Road teams pushing back in early days of NBA playoffs, stealing away the home-court advantages
The first six games in this season's playoffs all had something in common. The home teams all prevailed, winning by an average of 18. 5 points per game. And since then, chaos. Road teams figured out how to avoid being pushovers. Of the six first-round series that have completed two games, only two higher-seeded teams — Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers — have managed to hold serve at home and take 2-0 series leads. Oklahoma City could join the Cavaliers and Lakers in that club if it in...
Read MoreWed, 22 Apr 2026
- Road teams pushing back in early days of NBA playoffs, stealing away the home-court advantages
- Nicolas Roy scores on rebound 7:44 into OT, Avs rally for 2-1 win over Kings to take 2-0 series lead
- LeBron scores 28, leads short-handed Lakers past Durants Rockets again 101-94 for 2-0 series lead
- Mets fans mostly stay home but fill Citi Field with late boos as New Yorks skid hits 12 games
- Moser scores in OT as Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 and tie first-round series
- Kings interim coach D.J. Smith hit by shattered glass as panel breaks behind LA bench in Game 2
- Mexico to beef up security at tourist sites after shooting at pyramids in lead up to World Cup
- Victor Wembanyama has a concussion after falling face-first to court in loss to Blazers
- Trail Blazers rally past Spurs 106-103 to even series after Wembanyama exits with concussion
- Edgecombe, Maxey have big scoring nights, 76ers beat Celtics 111-97 to tie first-round series
- Mets drop their 12th straight as Devin Williams struggles again in 5-3 loss to Twins
Tue, 21 Apr 2026
- Maradonas daughter assails doctor in negligence trial over soccer greats death
- Trump renews his call for Congress to intervene and pass legislation to control college sports
- Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBAs Clutch Player of Year award in landslide, topping Murray, Edwards
- New York sues Coinbase and Gemini, seeking to halt unlicensed prediction market businesses
- Mike Vrabel says hes had difficult conversations after publication of photos with NFL reporter
- US women to face China, Italy and the Czech Republic in September FIBA World Cup group play
- FIFA to put more more World Cup tickets on sale after adding new, more expensive categories
- Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan resigns after 6 seasons
- Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler says he and his family have received threats from Red Sox fans
- Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, KC Concepcion headline long list of Latino prospects in NFL draft
- Eagles, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jets and Dolphins could be among the active teams in the first round
- Hurricanes edge Senators in double overtime after overturned goal, missed penalty shot in OT
- Jaden McDaniels calls Nuggets all bad defenders after Timberwolves rally to win Game 2
- Edwards and Randle rally Timberwolves past Nuggets 119-114 to even series at 1 apiece
- Kapanens 2nd goal of game with 1:54 remaining lifts Oilers over Ducks 4-3 in playoff opener
- Martinooks goal lifts Hurricanes past Senators 3-2 in 2OT after he misses rare OT penalty shot
- CJ McCollum takes Youngs place in Atlanta and as MSGs villain in leading Hawks past the Knicks
- CJ McCollum leads a late rally as the Hawks stun the Knicks 107-106 to tie their series at 1-1
- Vladar stops 27 shots as Flyers top Penguins 3-0 to take commanding 2-0 lead in first-round series
- Mitchell scores 30, Harden adds 28 as Cavaliers beat Raptors 115-105 for 2-0 series lead
- Blue Jays bus from Phoenix to Southern California after their charter plane is grounded
Mon, 20 Apr 2026
- Dodgers closer Edwin Daz will have elbow surgery and is expected to miss about 3 months
- Draymond Green predicts Steve Kerr wont be back. The Warriors cant imagine life without him
- Victor Wembanyama is a unanimous selection as the NBAs defensive player of the year
- Steelers are still waiting to hear from Aaron Rodgers about returning for a 22nd season
- Aloha, PGA Tour. Hawaii will be without a tour event in 2027 for the first time in 56 years
- Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton completes Boston Marathon, Bill and Hillary meet her at finish
- Zouhair Talbi and Jess McClain run the fastest times ever for Americans at the Boston Marathon
- A first for the 2027 womens Tour de France: A team time trial through London
- Cowboys make Brandon Aubrey the NFLs highest-paid kicker with a $28 million, 4-year contract
- Fernando Mendoza embraces the marathon draft process as he embarks on his 1st step in NFL career
- Mahomes attends the start of the Chiefs offseason program as he rehabs torn knee ligaments
- Defending champion John Korir breaks Boston Marathon record and Sharon Lokedi also repeats
- Former Georgia WR Branch facing misdemeanor charges days before he hopes to be picked in NFL draft
- Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman will retire in August, ending a transformative era
- Marcel Hug claims his ninth Boston Marathon wheelchair title, Eden Rainbow-Cooper wins womens race
- 49ers agree to a 2-year, $50 million contract with star left tackle Trent Williams
- Tyler Reddicks last-lap move, his fifth win, and a pace not seen since Dale Earnhardt in 1987
- Itll be an international MVP for the NBA with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Wembanyama finalists
- Mike Trout showed hes still a big home run threat, but can he stay on the field?
- Wembanyama revels in safety of Hall of Famers, fans in playoff debut as Spurs top Blazers
- Golden Knights rally past Mammoth 4-2 in Game 1 as Nic Dowd nets the winner
- Wembanyama scores 35 points in playoff debut as Spurs roll past Trail Blazers 111-98
- Matt Fitzpatrick delivers another playoff winner to beat Scottie Scheffler at RBC Heritage
- Sabres score 4 3rd-period goals to beat the Bruins 4-3 in playoff opener
- Hannah Green rallies to win the JM Eagle LA Championship for the 3rd time in 4 years
- Pistons open playoffs with a flop as Easts top seed, losing to 8th-seeded Magic
- Juraj Slafkovskys hat trick lifts Canadiens to 4-3 overtime win over the Lightning in Game 1
- Paolo Banchero scores 23 and Magic beat Pistons 112-101 to extend NBAs longest home postseason skid
- Jon Rahm caps wild week in Mexico with another LIV Golf win
Sun, 19 Apr 2026
- Wedgewood sharp in net, OConnor scores 1st goal in a year as Avs beat Kings 2-1 in Game 1
- Francisco Lindor defends manager Carlos Mendoza after Mets drop 11th straight game
- Gilgeous-Alexander scores 25 as reigning champion Thunder open playoffs with 119-84 win over Suns
- Cubs hand Mets their 11th straight loss by rallying for a 2-1 win in 10 innings
- Bayern Munich clinches another Bundesliga title with 4-2 win over Stuttgart
- Jayson Tatum has strong return to playoffs for Celtics, who rout 76ers 123-91 in Game 1
- Caitlin Clark getting reacclimated to Fever digs as she returns to practice for training camp
- Donnarumma mistake gifts Arsenal goal but doesnt cost Man City in Premier League title showdown
- New favorite? Man City beats Arsenal 2-1 for huge swing in Premier League title race
- Salvador Perez back in Royals lineup after first day off of the season
- The Flyers were supposed to be too young for this. They hardly looked it in a decisive Game 1 win
- Bengals get star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from Giants for 10th pick and extend him
- Sociedads Matarazzo: The American coach who studied math at Columbia and grew up watching Maradona
- Kennard scores 27, LeBron leads Lakers to surprising 107-98 win over Rockets in playoff opener
- Brunson and Towns lead the Knicks past the Hawks 113-102 in Game 1 of their series
- Boldy has 2 goals and an assist as Wild overwhelm Stars 6-1 to open series
- Timberwolves coach calls Jamal Murrays 16 free throws a head scratcher as Nuggets take Game 1
- Lionel Messi scores 2 goals, Inter Miami beats Rapids 3-2, extends unbeaten streak to 7 games
Sat, 18 Apr 2026
- Sociedad beats Atletico on penalties to win Copa del Rey. American coach Matarazzo lifts 1st title
- Murray, Jokic lead Nuggets to 116-105 win over Timberwolves in physical opener to 1st-round series
- Matt Fitzpatrick overcomes slow start and leads Scheffler by 3 shots at Hilton Head
- Cavaliers Mitchell extends NBA-record streak of 30-point games to 9 in series openers
- Late goal hurts Tottenhams Premier League survival hopes and Chelsea loses to Man United
- Skydiver gets rescued after crashing into scoreboard before Virginia Tech spring game
- Mitchell scores 32 as Cavaliers defeat Raptors 126-113 in Game 1 of East first-round series
- Bundesligas first female coach, Marie-Louise Eta, looks ahead after Union Berlin loses on her debut
- Bayern Munich is on the verge of clinching the Bundesliga title after another Dortmund defeat
- Royals manager Matt Quatraro ejected after top of first inning in game against the Yankees
- NFL is not investigating Patriots coach Mike Vrabel for behavior regarding reporter Dianna Russini
- Angels ace Jos Soriano has an 0.28 ERA, 39 Ks after 5 phenomenal starts to begin the season
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr uncertain about his future, notes these jobs all have an expiration date
- Green scores 36 points, Suns lock down Warriors, Curry in 111-96 win in NBAs play-in tourney
- A mid-April snowstorm coats Coors Field as Dodgers-Rockies series gets off to frosty start
- The Magic found the formula for making the playoffs. For them, it was called desperation
- Magic rout Hornets 121-90 in play-in game, advance to face Pistons in 1st round of playoffs
- San Diego Padres are nearing a whopping sale, AP source says
- Oscar Schmidt, Basketball Hall of Famer from Brazil, dies at 68
- Jon Rahm keeps his focus on golf as LIV CEOs interview raises more questions about tours future
Fri, 17 Apr 2026
- Matt Fitzpatrick rides a good bounce and great golf to a 63 to lead Viktor Hovland at Hilton Head
- Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild finally set for Game 1 in long-expected 1st-round NHL playoff series
- Kevin Durant, LeBron James meet in playoffs for 4th time when Rockets visit short-handed Lakers
- Ballesteros, Hoerner and Happ homer as Cubs hand Mets their 9th straight loss in 12-4 romp
- Now with Atlanta, Angel Reese says she is grateful for her 2 years in Chicago but wanted more
- Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are breaking up and phasing out their podcast
- Texans Will Anderson Jr. lands a record $150M extension, top-paid non-QB in NFL
- Prosecutors say makeup, wigs helped former Alabama tackle impersonate NFL players in $20M fraud
- AP Mock Draft 3.0: Real intrigue in NFL draft starts at No. 2 after Raiders take QB Fernando Mendoza
- Transgender athlete focuses on what may be her last track season as Supreme Court ruling looms
- $13 train fare spikes to $150 for World Cup fans attending matches in New Jersey
- Garret Anderson, the talented outfielder and Angels career hits leader, dies at 53
- Kevin Durant returns to the playoffs, leading the Rockets into a 1st-round clash with the Lakers
- Nebraska proposes $600 million renovation of Memorial Stadium to be finished in time for 2028 season
- Men caught competing in the womens category of a prestigious South African marathon
- George Russell says he wants to keep Max Verstappen in F1 but would understand if he goes
- Spurs Victor Wembanyama says he cant help but dream about NBA titles. His first chance is here
- The Lakers still have hope for the playoffs, even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for now
- Olympic pairs figure skating gold medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara retire
- Club boss rules pioneering female soccer coach out of a permanent job with mens team
- Lynx re-sign 5-time All-Star forward Napheesa Collier
- Rookie pitcher Parker Messick comes within 3 outs of ending Clevelands 45-year no-hitter drought
- Devils hire two-time Panthers Stanley Cup-winning executive Sunny Mehta as general manager
Thu, 16 Apr 2026
- Ludvig Aberg cleans up his game and leads at Hilton Head with a 63
- Drone violations of restricted airspace at Colorado Rockies games prompt warning from authorities
- Bronny and LeBron James are looking forward to postseason playing time together with the Lakers
- Oklahoma standout LB Owen Heinecke gets court injunction to return to Sooners for another year
- Doncic and Cunningham eligible for NBA awards after appeals of 65-game rule. But Edwards is not
- LIV Golf leader says the show will go on amid reports of Saudi funding uncertainty
- Mike Trout crushes another Yankee Stadium homer, his fifth in four games
- Ex-NBA player Damon Jones is expected to become first person to plead guilty in gambling sweep
- Heat, Hornets react to NBA ruling on uncalled LaMelo Ball foul, and how hell be eligible to play
- Tiger Woods lawyer vows to fight subpoena for prescription records in DUI case
- Alex Ovechkin says hell determine his future based on health, family and the Capitals outlook
- Bryson Tiller bolts Kansas for rival Missouri after a breakout freshman season
- Correction: Jackie Robinson Day story
- Marie-Louise Eta, the Bundesligas first female coach, just wants to get on with her job
- FIFA president Infantino says Iran will participate in World Cup for sure despite war
- USOPC closely monitoring reaction to Wasserman but sidesteps questions about his LA28 leadership
- The Dodgers shattered MLBs spending record at $515 million in 2025, 7 times the lowest payroll
- French Open prize money up 10% to $72 million overall
- Mbapps trophyless streak in the Champions League continues after move to Real Madrid
- Aston Villa hosts Bologna with a 3-1 edge in Europa League quarterfinals
- Warriors wake up the echoes of their championship past in vintage comeback win over Clippers
- Shohei Ohtani pitches but doesnt bat for first time since 2021. Hes still sore from a hit-by-pitch
- Ohtani skips the bat, keeps the heat: 10 strikeouts as Dodgers send Mets to a 7th straight loss
- Stephen Curry, Al Horford lead Warriors past Clippers 126-121 with a huge play-in comeback
- Joel Embiid provides an emotional lift and Tyrese Maxey carries the 76ers into the playoffs
- Tyrese Maxey scores 31 and Sixers beat Magic 109-97 in play-in game, advance to series vs. Celtics
- NBA says LaMelo Balls takedown of Bam Adebayo should have been called flagrant, merited ejection
- Rousey gets Carano a big payday, and a chance to remind people of her fighting career
- Likelihood of NFL replacement refs enters new stage with background checks, physicals
- Singer leading Jackie Robinson festivities collapses before White Sox game against Rays
Wed, 15 Apr 2026
- NCAA urges further study of change that would start eligibility at HS graduation or age 19
- Texas QB Arch Manning says hes feeling 100 percent after foot surgery
- Bayern Munich beats Real Madrid 4-3 to reach Champions League semifinals
- Arsenal outlasts Sporting Lisbon to set up Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid
- Islanders promo raises funds for ex-NYPD officer convicted of manslaughter, angering victims family
- MLB and Twins are investigating Jarren Durans allegation that a fan told him to kill himself
- Hilton Head a time to exhale and move on from the Masters
- Lionel Messi accused of breaching $7 million contract by sitting out a Florida soccer friendly
- Aces re-sign four-time MVP Aja Wilson to lock in their dynasty core
- Tigers and rookie Kevin McGonigle agree to an $150 million, 8-year contract starting in 2027
- A resurgent Georgia and a resilient Arkansas are back at the NCAA gymnastics championships
- WrestleMania is back in Las Vegas after a big showing last year
- LaMelo Ball punches team mascot Hugo twice after Hornets knock Heat out of play-in tournament
- Orioles manager Craig Albernaz returns with a broken jaw a day after being hit by a foul ball
- Playoff party time in Philadelphia! Flyers, fans rejoice at long-awaited return to postseason
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