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In their past five wins, the New York Yankees experienced jubilation in their dugout during their final at-bat. The Yankees hope to experience more good feelings but secure a win even earlier when they host the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon. New York is 4-8 over its past 12 games after winning seven of its first eight. The last of the victories in the hot start was a 9-7 decision over the Miami Marlins on April 4, a contest decided on a two-run single by Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning. The Yankees also scored four times in the eighth on April 7 to beat the A’s on Amed Rosario’s three-run homer. New York then lost five straight before

A pair of NBA legends will square off once more when the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets face off in a first-round series starting Saturday in Los Angeles. Kevin Durant led the Rockets to the No. 5 seed in his first season with the team, while LeBron James has helped guide the Lakers to the No. 4 seed. However, each team could be without significant firepower in the opener. Durant is listed as questionable due to a bruised right knee. Meanwhile, Lakers guards Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) could end up missing the series entirely after both were injured in a 139-96 blowout loss at Oklahoma City on April 2. Both are officially out for Game 1.

St. Louis City and the Seattle Sounders met six weeks ago, but St. Louis coach Yoann Damet isn’t focusing much on that match as the clubs are set to square off Saturday in Seattle. “It feels like it was months ago, to be honest,” Damet said of St. Louis’ 1-0 defeat. “That’s how much we’ve played since then, and that’s how much we’ve improved, I think, as well. “I’m not putting too much into that game thinking it’s going to be the same game. It’s going to be completely different at their place.” Seattle (4-1-1, 13 points) won 1-0 at St. Louis on March 7 as Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored the lone goal in the 47th minute. The Sounders’ Andrew Thomas

The Portland Timbers might be the more desperate team. The Minnesota United could be the more fatigued team. The clubs meet Saturday night at Saint Paul, Minn. Following Saturday’s match, Portland (2-4-1, 7 points) travels to San Diego and Salt Lake. The Timbers are 0-3-0 in road matches. “It’s a group of fixtures we have to pick up points,” coach Phil Neville said. “We have to develop a different type of mentality. We’re going to have to dig in. We’re going to have to get victories. We’re going to have to get results.” Portland became the first team this season to score on LAFC in last week’s 2-1 victory. That might be a spark that can lead to more consistent