MIAMI, May 13 (UPI) — The completion of respective second- and first-round NBA and NHL playoff series, a PGA Tour warm-up tournament for the PGA Championship and dozens of MLB and domestic soccer league games fill this weekend’s sports slate.
Two NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway, UFC bouts and a boxing title fight also air from Friday through Sunday.
But the frozen floor and hardwood will be the premier platforms for elite athletes. Eight NBA playoff teams remain out of the league’s original 16-team field. That field could be downsized to four teams after this weekend.
Each best-of-seven conference semifinal series is guaranteed to reach at least six games to determine who will meet in next week’s Western Conference and Eastern Conference finals.
NBA playoffs
Two Game 6s tip off Friday to start the NBA’s weekend playoff schedule. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics in the first game at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
The Bucks, who own a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, are looking to reach the Eastern Conference finals and defend their 2021 title.
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies in the second game of the weekend. That Western Conference semifinals game tips off at 10 p.m. at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Warriors own a 3-2 series lead.
No NBA games will be played Saturday, but Sunday’s slate could feature a trio of Game 7s. Those games could include the Bucks and Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat, and the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.
Stanley Cup playoffs
The NHL’s 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs field also will be down to eight teams after this weekend. Three Game 6s are scheduled for Friday night.
The Pittsburgh Penguins face the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. EDT on TNT. The Penguins own a 3-2 lead in that first-round series.
The Washington Capitals host the Florida Panthers in the next game at 7:30 p.m. on TBS. The Panthers lead that series 3-2.
The Dallas Stars then host the Calgary Flames at 9:30 p.m. Friday on TNT. Calgary needs one more victory to win that series, while the Stars will try to stave off elimination.
Saturday’s Stanley Cup playoff schedule could feature up to four Game 7s. Up to three additional Game 7s could air Sunday.
NASCAR in Kansas
The 2022 NASCAR season circuit features two races this week at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
Truck Series drivers will race past the green flag first in the Heart of America 200. That 134-lap event will start at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday and air on FS1.
Drivers will start their engines for the main event at 3 p.m. Sunday with the Cup Series AdventHealth 400. Kyle Larson and Cup Series standings leader Chase Elliott are the favorites for the 267-lap race.
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain are among the Top 5 expected contenders. Elliott leads the field with nine Top 10 finishes this season. Byron and Chastain are the only drivers with multiple wins (2) through the season’s first dozen races.
Busch is the defending champion and owns two overall titles in the event.
Weekend schedule (all times EDT)
Friday
Golf
AT&T Byron Nelson: Second round from 4 to 7 p.m. on Golf Channel
Stanley Cup playoffs
Game 6: Rangers at Penguins at 7 p.m. on TNT
Game 6: Panthers at Capitals at 7:30 p.m. on TBS
Game 6: Flames at Stars at 9:30 p.m. on TNT
MLB
Padres at Braves at 7 p.m. on Apple TV+
Cubs at Diamondbacks at 9:30 p.m. on Apple TV+
NBA playoffs
Game 6: Celtics at Bucks at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 6: Grizzlies at Warriors at 10 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday
Soccer
Bundesliga: Hertha Berlin at Borussia Dortmund at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN+
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich at VfL Wolfsburg at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN+
FA Cup final: Chelsea vs. Liverpool at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN+
La Liga: Valencia at Espanyol at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+
La Liga: Elche at Celta Vigo at 3 p.m. on ESPN+
Ligue 1: PSG at Montpellier at 3 p.m. on beIN Sports
MLS: Orlando at Toronto at 3 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: LAFC at Colorado at 3:30 p.m. on TUDN/Twitter
MLS: Montreal at Charlotte at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: Columbus at NYCFC at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: San Jose at Vancouver at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: New York Red Bulls at Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: Cincinnati at Chicago at 8 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: DC United at Miami at 8 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: Nashville at Houston at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: Austin at Real Salt Lake at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: Kansas City at Portland at 10 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: Dallas at Los Angeles Galaxy at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Golf
AT&T Byron Nelson: Third round from 1 to 3 p.m. on Golf Channel; from 3 to 6 p.m. on CBS
MLB
Braves at Padres at 4 p.m. on FS1
Stanley Cup playoffs
Game 7: Kings at Oilers at TBD on TBD
Game 7: Lighting at Maple Leafs at TBD on TBD
Game 7: Blues at Wild at TBD on TBD
Game 7: Bruins at Hurricanes at TBD on TBD
NASCAR
Truck Series Heart of American 200 at 8 p.m. on FS1
UFC on ESPN+
Jake Hadley vs. Allan Nascimento at 10 p.m.
Frank Camacho vs. Manuel Torres after first fight
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Amanda Ribas after second fight
Davey Grant vs. Louis Smolka after third fight
Ryan Spann vs. Ion Cutelaba after fourth fight
Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic after fifth fight
Boxing
Main event: Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano at 10:30 p.m. on Showtime
Sunday
Soccer
Premier League: Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur at 7 a.m. on USA
Premier League: Manchester City at West Ham at 9 a.m. on USA
Serie A: Genoa at Napoli at 9 a.m. on beIN Sports
Premier League: Brentford at Everton at 11 a.m. on USA
Serie A: Atalanta at AC Milan at noon on beIN Sports
La Liga: Sevilla at Atletico Madrid at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+
La Liga: Barcelona at Getafe at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+
La Liga: Granada at Real Betis at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+
MLS: New England at Atlanta at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN
Serie A: Inter Milan at Cagliari at 2:45 p.m. on beIN Sports
MLS: Minnesota at Seattle at 4 p.m. on ESPN
MLB
Padres at Braves at 11:30 a.m. on Peacock
Giants at Cardinals at 7 p.m. on ESPN
Stanley Cup playoffs
Game 7: Capitals at Panthers at TBD on TBD
Game 7: Stars at Flames at TBD on TBD
Game 7: Penguins at Rangers at TBD on TBD
Golf
AT&T Byron Nelson: Final round from 1 to 3 p.m. on Golf Channel; from 3 to 6 p.m. on CBS
NASCAR
Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at 3 p.m. on FS1
NBA playoffs
Game 7: Bucks at Celtics at TBD on TBD
Game 7: 76ers at Heat at TBD on TBD
Game 7: Mavericks at Suns at TBD on TBD
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