NEW YORK  — Joel Embiid, limping throughout the game and perhaps lucky not to have been ejected for kicking a Nets player in the groin area, blocked a potential tying basket with 8.8 seconds left and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn 102-97 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.

NEWARK, N.J. — Chris Kreider scored two power-play goals in a three-goal second period and the New York Rangers stunned the New Jersey Devils 5-1 on Thursday night to a take a 2-0 lead on the road in their first-round playoff series.

Goaltenders search for any activity to help them unwind and not constantly dwell on the game. Some read books. Some take the dog for a walk. Some learn how to play chess or watch Netflix shows. The point for goaltenders is to find a way to unplug and slow things down. Especially this time of year when every save is of heightened importance and replaying it in their mind can be an occupational hazard.

Penn State coach James Franklin said major college football players being paid is inevitable and the sooner it happens the better it will be for the sports. In an interview earlier this week with The Associated Press, Franklin said while there is much focus in college sports regulating how college athletes can be compensated for name, image and likeness, a bigger change is on the horizon.

UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley is facing a major rebuild of his team just a few weeks after guiding the Huskies to the program’s fifth national championship. Since winning the title on April 3, seven Connecticut players with eligibility remaining have announced plans to either leave the program or at least test their options.

Actor George Takei ("Star Trek") is 86. Singer Johnny Tillotson is 85. Actor Ryan O'Neal is 82. Bluegrass musician Doyle Lawson of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver is 78. Keyboardist Craig Frost of Grand Funk Railroad is 75. Actor Veronica Cartwright (TV's "24: Legacy, film's "Aliens") is 74. Actor Jessica Lange is 74. Actor Clint Howard is 64. Actor Crispin Glover is 59. Actor Andy Serkis ("Lord of the Rings") is 59. Country singer Wade Hayes is 54. Actor Shemar Moore ("Criminal Minds") is 53. Actor Carmen Electra is 51. Actor Joey Lawrence ("Blossom," "Brotherly Love") is 47. Multi-instrumentalist Clay Cook of the Zac Brown Band is 45. Actor Clayne Crawford (TV's "Lethal Weapon") is 45. Actor Tim Jo ("The Neighbors") is 39. Actor Carlos Valdes (TV's "The Flash) is 34.