Wembanyama scores 35 points in playoff debut as Spurs roll past Trail Blazers 111-98
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Wembanyama’s 21 points in the first half set an NBA record for the most in the opening half of a NBA playoff debut since the play-by-play era began in 1997. His 35 total points set a Spurs franchise record for the most in a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32 in 1998. Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists for San Antonio. Deni Avdija had 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead Portland.
Sabres score 4 3rd-period goals to beat the Bruins 4-3 in playoff opener
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Mattias Samuelson broke a tie with 3:24 left and Buffalo overcame a two-goal deficit in the final eight minutes to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Sunday night in the Sabres’ first playoff game in 15 years. Tage Thompson scored goals 3:42 apart to tie it, and Alex Tuch sealed the victory by scoring into an empty net with 1:12 left in nearly blowing the roof off the arena. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 17 shots. Buffalo hosts Game 2 of the first-round series Tuesday night. The playoff win was Buffalo’s first at home — and first overall — since a 1-0 victory over Philadelphia in Game 4 of a first-round series April 20, 2011.
Pistons open playoffs with a flop as East's top seed, losing to 8th-seeded Magic
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons opened the NBA playoffs with a flop. Detroit went into the postseason as the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, openly talking about exceeding modest expectations and winning the franchise’s fourth championship. If the Pistons don’t play better than they did in a 112-101 loss to Orlando on Sunday night in Game 1, they might get knocked out in the first round again. Cade Cunningham scored a playoff career-high 39 points but didn't get much help from his teammates. Detroit has lost an NBA-record 11 straight postseason home games
It'll be an international MVP for the NBA with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Wembanyama finalists
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might be adding a couple more trophies to his collection. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has a shot at doing the same. And for the eighth consecutive year, the MVP will be an international one. Gilgeous-Alexander — the reigning NBA MVP — is one of the finalists for this year’s top individual honor, along with Denver’s Nikola Jokic and the Spurs’ Wembanyama, who is also a finalist for defensive player of the year.
Juraj Slafkovsky's hat trick lifts Canadiens to 4-3 overtime win over the Lightning in Game 1
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Juraj Slafkovsky scored his third power-play goal 1:22 into overtime and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday night. Slafkovsky fired a snap shot from the left circle that beat Andrei Vasilevskiy to the far side for the hat trick. Game 2 is Tuesday night at Benchmark International Arena, where Tampa Bay has lost eight of its last nine home games in the postseason. Josh Anderson also had a goal for Montreal and rookie goalie Jakub Dobes made 20 saves. Brandon Hagel scored two goals and Darren Raddysh also scored for Tampa Bay.
Matt Fitzpatrick delivers another playoff winner to beat Scottie Scheffler at RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Matt Fitzpatrick is a playoff winner at Harbour Town again with a familiar ending against an American favorite. This time it was the world's best player he took down at the RBC Heritage. Fitzpatrick made a 13-foot birdie putt to beat Scottie Scheffler after hitting 4-iron to the tough 18th on the first extra hole. It was similar to when he hit 9-iron to inches away to beat Jordan Spieth three years ago. Scheffler shot 67 to make up a three-shot deficit over the last four holes. Fitzpatrick shot 70 after his only bogey on the 18th hole in regulation.
Wedgewood sharp in net, O'Connor scores 1st goal in a year as Avs beat Kings 2-1 in Game 1
DENVER (AP) — Logan O’Connor scored for the first time in a year, Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots in his first Stanley Cup playoffs start and the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in Game 1 on Sunday. O’Connor’s third-period tally was his first since Game 4 of a playoff series against Dallas on April 26. He missed most of the season with a hip injury. Artturi Lehkonen had a second-period goal for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche. Wedgewood got the nod in net over Mackenzie Blackwood after leading the league in goals-against average and save percentage. Wedgewood made four career playoff appearances in relief before Sunday’s start. Game 2 is Tuesday night in Denver.
Caitlin Clark getting reacclimated to Fever digs as she returns to practice for training camp
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark looked right at home inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. She wore her favorite Indiana Fever practice gear. She stretched and ran with teammates. And she of course flashed her trademark smile. While she didn’t line up any 3-pointers during the open portion of the team’s first training camp practice, everyone knows that will be back — in time. For now, just getting back to work in her adopted hometown served as a welcome respite after she missed all but 13 games during an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Francisco Lindor defends manager Carlos Mendoza after Mets drop 11th straight game
CHICAGO (AP) — The New York Mets dropped their 11th consecutive game when closer Devin Williams blew a ninth-inning lead in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings. It’s the longest slide for the team since it lost 11 straight in 2004. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor says the club has to stick together and fight. The Mets have been outscored 62-19 during the losing streak. They are batting .145 with runners in scoring position during the skid after going 0 for 9 in those situations in the series finale against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Hannah Green rallies to win the JM Eagle LA Championship for the 3rd time in 4 years
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Green won the JM Eagle LA Championship for the third time in first four years and the first at El Caballero, holing a 12-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole. Briefly six strokes behind Sei Young Kim on No. 11, Green closed with a 4-under 68 to match Kim and Jin Hee Im at 17-under 271. In the playoff, Green made the right-to-left breaking putt after Kim — eight strokes ahead with five holes to go in the third round — left a 35-foot birdie try short. Green also won the event in 2023 and 2024 at Wilshire Country Club. She joined Hyo Joo Kim as the only two-time winners this season on the LPGA with her fourth worldwide victory of the year.
