Reuters Sports News Summary

'It's been a long year for New York' - Yankees fans cheer Opening Day at last Yankee Stadium's gates swung open for the first time in nearly 18 months on Thursday, as elated and emotional fans welcomed back their Bronx Bombers after a season played to empty stands amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Japan's Osaka weighs cancelling leg of Olympic torch relay over virus surge

Authorities in Japan's Osaka will discuss plans on Friday with organisers of the 2020 Tokyo Games to cancel the western region's leg of the Olympic torch relay, its governor said, to avert a clash with measures to curb a spate of virus infections. The 121-day relay, set to touch Osaka in mid-April, is seen as the first major test of Games organisers' ability to hold a large event under strict coronavirus curbs. It features 10,000 runners carrying the torch through 47 prefectures. NBA roundup: Trae Young, Hawks outlast Spurs in 2OT

Trae Young was nearly unstoppable at the end of the game, scoring 15 of his 28 points in the two overtime periods, and Danilo Gallinari canned a clutch late 3-pointer as the Atlanta Hawks outlasted the host San Antonio Spurs 134-129 in a double-overtime thriller on Thursday. Young also had seven points in the fourth quarter and racked up 12 assists overall. Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 28 points each for the Hawks, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Capela also pulled down 17 rebounds, and Gallinari finished with 16 points and 12 boards. NHL roundup: Mathew Barzal nets hat trick as Isles rout Caps

Mathew Barzal racked up three goals and two assists while teammate Jordan Eberle added two goals and an assist as the New York Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals 8-4 on Thursday in Uniondale, N.Y. Barzal completed his third career hat trick by batting a puck out of the air and in with just over a minute left. 'It's been a long year for New York' - Yankees fans cheer Opening Day at last

Yankee Stadium's gates swung open for the first time in nearly 18 months on Thursday, as elated and emotional fans welcomed back their Bronx Bombers after a season played to empty stands amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans young and old streamed into the park as an organist played the Big Apple anthem "New York, New York", the latest hint that life may slowly be starting to get back to normal. Brooklyn Nets star Durant apologises for exchange with Rapaport

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has apologised for the language he used in a social media exchange with U.S. actor and comedian Michael Rapaport. Rapaport on Tuesday shared images of the private messages sent to him on Twitter and Instagram by Durant which included homophobic and misogynistic language used by the NBA star. Barty and Andreescu set up first career meeting in Miami final

World number one Ash Barty and former U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu completed contrasting semi-final victories in the Miami Open, setting up a mouth-watering first career meeting between the Grand Slam winners in Saturday's final. Australian Barty spent the last year at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Miami is her first tournament abroad since February 2020. She is also the defending champion at the WTA 1000 event after the 2020 edition was cancelled. Diving: FINA to review Olympic qualification event in Tokyo over COVID-19 concerns

The international swimming federation (FINA) said on Friday it was reviewing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics diving qualification event scheduled for later this month in Tokyo after reports said it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BBC, citing a letter it had accessed from FINA to national federations, said that the event was cancelled because the organisers' planned COVID-19 precautions "will not properly ensure" the safety of athletes. Canadian Pliev loses finger during MMA fight

Canadian MMA fighter Khetag Pliev had his finger surgically re-attached after it was severed during his co-main event bout with Devin Goodale at the Cage Fury Fighting Championship in Philadelphia on Thursday night. Pliev, the former Olympic freestyle wrestler turned professional MMA fighter, told event promoter Rob Haydak that his finger was dislocated in the first round of the middleweight fight before it completely came off in the second. No breaks from COVID-19 as MLB returns

Not even the excitement of Major League Baseball's Opening Day on Thursday could provide a break from COVID-19 as ballparks across the United States were left mostly empty while the curtain raiser in Washington, D.C. between the Nationals and New York Mets was postponed after positive tests. Fans, many wearing masks, did their best to put on a happy face but the usual buzz associated with Opening Day was lacking as COVID-19 health and safety protocols were observed from New York to Seattle. MLB roundup: Rockies rock Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw in opener

Chris Owings had three hits and scored three runs, Trevor Story and C.J. Cron had two hits apiece, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 in both teams' season open Thursday at Denver. Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-0) got the win with two innings in relief of German Marquez. Colorado's starter allowed one run on six hits and walked six in four innings.