Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Defending champion Kvitova reaches Madrid third round

Three-time champion Petra Kvitova defeated Kristina Mladenovic 6-3 7-6(5) to reach the third round of the Madrid Open on Monday. The second seed Kvitova edged her French opponent after a nervy tiebreak in the second set to win in one hour 55 minutes. Rask, Bruins close out Jackets in Game 6

Tuukka Rask made 39 saves as the visiting Boston Bruins advanced to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2013 with a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 6 on Monday. Boston took the best-of-seven, second-round playoff series four games to two. NBA notebook: Warriors’ Cousins plans playoff return

Injured Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins doesn't want to be counted out of the playoffs. If the Warriors can keep playing this postseason while eyeing another NBA title, so will he, despite having suffered a partially torn quadriceps muscle. "For me, my goal is I ain't planning on sitting," Cousins told The Undefeated on Monday following the Warriors' shootaround ahead of Game 4 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals. "I don't know the reality of it. But for me, that is not what I'm planning on doing. ... It's definitely some type of bad movie. But I think it will have a very nice ending. Just wait for it." MLB notebook: Gausman faces suspension for Urena throw

Atlanta Braves right-hander Kevin Gausman received a five-game suspension Monday for intentionally throwing a pitch at Marlins right-hander Jose Urena on Friday night in Miami. Major League Baseball chief baseball officer Joe Torre announced the punishment, which also includes an undisclosed fine. NFL notebook: Seahawks LB Wagner prepared for Seattle swan song

Bobby Wagner expects 2019 to be his final season with the Seattle Seahawks. The four-time All-Pro wants to retire as a Seahawk, he said, but grasps the reality that comes with paying your quarterback more than $35 million per season. Already Wagner watched the Seahawks let go of cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive end Michael Bennett, safety Earl Thomas and most recently trade franchise-tagged defensive end Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs. Harden scores 38 as Rockets level series with Warriors

James Harden paired a game-high 38 points with 10 rebounds while Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker provided ample support as the Houston Rockets squared their Western Conference semifinal series against the visiting Golden State Warriors with a 112-108 victory in Game 4 on Monday. The best-of-seven series is tied at two games apiece ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday in Oakland, Calif. NFL transactions: Panthers release S Searcy

The Carolina Panthers released veteran safety Da'Norris Searcy on Monday. Searcy, 30, appeared in only two games during his lone season with Carolina in 2018 and finished the season on injured reserve due to a concussion. Horse racing: Appeal over Kentucky Derby disqualification denied

An appeal filed by the owner of Maximum Security, the horse that finished first in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday but was later disqualified for interference, was denied by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Monday. The appeal was filed by an attorney for Gary West, whose horse became the first winner to be disqualified for an on-track infraction. Trump awards highest U.S. civilian honor to Tiger Woods

When Tiger Woods won the Masters on April 14, President Donald Trump declared he was going to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and ordered his aides to schedule the event as soon as possible. On Monday, Trump got what he asked for. At a ceremony in the sun-splashed White House Rose Garden, Trump made the 43-year-old Woods the fourth, and youngest, professional golfer to receive the nation's highest civilian honor, after Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Charlie Sifford. Cilic snaps four-match losing streak to edge Klizan

Marin Cilic saved four match points to beat Slovakia's Martin Klizan 6-4 2-6 7-6(0) and reach the second round of the Madrid Open on Monday. The Croatian had lost his previous four matches but triumphed in two hours 48 minutes to set up a meeting with Jan-Lennard Struff.