Update on the latest sports
NBA PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Bucks try to sweep Heat
UNDATED (AP) — History is with the Milwaukee Bucks as they try to sweep the Miami Heat out of the playoffs in Game 4 of their first-round series. No team in NBA history has ever squandered a 3-0 series lead.
Teams have held 3-0 series leads in best-of-seven NBA matchups on 140 previous occasions. A sweep was the result in 87 of those, or 62% of the time; 40 series ended in five games; 10 ended in six and three even got pushed to a Game 7 — most recently Dallas’ victory over Portland in the 2003 first round. But in all 140 cases, the 3-0 lead held up.
The afternoon matchup in Miami is the first of four playoff games on the Saturday schedule.
Denver will try to take a 3-1 series lead when the Nuggets visit Portland. Philadelphia goes to Washington seeking a 3-0 series lead. Mike Conley plays his 29th playoff game in Memphis — but first as an opponent — when Utah visits the Grizzlies for Game 3 of that series, which is tied.
NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Fans return in Montreal…2nd round starts with Islanders at Bruins
UNDATED (AP) — There will be fans in the arena Saturday night as the Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. About 2,500 people will be allowed after Quebec loosened its rules. It will be the first crowd at an NHL game in Canada since March of 2020.
While Montreal tries to force a Game 7, the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will get started in Boston as the Bruins take on the New York Islanders. It’s a matchup of two similar teams, each expecting a hard-fought series with a spot in the NHL’s final four on the line. The Islanders won the first five meetings this season and the Bruins won the final three.
MLB-SCHEDULE
3 doubleheaders scheduled after rainouts
UNDATED (AP) — The Pirates, Nationals and White Sox are set to host doubleheaders on Saturday, weather permitting. Rain caused the postponement Friday of the Pirates and Rockies in Pittsburgh, the Brewers and Nationals in Washington, the Orioles-White Sox game in Chicago and the Mets and Braves in New York. The Mets haven’t announced a makeup date.
Rockies right-hander Jon Gray will face Pirates righty JT Brubaker in the first game Saturday. In the nightcap, Colorado left-hander Austin Gomber will oppose Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller.
The Nationals will use Jon Lester and Patrick Corbin as starting pitchers for the doubleheader, though they have yet to determine who will pitch the early game. Brett Anderson and Freddy Peralta will pitch for Milwaukee.
The White Sox announced that left-hander Dallas Keuchel (KY’-kul), the scheduled starter on Friday, will pitch the opener against Baltimore. Right-hander Lance Lynn will start the second game. The Orioles didn’t immediately name starters for Saturday. Right-hander Matt Harvey was originally scheduled to pitch on Friday and left-hander John Means was slated for Saturday.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— The Philadelphia Phillies have reinstated catcher J.T. Realmuto from the 10-day injured list. Realmuto was placed on the IL on May 21, retroactive to May 18, with a bruised left hand. He is in the lineup for Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay. Catcher Rafael Marchán was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Realmuto was hitting .294 with four homers and 17 RBIs before being sidelined.
— The Arizona Diamondbacks hope to snap a 12-game skid when they host St. Louis. Right-hander Seth Frankoff is set to face Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright. Arizona has dropped 21 of 24 dating to May 4, and the losing streak is the franchise’s longest since dropping 14 straight in 2004.
— Cody Bellinger is ready to return from a broken leg that’s sidelined him for nearly two months. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says the 2019 NL MVP will start in center field Saturday and Sunday against San Francisco. Bellinger has been out since April 5 with a hairline fracture in his left fibula. The World Series champion Dodgers went through a rough patch without him but have since won 13 of 15 and sit a half-game behind the NL West-leading San Diego Padres. Los Angeles left-hander Julio Urías (oo-REE’-uhs) is set to face the Giants’ Logan Webb.
