04112023 SPORTS

FIVE-PEAT

Bahamas CARIFTA swimming champions

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Mission accomplished. The Bahamas’ 36-member team to the CARIFTA Swim Championships in Curacao returned home with their fifth consecutive championship title and a pair of recordbreaking performances from two of the four co-team captains Rhanishka Gibbs and Nigel Forbes.

In producing its best ever performance, Team Bahamas collected a total of 85 medals and accumulated 1,113 points to literally dominate the four days of competition as they celebrated and look forward to a six-peat when the championships is staged in the Bahamas at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex in 2024.

In their 85 medal package, Team Bahamas unwrapped 37 gold, 27 silver and 21 bronze, 32 more than their nearest rivals, Cayman Islands,

who got second with 25 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze for their total of 54, while Trinidad & Tobago

rounded out the top three with 22 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze for their total of 54. With their 1,113 points,

Team Bahamas out-distanced the Cayman Islands by 361 points as they trailed with 752. Trinidad

CARIFTA TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES IN MEDAL COLUMN

HERE is a look at the medal winners for The Bahamas from the Oaktree Medical Center’s 50th CARIFTA Games held over the Easter holiday weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Gold medallists

Kaden Cartwright, under20 boys javelin, 210-feet, 2-inches or 64.07m, Jamiah Nabbie, under-17 girls 100m, 11.67. Boys under-17 4 x 100m relay team of Trent Ford, Andrew Brown, Cayden Smith and Ishmael Rolle, 41.46.

SEE PAGE 3

BAHAMAS 2ND OVERALL BEHIND POWERHOUSE JAMAICA

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE 50th Oaktree Medical CARIFTA Games wrapped up last night at the Thomas A Robinson stadium.

The athletes of Team Bahamas shined on and off the track to add to the home country’s medal count. Going into the final day, The Bahamas had already surpassed last year’s medal count with a total of 26 medals after two days of action.

The team secured 17 medals at last year’s CARIFTA Games. Team Bahamas wrapped up the games in second place behind Jamaica.

In the final day of action, more athletes added medals to the fold for Team Bahamas. Kamera Strachan and Dior-Rae Scott finished first and second respectively in the under

17 women’s javelin. Strachan notched a throwing distance of 46.07m to claim gold for The Bahamas. Her teammate secured silver with a throwing distance of 45.13m.

The young athletes talked about how it felt to finish first and second alongside each other.

“Last year I came forth and I was a little sad but now I set my mind to say I am gonna get the record,” Strachan said. Scott talked about how it felt to get a personal best in the competition.

“I am really excited that I was able to personal best and I am more than proud of my teammate. It wasn’t what I expected but I am still proud of myself nevertheless,” she said.

In more gold in action on day three, Jamiah Nabbie collected her second gold medal in the under 17 girls 200m finals. She clocked a

time of 23.67 in the highly anticipated finals race. She was followed by Naomi London for second place and Jamaica’s Natrece East, who came third with 23.85.

it felt to win the second gold medal for herself and The Bahamas. “It feels amazing. I came into the race a little fatigued and tight from the events over the past weekend but I still came out with a gold. I

WNBA adding charter flights for playoffs, back-to-back games

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

The WNBA is adding charter flights for the entire playoffs and back-to-back regular season games this year, the league announced yesterday.

The league will pay for all of the flights.

“It’s significant dollars,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press. “Now that we have best of three and five in the semifinals and finals. ... You add it up it’s a lot of flights.”

The cost is expected to be around $4.5 million, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because details haven’t been publicly released.

Last year, the league chartered for the WNBA Finals as well as for the road team in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game. Since taking over in 2019, Engelbert has slowly added a few more charter opportunities for teams. She allowed playoff teams that were travelling for more than one time zone to fly charter if they only had a day between games in the past. “It’s something I’ve been working on since I came into the league,” she said. “It was never coming up with money for one year, but creating a sustainable model for the charter programme to continue in perpetuity. Once you do it, you have to do it every year.”

Engelbert said that there will be five charters needed during the regular season.

SEE PAGE 7

Vanderpool, under-20 boys pole vault, 16-7 ¼ (5.06m).

Brenden

Kamera Strachan, under17 girls javelin, 43.59m.

Under-20 mixed 4 x 400 relay team of Javonya Valcourt, Lacarthea Cooper, Tamani Skinner and Shimar Bain, 3:24.62.

Kenyce Scavella, under17 girls discus, 32.70m.

Jamiah Nabbie, girls under-17 200m, 23.67.

Caden Smith, under-17 boys 200m, 21.70

Silver medallists

Javonya Valcourt, under20 girls 400m, 52.12.

Lanaisha Lubin, under20 girls triple jump, 40-8 ¼ (12.40m).

& Tobago completed the top three with 534.

FIVE STRAIGHT - The Bahamas’ 36-member team returned home with their fifth consecutive championship title after winning the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Curacao.

CARIFTA MEDALLISTS FROM PAGE 1

Bronze medallists

Erin Barr, under-17 girls

1,500m, 4:54.09.

Terrell McCoy, under17 girls shot put, 43-feet, 8-inches (13.31m). Andrew Brown, under-17 boys 400m, 48.68.

Lacarthea Cooper, under20 girls 400m, 53.12.

Adam Musgrove, under20 boys 100m, 10.44.

Vanessa Sawyer, under-20 girls javelin, 142-3 (43.37m).

Mateo Smith, under20 boys long jump, 24-5 (7.44m).

Reuben Bain, under17 boys shot put, 45-2 ½ (13.78m).

Shimar Bain, under-20 boys 400m hurdles, 49.92.

Akaya

Lightbourne, under-20 girls 3,000m, 10:47.01.

Girls under-20 4 x 100m relay team of Amari Pratt, Melvinique Gibson and Shataiya Dorsette, 45.55.

Tyler Cash, under-20 boys pole vault, 14-7 ¼ (4.45m).

Joshua Williams, under17 boys high jump, 6-2 ¾ (1.90m).

Quinton Rolle, under-17 boys 110m hurdles, 14.49.

Andrew Brown, under-17 boys 200m, 22.03.

Amari Pratt, under-20 girls 200m, 24.17.

Adam Musgrove, under20 boys 200m, 20.96.

Under-17 girls 4 x 400m relay team, 3:51.60.

Under-20 girls 4 x 400m relay team, 3:47.68.

BRINGING HOME THE GOLD: Ishmael Rolle (131) brings home the gold for Team Bahamas in the under-17 boys 4x100 metre relay.

GOLDEN BOYS: SHOWN, from left to right, are Trent Ford, Andrew Brown, Ishmael Rolle and Cayden Smith.

A PROUD Bahamian CARIFTA fan celebrates.

Photos by Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

Russell posts lifetime best to win 400 metres at Miramar Invitational

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALONZO Russell is proving that he still has more left in his tank.

The Grand Bahamian, preparing for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August, posted a lifetime best of

44.93 seconds to win the men’s 400 metres on Saturday at the Miramar Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida. Trailing Russell through the finish line for second was Leungo Scotch of Botswana in a season’s best of 45.03.

Anthonique Strachan, who continues to train in

Jamaica, was fourth in the women’s 200m in 22.70.

The race was swept by the American trio of Abby Steiner in 22.23, Tamari Davis in 22.31 for a personal best and Kayla White in 22.44.

In the men’s long jump, Commonwealth Games’ champion LaQuan Nairn had to settle for fifth place

with his best leap of 25-feet, 2-inches or 7.67 metres on his firs attempt. His next four series of jumps followed with 24-4 ¼ (7.42m), 18-10 ¾ (6.76m), 23-2 ¾ (7.08m) and 24-6 ¼ (7.47m).

He didn’t jump on his sixth and final attempt.

American Will Williams scored a 27-0 ¾ on his first

attempt for a personal best performance for the win.

Andre Colebrook clocked 55.58, but it only got him fourth place in the men’s 400m as American Amere Lattin crossed the finish line in 50.22 for the win.

Gabriele Montefalcone of Italy was second in 50.26 and Marvin Williams of Jamaica got third in 52.74.

SWIMMING FROM PAGE 1

Bahamas Aquatics’ president Algernon Cargill had nothing but praise for the team.

“The team’s performances were outstanding.

The swimmers all fought hard, responded to the call and acted as the defending champions,” Cargill said. “We are appreciative of all the support we have received from home and far away and the support of our sponsors, inclusive of the BOC and the Government of the Bahamas.

“For next year, we will be going after anther title at home. We don’t expect the team’s dynamics to change too much and we are confident of winning again.”

Coach Travano McPhee called it a dominating performance that all those in attendance, and supporting the athletes in Curacao, were very proud of.

“These swimmers made history again, becoming the five-peat champions and showed they are the best CARIFTA swim team in the history of these games,” McPhee said.

“The 85 medals is the most medals ever brought home and most points scored, speaks for itself.

This is, if not, the best team we have ever had, it’s definitely one of the best.”

According to McPhee, the strengths were in the 11-12 age groups, adding that they didn’t show any weaknesses.

“The plan was executed from day one,” he stated.

“The plan for next year is to win these games for a sixth straight time and what other way to do it than in the front of a loud and supportive crowd,” McPhee said. “I encourage all Bahamians to come out and support our great athletes as the Bahamas will host the 2024 CARIFTA Games.”

Gibbs, breaking one of the two games records in the girls 15-17 50m breaststroke in 32.88 seconds, led by example.

“My performances weren’t really well. They weren’t what I expected, but it’s all about the process,” said Gibbs, who brought some experience as a member of last year’s Commonwealth Games team in Birmingham,

Chartering flights for games on consecutive nights this season is easier then next year.

With no Olympic break or condensed schedule for the World Cup this season there are less teams playing on consecutive nights.

England. “This just tells me what I need to do as I go back home and work harder. I will come back stronger next year.”

As for Team Bahamas, Gibbs said the entire team’s performance was amazing.

“They came out, they worked really hard for it and they got what they deserved. I am extremely proud of them,” she summed up.

Forbes, a native of Grand Bahama, established the other CARIFTA record in the boys 15-17 100m butterfly in 54.73. It was one of two gold medals for Forbes, who picked up the other in the 200m IM in 2:06.72.

He also secured a bronze in the 50m butterfly in 25.08.

One of the workhorses for Team Bahamas was Saleste Gibson, representing the girls 11-12 100m division. She powered her way to seven gold medals in the 100m butterfly in 1:09.11; 200m freestyle in 2:20.49; 50m butterfly in 30.02; 400m freestyle in 5:06.29; 50m freestyle in 28.69; 200m individual medley (IM) in 2:43.24 and 100m freestyle in 1:03.23.

She lost her only race in the 200m butterfly where her time of 2:55.18 placed her in the silver medal spot behind her team-mate and gold medallist Skyler Smith, who touched the wall first in 2:51.60.

“My performances were a little bit of what I expected. I wasn’t expecting to do as well as I did and so I was really surprised at my outcome, but I worked very hard to achieve this outcome,” she stated.

She wrapped up her performance by carting off the high point award for her age group, something she admitted that she was thrilled to receive.

“I was very surprised and I was filled with excitement and joy when I got that award,” she added.

On the other side of the coin, David Singh, competing in the boys’ 11-12 division, captured six gold and a pair of silver medals. His gold medal haul came in the 50m backstroke in 31.15; 400m IM in 5:24.80; 400m freestyle in 4:46.23; 400m freestyle in 4:46.23; 200m IM in 2:29.75; 50m breaststroke in 34.63 and 100m breaststroke in 1:16.03.

Next season that will change because of the 2024 Paris Olympics and Engelbert said that it will be more challenging. “Next year we can’t do all of them,” she said.

The commissioner hopes that charters in the future can be funded in part by the next TV deal. “Longer term, if we can get a really

MEDAL COUNT

COMBINED TEAM SCORES

Singh also had to settle for a pair of silver in the 100m backstroke in 1:08.99 and the 200m backstroke in

2:35.65.

Medal winners

Gold

Jaylah Theadgill, girls

11-12 200m breaststroke,

3:03.60.

Trace Russell, boys 11-12 200m breaststroke, 2:50.46.

Emmanuel Gadson, boys

15-17 200m breaststroke,

2:22.85.

David Singh, boys 11-12

50m backstroke, 31.15.

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 100m butterfly,

1:09.11.

Nigel Forbes, boys 15-17 100m butterfly, 54.73.

Girls 11-12 400m freestyle relay – 4:26.31.

Boys 11-12 400m freestyle relay – 4:09.72.

Donald Saunders, boys

13-14m 50m backstroke, 30.03.

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 200m freestyle,

2:20.49.

Christon Joseph, boys

11-12 200m freestyle,

2:17.00.

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 50m butterfly, 30.02.

Skyler Smith, girls 11-12 100m backstroke, 1:14.19.

Alissa Ferguson, girls

11-12 400m IM, 6:00.88.

David Singh, boys 11-12 400m IM, 5:24.80.

Girls 11-12 400m medley relay, 4:57.87.

Boys 11-12 400m medley relay, 4:46.21.

Girls 15-17 400m medley relay, 4:29.09.

Boys 15-17 400m medley relay, 3:56.23.

David Singh, boys 11-12 400m freestyle, 4:46.23.

good media deal we can do something more fully for these players,” she said.

WNBA teams have flown commercially during the regular season since the league’s inception in 1997.

The league typically doesn’t allow teams to charter because it could create a competitive advantage for teams who can afford to

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 400m freestyle, 5:06.29.

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 50m freestyle, 28.69.

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 200m IM, 2:43.24.

David Singh, boys 11-12 200m IM, 2:29.75.

Nigel Forbes, boys 15-17 200m IM, 2:06.72.

Kimaya Saunders, girls

11-12 50m breaststroke, 36.95.

David Singh, boys 11-12 50m breaststroke, 34.63.

Tristen Hepburn, boys 13-14 50m breaststroke, 30.78.

Rhanishka Gibbs, girls 15-17 50m breaststroke, 32.88.

Saleste Gibson, girls 11-12 100m freestyle, 1:03.23.

Skyler Smith, girls 11-2 200m butterfly, 2:51.60.

Mixed 11-12 400m freestyle relay, 4:14.54.

Kimaya Saunders, girls 11-12 100m backstroke, 1:23.10.

David Singh, boys 11-12 100m breaststroke, 1:16.03.

Rhanishka Gibbs, girls 15-17 100m breaststroke, 1:14.74.

Skyler Smith, girls 11-12 100m backstroke, 2:39.41.

Girls 11-12 200m freestyle, 2:00.22.

Boys 11-12 200m freestyle, 1:52.32.

Silver medals

Mia Patton, girls 15-andover 800m freestyle, 9:49.65.

Tristen Hepburn, boys

13-14 200m breaststroke, 2:31.31.

Rhanishka Gibbs, girls 15-17 200m breaststroke, 2:48.82. Zoe Williamson,

pay for them. The WNBA has come down hard on teams in the past that have broken that rule and flown charter. Engelbert has said in the past that it would cost the league about $25 million each season for each of its 12 teams to charter flights to every game. That number has increased about $5 million

girls 13-14 100m butterfly, 1:07.92.

Boys 15-17 400m freestyle relay – 3:34.12.

Dndn McKenzie, girls

11-12 20m freestyle, 2:23.31.

Rhanishka Gibbs, girls

15-17 50m butterfly, 28.66.

Alissa Ferguson, girls

11-12 100m backstroke,

1:15.02.

David Singh, boys 11-12

100m backstroke, 1:08.99.

Skyler Ferguson, girls

11-12 400m IM, 6:01.15.

Boys 13-14 400m medley relay – Trinidad & Tobago, 4:16.87.

Mia Patton, girls 15-17 400m freestyle, 4:43.25. Jaylah Threadgill, girls

11-12 50m breaststroke, 36.95.

Trace Russell, boys 11-12

50m breaststroke, 34.85.

Marvin Johnson, boys

15-17 50m freestyle, 23.28.

Saleste Gibson, girls

11-12 200m butterfly,

2:55.18.

Kaylan Williams, boys

11-12 200m butterfly,

2:41.60. Leylah Lewis, girls 13-14 200m butterfly,

2:35.53.

Keianna Moss, girls 15-17

200m butterfly, 2:33.10.

Nigel Forbes, boys 15-17

200m butterfly, 2:06.26.

Boys 13-14 800m freestyle relay, 8:41.02.

Boys 15-17 800m freestyle relay, 8:03.32.

Mia Patton, girls 15-andover 1,500m, 18:56.26.

Trace Russell, girls 11-12

100m breaststroke, 1:17.36.

Alissa Ferguson, girls

11-12 200m backstroke,

2:43.52. Davis Singh, boys

11-12 200m backstroke,

2:35.65.

Boys 15-17 200m freestyle, 1:35.80.

from previous estimates by the commissioner due to the new 40-game WNBA schedule this season, fuel costs and other factors.

To charter for the whole season the estimated cost per franchise would be approximately $2 million.

Air travel expenses currently for each team is about $150,000, according

Bronze medals

William Farrington, boys

13-14 1,500m freestyle – 18:14.22.

Alexia Zatarain, girls

13-14 200m breaststroke,

2:59.27.

Katie Goulandris, girls

15-17 200m breaststroke,

2:49.90.

Caden Wells, boys 15-17 200m breaststroke, 2:27.28.

Donald Saunders, boys

13-14 50m backstroke,

29.81.

Marvin Johnson, boys

15-17 50m backstroke,

27.66.

Boys 13-14 400m freestyle relay – 3:49.99.

Marvin Johnson, boys

15-17 200m freestyle,

1:56.49.

Nigel Forbes, boys 15-17 50m butterfly, 25.08.

Marvin Johnson, boys

15-17 100m backstroke,

1:00.92.

Alexander Murray, boys

11-12 400m IM, 5:44.24.

Lelah Lewis, girls 13-14 400m IM, 5:42.42.

Kaylah Williams, boys

11-12 400m freestyle,

4:57.81.

Skyler Smith, girls 11-12 freestyle, 5:17.36.

Caden Wells, boys 15-17 50m breaststroke, 30.46.

Zoe Williamson, girls

13-14 100m freestyle,

1:01.77.

Marvin Johnson, boys

15-17 100m freestyle, 51.16.

Emmanuel Gadson, boys

15-17 200m IM, 2:12.42.

Jaylah Theadgill, girls

11-12 100m breaststroke.

1:26.91.

Emmanuel Gadson, boys

15-17 100m breaststroke,

1:06.76.

Girls 17-17 200m freestyle, 1:50.55.

to two people familiar with the costs. The people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to publicly address the issue.

The playoffs are where there could be a major increase in spending with teams potentially flying across country pending the postseason seeding.

FIVE-PEAT - The Bahamas’ 36-member team won their fifth consecutive championship title after winning the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Curacao.

ALONZO Russell

WAWRINKA, THIEM ADVANCE AT MONTE CARLO, MURRAY LOSES

MONACO (AP) —

Three-time Grand Slam winners Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka had contrasting fortunes in the first round of the claycourt Monte Carlo Masters yesterday.

Former champion Wawrinka rallied to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, sealing victory on his sixth match point.

The 38-year-old Swiss, who won here in 2014, next plays American Taylor Fritz.

Murray lost 6-1, 6-3 to 14th-seeded Alex De Minaur. The 35-year-old Murray, who has a metal hip, struggled against the Australian’s court speed in their first meeting on clay, losing the first set in 34 minutes after dropping serve a third time.

De Minaur served out the match on his first match point when Murray’s backhand hit the net, and he improved to 3-0 against the British player. De Minaur plays Jan-Lennard Struff next.

Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini of Italy won 6-4, 6-2 against unseeded American Maxime Cressy, who served 14 double-faults.

Berrettini, who has dropped to 22nd in the rankings, next faces Francisco Cerundolo. The unseeded Argentine won 90% of his first-serve points in a 6-3, 6-4 win against 11th-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie.

Dominic Thiem had six aces and did not face a break point as he beat French veteran Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-4.

Thiem has reached the final at every Grand Slam except Wimbledon, twice losing in the French Open final and once at the Australian Open before finally winning at the U.S. Open in 2020.

The 29-year-old Austrian reached a career-high No. 3 in the rankings that year, but his form dropped following a right wrist injury and he’s now 106th.

Thiem announced on Saturday that he was parting ways with coach Nicolas Massu after four years together.

Thiem next plays Paris Masters winner Holger Rune of Denmark, who is seeded sixth.

Diego Schwartzman won 6-4, 6-2 against Belgian David Goffin and next faces seventh-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner.

Briton Jack Draper beat Sebastian Baez 6-3, 7-5 to set up a match against 10thseeded Hubert Hurkacz.

In today’s second-round action, top-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia and two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece start their bids to win the tournament for the third time.

Djokovic faces Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov while Tsitsipas takes on Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.

No. 13 Alexander Zverev, a French Open semifinalist the last two years, faces Alexander Bublik — who said during last year’s tournament how much he dislikes clay.

Record 11-time Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the tournament.

Rahm a Masters champion everyone saw coming

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)

— Jon Rahm is a Masters champion, and he can say he saw this coming based on the message in a fortune cookie from a Chinese fastfood chain nearly 10 years ago. Rahm was starting his sophomore year at Arizona State when he cracked open the fortune that read: “Your talents will be recognised and suitably rewarded.” He took to Twitter to share the message with his coach, Tim Mickelson, and wrote, “I am gonna win the masters!”

If only it were that simple. Nothing about this Masters was until the 28-year-old Spaniard lofted a wedge over the bunker to 3 feet for a final par that gave him a four-shot victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, the older brother of his college coach.

From the time he began his second round on Friday, Rahm never had the lead until Koepka began to lose his swing and his putting touch. It took Rahm 42 holes before he got his name in front again, and then he seized control with more miscues from Koepka and the brawler mentality to do whatever is needed to win the fight.

It’s been that way as long as Rahm has been playing, and everyone knew it.

Phil Mickelson predicted greatness before Rahm turned pro in 2016 and said he felt Rahm was among the top 10 players in the world before the Spaniard had ever won his first tournament. Bill Haas lost to Rahm in the semifinals of Match Play in 2017 and said later: “He’s hungry. He wants more. You can just see it in him. He’s got that thing about him that’s going to make him a bigtime winner out here.”

Rahm went back to No. 1 in the world with his Masters victory — adding to his U.S. Open title he won at Torrey Pines two years ago — though even with seven wins worldwide in the last year, it remains a close race with Scottie Scheffler.

What gets so much attention with Rahm is everyone could see this coming, with or without a fortune cookie. Koepka won his first PGA Tour title at the Phoenix Open in 2015, the year Rahm tied for fifth while in his junior year in college.

It took him four starts on the PGA Tour to secure his card. He has won every year since his first full year as a pro, and he now has 20 wins around the world.

Not to be overlooked is a communications degree from Arizona State that he earned in four years after arriving on campus without being able to speak English.

“We put in a lot of effort to try to beat the best guys in the world. So maybe

MASTERS FROM PAGE 1

didn’t feel like I got some good breaks. ... Didn’t feel like I did too much wrong but that’s how golf goes sometimes.”

Koepka opened with a near-flawless 65, then took advantage of a favorable tee time to shoot 67 while dodging storms that derailed most of the second round.

Koepka hung tough when driving rain greeted players Saturday, and was still holding onto a fourshot lead when Augusta National grew so waterlogged that the third round could not be continued.

Half of that lead was gone in the first 30 seconds of play Sunday.

Picking up where they left off on the seventh hole, Rahm made birdie and Koepka made bogey, and that two-shot swing set the tone for the rest of the day.

that level of intensity and that determination is what you see and that’s why I’m characterized as a fighter,” Rahm said. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t try my hardest on every shot. So maybe that’s where that comes from.”

Rahm was as entertaining at the green jacket presentation as he was on the golf course, mixing in one fun tale about how this Masters started for him.

He has become friends with Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz, and Rahm was in a cart from the practice range to the putting green ahead of the first round when he saw that Ertz had sent him a text.

“I’m going to paraphrase here. It said, ‘That first green is looking like a walk in the park’ or something like that right now — 10 minutes before I four-putted to start the tournament,” Rahm said. “So, thank you, Zach. Don’t ever do that again, please.”

It wasn’t just the fourputt double bogey from 40 feet (Sam Snead in 1952 is the only other player to start with a double bogey and win the Masters).

Rahm opened with a 65 to tie Koepka, except the Spaniard played in the morning. When he

Koepka maintained his lead for the rest of the third round, but the birdie binge that he’d been on the first couple of days dried up and Rahm swept past him on the front nine of the final round.

“The way Jon played today was pretty impressive,” Koepka said.

“It’s not match play, but early on, it kind of felt like it, right?” Rahm said.

“Before people made all those birdies, I mean, we were 10, 11, after the birdie on 3, 10, 11 under, and then the closest was 5 under. So it felt like that situation, where I wasn’t expecting Brooks to play bad. I can’t expect that, right? So I need to bring the fight to him.”

At one point, Koepka went 22 straight holes Sunday without a birdie, dropping from 13 under to start the day to 7 under.

He finally made birdie at the 13th to get back to 8 under, but Rahm rammed

returned to Augusta National on Friday afternoon, storms were on the way. The temperature dropped, eventually to the mid-40s. It was raining. The wind made it feel more miserable. The conditions were so deplorable that Rahm, who hit 8-iron to a back pin on Thursday, couldn’t reach the green with a 4-iron.

It was just as bad for the six holes he played with Koepka on Saturday, and it was still frigid when they resumed the third round on Sunday morning. Rahm kept it close. That fight

was as much a part of winning as his 3-under 69 on Sunday.

So when someone suggested that he might have been on the bad side of the draw, Rahm smiled as he leaned toward the microphone and said, “Did you say I was perhaps on the bad side of the draw?

PERHAPS?’”

He overcame everything thrown at him Sunday — the deficit that grew to as many as four shots on the 30-hole marathon finish, the wrong side of the weather, even all the Spanish coincidences mentioned to him — and just

battled. He brawled. That’s his style, and while not always artistic, that’s why he’s become such a prolific winner.

He was surprised when someone pointed out he was the first European to win the Masters and the U.S. Open. And he was asked about the career Grand Slam.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he said. He is only halfway there, now needing a PGA Championship and a British Open. But he is good enough that it’s not preposterous, with or without a fortune cookie.

in his birdie putt on top of him. That allowed the Spaniard to maintain a three-shot lead with five

holes to play and effec-

tively ended Koepka’s hopes.

“It was just be patient, probably, until about 13,

JON RAHM, of Spain, celebrates holding the Masters trophy winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photos/David J Phillip)

TIGER Woods waves after weather delayed the second round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

JON RAHM, of Spain, celebrates his Masters win with his father Edorta Rahm and son Kepa after winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday.

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. argues after being thrown out of the game during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in New York.

(AP Photos/Adam Hunger)

‘Jazz’ has 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 steals and RBI as Marlins beat Mets 7-2

By JERRY BEACH Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP)

— Bryan De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs, and the Miami Marlins stole five bases in a 7-2 win Sunday over a struggling Carlos Carrasco and the New York Mets.

De La Cruz hit a threerun homer on an 0-2 pitch from Carrasco (0-2) in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Garrett Cooper had a tworun shot for the Marlins, who avoided a three-game sweep.

Miami improved to 17-28 against the Mets since the start of the 2021 season, including 2-5 this year. The teams don’t meet again until Sept. 18.

“I don’t think we’ve had the best track record lately against them the last few years,” Cooper said. “Just to get one was big for us today.”

Miami, which led the National League with 122 steals last year, entered Sunday with only two this season but went 5 for 5 against Mets rookie catcher Francisco Álvarez in his second major league start behind the plate.

Álvarez also sailed a throw into center field for New York’s first error in 10 games this season.

“I have to look at it.

I’m not so sure that they weren’t on the pitchers, most of them,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said. “You give him a chance,

BIEBER’S START, NAYLOR’S SAC PUSH GUARDIANS PAST THE YANKEES

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP)

—

Shane Bieber shook off a rough first inning to pitch seven, and Josh Naylor hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly to give the Cleveland Guardians a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees last night in a rematch of last year’s AL Division Series.

Bieber (1-0) looked to be in trouble after giving up two runs and three hits to New York’s first four batters. But Cleveland’s ace settled in and retired 17 of 18 in one stretch. He allowed two runs and five hits.

Naylor, who became a target for Yankees fans during the playoffs for his “rock the baby” gesture after hitting a home run in Game 4, put the Guardians up 3-2 in the seventh when his liner off Ian Hamilton (0-1) scored Steven Kwan.

CHISHOLM JR EJECTED IN 7TH INNING FOR ARGUING WITH PLATE UMPIRE JEFF NELSON

he’ll throw out the people he’s supposed to throw out.”

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had two hits, two runs, two steals and an RBI before being ejected in the seventh for arguing with plate umpire Jeff Nelson.

“We haven’t been getting on base when it’s around the time to steal — like early in the game or when the game’s still close,” Chisholm said. “So right now, we’re just trying to play the game the right way. And when we get on base and it’s time to steal, we’ll be Álvarez,running.” the Mets’ top prospect, went 1 for 4 with an RBI single in his season debut. Pete Alonso also had an RBI single for New York, which stranded 10 runners.

Tanner Scott (1-1), the second of five Marlins pitchers, earned the win by working 1 1/3 hitless innings.

Miami starter Braxton Garrett allowed nine hits but just two runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start of the season.

“He didn’t have many pitches to work with entering the game, just coming out of the bullpen for the first week,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said.

“He did what he could to help us win that game today.”

Carrasco gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings and has an 11.42 ERA through two starts. He ended last season by yielding nine runs over 11 innings in his final three starts.

“I think command of counts and a feel for the split — he just hasn’t got a real good grasp of where it’s going to be,” Showalter said. “He’ll be better.”

SEE YOU

LATER

Schumaker said he had a clear message for Chisholm after the leadoff hitter was tossed for arguing a called third strike leading off the seventh.

“Stay in the game,” Schumaker said. “Let me get kicked out.” Chisholm and Nelson also exchanged words when Chisholm flipped his bat thinking he’d coaxed a walk on consecutive

pitches during his at-bat in the third. Chisholm said he regretted the ejection, which happened three innings after right fielder Avisaíl García left the game with a sore left hamstring.

“I just can’t get thrown out right there,” Chisholm said. “I’m already having a great game. Avi got hurt. So I should be able to stay in the game, not get flustered, not let my emotions get the best of me.”

The Yankees threatened to tie in the eighth when Gleyber Torres tripled leading off. But he was stranded by Guardians reliever James Karinchak, who after being called for a clock violation before his first pitch, retired Aaron Judge on an infield pop and struck out Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton.

The animated Karinchak pounded his chest after fanning Stanton and bounded off the mound before chest bumping catcher Mike Zunino so hard he knocked the mask off his head.

Emmanuel Clase worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.

Zunino had three doubles and drove in a run for the Guardians, who were up 2-1 on the Yankees last October before being eliminated.

Judge went 0 for 3 with a walk, extending his on-base streak to 43 straight games, the longest for the Yankees since 2005. It’s also the third-longest on-base run for New York in the past 82 years, eclipsed only by Derek Jeter (57) and Alex Rodriguez (53). Stanton drove in both New York runs with a double off Bieber.

With DJ LeMahieu getting a day off, Gleyber Torres moved into the leadoff spot and got the Yankees going right away. Torres doubled on Bieber’s first pitch and New York loaded the bases before Stanton ripped his two-run double — clocked at 116.3 mph — off the wall in left-center. Bieber, though, buckled down and got three outs to avoid further damage.

Rays top Red Sox 1-0, extend season-opening win streak to 10

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays became the first major league team since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers to open the season with 10 straight wins, getting a solo homer from Brandon Lowe in the eighth inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 on Monday night.

Lowe homered for the third straight game, sending a one-out pitch from Chris Martin (0-1) into the rightfield stands. Lowe has nine RBIs over his last three games.

The 1987 Brewers and 1982 Atlanta Braves share the major league record for the best start to a season at 13-0. In a matchup of the AL’s top two scoring teams, pitching and defense

prevailed. This was the Rays’ first win by fewer than four runs as Tampa Bay fell one short of the 1939 New York Yankees, the most recent team to win 10 consecutive games by four or more at any point in a season.

Tampa Bay opener Jalen

Beeks allowed one hit over two innings, and Josh Fleming gave up one hit over the next four. After Garrett Cleavinger worked a perfect seventh, Colin Poche (1-0) worked out of bases-loaded, twojam in the eighth by striking out Rafael Devers.

Pete Fairbanks completed the three-hitter and got his first save.

Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta gave up three hits in five scoreless innings. Josh Winckowski allowed one hit in two innings. The Rays were coming off consecutive 11-0 wins over Oakland in which the

Athletics were limited to four hits overall. Boston had a three-game weekend sweep over Detroit in which the Red Sox outscored the Tigers 24-9.

PRODUCTIVE

FILL-INS

Boston center fielder Rob Refsnyder, one of several players who will be filling in for the injured Adam Duvall, saved a pair of runs with a sliding catch on the warning track that took away an extra-base hit from Randy Arozarena in the third.

Duvall, hurt attempting a diving catch on Sunday, was placed on the 10-day injured list before the game with a fractured left wrist.

Bobby Dalbec, recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take Duvall’s roster spot, had a pinch-hit single in the eighth.

MIAMI Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. argues with home plate umpire Jeff Nelson after being thrown out of the game during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in New York.

RAYS outfielder Manuel Margot celebrates with shortstop Wander Franco (5) after the Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox yesterday. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

The field is set: Warriors and Clippers are in NBA playoffs

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

GOLDEN State is in the playoffs. LeBron James is heading to the play-in tournament. And the Minnesota Timberwolves lost Rudy Gobert to a fight with a teammate, then won a battle to improve their playoff hopes.

The final day of the NBA season was predictably wild — with tons of unpredictable elements as well.

It took until the 1,230th and last game of the year went final, but the Western Conference playoff and play-in bracket are finally set, highlighted by the Los Angeles Clippers and defending champion Golden State Warriors getting a few days off knowing that they’re officially in the postseason. The Clippers beat Phoenix to clinch the No. 5 seed — and a first-round matchup with Phoenix. Golden State had its highest-scoring game in almost 33 years on its way to routing Portland 157101 and clinching the No. 6 seed, giving the Warriors an automatic berth in the playoffs and a first-round matchup with Sacramento.

Golden State led by as many as 59 in that game, the largest lead by any team all season.

“We’re playing Sacramento, obviously. They’re a great team, they’ve had an amazing season and it’s going to take everything to beat them four times — especially starting on the road,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “But we love the opportunity in front of us.”

James and the No. 7 — for now — Los Angeles Lakers will get two chances to get into the playoffs, starting with tonight’s play-in game against No. 8 Minnesota. If the Lakers lose that game, they’ll get another chance Friday against the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 9 New Orleans and No. 10 Oklahoma City.

“For us, it’s just good that we don’t have to travel,” James said after the Lakers ended their regular season with a home win over Utah.

“We’ve traveled a lot lately. It’s good that we get to stay here, but we shouldn’t get comfortable. We have to stay on edge.”

The Lakers-Timberwolves winner gets No. 2 Memphis in Round 1; the winner of Friday’s West play-in game will start the playoffs next Sunday at No. 1 Denver. No team in the West has had a better record since the All-Star break than the Lakers, who went 16-7

down the stretch — even with James sidelined for about half of that run by injury.

Minnesota locked up the No. 8 seed (and two chances at the playoffs) by holding off New Orleans 113-108.

It was the last game to finish in the league this season, though for Gobert, it ended early. He threw a punch at Kyle Anderson — his teammate — after heated words during a firsthalf time-out, didn’t return to the game, and Minnesota

also lost Jaden McDaniels to a right hand injury after he appeared to punch a wall.

“We made the decision to send Rudy Gobert home after the incident in the second quarter,” Timberwolves President Tim Connelly said in a postgame statement. “His behaviour on the bench was unacceptable and we will continue handling the situation internally.”

There appeared to be progress on that front quickly, with Wolves

veteran Mike Conley suggesting that the team is ready to move forward.

“We’re going to need all of us,” Conley said.

Gobert chimed in Sunday night as well, tweeting: “Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologise to the fans, the organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.”

If the Timberwolves lost that game, they would have

been the No. 9 seed out West. There were 16 possible ways the 5-6-7-8-9 seeds on the West bracket could have gone on Sunday — and the Pelicans had a shot to finish as high as No. 5. Instead, they settled for No. 9. The Eastern Conference postseason matchups were all set before Sunday. No. 7 Miami plays No. 8 Atlanta on Tuesday, and No. 9 Toronto plays No. 10 Chicago on Wednesday. The Heat-Hawks winner advances to play No. 2 Boston in Round 1; the Raptors-Bulls winner will play the Heat-Hawks loser on Friday for the chance to play No. 1 Milwaukee in the opening round. No. 3 Philadelphia will play No. 6 Brooklyn, and No. 4 Cleveland will meet No. 5 New York.

FIRST ROUND OPENERS

The Brooklyn-Philadelphia series starts Saturday at 1pm Eastern. The rest of Saturday’s schedule has the Heat-Hawks winner visiting Boston, then New York at Cleveland and finally Golden State visiting Sacramento.

The Clippers-Suns series starts next Sunday, as will the matchups featuring Denver, Milwaukee and Memphis.

CELTICS, BULLS, NETS WIN ON FINAL DAY OF REGULAR SEASON

TORONTO (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. scored 23 points, Precious Achiuwa had 14 points and 13 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 121-105 on Sunday in a matchup of short-handed teams whose postseason fates already were sealed.

Bobby Portis Jr. scored 16 points for the Bucks, Jae Crowder had 13 and Meyers Leonard had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Lindell Wiggington scored 17 points, and Goran Dragic and Thanasis Antetokounmpo each had 14 for Milwaukee, which finished the regular season 58-24.

Malachi Flynn scored a season-high 20 points for the Raptors, who finished 41-41 for the second time in team history.

NUGGETS 109, KINGS 95

DENVER (AP) — Bruce Brown had a team-high 21 points and six assists, Zeke Nnaji added 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and the shorthanded Denver rallied from a 17-point first-quarter deficit to end a three-game skid.

The Nuggets played without their top four scorers – Nikola Jokic (right calf tightness), Jamal Murray (right thumb sprain), Michael Porter Jr. (left heel injury) and Aaron Gordon (right shoulder inflammation). The Kings came out with their traditional starting lineup, but after taking a 67-59 lead into halftime, De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Harrison Barnes, three of the team’s top four scorers, didn’t play for the rest of the afternoon.

The Kings, who came into the game as the NBA’s highest-scoring team, shot just 35% in the final three quarters. Despite sitting for the final 24 minutes, Barnes finished with a team-high 17 points.

CLIPPERS 119,

SUNS 114

PHOENIX (AP) — Norman Powell scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook had 25 and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied to secure the No. 5 seed in the NBA’s Western Conference playoff bracket. The teams will meet again in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns are the No. 4 seed and will host the Clippers in Game 1.

The Clippers trailed by 10 points late in the third quarter, eventually cutting the margin to 86-82 going into

the fourth. Kawhi Leonard finished with 25 points, including 12 in the fourth.

The Suns had just nine available players and sat four of their five starters, including Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Deandre Ayton. Saben Lee scored a career-high 25 points and finished with nine assists for the Suns.

THUNDER 115, GRIZZLIES 100

OKLAHOMA CITY

(AP) — Tre Mann scored 24 points and career highs of 12 rebounds and 12 assists, notching his first career triple-double, and Oklahoma City defeated Memphis in the regular-season finale.

Jared Butler scored a career-high 25 points and Olivier Sarr added 22 points and a career-best 15 rebounds for the Thunder, who finished with a 40-42 record after going 24-58 last season.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. scored a career-high 42 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Memphis. Ziaire Williams added career-bests of 24 points and nine assists for the Grizzlies.

Both teams were locked into their seeds in the Western Conference before the tip — Memphis at No. 2 and Oklahoma City at No. 10 — so key players for both teams sat out. Memphis’ Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort were among those who did not play.

WARRIORS 157, TRAIL BLAZERS 101

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)

— Golden State set an NBA record by scoring 55 points in the first quarter and secured the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Klay Thompson, who scored 20 points, became the third player in NBA history to hit at least 300 3-pointers in a single season. Teammate Stephen Curry, who did it four times, and James Harden are the other two players.

Curry led the Warriors with 26 points and hit five three-pointers to go along with five rebounds. Moses Moody added 25 points off the bench, while Jordan Poole had 21 points and four rebounds for Golden State.

Skylar Mays led Portland with 21 points along with 11 assists. Shaedon Sharpe had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and

Jeenathan Williams added 17 points in the Blazers’ final game of the season.

CELTICS 120, HAWKS 114

BOSTON (AP) — Payton Pritchard finished with his first career tripledouble with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists and Boston beat Atlanta in a matchup of mostly reserves. Boston went 25 of 54 on 3-point attempts. Pritchard connected on 9 of 16, Mike Muscala went 4-for-7 on 3s and finished with 27 points and Sam Hauser was 8 of 14 on 3s with 26 points.

Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando led the Hawks with 19 points apiece.

Locked into the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed, the Hawks will be at the Miami Heat on Tuesday in a play-in game. Boston, the East’s No. 2 seed, will face the winner of the HeatHawks series in the opening round.

BULLS 103, PISTONS 81

CHICAGO (AP) —

Zach LaVine scored 17 points and DeMar DeRozan added 16 to help Chicago end the regular season with a win over Detroit.

Chicago plays in Toronto on Wednesday in an elimination game in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Killian Hayes had 26 points and Jaden Ivey scored 16 for the Pistons, who finished an NBA-worst 17-65.

134,

105

(AP)

points and chased Cam Thomas all over the floor in the fourth quarter to keep him at 46, and Philadelphia beat Brooklyn. The teams face each other next weekend to begin the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Mikal Bridges was the only starter for either team to play, and he did so for just four seconds. It was his 83rd game starting this season, extending his streak to 392 straight to begin his career. Then he committed a foul and left the game.

LAKERS 128, JAZZ 117

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— LeBron James hit eight 3-pointers while scoring 36 points, Anthony Davis had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers surged into the postseason as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

D’Angelo Russell had 17 points for the Lakers, who won nine of their last 11 games and went 18-9 after revamping their roster at the trade deadline. Los Angeles will host Minnesota in a play-in game on Tuesday night.

Kris Dunn had 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while Kelly Olynyk scored 23 points for the Jazz, who wrapped up their first non-playoff season in seven years with their ninth loss in 11 games. Simone Fontecchio added 20 points for Utah.

TIMBERWOLVES 113, PELICANS 108

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Anthony Edwards had 26 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and four blocks to lead Minnesota past the

Pelicans in the play-in tournament seeding after losing a pair of starters to anger management problems.

Rudy Gobert threw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson late in the second quarter and was dismissed for the rest of the game, after Jaden McDaniels hurt his right hand by hitting a wall in frustration. But Taurean Prince pitched in 18 points off the bench and the Timberwolves rallied from a 14-point deficit.

Minnesota finished in eighth place and will travel to Los Angeles to play the surging seventh-place Lakers in the play-in tournament on Tuesday night.

Brandon Ingram finished with 42 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans. C.J. McCollum added 23 points and Trey Murphy III scored 20 points.

New Orleans fell to ninth place and will host 10thplace Oklahoma City in an elimination game on Wednesday night.

HORNETS 106, CAVALIERS 95 CLEVELAND (AP)

— Mark Williams had 22 points and 10 rebounds and fellow rookie Bryce McGowens scored 22 points as Charlotte rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the playoff-bound Cleveland.

Theo Maledon had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Charlotte, which finished with the fourth-worst record in the NBA at 27-55 and did not advance to the postseason for the seventh year in a row.

All-Star Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland were not in uniform for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers. Sam Merrill scored 17 points and Danny Green and Raul Neto each had 13. Cleveland blew an 11-point lead and finished the regular season 51-31.

The Cavs play the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.

HEAT 123, MAGIC 110

MIAMI (AP) — Udonis

Haslem scored 24 points in his final regular-season game, Duncan Robinson added 20 and Miami tuned up for its game against the Atlanta Hawks in the playin tournament by beating Orlando. It was Haslem’s highestscoring game since he had 28 points on Nov. 14, 2009. He is retiring and checked out for the final time with 58.9 seconds left. Miami got a franchise-record 111 points off its bench.

Kevon Harris scored 22 for Orlando, while Caleb Houstan added 21 and Chuma Okeke scored 14.

PACERS 141, KNICKS 136 NEW YORK (AP) — Bennedict Mathurin scored 26 points and was one of seven Pacers who had double-digit points in Indiana’s win over New York.

The Pacers completed the regular season with three wins in their final 10 games to finish the season 35-47.

Obi Toppin scored a game-high 34 for New York, which finished the regular season with a 47-35 record, and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They will meet fourth seed Cleveland in the first round. Immanuel Quickley added 30 points for the Knicks.

SPURS 138, MAVERICKS 117 DALLAS (AP) — Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 23 points, and San Antonio sent Dallas into an offseason of uncertainty with a victory over the Mavericks in a meaningless, reserve-filled finale.

Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and four other regulars were out for Dallas, which is being investigated by the NBA for similar roster decisions two days earlier against Chicago. The Mavericks still had a shot at the final Western Conference play-in spot before blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Bulls.

The Spurs sat nine players, but they’ve been out of contention for months and were already locked in to the best draft lottery odds at 14%, along with Detroit and Houston, in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

Dominick Barlow scored 21 points, and Malaki Branham added 20 for the Spurs. Rookie Jaden Hardy led Dallas with 25 points.

ROCKETS 114, WIZARDS 109

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jabari Smith Jr. scored 20 points for Houston, which went on a 12-0 run late in the fourth quarter to top Washington. Neither team will be in the playoffs.

The Rockets won four of their last five games to finish 22-60. Washington played without Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma down the stretch and lost five of its last six to finish 35-47.

Jordan Goodwin led Washington with 22 points, Quenton Jackson added 19 and Corey Kispert scored 18.

MIAMI Heat forward Udonis Haslem, right, hugs former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade, left, after an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic on Sunday in Miami. Haslem’s final regular-season game with the Heat was Sunday. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

WARRIORS guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a basket by forward Jonathan Kuminga during the second half in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

TEAM BAHAMAS FROM PAGE 1

his strides to help him get third position after being fourth and fifth throughout the race.

Team Bahamas added a silver medal to their count courtesy of Otto Laing in the under 20 boys 110m hurdles. Laing held on to the second place finish while notching a time of 13.49. He was followed by teammate Trayshaun Robinson who took bronze after running 14.05.

Laing talked about how it felt to get the silver medal for the home country.

“Going through the race I knew I had to be able to execute my race to the best of my abilities, bring my third leg around, run through the hurdles and then when I came off the last one make sure [to] run through the line,” Laing said.

In more hurdles action, Quinton Rolle secured bronze for The Bahamas in the under 17 boys 110m hurdles race.

He finished behind Jamaica’s Kahiem Carby and Shakir Lewis for a third place finish. He clocked a time of 14.49, securing the first medal of day three’s evening session.

Another bronze medal was earned by Bahamas’

Amari Pratt in the under 20 girls 200m finals after she notched a time of 24.17. Pratt said she was a little nervous after the two false starts by her competitors in the race.

She said she felt pretty good about her performance and her main focus was to just keep stepping over, and to move her arms leading to a bronze medal finish.

Among the rest of yesterday’s medallists for Team Bahamas was Adam Musgrove in the under 20 boys 200m finals (bronze), the under 17 girls 4x400m relay team (bronze), the under 17 boys 4x400m (silver), and the under 20 girls 4x400m relays (bronze).

After an exciting three days of track and field action, BAAA president Drumeco Archer talked about his thoughts on this year’s CARIFTA team.

“I think we came, we saw, we conquered and we did exactly what we had planned to do. We know that we have some work to do but we showed up and showed we were a force to be reckoned with,” Archer said.

He said he believes the team has amassed maybe three times more medals than the team last year.

He thinks that this year’s team was nothing short of excellent and they could not have done a better job overall.

AMARI PRATT, bronze medallist in the under 20 girls 200 metres finals.

GOLDEN MOMENT: From left to right are under-17 girls 4x100 metre relay winners Darvinique Dean, Bayli Major, Shayann Demeritte and Jamiah Nabbie.

SHOWN, from left to right, bronze medallist Andrew Brown and gold medallist Cayden Smith look on after their brilliant showing in the under 17 boys 200m finals. Photos by Moises Amisial/Tribune Staff

DRUMECO ARCHER, president of the BAAA, shares a special moment with two-time gold medallist Jamiah Nabbie.

JAMIAH NABBIE, winner of the under 17 girls 200m finals, raises her flag high.

TEAM Bahamas members - under 17 boys 4x100 metre relay - get their gold medals during the ceremony.

SILVER medallist Otto Laing celebrates in front of home crowd after the under 20 boys 200 metres hurdles.

ADAM MUSGROVE, bronze medallist in under 20 men’s 200m finals, proudly waves our flag.

DANIELLE Nixon, centre, with her parents after winning the bronze in the under-17 girls discus.