Top News:
Mick Akers / Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Oakland A's enter binding purchase agreement for Las Vegas ballpark site — The Oakland Athletics have zeroed in on Southern Nevada, signing a binding purchase agreement for land just west of the Strip where a major-league ballpark could be constructed. — The agreement is for 49 acres …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, San Francisco Chronicle, NBCSports.com, ESPN, USA Today, Mercury News, Royals Review, Yahoo Sports, Front Office Sports, The Athletic, Reuters, Last Word On Baseball, Baseball-Reference.com, Associated Press, Bleacher Nation, Sportico, MLB Trade Rumors and Los Angeles Times
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The Nevada Independent:
Potential deal for A's relocation to Las Vegas could rely on $500 million in public financing — The Oakland A's spent nearly two years identifying a location for a $1.5 billion stadium and entertainment complex in Las Vegas. But now the team and state lawmakers have a month and a half window …
New York Times:
With Las Vegas Land Deal, Athletics May Finally Leave Oakland — After years of tense negotiations to remain in the Bay Area, the A's said they had reached a deal to acquire a stadium site near the Las Vegas Strip. — For more than half a century, the Oakland Athletics …
Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets crumble late and lose to Joel Embiid, Sixers, 102-97, and fall into 3-0 series hole — Spencer Dinwiddie looked at the scoreboard, the time left on the clock, and slapped his hands in frustration. — Brooklyn's starting point guard just blew it — and he knew it.
Discussion:
The Sixer Sense, Denver Post, Mercury News, The Athletic and New York Post
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Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Run, pass, special teams: Nets defensive scheme is working, but not winning games — The Nets have taken away the run and the pass, but have lost Games 1 and 2 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on special teams. — And they're OK with that.
Abbey Mastracco / New York Daily News:
Max Scherzer suspended 10 games following ejection for excessive sticky stuff; opts not to appeal — SAN FRANCISCO — After getting ejected for his hand being too sticky Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, Max Scherzer is well aware of what people are calling him right now: A cheater.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs starter Jameson Taillon heads to the injured list while Kyle Hendricks nears a minor-league rehab stint — The first test of the Chicago Cubs starting pitching depth has arrived. — Jameson Taillon, who was scheduled to start Thursday at Wrigley Field, was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain.
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
Even at 1-1, Heat left feeling at a loss against Bucks, 'we've got to lick our wounds' — MIAMI — The opportunity was there to offer a tried-and-true trope. But the Miami Heat also knew better after trailing by as many as 36 points Wednesday night. — Yes, they went into Milwaukee …
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Boston Herald
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Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
No Giannis, no problem for Bucks in 138-122 thrashing of Heat that evens series 1-1
No Giannis, no problem for Bucks in 138-122 thrashing of Heat that evens series 1-1
Discussion:
Mercury News, Boston Herald, The Athletic, NBA Analysis Network and Associated Press
Charles Krupa / Associated Press:
Celtics' Malcolm Brogdon wins NBA's 6th man of year award — BOSTON — The Boston Celtics asked Malcolm Brogdon to learn a new role. He mastered it quickly. — Brogdon was honored Thursday night as the NBA's sixth man of the year, after a season in which he came off the bench exclusively …
Discussion:
Mercury News, The Boston Globe, Boston.com, NBA, Boston Herald, USA Today, The Athletic, NESN.com, New York Post, CelticsBlog and Newsday
Julian McWilliams / The Boston Globe:
This Jarren Duran could be the one the Red Sox have been waiting to see — Jarren Duran is at his best when playing with reckless abandonment. Or, as he puts it, “playing with his hair on fire.” — There's a certain level of conviction that comes with that. Audaciousness.
Discussion:
The Athletic, Yahoo Sports and NESN.com
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
‘Dream come true’: Mookie Betts makes 1st career appearance at SS — CHICAGO — On Wednesday night, Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts was sleeping in a hospital room in California. Twenty-four hours later — after the arrival of his new baby boy — he was playing shortstop …
Discussion:
The Athletic, True Blue LA, FanGraphs Baseball, NESN.com, Yahoo Sports and MLB.com
Jon Heyman / New York Post:
Angels not planning to trade Shohei Ohtani: ‘Zero percent chance’ — No matter where they stand in the race, the Angels are unlikely to trade Shohei Ohtani, multiple people close to the situation say. — The Yankees, Padres and about half the teams made inquiries about the great two-way star …
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, NESN.com, USA Today and FanSided