Sports News Roundup: Jamal Murray, Nuggets KO Lakers; M's win pitchers' duel vs. Braves and more

Garver then hammered a 3-2 cutter an estimated 412 feet off the facade of the second deck. NBA roundup: Jamal Murray, Nuggets KO Lakers Jamal Murray hit a tiebreaking 14-footer with four seconds left to send the host Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference semifinals with a 108-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of a first-round playoff series on Monday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Reports: Darvin Ham, Lakers expected to part ways

Reports of an imminent divorce between the Los Angeles Lakers and Darvin Ham multiplied on Tuesday in the aftermath of the season-ending loss to the Denver Nuggets. Denver bounced the Lakers from the postseason with a 4-1 series victory and the second buzzer-beating win of the first-round matchup delivered from Jamal Murray on Monday night. The defending champion Nuggets also defeated the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last season.

Golf-Troon's sixth hole to set Open distance record

This year's Open will feature the longest hole in the tournament's history after Royal Troon's sixth was extended as part of moderations for the 152nd edition of the major. The sixth was already a whopping 601 yards when the tournament was last played on the Ayrshire links in 2016 but this year it will measure 623 yards.

MLB roundup: M's win pitchers' duel vs. Braves

Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 2-1 Monday night in a pitching duel in which both starters had no-hitters through six innings. Seattle's Jorge Polanco grounded a single to left field leading off against Atlanta's A.J. Minter (5-2). Garver then hammered a 3-2 cutter an estimated 412 feet off the facade of the second deck.

NBA roundup: Jamal Murray, Nuggets KO Lakers

Jamal Murray hit a tiebreaking 14-footer with four seconds left to send the host Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference semifinals with a 108-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of a first-round playoff series on Monday. The second-seeded Nuggets won the best-of-seven series 4-1 and will face the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals beginning Saturday in Denver.

Tennis-Swiatek roars back to reach Madrid semi-finals

World number one Iga Swiatek recovered from losing the opening set to beat Brazilian 11th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 4-6 6-0 6-2 and moved into the Madrid Open semi-finals on Tuesday. Swiatek, bidding for her third title this year, broke to lead 3-1 in the first set, but Haddad Maia bounced back to break twice, saving three break points in between to level at 4-4, and took the opening set.

Soccer-FIFPRO, Nike and others team up to study ACL injuries in women's game

A growing chorus of women's soccer players have called for research into anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, one of sport's most debilitating injuries and one that women are between two and six times more likely to suffer than men. Project ACL, which was launched on Tuesday by several collaborating partners with hopes of reducing ACL injuries in the women's game, is a response to that call, said Alex Culvin of global players' union FIFPRO.

Twins to activate flamethrowing closer Jhoan Duran

Fireballer Jhoan Duran is ready to join the Twins' roster for the first time this season as Minnesota takes on the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Duran likely was to be available for the surging Twins, who have won eight in a row with a makeshift bullpen compensating for not having the 100-mph heat from their planned closer yet in 2024. Duran went for testing on his aching side on March 16 and was shut down with an oblique strain.

Some FIFA rules on player transfers may be illegal, EU adviser says

Some of world soccer governing body FIFA's rules on player transfers may breach EU rules as they hamper players seeking to move to another team and clubs looking to hire players, an adviser to Europe's top court said on Tuesday. The case before the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) centered on former French professional footballer Lassana Diarra, 39, who challenged the rules governing contractual relations between players and clubs.

Soccer-US and Mexico withdraw bid for 2027 Women's World Cup, eye 2031

U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup and will instead focus on securing the 2031 edition, the national governing bodies said on Monday. The decision comes less than three weeks before the FIFA Congress chooses the hosts on May 17 and leaves Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as the remaining candidates for the 2027 event.

Jaguars release WR Zay Jones, K Joey Slye

The Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran wide receiver Zay Jones and kicker Joey Slye on Tuesday. Per Spotrac, the moves freed up $5.22 million of cap space for the Jaguars in 2024.

(With inputs from agencies.)