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TOP STORY
BKN--PLAYOFFS-WHO CAN WIN
MIAMI — Before the season started, a poll suggested the Miami Heat were the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA title. The voters weren't some know-nothings, either. These were NBA general managers. Things seem quite a bit different now and it could be a wide-open tournament that starts this weekend. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos.
NHL PLAYOFFS
HKN--RED WINGS-BRUINS
BOSTON — The top-seeded Boston Bruins face the Detroit Red Wings in the opener of a first-round series. Boston reached the Stanley Cup final last year before losing to Chicago. Detroit is in the playoffs for the 23rd straight time. By Howard Ulman. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 7:30 p.m.
HKN--CANADIENS-LIGHTNING
TAMPA, Fla. — The Canadiens look to take a 2-0 lead against Tampa Bay following an overtime victory. Montreal knows that after giving up four goals it will have to be much better defensively the rest of the way against the young Lightning. By Fred Goodall. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m.
HKN--STARS-DUCKS
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Teemu Selanne and the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks attempt to take a 2-0 series lead on Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars, who nearly rallied all the way back from a four-goal deficit in the opener. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 10 p.m.
HKN--RANGERS-KING HENRIK
NEW YORK — Henrik Lundqvist has the most wins and shutouts in Rangers history. One thing, however, is missing from the goalie's sterling resume: a Stanley Cup title. New York, which opened the playoffs with a victory over Philadelphia, has gone 20 years without a championship drought. By Ira Podell.
— Saturday Games:
— ST. LOUIS — HKN--Blackhawks-Blues. By R.B. Fallstrom. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 7 p.m.
— PITTSBURGH — HKN--Blue Jackets-Penguins. By Will Graves. UPCOMING: 700 words by 5 p.m.
— DENVER — HKN--Wild-Avalanche. By Pat Graham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 7 p.m.
NEW/DEVELOPING
BKN--BOARD OF GOVERNORS
NEW YORK — Even as the NBA prepares for a draft that will likely be headlined by freshmen, Commissioner Adam Silver remains committed to keeping such players in college. He says raising the draft age limit to abolish the "one and done" is one of his priorities. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m.
TEN--MONTE CARLO MASTERS
MONACO — Rafael Nadal loses to Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the quarterfinals, his earliest exit at the Monte Carlo Masters in 11 years. Ferrer next faces Stanislas Wawrinka, who reached his first semifinals since winning the Australian Open. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 650 words, photos.
BOX--SHUMENOV-HOPKINS
WASHINGTON — Age? More like ageless. Bernard Hopkins, at 49 years old, wants to become the oldest fighter to unify world titles. The IBF light heavyweight champion faces WBA champion Beibut Shumenov on Saturday. SENT: 750 words, photos.
NEAPL-EVEREST AVALANCHE
KATMANDU, Nepal — An avalanche sweeps down a climbing route on Mount Everest, killing at least 12 Nepalese guides and leaving four missing in the deadliest disaster on the world's highest peak. Several more are injured. By Binaj Gurubacharya. SENT: 550 words, photos, video.
NBA PLAYOFFS
BKN--WARRIORS-CLIPPERS
LOS ANGELES — An All-Star point guard on each side and two teams that don't like each other. The Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors meet Saturday and figure to create the best theater of any first-round playoff matchup. By Beth Harris. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6 p.m.
BKN--HEAT-JAMES
MIAMI — As he walked off the court for the final time last season, LeBron James shouted to no one in particular, "Keep doubting me! I need it!" He and the Miami Heat seem to have plenty of doubters now, and James knows there's only one way to prove them wrong. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m. EDT.
BKN--SPURS-LEONARD WAITS
Kawhi Leonard knows of all the role players who flourished for the Spurs. He wants no part of it. He has been called the future face of this franchise, and when Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are done ruling the roost, he's ready to take over. By Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKN--BULLS-NOAH
DEERFIELD, Ill. — When Derrick Rose went down and Luol Deng was traded, the Bulls needed a leader. Enter, Joakim Noah. He became a sort of point-center, running the offense while cleaning up on the glass and on defense. Chicago wound up with 48 wins in a season that could have gone all wrong. By Andrew Seligman. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
— Saturday Games:
— TORONTO — BKN--Nets-Raptors. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m.
— INDIANAPOLIS — BKN--Hawks-Pacers. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m.
— OKLAHOMA CITY — BKN--Grizzlies-Thunder. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.
— Also:
— CHARLOTTE, N.C. — BKN--Bobcats-Douglas-Roberts. By Steve Reed. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 6 p.m.
COMMENTARY
BKN--PAUL NEWBERRY-041814
ATLANTA — If the Atlanta Hawks were playing another sport, they might have a glimmer of hope heading into the playoffs. Not so in the NBA. Power talks. In the last two decades, 17 titles have been won by teams that had at least the fourth-best overall record in the league. By National Writer Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 5 p.m.
GOLF
GLF--RBC HERITAGE
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Masters contenders Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth are in contention entering the second round of the RBC Heritage. Kuchar is tied for the lead with Scott Langley and William McGirt while the 20-year-old Spieth is three shots back. By Pete Iacobelli. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 6:30 p.m.
GLF--MALAYSIAN OPEN
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Pablo Larrazabal runs into a lake to escape hornets "three times the size of bees" during the second round of the Malaysian Open. The Spaniard gets medical treatment, including injections, but finishes his round. "I've never been so scared," he says. SENT: 400 words, photos.
GLF--CHAMPIONS TOUR
DULUTH, Ga. — Bernhard Langer, who won the inaugural event in 2013, Miguel Angel Jimenez, coming off a fourth-place finish in the Masters, and Fred Couples are among the favorites for the start of the Greater Gwinnett Classic. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 7 p.m.
— Also:
— KAPOLEI, Hawaii — GLF--LPGA Tour. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos by midnight.
FEATURES
FBN--ALABAMA-TINKER'S ORDEAL
HOOVER, Ala. — Jacksonville Jaguars long snapper Carson Tinker enjoyed the relative anonymity his position gave him in Alabama. Then came April 27, 2011. A tornado ripped apart his house, killing his girlfriend. Now, Tinker has written a book about the ordeal. By John Zenor. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m.
FBN--COLTS-REGGIE RETURNS
INDIANAPOLIS — Reggie Wayne can't wait to get back on the field after recovering from a torn knee ligament. Andrew Luck can't wait to have him back there. But the two Colts stars may not get a chance to do their usual work when the offseason team activities begin next week. By Michael Marot. UPCOMING: 700 words by 9 p.m.
MOT--MARQUEZ'S MARCH
AUSTIN, Texas — Marc Marquez safely navigated the first turn of the Grand Prix of the Americas and quickly settled in for his second consecutive victory of the 2014 season. The rest of the grid in MotoGP will have to hope the Spaniard doesn't make such easy work of the world championship. By Jim Vertuno. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 3 p.m.
COLLEGE
— DURHAM, N.C. — BKC--Duke-Hood-NBA. Duke sophomore Rodney Hood following Jabari Parker by declaring for NBA draft. SENT: 250 words, photos.
— WASHINGTON — Obama-Navy Football. Obama presents Commander-in-Chief trophy to Navy football team at White House. SENT: 120 words, photos.
— NCAA-Hardship Waivers. NCAA could force hardship transfers to sit a year but gain extra year of eligibility. By Luke Meredith. SENT: 350 words, photos.
— BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GYM--NCAA Women's Gymnastics. Defending champion Florida among 12 schools looking to make finals at NCAA women's gymnastics championships. By John Zenor. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Sessions at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
CAPSULES
— HKN--NHL Playoff Capsules.
— BBO--Baseball Capsules.
— GLF--Golf Capsules.
___
Friday's Time Schedule (EDT)
NHL Playoffs
Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas at Anaheim, 10 p.m.
Baseball
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.
St. Louis at Washington, 7:05 p.m.
Toronto at Cleveland, 7:05 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Detroit, 7:08 p.m.
Baltimore at Boston, 7:10 p.m.
Atlanta at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m.
Seattle at Miami, 7:10 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas, 8:05 p.m.
Minnesota at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.
Houston at Oakland, 10:05 p.m.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.
San Francisco at San Diego, 10:10 p.m.
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