Sports: Pistons Out of Playoffs

The Pistons won’t make the post season. They were eliminated with last night’s loss to the Boston Celtics 113-103 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Isaiah Thomas scored a season-high 34 points as the Celtics got off to a quick start. It was the first time Greg Monroe suited up in 11 games, due to a knee injury. The Pistons came within two points in the third, but couldn't take the lead. Reggie Jackson posted 21 points and 15 assists, and Andre Drummond had 22 points and 14 rebounds as Detroit fell to 30-and-47. Detroit's Stan Van Gundy, who had already been guaranteed the first losing season of his coaching career, will also miss the postseason for the first time.

Tigers

The Tigers beat the Twins 11-0.   Ian Kinsler drove in four runs for Detroit.  Miguel Cabrera had two hits and knocked in two runs.  New center fielder Anthony Gose went 3 for 6 in the lead off spot and batted in three. Alex Avila and Jose Iglesias, hitting eighth and ninth in the order, reached base every time they came up —Avila had three walks and a single.  Starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez allowed three hits and two walks in 6 2-3 innings while striking out six for the win. The Tigers and Twins are scheduled to play game three of a three game series at Comerica Park this afternoon. Broadcast time is 12:40 p.m. There’s a fifty percent chance of rain throughout the afternoon in Detroit. Shane Green is set to make his debut for the Tigers today.

Red Wings

The Red Wings skate against the Canadiens in Montreal tonight as they try to extend their playoff run to 24 straight seasons. The Wings need to beat the Canadiens tonight or the Hurricanes in Carolina Saturday to secure their place in the postseason. Forward Erik Cole will be out for the rest of the season after he suffered a spine contusion against Arizona late last month. Cole, who broke his neck in 2006, said doctors have advised him not to play the remainder of the year. Forward Justin Abdelkader remains day-to-day after he injured his right hand blocking a shot against Minnesota on Saturday. Abdelkader skated yesterday for the first time since the injury and says while he's not sure when he will return, it was good to get back on the ice.

Golf

Four-time champion Tiger Woods returns to the Masters to play his first competitive round in more than two months and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy will begin his quest for the career grand slam when the first round gets underway Thursday at Augusta National.

Woods, who has been out of action since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open in February, missed the Masters for the first time as a pro last year after having back surgery. Jack Nicklaus thrilled the crowd Wednesday at the annual Masters par-3 contest, making a hole-in-one on the fourth hole. The six-time Masters champion, playing in the exhibition at age 75, spun an iron shot back into the hole for the ace.

Michigan Gets Commitment from another Running Back

Michigan has its second running back commit of the week, and fourth since last Friday. Four-star 2016 running back Matt Falcon, from Southfield High School, announced his verbal commit to Michigan on Wednesday evening.  The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Falcon joins Prattville, Alabama running back Kingston Davis as Michigan's two committed backfield prospects in 2016.  Falcon rates as the 10th-best running back in the class, per 247 sports, and the sixth-best prospect in the state of Michigan.

Athlete of the Week

This week's WBCK/Meijer Athlete of the Week is Michael Davis of the Pennfield Boys Lacrosse team.  The team is in their fifth year of varsity play and started 1-1 on the season, thanks to the strong play of Michael Davis .Davis scored twice in the Panthers' season-opening loss to Vicksburg on March 30th. Two days later in Pennfield's home opener, Davis would score two more goals as the Panthers hand Tecumseh their first loss of the season in a 9-7 victory. Congratulations to Michael Davis of Pennfield Lacrosse, this week's Athlete of the Week.