NBA – 2023 NBA Finals – (best of seven)
Last Night
Denver Nuggets 104, Miami Heat 93 (DEN leads 1-0)
Nuggets 104, Heat 93 – Jokic gets triple-double, Nuggets roll past Heat 104-93 in Game 1 of NBA Finals
Nikola Jokic got a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut, Jamal Murray scored 26 points and the Denver Nuggets had little trouble with the cold-shooting Miami Heat on the way to a 104-93 win in Game 1 of the title series on Thursday night. Jokic finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who waited 47 years to make the finals and didn’t disappoint. Aaron Gordon scored 16 and Michael Porter Jr. added 14 for Denver, which trailed for all of 34 seconds and eventually led by as many as 24. Bam Adebayo finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, which shot 41% for the game — 33% from 3-point range. Gabe Vincent scored 19, Haywood Highsmith had 18 and Jimmy Butler added 13 for the Heat. Miami was 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Game 2 is on Sunday Night.
Sunday
Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets, 8:00 p.m. (DEN leads 1-0)
NBA – Referee Eric Lewis not selected to work NBA Finals while league looks into tweets
Eric Lewis was not selected as one of the 12 referees who will work the NBA Finals, while the league continues to investigate whether he used a Twitter account to defend himself and other referees from online complaints. Lewis had been chosen to work the finals in each of the last four seasons. But after some now-deleted tweets were revealed last week, the league opened an investigation into whether Lewis violated NBA rules by speaking about officiating in an unauthorized manner. It has not been determined if Lewis was using the account.
NBA – NBA planning to announce latest Ja Morant decision after Finals, Silver says
The latest sanctions, if any, that the NBA plans to levy against Memphis guard Ja Morant for his second instance of displaying a gun on social media will be announced shortly after the finals, Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday. Silver did not say what the penalties were, not even saying if Morant would be available at the start of next season. Morant was suspended for eight games by the NBA in March for an incident where he broadcast himself on Instagram displaying a gun in a suburban Denver club, and was suspended by the Grizzlies last month after another video showed Morant displaying what appeared to be a gun yet again.
NHL – 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Finals – (best of seven)
Saturday
Florida Panthers at Vegas Golden Knights, 8:00 p.m. (Game 1)
NHL – Golden Knights out to fulfill owner’s quest to win Stanley Cup in 6th year
The Vegas Golden Knights will play the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final beginning Saturday. This is Vegas’ second Cup Final appearance in its six seasons as an NHL franchise. Its other trip occurred in 2018. The Golden Knights have six players left over from the first team to advance that far. They have helped the Knights reach at least the NHL semifinals four times in the past six years. Their remaining team goal is capturing the Cup.
NHL – Patrick Kane has hip resurfacing surgery and is expected to be out 4-6 months
Patrick Kane underwent hip resurfacing surgery and is expected to miss four to six months. Agent Pat Brisson confirmed Kane’s operation in a text message to The Associated Press. Kane has been dealing with a nagging hip injury that hampered him this past season with the Chicago Blackhawks and then in the playoffs with the New York Rangers. Brisson expects Kane to make a full recovery. It was not immediately clear what the surgery means for Kane’s status as a pending free agent.
MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Tigers, White Sox, and Cubs were off
Tonight
Detroit (Olson 0-0) at Chicago White Sox (TBD), 8:10 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 7:45
Chicago Cubs (Taillon 0-3) at San Diego (Wacha 5-1), 9:40 p.m.
WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Tonight
New York Liberty at Chicago Sky, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday
Chicago at New York, 2:00 p.m.
Las Vegas at Indiana, 4:00 p.m.
Soccer – Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend
Lionel Messi is leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after two years at the club. PSG coach Christophe Galtier says ahead of their game against Clermont on Saturday that it will be Messi’s last match at the Parc des Princes. Galtier says “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of soccer. … and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.” PSG recruited Messi in August 2021 with the ambition to finally win the Champions League. The team is still waiting. PSG won its record-extending 11th French league title last weekend but it again exited Europe’s top tournament in the round of 16.
NCAAFB – SEC to play 8-game conference schedule in 2024; long-term model still TBD
The Southeastern Conference will play eight league games in 2024 when it expands to 16 teams with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas, but beyond that the schedule model is to be determined. Commissioner Greg Sankey says the conference’s presidents voted to implement a short-term solution to a scheduling conundrum that has been debated for more than a year. The SEC has been holding its spring meetings on the Florida Gulf Coast this week. Conference leaders have been trying to decide between a nine-game conference schedule that would include three annual rivalry games and an eight-game model with one annual rivalry game.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Yesterday
Cedar Rapids 24, Lansing 5
South Bend 1, Fort Wayne 0
West Michigan 6, Dayton 5
Great Lakes at Beloit, PPD to 6/2 rain
Tonight
Great Lakes Loons at Beloit Snappers, 5:05 p.m. (DH)
Cedar Rapids Kernels at Lansing Lugnuts, 7:05 p.m.
South Bend Cubs at Fort Wayne Tin Caps, 7:05 p.m.
West Michigan Whitecaps at Dayton Dragons, 7:05 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Girls Soccer – District Championships
Division 2 at Lakeshore
Plainwell 3, Lakeshore 0
Division 4 at Our Lady of the Lake
Our Lady of the Lake 3, Michigan Lutheran 2
Division 4 at Hartford
Kalamazoo Heritage Christian 8, Watervliet 0
Boys Golf – Regionals
Division 2 at Diamond Springs GC, Hamilton
1. GR Christian 296
2. GR South Christian 323
3. Unity Christian 327
4. Otsego 332
T5. Hamilton 348
T5. Plainwell 348
T5. Zeeland West 348
8. Charlotte 360
9. Holland 362
10. Hastings 368
T11. Holland Christian 369
T11. Wayland 369
13. Zeeland East 372
14. Allegan 374
15. Ionia 376
16. Thornapple Kellogg 378
17. W Mi Aviation 422
18. Lansing Waverly 516
Individual Qualifiers
Eli Timmerman, Hamilton 77
Spencer Shearer, Otsego 78
Landon Eastman, Otsego 79
Softball – Regular Season
Parchment 15, Lawton 0
Schoolcraft 13, Zeeland West 3
Today
Girls Soccer – District Championships
Division 2 at Coldwater
Gull Lake vs. Harper Creek, 1:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Three Rivers
Berrien Springs vs. Three Rivers, 6:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Saugatuck
Saugatuck vs. GR Calvin Christian, 6:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Kalamazoo Hackett
Kal. Christian vs. Kal. Hackett, 6:00 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Saturday
Baseball – District Semis/Finals
Division 1 at Zeeland West
St. Joseph vs. West Ottawa, 10:00 a.m.
Zeeland West vs. Zeeland East, 10:00 a.m.
Championship 12:30 p.m.
Division 1 at Portage Northern
Mattawan vs. Kalamazoo Central, 10:00 a.m.
Loy Norrix vs. Portage Central, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Berrien Springs
Lakeshore vs. Edwardsburg, 10:00 a.m.
Niles vs. Berrien Springs, 12:30 p.m.
Championship 3:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Vicksburg
Paw Paw vs. Three Rivers, 10:00 a.m.
Vicksburg vs. Dowagiac, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Hamilton
Hamilton vs. South Haven, 10:00 a.m.
Allegan vs. Holland Christian, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Wayland
Wayland vs. Gull Lake, 10:00 a.m.
Hopkins vs. Otsego, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Watervliet
Bangor vs. Bloomingdale, 10:00 a.m.
Watervliet vs. Coloma, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Galesburg-Augusta
Parchment vs. Galesburg-Augusta, 10:00 a.m.
Comstock vs. Climax-Scotts, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:30 p.m.
Division 3 at Grandville Calvin Christian
Saugatuck vs. Calvin Christian, 10:00 a.m.
Holland Black River vs. Covenant Chr., 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Bridgman
Brandywine vs. Buchanan, 10:00 a.m.
Lawton vs. Bridgman, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Schoolcraft
Centreville vs. Union City, 10:00 a.m.
Constantine vs. Bronson, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at New Buffalo
Our Lady of the Lake vs. River Valley, 9:30 a.m.
Michigan Lutheran vs. Eau Claire, 11:30 a.m.
Championship 1:30 p.m.
Division 4 at Lawrence
Gobles vs. Lawrence, 10:00 a.m.
Marcellus vs. Decatur, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Martin
Zion Christian vs. Martin, 1:00 p.m.
Potter’s House vs. Tri-Unity, 3:00 p.m.
Championship 5:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Mendon
Mendon vs. White Pigeon, 1:30 p.m.
Kal. Hackett vs. Kal. Heritage, 4:00 p.m.
Championship 6:30 p.m.
Softball – District Semis/Finals
Division 1 at Portage Northern
Kal. Central vs. Portage Northern, 10:00 a.m.
St. Joseph vs. Mattawan, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 1 at Loy Norrix
Loy Norrix vs. Portage Central, 10:00 a.m.
Jackson vs. BC Lakeview, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Edwardsburg
Lakeshore vs. Niles, 10:00 a.m.
Dowagiac vs. Edwardsburg, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Otsego
Vicksburg vs. Otsego, 10:00 a.m.
Gull Lake vs. Plainwell, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Wayland
Hopkins vs. GR South Christian, 10:00 a.m.
Wayland vs. Allegan, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Hamilton
South Haven vs. Holland Christian, 10:00 a.m.
Hamilton vs. Saugatuck, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Harper Creek
Sturgis vs. Coldwater, 10:00 a.m.
Three Rivers vs. Harper Creek, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Coloma
Bridgman vs. Watervliet, 10:00 a.m.
Bangor vs. Coloma, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Constantine
Buchanan vs. Constantine, 10:00 a.m.
Centreville vs. Brandywine, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Kalamazoo Christian
Parchment vs. Kal. Christian, 10:00 a.m.
Schoolcraft vs. Galesburg-Augusta, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at New Buffalo
River Valley vs. Eau Claire, 9:30 a.m.
Michigan Lutheran (bye)
Championship 11:30 a.m.
Division 4 at Decatur
Decatur vs. Gobles, 10:00 a.m.
Lawrence vs. Kal. Hackett, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Mendon
Marcellus vs. Climax-Scotts, 1:00 p.m.
Mendon vs. Howardsville Christian, 3:00 p.m.
Championship 5:00 p.m.
Girls Soccer – District Championship
Division 1 at Kalamazoo Central
Mattawan vs. Portage Central, 10:00 a.m.
