Today’s Fast Break Sports Report
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 27 points to pull the Minnesota Timberwolves out of their mid-series slump and deliver a flawless 115-70 victory over the Denver Nuggets to force a Game 7 in this roller-coaster playoff matchup. Jaden McDaniels pitched in 21 points and lockdown defense, and Mike Conley had 13 points in his return from injury. Big men Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid combined for 38 rebounds and a relentless effort to keep NBA MVP Nikola Jokic to a relatively quiet 22 points. The decisive game for a spot in the Western Conference finals is in Denver on Sunday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Clarke Schmidt cruised to a career-long eight shutout innings after Anthony Volpe led off the game with a home run in a three-run first inning, and the New York Yankees finished a three-game sweep with a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Schmidt scattered a double and two singles without a walk while striking out eight batters and winning his third consecutive start. Schmidt has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his nine starts this season. He lowered his ERA from 2.95 to 2.49 while throwing a career-high 103 pitches.
The Milwaukee Brewers were off yesterday ahead of their season long nine game road trip that starts tonight in Houston. Pregame 6:35pm. First pitch at 7:10pm.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Chris Kreider had a third-period hat trick to help the New York Rangers erase a two-goal deficit and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 to close out the second-round playoff series in six games and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Kreider single-handedly erased the Hurricanes’ 3-1 lead entering the final period. He had the winner when he tipped in Ryan Lindgren’s pass to make it 4-3 at the 15:41 mark. Barclay Goodrow added an empty-netter. Martin Necas, Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho scored for Carolina, which had won two straight after falling into a 3-0 hole.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have signed Robert Tonyan as they added depth at tight end while T.J. Hockenson recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Minnesota made room for Tonyan on the roster by waiving undrafted rookie free-agent linebacker Donovan Manuel. The 30-year-old Tonyan caught 11 passes for 112 yards with the Chicago Bears last season after playing for the Green Bay Packers from 2018-22. Hockenson tore his ACL in a Dec. 24 game against the Lions and underwent surgery on Jan. 29.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Xander Schauffele has set the PGA Championship record with a 62. He also tied a major championship record that he shared last year in the U.S. Open. Schauffele took advantage of rain-softened conditions at Valhalla. And he’s been playing some good golf. Schauffele was runner-up last week in the Wells Fargo Championship. Schauffele played the back nine in 31. He ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine to get in range of the record. The previous mark at the PGA was a 63. One of those was Jose Maria Olazabal at Valhalla 10 years ago.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Tiger Woods fired a 1-over par 72 during the opening round of the PGA Championship. The 15-time major champion faltered late. He was 1-under heading into his final two holes before a pair of three-putts led to bogeys that pushed him into plus territory. Woods arrived at Valhalla having not played since his last-place finish at the Masters last month. The 48-year-old Woods says it took him a few holes to get the competitive juices flowing. When he arrives at the course for the second round he will try to avoid missing the cut for the fourth time in his last seven visits to the PGA.