AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:05 p.m. EDT (2024)

Brown matches career playoff high with 40 points, Celtics beat Pacers to take 2-0 lead in East

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown matched his career playoff high with 40 points and the Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 126-110 to open a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Brown scored 10 to help Boston run off 20 points in a row in the first half and take the lead for good. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White scored 23 points apiece. Jrue Holiday had 15 points and 10 assists for the top-seeded Celtics. They lost Game 2 in both of their previous playoff series this postseason. Pascal Siakam scored 28 points for the Pacers. They will host Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday nights.

NCAA, leagues back $2.8 billion settlement, setting stage for current, former athletes to be paid

The NCAA and five major college sports conferences have agreed to settle antitrust allegations for nearly $2.8 billion over the next 10 years. The deal also calls for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start steering millions of dollars directly to college athletes as soon as fall 2025. If approved by a judge, the payouts will go to thousands of former and current college athletes who were not allowed to earn money from endorsem*nt and sponsorship deals dating to 2016. The Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference and Pac-12 were the defendants along with the NCAA.

Paying college athletes is closer than ever. How could it work and what stands in the way?

A proposed settlement in an antitrust lawsuit that has been approved by the NCAA and major college conferences would cost billions and pave the way for a new compensation model for college athletes. A judge must still accept the proposal. Plus, many questions remain unanswered about how this will work and whether it can withstand future legal scrutiny. But college sports is pointed toward a revolutionary path that could have some of the wealthiest schools directly paying athletes to participate.

Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler disciplined for not having bodycam activated

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say the Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving “corrective action” for not having his body-worn camera activated when he approached the golfer’s vehicle and was allegedly dragged to the ground. Louisville police said Thursday that they don't have footage of the initial interaction Friday between Scheffler and Louisville Detective Bryan Gillis outside Valhalla Golf Club. The golfer was arrested on charges that he injured Gillis and disobeyed commands, but Scheffler has called the incident a misunderstanding. Officials didn't elaborate on what “corrective action” has been taken against Gillis for not having his bodycam turned on.

Raiders give Maxx Crosby a $7.2 million raise over the next 2 seasons, AP source says

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders are rewarding star pass rusher Maxx Crosby with a $6 million raise this season and another $1.2 million next year. The person with knowledge of the deal spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract details have not been announced. Three years remain on Crosby’s contract. He signed a four-year extension in March 2022 worth about $95 million. He was scheduled to approximately $19.38 million this year and $21.92 in 2025, according to Spotrac.

Mavs have early control over Wolves in Western Conference finals with mature, savvy effort by Irving

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kyrie Irving injected a burst of energy into the Dallas Mavericks to begin the Western Conference finals with a furious flurry of drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Irving contributed in many ways to the Game 1 victory. He scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half. The 32-year-old guard has an NBA championship and 87 career playoff games on his resume to give him experience in this part of the postseason that nobody on either side in this series can match. Minnesota hosts Game 2 on Friday.

Cavaliers fire coach J.B. Bickerstaff despite back-to-back playoff appearances and steady progress

CLEVELAND (AP) — J.B. Bickerstaff has been fired as Cleveland’s coach despite leading the Cavaliers through a major rebuild, an injury-ravaged season and into the second round of the NBA playoffs. Bickerstaff’s dismissal came one week after the Cavs were eliminated in five games by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland played the final two games without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. Bickerstaff's team made progress in each of his four seasons with Cleveland. The 45-year-old Bickerstaff went 170-159 in the regular season and 6-11 in the playoffs. The Cavs defeated Orlando in the first round before losing to Boston.

McLaughlin soaks up every moment of making Team Penske history ahead of the Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Long after Scott McLaughlin won the pole for the Indianapolis 500, he went into the grandstands to collect his thoughts. McLaughlin sat alone in the darkened Indianapolis Motor Speedway, listening to Post Malone and scrolling through his phone to answer all the well wishes he’d received for what he considers the biggest accomplishment of his career. McLaughlin led the first Team Penske lockout of the front row of Indianapolis 500 qualifying since 1988 when he won the pole for Sunday’s race. He will start alongside Penske teammates Will Power and reigning winner Josef Newgarden.

Charley Hoffman leads at renovated Colonial as Scottie Scheffler fails to break par

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Charley Hoffman has the lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge after a bogey-free 65 on what feels like a new course at Colonial. Scottie Scheffler was in the news all day. Louisville, Kentucky police release video of his arrest outside Valhalla last Friday for not following police orders during an investigation into a fatal accident involving a pedestrian an hour earlier. And then he shot 72 at Colonial. It's the first time this year he was over par in the opening round. Colonial has gone through a renovation with all new sod. It played bouncy Hoffman leads by one.

Replay reviews unavailable in Blue Jays-Tigers game after power failure disrupts both broadcasts

DETROIT (AP) — Replay reviews were unavailable to the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers throughout much of their game at Comerica Park because of a technical issue that affected both team broadcasts. Major League Baseball said the Detroit broadcast compound lost power just before first pitch, rendering both clubs without a broadcast feed. The commissioner’s office informed the Blue Jays and Tigers that neither team would be able to challenge any umpires’ calls via instant replay until the issue was rectified. The problem was fixed during the sixth inning, a Tigers spokesperson said, and MLB confirmed the replay system was back up and running beginning in the top of the seventh. Toronto won 9-1. MLB said the issue was not unprecedented at other ballparks.