Outlook: New Orleans’ quick work of the Trail Blazers nearly gave it a crack at Stephen Curry-less Golden State, but Curry scrimmaged Friday and is questionable for Saturday. The Warriors obviously are far better with Curry (41-10) than without him (17-14) but he could have rust with one appearance
George Hill missed game four and five with lingering back spasms and that injury has ruled him out of Friday’s playoff clash.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Cleveland Cavaliers point guard George Hill will miss his third straight game against Indiana. The starting point guard is inactive for Game 6 of the first-round series. Hill not has played since reinjuring his back in a Game 3 loss, and the Cavs have responded by winning the next
OAKLAND — Kevin Durant’s defensive prowess has been a constant evolution. Early in his career, the Warriors forward’s lanky frame would hinder him, causing smaller guards to go past him. In recent years, he has shown the ability to be an elite rim protector. Now, with the nine-time All-Star’
AVONDALE, La. – New Orleans is known for fun and frivolity and for a handful of PGA TOUR stars the laid-back attitude is proving exactly what the doctor ordered to potentially rescue flagging seasons. It’s quite incredible considering the difficulty usually associated with Foursomes or alternate shot golf as it is also known. While Michael Putnam has found some form of late his partner Michael Kim has just one top 25 in 15 starts and sits 171st in the FedExCup. So for Kim to be part of a duo at 13 under par and holding a one-shot lead through 36 holes at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is welcome to say the least. Chad Campbell is a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR including wins at big name stops like the TOUR Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard. But he hasn’t won in over 10 years and he sits 180th in the FedExCup with his best result in 15 starts this season being 31st. His partner, former Houston Open winner Matt Jones, sits 185th in the FedExCup this season without a top 25 finish from 11 starts. Campbell and Jones both described their season so far as “poorâ€� with “terribleâ€� results. So how have they forced their way to 11 under through two rounds to be just two back of the lead? “I think we just believe in each other. We’re both relaxed out there and very confident. If one of us hits a bad shot the other one can recover from it,â€� Campbell said. “Golf is a crazy game. Never know when it’s going to turn around.â€� Rob Oppenheim is 163rd in the FedExCup with just one top 25 this season, back in October last year. His partner Nate Lashley is 161st on the points list also with just one top-25 finish. Of course, that translates to them sitting tied third at 11 under. A shot further back from them at 10 under sits the partnership of Cody Gribble and John Peterson. Gribble has missed seven straight cuts and a T32 last October is his best season finish so far leaving him 189th in the FedExCup. He admits he’s a “streaky playerâ€� but felt this sort of golf wasn’t far off. “I’ve been on a little cold streak for a while but I’m hitting the ball so much better and I’ve put a lot of work in the game and I’m finally starting to see some results,â€� he said. Petersen is coming back from a major medical but in his four starts a T47 best at the Sony Open is his peak. He’s 214th in the FedExCup standings needing 240 points in his next four starts to gain his card. But with a new baby at home he’s not grinding over results – he’s actually quite content to take up a commercial real estate career and hang up the clubs should things not work out post his wrist injury. “I’ve been fine for about eight months now. Just haven’t played like it. My wrist is fine. I don’t have the range of mobility as I used to, but it doesn’t hurt. That’s really the only thing that mattered,â€� Peterson said. “I enjoy my time at home much more than I do my time out here; it’s not frustrating for me to miss a cut. If I make it great, if not, I’m not going to keep playing.â€� NOTABLES Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown continue to put themselves in a great position to make up for last year’s playoff loss. A solid 2-under 70 left the pair at 12 under and just one shot off the lead. Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay’s putting was as black as their matching outfits at times but red hot at others on Friday leaving them with five birdies but four bogeys and a 71. At 8 under they are close enough to make a charge. Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar rebounded from an average Thursday to put up the round of the day Friday. Their 5-under 67 included slapping each other in the face numerous times. See more here. Overnight co-leaders Chez Reavie and Lucas Glover plus Chinese duo Xinjun Zhang and Zecheng Dou struggled with the switch to alternate shot. Reavie and Glover shot 75 but remain close enough at 9 under while Zhang and Dou imploded with an 80 to miss the cut. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, the gold and silver medal winners from the Rio Olympics, are lurking at 8 under just five-shots back. “I think we’ve done some good things out there. Don’t think we’ve had our run yet. Haven’t made any putts; we haven’t chipped in; we haven’t had a long putt fall for us; we had five bogeys,â€� Rose said. “So to be 8 under with all that going on… if we can clean all that up and get a little bit of luck and a run going on the weekend, I think we can mount a charge.â€� They are joined at 8 under by fellow European duo of Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell. Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer were sailing along solidly until Spieth found water off the tee on the 17th hole and again on approach on the 18th hole. He then left a shot in a greenside bunker – from a plugged lie – for the team to finish double bogey, double bogey and miss the cut by a shot. Read more here. RoundUp: Brooks Koepka missed the cut in his return to golf from a wrist injury unable to get enough help from Marc Turnesa; Jon Rahm and Wesley Bryan won’t be around for weekend hospitality after struggling Friday; defending champions Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt finished with back-to-back double bogeys to crash out of the tournament; Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello failed to go low enough to stick around; FedExCup leader Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley went under par but were unable to make up enough ground from a poor Thursday and Jim Furyk and David Duval could not keep the mojo going from Thursday, missing the weekend by a shot. QUOTABLES If we ever make an eagle it’s a double slap.I probably hit it into places Andrew never seen before. Birdies are what’s going to count tomorrow.It’s been my ring tone for three years.I left my shoe on, so they couldn’t smell my skin. SUPERLATIVES Low Round: 5-under 67 – Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar. Easiest Hole: Par-5 7th played at 4.675 with an eagle and 33 birdies. Hardest Hole: Par-3 17th played to a 3.588 average with seven double bogeys and five others. Incredibly Billy Hurley III made an ace from 223 yards with a 5-iron. Best Shots: Hurley’s above ace is tied with Chris Paisley making a hole-in-one of his own on the 3rd hole from 221 yards. CALL OF THE DAY For play-by-play coverage of Round 3, listen from 1-6 p.m. ET Saturday on PGATOUR.COM. SHOT OF THE DAY
Brewers 1B Eric Thames is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing successful surgery on his left thumb on Friday.
A day before the Warriors begin their second-round series with the Pelicans, Stephen Curry says he is making significant progress toward a return soon.
Josh Rosen admitted he “was a little emotional” on Thursday after being drafted and on Friday, as he was being introduced by the Cardinals, revised the number of “mistakes” picked ahead of him from nine to three — just the quarterbacks.
If Von Miller’s happiest of happy dances is any indication, there may not be anyone with the Broncos more fired up about defensive end Bradley Chubb being their first-round draft pick than Miller.
AVONDALE, La. – Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer were smiling away on the 17th tee on Friday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans having ground their way to 8 under par and well in contention. While not playing their best, the duo had found a way to get it under par in the alternate shot format while many others struggled – and were geared up for a good finish and a run on the weekend. And then it all went pear-shaped. A loose 6-iron off the 17th tee from the multiple major winning Spieth found a watery grave and led to a double bogey. It hurt. But it wasn’t a death knell. Yet. On the final hole after Palmer found the fairway off the tee Spieth pushed a 4-iron into the water once more. After a penalty drop Palmer dumped a wedge shot into a fried egg lie near the green and Spieth left the ball in the sand trying to extricate it. Another double bogey and a 74 meant missing the cut by a shot. “I had a couple really bad swings,” Spieth lamented. “I cost our team an opportunity which really sucks given how hard we fought today. It’s not a good feeling. It’s much worse than if it’s just you.” Palmer refused to lay the blame at Spieth – saying his fellow Texan was the main reason they were even in a good spot to begin with. He hopes the partnership returns for a third time next year. “We both struggled a little bit all day, but our short games kept us there the whole time,” Palmer said. “It’s fun. It’s a blast. I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for him (as a partner). It’s the game of golf.” Spieth will next play at The PLAYERS Championship in a few weeks hoping for better form. “I struggled with my swing really both days. Just didn’t hit the ball well at all,” he said. “We held it together for a while and then it finally just came out. Unfortunately, all we needed was two more swings.”
