Here is the latest sports news: Celtics take 3-2 series lead on Cavaliers. Capitals blank Bolts to advance to Stanley Cup Final. Rangers hire Boston U’s Quinn as head coach. NFL bans kneeling during national anthem. Gordon headlines 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class.

>>Celtics Take 3-2 Series Lead On Cavaliers

(Boston, MA) — The home team is still unbeaten in the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals. Jayson Tatum scored 24 points as the Celtics knocked off the Cavaliers 96-83 in Game Five at TD Garden. Boston improved to 10-and-0 at home this postseason. The Celtics lead the best-of-seven matchup 3-2. The series returns to Cleveland for Game Six tomorrow.

>>Capitals Blank Bolts To Advance To Stanley Cup Final

(Tampa, FL) — The Capitals are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1998. Braden Holtby made 29 saves as the Caps blanked the Lightning 4-0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final in Tampa. Andre Burakovsky scored twice for Washington, which will face the expansion Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final starting Monday.

>>Rangers Hire Boston U’s Quinn As Head Coach

(New York, NY) — The New York Rangers are dipping into the college ranks for their next leader. They have named Boston University’s David Quinn the 35th head coach in franchise history. He’ll be formally introduced today. Quinn replaces Alain Vigneault [[ VEEN-yoh ]], who was fired after the Rangers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

>>NFL Bans Kneeling During National Anthem

(Atlanta, GA) — The NFL is banning kneeling during the national anthem. The league says all players and team personnel must stand for the anthem or remain in the locker room. Teams will be fined for anyone who doesn’t comply, and the team can then decide whether to fine the individual. The Players Association says it was not consulted about the policy.

>>Gordon Headlines 2019 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class

(Charlotte, NC) — Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon headlines the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. Gordon is the highest vote-getter ever after receiving 96-percent from the voters. He’s third in Cup history with 93 wins. Gordon is joined in the five-man class by drivers Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison, and owners Jack Roush and Roger Penske.

>>WEDNESDAY’S SCOREBOARD

MLB National League
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Milwaukee Brewers 9, Arizona Diamondbacks 2
San Diego Padres 3, Washington Nationals 1
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Atlanta Braves 0
Miami Marlins 2, New York Mets 1
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Cincinnati Reds 4 (12 INN)
Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Colorado Rockies 0

MLB American League
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Detroit Tigers 4, Minnesota Twins 1
Texas Rangers 12, New York Yankees 10
Los Angeles Angels 5, Toronto Blue Jays 4
Boston Red Sox 4, Tampa Bay Rays 1
Chicago White Sox 11, Baltimore Orioles 1
Seattle Mariners 1, Oakland Athletics 0

MLB Interleague
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Kansas City Royals 5, St. Louis Cardinals 2 (10 INN)
Houston Astros 4, San Francisco Giants 1
Cleveland Indians 1, Chicago Cubs 0

NBA Playoffs
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Boston Celtics 96, Cleveland Cavaliers 83
(Celtics lead best-of-seven East Finals, 3-2)

NHL Playoffs
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Washington Capitals 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 0
(Capitals win best-of-seven East Final, 4-3)

WNBA
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Atlanta Dream 81, Chicago Sky 63
Minnesota Lynx 76, Dallas Wings 68
Seattle Storm 87, Phoenix Mercury 71

>>THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE (All times are Eastern)

MLB National League
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12:35 p.m. – Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
8:10 p.m. – New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers

MLB American League
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12:37 p.m. – Los Angeles Angels at Toronto Blue Jays
2:10 p.m. – Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox
3:35 p.m. – Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics
6:10 p.m. – Houston Astros at Cleveland Indians
7:10 p.m. – Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays
8:05 p.m. – Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers

MLB Interleague
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No Games Scheduled

NBA Playoffs
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9:00 p.m. – Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
(Best-of-seven West Finals tied, 2-2)

NHL Playoffs
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No Games Scheduled

WNBA
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7:00 p.m. – Washington Mystics at Indiana Fever
7:00 p.m. – Los Angeles Sparks at Connecticut Sun

PGA
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Fort Worth Invitational (at Fort Worth, TX)

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Rick Maklebust/Thomas Jenkins/bg SPT)

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