Florida Panthers shut out Toronto Maple Leafs, tie NHL playoff series at two apiece

Florida Panthers shut out Toronto Maple Leafs, tie NHL playoff series at two apiece

Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves as the hostFlorida Panthersdefeated theToronto Maple Leafs,2-0, to even their second-round playoff series on Sunday night in Sunrise. The Eastern Conference best-of-seven series, tied at 2-2, will continue onWednesdayin Toronto. Florida, the reigning Stanley Cup champion, eliminated the Leafs from second round of the 2023 playoffs, which was the last time these two teams met in the postseason. The Panthers also won this year's season series, 3-1. Joseph Woll made 35 saves for the Leafs, who could not get their high-powered offense untracked. There were four penalties in the first period — all against Toronto. That led the Panthers to have a big edge on shot attempts (30-9) and shots on goal (15-4). NHL PLAYOFF BRACKET:2025 schedule, times, scores, TV for second-round series The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Florida Panthers defeat Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4

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Florida Panthers shut out Toronto Maple Leafs, tie NHL playoff series at two apiece

Florida Panthers shut out Toronto Maple Leafs, tie NHL playoff series at two apiece Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett scored, and Sergei Bobr...

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Thunder rally in fourth quarter to tie series with Nuggets

Thunder rally in fourth quarter to tie series with Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder finally outplayed Denver in crunch time, beating the Nuggets 92-87 on Sunday to knot their second-round series at two games apiece. The Thunder trailed 69-63 after three quarters and fell behind by eight when Peyton Watson started the fourth quarter by swishing a hook shot. But Oklahoma City used an 11-0 run fueled by reserves Cason Wallace, who had a pair of 3-pointers, and Aaron Wiggins, who added another, to take control. Wallace's second 3-pointer put Oklahoma City ahead for good at 75-73. The Nuggets had outlasted the youngest team in the NBA with wins in Games 1 and 3, crediting their playoff experience and championship pedigree. And they looked poised to put the top-seeded team in the West on the cusp of elimination when Aaron Gordon's turnaround jumper made it 73-66. This time, however, it was the Thunder who came up big down the stretch and the Nuggets who fumbled away the chance to put OKC in a 3-1 hole. Game 5 is Tuesday night back in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder had a43-point blowout of the Nuggets in Game 2. Nikola Jokic led Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Christian Braun and Jamal Murray each had 17 points and Gordon scored 15. Michael Porter Jr. scored just three points after scoring 15 Friday night. Wiggins and Wallace each added 11 points and Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams each scored 10. Williams was 2 for 13 from the floor after scoring 32 in Game 3. PACERS 129, CAVALIERS 109 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 21 points and Indiana tied an NBA playoff record by taking a 41-point halftime lead before routing top-seeded Cleveland for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers can earn a second straight trip to the East finals with a victory Tuesday in Cleveland, where they won the first two games. Indiana jumped to an 80-39 lead at halftime and led by 44 points. The 41-point lead matched the margin Cleveland set in Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference finals against Boston, according to Sportradar. And Indiana did it mostly without Bennedict Mathurin, one of its top playoff scorers, who was ejected just 7 1/2 minutes into the game for a flagrant foul. Darius Garland led the Cavs with 21 points and Donovan Mitchell had 12 points despite not playing in the second half because of a left ankle injury. Coach Kenny Atkinson said his All-Star guard would have an MRI exam Monday.

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Thunder rally in fourth quarter to tie series with Nuggets

Thunder rally in fourth quarter to tie series with Nuggets DENVER (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thun...

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India great Virat Kohli retires from test cricket

India great Virat Kohli retires from test cricket

NEW DELHI, India (AP) — India great Virat Kohli retired from test cricket Monday after playing 123 matches in his glorious 14-year red-ball career. "As I step away from this format, it's not easy — but it feels right," Kohli posted on Instagram. "It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life." The 36-year-old Kohli's retirement comes only days after Rohit Sharma stepped down from test cricket, taking two senior batters out of selection contention for India's tour to England. Kohli scored 9,230 runs including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries at a test batting average of 46.85. He also led India in 68 test matches and was India's most successful captain with 40 test wins. Kohli said the traditions and ebbs and flows of the five-day format were special to him, including "the quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever." "I am walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way," he wrote. "I will always look back at my test career with a smile. #269, signing off." ___ AP cricket:https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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India great Virat Kohli retires from test cricket

India great Virat Kohli retires from test cricket NEW DELHI, India (AP) — India great Virat Kohli retired from test cricket Monday after pla...

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Middle East latest: Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter kills at least 16 people in Gaza

Middle East latest: Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter kills at least 16 people in Gaza

An Israeli strike on aschool-turned-shelter in the Gaza Stripkilled at least 16 people early on Monday, mostly women and children, according to local health officials. At least five children and four women were among those killed in the strike on a school in the Jabaliya area, the Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service said. It also said that a number of people were wounded. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters operate in densely populated areas. There was no immediate comment on the latest strike. The attack came as U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpis heading to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emiratesthis week. After ending a ceasefire two months ago, Israel is intensifying thewar in the Gaza Strip, where its 10-week blockade on food, medicine and other supplies is worsening ahumanitarian crisis. Here is the latest: Hamas says it will release last living American hostage in Gaza in a ceasefire effort Hamas says thelast living American hostage in Gaza will be releasedas part of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory and resume aid delivery to the battered enclave. Two Hamas officials have told The Associated Press they expect the release of Edan Alexander in the next 48 hours. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed in a message to the AP that Hamas has agreed to release Alexander as a good will gesture toward Trump. The announcement of the first hostage release since Israel shattered a ceasefire in March comes shortly before Trump visits the Middle East this week. Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the United States. Famine looms as Israel presses its blockade of Gaza Hospital patients are among the most vulnerable as Palestinians across Gaza struggle to feed themselves. Israel's blockade on food and other supplies entering the territory is now in its third month and hospitals are unable to provide food. Families must bring whatever they can find to help loved ones recover and doctors say patients have lost weight in recent weeks. Aid groups say malnutrition is on the rise across Gaza. Food distributions have ended and charity kitchens are rapidly closing. Markets are empty of almost everything but canned goods and small amounts of vegetables, and prices have been rising.

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Middle East latest: Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter kills at least 16 people in Gaza

Middle East latest: Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter kills at least 16 people in Gaza An Israeli strike on aschool-turned-shelter i...

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Kurdish PKK dissolves after decades of struggle with Turkey, news agency close to militants says

Kurdish PKK dissolves after decades of struggle with Turkey, news agency close to militants says

(Reuters) - The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, which has been in conflict with the Turkish state for more than four decades, decided to dissolve itself and end its armed struggle, the Firat news agency that is close to the group said on Monday. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)

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Kurdish PKK dissolves after decades of struggle with Turkey, news agency close to militants says

Kurdish PKK dissolves after decades of struggle with Turkey, news agency close to militants says (Reuters) - The Kurdistan Workers Party (PK...

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