(Undated) — Here is the latest sports news: T’wolves edge Nuggets for final playoff spot. NBA playoff matchups set. Penguins crush Flyers as NHL playoffs begin. Knicks fire HC Hornacek. Two brawls highlight baseball action.
>>Timberwolves Edge Nuggets, Take Final Playoff Spot
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Timberwolves prevailed 112-106 in overtime to take the elimination game versus the Nuggets in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves clinched the final playoff spot in the West with the win, while the Nuggets’ season is over. Jimmy Butler guided Minnesota with 31 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 26 points and 14 boards. The T’wolves will face Houston in the first round of the playoffs.
>>NBA Playoffs Set
(Undated) — The NBA regular season is officially over. The first round of the playoffs are set and will open on Saturday. In the East, Washington faces Toronto, Boston meets Milwaukee, Philadelphia takes on Miami, and Cleveland plays Indiana. In the West, the Warriors clash with San Antonio, Utah meets Oklahoma City, the Rockets take on Minnesota, and the Blazers match-up with New Orleans.
>>Penguins Clobber Flyers As NHL Playoffs Begin
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Sidney Crosby netted a natural hat trick as the Penguins cruised past the Flyers 7-0 in Game One of their first-round playoff series in Pittsburgh. Crosby scored the final three goals in the rout. Vegas won its first-ever playoff game 1-0 over the Kings on its home ice. The Jets scored two late goals to edge the Wild 3-2 in Winnipeg. The playoffs resume tonight with five Game Ones.
>>Knicks Fire HC Hornacek
(New York, NY) — The New York Knicks are moving on from head coach Jeff Hornacek [[ HOR-na-seck ]]. He was fired hours after a season-ending win over Cleveland. Over two seasons, he guided New York to a record of 59-and-104. Hornacek was hired by previous president of basketball operations Phil Jackson. The move will give president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry the chance to hire their own man.
>>Two Brawls In Baseball
(Denver, CO) — A couple of fights highlighted baseball action on Wednesday. Five players ended up ejected in the Rockies-Padres game. The incident started after Luis Perdomo threw behind Nolan Arenado, who charged the mound and threw several punches. Yankees’ designated hitter Tyler Austin charged the mound at Boston’s Joe Kelly, who pegged him in the ribs with a fastball. That started another brawl between the rivals at Fenway. Suspensions and fines are likely looming.
>>WEDNESDAY’S SCOREBOARD
MLB National League
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Atlanta Braves 5, Washington Nationals 3 (12 inn)
Milwaukee Brewers 3, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Colorado Rockies 6, San Diego Padres 4
Arizona Diamondbacks 7, San Francisco Giants 3
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cincinnati Reds 3 (12 inn)
New York Mets 4, Miami Marlins 1
Chicago Cubs 13, Pittsburgh Pirates 5
MLB American League
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Minnesota Twins 9, Houston Astros 8
Chicago White Sox 2, Tampa Bay Rays 1
Seattle Mariners 4, Kansas City Royals 2
Cleveland Indians 5, Detroit Tigers 1
Baltimore Orioles 5, Toronto Blue Jays 3
New York Yankees 10, Boston Red Sox 7
Los Angeles Angels 7, Texas Rangers 2
MLB Interleague
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Oakland Athletics 16, Los Angeles Dodgers 6
NBA
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Orlando Magic 101, Washington Wizards 92
Boston Celtics 110, Brooklyn Nets 97
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ers 130, Milwaukee Bucks 95
New Orleans Pelicans 122, San Antonio Spurs 98
Minnesota Timberwolves 112, Denver Nuggets 106 (OT)
Miami Heat 116, Toronto Raptors 109
New York Knicks 110, Cleveland Cavaliers 98
Detroit Pistons 119, Chicago Bulls 87
Sacramento Kings 96, Houston Rockets 83
Portland Trail Blazers 102, Utah Jazz 93
Los Angeles Lakers 115, LA Clippers 100
(End of Regular Season)
NHL Playoffs
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Winnipeg Jets 3, Minnesota Wild 2
(Game One of best-of-seven Western quarterfinal)
Pittsburgh Penguins 7, Philadelphia Flyers 0
(Game One of best-of-seven Eastern quarterfinal)
Vegas Golden Knights 1, Los Angeles Kings 0
(Game One of best-of-seven Western quarterfinal)
>>THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE (All times are Eastern)
MLB National League
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2:20 p.m. – Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
6:40 p.m. – St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds
7:05 p.m. – Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals
10:10 p.m. – San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres
MLB American League
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6:10 p.m. – Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians
7:10 p.m. – New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
8:10 p.m. – Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins
8:15 p.m. – Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals
MLB Interleague
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No Games Scheduled
NBA Playoffs
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No Games Scheduled
NHL Playoffs
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7:00 p.m. – Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins
(Game One of best-of-seven East quarterfinal series)
7:00 p.m. – New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning
(Game One of best-of-seven East quarterfinal series)
7:30 p.m. – Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals
(Game One of best-of-seven East quarterfinal series)
9:30 p.m. – Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators
(Game One of best-of-seven West quarterfinal series)
10:30 p.m. – San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks
(Game One of best-of-seven West quarterfinal series)
PGA
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RBC Heritage (at Hilton Head, SC)
