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From Jack Harris: Clayton Kershaw gave a wide-eyed smile to Gavin Lux as he walked off the sphere.
He laughed whereas fist-bumping teammates within the dugout as he descended the steps.
Then he discovered catcher Austin Barnes and wrapped him in a fast hug, the one time a dejected look ever crossed his face.
“Sorry,” Kershaw instructed his catcher, as an ideal day got here to an imperfect finish.
Barnes appeared again on the future Corridor of Famer, tapped his facet and flashed a smile.
There was nothing for the left-handed legend to be sorry about, not after starting his 14th Dodgers season Wednesday with a shocking — and virtually historic — bang.
Within the Dodgers’ 7-0 win over the Minnesota Twins, Kershaw pitched seven good innings earlier than being eliminated by supervisor Dave Roberts with the pitch rely at 80 in his first outing after a lockout-shortened spring coaching.
The Dodgers’ mixed good sport bid was damaged up an inning later, when Gary Sánchez singled towards reliever Alex Vesia to report the Twins’ solely hit of the sport.
Within the aftermath, the remainder of the baseball world was ablaze second-guessing the choice. Followers, pundits and even present and former gamers debated on-line whether or not Kershaw ought to have been allowed to remain in and go for what would have been Main League Baseball’s twenty third good sport.
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CLIPPERS
From Andrew Greif: Clippers guard Norman Powell turned towards Minnesota’s coaches and reserves and yelled after making his first three-pointer Tuesday.
After Isaiah Hartenstein’s cross to a reducing Terance Mann was redirected to Powell within the nook 5 minutes later for his third straight made three-pointer, Powell yelled once more at his closest defender.
However Powell’s greatest takeaway after Minnesota’s 109-104 play-in event victory that leaves the Clippers only one extra loss from a completed season? After making his first 4 pictures, he was far too quiet.
“9 pictures for a man they appear to to generate offense and issues isn't sufficient,” Powell stated.
“I checked out among the clips, yeah, after we do the small-ball decide and rolls with me and [Paul George], I’m in the midst of the ground, I simply obtained to be extra decisive, assault the paint, make these guys decide to their rotation, make them play out of that,” Powell stated. “That’s the largest factor. Simply being extra aggressive.”
That won't be Powell’s burden to hold alone into Friday’s play-in sport towards New Orleans at Crypto.com Area, a sport that earns the winner a first-round collection towards top-seeded Phoenix and the loser a ticket to the offseason.
WHO WOULD YOU HIRE?
Who would you decide as subsequent Lakers coach? Click on right here to vote in our survey.
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Lakers player-by-player report playing cards for 2021-22 season
NBA PLAYOFFS
All occasions Pacific
Play-in event
Western convention
Wednesday’s end result
No. 9 New Orleans 113, No. 10 San Antonio 103
Friday’s schedule
No. 9 New Orleans at No. 8 Clippers, 7 p.m., TNT
Japanese convention
Wednesday’s end result
No. 9 Atlanta 132, No. 10 Charlotte 103
Friday’s schedule
No. 9 Atlanta at No. 8 Cleveland, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
KINGS
Nathan MacKinnon had three objectives and two assists, Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored twice in a dominant first interval and the Colorado Avalanche set a franchise report with their 53rd win by routing the Kings 9-3 on Wednesday evening.
Valeri Nichushkin added two objectives, Cale Makar had a purpose and three assists, Andre Burakovsky additionally scored and Darcy Kuemper made 29 saves for the Avalanche, who led 4-0 earlier than the sport was 11 minutes previous.
Colorado gained its seventh straight and improved to 53-14-6, besting the 2013-14 and 2000-01 groups for many victories. The Avalanche additionally moved two factors forward of Florida for the very best report within the NHL and are a franchise-best 29-4-3 at house.
Adrian Kempe, Alex Iafallo and Phillip Danault scored for the Kings, who've dropped 4 of 5. Jonathan Fast allowed three objectives on 10 pictures earlier than he was pulled whereas beginning on consecutive nights for the primary time in over 4 years. Cal Peterson allowed six extra objectives on 25 pictures.
RAMS
From Gary Klein: Three of coach Sean McVay’s former assistants on offense parlayed their success with the Rams into NFL head coach jobs.
Will Liam Coen be subsequent?
Coen, the Rams’ new offensive coordinator, has but to run a gathering or assist McVay design a play for the Tremendous Bowl champions.
However Coen, a former Rams assistant who was Kentucky’s offensive coordinator final season, is conscious that Inexperienced Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor and Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell all noticed their profession trajectories soar after working intently with McVay. Chargers coach Brandon Staley is a former Rams defensive coordinator.
“If these alternatives come sooner or later, then nice,” Coen stated Wednesday throughout a videoconference with reporters. “It’s clearly the head of your profession by way of this occupation, is attending to be a head soccer coach within the Nationwide Soccer League. And to say that wasn’t a purpose of mine or isn’t a purpose of mine, I’d be mendacity.”
UCLA FOOTBALL
From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: It wasn’t simply site visitors that stalled Azizi Hearn’s journey from Oceanside to Westwood.
The UCLA defensive again took the lengthy highway up the California coast, looping via Tucson, Ariz., and Laramie, Wyo., and turning into the switch portal twice. 5 years after strolling on to his first faculty crew, the San Diego-area product is joyful to say he’s arrived to his final vacation spot.
“That is house for me,” Hearn stated Wednesday after apply at Spaulding Area on UCLA’s campus.
Lower than a month into his UCLA profession, the graduate switch has emerged because the crew’s fifth defensive again, leaping in with the highest unit because the slot nook. Redshirt senior Stephan Blaylock stated final week that Hearn was an early standout in spring camp as a result of he grabbed two interceptions within the first two weeks. He had one other decide throughout one-on-one drills.
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Listed below are some prime storylines to look at as groups put together for the 2022-23 season
TRACK
From Helene Elliott: Allyson Felix, who turned essentially the most adorned American monitor and subject athlete in Olympic competitors when she gained two medals final summer season on the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Video games, introduced by way of Instagram she is going to retire after “one final run” this season. Her feats will likely be troublesome to match.
Felix, 36, was born in Los Angeles and graduated from L.A. Baptist Excessive. She turned professional earlier than faculty however attended USC and earned a level in elementary schooling at her mom’s insistence. She competed in 5 Olympics, beginning in 2004, and gained seven gold medals, three silvers, and one bronze. She additionally has gained 19 medals (14-3-2) in out of doors world championship races. The world championships will likely be held this 12 months in Eugene, Ore., from July 15 via July 24.
“As a bit lady they referred to as rooster legs, by no means in my wildest desires would I've imagined I’d have a profession like this,” she stated in her submit. “I've a lot gratitude for this sport that has modified my life. I've given every thing I've to operating and for the primary time I’m unsure if I've something left to provide.”
Felix additionally has made a mark as an advocate for being pregnant look after Black ladies since she gave beginning to a untimely daughter, Camryn, in November 2018. She has testified earlier than Congress concerning the racial disparities in maternal well being care. She was among the many distinguished feminine athletes who criticized Nike’s insufficient insurance policies for pregnant ladies and he or she later co-founded a female-oriented footwear firm, Saysh.
THIS DATE IN SPORTS
1928 — The New York Rangers beat the Montreal Maroons for the Stanley Cup, 3-games-to-2.
1931 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Black Hawks 2-0 within the fifth sport to win the Stanley Cup after trailing 2-games-to-1.
1948 — The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 4 video games as they beat the Detroit Pink Wings 7-2.
1960 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fifth straight Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs, together with tonight’s 4-0 victory.
1962 — Elgin Baylor scores a report 61 factors to guide the Lakers to a 126-121 conquer the Boston Celtics within the NBA finals.
1968 — Bob Goalby wins the Masters when Roberto de Vincenzo of Argentina is penalized for signing an incorrect scorecard.
1985 — Bernhard Langer beats Curtis Unusual, Ray Floyd and Seve Ballesteros by two strokes to win the Masters.
1991 — Ian Woosnam of Wales made a par putt to show again Tom Watson on the final gap and seize the Masters.
1993 — The NHL’s longest successful streak ends at 17 video games because the Pittsburgh Penguins settled for a 6-6 tie with the New Jersey Devils on a late purpose by Joe Mullen.
1996 — The Detroit Pink Wings wrap up the winningest season in NHL historical past by defeating Dallas 5-1. The Pink Wings completed with 62 victories, beating the 60 wins of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.
1996 — Greg Norman shoots a startling 78 within the best collapse in Masters historical past, giving Nick Faldo his third inexperienced jacket and sixth main championship.
2002 — Tiger Woods turns into the third participant to win back-to-back Masters titles. He closes with a 1-under 71 to assert a three-stroke victory over Retief Goosen.
2013 — Adam Scott turns into the primary Australian to win the Masters, beating Angel Cabrera on the second gap of a playoff on a wet day at Augusta Nationwide.
2016 — Breanna Stewart leads a UConn sweep of the primary three picks within the WNBA draft, going first total to the Seattle Storm. Moriah Jefferson went second to San Antonio and Morgan Tuck third to Connecticut, the primary time in draft historical past that three gamers from the identical faculty went 1-2-3. It’s a primary in any main sport.
And at last
Highlights from Clayton Kershaw’s masterful efficiency Wednesday. Watch and pay attention right here.
Till subsequent time...
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