Red Stars tie Gotham FC in home opener,
The Red Stars’ home opener Saturday against Gotham FC was the first time they welcomed fans to SeatGeek Stadium since their National Women’s Soccer League semifinal against the Portland Thorns in 2019.
Before the game, the Red Stars celebrated the fans’ return with a reveal of their new momentum uniform.
The Red Stars kept steady pressure on Gotham FC throughout the first half with eight shots (four on goal) and four corner kicks. In the second half, they came out with the same intensity. Defensively, they allowed seven shots (zero on goal) and only two corner kicks.
Ultimately, the game ended in a 0-0 tie, giving the Red Stars a point in the NWSL standings.
NBA PLAYOFFS
LeBron avoids COVID suspension
ESPN reported Lakers star LeBron James was found to be in breach of the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols when he attended a promotional event last week, but he won’t be suspended because the nature of the violation didn’t rise to a threat level of virus spread. The Lakers open the playoffs Sunday against the Suns in Phoenix.
♦ Khris Middleton made a tiebreaking jumper with 0.5 seconds left in overtime to lift the Bucks to a 109107 victory against the visiting Heat in Game 1 of their first-round series. Middleton scored 27 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points and 18 rebounds for the Bucks. Goran Dragic scored 25 points for the Heat.
♦ Kevin Durant had 32 points and 12 rebounds, Kyrie Irving 29 points and James Harden 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and the host Nets overcame a sluggish first half to defeat the Celtics 104-93 in their playoff opener. The Nets outscored the Celtics 57-40 in the second half after trailing by six points at the break.
♦ Luka Doncic had a triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and the visiting Mavericks shot 50% from the field on their way to a 113-103 victory against the Clippers in the first game of their firstround series.
♦ The NBA told head coaches they can work without masks during
games if they have been fully vaccinated. Assistants and players still must wear masks in the bench area.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Lightning push Panthers to brink
Alex Killorn scored twice in 94 seconds in the second period, Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 39 saves to lead the Lightning past the visiting Panthers 6-2 for a 3-1 lead in their first-round series.
♦ Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 35 shots he faced for his 16th career playoff shutout, Nicolas Roy scored twice and the Golden Knights grabbed a 3-1 lead in their first-round series by blanking the Wild 4-0.
♦ The Maple Leafs said captain John Tavares will be out at least two weeks with a knee injury and a concussion suffered when he took a knee to the head during a game Thursday against the Canadiens in Toronto.
MLB
Twins’ extra-inning woes continue
Cesar Hernandez hit a two-run home run against former White Sox closer Alex Colome in the 10th inning to boost the Indians past the visiting Twins 5-3. The Twins are 0-8 in extra innings this season.