Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson talk about limiting the Ducks’ Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey to 5-for-22 shooting in the Tar Heels’ Final Four win.
Damian Lillard joked that no team goes into the season hoping to play at .500. Lillard had 31 points as Portland continued its late-season push for the playoffs with a sixth straight victory. CJ McCollum added 29 points for Portland, which holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Opening Day. How sweet does that sound? So nice, we’ll do it twice. Welcome to the two best days of the year, and no real baseball fan would argue otherwise.
The Sacramento Kings were ending a grueling stretch of five games in seven nights with a long back-to-back from New Orleans to Minnesota. Buddy Hield tied a career high with 22 points, going 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and the Kings’ reserves dominated Minnesota’s in a 123-117 victory on Saturday night. Reserve point guard Ty Lawson had 21 points and 11 assists.
Jimmy Butler saw confidence and swagger, a team embracing the moment. Butler scored 33 points and hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to lift the Chicago Bulls to a 106-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. ”I see guys doing what they’re supposed to be doing – playing hard, shooting the ball when they’re open, not trying to do too much,” Butler said.
Kennedy Meeks (3) and Justin Jackson (44) carried North Carolina to within 40 minutes of a national championship. North Carolina is back. The Tar Heels let a double-digit lead dwindle to one in the final 10 seconds of Saturday’s national semifinal against Oregon, but held on for a 77-76 victory to secure a Monday date with Gonzaga.
Two days after clinching a playoff spot, the Montreal Canadiens virtually locked up a division title. Alexander Radulov scored 51 seconds into overtime to lift the Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. Phillip Danault also scored and Carey Price stopped 21 shots for the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens, who hold an eight point advantage over Toronto and Ottawa entering the final week of the regular season.
One day after Lexi Thompson couldn’t even tee off until shortly before sunset, she had to get back to the Dinah Shore Course before dawn to start a 28-hole day. Thompson is excelling under unusual conditions at the ANA Inspiration, and it has put her in prime position to play for her second major title. Thompson claimed the tournament lead while completing her wind-delayed second round Saturday before moving two shots ahead of Norway’s Suzann Pettersen with a third-round 67 .
Thompson up 2 on Pettersen at ANA Inspiration
