DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving wowed the gang with a crossover transfer that helped create simply sufficient house for him to let fly with a leaning 3-pointer.

Luka Doncic’s co-star with the Dallas Mavericks was bumped and fell with the shot within the air, and his teammates have been proper there to mob him when the shot went in because the whistle blew.

The four-point play was a punctuating second in a 114-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday evening that despatched the Mavericks into the second spherical of the playoffs with a 4-2 collection victory.

Dallas beat LA for the primary time in three first-round tries over the previous 5 seasons — and Irving improved to 13-0 in closeout video games for his profession.

“Once I take into consideration 13-0 in closeout video games usually, I simply know you’ve simply bought to get there to that time to have the ability to be able to have the opposite workforce submit,” mentioned Irving, who scored 28 of his 30 factors within the second half. “It’s one of many hardest issues to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit.”

The fifth-seeded Mavericks open the Western Convention semifinals on the prime seed, Oklahoma Metropolis, on Tuesday evening.

“By no means unsure with Kai,” Doncic mentioned. “It is superb to see the type of performs he makes.”

The Mavs added Irving on the commerce deadline final yr, hoping to create an All-Star pairing that will not less than match the run to the West finals from 2022.

As a substitute, accidents and inconsistencies stored the chemistry from creating, and Dallas missed the playoffs, unceremoniously tanking late within the common season to attempt to protect a draft choose.

Irving’s well being was a giant a part of a surge into the highest six within the West over the ultimate two months of this season when it appeared the play-in match might need to be the route.

Now the Mavs have a collection victory within the first postseason collectively for 2 gamers with a mixed 13 All-Star appearances.

“I’m simply in awe each evening,” mentioned P.J. Washington, a commerce deadline addition this yr and a key supplier of 3-point capturing and protection. “They’re particular gamers they usually make particular performs each evening.”

Story continues

Irving was 10 of 13 from the sphere within the second half, beginning with a layup that broke a 52-52 halftime tie. After a 3-pointer from Doncic, Irving added a 3 for an 8-0 run. Dallas did not path once more.

Doncic has been coping with a sore knee that affects his capturing — the NBA scoring champion shot 24% from 3-point vary for the collection towards the Clippers.

Irving hasn’t been scoring early — simply 10 factors mixed within the first quarters of the six video games towards LA. However he is been scoring late.

The 28 factors within the second half of the clincher matched Irving’s playoff profession excessive for a half. And in a Sport 4 loss, Irving scored all 40 of his factors after the Clippers had taken a 31-point lead as Dallas rallied to take the lead earlier than shedding by 5.

“Simply his calmness, his vitality was all the time optimistic within the locker room,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd mentioned. “And that’s simply the management and belief that the blokes have on the ground with him.”

Doncic lastly beat the Clippers after shedding every of the primary two playoff collection of his profession to Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and firm in 2020 and 2021.

Now the Slovenian famous person takes purpose at a postseason run that not less than matches 2022, when Dallas shocked Phoenix in Sport 7 on the highway within the West semis earlier than shedding to eventual champion Golden State in 5 video games within the West finals.

After successful the franchise’s solely championship in 2011, Dallas did not have one other playoff collection victory till beating Utah within the first spherical two years in the past. Now the Mavs have gained three of their previous 4 collection.

Doncic will take the three days off that Dallas will get for closing out the collection towards the Clippers. He simply does not count on the remainder to make an enormous distinction together with his knee.

“I do not suppose it may be higher earlier than I get some relaxation,” Doncic mentioned. “It is quite a lot of minutes.”

The Mavs are hoping for lots extra minutes.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Schuyler Dixon, The Related Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Payments continued so as to add to their huge receiver room after the draft, signing Chase Claypool to a one-year deal, the crew introduced Friday morning.

The 6-foot-4, 238-pound receiver brings veteran depth to a receiver room that’s being reconstructed after Stefon Diggs was traded, Gabe Davis left in free company, and Keon Coleman was drafted thirty third general. Claypool ran a 4.42 40-yard sprint on the NFL mix in 2020.

Claypool, 25, has been with three groups over the previous two years, most lately with the Miami Dolphins after the Chicago Bears traded him in October. Early within the 2023 season, Claypool expressed frustration with how he was getting used within the Bears’ offense, and he was then inactive for a number of video games earlier than being traded to Miami, the place he caught 4 passes in 9 video games.

He was acquired by the Bears in a commerce from the Pittsburgh Steelers the earlier 12 months. Claypool spent the primary two full seasons of his profession in Pittsburgh after he was drafted within the second spherical of the 2020 NFL draft out of Notre Dame.

In his rookie season, Claypool totaled a career-high 11 touchdowns with 62 receptions for 873 yards.

The Payments additionally signed linebacker Deion Jones and defensive finish Dawuane Smoot to one-year offers.

The primary half belonged to Luka Dončić. Kyrie Irving took over within the second.

It added as much as a 114-101 Recreation 6 win for the Dallas Mavericks over the Los Angeles Clippers Friday to safe a 4-2 collection win to advance to the second spherical of the playoffs. The fifth-seeded Mavericks transfer on to a second-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The Clippers’ season involves a disappointing finish.

Coming off a 123-93 blowout loss at house in Recreation 5, the Clippers fell right into a 34-26 first quarter gap on Friday. They battled again to tie the sport at 52 earlier than halftime whereas limiting Irving to 2 first-half factors. That run marked their final stand of the collection.

Irving sizzles for 28 second-half factors

The Mavericks blew the sport open after halftime as Irving led a 35-20 third quarter-surge with 13 factors within the stanza. There was no fourth-quarter rally for the Clippers, whose playmakers didn’t match the dynamic Dallas duo.

After taking pictures 1 of 6 within the first half, Irving hit 5 of 6 photographs within the third quarter. A private 5-0 Irving run that includes a floater in site visitors and a second-chance 3-pointer prolonged Dallas’ result in a then game-high 15 factors within the remaining minute of the quarter.

An and-1 Irving 3-pointer within the fourth prolonged the Dallas result in 106-82, extinguishing any lingering hope of a Clippers comeback.

Irving completed with a game-high 30 factors after scoring two within the first half. He added six rebounds, 4 assists, two steals and two blocks. He shot 11 of 19 from the sector and 5 of 9 from 3.

Story continues

Dončić tallied 28 factors, 13 assists and 7 rebounds. On an evening the place he struggled from the sector (9 of 26, 1 of 10 from 3), he ceded the scoring highlight to Irving within the second half.

Acquainted postseason story for Clippers

With Kawhi Leonard sidelined and Paul George and James Harden each struggling from the sector, Los Angeles did not have the firepower to compete. Norman Powell led the Clippers in scoring with 20 factors off the bench.

George tallied 18 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. He shot 6 of 18 from the sector and hit simply 2-of-10 3-point makes an attempt. Harden posted 16 factors, 13 assists and 7 rebounds. He shot 5 of 16 from the ground and missed all six of his 3-point makes an attempt. Russell Westbrook scored six factors in 9 minutes off the bench.

Leonard missed 4 of the collection’ six video games with knee irritation. He is now performed in 4 of the Clippers’ final 19 playoff video games.

The Mavericks outshot the Clippers from the ground (48.2% to 41.5%) and from 3-point distance (33.3% to 25.8%) on an evening when Dončić struggled along with his shot.

The Mavericks now have three days off to organize for Tuesday’s Recreation 1 in opposition to the Thunder. They’re going to await the standing of backup ahead Maxi Kleber, who sprained his proper shoulder on a hard fall in the second quarter and did not return.

The Clippers transfer on to a different offseason of questions surrounding an All-Star-studded roster that is didn’t compete for a championship and exited within the first spherical of the playoffs for a second straight season.

The Miami Marlins are engaged on a commerce that might ship second baseman and reigning NL batting champion Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres.

In return, the Marlins will obtain reliever Woo-Suk Go, in addition to prospects Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee, and Nathan Martorella, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.

The Marlins stated Friday that the deal was pending a evaluation of medical data earlier than it may very well be finalized and formally introduced.

Miami modified its lineup minutes earlier than first pitch in Oakland, pulling the 27-year-old Arraez out of the leadoff spot.

As an alternative, he made his means by way of the customer’s dugout on the Coliseum shaking fingers and providing hugs and goodbyes together with his now-former teammates, coaches and workers.

He ought to present an instantaneous spark to the Padres’ lineup. San Diego trails the first-place Dodgers within the gifted NL West.

Arraez was hitting .299 with 5 RBIs and had scored 22 runs with a .347 on-base share over 16 video games throughout Miami’s 9-24 begin. A two-time All-Star, he additionally received an AL batting title for the Minnesota Twins in 2022 earlier than they traded him to Miami for Pablo Lopez in January 2023.

ESPN first reported the commerce Friday.

This 22-year-old shortstop is on tempo for a historic season, whereas one of many NL MVP favorites has cemented himself within the Dodgers’ report e book. Right here’s a take a look at the most popular gamers in baseball proper now.

Former Michigan standout and Los Angeles Lakers draft decide Darius Morris has died at 33, his household introduced Saturday.

No reason behind loss of life was given. TMZ reported Morris’ physique was discovered within the Los Angeles space on Thursday. He was a Los Angeles native.

“With nice disappointment we announce the passing of our dearly beloved son, Darius Aaron Morris,” Morris’ household instructed TMZ on Saturday. “Throughout this time of transition, his household asks that you just please respect their needs for privateness and charm.”

Morris was a second-round decide of the Lakers within the 2011 draft. He averaged 3.3 factors in 132 profession video games (17 begins) with the Lakers and 4 different groups in 4 NBA seasons. He went on to play professionally in China and France, final enjoying in 2019-20.

The Lakers mentioned in a put up to X they have been “heartbroken by the passing” of Morris.

The San Diego Padres have acquired second baseman Luis Arraez in a commerce with the Miami Marlins for reliever Woo-Suk Go and prospects Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee and Nathan Martorella, the groups introduced Saturday.

The Padres additionally acquired almost $7.9 million in money concerns, leaving them accountable just for the main league minimal wage for Arraez.

The transaction represents the primary important transfer for the Marlins since Peter Bendix took over because the workforce’s president of baseball operations in November after Kim Ng departed. It marks the start of the Marlins’ teardown of an underachieving roster that has produced the third-worst file within the majors at 9-25 with a minus-61 run differential after reaching the postseason in 2023.

On the opposite facet, it is one other aggressive deal for A.J. Preller, the chief of the Padres’ entrance workplace since 2014. Arraez, one of many sport’s finest contact hitters, will give the Padres a wanted left-handed-hitting weapon after Juan Soto was despatched to the New York Yankees in December. San Diego is 17-18 with a plus-6 run differential.

“It is actually superb — that man is a baller,” Fernando Tatis Jr. mentioned about Arraez after the Padres’ win Friday evening. “He is in all probability the closest to Tony Gwynn proper now, so wanting ahead to seeing him in our lineup. … The man’s a pure hitter, and I can not watch for him to assist us.”

Miami is paying San Diego $7,898,602 of the $8,491,398 remaining for the ultimate 149 days of Arraez’s $10.6 million wage. That left his value to the Padres at $592,796 — precisely a prorated share of the $740,000 minimal.

Arraez, 27, was the Marlins’ finest participant, an All-Star and batting champion every of the previous two seasons. This season, he’s batting .299 with a .719 OPS in 33 video games, all began at second base. He additionally has intensive expertise at first base.

“When a man like that’s taken out of the lineup or probably traded, you’re feeling it, as a result of he is such a very good child and one of many leaders in that clubhouse,” Marlins supervisor Skip Schumaker mentioned, “so there’s positively a shock worth.”

Arraez is predicted to start out video games because the Padres’ designated hitter, however the membership plans to cycle via the DH spot. Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado might additionally get at-bats there. Bogaerts has been the membership’s beginning second baseman.

Go spent seven seasons within the Korean Baseball Group earlier than signing a two-year cope with a mutual possibility price $4.5 million assured through the offseason. The 25-year-old right-hander appeared in 10 video games for Double-A San Antonio, posting a 4.38 ERA throughout 12⅓ innings after failing to make the Padres’ bullpen out of spring coaching.

Head was the Padres’ first-round decide (twenty fifth total) final yr out of highschool. The 19-year-old heart fielder is batting .237 with a .683 OPS and three stolen bases in 21 video games in low-Class A.

Martorella is batting .294 with an .820 OPS in 23 video games in San Antonio. The Padres chosen the 23-year-old first baseman within the fifth spherical of the 2022 draft. Marsee, a 22-year-old outfielder, has spent the season in San Antonio batting .185 with two residence runs. He was a sixth-round decide in 2022 out of Central Michigan.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

Former NBA participant Darius Morris, who began a playoff sport for the Los Angeles Lakers and performed for 4 different NBA groups, has died at 33. The reason for his loss of life has not been disclosed.

Morris additionally performed for the College of Michigan from 2009-2011 and is considered one of 5 gamers at school historical past to have greater than 200 assists in a season.

Extra from Deadline

He went on to be drafted by the Lakers with the forty first decide within the 2011 NBA Draft.

Morris averaged 3.3 factors, 1 rebound, and 1.4 assists per sport throughout his NBA profession.

His finest season was the 2012-13 marketing campaign with the Lakers, the place he averaged 4.0 factors, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per sport.

His finest sport as a professional got here in 2013 when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers. On November sixteenth, Morris scored 20 factors on 6-for-9 taking pictures in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Morris performed seven seasons within the G League and averaged 17.8 factors, 4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per sport.

He final performed for BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque in France.

No info on survivors was instantly out there.

Better of Deadline

Join Deadline’s Publication. For the most recent information, comply with us on Fb, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Metropolis of Toledo, Lucas County, Preserve Toledo/Lucas County Lovely and group companions kicked off the fourth annual season of Litter League, a community-wide effort to wash up Toledo and the remainder of Lucas County, in addition to promote environmental sustainability.

Final season, we noticed 26 groups compete throughout the season. They accomplished 136 cleanups and eliminated nearly 30,000 kilos of litter from our streets, neighborhoods, and parks. This 12 months, Preserve Toledo/Lucas County Lovely hopes to gather much more!

“Taking good care of our surroundings and defending our assets begins with cleansing up litter on our streets, waterways, and in our parks,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz stated.

“There’s a generosity of spirit on this group the place individuals wish to give again. Toledo and Lucas County residents can do their half by becoming a member of a crew and collaborating on this enjoyable and aggressive occasion.”

Again this 12 months might be a contest with our pals in Columbus to see which metropolis can accumulate essentially the most litter, and new to the sport is Youngstown, who may even be competing with us.

Litter League’s “opening day” is on June 1st and runs by Wednesday, August thirty first.

Every crew should have a captain, crew identify, and a roster of not more than 20 gamers. Any participant below the age of 13 should be accompanied by a father or mother, guardian, or different accountable grownup. Groups should establish through which zip code they are going to be gathering litter, and every participant should full a legal responsibility waiver.

All groups should register their litter cleanups with Preserve Toledo/Lucas County Lovely prematurely. Preserve Toledo/Lucas County Lovely will present every crew with tools that features security vests, gloves, litter grabbers, and trash baggage. Crew captains are answerable for submitting a rating sheet to report statistics after every cleanup.

Groups will rating one run for each full bag of litter collected. Tires and bulk gadgets won’t be included in scoring and can’t be collected throughout Litter League. If cumbersome gadgets are discovered throughout cleanups, these ought to be reported on the Toledo Litter League web site individually, and Preserve Toledo/Lucas County Lovely will coordinate elimination.

Child Mayor Lilly Joseph hit the sector to announce that her faculty, Meadowvale Elementary College, could have a crew on this season’s Litter League.

“Conserving our metropolis clear is essential as a result of litter and trash on the bottom can damage animals, crops, and even individuals,” Joseph stated. “Plus, no one likes to see trash all over the place, proper?”

To be taught extra in regards to the Litter League season and how one can get entangled, go to toledo.oh.gov/litter-league.

A protracted, very long time in the past in a galaxy far, distant, the San Antonio Spurs determined so as to add a Star Wars theme Evening to their annual record of promotions and occasions.

An previous Jedi and his daughter started attending these video games because it mixed their favourite crew and their favourite intergalactic warfare film sequence.

After shifting again to San Antonio in 2014 (speak about timing), I bear in mind the Spurs internet hosting a Star Wars Evening within the 2014-15 season. I don’t know how I missed it, however I used to be heartbroken. Little did I do know it wasn’t the final time the Spurs would have one in every of these.

Having began writing for PtR a couple of years in the past, I’m lucky to have items from a couple of of those. Sadly, I can’t recall the years earlier than that.

Here’s a look again at a couple of of the previous Star Wars Nights (that I bear in mind):

In 2019, the Spurs stylized their emblem with a Loss of life Star plans impressed background. Positively my favourite of the shirts.

And naturally, the intro-

I’m fairly certain there was no in-person basketball in 2020, and due to this fact no Star Wars Evening.

In 2021, it was the good return of the Daddy-Daughter Date Evening. Their memento shirt featured a conventional Star Wars shot of C3PO and R2D2 with a Jedi model of the Spurs Coyote added to the picture. Nevertheless it wasn’t the shirt. I vividly bear in mind strolling as much as the gate. Elizabeth was so excited. It was the primary video games we’d been to in a over a 12 months, and we had been beginning to really feel regular. The image is fuzzy, however you possibly can see the smile on that child’s face. I’m certain mine was twice an enormous.

The AT&T Middle had an excellent group welcoming within the followers. These costumes had been legit (in contrast to my Chewbacca onesie Halloween-slash-pajama factor).

Right here’s a have a look at the sport kick off.

Two years in the past, the Spurs featured Child Yoda with their “The Drive Is Sturdy With This One” theme.

This season I don’t recall a Star Wars Evening. Please remark eblow if I’m mistaken.

My three passions are the San Antonio Spurs, Star Wars, and Foo Fighters. I personal only a few articles of clothes that don’t have one in every of this logos.

I’ve been blessed that my daughter has latched onto all three. We watch the Spurs (and go as usually as attainable, she’s even breaking down the playoffs within the background as I kind this), we’ve seen the Star Wars movies collectively (with age-appropriate limitations), and final summer time, once I requested Elizabeth what she needed to do for her tenth birthday, she stated she needed to skip having a party and he or she needs to go see the Foo Fighters in Milwaukee.

I usually inform folks I’m crushing this daddy factor, however the fact is she’s actually crushing the being-a-kid factor.

Make certain and add your reminiscences and photographs within the feedback beneath.

[If you are in the San Antonio area today, my neighborhood association is hosting a LawnFest with some incredible local musical talent. Nicky Diamonds, YOSA, Kitten Mitten, and FEA all perform within walking distance of a beautiful mid-century modern neighborhood. Family-friendly and free.]

Welcome to The Thread. Be a part of within the dialog, begin your personal dialogue, and share your ideas. That is the Spurs group, your Spurs group. Thanks for being right here.

Our group pointers apply which ought to remind everybody to be cool, keep away from private assaults, don’t troll and watch the language.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh graduate scholar Sam Barton has been named to the Tutorial All-Patriot League group, introduced by the league on Friday. Final weekend, Barton turned a three-time All-Patriot League honoree for his efficiency on the Patriot League Championship and now provides Tutorial All-Patriot League recognition for the second time in his profession.
 
To be eligible for Scholar-Athlete of the 12 months or the Tutorial All-Patriot League Staff, a student-athlete should have at the least a 3.20 cumulative grade level common and be a starter or key participant in his/her sport. Freshmen or college students of their first educational 12 months at their college are usually not eligible for the dignity. The group is voted on by the league’s sports activities data administrators.
 
Barton graduated final Could with a 3.71 GPA in finance and at present holds a 4.0 GPA in Lehigh’s technical entrepreneurship graduate program. A four-year member of the Patriot League Tutorial Honor Roll, Barton garnered Tutorial All-Patriot League honors following the 2022 season. He was additionally acknowledged as an All-American Scholar by the Golf Coaches Affiliation of America following the 2023 season.
 
On the course, Barton led the Mountain Hawks on the Patriot League Championship ending in ninth place at 222 to earn his third All-Patriot League honor. Barton earned first-team honors, tying for third as a sophomore in 2021 and earned second group accolades in 2022 and 2024. The proprietor of a 74.73 scoring common, over 15 rounds this season Barton led Lehigh on the Irish Creek Collegiate along with the Patriot League Championship.
 
Loyola’s Carlo Pizzano, the Patriot League particular person champion and Participant of the 12 months, was voted Scholar-Athlete of the 12 months.
 
2024 Patriot League Males’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the 12 months
Carlo Pizzano, Loyola Maryland (Gr.)
 
2024 Males’s Golf Tutorial All-Patriot League Staff
Carlo Pizzano, Loyola Maryland (Gr.)
Benjamin Valdez, Navy (Jr.)
Robbie Herzig, Colgate (Jr.)
Mike Crowley, Loyola Maryland (Sr.)
Sam Barton, Lehigh (Gr.)