Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Boxing: Iranian female fighter cancels return home after arrest warrant issued

The first Iranian woman to contest an official boxing bout has canceled plans to return home after an arrest warrant was issued for her in Tehran, her representative said on Wednesday as Iranian authorities issued a denial. Sadaf Khadem beat a French boxer, Anne Chauvin, in the bout, which took place in western France on Saturday. Targeted tests having an impact in esports, says Verroken

Targeted testing of esports competitors is leading to a rethink about drug cheating in online gaming and which stimulants are more widespread, according to anti-doping expert Michele Verroken. The former head of anti-doping at UK Sport, Verroken now runs the Sporting Integrity consultancy and carries out tests at a number of tournaments for the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC). Take 5: Can't-miss NFL games in 2019

The NFL's schedule release is like Christmas morning -- that is, if after unwrapping all of your gifts, you sat and stared at them for 4 1/2 months before unboxing the goods. With Wednesday night's unveiling, we can finally start circling the calendar, counting the days and drooling over the best 2019 battles to come. NHL roundup: Lightning swept out of postseason

Rookie Alexandre Texier scored his first two playoff goals as the host Columbus Blue Jackets made history with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, wrapping up an Eastern Conference first-round series. The Lightning became the NHL's first Presidents' Trophy winner ever to be swept in a best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series. Tampa Bay had tied the all-time NHL record with 62 regular-season wins. Dominant Nadal makes winning start in Monte Carlo

Rafa Nadal produced a claycourt masterclass to pick apart fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1 6-1, as the world number two began his Monte Carlo Masters title defense in stunning fashion on Wednesday. Playing his first match since injuring his knee at Indian Wells last month, Nadal showed no signs of rust as he raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set on Court Rainier III. MLB roundup: Yankees pummel Red Sox in season's first meeting

James Paxton struck out 12 and pitched eight dominant innings of two-hit ball to outpitch Chris Sale, and the host New York Yankees rolled to an 8-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Paxton (2-2) delivered his best showing as a Yankee by thriving in the first meeting between the rivals since the Red Sox won Games 3 and 4 of the American League Division Series last October. MLB notebook: Braves reliever Vizcaino lost for season

Atlanta Braves right-hander Arodys Vizcaino will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery Wednesday on his right shoulder, the team announced. Vizcaino, 28, went on the 10-day injured list on Sunday (retroactive to April 11) due to shoulder inflammation. He appeared in four games, allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts in four innings. NBA roundup: Celtics rally past Pacers for 2-0 series lead

Jayson Tatum buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 50.8 seconds remaining Wednesday night, allowing the host Boston Celtics to overcome a late Indiana Pacers flurry and pull out a 99-91 victory in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. With the fourth-seeded Celtics having successfully held serve on their home court to go up 2-0 in the best-of-seven set, the fifth-seeded Pacers will host Games 3 and 4 on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. NFL notebook: Defending champion Patriots open against Steelers

The New England Patriots will open the defense of their Super Bowl LIII title against the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 1, the NFL announced in its unveiling of the 2019 schedule. The league announced in late March that the opening game of the season would pit the Green Bay Packers at the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Sept. 5. The defending Super Bowl champion normally opens the season with a home game on Thursday night, but the NFL wanted to feature its oldest rivalry to open its 100th season, which bumped New England to Sunday night, Sept. 8. Bogut named Warriors starting center after Cousins injury

Andrew Bogut will start at center for the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors after DeMarcus Cousins tore his quad in the team's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, head coach Steve Kerr said on Wednesday. The towering Australian, who won a championship with Golden State in 2015, rejoined the team as a backup to Cousins in March after a standout season with the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL).