National Sports - The Morning Sun

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) walks off the court after a loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

LeBron James rants at NBA's replay center for calls, Lakers lose on buzzer-beater, trail Denver 2-0

LeBron James' anger boiled over after the Los Angeles Lakers' latest loss to the Denver Nuggets. His anger wasn't centered on the Lakers and blowing a 20-point lead in the second half or at Jamal … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 4/23/24

New York Knicks' Isaiah Hartenstein, left, and Donte DiVincenzo, right, defend against Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) during the second half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

76ers plan to file grievance about officiating during first two games of series against Knicks

A team spokesman says the Philadelphia 76ers plan to file a grievance related to the officiating during their series against the New York Knicks. The 76ers lost both games in New York, with the … more

By BRIAN MAHONEY | 4/23/24

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) celebrates after a 3-point basket with teammate forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jamal Murray sinks shot at buzzer to cap 20-point comeback and lead Nuggets past Lakers 101-99

Jamal Murray sank a 15-foot step-back jumper at the buzzer and the Denver Nuggets wiped out a 20-point second-half deficit to stun the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99 Monday night and take a 2-0 lead in … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 4/23/24

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) beats Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, back, for a goal during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Matthews scores as Maple Leafs beat Bruins 3-2 to tie their series at 1 game apiece

Auston Matthews scored on a breakaway to snap a third-period tie and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 to knot their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Ilya Samsonov … more

By JIMMY GOLEN | 4/22/24

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) battles with New York Islanders' Noah Dobson (8) for the puck during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Aho, Martinook cap Hurricanes' late rally to beat the Islanders for a 2-0 playoff series lead

Sebastian Aho and Jordan Martinook scored 9 seconds apart late in the third period to help the Carolina Hurricanes complete a comeback from three goals down to beat the New York Islanders 5-3. That … more

By AARON BEARD | 4/22/24

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) shoots over New York Knicks' Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the second half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

DiVincenzo caps desperate rally with 3-pointer, Knicks beat 76ers 104-101 to take 2-0 lead

Donte DiVincenzo made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining after a desperate scramble, and the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 104-101 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in … more

By BRIAN MAHONEY | 4/22/24

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs holds his knee after being injured during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs returns after being helped off with left knee injury against Cavs

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs returned and started the second half after injuring his left knee in the first quarter of Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Suggs was unable to put any weight on … more

By TOM WITHERS | 4/22/24

FILE - New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff, center, looks toward the ice during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 10, 2024. Ruff is returning to Buffalo for a second stint as coach of the Sabres. General manager Kevyn Adams announced the hiring Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown, File)

Sabres hire Lindy Ruff as coach. He guided Buffalo to the playoffs in 2011

Lindy Ruff is returning to Buffalo for a second stint as coach of the Sabres. General manager Kevyn Adams announced the hiring Monday. Ruff coached the Sabres from 1997-2013 and was the last person … more

By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO | 4/22/24

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts from the bench during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

No Giannis? No Leonard? No problem just yet for the Bucks and Clippers in the postseason

The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers remain unsure when they’ll have their top player back on the floor. They have still managed to do just fine thus far in their respective first-round … more

By STEVE MEGARGEE | 4/22/24

FILE - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) warms up before the first half of a preseason NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns, Aug. 29, 2021, in Atlanta. Ryan announces his retirement from the NFL on Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, file)

Matt Ryan calls it a career. The quarterback officially announces his retirement

Matt Ryan has called it a career. Ryan officially announced his retirement as a player after putting up Hall of Fame-worthy numbers over his long career with the Atlanta Falcons but coming up shy of … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 4/22/24

FILE - BYU quarterback Zach Wilson holds a New York Jets jersey with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the team in the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. Teams are using premium draft picks on quarterbacks at an increasingly high rate. Still, the league-wide hit rate remains largely a tossup. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes, File)

Jets trade quarterback Zach Wilson to the Broncos, AP source says

A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press the New York Jets have traded quarterback Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos. The Jets are sending Wilson and a seventh-round pick in … more

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. | 4/22/24

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, right, argues with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt during the first inning of the baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. Boone was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is ejected 5 pitches into game vs. Athletics

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected by Hunter Wendelstedt five pitches into a game against the Oakland Athletics over a remark from a fan behind the dugout aimed at the plate umpire. … more

By RONALD BLUM | 4/22/24

FILE - Fans celebrate with UCLA's Josh Rosen, center right, after Rosen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback in this draft. That much is easy to see. The hard part is picking the right one — and determining what it's worth to them to get him. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)

NFL teams often misfire on drafting QBs. But how often do they fail? And why?

NFL teams are using premium draft picks on quarterbacks at an increasingly high rate. The draft this weekend is slated to be the eighth in the past nine years with at least three QBs taken in the … more

By DAVE CAMPBELL and JOSH DUBOW | 4/22/24

A Four Bagger hamburger is shown at Truist Park before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Atlanta. The culinary game at MLB ballparks has exploded in the past 20 years. Eating healthy is a challenge. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The culinary game at MLB ballparks has exploded in the past 20 years. Eating healthy is a challenge

Danielle LaFata’s been around major sports ballparks and arenas for most of her adult life, so the nutritionist has one word of advice for those who want to eat healthy when attending a sporting … more

By DAVID BRANDT | 4/22/24

FILE - Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez looks on, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Denver. Fernandez was hired Monday, April 22, 2024 as coach of the Brooklyn Nets, who are looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time in six years. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Nets hire Jordi Fernandez as coach. Fernandez was Kings' associate head coach for two years

Jordi Fernandez was hired as coach of the Brooklyn Nets, who are looking to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Nets finished 32-50 and fired Jacque Vaughn at … more

By BRIAN MAHONEY | 4/22/24

New York Rangers' Matt Rempe reacts during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Panthers, Rangers, Jets and Canucks back home for Game 2s, all seeking 2-0 NHL playoff series leads

A slew of big NHL names will be heading back onto NHL playoff ice on Tuesday night with 1-0 series leads. Among them: Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk in Florida, Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/22/24

Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Scottie Scheffler finishes off another win at Hilton Head to extend dominant run

Scottie Scheffler winning the RBC Heritage was inevitable. He returned to Harbour Town on Monday morning with a five-shot lead and three holes to play. Scheffler ended his streak of 68 holes at par … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/22/24

Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark holds her jersey following a WNBA basketball news conference, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Caitlin Clark's early play in WNBA will be her tryout for a roster spot on US Olympic women's team

Caitlin Clark will have the start of her WNBA career to show the U.S. women’s basketball selection committee whether she deserves a spot on the Paris Olympic roster. Clark couldn't attend the U.S. … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 4/22/24

23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan celebrates a win by his driver Tyler Reddick after a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Talladega. Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

NASCAR revels in an MJ moment. His Airness gives a big boost to his post-hoops passion

Michael Jordan’s new life suddenly seems just as satisfying as his old one. This felt a whole lot like M.J. knocking down a buzzer-beater, winning the big game, celebrating like a champion. Of … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 4/22/24

New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz (39) reacts after the New York Mets defeated the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

The Mets' bullpen with a healthy Edwin Díaz has helped New York rebound from a rough start

The New York Mets have won 12 of 16 after beginning the season with five straight losses. They have taken two of three on the road against both Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They're now only 2 … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 4/22/24