Sports

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers kept giving their fans hope. Even after posting their worst regularseason winning percentage in seven seasons, there was belief the Sixers could make a deep postseason run.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Kyle Wright sat at his locker. A few minutes prior, he had just finished working out and needed a second to collect his thoughts.

ARLINGTON, Texas — If Rangers’ history tells you anything, it’s that when the subject is pitching, there is always a “but.” Like this: On Thursday, the Rangers finished off a dominant series of pitching in a 6-0 four-hit shutout of Washington. They allowed the Nats a total of two runs in the series.

The celebrity cameo on the early-morning bus didn’t get any less surprising after the first time. In fact, it became even more so, once Christian Braun realized it was a trend and not a one-time occurrence.

May 1—DETROIT — Days before he felt the velocity slip from his fingertips, Steven Matz experienced the soreness that would infiltrate his start Tuesday with each footfall on a run. The Cardinals’ lefty experienced soreness in his lower back jogging this past week, and while he felt the discomfort abate he could not get it to alleviate entirely before taking the ball for Game 2 of a doubleheader against Detroit at Comerica Park.

LOS ANGELES — Here are five thoughts from the Mavericks’ 123-93 rout of the LA Clippers in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The statement win gives Dallas a commanding 3-2 lead going into Game 6 in Dallas on Friday night.