By Cliff Brunt AP Sports Writer OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A poised and productive Ricky Rubio has been smiling and laughing, masterfully running Utah’s offense in his matchup with Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. Meanwhile, the reigning league MVP has been scowling, shoving, fouling, ...

By Jimmy Golen AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — This is where the Toronto Maple Leafs try to change the ending. After beating the Bruins in back-to-back elimination games to force their first-round playoff series to the limit — just like they did in 2013 — the Maple Leafs are hoping to ...

By Kyle Hightower AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Al Horford had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Marcus Smart made an impact in his first game since mid-March and the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 92-87 on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series. Smart came ...

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Cavaliers point guard George Hill is questionable for Wednesday's crucial Game 5 against Indiana because of back spasms. Hill has been dealing with back problems since the series opener when he was flattened by an illegal screen by Pacers forward Trevor ...

By VIN A. CHERWOO, AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — As part of its collection of Babe Ruth items, the Baseball Hall of Fame says it has the bat the slugger used to hit his then-record 60th home run in 1927. A private collector also claims to own the bat, and he's selling it at auction. ...

By MITCH STACY, AP Sports Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After dropping the first two playoff games at home in overtime, the Washington Capitals picked up momentum that only got stronger as they took down the Columbus Blue Jackets in four straight. Now they'll strive to keep the intensity ...

By The Associated Press A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ TOUGH TEST Shohei Ohtani (2-1, 3.60 ERA) makes his fourth major league start for the Los Angeles Angels, this one against Charlie Morton (3-0, 0.72) and the World Series champion Houston Astros. Ohtani, the ...

By JOHN COON, Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Shutting down the Utah Jazz offense is proving easier said than done for the Oklahoma City Thunder. For a second straight game, a late second-quarter surge by Utah carried over into the second half and it allowed the Jazz to pull away for ...

By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) — Thon Maker is having his biggest games at the biggest time of the year. Not bad for a bench guy and someone who, as recently as last week, was a roster afterthought. Maker had never blocked five shots in any NBA game before this ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — James Harden gave Houston quite the jump-start with 22 of the team's 50 points in the third quarter, as the Rockets cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-100 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Chris Paul scored 15 of his 25 points ...

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer LeBron James is keeping his thoughts to himself. Whatever concerns — or confidence — he might harbor about his Cleveland Cavaliers facing a 2-1 first-round Eastern Conference series hole heading into Game 4 at the Indiana Pacers on Sunday were not ...

By GIDEON RUBIN, Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea might've been the only person at the Oakland Coliseum who didn't realize he was still working on a no-hitter. After a dropped popup in the fifth inning, the Athletics lefty figured it was over. "I didn't even think about ...

By The Associated Press A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ FARQUHAR STATUS The Chicago White Sox will continue to monitor pitcher Danny Farquhar, who was hospitalized in stable but critical condition after suffering a brain hemorrhage. The reliever fell ill Friday night ...

By The Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — Ben Simmons had the first playoff triple-double by a rookie in nearly 40 years, JJ Redick scored 24 points and the Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Miami Heat 106-102 on Saturday to move within a victory of the second round. The 76ers lead the Eastern ...

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Kevin Lee missed weight but was on the mark with injecting himself back into the UFC lightweight title picture. Lee pounded Edson Barboza until blood streamed down his face and won a 155-pound bout when the fight was stopped via ...

By ERIC OLSON, AP Sports Writer Louisville coach Dan McDonnell is going to bat for two-way college baseball players. Here's his pitch: With the hubbub over Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, he said, the time has come for collegians excelling as pitchers and hitters to get more ...

LONDON (AP) — Eliud Kipchoge swept to a third London Marathon victory and Vivian Cheruiyot won the event for the first time as Kenyans triumphed in sweltering conditions on Sunday. The 33-year-old Kipchoge ran the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 27 seconds to add to ...

CLEVELAND (AP) — Former Indians slugger Mike Napoli will have season-ending knee surgery after getting hurt in the minors. Napoli tore his right anterior cruciate ligament this week while playing for Triple-A Columbus. He will have the operation once the swelling goes down, and the Indians ...

By Michael Marot AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 30 points, leading the Indiana Pacers back from a 17-point halftime deficit for a 92-90 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night for a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. Cleveland was 39-0 during ...

By Jay Cohen AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Trayce Thompson’s fourth team in 3 1/2 weeks was a familiar one for the athletic outfielder. Thompson joined the Chicago White Sox on Friday after he was acquired in a trade with Oakland, returning to the ballclub that selected him in the ...