Rangers, Devils brawl opens game
Chris Kreider scored a power-play goal late in the third period and the New York Rangers rallied to beat New Jersey Devils, 4-3, in a game that started with a 10player brawl on the opening faceoff in New York.
The main event was Rangers forward Matt Rempe taking on New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid, with the two having history from the previous time the Devils visited Madison Square Garden on March 11. The two continued to tussle at center ice after the other four fights had ended. Four players from each team received game misconducts 2 seconds into the game.
Other hockey
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning topped host Toronto, 4-1, despite Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews adding to his NHL lead with the sniper’s 63rd goal of the season. Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point and Nicholas Paul scored for Tampa.
Pro football
The Buffalo Bills agreed to trade their top receiving threat, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in exchange for a second-round choice in the 2025 draft. Houston also acquired Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, and a fifthrounder in 2025.
• The Detroit Lions matched the offer sheet tendered by the San Francisco 49ers for tight end Brock Wright. ESPN.com reported that Wright has signed a $12 million offer sheet with the 49ers that included $6 million guaranteed.
Golf
Justin Thomas announced on social media that he had parted ways with Jim “Bones” Mackay, who’s considered one of the best caddies in the business. Thomas hired Mackay in September 2019.
Pro basketball
Anthony Davis scored 19 of his 35 points in the first quarter and had 18 rebounds, helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the host Washington Wizards 125-120 for their eighth victory in nine games. ... Scoot Henderson had 22 points and 10 assists and the visiting Portland Trail Blazers beat Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets, 89-86. ... Jalen Johnson had 28 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the host Atlanta Hawks overcame a 50-point effort by Detroit’s Malachi Flynn for a 121-113 win against the Pistons that clinched a berth in the Eastern Conference playin tournament. ... Kristaps Porzingis had 27 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, helping the host Boston Celtics power past the Oklahoma City Thunder, 135-100, to secure the best record in the NBA and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. ... Cam Thomas scored 27 points, rookie Noah Clowney had a career-high 22 and the host Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Indiana Pacers, 115-111, to split a home-and-home set. ... Anthony Edwards scored 28 points, Naz Reed added 23 and the host Minnesota Timberwolves routed the short-handed Toronto Raptors, 133-85, to move into a tie for first-place in the Western Conference. ... Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 35 points to lead the host Memphis Grizzlies to an 111-101 victory versus the Milwaukee Bucks. ... Paolo Banchero scored 32 points and the Orlando Magic defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans, 117-108.
• Steve Clifford will step down as coach of Charlotte after the season. Clifford informed the team of his decision on Wednesday and plans to remain with the franchise in an advisory role. Clifford is 45-112 in his two seasons of his second stint as coach of the Hornets.
College basketball
Makira Cook rebounded from first-half foul trouble by scoring 22 of her 27 points in the second half and Kendall Bostic had 15 points and 15 rebounds, leading fourthseeded Illinois past topseeded Villanova, 71-57, in Indianapolis to win the first Women’s Basketball Invitation tournament championship.
• LSU star Angel Reese formally declared for the WNBA draft less than two days after the Tigers’ season ended with a loss to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Elite Eight round of the women’s NCAA tournament.
• Virginia Tech announced the hiring of Marquette’s Megan Duffy to replace Kenny Brooks as its women’s coach. Duffy guided the Golden Eagles to their second consecutive NCAA tournament this season.
Tennis
The men’s ATP tour will try to spice up doubles tennis by trialing changes including a 15-second serve clock and reserving slots for teams to enter tournaments using their singles rankings. The new format will be tested at the Madrid Open later this month and at select events through the season.