ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon skated off with a bloody nose after being struck by a puck hit by teammate Devon Toews late in the second period of Game 4 of their second-round NHL playoff series against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.

Toews tried to send the ill-fated clearing attempt from the crease toward the corner, but it made a direct hit on MacKinnon’s face instead. The league’s leading goal scorer during the regular season collapsed to his knees in pain before an athletic trainer arrived to press a towel under his nose and help him skate off the ice.

Blood was all over, including streaming down the inside of MacKinnon’s visor, and he went up the tunnel for further treatment shortly before the second intermission. MacKinnon returned in time for the third period and tacked on an empty-net goal in Colorado’s 5-2 win.

“If he was going to be able to get out there, he was going to be out there,” coach Jared Bednar said. “I just felt for him because I just went through that. It doesn’t feel very good.”

Bednar went to a hospital with facial fractures and a corneal abrasion in his eye last month, missing a two-game road trip after being hit with a puck on his right cheek that soared into the bench area during a game.

MacKinnon has six goals and six assists in eight playoff games this spring for the Avalanche, who lead the Wild 3-1 going into Game 5 on Wednesday.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had his worst first half in a playoff game since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in September 2022.

No problem. The All-Star guard followed it up with one of the best 24-minute stretches by a player in NBA playoff history Monday night.

After scoring only four points in the first half, Mitchell responded with 39 in the second half, tying the NBA playoff record for most points in a half as the Cavaliers rallied for a 112-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

“It’s pretty impressive. I’m not sure I’ve seen in the playoffs a turnaround like that where a guy is struggling and just absolutely turns the switch and complete opposite of the first half,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Mitchell equaled Eric “Sleepy” Floyd’s record on a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 when Floyd’s Golden State Warriors faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, but missed his second foul shot.

“Everybody let me know that I missed a free throw to break the record, though,” Mitchell said. “I will say that, but we’re two and two headed to Detroit. That was what we came home to do and that’s all that matters.”

Mitchell didn’t score until he made a free throw with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter. He also missed his first six shots from the field before hitting a 3-pointer from the left corner with 2:48 left in the first half.

Despite Mitchell’s early struggles, the Cavaliers only trailed 56-52 at halftime. James Harden and Evan Mobley both kept Cleveland in the game in the first half as they combined for 26 points.

“I airball the first layup and was missing shots short,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes it’s natural, right? I wasn’t really trying to get in there and force it and then just doubling down on the defensive end, trying to take whoever I’m guarding, take them out of the equation. I’m not tripping, we were down four at half.

“I always tell y’all it’s not just about the scoring, it’s about your overall impact on the game. And for me, it was just like, ‘OK, now I have an opportunity to try to get downhill’ and then started going in.”

Mitchell was 12 of 18 from the field in the second half, including three 3-pointers, and was 12 of 13 at the line. Cleveland’s previous mark for most points in a half was 31 by Mitchell in Game 7 of its first-round series against Orlando in 2024.

Mitchell tied a franchise record for points in a quarter with 21 in the third as the Cavaliers seized control, outscoring the Pistons 38-21 in the quarter. He scored 15 during Cleveland’s 24-0 run that went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter.

The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.

“Donovan Mitchell was killing us, and that’s pretty much it,” Pistons center Paul Reed said.

It was Mitchell’s eighth playoff game with at least 40 points, his fourth with the Cavaliers. He has at least 30 points in three straight games as the series shifts to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday with it even at two games apiece.

Cleveland is still looking for its first road playoff win this season, and will need at least one if it hopes to make the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018.

“We’ve had two good games to build off of, but it’s going to be a hostile environment,” Mitchell said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. And I think I know we’re ready for the challenge.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The NFL announced Monday the Buffalo Bills will play their first home game at newly constructed Highmark Stadium on Sept 17, Week 2 of the 2026 season, against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football.

The game will stream exclusively on Prime Video but will be made available locally in Buffalo on a channel to be determined.

The $2.1 billion facility is open-air but has a canopy covering 64% of the crowd, according to ESPN. The Bills will be playing on grass, which can be heated, instead of turf, and the first row on one of the sidelines will be moved 54 feet closer to the field.

Highmark Stadium will be open for events this summer, including Buffalo’s Blue & Red practice during training camp.

The Bills played at their previous home, originally named Rich Stadium, since 1973. It was re-named Highmark Stadium in 2021. Buffalo has won its last four home openers.

The Bills went 12-5 last season, losing to the Broncos in overtime during the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Detroit missed the playoffs, finishing 9-8.

The NFL’s full 2026 schedule will be released at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday during a two-hour special on ESPN and NFL Network.

–Field Level Media

DENVER (AP) — Craig Morton, who spent 18 years in the NFL and became the first quarterback to start the Super Bowl for two franchises — the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos — has died. He was 83.

Morton died Saturday in Mill Valley, California, the Broncos confirmed through his family.

Morton is one of only four QBs to start the NFL’s biggest game with two organizations. The other three — Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner — all ended up with at least one win. Morton’s only Super Bowl ring came as a backup.

His first Super Bowl start was in a turnover-plagued Super Bowl V to end the 1970 season — a 16-13 loss by the Cowboys to the Colts. Morton threw the Cowboys’ first touchdown pass in a title game.

Seven years later, and after an unsuccessful stint with the New York Giants, Morton led the Broncos to a matchup against his former team. He threw for 39 yards and four interceptions before getting pulled for Norris Weese in a 27-10 loss, which marked the first of four straight Super Bowl defeats for Denver.

Known for his strong arm, Morton turned in a college football Hall of Fame career at California, where he played for coach Marv Levy and assistant Bill Walsh. Morton went fifth in the 1965 NFL draft to the Cowboys. Oakland also took him in the 10th round of the AFL draft.

He joined a Cowboys team coached by Tom Landry that had veteran Don Meredith at QB. Morton played in four games that season. He then split time with up-and-coming Roger Staubach in 1970-71, the year the Cowboys went to their first Super Bowl.

The next season, Morton and Staubach also split time — at some points, even alternating every play. But ultimately, it was Staubach who took over the starting job, then led the Cowboys to the Super Bowl and a 24-3 win over Miami. Staubach was the MVP of that game and it wasn’t hard to imagine the end of Morton’s time in Dallas.

The Cowboys dealt their backup to the Giants in 1974 for a package that included a pick Dallas would use to take defensive lineman Randy White, who became a Super Bowl MVP and Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Morton struggled in New York, but enjoyed a renaissance after getting traded to Denver before the 1977 season — the season that put the Broncos on the map.

The veteran QB became the final piece for a Broncos team under a new coach, Red Miller, who inherited a strong defense that would become known as the Orange Crush.

Morton led the Broncos to a 12-2 record and playoff wins over the Steelers and Raiders. He famously spent the week in the hospital with a hip injury before spearheading the win over rival Oakland.

Four years later — and after the Broncos had toyed unsuccessfully with finding his replacement — Morton teamed with a new coach, his former Cowboys teammate Dan Reeves. In 1981, Morton threw for 3,195 yards and 21 TDs, both career highs (he matched his best mark in TDs).

He retired after starting three games in the strike-shortened 1982 season. Denver would trade for John Elway, who supplanted Morton as the franchise’s most famous and revered No. 7.

Morton threw for 27,908 yards over his career with 183 touchdowns and 187 interceptions. Morton ranked in the top 20 all-time in yards passing and TD passes when he retired following the 1982 season.

He was voted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1988, along with two other standouts from that ’77 team — Haven Moses and Jim Turner.

___

AP National Writer Eddie Pells and AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

The struggling New York Mets will call up a highly touted prospect, outfielder A.J. Ewing, prior to their Tuesday home game against the Detroit Tigers, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

Ewing, 21, began the year with the Mets’ Double-A Binghamton affiliate, where he hit .349 with two home runs, seven RBIs and 12 steals in 18 games. He earned a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse, where he was hitting .326 with no homers, four RBIs and five steals in 12 games.

Selected by the Mets during the fourth round of the 2023 draft, Ewing is a career .290 hitter with 101 stolen bases, including 70 last season, plus 15 home runs and 118 RBIs in four minor league seasons with five Mets affiliates. He entered 2026 ranked among baseball’s top 100 prospects by Baseball America (No. 83), MLB.com (No. 97) and Baseball Prospectus (No. 38).

Ewing has played all three outfield positions in the minors, though he has played mostly in center field — 150 games (145 starts). He has also appeared in 53 games at second base.

Having lost Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. to injuries, the Mets entered Monday with baseball’s worst record (15-25) and ranked 29th in runs scored (139) and batting average (.222) and last in slugging (.341). They are 12 1/2 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East.

–Field Level Media

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup Monday night, five weeks after being sidelined with an oblique injury.

The eight-time All-Star was set to hit second behind Shohei Ohtani and ahead of Freddie Freeman in the series opener against the San Francisco Giants.

“We just have to make sure we swing at good pitches,” Betts said before the game. “Those guys are good, too. They drive nice cars, too. We just have to control the zone, swing at good pitches.”

The Dodgers had dropped seven of their last 11 games and were looking for Betts to help jumpstart a stagnant offense. They scored three runs or fewer in eight of those 11 games.

“I know I’m not the hero,” said Betts, the 2018 AL MVP. “It’s important for everyone to know it’s going to take all of us and not just one guy getting through their struggles or whatever it is.”

Betts was batting .179 (5 for 28) with two home runs in eight games before he went on the injured list April 5 with a right oblique strain.

“I just didn’t really realize how long it takes for it to really heal,” he said. “I felt pretty good pretty fast actually. But just some of the movements I couldn’t do kind of lingered for a long time. I was trying to hurry but obviously the doctors were saying it just takes a month for it to heal.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts would start at shortstop Monday and Tuesday before taking Wednesday off.

“After seven days, six days, I think he’s going to want to be in there regularly, but we’ll kind of see,” Roberts said.

Betts was on a tear in spring training, hitting .357 with a .786 OPS in five games before briefly leaving the team for the birth of his third child. He cooled off the first two weeks of the regular season before getting hurt.

Roberts is taking a wait-and-see approach toward Betts’ offense. The 33-year-old shortstop was 2 for 5 in two minor league rehab games.

“Certainly two games of rehab, taking batting practice, a day of live at-bats, is not ideal,” the manager said, “but I think with Mookie you just don’t know. The hope is that he can kind of hit the ground running.”

With Betts’ return, infielder Alex Freeland was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was hitting .235 with two homers and eight RBIs in 33 games.

The front office chose to keep second baseman Hyeseong Kim over Freeland.

“What it came down to is Hyeseong has performed better,” Roberts said.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon, bloodied by a puck to the face, briefly left the Avalanche’s game against the Minnesota Wild on Monday in Minneapolis before returning to action.

He wound up scoring an empty-net goal in the last minute of Colorado’s 5-2 win, extending his goal-scoring streak to five games.

Avalanche teammate Devon Toews tried to clear a puck out of the defensive zone and inadvertently fired the puck into MacKinnon’s face with 1:07 left in the second period. MacKinnon immediately went down and was attended to by trainers, who helped him cover his bloody face with a towel. There also was blood on the inside of his visor.

MacKinnon skated toward the locker room under his own power with the score 1-1.

When the third period started, MacKinnon was back on the ice.

MacKinnon, 30, had 127 points during the regular season and led the NHL with 53 goals. Through the Avalanche’s first eight playoff games this spring before Monday, he had six goals and six assists.

–Field Level Media

Jake Paul expressed a desire to continue fighting while acknowledging his fighting career could be done in a recent interview.

Paul, 29, is still recovering after Anthony Joshua broke his jaw during their December fight, Paul’s first loss in seven fights.

“We’ll see what my doctors say,” Paul said on the Ariel Helwani Show. “I’ll be able to get a more accurate timeframe, or can I even fight again? That is definitely in the realm and possibilities of things (that I can’t). (The jaw) does feel a lot better as weeks and time goes by, but I definitely need to get cleared first to be able to spar.

“Most definitely (my fighting future is in doubt),” he added. “It just depends on how the bone heals. Then, also, there’s a tooth missing (in the back). I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to get an implanted tooth of some sort. I’m not sure how much time that’s going to add to things, but we just have to see and figure out what the smartest thing is for me.”

An actor and social media celebrity, Paul began fighting in 2018 and is 12-2 with seven knockouts as a professional. His most notable fight was against Mike Tyson in November 2024 in Texas, where Paul won the eight-round bout by unanimous decision. Paul also co-founded Most Valuable Promotions, which hosts the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano MMA fight Saturday on Netflix.

Paul hadn’t been knocked out until Joshua did so in the sixth round last December in Miami. Paul hopes that won’t be his last appearance in the ring.

“Those (doubts) have come up, but I’m not done,” Paul said. “I can just feel it in my spirit and my soul, and my heart that I have more fights left and unfinished business in my mind,” Paul said. “Injuries are a part of any sport. I think potentially this could be a good outcome. You could tear an ACL and be out, and keep on tearing it and tearing it again. It’s just a part of any sport, and I definitely don’t think I’m done and want to keep on fighting.”

–Field Level Media

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama won’t face further sanction for throwing an elbow, AP source says

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama won’t face further discipline from the NBA for elbowing Minnesota’s Naz Reid in Game 4 of the teams’ Western Conference semifinal series, according to a person with knowledge of the league’s decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league didn’t publicly release any details of its evaluation and investigative process. Wembanyama will be eligible to play Game 5 on Tuesday in San Antonio. The series is tied at two games apiece.

2026 NFL schedule: Cowboys at Giants on Week 1 Sunday night, host Eagles on Thanksgiving

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys remain a popular draw for the NFL and its television partners despite struggling the past couple of seasons. The league announced on Monday that the Cowboys will visit the New York Giants in the first NBC “Sunday Night Football” game of the season on Sept. 13 and they will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Fox on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 26. The full schedule will be released on Thursday with other matchups revealed in the coming days. Monday’s announcements mean the Cowboys know the dates for three of their 17 games. It was announced a couple of weeks ago their game in Rio de Janeiro against the Baltimore Ravens will take place in Week 3 on Sept. 27 and air on CBS.

Kansas City Chiefs are ready to turn over revamped Arrowhead Stadium to FIFA for the World Cup

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have transformed Arrowhead Stadium to host World Cup games, fulfilling a long-held dream of the Hunt family. The stadium will host six pool-play games starting next month, including a round of 32 match and a quarterfinal. The first match, featuring Argentina and Algeria, is June 16. The stadium was built in 1972, and that meant it had to undergo significant changes to meet FIFA’s requirements, including seat removal and field upgrades. The Chiefs have collaborated for nearly a decade to make this happen. Fans will be bussed in from satellite parking areas because of limited parking while signage is being stripped to avoid any conflicts in sponsorships.

PGA Championship at Aronimink is largely about the big slopes on big greens

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — The first day of practice for the PGA Championship at Aronimink made it clear what’s important. The greens are big. And so are the slopes on the putting surfaces. Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship at Aronimink in 2018. He says driving isn’t the biggest issue, but the greens can be crazy with all the slopes. Matt Fitzpatrick says it will be hard for the PGA to find enough pin positions on some of them. Jordan Spieth played nine holes to get ready for his 10th try at completing the career Grand Slam. He’s missing only the PGA.

Anthony Edwards awes Timberwolves with his performance despite recent trouble with both knees

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The durability of Anthony Edwards has proven to be the most valuable trait for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA playoffs this year among his many superpowers on the court. Edwards hit the 40-minute mark for the second straight game and played the entire fourth quarter while scoring 36 points in leading the Timberwolves past the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of their second-round series. Edwards returned in nine days from a hyperextended left knee and a deep bone bruise to help fuel a Game 1 win. He has also played much of the season with right knee pain.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stands firm on 16-team CFP, details challenges amid 24-team push

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey stands firm on expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams. The Big Ten supports a 24-team bracket, so for now the CFP will go ahead at 12 teams. Sankey noted various scheduling challenges, including conference championship games, non-conference matchups and even the Army-Navy game.

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy is in stable condition after being shot at a concert

LAUREL, Miss. (AP) — Missouri officials say All-America running back Ahmad Hardy is in stable condition after being shot at a concert in Mississippi. Missouri announced in a statement that Hardy was shot early Sunday morning and underwent surgery for the gunshot wound later that day. Hardy earned first-team Associated Press All-America honors last season and was one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award. The Laurel (Mississippi) Leader-Call reported that the shooting happened at an outdoor concert at a bike club and three people of interest were in custody. Laurel police Sgt. Macon Davis described the scene to the Leader-Call as a “melee.”

Spurs draw with Leeds for priceless point in Premier League survival fight

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham has taken a tentative step towards securing its Premier League status after a 1-1 home draw against Leeds. The result lifts the north London side two points clear of West Ham. One of the two will be relegated and join Wolves and Burnley in the Championship next season. Both have two rounds left. Spurs hold their destiny in their hands. Mathys Tels put Spurs ahead but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late penalty gave Leeds a share of the points. In the Championship, Hull beat Millwall 2–0 to set up a playoff final against Southampton or Middlesbrough. The winner goes up to the Premier League.

US midfielder Cardoso set to miss the World Cup because of ankle surgery

MADRID (AP) — United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso is set to miss the World Cup because of a right ankle injury that requires surgery. His Spanish club Atletico Madrid has announced the surgery. The procedure usually requires months of recovery and the World Cup begins in one month. Atletico didn’t give a timetable for his return. It also hasn’t immediately said when or where the surgery will take place. The 24-year-old Cardoso sprained his right ankle in training with Atletico last week. He has 23 appearances for the U.S. since his debut in 2020.

Iron Honor is a slight 9-2 favorite on the morning line for the Preakness

LAUREL, Md. (AP) — Iron Honor is the morning line favorite at 9-2 in a wide-open Preakness this weekend that does not include Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. There’s no telling who will be the bettors’ choice by the time the race actually starts Saturday at Laurel Park. Taj Mahal at 5-1, Chip Honcho at 5-1, Incredibolt at 5-1 and Ocelli at 6-1 were also among the favorites following Monday’s draw, but none has particularly short odds in what could be the largest Preakness field in 15 years. The previous time 14 horses made it to the starting gate was in 2011.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For all the superpowers Anthony Edwards possesses on the court, his pristine physical condition has proven to be the most valuable trait for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA playoffs this year.

“Honestly, I think he would just now be coming back if he was like a normal human being, but he’s not,” teammate Mike Conley said after Edwards scored 16 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to fuel a Game 4 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday that tied their second-round series at two games apiece.

“We’re thankful for what he’s sacrificing for us and putting us on his back,” Conley added. “We expect it from him. He expects it. So we just try to keep him healthy, keep him going forward.”

After returning from a hyperextended left knee that caused a deep bone bruise in nine days, Edwards had 18 points in a 25-minute reserve role to help the Timberwolves take the opener from the Spurs on the road on May 4. Edwards was back in the starting lineup for Game 3 at home on Friday and played 41 minutes.

He logged 40 minutes in Game 4 and was on the floor for the entire fourth quarter, a move coach Chris Finch made only three times during the regular season. Edwards also played the final 12 minutes in the opener of the first-round series at Denver on April 18, one week before his latest injury.

“Man, I’ve been doing a lot of stuff to get in shape. I’ve got the best physical therapist in the world when it comes to my body, David Hines, so big shoutout to him,” Edwards said, referring to the team’s vice president of medical operations and performance. “He’s on a whole other level when it comes to that stuff.”

Edwards was limited to a career-low 61 games during the regular season, largely because of persistent pain in his right knee. Before 2025-26, he never missed more than three games in any season.

“We’re lucky to have him. He’s special, no doubt, especially given what he’s been fighting through over the last month and a half,” Finch said.

Edwards shot 13 for 22 from the floor on Sunday, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range. He took advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s stunning ejection by getting to the rim, too, including a crucial finger-roll layup he dropped in through traffic with 2:24 left for a four-point lead in the 114-109 victory.

Edwards was hesitant to express much satisfaction afterward, chiding himself and the rest of the starting lineup for a lackluster third quarter while revealing that, yes, even he has his physical limits.

“I was gassed a little bit,” Edwards said, “so I came out like super low on energy, just walking up and down the floor.”

His performance had more to it than simply determination and durability, though. On Mother’s Day, Edwards acknowledged a deep sense of motivation and purpose in Game 4 in honor of his late mother, Yvette Edwards, who died of cancer in 2015 when he was just 13. His grandmother also died later that year.

“I couldn’t lose this game for her,” Edwards said before praising the support he has received from family members and close friends in Atlanta over the last decade since losing his mom and grandma. “It’s not a bunch of people that’s just willing to do anything you say. These people really want to see me succeed, and they don’t let me take a day off. They stay on me.”

With that, the intensely private Edwards quickly shifted the focus in the postgame interview room at Target Center back to basketball.

“So I appreciate everybody that’s in my circle, but that’s enough about me,” he said. “Just ask about my team.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA