SPORTS NEWS

For much of the season, the Warriors and Hawks looked like the two best teams in the NBA, winning 67 and 60 games, respectively.  Despite those stellar credentials, both teams headed into Monday's action down 2-1 in their conference semifinal matchups.  MORE: Nike gives Obama new kicks | LeBron claims Blatt criticism PHOTOS: Must-see shots of Round 2 In their respective Game 4 tilts, both top seeds responded with big wins. The Hawks moved past the Wizards, 106-101, while the Warriors handled Memphis, 101-84.  Still, the Hawks and Warriors both head home knowing that, though they are in better shape than they were heading into Monday night, they're only halfway home.  Takeaway:  This series is tied 2-2, and it feels as tight as the record suggests.  After four games, both teams have to feel pretty good about themselves. The Wizards played their third game without John Wall, and despite going 1-2 in his absence, they are only a few missed buckets away from being up 3-1.  As for ...

Primer: If you were wishing for two star-powered, high-octane heavyweights going blow for blow for the Western Conference title, here they are. The Blackhawks and Ducks are packed with enough punch and playoff pedigree to ensure this series lives up to the fanfare that will come with it. Between each team’s top two players — Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews for the Blackhawks; Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry for the Ducks — you’ll see 51 playoff points combined, and you'll get even more firepower from the rank and file. Based on recent history, it’s easy to assume the lower-seeded Blackhawks hold the edge in the series, with their depth and proven ability to score opportune goals. MORE: Must-see playoff photos | Rest of Round 2 schedule But while Chicago has won two Stanley Cups since Anaheim's last championship in 2007, the Ducks are the playoffs' hottest team, having lost just once in nine games, albeit against inferior opponents. They have the requisite size, snarl and sco...

For much of the season, the Warriors and Hawks looked like the two best teams in the NBA, winning 67 and 60 games, respectively.  Despite those stellar credentials, both teams headed into Monday's action down 2-1 in their conference semifinal matchups.  MORE: Nike gives Obama new kicks | LeBron claims Blatt criticism PHOTOS: Must-see shots of Round 2 In their respective Game 4 tilts, both top seeds responded with big wins. The Hawks moved past the Wizards, 106-101, while the Warriors handled Memphis, 101-84.  Still, the Hawks and Warriors both head home knowing that, though they are in better shape than they were heading into Monday night, they're only halfway home.  Takeaway:  This series is tied 2-2, and it feels as tight as the record suggests.  After four games, both teams have to feel pretty good about themselves. The Wizards played their third game without John Wall, and despite going 1-2 in his absence, they are only a few missed buckets away from being up 3-1.  As for ...

Suddenly, the Lightning will be minus their captain Tuesday night. And suddenly, their Stanley Cup playoff series with the Canadiens became even more interesting. Tampa Bay forward Ryan Callahan underwent an emergency appendectomy Monday and will miss Game 6, the team announced. MORE: Must-see photos from the second round | Canadiens stay alive in Game 5 Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times has the details: Callahan was admitted into hospital this afternoon, diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Surgery around 9 pm and was out and stable by 10 pm — Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) May 12, 2015 Callahan has three points (all assists) and leads the team with a plus-7 rating in 12 playoff games. His replacement has not been named. Smith notes an appendectomy usually requires a lengthy rehab period . . . Those who have appendectomy return to normal activity within a few days, full recovery can take 4-6 weeks. Uncertain on Callahan timeframe — Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) May 12, 2015 . . . but #becaus...

Primer: If you were wishing for two star-powered, high-octane heavyweights going blow for blow for the Western Conference title, here they are. The Blackhawks and Ducks are packed with enough punch and playoff pedigree to ensure this series lives up to the fanfare that will come with it. Between each team’s top two players — Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews for the Blackhawks; Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry for the Ducks — you’ll see 51 playoff points combined, and you'll get even more firepower from the rank and file. Based on recent history, it’s easy to assume the lower-seeded Blackhawks hold the edge in the series, with their depth and proven ability to score opportune goals. MORE: Must-see playoff photos | Rest of Round 2 schedule But while Chicago has won two Stanley Cups since Anaheim's last championship in 2007, the Ducks are the playoffs' hottest team, having lost just once in nine games, albeit against inferior opponents. They have the requisite size, snarl and sco...

In the storied history of the Montreal Canadiens, they had never forced a Game 6 after trailing a playoff series three games to none.  Until now. MORE: Babcock to Devils? | Senators land top college prospect | Sunday odds | PHOTOS: Second-round gallery Carey Price was stellar between the pipes on Saturday to help Montreal win a second straight game and survive in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Takeaway : The Canadiens struck early, taking a 1-0 lead on a Devante Smith-Pelly wrister nine minutes into the game.  It took 23 shots for the Lightning to finally score on Price. Steven Stamkos tied it at 1-1 with 10:33 remaining in the third period.  P.K. Subban set up the game winner with a nifty move around Tampa's Alex Killorn followed by a swift pass to Pierre' Alexandre Parenteau, who flicked the one-timer over the shoulder of Lightning goalie Ben Bishop. The puck flew past Bishop's glove and clanged off the crossbar before dropping into the net.  It was the first time this seaso...

Paul Pierce may not be a superstar anymore, but he's still "The Truth." His Wizards were playing without their star player, John Wall, and had watched a 21-point lead over the Hawks evaporate in a matter of minutes. MORE: Pierce 'I Called Game' t-shirts on sale | Hawks petition to end bank shot winners PHOTOS: Must-see Round 2 pictures Enter Pierce, the grizzled veteran who has had more playoff success as an individual than the Washington franchise has had in the last 35 years.  The 37-year-old may no longer be an All-Star, but you'd have a hard time convincing him of that.  Guarded by 6-1 Dennis Schroder in the waning seconds of Saturday night's Game 3, Pierce called for the ball, maneuvered past the Hawks guard and hit a fadeaway jumper that swished through the net as he fell to the ground.  "I had a small guy on me, I had it at the elbow...what more can you ask for," Pierce told ESPN's Chris Broussard after the game. "You got Truth a...

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau sat on the bench late in Game 1, his coach fed up with how the bigger Ducks forwards were having their way with the 5-9, 150-pound rookie. In fact, Anaheim beat up on Calgary in winning the first two games of the teams' second-round Stanley Cup playoff series by a combined 9-1. All of that changed Tuesday in Game 3.  MORE: Must-see photos | Wednesday betting preview | Flames don't mind burning year of Bennett's rookie deal After it appeared Calgary may have been wrongly denied a goal by the officials, Gaudreau found redemption and tied the game with 19.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Mikael Backlund followed up with a goal 4:24 into overtime to cap a Flames comeback and give the Ducks their first loss of the playoffs. Elsewhere in the Western Conference, Corey Crawford and the Blackhawks shut out the Wild and moved one win away from a sweep. Takeaway:  The consensus heading into Game 3 was the Flames would need more production out of their...

Once upon a time, center was the most important position in the NBA. Those days are long gone.  In today's NBA, it's all about the point guards. That much was clear in Tuesday night's playoff games, as the absence of one playmaker and the return of another swung the momentum of two playoff series.  MORE: Green hits Conley in the face | Tony Allen has a message | PHOTOS: Must-see Round 2 images The Wizards entered Tuesday a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs but suffered their first loss after John Wall was held out with a wrist injury suffered in Game 1 against the Hawks. Over on the West Coast, the Grizzlies managed to tie their series with the Warriors as Mike Conley put together an extraordinary effort in his return from a gruesome eye injury.  Takeaway:  When the Wizards announced they'd be without Wall, it looked as if it should have been an easy win for the Hawks. The final score would suggest it was, but observers would tell you the game was a lot closer than you would...