Sports Report: Clippers qualify for playoffs

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From Kevin Baxter: Thanks to Russell Westbrook's triple-double, the Clippers withstood a ferocious rally from the Phoenix Suns to win 105-92 on Tuesday, guaranteeing at least the top spot in NBA postseason play. They avoided in-tournament participation and qualified for the playoffs. – Finished 5th in the Western Conference standings.

None of that is surprising. The Clippers have finished in the top five in the regular season standings nine times over the past 12 seasons, and it would have taken a major collapse in the final week of the season to keep them from doing it again.

What they haven't done is make a long run in the playoffs and reach the conference finals just once in franchise history. So Tuesday's victory is just the first step in a familiar journey that will become more difficult as time passes.

Who and where the Clippers will play in the postseason could be decided as early as Wednesday in a rematch with the Suns in Los Angeles. (Spoiler alert: The Clippers' first-round opponent will probably be Dallas in two of the past four seasons. The Clippers have won both series.) Coach Tyronn Lue says, “It's all about getting court advantage.” He said the team's focus remains the same.

“We have to get a place. We can't relax,” he said.

“Just keep getting better and better and keep playing good basketball heading into the playoffs. That's our mindset.”

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lakers

From Dan Woike: A few months ago, the fragility of the NBA season seemed more abstract, with each game representing 1.2% of the season. When you're in a tough situation, tomorrow overshadows what's final.

Until it gets here, and then all that remains is “what if?”

If only the Lakers had been sharper in the in-season tournaments. If only it didn't take so long to find their shooting stroke. I wish I had hung on to the ropes better in the Brooklyn and Sacramento games.

If only they had been a little more lucky, if only they had been a little better.

If only they had more time.

With the end of the regular season looming, the Lakers played what could be their final home game of the season against Golden State on Tuesday night in a huge matchup at Crypto.com Arena, trailing 134- I lost at 120.

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dodgers

From Jack Harris: The most memorable sight Tuesday night wasn't James Outman's three-run homer in the fourth inning or Will Smith's three-run home run to the other end in the top of the fifth.

Instead, the ball came out of Tyler Glasnow's right hand almost every time in the Dodgers' 6-3 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Glasnow put on a dominant performance against an inferior Twins batting lineup, using a devastating combination of mid-90s heaters and breaking balls to get off to the Dodgers' best start to date, with a spectacular seventh inning. He tied a career high with 14 strikeouts without giving up a run.

Former Dodger Julio Urias charged with five misdemeanors stemming from 2023 arrest

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angels

On Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Angels 6-4 despite Jose Caballero's three hits and two RBIs, Isaac Paredes' home run and Mike Trout's six home runs.

Harold Ramirez also drove in a pair of Rays, winning three out of four races.

Aaron Civale (2-1) allowed just two more hits after Trout's two-run first inning. The right-handed pitcher allowed three runs (two earned) with four strikeouts in five innings. The four earned runs that Civale allowed in his three starts were due to three home runs.

Pete Fairbanks made his first save despite allowing an RBI to Luis Rengifo in the 9th inning. The Angels had runners on first and second base with two outs, but Miguel Sano struck out.

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kings ducks

Alex Killorn and Trevor Zegras scored in the third period and the Ducks won 3-1 on Tuesday night, denying the Kings a playoff berth.

Frank Vatrano also scored, Lucas Dostal made 36 saves, and the Ducks defeated a freeway faceoff opponent for the first time in three tournaments. The season series concludes Saturday in Los Angeles.

Akil Thomas scored and Cam Talbot made 24 saves for the Kings, who have won three straight.

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From Ben Bolch: UCLA's defense may be living on the brink unless they can find some good defense.

Edge rusher could be the thinnest position on the team after coach Deshaun Foster confirmed on Tuesday that Cho Bryant-Strother entered the transfer portal and became the last edge rusher to leave.

Laiatu Latu and twins Gabriel Murphy and Grayson Murphy have declared for the NFL Draft. Carl Jones Jr. and Jake Heimlicher have exhausted their eligibility. Bryant-Strother played for the Bruins and was the last remaining edge rusher on the roster, recording 38 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack over four seasons at various positions.

As a graduate transfer, Bryant-Strother doesn't have to wait until the transfer portal officially opens on April 15th. His departure leaves Foster searching for reinforcements in the portal.

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From Ryan Cartier: After just one season as a 300-pound wrecking ball in the middle of USC's defense, former five-star defensive tackle Bea Alexander is an NCAA transfer, looking for his third school in three seasons. I plan to re-enter the portal.

Alexander appeared to be on track to become the linchpin of USC's new defense this season as it rebuilds under new coordinator Danton Lynn. His sophomore season saw him record 48 tackles, six and a half of which were for loss, a glimpse of his sky-high potential.

As of Tuesday, it was still unclear where those plans went awry. Alexander attended USC's early morning practice hours before rumors of his transfer spread.

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college basketball

Tara VanDerveer, the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, announced her retirement Tuesday night after leading the Stanford University women's team for 38 seasons and 45 years overall.

VanDerveer, 70, surpassed Mike Krzyzewski for the winning record in January. The Hall of Famer departs with a combined 1,216 wins at the University of Idaho, Ohio State and Stanford.

“Basketball is the greatest of group projects, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me and my team throughout my coaching career,” VanDerveer said in a statement. “For nearly 40 years, I have been blessed to mentor some of the brightest minds at some of the world's leading educational institutions.”

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masters

From Sam Farmer: Augusta National's dramatic elevation changes aren't always obvious on Masters broadcasts. First-time visitors to this famous golf course often observe that it is much more hilly than it appears on TV.

Tiger Woods' ups and downs? It's obvious for the world to see.

Everything unfolded on a public stage. A historic success, a personal downfall, an epic comeback, and a near-fatal car accident.

It's been five years since the legendary Woods won his fifth and most recent green jacket. He is currently preparing for his 29th attempt.

“Winning here as my first major tournament was a part of my life.” [championship] As a professional,'' the 48-year-old Woods told the media, as he does every Tuesday during Masters week. “As you saw, I'm hugging my father.” [at his victorious 1997 Masters]And in 2019, I came full circle to hug my son. ”

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This date in sports

1934 — The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 in overtime to win the Stanley Cup.

1947 — Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player of the 20th century to sign an MLB contract.

1949 — Sam Sneed defeats Lloyd Mangrum and Johnny Bulla by three strokes to win the Masters.

1953 — NBA Championship Finals, Minneapolis Auditorium, Minnesota: The Minneapolis Lakers defeat the New York Knicks 91-84 for a 4-1 series victory. The Lakers won their fifth title in six years.

1955 — Cary Middlecoff defeats Ben Hogan by seven strokes to win the Masters.

1960 — 24th Masters: 1958 champion Arnold Palmer birdied the final two holes to win by one stroke over second-place Ken Venturi.

1961 — South Africa's Gary Player becomes the first foreign player to win the Masters, defeating Arnold Palmer and Charlie Coe by one stroke.

1977 — Tom Watson overtakes Jack Nicklaus on the final four holes to beat Jack Nicklaus by two strokes at the Masters.

1988 — Scotland's Sandy Lyle sinks a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a one-shot victory at the Masters, becoming the first British player to win the tournament.

1990 — The Kings defeat the Calgary Flames 12-4 as Dave Taylor, Thomas Sandstrom and Tony Granato each score three goals, marking the first time in the NHL playoffs that three hat tricks have been scored in a single game. It was the first time in history.

1991 — Wayne Gretzky scores his NHL-record 93rd goal in the playoffs.

1994 — Jose María Olazabal wins the Masters by two strokes over Tom Lehman. This is the sixth time in the past seven years that a non-American has won.

2005 — Tiger Woods wins the Masters with a spectacular birdie-bogey finish. Woods made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, repelling a surprise challenge from Chris DiMarco to win his fourth green jacket.

2016 — Danny Willett wins the Masters after a spectacular fall by Jordan Spieth. Willett shot a 67 for a 5-under 283, and Spieth's bogey on the 17th hole ensured his first major title. Nine holes from wire-to-wire victory, Spieth threw away the win with a shocking collapse, even by Augusta National standards, near Amen Corner. Spieth was five strokes ahead on the 10th tee and was three strokes ahead heading into the 13th tee.

Edited by Associated Press