Griner returns to basketball court

Brittney Griner strolled down the sideline about 1 ½ hours before the Phoenix Mercury played Friday night, giving hugs and high-fiving her teammates, coaches and opposing players.

Then it was a little stretching, a little shooting and a little agility work to prepare for a basketball game.

Just like old times. “I’m grateful to be here, that’s for sure,” Griner said. “I’m not going to take a day for granted.”

Griner returned to game action for the first time since a nearly 10month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a prisoner swap in December. The seven-time AllStar, who missed the entire 2022 season because of the detainment, finished with 10 points and three rebounds in a WNBA preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks.

The 6-foot-9 Griner looked good, especially considering the long layoff, casually throwing down a one-handed dunk during warmups. She stood with her teammates while the national anthem was played and received a loud ovation from the crowd when she was introduced.

“Hearing the national anthem, it definitely hit different,” Griner said. “It’s like when you go for the Olympics, you’re sitting there, about to get gold put on your neck, the flags are going up and the anthem is playing, it just hits different.

“Being here today ... it means a lot.”

Nick Cousins scored at 15:32 of overtime and Sergei Bobrovsky made 50 saves as the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in Game 5 of their secondround playoff series Friday night to advance to the Eastern Conference final.

Also Friday, Vegas gave up three power-play goals, but the Golden Knights are one victory from the Western Conference Final largely because of their penalty kill. Clinging to a twogoal lead entering the third period and facing 4:36 of a major penalty against the NHL’s most lethal power play, the Knights gave up just one more goal and remained in front to beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. MLB: Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman homered back-to-back to regain the lead in the seventh inning, and the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

“That’s why they’re superstars,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Every time they get up to bat they can change the game.”

Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz will reclaim the No. 1 ranking after beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-1 in his Italian Open debut on Saturday. Alcaraz will pass Novak Djokovic for the top spot when the rankings, ensuring he will be the No. 1 seed at the French Open, which starts on May 28.