Update on the latest sports
APNHL-PLAYOFFS-CANUCKS-FLAMES
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Thatcher Demko had 38 saves and the Vancouver Canucks withstood a late barrage and held on for a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Tyler Myers, Travis Hamonic and Brock Boeser each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Rookie Nils Hoglander rounded out the scoring for Vancouver with a goal in the closing minute of the first period. The Flames and Canucks will wrap up their seasons Wednesday with a matinee in Calgary.
NBA-PLAYOFFS
Pacers throttle Hornets
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Never mind being without starting forward Caris LeVert. The Indiana Pacers routed the Charlotte Hornets 144-117 in the first ever NBA play-in game.
Pacers 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.
The Pacers will play the winner of the late play-in game between Washington and Boston.
In other NBA news:
— 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’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.
— 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.
— Charles Barkley has given $1,000 apiece to the more than 200 employees of a city school system in his native Alabama. The former Auburn and NBA basketball star graduated from Leeds High School in 1981. Now, AL.com reports he is giving money to each Leeds City School system worker. The announcement was made Tuesday on Facebook. According to the post, Barkley has provided more than $3 million in scholarships to Leeds graduates over the past 30 years.
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.
Elsewhere in MLB:
—Shortstop Gleyber Torres (GLAY’-bur TOHR’-ehz) could be back in the New York Yankees’ lineup a week after testing positive for COVID-19. Manager Aaron Boone says the fully vaccinated Torres had been cleared by MLB’s joint committee and was en route to Texas to rejoin the team. The shortstop could potentially be activated Wednesday. Asymptomatic vaccinated people can be cleared to return if they test negative twice. Torres is the only player among nine total positives in the Yankees’ traveling party since last week. Boone said the shortstop is the only person in that group cleared to return.
—Second baseman Rougned Odor is back in the lineup for the New York Yankees. Odor was activated from the injured list before Tuesday’s game against his former team, the Texas Rangers. He missed 12 games with a left knee sprain after a collision at home plate against the Astros on May 4. Odor says he feels great and is ready to go for the game in Texas. He also says it’s a weird feeling facing his former team. He played each of his first seven big league seasons with the Rangers.
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.
In other moves:
—The Jacksonville Jaguars signed fourth-round draft pick Jordan Smith. The team has two of its nine draft picks under contract. Smith was expected to sign a four-year deal worth about $4.22 million under the NFL’s rookie slotting system. The 6-foot-7, 255-pound Smith started his college career at Florida but was dismissed after getting caught up in a credit card scandal.
—The New York Giants have added another running back to the roster. They claimed Ryquell Armstead off waivers after he was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joins newcomer Corey Clement as a contender to back up Saquon Barkley next season. Armstead spent all of last season on the COVID-19 list.
—The Patriots have signed safety and 2021 sixth-round draft pick Joshuah Bledsoe and re-signed free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer. Bledsoe is the fourth member of the Patriots’ 2021 draft class to sign. He joins fifth-round linebacker Cameron McGrone, sixth-round offensive lineman Will Sherman, along with receiver Tre’ Nixon, who was taken in the seventh round. Hoyer continues his third stint in New England after spending last season as one of Cam Newton’s backups. New England released offensive lineman Najee Toran.
LOUISVILLE-FORMER ASSISTANT CHARGED
Former Louisville assistant charged by feds with extortion
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Federal authorities have charged a former University of Louisville assistant basketball coach with attempting to extort the university.
A federal charging document says Dino Gaudio threatened to go to the media with alleged NCAA violations by the team. He was in a March 17 meeting with team personnel when he says he would expose alleged violations by the team “in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in the use of its graduate assistants in practices.” Gaudio and another assistant left the team in March. Head coach Chris Mack says he is fully cooperating with the investigation.
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.
