Kyrie Irving would like to keep it private. Ramadan for him is a spiritual journey to be shared exclusively between himself and God. So when basketball fans on social media refer to him as “Ramadan Kyrie” between April 1 and May 1, Irving appreciates the recognition, but it’s a sacred period of time. “It’s the…
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MINNEAPOLIS — Chippy, tense, physical, sticky – everything you might expect from an NBA play-in game, apparently. The Clippers’ first stab at the play-in – and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first taste of post-regular-season competition since 2004-05 – pitted the teams in a 7-vs.-8 play-in game that felt a lot like a playoff game. Patrick Beverley,…
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SUNRISE, Fla. — The ice has been tilted in John Gibson’s direction for almost every game since, well, as long as he’s been without a victory, and that’s been since a March 1 win over the Boston Bruins. He has been under siege for the better part of 12 consecutive games, losing 12 in a…
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For three quarters of their 115-108 play-in victory over the Cavaliers, the Nets gave the fans what they wanted. A victory for a championship contender is supposed to feel dominant. It’s supposed to feel effortless. It’s supposed to remove any shadow of a doubt as to which of the two competing teams is better. A…
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PHILADELPHIA — If Tylor Megill’s first terrific start of the season was just a trial-run against a rebuilding Nationals team, then his second outing of the year against a loaded Phillies lineup was a big test. Megill, again unflappable, passed with flying colors. The young right-hander picked up where he left off on Opening Day,…
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Chicago Cubs manager David Ross had been banished from the dugout and clubhouse, forced to watch Tuesday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates from elsewhere in PNC Park. Ross served a one-game suspension from Saturday’s incident involving right-hander Keegan Thompson intentionally hitting Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Andrew McCutchen with a pitch. That meant as soon as…
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ANAHEIM ― The Angels beat the Miami Marlins in their final plate appearance on Tuesday evening, 4-3, when a play at the plate ended their season-opening homestand in dramatic fashion. Drama isn’t always pretty. Pinch-runner Tyler Wade scored the winning run when Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas fumbled a routine ground ball off the bat of…
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MINNEAPOLIS — The Dodgers are dipping their toes in baseball’s new technology to combat sign-stealing. PitchCom – a device worn by the pitcher and catcher (and select infielders) that allows the catcher to call pitches without using hand signals – was approved for use during the 2022 season. Approximately half of the 30 MLB teams…
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Nestor Cortes did what Nasty Nestor does. He got outs. The Yankees fifth starter, the quirky left-hander who baffled hitters with different deliveries and quick pitches just to try and stick with the team, has grown into one of the team’s most reliable pitchers as a starter or a reliever. Tuesday night was no different. He…
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Gerrit Cole needs to settle in. The Yankees ace did not get off to the start to the season he and the team wanted. Wednesday night, Cole needs to find that routine and rhythm early against a tough Blue Jays lineup that very well could be the team the Yankees are battling down the stretch…
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