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That’s the Way the Ball Bounces

“I saw you throwing the ball for the dog outside this morning,” I said to my husband. He was making himself some eggs while the dog lay panting on the floor. “I did!” he said enthusiastically. “You used the wrong ball,” I said, walking past him to pet the panting dog. “What do you mean?” “You threw the green ball that has the treats inside,” I said. “You’re supposed to throw the yellow ball with no treats.” “What are you, the Fetch Police?” he said as he flipped his omelet. “No, but when you use the green ball, the treats inside get dirt and dog ...

Spurs’ Wembanyama named Rookie of Year

Victor Wembanyama had a year like no rookie in NBA history. Others scored more points, others grabbed more rebounds, others had more blocks, others made more steals. But never had there been a player who, in Year 1 of his career, posted all these averages — at least 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. Until now. The long-expected result became reality on Monday, when the Spurs’ star from France was announced as the unanimous winner of the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. He’s the third San Antonio player to win it, joining David ...

Brunson scores 43, rallies Knicks to 121-117 win over Pacers

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson scored 43 points, becoming the fourth player in NBA history with four straight 40-point games in the postseason, and the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 121-117 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Brunson had 21 in the fourth quarter, rallying the Knicks after they trailed by nine early in the period, and joined Hall of Famers Jerry West, who had six consecutive 40-point games in the postseason, and Michael Jordan and Bernard King (both with four). Donte DiVincenzo hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining ...

After Rangers’ series-opening win, Hurricanes focus on basics

The Rangers and Hurricanes were among the top special teams units during the regular season. Carolina was second on the power play and first on the penalty-kill, and New York was third in both. After special teams play keyed the Rangers’ 4-3 win in the series opener, the Hurricanes know they will need to be better when the teams meet in Game 2 on Tuesday night (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN). “We got to be a little bit better in all areas,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They got a great team over there. They had to make high-end plays on the goals. ... We have to find a way to ...

Larson, Hamlin, dominant drivers, could have a blooming rivalry

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — What is quickly becoming the best rivalry in NASCAR evidently has at least one willing participant. After Kyle Larson edged Chris Buescher at the line in the closest finish in history Sunday night at Kansas Speedway, the 2021 Cup Series champion confessed that he would have been OK finishing second, because their door-banging, nose-to-nose finish — the final margin was a mere hundredth of a second — was just so “frickin’ awesome.” If it was Denny Hamlin, rather than Buescher, who beat the No. 5 car in a photo finish? Well ... “I’d have been ...

Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 150th Kentucky Derby produced one of the most dramatic finishes in its storied history — three noses at the wire. Mystik Dan desperately fought to hang on with two challengers coming to him in the closing strides. He did, too, after a delay of several minutes while the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947 was sorted out. That year, Jet Pilot won by a head over Phalanx, who was another head in front of Faultless. This one was much tighter. Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, edged Sierra Leone by a nose, with Forever Young another nose back in third on ...