May 28 (UPI) — The Indianapolis 500 and the NBA and NHL playoffs highlight sports action this weekend. MLB and MLS regular-season games, three NASCAR races and a PGA Tour tournament also run from Friday through Sunday.
IndyCar takes center stage Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when a 33-car field starts their engines at 12:45 p.m. EDT in Indianapolis. Pole winner Scott Dixon is the favorite to win the race, which airs on NBC.
Dixon won the pole for the 105th Indianapolis 500 with a four-lap average speed of 231.6 mph Sunday on the 2.5-mile oval track.
Dozens of NBA and NHL playoff games and the 2020-21 Champions League soccer tournament final will prime sports fans for the main event Friday and Saturday and continue through Sunday as basketball and hockey stars attempt to get their teams deeper into the postseason.
NBA playoffs
First-round playoff series for the Eastern Conference and Western Conference will continue through next weekend, but this week’s games allow teams to take early momentum.
Friday’s schedule starts with the New York Knicks battling the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN. That series is tied 1-1.
The Boston Celtics (0-2) host the Brooklyn Nets (2-0) in another Game 3 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ABC. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks host the Los Angeles Clippers in the final game of the night at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The Mavericks lead that series 2-0.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks look to continue to dominate the Miami Heat in Game 4 of that series at 1:30 p.m. EDT Saturday on TNT. The Portland Trail Blazers host the Denver Nuggets in another Game 4 at 4 p.m. EDT on the same network.
The top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers take on the Washington Wizards in a Game 3 matchup at 7 p.m. EDT Saturday on ESPN. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz in another Game 3 at 9:30 p.m. EDT Saturday on ESPN.
The weekend playoff slate ends with four more games Sunday. The Hawks host the Knicks in a Game 4 at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC.
LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers then host the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 at 3:30 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC.
The Celtics host the Nets in Game 4 of that series at 7 p.m. EDT Sunday on TNT. Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers then battle the Mavericks in another Game 4 at 9:30 p.m. EDT on TNT.
PGA Tour
After participation in last weekend’s PGA Championship, many of the world’s best golfers returned to the course Thursday for the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge. The event runs through Sunday at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The winner receives $1.35 million of the $7.5 million prize purse.
The four-day tournament airs on Golf Channel and CBS. The second round airs from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel.
Jordan Spieth is the favorite to win the tournament. World No. 2 Justin Thomas, No. 5 Collin Morikawa, defending champion Daniel Berger and Abraham Ancer also are among the Top 5 favorites.
Phil Mickelson, who won the PGA Championship on Sunday, is among the other top players in the 121-player field. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, No. 3 Jon Rahm, No. 4 Bryson DeChambeau, No. 6 Xander Schauffele, No. 7 Brooks Koepka, No. 9 Rory McIlroy and No. 10 Tyrrell Hatton skipped the tournament.
Friday
PGA Tour
Charles Schwab Challenge: Second round from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel
NHL Playoffs
Game 7: Wild at Golden Knights at 9 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
MLB
Reds at Cubs at 2:20 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Marlins at Red Sox at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Braves at Mets at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
NBA Playoffs
Game 3: Knicks at Hawks at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Game 3: Nets at Celtics at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ABC
Game 3: Clippers at Mavericks at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Saturday
PGA Tour
Charles Schwab Challenge: Third round from 2 to 5:30 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; from 5:30 to 7 p.m. EDT on CBS
Soccer
MLS: Montreal at Chicago at 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: Orlando at New York Red Bulls at 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
Champions League Final: Chelsea vs. Manchester City at 3 p.m. EDT on CBS
MLS: New England at Cincinnati at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: Toronto at Columbus at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: Nashville at Atlanta at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: NYCFC at LAFC at 5 p.m. EDT on TUDN
MLS: San Jose at Los Angeles Galaxy at 7 p.m. EDT on TUDN
MLS: DC United at Miami at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: Houston at Kansas City at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: Dallas at Colorado at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLS: Minnesota at Salt Lake City at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
NHL Playoffs
Game 6: Maple Leafs at Canadiens at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
Game 1: Islanders at Bruins at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC
NASCAR
Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 300 at 1 p.m. EDT on FS1
Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on FS1
MLB
Phillies at Rays at 1:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Padres at Astros at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Yankees at Tigers at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Braves at Mets at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Brewers at Nationals at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Giants at Dodgers at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Rangers at Mariners at 10:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Cardinals at Diamondbacks at 10:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
NBA Playoffs
Game 4: Bucks at Heat at 1:30 p.m. EDT on TNT
Game 4: Nuggets at Trail Blazers at 4 p.m. EDT on TNT
Game 3: 76ers at Wizards at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Game 3: Jazz at Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Sunday
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500 at 12:45 p.m. EDT on NBC
PGA Tour
Charles Schwab Challenge: Final round from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; from 2 to 6:30 p.m. EDT on CBS
NBA Playoffs
Game 4: Knicks at Hawks at 1 p.m. EDT on ABC
Game 4: Suns at Lakers at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC
Game 4: Nets at Celtics at 7 p.m. EDT on TNT
Game 4: Clippers at Mavericks at 9:30 p.m. EDT on TNT
MLB
Marlins at Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Yankees at Tigers at 1:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Giants at Dodgers at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Cardinals at Diamondbacks at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Braves at Mets at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN
NASCAR
Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. EDT on Fox
Soccer
International: USA vs. Switzerland at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN
MLS: Portland at Philadelphia at 7 p.m. EDT on FS1
MLS: Austin at Seattle at 9:30 p.m. EDT on FS1
