Thursday's Sports In Brief
BOXING
Boxing great Muhammad Ali is hospitalized in the Phoenix area with what two people familiar with his condition say may be more serious problems than his previous hospital stays.
The people told The Associated Press that Ali is fighting respiratory issues that are complicated by the Parkinson's that he was diagnosed with in the 1980s. The two spoke separately in describing Ali's condition that they say is concerning to family members.
The people declined to be identified because they were not speaking on behalf of the family.
A spokesman for Ali sent out a release saying the former heavyweight champion is being treated at an unidentified hospital for a respiratory issue. Spokesman Bob Gunnell said that the 74-year-old was in fair condition, and that a brief hospital stay was expected.
NBA
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Stephen Curry realizes every last man on the bench can mean so much to winning a championship.
As he and Klay Thompson endured rare off nights that even featured Curry tossing his mouthpiece in frustration, the MVP's ''Strength In Numbers'' supporting cast made all the timely shots and all the difference for the defending champions in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, Shaun Livingston scored a personal postseason best of 20 and Golden State's bench came up big as the Warriors beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89.
The Splash Brothers? They totaled - gasp! - 20 points on 8-for-27 shooting, each knocking down a late 3-pointer.
TORONTO (AP) - Dwane Casey spent five years turning the Toronto Raptors into a contender in the Eastern Conference.
After the most successful season in franchise history, the Raptors moved quickly to make sure he sticks around to continue the work.
Casey and the Raptors agreedto a three-year, $18 million contract extension, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. Casey was under contract for one more season, but the new terms will kick in starting with next season.
NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA says Toronto center Bismack Biyombo will be suspended without pay for the opener of the 2016-17 season for accumulation of flagrant foul points in the playoffs.
The league says Biyombo reached the four-point limit in Game 6 of the Raptors' loss to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, meaning it upheld the flagrant he was called for when he elbowed Kevin Love in the chin as he spun for a layup.
The penalty could have been rescinded after review by the league office. Instead, he is ineligible for his next game.
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks have hired Jeff Hornacek, who emerged last month as Phil Jackson's surprising coaching choice.
Jackson went with the former Phoenix Suns coach over anyone who had played or worked under him, even though he had said after the season he would likely pick somebody he already knew.
Hornacek takes over a Knicks team that went 32-50 last season, missing the playoffs for the third straight season. The Knicks finished the season with Kurt Rambis as interim coach after Jackson fired Derek Fisher in February.
The Knicks plan to introduce Hornacek, the 28th coach in franchise history, at a news conference Friday.
BASEBALL
BALTIMORE (AP) - Mark Trumbo and Adam Jones each homered twice, Manny Machado delivered a tiebreaking drive in the seventh inning and the Baltimore Orioles hit a season-high seven long balls in a 12-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Pedro Alvarez and Francisco Pena also connected for the Orioles, who earned a split of the four-game series between the top two teams in the AL East.
Boston's Xander Bogaerts extended his career-high hitting streak to 26 games with a two-run double and David Ortiz hit his 16th homer to give the Red Sox a temporary 5-4 lead in the sixth.
NFL
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - Three construction workers in a basket dangling from a crane hovered high above the 10-yard line at the Miami Dolphins' stadium.
Beneath them the field was covered with rock, which these days serves as a staging area for the installation of an enormous canopy.
The first game of the 2016 season is three months away, and the stadium is far from ready. But Dolphins officials say they're on schedule with a major renovation, thanks to crews working around the clock since late December, which has pushed the cost to $500 million.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A person familiar with the process says Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns has signed a four-year contract extension worth $40 million.
The deal includes $20 million guaranteed, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the Jaguars don't release contract details. Pro Football Talk first reported the extension.
The former Miami Hurricanes standout has 115 receptions for 1,708 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons, making him the best undrafted rookie to ever sign with Jacksonville.
GOLF
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - Dustin Johnson set the pace early with 10 birdies on his way to an 8-under 64 at the Memorial.
Johnson opened with three straight birdies, made three straight birdies to close out the back nine, added four in a row on the back and wound up with his best score in his nine years at Muirfield Village. He had a one-shot lead over Brendan Steele, who holed out for eagle on the 18th for a 65.
Jason Day, the No. 1 player in the world and a member at Muirfield Village, played in the afternoon as the clouds began to gather. The Australian rallied on the back nine with three birdies and an eagle, and he wound up two shots behind.
Jordan Spieth's putter saved him in a scrappy round of 70. Rory McIlroy, playing with Spieth, changed back to a conventional putting grip. That helped only so much in his round of 71.
HOCKEY
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Islanders have agreed to terms on a $16.75-million, five-year contract extension with forward Casey Cizikas.
The team announced the deal and agent Mark Guy confirmed the terms in an email to The Associated Press.
Cizikas will count $3.35 million against the salary cap through the 2020-21 NHL season. He was at $1 million on his previous contract.