MORNING SPORTS BRIEFS 5/17/22

NBA

The NBA Eastern Conference Finals will get started tonight with the Heat hosting the Boston Celtics for Game One in Miami.

The fortunes of one NBA franchise has a chance to change tonight. The league will find out who will have the number one pick in this year’s draft when the ping pong balls fall in tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery. The Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, and Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 14 percent chance at winning the top selection. The Indiana Pacers have a 10.5 percent chance at the top pick to round out the five teams with the best odds at winning the lottery.

NHL

The Stanley Cup playoffs continue tonight with a pair of games to kick off the second round. In the Eastern Conference the Florida Panthers are hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One. In the Western Conference the Colorado Avalanche welcome the St. Louis Blues.

Golf

One of the world’s best golfers is still deciding if he will participate in this week’s PGA Championship. Bryson DeChambeau tweeted on Monday that he is headed to Southern Hills and will test how he’s feeling before deciding whether or not he’ll compete. The 28-year-old has been out of action since early April, recovering from injuries to his wrist and hip. If DeChambeau elects not to play before Thursday’s opening round, Joel Dahmen will replace him in the field as the first alternate.