Tyler Johnson
A security guard points as Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving, right with towel, and teammates look up at a fan who reportedly threw a water bottle at him as he left the court after Game 4 during an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Irving dodges bottle in Boston in another ugly NBA incident

By Jimmy Golen May. 31, 2021 02:34 AM EDT

Fans make noise to distract Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) as he shoots a free throw in the first quarter of Game 4 against the Boston Celtics during an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics 5/30/2021

May. 30, 2021 09:44 PM EDT

A fan is handcuffed and escorted out of TD Garden by police after allegedly throwing a water bottle at Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving as Irving left the court after Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Boston. The Nets won 141-126. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Nets rout Celtics, Boston fan throws bottle at Kyrie Irving

By Jimmy Golen May. 30, 2021 09:41 PM EDT

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone, right, celebrates after left wing Max Pacioretty, left, scored against the Minnesota Wild during overtime of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 1, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
No Fun NHL? Restrictions help players appreciate hockey more

By Stephen Whyno Mar. 03, 2021 10:52 AM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Bucs, Lightning, Rays transform Tampa Bay into Titletown

By Fred Goodall Feb. 08, 2021 05:40 PM EST

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Embiid, Simmons lead 76ers past short-handed Nets 124-108

By Aaron Bracy Feb. 06, 2021 10:46 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) drops a pass as he goes up against Washington Football Team outside linebacker Cole Holcomb (55) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Brady, talented Buccaneers playmakers developing chemistry

By Fred Goodall Jan. 20, 2021 06:40 PM EST

St. Louis Blues' Mike Hoffman (68) and San Jose Sharks' Fredrik Handemark (37) chase after a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Capped out: Flat salary cap makes NHL teams get creative

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 20, 2021 02:45 AM EST

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice, left, talks to Neal Pionk (4) and Patrik Laine (29) during their NHL hockey training camp practice in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)
Taxi! NHL taxi squads to help teams stay on ice in pandemic

By Larry Lage Jan. 11, 2021 02:44 AM EST

Lightning embrace challenge of defending Stanley Cup title

By Fred Goodall Jan. 05, 2021 07:45 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Winning Stanley Cup championships in consecutive seasons is rare. The Tampa Bay Lightning are confident they can do it. ...

Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is sacked by UCLA defensive back Mo Osling III (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona State and Arizona enter rivalry game winless

By John Marshall Dec. 10, 2020 11:46 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2020, file photo, Calgary Flames goalie Cam Talbot deflects a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues in Calgary, Alberta. The former Flames goalie signed an $11 million, three-year deal with the Minnesota Wild. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Lightning among losers, Flames with winners in free agency

By Larry Lage Oct. 10, 2020 02:41 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, April 24, 2015, file photo, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates after Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The New York Rangers have bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers parted with one of the greatest netminders in franchise history on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, when they paid off the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Goalies get shuffled in NHL free agency; Lightning depleted

By John Wawrow Oct. 09, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) ducks as Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a glove save during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey game in Toronto, Ontario, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Lightning beat Bruins 3-2, improve to 2-0 in seeding round

Aug. 05, 2020 07:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2020, file photo, Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman (13) turns upfield against Auburn during the first half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football gam in Tampa, Fla. Bateman has opted out of the 2020 season amid concerns about the coronavirus, forgoing his remaining two years of eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL draft. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Gophers WR Bateman skips season amid virus worries, goes pro

By Dave Campbell Aug. 04, 2020 10:27 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill (3) goes to the basket next to Washington Wizards guard Ish Smith (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington. Hill was shooting 48% from 3-point range - well above his career average of 38.5% and light years better than his 2018-19 average of 28% - before the stoppage in play. The 34-year-old guard as well as teammate Donte DiVincenzo could be even bigger factors in the early part of the restart since Bucks teammates Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton have tested positive for coronavirus, though both are now in Florida. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Depth could be even more critical in teams' NBA title chase

By Steve Megargee Jul. 27, 2020 09:53 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 8, 2020, file photo, Brooklyn Nets interim head coach Jacque Vaughn, right, talks with Caris LeVert, center, and DeAndre Jordan during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls at the Barclays Center in New York. The Nets have a depleted roster as they prepare for the resumption of the NBA season. But despite missing many of their core players, they still have a good chance to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Nets a depleted team heading into NBA's restart at Disney

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 23, 2020 11:47 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, March 8, 2020 file photo, Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie (26) drives to the basket around Chicago Bulls' Coby White during the second half of an NBA basketball game at the Barclays Center in New York. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving aren’t coming back, DeAndre Jordan and Wilson Chandler aren’t going to Florida, and Spencer Dinwiddie’s status is unclear after he and Jordan tested positive for the coronavirus. The Brooklyn Nets don’t have much of a team left, but general manager Sean Marks says they never considered not restarting the season later this month. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Despite virus cases, Nets say no thought to skipping restart

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 01, 2020 02:40 PM EDT