Masked Embiid propels 76ers

Joel Embiid inspired his team with his return from a facial injury, Danny Green and Tyrese Maxey each scored 21 points and the 76ers bounced the Heat 99-79 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night in Philadelphia.

Wearing a black mask, Embiid had 18 points and 11 rebounds after missing the first two games of the series. Jimmy Butler scored 33 points for the Heat, who lead the series 2-1.

Embiid wasn’t the dominant force he was throughout the season, but Green, Maxey and James Harden all crushed Heat rallies with big buckets.

HORSE RACING

Secret Oath wins Oaks for Lukas

Secret Oath charged from a five-wide pack to grab the lead and held off favorite Nest by two lengths in the 148th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, giving 86-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas his fifth Oaks victory and first since 1990.

“Being in the 1 hole [post position], we didn’t have much choice on what to do,” said Lukas, who tied Woody Stephens for the most Oaks wins by a trainer. “I told [ jockey Luis Saez] not to get too creative on the turn and make his move if he was going to get in position on the backside. When I saw him moving around the turn, I turned and hugged my wife and said, ‘Here we go.’ It feels great.”

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Bruins Blunt Hurricanes in Game 3

Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists to help the host Bruins take their first lead against the Hurricanes all season during a 4-2 victory in Game 3 of their firstround series, which the Canes lead 2-1.

† Jack Campbell made 32 saves for the visiting Maple Leafs, who took a 2-1 series lead over the Lightning with a 5-2 victory.

† Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith underwent core surgery and will miss the rest of the postseason.

TENNIS

Alcaraz breaks through vs. Nadal

In a clash of generations, 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz overcame an injury to defeat his idol, Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in the Madrid Open quarterfinals. He recovered from a twisted ankle in the second set to earn his first victory against Nadal, marking what could be the beginning of a change of guard in Spanish tennis.

CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS Wolves to face icehogs

The Wolves will meet the IceHogs in the Central Division semifinals of the Calder Cup playoffs. The best-of-five series begins Thursday at Allstate Arena. ✶

AP Wearing a black mask to protect his injured orbital bone, Joel Embiid goes up for a jumper against the Heat. Embiid scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.