Update on the latest sports
NBA-PLAYOFFS
Pacers lose another player hours before play-in game
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers will be without starting forward Caris LeVert when they face the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA’s first play-in game.
Team officials announced that LeVert had entered the league’s health and safety protocol about five hours before tipoff Tuesday. He missed the second half of Sunday’s game against Toronto with a migraine headache, but coach Nate Bjorkgren said Monday that LeVert was feeling better and was expected to play.
Jeremy Lamb, Myles Turner and T.J. Warren also will miss the game with injuries. Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and Edmond Sumner are all questionable.
In other injury developments:
— Milwaukee Bucks reserve forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) will miss the start of the playoffs after fracturing his right patella tendon in his team’s regular-season finale. Bucks officials say the 28-year-old will be out for at least two weeks. He underwent an MRI after a leg injury had knocked him out of a 118-112 loss at Chicago a night earlier. He’s the older brother of Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh). The Bucks are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and open a first-round series with the Miami Heat on Saturday.
NBA-PACERS-TURNER-BLOCKED SHOTS
Turner turns out to be blocked-shots champ
NEW YORK (AP) — Upon further review, Indiana’s Myles Turner is the NBA’s blocked-shot champion for this season.
The NBA said Tuesday that Turner will be recognized as the winner in that category, even though he did not play in the required 70% of games that are typically needed for someone to qualify as a statistical leader. Turner averaged 3.4 blocks per game in 47 games. Utah’s Rudy Gobert averaged 2.7 blocks per game in 71 games.
By NBA rule, Turner would have needed to appear in 51 games to qualify for the award. But if Turner had been in the minimum number of games, his average would still have been higher.
MLB-METS-PILLAR
Pillar has nose fractures after HBP
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar suffered multiple nasal fractures when he was hit in the face by a fastball. The Mets say Pillar will meet with a facial specialist in Atlanta to determine the next steps.
He was drilled in the nose by a 95 mph pitch from Braves reliever Jacob Webb with the bases loaded in the seventh inning Monday night. Pillar was knocked to the ground, and blood poured from his nose when he lifted his head.
After the game, Mets manager Luis Rojas said the veteran outfielder was taken to the hospital for a CT scan. Pillar later provided an encouraging update on Twitter, saying it was a scary moment but he was doing fine.
MLB-INDIANS-ATTENDANCE
Indians will allow full stadium
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians announced that Progressive Field is returning to full capacity on June 2 and masks will be optional.
There had been a cap of 40% at the downtown ballpark, which holds 35,000 fans. The move to open all the seats comes after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ended the state’s COVID-19 health orders.
Cleveland hosts the Chicago White Sox on June 2, the finale of a three-game series.
Also, the team said masks will no longer be a requirement to enter the ballpark.
NFL-EAGLES-JAGUARS TRADE
Jaguars trade Scott to Eagles
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars traded cornerback Josiah Scott to the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Jameson Houston and a sixth-round draft pick in 2023.
Scott, a fourth-round selection in 2020, became expendable after Jacksonville signed Shaquill Griffin in free agency and used a second-rounder on Tyson Campbell.
Houston was considered a long shot to make the Eagles’ opening day roster and likely will be in the same spot in Jacksonville.
TENNIS-GENEVA OPEN
Federer loses comeback match
GENEVA (AP) — Roger Federer lost his comeback match after two months away from the tour. The top-seeded Federer lost to Pablo Andujar 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round of the Geneva Open.
It was Federer’s first match on clay in almost two years and only his second tournament in the past 15 months. That period included two knee surgeries.
Federer earlier watched 18-year-old Swiss prospect Dominic Stephan Stricker beat former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 7-6 (5), 6-1 in his ATP tour debut. The 2020 French Open junior champion has practiced previously with Federer.
MLB-OBIT-RENNIE STENNETT
Former Pirates infielder Stennett dead at 72
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Former Pittsburgh Pirate second baseman Rennie Stennett has died following a bout with cancer. He was 72.
Stennett spent nine of his 11 big league seasons with the Pirates, helping the team win the 1979 World Series. Stennett hit .274 over the course of his career and twice received votes for the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.
Stennett started at second base on Sept. 1, 1971 when the Pirates fielded the first all-Black starting lineup in MLB history. Stennett is also the only player in the modern era to go 7 for 7 at the plate in a nine-inning game.
