NBA PLAYOFFS

Celtics’ Thomas will likely play in Game 6 vs. Hawks

Travis Hamonic of the Islanders is met by his teammates after scoring against Tampa Bay during a 5-3 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Wednesday at Tampa, Fla. The Associated Press

Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens said that all signs point toward Isaiah Thomas being able to play in Game 6 against the Hawks.

Stevens said Wednesday that he’d gotten all positive updates on the status for Thomas, who limped to the locker room with a mild left ankle sprain in the closing minutes of Tuesday’s 110-83 loss in Atlanta. Stevens said Thomas didn’t experience much swelling and “he feels good.” Boston hosts Atlanta on Thursday night.

Thomas averaged 35 points in two victories at Boston that evened the series, but managed only seven points Tuesday as the Hawks took a 3-2 series lead.

Stevens said it’s still unlikely that Avery Bradley will be able to return this series after sitting out his fourth straight game with a strained right hamstring.

• Courtney Lee’s 3-pointer with 25.2 seconds left put Charlotte ahead to stay, and the visiting Hornets beat the Miami Heat 90-88 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

The Hornets have won three straight games in the series and will take a 3-2 lead into a potential Game 6 clincher on Friday night.

Marvin Williams led the Hornets with 17 points, while Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker each had 14 for Charlotte

HOCKEY

NHL: Shane Prince scored twice during a three-goal first period, and John Tavares had a goal and an assist in the New York Islanders’ 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series at Tampa, Florida.

Taking up where he left off in helping the Islanders advance beyond the first round for the first time in 23 years, Tavares assisted on Travis Hamonic’s goal that erased an early deficit and later scored his sixth postseason goal on a blistering shot from the left circle to give New York a 4-1 lead midway through the second.

SOCCER

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: An early goal by youngster Saul Niguez gave host Atletico Madrid a gritty 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.

MLS: Portland’s own goal in the 89th minute gave the New England Revolution a 1-1 draw with the visiting Timbers.

Jack Barmby’s lucky bounce on a badly hit shot had put Portland (2-3-3) on top in the 64th minute.

• Commissioner Don Garber and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert were in Detroit on Wednesday promoting the possibility of building a soccer stadium as part a massive downtown development near where the Tigers, Lions and Red Wings play.

CYCLING

ENGLAND: British Cycling suspended technical director Shane Sutton following accusations that he made discriminatory remarks toward riders.

Female cyclist Jess Varnish alleged in the British newspaper The Daily Mail that Sutton made sexist comments toward her and told her to “move on and have a baby” after she failed to qualify for this year’s Olympics.

Retired Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton has said she never felt British Cycling gave her the same respect as her male teammates, and said she knows “exactly how miserable they made me.”

FOOTBALL

NFL: As far as Commissioner Roger Goodell is concerned, the league is ready to move on from “Deflategate.”

Speaking two days after a major victory for the NFL in its dispute with New England quarterback Tom Brady and the players’ union, Goodell defended the league’s discipline process for players in the wake of critical comments by New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

TENNIS

BMW OPEN: Juan Martin del Potro made a successful clay-court comeback after three years away when he beat Dustin Brown 7-6 (2), 6-4 to advance to the second round at Munich.

ESTORIL OPEN: Second-seeded Nick Kyrgios of Australia beat Inigo Cervantes of Spain 7-6 (4), 7-5 to advance at Estoril, Portugal.

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