Update on the latest sports
APNBA PLAYOFFS
Nets and Bucks; Nuggets face daunting deficit
UNDATED (AP) — The Nets and the Bucks were the NBA’s two highest-scoring teams in the regular season, but their playoff series has been noteworthy for its defense so far.
The Bucks scored a league-high 120.1 points a game in the regular season but have averaged just 93 points in this series. Milwaukee scored a season-low 86 points in a 39-point Game 2 loss and matched that total in a 86-83 Game 3 win.
The Nets had their lowest scoring output of the season in Game 3. Kevin Durant has led the way for Brooklyn by averaging 30.3 points, 8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2 steals and 1.3 blocks. The Nets again won’t have James Harden but could have forward Jeff Green.
Game 4 is this afternoon in Milwaukee.
— Tonight, the Suns and Nuggets meet in Denver with the Nuggets facing a daunting 3-0 deficit in their series. They are the 143rd NBA team to lose the first three games of a best-of-seven playoff series. No team has ever recovered from three games down to win four in a row. The Nuggets say their only focus is on sending the series back to Phoenix with a win in Game 4. If they lose, Nikola Jokic will become the first MVP to get swept in a playoff series since the NBA went to the best-of-seven format for all series in 2003.
NHL PLAYOFFS
Lightning, Islanders envision tight Stanley Cup semifinal
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — After exclusively divisional play this season and through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the NHL is down to a final four of teams that haven’t played each other all year.
The New York Islanders face the Tampa Bay Lightning in one semifinal that’s a rematch of the 2020 Eastern Conference final, while the Vegas Golden Knights play the Montreal Canadiens in a playoff series for the first time.
The Islanders and Lightning get started in Tampa this afternoon.
MLB SCHEDULE
Padres look to end skid
NEW YORK (AP) — The Padres have matched a season high with four straight losses, a skid they hope to snap against the Mets with RHP Chris Paddack (2-5, 4.27) on the mound this afternoon.
San Diego’s skid has come against a pair of first-place teams — the NL Central-leading Cubs and NL East-best Mets — but the club has also lost 10 of 13 overall. The Padres were hitless in two at-bats with runners in scoring position during a 4-1 loss to New York on Saturday and have tied the 1996 team record by going 13 straight games without multiple hits with runners in scoring position.
Paddack is set to face former Padres teammate Joey Lucchesi (1-4, 5.79).
In the American League, the Orioles have lost 14 straight road games, their worst skid since the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the Birds. But Orioles lefty Bruce Zimmermann takes a three-game winning streak into his start at Tropicana Field against Tampa Bay Rays lefty Josh Fleming.
Meanwhile, Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt (6-2, 3.44 ERA) has won a career-high six straight decisions going into his start against Kansas City.
Other AL matchups have Detroit hosting the White Sox, Seattle in Cleveland, Toronto at Boston and the Astros in Minnesota.
The rest of the National League schedule has San Francisco at Washington, Atlanta at Miami and Colorado at Cincinnati, while the Pirates finish up their series in Milwaukee and tonight’s game has the Cardinals and Cubs wrapping up in Wrigley.
Interleague matchups this afternoon have the Yankees at Philadelphia, the Angels in Arizona, and the Dodgers hosting the Texas Rangers.
MLB NEWS
Indians send McKenzie back to minors after wild outing
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have optioned Triston McKenzie to Triple-A Columbus for the fourth time this season.
The right-hander failed to get out of the first inning Saturday against Seattle. McKenzie had been called up from the Columbus before the game. He issued four walks, including one with the bases loaded, and retired two of the six batters he faced.
McKenzie began the season in the rotation. He is 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in 11 games and leads the AL with 39 walks.
FRENCH OPEN
Djokovic bids for 19th major title in FO final
PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic (JOH’-koh-vihch) is bidding for a 19th major title in the French Open final but having a tough time against fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Appearing in his first Grand Slam final, the 22-year-old from Greece took the first two sets, 7-6, 6-2 before dropping the third, 3-6.
Tsitsipas won the first set after erasing a set point in the tiebreaker with a difficult forehand winner. In the second set he looked fresher than the 34-year-old Djokovic, who was coming off an epic semifinal against Rafael Nadal. But Djokovic steadied his game in the third set, which turned in the fourth game, when he converted his fifth break-point chance.
Tsitsipas received treatment from a trainer after the third set, laying on his back and stretching. The Greek has had back trouble in the past.
Djokovic has overcome a two-set deficit to win five times in his career.
Meanwhile, Barbora Krejcikova (kreh-jih-KOH’-vah) has completed a titles sweep at Roland Garros. Playing with fellow Cezch player Katerina Siniakova, they won the doubles final 6-4, 6-2 Sunday against Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Iga Swiatek of Poland.
Krejcikova also won the singles title in Paris. She is the first woman since Mary Pierce in 2000 to complete the singles-doubles titles sweep at Roland Garros.
PGA-PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP
Hadley leads by 4 entering Palmetto Championship final round
RIDGELAND, S.C. (AP) — Chesson Hadley finished off his third round, shooting 68 for a four-stroke lead at the rain-delayed Palmetto Championship.
Hadley was among four players who couldn’t finish the 18th hole at Congaree before play was halted Saturday due to lightning and thunderstorms.
Hadley made par Sunday morning to stay at 14-under, four in front of Harris English. English also had to finish the 18th.
Hadley is seeking his second career PGA Tour victory and first since 2014. Dustin Johnson was paired with Hadley and made bogey on the final hole. He is seven shots behind.
