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Bucks Stop Here?

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Boston at Milwaukee

When: 9:30 PM ET, Friday, April 20, 2018
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe says he doesn’t know who Terry Rozier is, so it might be time for him to check the scouting report. Rozier fueled Boston to victories in the first two games of the Eastern Conference first-round series and the Celtics look to take a 3-0 lead when the series moves to Milwaukee on Friday.

The unsung Rozier is in the staring lineup due to Kyrie Irving’s season-ending knee injury and he torched the Bucks for 23 points in each of the first two games and has yet to commit a turnover. Meanwhile, Bledsoe is averaging just 10.5 points on 9-of-25 shooting and making three turnovers per game and wasn’t thrilled when asked about Rozier after a 120-106 loss in Game 2, saying “I don’t even know who the (expletive) that is.” Celtics coach Brad Stevens took the high road Wednesday when asked about the comment by saying, “I mean, I heard that. Our team is just focused on Game 3.” Milwaukee lost in the first round in its past seven postseason appearances and it last prevailed in 2001, when it reached the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Boston, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE CELTICS: Second-year shooting guard Jaylen Brown is also lighting up the Bucks as he made five 3-pointers while scoring 30 points in Game 2 and is averaging 25 in the series. “Ultimately, we just want to win games, so that’s the only thing that we are concerned with,” Brown told reporters after his big outing. “We are confident as ever. Teams have been writing us off all year and we just keep proving people wrong, so that’s what we’re going to do.” Power forwards Al Horford and Marcus Morris are also off to strong starts in the series with Horford averaging 20 points and 8.5 rebounds and Morris coming off the bench to average 19.5 points and six boards.

ABOUT THE BUCKS: Forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.5 points, 11 rebounds, 7.5 assists) and Khris Middleton (28 points, six rebounds) have been superb in the series but haven’t received much help from the supporting cast. “We got to play better,” Antetokounmpo said. “We got to play with more effort. I think as a team we didn’t show up (Tuesday). Hopefully we can go back home and protect our home and play better and get those two wins.” Second-year guard Malcolm Brogdon is averaging 13 points in the series but played just 19 minutes in Game 2 despite being 5-of-7 shooting while scoring 10 points.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Celtics made 13 3-pointers in Game 2 after knocking down 11 in the opener.

2. Boston SF Jayson Tatum had just four points on 2-of-9 shooting in Game 2 after scoring 19 in the opener.

3. Milwaukee backup PF Jabari Parker has just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in the series.

Bruins In Control …

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Boston 3, Toronto 1

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 19, 2018
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 19,689
Recap for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media

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TORONTO – Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and the visiting Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 Thursday night to take a three-games-to-one lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Marchand took a sharp-angled pass from David Pastrnak and flicked it past out-of-position Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen from the left circle. Jake DeBrusk scored early in the third to seal the Bruins’ win.

“We’ve played together for a while now, and (I) kind of know when he’s thinking shot or pass,” Marchand told NESN about his two-on-one play with Pastrnak. “So I just tried to find a good lane. He made an incredible pass.”

Boston can close out the best-of-seven series at home in Game 5 on Saturday night.

Marchand and DeBrusk both increased their postseason goal tally to two. Torey Krug added his first playoff goal for the Bruins, who haven’t advanced to round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2013-14 season.

Pastrnak had two assists to give him a playoff-leading 11 points.

Tomas Plekanec scored his first goal of the postseason for the Maple Leafs, who hope to avoid their second straight first-round exit. Toronto was eliminated by Washington in six games last season, its first playoff appearance since a first-round loss to Boston in 2012-13.

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask finished with 31 saves. Andersen had 18.

Boston played without Selke Trophy finalist Patrice Bergeron, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. The four-time winner of the award given to the league’s best defensive forward was the Bruins’ third-leading scorer this season with 30 goals and 33 assists.

“When Bergeron didn’t play tonight, you’re set up pretty good,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “You’ve got to find a way to win. This is in our building, you’ve got to win.”

Toronto’s Leo Komarov (lower body) missed his second consecutive game.

Seconds after the Bruins’ goal song “Kernkraft 400” played on the Air Canada Centre speakers during a stoppage in play, Marchand put Boston up 2-1 with 3:05 left in the second.

DeBrusk scored 4:17 into the final period.

Krug struck quickly with Boston’s first goal on a wrister from the top of the left circle just 28 seconds into the game. Plekanec answered for Toronto on a one-timer from the slot with 12:17 left in the first.

–Field Level Media

Sweeps …

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Boston 8, LA Angels 2

When: 10:07 PM ET, Thursday, April 19, 2018
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim
Attendance: 36,253
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media

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ANAHEIM – The Boston Red Sox continued their historic start to the season, beating the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 Thursday night in Anaheim, Calif., to complete a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to seven games.

Boston improved to 16-2, the best start through 18 games in the franchise’s 118-year history. The Red Sox outscored the Angels 27-3 in the series.

J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers each had three hits, while both Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi bashed home runs in the Red Sox’s 14-hit onslaught.

Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0) got the win after throwing six innings, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out five.

As they did in the first two games of the series, the Red Sox jumped to a lead in the first inning. And again it was Betts in the middle of things, Boston’s right fielder leading off the game with a home run off Angels starter Nick Tropeano.

It was his sixth homer of the season, his fourth in the series. It also marked the 13th time in his career he has led off the first inning with a home run, extending his Red Sox record.

The Angels got the run back in the second inning against Rodriguez, Zack Cozart’s RBI single tying the game at 1-1.

Boston pushed across two runs in the fourth, one on an RBI double by Martinez and one on an RBI single by Devers, to go ahead 3-1.

Chris Young, getting a start in right field in place of Kole Calhoun, hit his first home run of the season to get the Angels to within 3-2 in the fifth, but Boston got it right back in the sixth on a solo homer by Benintendi.

Tropeano couldn’t get out of the sixth, Angels manager Mike Scioscia taking out the right-hander with one on and one out. The Angels’ bullpen, though, was unable to quell the rally, and the Red Sox added another run in the inning for a 5-2 lead.

It could have been worse for the Angels in the inning if not for a spectacular play by shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who made a diving stop of a ball hit up the middle by Eduardo Nunez. Simmons flipped the ball with his glove to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who made the relay to first to complete an inning-ending double play.

Tropeano (1-1) lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three.

–Field Level Media

MLB, NBA Divest from DFS

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NEW YORK – Major League Baseball and the NBA are in discussions to divest from daily fantasy sports, but will continue to partner with DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively, ESPN reported Thursday.

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The financial details of the divestiture not disclosed.

MLB invested in 2013 in DraftKings, which became the league’s “official daily fantasy game” in 2015. The NBA invested in FanDuel in 2014.

The repositioning comes at a time when sports leagues and fantasy companies are awaiting a ruling from the United States Supreme Court that could open the door for states outside of Nevada to legalize betting on team sports. DraftKings and FanDuel have expressed interest in the niche.

The NBA and MLB have been lobbying in states that are exploring legalized sports betting.

“We’re not going to be part-owner of a bookmaker,” MLB lawyer Bryan Seeley said during a committee hearing on sports betting in Missouri this month.

“This space is evolving and we saw the need to take a fresh look at the structure of our relationship,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN. “FanDuel has been, and will remain, a great partner. We have simply modified some of the components of our partnership.”

FanDuel and DraftKings have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in investments and were each valued at more than $1 billion at their peak, the network reported.

–Field Level Media

Gronk Ready to Run

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LOUISVILLE – Gronk has bought a stake in Gronk. Well, not exactly a man betting on himself this time.

New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski actually purchased a minority stake in a racehorse named Gronk, a 3-year-old colt that will run in next month’s Kentucky Derby.

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Patriots Tom Brady (l.) and Rob Gronkowski at Churchill Downs

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There was no immediate word on the purchase price.

“I’ve never dealt with horses,” Gronkowski told the Wall Street Journal. “Hopefully I can get a ride on the horse.”

Gronk the horse was purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for over $400,000 in England last year. Trainer Jeremy Noseda and his family are huge Patriots fans and the decision was reached to name it after the player nicknamed “Gronk.”

It didn’t take long for Gronkowki’s interest to grow.

“This horse is a winner and I love a winner,” Gronkowski said. “When I heard about the racehorse being named after me, I started watching and got really stoked when he started winning. He’s won his last three races and is now headed to the Derby. I’m all in: Welcome to the Gronk Family, Gronkowski the Horse!”

Gronkowski does admit he knows very little about horse racing and says he is treating the situation as an investment and something fun.

“It will be a new experience,” Gronkowski said. “Hopefully it will be something I like. I like new hobbies.”

Gronkowski said he will be at Churchill Downs in Louisville on May 5 for the race.

–Field Level Media

NFL, Rams, Chiefs to Mexico

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MEXICO CITY – The Los Angeles Rams will be the home team when they face the Kansas City Chiefs on “Monday Night Football” from Mexico City on Nov. 19, the NFL announced Wednesday night.

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The announcement came ahead of the release of the full 2018 regular-season schedule on Thursday.

The Rams-Chiefs game at Estadio Azteca will be the league’s second Monday night contest in Mexico City. The Raiders and Houston Texans met there in 2016, with Oakland posting a 27-20 win.

The league has not yet announced matchups for three other international games, all slated for London.

For the Chiefs, it will be the franchise’s first trip to Mexico since a preseason contest in Monterrey in 1996.

The Rams have never played in Mexico, which has played host to 10 NFL games.

–Field Level Media

76ers, Mavericks to China

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SHANGHAI – China will get a first-hand look at “the Process” next season when the Philadelphia 76ers play two preseason games there against the Dallas Mavericks.

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The teams will meet Oct. 5 in Shanghai, then Oct. 8 in Shenzhen.

“It will be an honor to be the first 76ers team to play in front of the amazing fan base in China in October,” Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid said in a statement released by the team.

Dikembe Mutombo, an NBA “global ambassador,” was on hand Tuesday in Shenzhen to make the announcement.

Philadelphia and Dallas will be the 16th and 17th teams to compete in the “NBA China Games” since the league first began playing in China in 2004.

“Getting a chance to play all over the world has always been a dream of mine and I’m excited to play in China in October,” 76ers guard/forward Ben Simmons said in a statement issued by the team. “I know the fans there are passionate about basketball and I’m really looking forward to the trip to Shanghai and Shenzhen.”

Embiid and Simmons are two big pieces of the “Process,” the years-long rebuilding strategy that finally has the 76ers in the playoffs this year for the first time since 2012.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, failed to qualify for the postseason for the second year in a row after a run of 15 playoff appearances in 16 years.

Mavericks veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki said in a statement, “When I played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I witnessed China’s enthusiasm for basketball firsthand. It will be a fantastic experience for our franchise to play in China for the first time.

“We’re also excited about the possibility of reconnecting with two great Chinese players who played for the Mavericks, Wang Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian.”

–Field Level Media

Oh Canada …

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Boston at Toronto

When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, April 19, 2018
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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TORONTO – Almost left for dead after the first two games of their Eastern Conference first-round series, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to level the best-of-seven set when they host the Boston Bruins in Game 4 on Thursday night. The Maple Leafs absorbed a pair of beatings at Boston’s TD Garden by a combined 12-4 score, but reversed the momentum with a 4-2 home win on Monday night.

With only four teams in history having come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series, Toronto coach Mike Babcock was keenly aware of the importance of winning Game 3 and understands his team needs a similar performance Thursday. “If we didn’t have success, I thought we were probably going to be done,” Babcock said. “(Now), you win one, you’re in a best-of-three. We’re set up real good that way. … You still want to be in a better situation and be in the driver’s seat. So it’s important for us to even it up.” The Bruins did not exactly roll over Monday at Air Canada Centre, pouring 42 shots on goal, and acknowledged they didn’t expect to steamroll the Maple Leafs at will the entire series. “You want to limit their chances, their opportunities as much as you can,” Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “We’ve been able to do that. But they were going to break through at some point. Fine, we get that game out of the way and get refocused and get ready for Game 4.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, NESN (Boston), CBC, TVAS (Toronto)

ABOUT THE BRUINS: Boston’s top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak was all the rage in the opening two games, combining for a collective 20 points, but the unit was blanked in Game 3. “Clearly, it’s going to give them some motivation and it should when you keep them off the scoresheet,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “At the end of the day, I don’t think it will bother them one bit, and in fact, they might bear down a little bit more.” Pastrnak, who had six points in Game 2, has six goals and seven assists in seven meetings versus Toronto this season.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS: While Boston’s top line dominated the first two games, Toronto’s No. 1 unit was floundering by being held off the scoresheet, but star forward Auston Matthews provided the biggest moment for the Maple Leafs by netting the tiebreaking goal in Game 3. “Mats scoring that goal was a relief for him, but also a relief for our bench, the whole Toronto fan base,” forward Mitch Marner said. “That goal was massive for our team.” Frederik Andersen allowed eight goals in four periods in the first two contests, but his 40 saves Monday were his highest total since Feb. 20.

OVERTIME

1. Marner had two assists Monday to give him 13 points in seven games versus Boston this season.

2. Bruins rookie D Matt Grzelcyk is expected back in the lineup after sitting out Game 3.

3. Maple Leafs F Patrick Marleau scored twice in Game 3 to boost his playoff total to 70 goals, tying Steve Yzerman for 16th on the all-time list.

California Dreamin’ …

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Boston 9, LA Angels 0

When: 10:07 PM ET, Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Attendance: 34,508
Recap for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media

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ANAHEIM – Rafael Devers hit a grand slam and Rick Porcello pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Boston Red Sox to their second straight rout of the Los Angeles Angels in a 9-0 win Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

One night after their 10-1 win, the Red Sox improved their major league-best record to 15-2, their best mark through 17 games in the 118-year history of the franchise. Boston joined the 2003 San Francisco Giants as the only teams since 1987 to begin a major league season 15-2.

Devers’ first career slam was only a part of the Red Sox’s offensive onslaught. Mitch Moreland had three hits, including a home run, and four RBIs. J.D. Martinez homered and had three singles.

Porcello continued his sizzling start, improving to 4-0 and lowering his ERA to 1.40. He gave up six hits — all singles — and did not walk a batter while striking out six. Porcello has not walked a batter in 22 2/3 consecutive innings.

The biggest threat Porcello faced came in the first inning when the Angels loaded the bases with one out. Porcello, though, struck out both Kole Calhoun and Zack Cozart to get out of the inning.

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Moreland’s two-out RBI single against Angels starter Tyler Skaggs. They broke the game open with a five-run third inning when Moreland had another RBI single and Devers hit his grand slam for a 6-0 lead.

Skaggs (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four while making 98 pitches. Angels starters have failed to last as many as six innings in six of the past seven games.

Martinez hit a solo homer in the seventh inning off Blake Wood, and Moreland hit a two-run homer off Keynan Middleton in the ninth.

The loss marked the first time the Angels have lost consecutive games this season. Ian Kinsler and Mike Trout each had two hits at the top of the lineup, but the rest of the team was a combined 2-for-27. The Angels were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media

Sox Scout: Porcello Goes for Boston

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Boston at LA Angels

When: 10:07 PM ET, Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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Rick Porcello won the American League Cy Young Award two seasons ago when he had a 5-0 record in April. The right-hander is off to another strong start as he looks to post his fourth straight win of the current campaign when the Boston Red Sox visit the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Porcello had a 4.66 ERA through three starts in 2016 and certainly has been stingier this season with a 1.83 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and .182 batting average against. The 29-year-old took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his last start before giving up two hits and exiting after the frame in a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees. Mookie Betts belted three homers for the third time in his career to tie Ted Williams’ club mark as the Red Sox trounced the Angels 10-1 on Tuesday. Boston went deep six times in the contest and owns a major league-best 14-2 record while ending the seven-game winning streak of the also-hot Angels, who are a franchise-best 13-4 through 17 games.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (3-0, 1.83 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (2-0, 1.69)

Porcello’s strong start includes 17 strikeouts against just one walk in 19 2/3 innings. He is 6-7 with a 5.67 ERA in 16 career turns against Los Angeles but has tossed back-to-back complete games at Angel Stadium despite being just 1-4 with a 5.82 ERA in six career outings at the ballpark. Porcello routinely struggles with Ian Kinsler (9-for-20, seven RBIs), Albert Pujols (9-for-26, one homer) and Kole Calhoun (7-for-19, two homers) and also has served up two blasts to Mike Trout (7-for-29).

Skaggs already has equaled his victory total from last season, when he went 2-6 with a 4.55 ERA in 16 starts. The 26-year-old struck out seven in five innings while beating Texas in his last turn as he gave up one run and five hits. Skaggs struck out eight and allowed four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his lone career start against Boston in 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Betts was back in the Red Sox’s lineup Tuesday after missing one game with a foot injury.

2. Los Angeles RHP-DH Shohei Ohtani (blister on throwing hand) departed Tuesday’s game after two innings and said in his postgame press conference that he will take it “day by day” per his availability as a hitter.

3. Boston has scored 75 runs over its past nine games.

Mookie and Sox Deliver

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Boston 10, LA Angels 1

When: 10:07 PM ET, Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Attendance: 44,822
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media

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ANAHEIM – The Red Sox and a blister teamed up to knock out Los Angeles Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani, and Boston posted a 10-1 win in a game matching the teams with the two best records in the majors Tuesday night at Anaheim, Calif.

With Mookie Betts’ three home runs leading the way, the Red Sox ended the Angels’ winning streak at seven games while extending their own winning streak to five.

Ohtani left after two innings, and the Angels announced that his exit was caused by a blister on his right (pitching) hand. However, the Red Sox had already roughed up the Japanese star for three runs and four hits in the opening two frames.

It was clear right from the start that Ohtani’s fate would be quite different than his previous start on April 8, when he didn’t allow an Oakland A’s batter to reach base until the seventh inning. Betts led off the game with the first of his three homers. The Boston right fielder also homered in the third and eighth innings.

In the second inning, Ohtani (2-1) gave up an RBI single to Brock Holt and a sacrifice fly to Andrew Benintendi as Boston increased its lead to 3-0. Ohtani also walked two in the inning, matching his walk total in his first two starts combined, covering 13 innings.

Ohtani, who made 66 pitches in the two innings, was replaced to start the third, and things only got worse for Los Angeles. Luke Bard was tagged for five runs in the inning, all five coming in on home runs. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Holt each had a two-run shot, and Betts hit a solo homer for an 8-0 lead.

Ohtani saw his ERA jump from 2.08 to 3.60 after having eight days between starts. He was originally scheduled to start Sunday in Kansas City, but that game was rained out. The Angels were idle Monday.

The Red Sox wound up with 15 hits, including six home runs. Rafael Devers joined Betts, Bradley Jr. and Holt as the Boston players who went deep.

Red Sox starter David Price (2-1) got the win after a leisurely five innings, giving up one run and three hits. He struggled some with his control, walking four, but he also struck out six while making 78 pitches.

The Angels’ only run came on an RBI single by Albert Pujols in the third inning. Pujols, though, was ejected after arguing a called third strike that ended the fifth inning. It was his ninth career ejection.

–Field Level Media

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