The NBA Finals are underway, the Sunshine State Games begin locally, college baseball Super Regionals begin and the French Open winds down in our Friday Sports News and Notes…
** Game 1 of the NBA Finals goes to the San Antonio Spurs as they steal a 92-88 road win at Miami. Tim Duncan shakes off a slow start to score 20 points and grab 14 rebounds in the win; Game 2 in Miami Sunday.
** The Sunshine State Games begin today in three counties in Florida including Alachua County. This marks the 34th annual Sunshine State Games when they begin today.
** The French Open tennis championship is winding down; in women’s play, defending champion Maria Sharapova fill face Serena Williams in the final. The men’s semi-final matches are being played today.
** College baseball Super Regionals get underway this weekend. FSU is hosting Indiana while from the SEC, Mississippi State is at Virginia; South Carolina is at North Carolina; Vanderbilt is hosting Louisville and LSU is hosting Oklahoma.
** In the NHL, Chicago downs Los Angeles 3-2 to go up 3-1 in the Western Conference Final. Boston hosts Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference with a chance to sweep that series with a win.
** The Belmont Stakes horse race is this weekend and Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner, is the favorite on what could be a sloppy and wet track.
** In the MLB, Detroit downs Tampa Bay 5-2 as pitcher Max Scherzer moves his record to 8-0 for the Tigers. The Rays will host Baltimore this weekend. Miami is at the New York Mets and Atlanta is playing at the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend; the Braves lost 5-0 Thursday to the Dodgers.