AP Sports in a Minute for April 20th, 2024.
The NBA playoffs are finally here. And as LeBron James says, 'it's a sprint now'
There's a 64-win team in Boston that ran away with the league's best record. The defending champions in Denver, a group that won 57 games. A fearless young bunch in Oklahoma City, whose No. 1 seed was no fluke. A trio of Villanova alums in New York, who turned the Knicks into a real contender. And, once again, there's LeBron James, too. The NBA playoffs are about to begin with the Celtics and Nuggets the heavy favorites to collide in the Finals, and no shortage of teams have realistic belief that they can win the whole thing as well.
The Heat are headed to Boston after ousting the Bulls 112-91 in East play-in finale
MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 24 points and was an assist shy of a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points and the Miami Heat grabbed the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, running away from the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in a play-in tournament elimination game. Kevin Love scored 16 and Bam Adebayo added 13 for Miami. The Heat head to Boston for a rematch of the last two East finals against the Celtics. It's Round 1 this time, with the Heat set to be huge underdogs against the runaway favorite to win the NBA title. DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Bulls.
Ingram, Valanciunas lift Zion-less Pelicans past Kings and into the playoffs
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans booked a spot in the NBA playoffs with a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament elimination game. The Pelicans won without leading-scorer Zion Williamson, who strained his left hamstring in a play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. New Orleans used a balanced approach to improved to 8-5 this season without Williamson in the lineup. Six players scored 10 or more points. New Orleans now opens the playoffs at top-seeded Oklahoma City on Sunday. De'Aaron Fox scored 35 points for the Kings and Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Sign of the times: NCAA approves coach-to-player helmet communication for 2024 football season
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Following a sign-stealing scandal that rocked college football and hung over Michigan's championship run in 2023, the NCAA's oversight committee approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season. The football rules committee last month made a recommendation to allow — but not require — teams at the highest tier of Division I to use radio technology similar to what NFL teams use to call in plays. Only one player for each team will be permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field.
Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non-controlling, minority stake in franchise
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of selling a non-controlling, minority interest in the franchise, the team announced. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press the stake in the team the Pegulas would be preparing to sell would be about 25%. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced by the team. The Bills announced the Pegulas have hired Allen & Company to oversee the process, while stressing no sale would take place without the Pegulas maintaining a controlling interest in the franchise.
Maple Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Canucks carry Canada's Stanley Cup hopes with drought now at 30 years
Hockey fans across Canada are preparing themselves for the annual thrill and torment that arrives with the NHL playoffs. Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto are in the 16-team field. Canada's Cup drought dates to Montreal's triumph in 1993, an agonizingly long time for fans in the nation that loves hockey more than any other. The Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Canadiens and Ottawa have all made it to the final since then only to fall short. The four Canadian clubs in this year's bracket are the most to make the cut in a normal season since 2017.
Verstappen takes pole for Chinese GP to extend F1 dominance. Hamilton 18th
SHANGHAI (AP) — Max Verstappen of Red Bull has completed the Formula 1 double. Verstappen has taken the pole for the Chinese Grand Prix just hours after winning the first F1 sprint of the season. Verstappen is the sport's best driver in the quickest car. The Dutchman has won 22 of the last 26 GPs and three of the first four this season. Only a brake failure in Australia probably kept him from sweeping all four races. Teammate Sergio Perez will start alongside Verstappen on Sunday on the front row with Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Lando Norris of McLaren on the second row.
Mario Andretti offended by F1 rejection. 'If they want blood, well, I'm ready,' says 1978 champ
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Mario Andretti says he was deeply offended by the language Formula One Management used in denying his family and General Motors the opportunity to join the global motorsports series. Andretti Cadillac in late January was denied its application to expand the grid to accommodate a two-car American team. Andretti is the 1978 F1 champion and said he was offended by the reasoning F1 gave in denying the application. He was with his son, Michael, last week when the team opened its new facility for an F1 team in England. The Andretti executives were able to meet with FOM after. Another meeting is scheduled for the Miami Grand Prix next month.
Nelly Korda 1 shot back through 36 holes at Chevron Championship as she chases 5th straight victory
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) — Nelly Korda is one shot off the lead through 36 holes at the Chevron Championship as she seeks to tie an LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win. Korda shot a 3-under 69 on Friday at the year's first major. She's at 7-under 137, trailing Atthaya Thitikul and Jin Hee Im by a shot. Korda made a double bogey on the first hole but followed that with six birdies and one bogey. The 25-year-old, top-ranked Korda is seeking her second major title after winning the Women's PGA Championship in 2021.
Collin Morikawa part of 4-way tie for the lead at Hilton Head. Scottie Scheffler lurks 3 shots back
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Every round brings Collin Morikawa closer to where he feels his game should be. The two-time major champion contended last week at the Masters. And he shot a 66 at the RBC Heritage for a four-way share of the lead. Morikawa says even when he doesn't hit it his best, he knows he's on the right track and getting closer to the consistent form that made him such a threat. He's tied with Tom Hoge, Sepp Straka and J.T. Poston. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler certainly hasn't lost his touch. He made a 65 look easy and was three shots back.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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INTERLEAGUE
Seattle at Colorado 8:10 p.m. (Postponed)
Final Cincinnati 7 L.A. Angels 1
Final Philadelphia 7 Chicago White Sox 0
Final Boston 8 Pittsburgh 1
Final Houston 5 Washington 3
Final Atlanta 8 Texas 3
Final Toronto 5 San Diego 1
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 10 Oakland 2
Final N.Y. Yankees 5 Tampa Bay 3
Final Kansas City 9 Baltimore 4
Final Detroit 5 Minnesota 4
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 8 Miami 3
Final Milwaukee 2 St. Louis 1
Final N.Y. Mets 9 L.A. Dodgers 4
Final Arizona 17 San Francisco 1
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Miami 112 Chicago 91
Final New Orleans 105 Sacramento 98
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Boston at Pittsburgh 4:05 p.m.
Houston at Washington 4:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
L-A Angels at Cincinnati 6:40 p.m.
Texas at Atlanta 7:20 p.m.
Seattle at Colorado 8:10 p.m.
Toronto at San Diego 8:40 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay at N-Y Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota 2:10 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland 6:10 p.m.
Baltimore at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee at St. Louis 2:15 p.m.
Miami at Chi Cubs 2:20 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco 4:05 p.m.
N-Y Mets at L-A Dodgers 4:05 p.m.
Miami at Chi Cubs 7:40 p.m.
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Orlando at Cleveland 1 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota 3:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at New York 6 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Denver 8:30 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
N-Y Islanders at Carolina 5 p.m.
Toronto at Boston 8 p.m.
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Cincinnati at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Portland at Columbus 7:30 p.m.
Nashville at Miami 7:30 p.m.
Orlando City at CF Montréal 7:30 p.m.
D.C. United at New York City FC 7:30 p.m.
New England at Toronto FC 7:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at Chicago 8:30 p.m.
Austin FC at Houston 8:30 p.m.
St Louis City at Sporting Kansas City 8:30 p.m.
FC Dallas at Colorado 9:30 p.m.
New York at Los Angeles FC 10:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Seattle 10:30 p.m.
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