Update on the latest sports
APNBA PLAYOFFS
Hawks, Nuggets hope home court provides edge in semifinals
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks will attempt to extend their 13-game home winning streak when they play the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
The series is tied 1-1. The Hawks’ home winning streak is the longest active streak in the NBA.
The Hawks announced a sellout on Thursday and said only a few seats remain for Monday’s Game 4. Hawks forward John Collins says he wants to continue to build excitement he has seen from local fans.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns will take a 2-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets into Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal in tonight’s other game.
The Nuggets will try to recover from an embarrassing Game 2 blowout loss as the series shifts to their home court. The Suns showed impressive balance by taking a 2-0 lead with their 123-98 win on Wednesday night.
NBA NEWS
Raptors’ Siakam has shoulder surgery, will miss 5 months
TORONTO (AP) — The shoulder injury that ended Toronto forward Pascal Siakam’s season early will likely force him to miss the start of next season as well.
The Raptors say Siakam had surgery last week to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, with an anticipated recovery and rehabilitation time of five months. That timetable, if precise, would mean Siakam can play again in early November. That’s about two weeks after the NBA plans to open the 2021-22 season.
NFL NEWS
Bears sign Fields
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have signed first-round draft pick Justin Fields to a four-year contract.
The Bears landed their quarterback of the future when they traded up nine spots with the New York Giants to take the Ohio State star with the No. 11 overall pick. They have him working with the second team for now behind veteran newcomer Andy Dalton, who signed a one-year contract in March.
But the question is for how long. Fields was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2019 and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year each of his two seasons at Ohio State after transferring from Georgia. He threw for 5,373 yards, 63 touchdowns and nine interceptions for the Buckeyes.
In other NFL moves:
—The San Francisco 49ers have signed offensive lineman Senio Kelemete to a one-year deal. The 49ers waived offensive lineman Justin Skule with an injury designation to make room on the roster. Kelemete was originally drafted by Arizona in the fifth round in 2012 and has played 88 games in nine seasons with the Cardinals, New Orleans and Houston.
NHL NEWS
Larsen gets first NHL head-coaching job with Blue Jackets
UNDATED (AP) — Longtime assistant Brad Larsen is getting his first NHL head coaching job after being promoted by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Larsen was an assistant for Columbus the past seven years following some time in the minors. The 43-year-old says he was never in a rush to become a head coach in the NHL and wasn’t chasing this job. But Blue Jackets President John Davidson and GM Jarmo Kekalainen felt it was a clear consensus that Larsen was the right fit.
Despite connections to previous coaching staffs, Larsen believes he’s the new voice the team needs to become a contender again.
FRENCH OPEN
Tsitsipas tops Zverev in 5 at French Open for 1st Slam final
PARIS (AP) — Stefanos Tsitsipas has reached his first Grand Slam final by beating Alexander Zverev in five sets at the French Open.
The fifth-seeded Tsitsipas took a big lead in their semifinal and let it all slip away before pulling out a victory Friday — 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3.
Tsitsipas entered the match with an 0-3 record in major semifinals. The 22-year-old from Greece is now the youngest men’s finalist at Roland Garros since Rafael Nadal won the tournament in 2008.
Tsitsipas will face 13-time champion Nadal or top-seeded Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Nadal and Djokovic are playing each other for the 58th time in Friday’s second semifinal.
On the women’s side, Barbora Krejcikova will try this weekend to become the first woman to sweep Roland Garros titles since Mary Pierce in 2000.
Krejcikova and fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova advanced to the doubles final with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Magda Linette of Poland and Bernarda Pera of the United States.
Krejcikova also made it to the singles final by beating Maria Sakkari 7-5, 4-6, 9-7 after saving a match point on Thursday. She will be up against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Saturday’s title match.
