AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:53 p.m. EDT

By The Associated Press

Jayson Tatum’s 33 points help Celtics down short-handed Cavaliers 109-102 to take 3-1 lead in semis

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 33 points with LeBron James watching from a courtside seat and the Boston Celtics beat the severely short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102 in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their East semifinal series. Jaylen Brown added 27 for the Celtics, who can close out Cleveland with a win in Game 5 on Wednesday at home. The Cavs got pushed to the brink of elimination with Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen out with injuries. It was nothing new for a Cleveland team that dealt with injuries all season, but it was a big ask. Tatum added 11 rebounds and five assists. Darius Garland scored 30 and Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert 19 apiece for the Cavs.

Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended for at least 6 months an hour before Game 4 against Stars

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program before Game 4 on Monday night of a second-round series with Dallas. The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association announced the news about an hour before the start of the game with the Stars. It’s the second time this season he’s been in the program. Stage 3 means Nichushkin violated the terms of the program. The 29-year-old Russian forward will miss the rest of the postseason and the first month next season at a minimum. He leads the team with nine playoff goals this season.

Lions and QB Jared Goff agree on $212M, 4-year extension with $170M guaranteed, AP source says

A person familiar with the situation says the Detroit Lions and quarterback Jared Goff have agreed to a $212 million, four-year contract extension. The person told The Associated Press on Monday that the deal includes $170 million in guarantees and spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms were not announced. Goff ended the Motor City’s decades-long search for a playoff-winning quarterback in January. He helped the Lions earn two playoff victories in one postseason for the first time since winning the 1957 NFL title.

Hurricanes score 4 in third period, rally to beat Rangers 4-1 in Game 5 to avoid elimination

NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Staal and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 3:06 apart in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes got four goals in the third period for a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5, staving off elimination for the second straight game. Jordan Martinook and Martin Necas also scored in the Hurricanes’ big third period, and Frederik Andersen — starting for the fourth time in five games in this series and ninth time in 10 games in the postseason — had 20 saves. Jacob Trouba scored a short-handed goal and Igor Shesterkin stopped 24 shots for New York, which has lost two straight after taking a 3-0 series lead. Game 6 is Thursday night in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Super Bowl champion Chiefs will open regular season at home against Ravens in AFC title game rematch

NEW YORK (AP) — The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will open the regular season at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5 in a rematch of the AFC title game. The NFL will release the entire 2024 season schedule on Wednesday night on the NFL Network. The Chiefs beat the Ravens 17-10 in the AFC championship game in January and went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in the Super Bowl. The Ravens-Chiefs opener at Arrowhead Stadium will be a Thursday night game on NBC. Kansas City will be going for a third straight Super Bowl title and fourth in six years this season.

LeBron James attends Game 4 between Celtics and Cavaliers in Cleveland, his old stomping grounds

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James attended Monday night’s playoff game between the Boston Celtics and Cavaliers, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar’s future. James, who can opt out of his contact with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer, played two stints in Cleveland. He led the Cavs to their only NBA championship in 2016 before leaving two years later. The league’s career scoring champion, James has maintained a home near his hometown of Akron. He’s come back to Cleveland many times since leaving in 2018, but has not attended any Cavs games. James arrived just as the game began and took a courtside seat along with his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul.

Attorney says settlement being considered in NCAA antitrust case could withstand future challenges

One of the lead attorneys in a class-action antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA says settlement talks are progressing well. A deadline looms next week for the NCAA and major conferences to agree to a deal that could cost billions in damages and set up a groundbreaking revenue-sharing system with college athletes. Steve Berman, a Seattle-based attorney for the plaintiffs, would not confirm details of the possible agreement but told AP a settlement could create a new framework for paying college athletes that he believes could withstand other antitrust challenges.

Nevada Supreme Court rejects teachers union-backed appeal to put A’s public funding on ’24 ballot

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court on Monday struck down a proposed ballot initiative that would allow voters to decide whether to repeal up to $380 million in public funding for a new MLB stadium in Las Vegas. The Monday ruling dealt a final blow for detractors of the funding who saw an open question to voters this year as the most effective route in repealing key parts of a sweeping bill approved by state legislators last year that paved the way for the Oakland Athletics to move to Las Vegas. Schools over Stadiums spokesperson Alexander Marks said the group will now aim for the 2026 ballot.

Jimmy Dunne resigns from PGA Tour board. He feels his input is no longer needed

Jimmy Dunne is one of the key architects behind the PGA Tour’s stunning deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Now he wants off the PGA Tour board. Dunne has abruptly resigned from the board. In a letter first obtained by Sports Illustrated, Dunne says he’s not been involved in any dealings with the Public Investment Fund since June. He says his vote is superfluous. He also cites player-heavy involvement and no substantial progress. Dunne is the second independent board director to resign since the June 6 deal. Randall Stephenson resigned last July.

Mitchell Robinson has surgery on ankle that knocked him out of Knicks’ playoff run, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has had surgery on his left ankle. Robinson was knocked out of the Knicks’ playoff run after sustaining an injury to that ankle. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because Robinson’s surgery had not been announced publicly. Robinson opted for the procedure after additional consideration by his surgeon and medical staff. He had been ruled out last week with what was called a stress injury to the ankle. The plan remains for Robinson to be evaluated again in six to eight weeks after Monday’s procedure.