Heat shrink in 116-105 loss to Hawks, now with all-or-nothing Friday game to salvage season  —  MIAMI — One game, one chance, one night to salvage the season.  —  That is what it has come down to for the Miami Heat.  —  Failing to take advantage of the first of two chances to advance …

Were 9-year-old Diar DeRozan's screams the Chicago Bulls' secret weapon as the Toronto Raptors missed 18 free throws?  —  TORONTO — As the tide turned in the favor of the Chicago Bulls during Wednesday's 109-105 play-in tournament win over the Toronto Raptors, one constant sound was like a metronome …

Salt Lake City group joins MLB expansion chase  —  A Salt Lake City consortium led by the former owner of the Utah Jazz plans to pursue a Major League Baseball franchise in the coming years, touting the area's population growth, strong economy and baseball history as draws for a coveted expansion slot …

Seiya Suzuki homers in Iowa Cubs game Wednesday.  Is this his last before jumping back to majors?  —  The first pitch Seiya Suzuki saw Wednesday afternoon was a 91.4 mile per hour four-seam fastball from Omaha Storm Chasers pitcher Austin Cox that drifted over the outer part of the plate.

Fort Lauderdale airport closed until Friday, stranding hundreds of passengers  —  From a flooded Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to inundated streets of Broward County, a transportation nightmare was all but guaranteed Thursday after unprecedented rains pounded the area the day before.

Denver weather: High fire danger as wind buffets dry ground amid heat  —  Red flag warning issued for metro Denver  —  A third day in a row of summer-like heat with temperatures reaching 79 degrees and wind gusting at speeds up to 45 miles per hour, buffeting dry ground, is expected to create critical fire weather Thursday.

Mets fail to get big hit, fall to Padres  —  Making the final out of the Mets' 4-2 loss to the Padres on Tuesday night was the unproductive prodigy, Francisco Alvarez, who in his second game of the year — seventh of his life in the majors — struck out against Josh Hader, San Diego's combustible closer.

Slow rollers help Mets beat Padres in 1st game between teams since NL Wild Card series  —  Home field advantage typically refers to bigger locker rooms, shorter commutes and friendly fans, but facing the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Citi Field, the Mets received an advantage in the form of some dirt and paint.

Nets Playoff Intel: Priority No. 1 — Keep Joel Embiid off the foul line  —  Priority No. 1 for the Nets in their upcoming first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers is keeping MVP favorite Joel Embiid off the free throw line — and hopefully, lower on the scoreboard.