A Sports Filled Weekend

The Run for the Roses had barely ended when the race for the Triple Crown began.

The favored Nyquist’s victory by a 1 ½ lengths Saturday at Churchill Downs in the 142nd Kentucky Derby promptly sparked the usual speculation about a Triple Crown. Against the backdrop of American Pharoah’s sweep last year, this is one time such talk isn’t ridiculous hype.

NBA

The Cleveland Cavaliers nipped the Atlanta Hawks 100-99 to win their playoff series in four straight games. The Cavs are 8-0 in the playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder got 41 points from Kevin Durant, tying his career playoff high, as they beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-97 to even their series at two games apiece. … The Memphis Grizzlies fired coach Dave Joergers, but he’s apparently already far along in negotiations to take the same position with the Sacramento Kings.

NHL

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 4-0 on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. They eliminated the Islanders in five games. … The St. Louis Blues defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Saturday to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference series.

BOXING

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez knocked out Amir Khan in the sixth round on Saturday night to retain his WBC middleweight title. Alvarez hit Khan with a right hand that landed square on the chin to knock Khan out.

MLB

New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon, 42 and in his 19th season, hit his first home run in the major leagues on Saturday as his team cruised to a 6-3 victory over the San Diego Padres. Topps has already issued a commemorative card. … The Chicago Cubs won their seventh straight game as Javier Baez homered in the bottom of the 13th inning for a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals.

ELSEWHERE
Kyle Busch won a wreck-filled race at Kansas Speedway on Saturday night, capturing the GoBowling 400. It was his first career victory at that track. … Maryland won the men’s Big Ten lacrosse title on Saturday in Baltimore, defeating Rutgers 14-8. The Maryland women’s team knocked off Northwestern 12-9 on Sunday and both are seeded No. 1 in their respective NCAA tournaments. … Yale’s men defeated Harvard on Sunday 14-9 to win their fourth Ivy League lacrosse title in five years.

Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman