Update on the latest sports
NBA PLAYOFFS-NETS/BUCKS
Harden playing
NEW YORK (AP) — James Harden is going to give it a shot tonight.
The Brooklyn Nets All-Star guard will play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Bucks. Harden had been sidelined since the first minute of the opener due to a hamstring injury.
The Nets upgraded the All-Star guard’s status to available about 45 minutes before the game.
Harden missed 20 of 21 games in the second half of the season with hamstring problems. Coach Steve Nash said before the game that the push to play Tuesday was coming from Harden, who has never won an NBA championship.
NBA-ALL-STARS
Jokic, Antetokounmpo lead All-Star picks
NEW YORK (AP) — Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) is among the list of players named to the All-NBA First Team.
The Denver Nuggets center averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 72 games during the regular season. He also averaged 29.8 points as Denver advanced to the Western Conference semifinals before getting swept by Phoenix.
Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-tah-KOON’-poh) was a unanimous First Team selection. He and Jokic are joined on the First Team by Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (DAHN’-chihch) and Clippers forward Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard.
Second Team selections were Lakers forward LeBron James, 76ers center Joel Embiid (joh-EHL’ ehm-BEED’), Suns guard Chris Paul, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Knicks forward Julius Randle.
MLB-NEWS
Pitchers face crackdown on foreign substances
UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball is cracking down on pitchers using illegal foreign substances to doctor baseballs to get a better grip.
Beginning Monday, such pitchers will be ejected and receive 10-game suspensions. Suspension time will escalate for repeat offenders.
Major and minor league umpires will start regular checks of all pitchers, even if opposing managers don’t request inspections.
The penalty comes amid record strikeouts and a league batting average at a more than half-century low. The spin rate of pitches has gone off the charts as some hurlers resort to foreign substances that provide an enhanced grip.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said use of grip substances had changed.
In other MLB news:
— The Rays’ charge to the AL East title has taken a severe hit following a serious injury to Tyler Glasnow (GLAS’-noh). An MRI showed Glasnow had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and also a flexor strain putting the remainder of his season in doubt. Glasnow said he won’t have surgery for now, but he’d miss the rest of this season and at least most of the next if he elects to have Tommy John surgery.
— White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on Tuesday to repair tears in his right hamstring. The 24-year-old rookie was hitting .305 with 21 RBIs and 30 runs scored in 54 games before getting hurt last week trying to beat out a grounder. Chicago had put him on the 60-day injured list and held out hope he might recover to play again this year.
—The Nationals have placed ace Max Scherzer on the 10-day injured list because of groin inflammation. Scherzer tweaked his groin in the first inning of his last start on Saturday, calling the injury minor. Scherzer is 5-4 with a 2.21 ERA.
— The Athletics have picked up Bob Melvin’s contract option for next season. Melvin has guided the A’s to an 808-715 record since taking over midway through the 2011 season. He recently passed Tony La Russa for most victories by an Oakland manager and last weekend became the 35th person in major league history with 1,300 managerial wins.
— The Yankees will resume 100% capacity in the Bronx starting with Friday night’s series opener against the Athletics. More than half the 30 teams have announced plans to resume full capacity.
NHL NEWS
Lindblom wins Masterton
UNDATED (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers left wing Oskar Lindblom has captured the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, given to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.”
Lindblom was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer in December 2019, causing him to miss the remainder of the regular season. He returned to the Flyers’ lineup for two games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in September and regained his regular place in the lineup this season.
Lindblom had eight goals and 14 points in 50 games this year. He was declared cancer-free in March.
In other NHL news:
— The Devils have re-signed right wing Nathan Bastian to a two-year deal worth $1.65 million. Bastian completed his first full NHL season with the Devils, leading the club with 136 hits and collecting 10 points in 41 games.
NFL NEWS
Belichick won’t expect Gilmore to take part
UNDATED (AP) — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he doesn’t expect cornerback Stephon Gilmore to participate in any of the team’s remaining mandatory minicamp workouts this week.
It’s an indication the former defensive player of the year could be a holdout as the team prepares to open training camp next month. Gilmore also has skipped the team’s voluntary workouts in recent months. He is entering the final season of a five-year, $65 million deal.
In other news from NFL camps:
— Tua Tagovailoa (TOO’-ah tuhng-ah-vy-LOH’-ah) threw five interceptions in practice as the Dolphins opened mandatory minicamp. Worse, all those giveaways came with NFL interceptions leader Xavien Howard a no-show for the first day of minicamp. Head coach Brian Flores calls Howard’s absence a contract issue.
— The Panthers have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with first-round draft pick Jaycee Horn, a cornerback from South Carolina. The team has a fifth-year option as part of the contract.
TENNIS-QUEEN’S CLUB
Andy Murray defeats Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2 at Queen’s Club
LONDON (AP) — Former world No. 1 Andy Murray has earned his first major victory in more than a year, and his first grass-court win in three years.
Murray defeated Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2 at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament. Murray had not played on the ATP Tour since Rotterdam.
MICHIGAN-DOCTOR-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Abuse victims to seek school action on Schembechler’s legacy
DETROIT (AP) — Former University of Michigan football players and others who say they were sexually abused by a now-deceased team doctor are expected to call for action by the University of Michigan’s board as the legacy of the school’s gridiron coach is being questioned over what he knew.
The group has planned a news conference Wednesday in Ann Arbor, a day before Michigan regents are to hold a regularly scheduled meeting. No action items involving former head coach Bo Schembechler (SHEHM’-behk-lur), Dr. Robert E. Anderson or litigation against the school by abuse victims were listed on the agenda.
Hundreds of men allegedly were abused by Anderson during his nearly four decades working for the university.
GOLF-US OPEN-DRAW
DeChambeau and Koepka keep distance on US Open tee sheet
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Anyone hopeful of a Bryson DeChambeau-Brooks Koepka (KEHP’-kah) pairing at the U.S. Open will have to wait. The USGA has them on opposite sides of the course at Torrey Pines, one playing in the morning and one in the afternoon.
DeChambeau and Koepka have been engaged in a social media spat that began nearly two years ago and picked up steam with a leaked Golf Channel clip that was never aired. Koepka stops his interview at the PGA Championship and rolls his eyes when he sees DeChambeau walking behind him and then uses salty language to express his feelings.
