Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Nets player: Embiid’s laughing apology over elbow ‘disrespectful’
Some Brooklyn Nets players are unhappy with the laughing apology given by Philadelphia center Joel Embiid over the elbow he delivered in Game 2, calling it "disrespectful." Embiid was whistled for a Flagrant 1 foul after a vicious elbow that caught the jaw of Brooklyn's Jarrett Allen during the 76ers' victory. Embiid apologized for the elbow during the postgame press conference but broke into laughter with teammate Ben Simmons doing it.
Olympics: Tokyo ticket lottery to launch for domestic sales on May 9
Residents of Japan will be able to apply for tickets for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from May 9, the organizing committee said on Thursday. Residents will be able to apply through the lottery system, which runs from May 9-28, before finding out if their application was successful on June 20.
NHL roundup: Avs put Flames on brink with OT win
Mikko Rantanen's second goal of the game was the overtime winner as the Colorado Avalanche erased a two-goal deficit and beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 Wednesday night in Denver. The result put the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, Calgary, on the brink of elimination in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Avalanche lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. Game 5 will be Friday in Calgary.
Targeted tests having an impact in esports, says Verroken
Targeted testing of esports competitors is leading to a rethink about drug cheating in online gaming and which stimulants are more widespread, according to anti-doping expert Michele Verroken. The former head of anti-doping at UK Sport, Verroken now runs the Sporting Integrity consultancy and carries out tests at a number of tournaments for the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC).
Take 5: Can't-miss NFL games in 2019
The NFL's schedule release is like Christmas morning -- that is, if after unwrapping all of your gifts, you sat and stared at them for 4 1/2 months before unboxing the goods. With Wednesday night's unveiling, we can finally start circling the calendar, counting the days and drooling over the best 2019 battles to come.
MLB roundup: Astros' streak halted at 10
Matt Chapman broke a sixth-inning tie with a home run Wednesday night, helping the host Oakland Athletics snap the Houston Astros' 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory. Frankie Montas (3-1) gave up one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings, and the Oakland bullpen got the final eight outs as the A's beat the Astros for the first time in five tries this season to split the two-game series.
Dominant Nadal makes winning start in Monte Carlo
Rafa Nadal produced a claycourt masterclass to pick apart fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1 6-1, as the world number two began his Monte Carlo Masters title defense in stunning fashion on Wednesday. Playing his first match since injuring his knee at Indian Wells last month, Nadal showed no signs of rust as he raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set on Court Rainier III.
NBA roundup: Celtics rally past Pacers for 2-0 series lead
Jayson Tatum buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 50.8 seconds remaining Wednesday night, allowing the host Boston Celtics to overcome a late Indiana Pacers flurry and pull out a 99-91 victory in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. With the fourth-seeded Celtics having successfully held serve on their home court to go up 2-0 in the best-of-seven set, the fifth-seeded Pacers will host Games 3 and 4 on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
NFL notebook: Defending champion Patriots open against Steelers
The New England Patriots will open the defense of their Super Bowl LIII title against the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 1, the NFL announced in its unveiling of the 2019 schedule. The league announced in late March that the opening game of the season would pit the Green Bay Packers at the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Sept. 5. The defending Super Bowl champion normally opens the season with a home game on Thursday night, but the NFL wanted to feature its oldest rivalry to open its 100th season, which bumped New England to Sunday night, Sept. 8.
Bogut named Warriors starting center after Cousins injury
Andrew Bogut will start at center for the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors after DeMarcus Cousins tore his quad in the team's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, head coach Steve Kerr said on Wednesday. The towering Australian, who won a championship with Golden State in 2015, rejoined the team as a backup to Cousins in March after a standout season with the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL).
