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Sports on TV for Monday, May 13
The Associated Press | Updated May 12 - 1:45 p.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Hawks win NBA lottery in year where there's no clear choice for No. 1 pick
Andrew Seligman, Associated Press | Posted May 12 - 1:39 p.m. | Save Story
The Atlanta Hawks won the NBA draft lottery, landing the No. 1 pick and a potential cornerstone player in a year where there's no clear-cut choice. The Hawks hit the jackpot despite just 3% odds after finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference at 36-46. They dropped their final six regular-season games and lost to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the play-in tournament. The Hawks haven't won a postseason series since a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021. They got knocked out in the first round in 2022 and 2023. Washington, Houston, San Antonio and Detroit rounded out the top five. The draft is June 26-27 in Brooklyn.
Caitlin Clark, much like Larry Bird, the focus of talks about race and double standards in sports
Kyle Hightower, Associated Press | Posted May 12 - 7:58 a.m. | Save Story
WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, like NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird was 45 years ago, is involuntarily the focus of discussions about race and her transition to professional basketball. She is – and from all indications is content with -- just being another basketball player trying to win a title. And though Clark hasn't said anything to fuel the Black-white narrative surrounding her, talks are about a double standard are being had. Still, the race-based debate over perceived slights to Black players or favoritism toward Clark is not going away as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft prepares for her first regular-season game.
Mitchell has 33 points, but Cavaliers can't contain Tatum and Brown in Game 3 loss to Celtics
Tom Withers, Associated Press | Posted May 11 - 11:13 p.m. | Save Story
Donovan Mitchell did his part for the Cavaliers. He didn't get enough help. Mitchell scored 33 points in another stellar performance, but Cleveland was outgunned by the Boston Celtics, who won Game 3 106-93 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Mitchell appeared to aggravate a left knee injury in the fourth quarter and wasn't even on the floor for the finish. The Cavs couldn't duplicate their strong Game 2 performance in Boston, and were doomed on their home court by a slow start in the third quarter when the Celtics scored the first 14 points and opened a 23-point lead.
Jayson Tatum scores 33 points, Celtics rebound from loss to beat Cavs 106-93 for 2-1 series lead
Tom Withers, Associated Press | Updated May 11 - 10:15 p.m. | Save Story
Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, Jaylen Brown added 28 and the Boston Celtics looked more like themselves after stumbling at home, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-93 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The top-seeded Celtics didn't mess around after dropping losing Game 2 on their parquet floor by 24. Tatum scored on a three-point play and the Celtics opened the second half with 14 straight points to open a 23-point lead. That was way too much for the Cavs, who overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth to stun Boston in March. Donovan Mitchell scored 33 for Cleveland, but the All-Star guard aggravated a left knee injury in the fourth quarter
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic help Mavs hold off Thunder again for 2-1 lead in West semis
Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press | Updated May 11 - 8:11 p.m. | Save Story
Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, including a running left-hander in the lane in the final minute to help Dallas hold on, and the Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-101 for a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Luka Doncic also had 22 points to go with 15 rebounds, and P.J. Washington scored 27, just two shy of his playoff high from the previous game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Thunder. Oklahoma City has lost consecutive games after starting 5-0 in the playoffs. Game 4 is Monday night in Dallas.
Cavaliers get back forward Dean Wade against Celtics. Center Jarrett Allen still out with rib injury
Tom Withers, Associated Press | Updated May 11 - 7:02 p.m. | Save Story
Cavaliers forward Dean Wade made his playoff debut in Game 3 against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night after being sidelined the past two months with a strained right knee. Wade hasn't played since March 8, three days after he scored a career-best 23 points to fuel a comeback win over the Celtics. Wade entered with 4:18 left in the first quarter and made a 3-pointer seconds later. Wade gives Cleveland some depth, but the Cavs remain without starting center Jarrett Allen, who missed his sixth straight game with badly bruised ribs. Allen got hurt during the Cavs' opening-round series against Orlando and missed the final three games. He sat out the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Celtics
Pacers, Nuggets looking to even conference semifinals following key Game 3 victories
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Posted May 11 - 4:12 p.m. | Save Story
albeit in different ways. Indiana hosts the battered New York Knicks, trying to keep its perfect postseason home record intact. The defending champion Nuggets, meanwhile, play at Minnesota in a series in which the road team has won of the first three games.
Spurs present Victor Wembanyama with Rookie of the Year trophy at San Antonio College planetarium
Raul Dominguez, Associated Press | Posted May 11 - 3:16 p.m. | Save Story
The San Antonio Spurs presented Victor Wembanyama with the NBA Rookie of the Year trophy on Saturday at the planetarium on the campus of San Antonio College. The 7-foot-3 center from France was a unanimous selection, the sixth player in league history to receive every first-place vote for an award that's been handed out since 1953. He is the third San Antonio player to win the award, following David Robinson and Tim Duncan. The Spurs finished 22-60 this season, matching their record in 2022-23, but there is plenty of optimism for the future after Wembanyama lived up to his potential as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Charles Oakley is still not ready to return to Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks
Dan Gelston, Associated Press | Updated May 11 - 1:53 p.m. | Save Story
Former New York Knicks player Charles Oakley still isn't ready to step foot inside Madison Square Garden, even with the team enjoying some of its best success since his era. Not during these NBA playoffs, and certainly not as long as he has an ongoing lawsuit against MSG and team owner James Dolan over a tussle with security at a 2017 game that got Oakley ejected from the arena. Oakley believed there was an offer to join past Knicks players such as Stephon Marbury and Latrell Sprewell who have been attending playoff games at MSG, but a spokesperson for the organization said there has not been an invitation extended to Oakley.
Mike Budenholzer is hired as coach of the Phoenix Suns, replacing Frank Vogel
David Brandt, Associated Press | Updated May 11 - 12:18 p.m. | Save Story
Mike Budenholzer is the newest head coach of the Phoenix Suns after the franchise turned to the man who beat them in the 2021 NBA Finals. The 54-year-old Budenholzer replaces Frank Vogel, who was fired Thursday after one season. Budenholzer agreed to the deal on Friday and the team made the hire official with Saturday's announcement. The Suns did not release terms. ESPN and The Athletic both reported that Budenholzer's deal was for five years, with The Athletic saying it was for roughly $50 million. Budenholzer was coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 when they roared back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Suns in the Finals.
Nuggets bounce back with 117-90 blowout of Timberwolves behind 24 points from energized Murray
Dave Campbell, Associated Press | Updated May 10 - 11:44 p.m. | Save Story
Jamal Murray rebounded from a rough start to the Western Conference semifinals with 24 points to lead the Denver Nuggets on a 117-90 romp in Game 3 that made the Minnesota Timberwolves the last team in the NBA to lose in this postseason. Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points and the Nuggets cut the series lead to 2-1 on the strength of 14-for-29 shooting from 3-point range. Game 4 is Sunday. Anthony Edwards had a quiet 19 points to lead the Wolves, who went just 9 for 31 from deep.
Andrew Nembhard's late 3 gives Pacers 111-106 victory over Knicks. Indiana moves within 2-1
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated May 10 - 10:41 p.m. | Save Story
Andrew Nembhard made a 31-foot, tiebreaking 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, Tyrese Haliburton scored 35 points and the Indiana Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the banged-up and short-handed New York Knicks 111-106 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Sunday in Indianapolis. New York led by nine with 9:45 remaining and was in position to take a commanding 3-0 lead, but with Jalen Brunson slowed by a right foot injury, the Knicks couldn't hold on. Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points.
Jalen Brunson starts for New York Knicks despite injured right foot
The Associated Press | Posted May 10 - 5:03 p.m. | Save Story
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson started Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night despite having a sore right foot. The All-Star is averaging a league-high 35.6 points in the postseason, leading the Knicks to a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Brunson was injured late in the first quarter Wednesday night but returned in the second half and helped the Knicks rally for a 130-122 victory. Brunson is irreplaceable for the severely short-handed Knicks. He totaled 72 points and 12 assists in the first two games against Indiana.
Betting money for the WNBA is pouring in on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever
Mark Anderson, Associated Press | Posted May 10 - 12:34 p.m. | Save Story
The betting public is throwing money on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever as the WNBA prepares to open one of the more-anticipated seasons in league history. A Fever championship would have bookmakers sweating. They are the biggest liability at BetMGM Sportsbook. Nearly half the betting tickets are on the Fever. They open the season Tuesday at the Connecticut Sun. Indiana is second in money wagered at 29%. That is behind the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 41.5%.
WNBA franchise awarded to Toronto for 2026 season, according to media reports
The Associated Press | Updated May 10 - 12:05 p.m. | Save Story
The WNBA is reportedly heading to Toronto. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the women's professional basketball league has awarded a franchise to the Kilmer Group. The reported deal would have Toronto's WNBA team start playing in May 2026. The WNBA did not confirm the report. The league says "we continue to engage in productive conversations with interested ownership groups in a number of markets and the granting of any expansion teams requires a vote of the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors." Larry Tanenbaum is the chairman and CEO of Kilmer Group and the chairman of the board for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. The group owns the NBA's Toronto Raptors and NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.
Pacers' Carlisle fined $35,000 by NBA for criticizing referees, implying bias against small markets
Brian Mahoney, Associated Press | Posted May 10 - 9:42 a.m. | Save Story
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officials and "questioning the integrity of the league" with his pleas for fairness for small-market teams. Carlisle made his comments after the Pacers' 130-121 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He was called for two technical fouls and ejected late in the game as Indiana fell into a 2-0 hole in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Carlisle complained about a number of missed calls, which the Pacers subsequently sent to the league for review, and implied a bias in favor of New York.
Raucous crowd roars its approval for Caitlin Clark in her home debut with Fever, an 83-80 win
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated May 10 - 5:37 a.m. | Save Story
Caitlin Clark walked into her new home arena with No. 22 shirts and jerseys peppered from floor to ceiling. A late-arriving but louder-than-usual crowd roared during her first official introduction to Fever fans on Thursday night. And when the former Iowa star made the layup for her first basket with 7:00 left in the first quarter, the applause grew. It was even louder when she completed a three-point play a few minutes later. She had 12 points to help lead the Fever to an 83-80 preseason win over the Atlanta Dream. It was a moment Fever fans have dreaming about since they won the lottery in December.
