CLIFF BRUNT | 5/8/24

Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) skates into Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) as defenseman Erik Cernak (81) looks on during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. Verhaeghe was charged with goaltender interference. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Goaltender interference debate is alive and well in the NHL playoffs after 1st-round controversy

The biggest controversy so far in the NHL playoffs came in the first round when the Tampa Bay Lightning on the wrong end of a couple of questionable goaltender interference rulings in the game they … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 5/8/24

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts after making birdie on the 16th hole during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy won't rejoin PGA Tour board, says others were 'uncomfortable' with his potential return

Rory McIlroy won’t be returning to the PGA Tour board. He said Wednesday that a plan to replace Webb Simpson was met with resistance from board members. Simpson is one of six player-directors. He … more

By STEVE REED | 5/8/24

Chicago White Sox's Robbie Grossman celebrates with teammates after scoring on an RBI double by Tommy Pham during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Rangers reacquire switch-hitting OF Robbie Grossman in a trade with the White Sox

The Texas Rangers have reacquired switch-hitting outfielder Robbie Grossman in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. Texas sent minor league right-hander Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa to Chicago in the deal … more

5/8/24

FILE - Jermall Charlo poses with his championship belts after beating Juan Macias Montiel in a WBC middleweight world championship boxing match Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Houston. The World Boxing Council has stripped unbeaten Jermall Charlo of his middleweight title following his arrest this week on suspicion of drunken driving in Texas. The organization's Board of Governors on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, named Carlos Adames its champion in the division. Charlo hasn't defended his title since 2021, and Adames became interim champion in October 2022.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

WBC strips Jermall Charlo of middleweight title following DUI arrest. Carlos Adames is new champion

The World Boxing Council has stripped unbeaten Jermall Charlo of his middleweight title following his arrest this week on suspicion of drunken driving in Texas. The organization’s Board of … more

5/8/24

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, attends a press conference at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Wednesday, May 8, 2024.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Nadal's clay game is rounding into form just in time for the French Open. 'Things are happening.'

Rafael Nadal’s clay-court form is slowly rounding into shape. Not that nearly invincible shape that the tennis world grew accustomed to over the past two decades. But a shape that the 22-time Grand … more

By ANDREW DAMPF | 5/8/24

Borussia Dortmund players celebrate at the end of the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

'Enjoy your vacation.' Borussia Dortmund makes fun of PSG after reaching Champions League final

After beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund got the better of the French club on social media as well. Dortmund celebrated Tuesday's semifinal win by rubbing a bit of … more

5/8/24

FILE - Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson holds up the championship trophy as she celebrates with her team their win in the WNBA basketball finals against the Connecticut Sun, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Uncasville, Conn. The two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are favored to win the title again. They return their core four players to the roster from a team that became the first in more than 20 years to repeat as champions. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

A'ja Wilson, Becky Hammon and 'resilient' Las Vegas Aces favored to win third WNBA title in a row

A'ja Wilson and the “resilient” Las Vegas Aces are healthy and and ready to defend their WNBA crown. They became the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02 to win consecutive titles … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 5/8/24

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates in front of right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) and Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) after scoring a goal in the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Dallas, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Avalanche got legs under them in another comeback to beat fading Stars in 2nd-round opener

The Colorado Avalanche had gone a full week since wrapping up their first-round series, and were down three goals in the first period on the road against the top-seeded team. But once league MVP … more

By STEPHEN HAWKINS | 5/8/24