MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Jeffers homered twice and Carlos Correa added a two-out, bases-clearing triple in the sixth inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied from a four-run deficit for a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals. Reliever Chris Stratton allowed pinch-hitter Max Kepler’s RBI single and walked two batters to load the bases with two outs. Correa lifted a 3-1 fastball down the right-field line to break a 4-4 tie. Reliever Caleb Thielbar got the win for the Twins, who took three of four in the series. Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez each homered for Kansas City.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 to breeze through the Western Conference finals in five games. Kyrie Irving also scored 36 points for the Mavericks. They built a 29-point halftime lead on 61% shooting to deflate the once-energized crowd and went up by 36 in the third quarter. The Mavs have a week to rest before the NBA Finals begin in Boston. Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolves.
UNDATED (AP) — Kyrie Irving returning to Boston. Luka Doncic’s first trip to the title round. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, getting another chance at a ring. Kristaps Porzingis facing his former team, too. Pick a storyline. There are many in these NBA Finals. The matchup is now set: It’ll be Boston vs. Dallas for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a series that starts on the Celtics’ home floor on June 6 — meaning everyone will be sitting around and waiting for about a week, a byproduct of the Celtics and Mavericks making short work of their respective conference finals.
NEW YORK (AP) — Anton Lundell broke a tie with 9:38 left and the Florida Panthers moved within a victory of returning to the Stanley Cup Final, beating the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night. Gustav Forsling and Sam Bennett also scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves to help the Panthers win their second straight in the best-of-series series after losing Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves in another magnificent effort. The Panthers can end the series Saturday in Florida. If a seventh game is necessary, it will be at Madison Square Garden, where the Panthers have won twice this series.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has agreed to a three-year, $84.75 million contract extension with the Miami Dolphins. The deal includes $76 million guaranteed and keeps Waddle under contract through the 2028 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract details have not been announced. Waddle will now become one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL after three productive seasons to start his pro career.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kinzie Hansen homered and knocked in three runs, and three-time defending national champion Oklahoma opened its title defense with a 9-1 win over Duke in six innings at the Women’s College World Series. Hansen, Jayda Coleman and Alyssa Brito had two hits each for the second-seeded Sooners. Kierston Deal threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the win for Oklahoma. Jala Wright took the loss in relief for No. 10 seed Duke. The Blue Devils made their first World Series appearance under coach Marissa Young.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Katie Kistler hit a solo homer for the game’s only run and Keagan Rothrock threw a two-hitter as No. 4 seed Florida defeated No. 5 Oklahoma State 1-0 in the Women’s College World Series opener for both teams. Oklahoma State’s Lexi Kilfoyl, a first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American and a top-three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, took the loss. She allowed just two hits and struck out five in six innings. It was just her fourth loss in 30 decisions this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Teagan Kavan threw a one-hitter and No. 1 seed Texas defeated Stanford 4-0 in the Women’s College World Series opener for both teams. Kavan struck out eight and walked four. The freshman won the pitching matchup against Stanford’s NiJaree Canady, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Canady allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five. Kayden Henry had two hits and scored a run for the Longhorns. Ava Gall had the only hit for No. 8-seed Stanford.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization have announced a proposed settlement of a lawsuit that would allow athletes to play immediately no matter how many times they transfer. Under the agreement, a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge in West Virginia allowing multiple-transfer athletes to compete would be made permanent. It comes a month after the NCAA fast-tracked legislation to fall in line with the judge's December injunction. Under the agreement, athletes who were previously deemed ineligible under the transfer rule since the 2019-20 academic year would be given an extra year of eligibility. Athletes would still be required to meet academic requirements.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Three power conferences have joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in urging a Tallahassee court to keep the league’s TV deals with ESPN private. The Big Ten, the Big 12 and the Southeastern Conference filed a joint request in Leon County Circuit Court this week supporting the ACC’s claim that the documents must remain confidential to protect trade secrets. The filing was a response to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s complaint last month. Moody accused the ACC of breaking Florida’s public records law by not providing a copy of the league’s TV contracts. Those documents are potentially relevant in ongoing lawsuits between Florida State and the ACC as the Seminoles consider leaving the league.
DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — The debate within the Southeastern Conference about whether to play eight or nine league games is not over, it’s just on hold. The SEC locked in a short-term solution to the eight or nine question by agreeing to go with eight games for this season and next, the first two with Texas and Oklahoma in the conference. No decision has been made for 2026 and beyond. Commissioner Greg Sankey says how the first season of an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff could influence which way the conferences goes. The SEC also announced a team that reaches the CFP championship game will receive $14.25 million.
THURSDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Minnesota 7 Kansas City 6
Final Tampa Bay 6 Oakland 5
Final Houston 4 Seattle 0
Final Detroit 5 Boston 0
Final N.Y. Yankees 8 L.A. Angels 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Milwaukee 6 Chicago Cubs 4
Final N.Y. Mets 3 Arizona 2
Final Washington 3 Atlanta 1
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Dallas 124 Minnesota 103
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS