National Sports

Lillard leads 3-point barrage, Blazers beat Nuggets 123-109

By ARNIE STAPLETON - AP Sports Writer

Damian Lillard scored 34 points and led Portland’s 3-point barrage that sparked the Trail Blazers’ 123-109 win over the Denver Nuggets in the opener of their first-round playoff series Saturday night. The Blazers hit 19 of 40 shots from beyond the arc, and Lillard, sporting silver sneakers that were a fitting choice for his sterling performance, had five of them. Subs Carmelo Anthony and Anfernee Simons added four each as the Blazers outscored Denver by 24 points from beyond the arc.

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NBA-PLAYOFFS Big 3 lead Nets past Celtics UNDATED (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets’ Big 3 shook off a poor start to lead a 104-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their NBA first-round series. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden combined for 82 points despite going 0 for 11 from 3-point range in the first half….

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NBA-PLAYOFFS Middleton lifts Bucks past Heat UNDATED (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have opened their NBA playoffs schedule by defeating the team that knocked them out of last year’s postseason. Khris Middleton nailed a jumper with 0.5 seconds left in overtime to give the Bucks a 109-107, playoff-opening win over the Heat. Middleton was closely guarded by Duncan Robinson before…

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GOLF-PGA CHAMPIONSHIP Lefty leads after tumultuous back nine KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Phil Mickelson bent, but he didn’t break as he flirts with history at the PGA Championship. Mickelson survived a wild ride at Kiawah Island with a 2-under 70 that leaves him 18 holes away from becoming golf’s oldest major champion. The 50-year-old Mickelson walked off the 10th…

The Latest: Mickelson holds on to lead the PGA Championship

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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on the PGA Championship (all times local): 7:20 p.m. Phil Mickelson held on to his lead at the PGA Championship despite struggling on the back nine. Mickelson shot a 70 on Saturday and was at 7-under 209 for the tournament. He’ll carry a one-shot lead over Brooks Koepka as he tries for his…

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NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE Killorn, Kucherov pace Lightning’s 6-2 rout of Panthers UNDATED (AP) — Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and Tampa Bay rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers 6-2. The win gave the Lightning a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup. The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate…

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NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE Killorn, Kucherov pace Lightning’s 6-2 rout of Panthers UNDATED (AP) — Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and Tampa Bay rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers 6-2. The win gave the Lightning a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup. The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate…

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NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE Killorn, Kucherov pace Lightning’s 6-2 rout of Panthers UNDATED (AP) — Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and Tampa Bay rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers 6-2. The win gave the Lightning a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup. The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate…

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NBA-PLAYOFFS-VIRUS RULES NBA tells head coaches they can go without masks in games UNDATED (AP) — Just in time for the playoffs, the NBA told its head coaches Saturday they may work without masks during games if they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. A memo from the league obtained by The Associated Press says assistant coaches and players…