Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, a veteran of 7 NBA seasons, dies at 29
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, according to the team, his agency and the NBA. He was 29. A person familiar with the terms of the ongoing investigation said an autopsy was planned to determine the exact cause of his death. His agents, Priority Sports, wrote on social media that they were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death. Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance and released on bond a day later. He was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma City. Clarke was on the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 2020 but injuries limited him to 72 of 246 games the past three seasons.
Wembanyama returns with a huge performance as the Spurs beat the Wolves 126-97 for a 3-2 lead
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama atoned for his first career ejection with another huge performance, finishing with 27 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series. Keldon Johnson had 21 points, De’Aaron Fox added 18 and Stephon Castle had 17 as San Antonio moved a game away from the Western Conference finals. The Spurs can advance to face Oklahoma City with a victory in Game 6 on Friday in Minneapolis. Anthony Edwards, who was limited to eight points in the first half, finished with 20 points for Minnesota.
Dodgers give Shohei Ohtani a DH break for 2 days amid his offensive slump
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is getting a break from batting for two days. The Los Angeles Dodgers star homered for just the second time in his last 24 games in a 6-2 to the San Francisco Giants. It ended an 11-game homerless streak, which tied his longest as a Dodger. Manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani won’t be in the lineup as the designated hitter on Wednesday, when he pitches, and also Thursday. Ohtani went 2 for 4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. The rest of the Dodgers were 2 for 25 with four walks. Ohtani is in his first full season as a two-way player for the Dodgers.
76ers fire Daryl Morey as president and keep Nick Nurse as coach
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers fired president Daryl Morey on Tuesday and decided to keep Nick Nurse as their coach after the team was swept in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The 76ers were easily ousted by the New York Knicks to end Morey’s sixth season in charge, and the organization quickly decided that someone else would lead the basketball operations department. Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers will lead the search for Morey’s replacement and will oversee the department in the interim. The Sixers went 270-212 record in the regular season under Morey but just 28-26 in the postseason, failing to advance past the second round.
Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records will be handed over to prosecutors in Florida DUI case
STUART, Fla. (AP) — A judge has ruled that Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records will be handed over to prosecutors following his March arrest in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence. A judge approved an agreement between Woods’ defense attorney and prosecutors following a four-minute hearing in Martin County circuit court. Prosecutors had issued a subpoena seeking copies of all prescription medication records for the legendary golfer from the start of the year through the end of March. Woods’ attorney acknowledged during the hearing that the right to privacy is not absolute and that prosecutors could make a compelling argument for why they were needed. Prosecutors agreed to the defense attorney’s request for a protective order limiting who can access the records.
Scottie Scheffler is looking to end a streak of runner-up finishes with PGA Championship repeat
NEWTOWN SQAURE, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is the dominant player in golf and looking to avoid feeling like a bridesmaid. He’s the defending champion at the PGA Championship. The world’s No. 1 player also is coming off three consecutive runner-up finishes dating to the Masters. Scheffler says it’s a little bittersweet but at least he knows he’s playing well. He’ll try to join Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods as the only players to win the PGA back-to-back in stroke play. In his way is the strongest field among the majors and an Aronimink course that has what Xander Schauffele describes as diabolical greens.
Dorofeyev scores in OT to give Golden Knights 3-2 win over Ducks and 3-2 series lead
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second goal of the game at 4:10 of overtime to give Vegas a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, moving the Golden Knights a victory away from advancing to the Western Conference final. Game 6 of the second-round series is Thursday night at Anaheim. The Golden Knights can reach the conference final for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. Anaheim, making its first playoff appearance in eight years, will try force a Game 7 back in Las Vegas on Saturday. Tomas Hertl had gone 29 games going back to the regular season without a goal, but now has two in two games. Carter Hart stopped 34 shots for Vegas.
Benson breaks tie on birthday, Sabres beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 4 to even series
MONTREAL (AP) — Zach Benson broke a tie on a third-period power play on his 21st birthday and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Tuesday night in Game 4 to even the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Benson took a pass in the slot from Josh Doan, kicked the puck to his stick and put a backhander past goalie Jakub Dobes at 4:41 of the third. Game 5 is Thursday night in Buffalo. The series winner will face Carolina in the Eastern Conference final. Tage Thompson tied it for Buffalo in the second period with a fluke goal and also had an assist. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring and Doan had two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen replaced Alex Lyon, making 28 saves.
MLB players, owners start collective bargaining, 6 1/2 months ahead of contract’s expiration
NEW YORK (AP) — Negotiators for baseball players and owners have begun what figures to be lengthy and acrimonious collective bargaining negotiations to replace their labor contract that expires Dec. 1, with management likely to propose a salary cap system the union has vowed never to accept. An initial session of about two hours took place at the office of the Major League Baseball Players Association, a five-minute walk from Major League Baseball’s headquarters in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center. The meeting lasted about two hours and was scheduled for initial presentations from each side on their view of the sport and its economics. No proposals were made.